Michelle Colomer said some days, she’s lucky to squeeze four to five hours of sleep into her busy schedule.
The 22-year-old UF history senior is taking 17 credits while balancing about 20 hours a week as a Papa John’s employee in the Reitz Union.
“It’s pretty hectic to say the least,” she said. “No one wants to sleep four hours, but you have to do what you have to do.”
Colomer said she’s overworked and overstressed, but she’s not alone.
According to a Harris Interactive for Everest College study, 83 percent of American workers said they’re stressed out by some aspect of their work. The study cited increasing workloads as one of the top concerns reported by workers nationwide.
Sara Martin, a health promotion specialist for GatorWell, said the end of the semester is a stressful time for students studying for finals or graduating, especially for those who work.
Martin recommends students find a way to balance school with work.
“Finding stress management strategies that work for you and that you can use consistently creates habits and routines that you can use for the rest of your life,” she said.
Chelsea Bess, a 21-year-old accounting senior, is enrolled at UF while working at 101 Downtown.
Bess has been working since she was 15 years old, and through her experiences she’s learned how to manage her time.
“I would love to not work, but I can’t afford not to work,” she said.
