#Peer2Peer: When Everything is Due All at Once

Hey Everyone! My name is Danielle DeAcutis and I am a junior majoring in Criminal Justice and Sociology as well as Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity! Yes, you read that correctly, I’m triple majoring. I’m also a Peer Advisor in the Advisement Services Center, serve on the E-Board for the Albany Criminal Justice Association and I work part time. As you can tell, I have a lot of things going on most of the time. You might be wondering how I manage to do it all; balance schoolwork, responsibilities, a job and a social life. I’m going to be completely honest, it’s not easy all the time. There are days where I get overwhelmed by everything and struggle to keep up, but I’ve learned to make it work. Many students might feel like there’s no way to have it all without making sacrifices. I’m here to tell you that it’s certainly possible to be able to do it all. Here are some tips that I learned over the past few semesters that help attribute to being successful, while keeping stress at the minimum level.

1. Write it Out: Ever have a week where you have multiple assignments due within a 3-day span? On Sundays, I like to take the time and look through the syllabi for all my classes. I look at the upcoming week to see what readings, assignments and exams I have and I write it down. I also check my work schedules to see when I work and when I don’t. This allows me to have an overview of my week; I know what’s due and when I’m able to work on things versus when I can’t. I’m able to plan for the week and work on my things little by little during my free time, rather than waiting until the night before things are due.

2. Treat Yourself: After working or completing an assignment, give yourself a break. After all you deserve one! I like to take breaks after I’ve been working on something for a long time. Allowing yourself to relax and decompress really makes it easier to study and do work in the long run. Whether its watching your current Netflix binge, making dinner, buying a new pair of shoes, or seeing friends, always find a way to treat yourself! It helps to reduce stress and lets your mind take a break and focus on something else for a while. When its time to continue work, you’ll be refreshed and ready to go!

3. Say No: If you have a part time job like me, sometimes there will be days where you get that call. You know the one where your boss asks if you can come in on your day off because someone called out and they desperately need you to cover. Or sometimes your friend will ask you to do a big favor for them. Whether you can or not, sometimes its okay to simply say no. Don’t feel obligated to always have to say yes to things where you know you really can’t. You might have to write a research paper or you might just need time to yourself. Its not the end of the world and your boss and friend won’t think differently of you.

4. Visit a Peer Advisor: Have some free time between classes and want to talk to someone? Come to Advisement Services Center and see a Peer Advisor! Being a Peer Advisor isn’t just about helping students with the registration process and reading degree audits, we also really enjoy talking to students. We all know what it’s like to have a million different things going on at the same time because trust me when I say this; we’ve either been through it or currently going through it too! Were always happy to listen and talk to students so feel free to stop by!

5. Seek Out Resources: There are a few different resources on campus that are available for student use. Falling behind in a class and need a tutor? Look no further than Advising PLUS! They will help you get the resources you need in order to be successful. They offer services such as study groups, review sessions, and tutoring. Advising PLUS is located in Social Science room 308. Feeling extremely stressed out? Check out the Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program, located under Seneca Hall on Indian Quad (down the stairs). They provide telephone hotline, peer assistance, and peer career advisement services to all students. They also assist students with their educational goals, as well as helping students with different coping mechanisms. These are just some of the great resources available that UAlbany offers to students to help them be successful so if you’re struggling or falling behind, I highly recommend reaching out.

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Keep in mind that if you’re struggling to balance school and other responsibilities or if you’re feeling stressed out, remember that this is all temporary. Continue to try your best to push through it and know that you’re not the only one going through this. If you ever feel like giving up, think about the feeling of when you accomplish or finish a task, and let that feeling of relief motivate you to keep going. Always make sure to take a break when you need one and don’t be too hard on yourself. Good luck on all your exams, papers, and assignments!