Being overextended is a primary source of stress for college students. Determine what a realistic workload is for you, but note that this can vary significantly from one person to another. Although being involved in campus life is very important, don’t allow your academic work to take a backseat to extracurricular activities or other time commitments. Do not take on more than you can handle. Learn to say “no.” Do not feel obligated to provide a reason; you have the right to decline requests that will prevent you from getting your own work done.
Even with the best intentions, some students who use a time-management plan overextend themselves. If there is not enough time to carry your course load and meet your commitments, drop a course before the drop deadline so that you won’t have a low grade on your permanent record. If you receive financial aid, keep in mind that you must be registered for a minimum number of credit hours to be considered a full-time student and thereby maintain your current level of financial aid.
If dropping a course is not feasible or if other activities are lower on your list of priorities, which is likely for most college students, assess your other time commitments and let go of one or more. Doing so can be very difficult, especially if you think that you are letting other people down. However, it is far preferable to excuse yourself from an activity in a way that is respectful to others than to fail to come through at the last minute because you have committed to more than you can possibly achieve.