The 21st century college student may be the busiest demographic of people anywhere.

Or maybe we just whine the most. But it sure seems like most of our free time is either non-existent or used to do some of the stuff we weren’t able to get done when we were supposed to.

Most every one of has at least one job, most of us have family obligations to fulfill, and some of us do things like devote 40 hours a week to the campus newspaper, or to the football team, or to the debate team, or a theater production; you get the picture.

It seems like today’s student just tries to do more than any past generation did.

Kids didn’t grow up from kindergarten to high school being a part of three different clubs, two sports, work and go to school.

It seems nowadays that, whether because of societal pressure, the need to live up to expectations, or whatever else, the average student has a tendency to bite off more than he or she can chew.

Maybe my typical day is similar to yours; wake up, get to class first thing in the morning, get as much done for The Chart as I can, doing interviews, scheduling interviews, writing stories, meeting with sources, designing pages, making phone calls.

Then, I go to work for the rest of the day.

Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do. It just gets a little bit taxing.

I wouldn’t trade my job, and I’ve put three years now of blood, sweat and tears into this newspaper.

So then why am I wasting your time complaining? Actually, I hope to help.

I have some ideas for solutions to the problems college students face with their lack of time.

First off: Write everything down. Dates, phone numbers, assignments, appointments, work schedules, anything there’s a chance you’ll forget, write it down. Whether that means put it in your iPhone, put it in your datebook or write it on your hand, get it down.

Believe it or not, you’ll remember things a whole lot easier.

Think about it this way, it’s one less thing you have to use the limited space available in your brain for.

The second, and maybe most important thing: Make time for yourself.

Yeah, I know, sounds like some Joel Osteen bullshit.

But believe me, if you can take five minutes between classes to just sit somewhere quiet, close your eyes and breathe, really clear your mind, your next task will be shockingly easier to live through.

Finally, don’t overload yourself. I think the biggest source of this problem is the fact that people today don’t know how to say ‘no.’

We all take on more than we can legitimately handle because we feel like it’s a failure if we don’t or can’t.

There is nothing wrong with it, and it will honestly save you and whomever you’re dealing with a lot of time, if every once in awhile, you’d just say, “Man, I don’t think I’m gonna be able to get to it.”