The constant (but relatable) cycle of wanting to buy the next best thing is a tricky one to break. Now, it doesn’t always have to be broken because if you want something, can afford it, and think it’s a worthwhile investment, you should go for it! But… that is not the case for everyone. It usually ends up going more like wanting something, checking your bank account, and then not buying it, or buying it then ending up regretting it after checking your finances. Now, this predicament could be ideally tackled one of two ways. Number one, find a way to not spend money on what you cannot afford and don’t feel bad if you don’t buy what you want or, number two, get a job.
The dreaded words, “Get. A. Job.” can be very unmotivating since it can seem like a lot of work. But it doesn’t have to be. Well, it will be work, but it doesn’t need to be “dreadful” and “unmotivating,” but rather a really fun time where you can meet new people and/or be doing something you enjoy. It doesn’t need to be complicated, just something that gives a state of being where you enjoy what you do. You may see people around you working at internships in the field of their major or working campus jobs to help out Stevens. These are both very useful jobs, but they don’t have to be this complex. Sometimes, you can just scoop ice cream at a local ice cream shop, be the person who hands out fragrance samples at a perfume store, or be a cashier at a store on Washington Street — there are so many options to choose from.
The main issue that arises from people wanting to get a job is the stress that comes with time. Especially being a college student, classes are a constant responsibility while also trying to maintain a good standing in extracurricular activities. So adding a whole job on top of that is definitely not the most ideal thing. But it is not impossible. Many people are juggling their academics with their part-time jobs, and the key is managing their time. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to pull out your planner and create color-coded time sections of when and what you are going to be doing every second (even though it could be VERY helpful in a situation like this), it does mean that it would be good to make sure that you are blocking off time for certain tasks. This will ensure that you will not overlap your timings and overwork yourself(since it is important to schedule in time to relax as well). If you don’t plan time to relax, which could be watching a movie, hanging out with friends/family, or even just taking a nap, it is going to make your academic-working scheduling a whole lot more stressful than it has to be.
It is also crucial to not take a job if you do not think you can do it. If it is just too much to add to your plate, leaving you no spare time to do what you enjoy, it is not worth it. Trying to be able to buy the latest product could be a good reward, but if it costs you your peace, it will be counterproductive and result in more stress and less relaxation. A job is something that should add to you as an individual as a career can help you grow, and not just financially. One could become better with people skills after having to work in customer service or become more organized after learning how to properly stock shelves, and know how to be more productive after getting to know the people at their work and seeing how they maintain a healthy balance in their life when it comes to their career schedule.
