(Coping with paying for College) Time Management and Organization Aid in Lessening College Stress

Well...Every parent struggles through the inevitable hard times of their children going off to college. Money, Acceptance, Leaving Home...they're all components to a stressful equation. I, myself as a parent of my 17-year-old daughter, Jessica Mendelsohn, have found that my stress level has skyrocketed from little to extreme in a very short period of time. We have been visiting schools all over the country, which in itself causes for severe expenses, and now with college right around the corner, I am finding that the hole in my pocket is growing progressively bigger.

I try to overcome this horrible reality by doing far more than my normal activities. I always keep my mind busy, working on different projects. In addition to working a full-time job, I have begun to attend the gym regularly and have also invested some of remaining time in taking up tennis and Tao Chi. I feel that these activities help me release some of my stress and clear my mind. They allow me to get in touch with my inner self and help me channel my energy to focus on the important things. They put me in a better mental state of mind, and allow me to be there for my daughter during the time she most needs me.  I have also tried yoga, which further allows me to release some “steam” and find that “other peaceful place” I so desire to be in.

I take leisure walks in the park (Ipod in ears) regularly and always manage to make time to care for my family. I am an independent woman who now realizes the stress-factor of the college admissions process. I volunteer around my neighborhood to aid in various functions, and I always make sure to surround myself with family and friends I love. Being around people you love helps to clear your mind, as you socialize and interact. 

I have also learned to manage my time more efficiently. I have instituted balances within my lifestyle in order to ensure for the complete maintenance in the equilibrium of my life. I, as an individual must answer to my own needs as well, so I have created a day-to-day schedule in which I write what I must accomplish that day. This limits the amount of worries I have, as now I know that I must follow the list in order to get everything accomplished on time.