Robert Morgan
UAB Class of 2024

Advice: Balance

If I have learned anything during my first 1.5 years of optometry school, it is that balance is difficult. Not the type of balance Simone Biles requires to perform a double-double beam dismount. That type of balance blows me away whenever I get to witness it. I’m talking about the delicate school-life balance that optometry students are faced with daily. Trying to find an equilibrium of keeping up with a demanding course/clinic load, eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep and finding time to do fun activities outside of school feels impossible at times. So, I’ve come up with my own helpful list of things that I do to help find a good school-life balance!

1. Calendar: School balance

If I had a dollar for every time I heard a classmate utter “There’s just not enough time in the day!” I would have paid off my student loans already. One of the best ways I try to achieve balance is through keeping a detailed calendar on my phone. My Google calendar has my course schedule, clinic location sites, what equipment I need to have on me, when my written exams are and any upcoming events I want to attend. This type of structure helps me balance my school obligations, study block time and extracurricular activities. If I’m ever on the fence about accepting an event invite, my trusty calendar is only a finger push away.

2. Call a loved one: Life balance

Optometry school can be hectic at times. It can feel like the world is just passing you by while dedicating numerous hours to studying details or practicing clinical skills. One of my favorite things to do to reground myself is to call a loved one. I try and pick a different person every week, preferably outside of optometry school. I set aside 15 minutes of my weekend and call someone up. I’ve either been thinking about them or just want to catch up. Most of the time it makes someone’s day and makes mine, too.

3. Study mode vs. relaxation mode

Optometry school requires a vast amount of studying. At times it feels like all I do is study, and during my brief periods of “free time” I can feel guilty for not studying. This internal battle can be difficult for students. In order to find my own balance between the two, I have adopted the study mode vs. relaxation mode mindset. If I have blocked off time in my schedule for studying, that time can only be spent for studying. Likewise, if I feel like a need a break after a long week or post-exam, I block off some time dedicated specifically to not thinking about school. As ridiculous as it may sound, I adopt a “I am not going to talk about anything related to school” mindset during this time. This helps me actually relax during my down time and also helps prevent feeling burnt out from studying.

Find some balance, stick the landing.