Lilyana Vasquez
Many college students today are juggling increasingly heavy schedules—balancing academics, jobs, athletics and leadership roles at the same time.
A study by the National Student Financial Wellness found that 70% of students are financially stressed. Similarly, another study by The National Library of Medicine (NLM) found that common stressors — academic, family and extracurriculars — directly lowered student’s mental well-being.
“It increases stress, and not in a good way,” said Phil Kimes, director at FSC’s Student Success Center, describing what is seen in overwhelmed students.
While these activities contribute to high levels of stress, there are ways to manage and prevent it.
This isn’t just abstract data—students on campus feel these pressures every day.
NLM found academic pressure as the largest contributor to declining well-being, making up to 49% of the total impact in the study.
Kimes says one of the first signs students are drowning academically is a loss of sleep, followed by missing deadlines and withdrawing socially.
Student-athlete Sachem Ramos, a baseball player, experiences this firsthand. With early lifts, classes, practices, homework and travel, he often feels the academic-athletic collision.
“I feel like I don’t have enough time in a day to do everything I want to do,” Ramos said. He also mentions missing out on school activities and “typical college student experiences.”
Missing out on experiences could be because students today aren’t just doing school, they’re doing much more.
“Most students have other responsibilities to deal with, and a lot of people that come in have either other jobs or family to take care of, and they’re working on balancing all of those,” Kimes said.
Family expectations, extracurriculars, and side commitments make up another 39% of the negative wellbeing impact in the study by NLM (20% family + 19% activities). FSC student Gabriela Mateo-Cortez, who juggles leadership roles in Panhellenic and NoMore, alongside coursework and a part time job understands the weight of overinvolvement.
Experts say this kind of stacked schedule often leads to burnout. Mental Health America (MHA) notes that “Your basic needs- getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising-often get lost or lose priority while you’re balancing work, school and socializing.”
Managing so many responsibilities at once takes a toll, but Mateo-Cortez has learned to reframe the pressure. She reports being “a little stressed… but then I think about the good things I’m doing,” she said.
In balancing so many activities also comes balancing financial stress.
Financial pressure made up 13% of the total impact in the study by NLM.
Furthermore, a national survey reports that 78% of students say financial strain hurts their mental health and academic performance.
Kimes mentions seeing this barrier daily, describing how students working late shifts often struggle to stay awake in class or complete assignments.
Experiencing chronic stress can take a toll on mental health with symptoms showing in all three interviews. Ramos described feeling physically and mentally drained during busy weeks. Mateo-Cortez explained balancing classes and leadership often leads to late nights and exhaustion. Lastly, Phil notes that students often don’t recognize burnout until it affects grades or relationships.
Despite these impacts, students remain resilient by incorporating practical coping strategies. These include time management, mindfulness and self regulation as well as protecting basic needs.
Kimes emphasizes scheduling and resources. “I think that making your priorities straight and prioritizing your to-do list is really, really important,” Kimes said. Further adding that,
“if you want help with time management or study skills, come by the Student Success Center.”
Similarly, Mateo-Cortez manages her schedule by dividing tasks into “flexible” and “non-flexible,” tackling the urgent ones first and adjusting the rest as needed. She says tools like Google Calendar—and intentionally building in pauses throughout her day—make it easier to stay organized and prevent burnout.
She also shares advice on how to not overwhelm yourself by over committing.
Another method used to prevent burnout is meditation and regulation. Ramos said he practices transcendental meditation, journals, and sets time aside for himself.
Ramos describes his meditation practice.
“Instead of shifting away from basic healthy practices, try to find strategies to use your time most effectively. This could include learning to say no to new commitments and blocking time specifically for taking care of yourself,” MHA says.
Kimes stresses that students shouldn’t wait until they’re overwhelmed to ask for help. Ramos adds to this message by emphasizing the importance of staying connected and pursuing goals with confidence.
“Reach out to your network and stay in touch, keep those relationships because that’s who you have. It’s a small world, so keep that best foot forward and don’t stop. If you want to do something, go do it,” Ramos said.
Today’s college students are navigating pressure from every direction—academics, work, finances, athletics, and involvement. The experiences shared by Ramos and Mateo-Cortez show how deeply these challenges affect students on a personal level. However, with support from resources like the Student Success Center, along with intentional planning, healthy boundaries and a willingness to seek help, students can find a sense of balance even in a demanding environment.