Arjuna the great warrior, while standing the Battlefield of Kurukshetra asks Lord Krishna how to balance the War and the continuous thoughts that are being produced in his mind. It is called as the balance between Dharmakshetra and Kurukshetra, (On the one side arjuna was fighting, that was the primary act and on the other side he was struggling with the different thoughts).
Lord Krishna says:
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते।।2.48।।
Explanation: Everybody must make a balance (समत्वं) so that we can perform each task in the stipulated time manner. Here the word (धनञ्जय) refers to Arjuna, and Lord Krishna is explaining the meaning of balance to Arjuna. The art of making evenness in mind is called Yoga.
No one is unidimensional therefore the balance between the facets of our lives is more important and Business school is the critical phase to bring a balance between these two factors.
Often Students in B-school find it’s difficult to make a balance between curricular and extra-curricular things.
Extracurriculars like sports or clubs teach valuable skills like teamwork, communication, and leadership, which can help you with your studies too. These activities let you explore your interests, meet new people, and learn new things, helping you grow as a person.
Striking a balance between academic excellence and extracurricular activities is key to have a holistic development and a bright future. Most students strive to be better at both curriculars and extra curriculars and end up neglecting both as they face a burnout. In the hustle – bustle of classes, assignments, competitions and exams, it gets difficult to cope up with all the pressure and students often feel overwhelmed.
Here are 7 tips for all of you on how you can tackle this challenge effectively and come out with flying colours.
Time is Money
कालः पचति भूतानि, कालः संहरते प्रजाः।
कालः सुप्तेषु जागर्ति, कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः॥
As Chanakya mentioned in Chanakya Niti that time is insurmountable, it can destroy anything if not managed properly. So, for a business school student you should have the skill to manage time.
The first thing you should focus on is to manage your time commitments effectively. Use a Planner or Calendar to track your academics, extracurricular activities, and other commitments. Time management isn’t about following a schedule it’s also about giving yourself space to breathe.
Below are some calendar and planners to help you organize effectively.
Prioritise Ruthlessly
Prioritising your academics over anything else is recommended. Extracurricular activities are important for a holistic development of an individual but not at the cost of academics. Keep aside dedicated time for studies to stay on top of every course. Academics are the foundation and its okay to sacrifice some extracurricular activities when the semesters are heavy. Learn to say NO to activities that have nothing to do with your career goals.
Build a Schedule
अक्रमेणानुपायेन कर्मारम्भो न सिध्यति।
This Sanskrit quotation emphasises on the importance of planning, A work that begun with no order and means does not succeed.
Create a daily schedule according to your convenience. One effective way is to plan your day according to your energy levels. Finish demanding tasks when you are more energetic and take breaks during low energy times. Have a flexible schedule and be open to last minute adjustments. This will help you maximize your time and avoid feeling cramped up for time.
Take a break
Burning the Candle from both ends leads to burnout. Make sure you take enough time to relax and enjoy activities outside academics and business school. This will help you to stay focused more alert. A well-rested mind is always an agile mind.
Healthy lifestyle
व्यायामात् लभते स्वास्थ्यं दीर्घायुष्यं बलं सुखं। आरोग्यं परमं भाग्यं स्वास्थ्यं सर्वार्थसाधनम्॥
Explanation: Health is the biggest wealth in one’s life. It is the only thing with which all the other things can be achieved in life. With exercise, one can achieve perfect health, happiness, longevity and strength.
Make sure to get sufficient sleep, have a balanced diet, and do some exercise regularly. This will keep you healthy and focused. Remember a business school is a marathon, not a sprint. Prioritize your well-being alongside your academic and extracurricular pursuits.
Play on your Strengths
Choose the activities that you are enthusiastic about and not some activities which will look good on your resume. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Look for activities like Student run investment funds, Case study competitions, Business processes simulations, Consulting projects etc.
Ask for Help
The entire journey through a business school can be overwhelming for students. The stakes are higher, and competition is cutthroat. Its okay to ask for help from your friends, seniors, teachers and parents when you need it. Many business schools have dedicated counsellors to help the students. Never hesitate or be afraid to reach out to them.
“उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः।“ –
Success in any endeavour is achieved through hard work and not just by wishful thinking.
These strategies will help you find some equilibrium between your curriculars and extracurriculars. A PGDM program is challenging in many ways and equally rewarding. You need to leverage your all round skills to emerge victorious.
