My Big Question: A news segment dedicated to answering life’s toughest questions. 

Do you ever have that thing that’s eating at you? You go through your week just fine, but day in and day out you can’t shake the feeling that something’s bugging you? And you just wish you could figure it out?

I do. That’s why each week in this new column, I’m going to explore a Big Question that’s bugging me, and that I think might be bugging students on DU’s campus as well. 

This week’s Big Question: How do I achieve balance?

This is certainly not an easy one for me to answer. First of all, I’m no expert. In fact, I think my life might be the most out of balance it’s been in a long time. This past week was midterms week, which means that professors piled on large assignments. I had a six-page business memo due in one class, plus a big test to study for and another four-page paper in a different class. I also have four jobs—yes, yes, I know, I’m a psychopath—which meant I had two tutoring sessions, a filled Friday with two shifts and then two meetings, and a sandwich while editing the articles you’re reading right now. To top that all off, I’ve been running social media for two clubs, prepping for an interterm course, considering studying abroad, searching for internships and looking at adding a new major. Color me exhausted. 

So, with all of these intertwined things that have constantly moving parts, how do I find a middle ground? Well, one of my solutions isn’t perfect, but it’s certainly a start. I’ve found one thing that fits into my schedule that I can do every week with my friends that brings me joy and doesn’t take up too much of my time. I attend the Wednesday night improv shows in Sturm Hall with my friend group. We all get Starbucks together before, and then walk over to take our seats before 8:30 p.m. We get to catch up, spend an hour laughing and feel generally better afterward. It’s a good mental break from homework and life, and I make it a priority to attend every week no matter what. Because I know that no matter what I have going on, I need to practice my own form of self-care.

While I hate that buzzword—“self-care”—I think that part of balance is knowing how to take care of yourself in the midst of chaos and busyness. This can mean a lot of different things for different people. For example, I asked one of my professors for an extension on a paper, explaining that I was a bit under the weather from the typical fall college campus sickness, but that I needed more time to complete the assignment so I could give it my best. The professor obliged, and I’m so grateful. It never hurts to ask—just maybe not all the time. 

Also, figure out what the definition of balance is to you. While true balance is all things being equal on both sides of the scale, often that is not possible in the world we live in. There will always be something demanding our attention: school, work, personal life, or all three. Part of true personal balance is dictating what grounds you can stand on evenly. If that means more focus on some things and less on others, that doesn’t mean you’re out of balance. It means you’ve made choices, and if those choices allow you to be happy and feel centered, then there’s nothing wrong with not conforming to society’s standards for a balanced life. 

Last, self-reflection can help you figure out what might be lacking. You might realize that your life is out of balance, but not be able to pinpoint why that is. What is it that’s tipping the scale too far in one direction or the other? Mapping out your last week in detail can help highlight where time is spent the most. For example, while my calendar was full of meetings, classes, and activities, I barely had any time for my friends. So, moving forward, that’s going to be my new focus to bring my life back into balance—get my necessary items done, but make sure not to neglect my personal relationships. After all, they’re the ones who make all of the hard things worth it.

Next week’s Big Question: Where the heck can I find an internship?