Balancing Social Life with School Work

Sometimes, if we are only focused on getting great grades, we forget our friends and our family and that there is a real world out there to have fun and discover. On the other hand, some of us don't care about our grades in high school or college because we think our social lives are more important. If you want to succeed in life, you need to find a balance between your academics and your social life. Here are some steps to help you to find that balance.

Be organized. Organize your study time and the time that you spend with people. Have an agenda, and write down what you will study one day, how much time you will spend studying, and at what time.

Get involved in social activities. If some of your classmates are having a party and you're invited, don´t think twice, just go and have a great time. That way you will be sharing time with them, and letting your mind and body relax.

Stay in touch with friends. Nowadays, we have the advantage of online social networking technology like Facebook, MSN Messenger, Skype and Twitter that you can use in order to keep in contact with your friends. Your cell phone is also with you at all times, so feel free to call to your friends whenever you want to also.

Plot out your weekly schedule on a grid. Decide for yourself at the start of the term that you won't let school work sweep you away. Chances are, you'll have small gaps between classes during the week, and longer stretches of free time on the weekends. Be sure to set aside at least one large chunk of time each week for free time - maybe all of Saturday, for instance.

Use time wisely. If you find yourself in one of those between-class gaps, use the time efficiently: read a few pages, run some quick errands or spell-check your paper.

Lastly, encourage your friends to follow a similar plan, so you can coordinate your free time with theirs.

Ways to Keep In Touch With Friends After High School

While college often leads to a new city, a new school, and new friends, your new college life doesn't have to come at the expense of losing touch with your high school friends. But how exactly can you keep in touch with your friends from high school when you're busy managing all that college has to offer? Here are some tips to maintain those relationships that you cherish so much, without sacrificing your study time and college experience.

Use social media. Things like Facebook and Twitter are likely already a part of your social life. As you transition from high school to college, use social media to keep your friends updated -- and to stay updated about them. This will help you to stay informed about relationship updates, school changes, and the overall ups and downs of your friends' lives.

Use the phone and Skype or web chat. If you and your friends all have iPhones, you have the option of Face Time, or on the computer Skype and web chatting. While they don't have to happen frequently, phone calls and video chats can be a great way to help you keep in touch with your high school friends.

Use text or IM. If you have a busy semester, you don't necessarily have the time for a phone call or video chat. The solution? Consider sending a quick text message to one of your high school friends just to let them know you are thinking of them and are wondering how they are doing.

Use email. E-mail can be a great tool—especially when you need something to do to shift your brain away from that term paper or exam studying for a bit! Consider spending a few minutes drafting an email to an old high school friend to update them about your own college life while asking for the latest news on their end.

Meet up whenever possible. No matter how great technology is, there's just nothing like a face-to-face meeting. Meeting up in person is important if you'd like to maintain your high school relationships both during and after college. Remember, too, that you can meet up in all kinds of places: back in your hometown, at your campus, at your friend's campus, or even somewhere fun you both have always wanted to go.