Whether it’s crushes, classes or coed bathrooms on your mind, chances are you’ve already started stressing about your freshman year of college. But don’t worry! This collegiette has been there and done that, and she’s passing along her hard-earned wisdom to you lucky pre-collegiettes. Whether you’re daunted by your packing list (you do not need a label maker, promise), college-level classes (Wikipedia is your new best friend), making friends (easier than it sounds) or running into a one-night stand (honestly, just run the other way), Sophie’s likely encountered it all. Just sit back, relax and let her share the best advice she’s picked up along the way.
What are some study tips for college if you are a procrastinator? – Waiting ‘til the Last Minute in Washington
Waiting,
Ah, procrastination: the eternal struggle. We all put off work every now and then, and I can’t lie, college can be a bit tricky at first if you’re a chronic procrastinator. Not having your parents breathing down your neck about homework is amazing, but it makes it easy to put down the books and binge watch Pretty Little Liars.
My first tip would be to get a cute planner to keep track of all your homework and activities (dates and parties count as activities, FYI) and to prioritize your assignments to keep you from running out of time.
Another tip is the reward method. The cutie on your hall invited you to a party this weekend? Treat yourself to a new going-out dress—but only if you finish your lab report by Friday night. Setting short-term goals gives you a concrete reason to get your work done, and it will allow you to enjoy a party or that girls’ night without stressing about your crazy workload.
If your greatest weakness is checking Facebook every three minutes (guilty as charged… aren’t we all?), try asking a trusted friend to change your password during midterms or finals so you can hit the books sans distractions. Or, better yet, pack up and head to the library without your laptop (a novel concept, I know, but it works!).
Speaking of libraries, college campuses are crammed with study spaces other than the library. Maybe you like the white noise of the campus coffee shop or the absolute quiet of an empty classroom. Find the space that gets you in the zone, and use it as your secret study weapon.
Procrastination is part of life (particularly college life), but if you stick to a schedule during the semester, organizing your time and prioritizing your work will become second nature—and you’ll find you have more time to do the things you actually want to do.