Being overextended, or having too much to do given the resources available to you, 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, and only you can determine what is realistic. Although being involved in social and family life is very important, don’t allow your academic work to take a backseat to other time commitments. Take on only what you can handle. Learn to say no, as this is an effective time-management strategy! Say no to requests that will prevent you from meeting your academic goals. Remember that even if you can find the time for extra tasks, you may not be able to find the energy. If you are feeling stressed, reassess your time commitments and let go of one or more. If you choose to drop a course, make sure you do so 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 to receive your current level of financial aid. Read more about financial aid in the next section of this chapter.