Spring has officially sprung, and it’s safe to say that this sudden wave of hot, sunny days prove that summer is fast approaching. This is by far one of the best times of year in College Park. Everywhere you go, students are sitting outside and hanging out with friends. There’s just this feeling of happiness in the air that makes UMD my favorite place to be in the springtime. But, I think we can all agree that there’s one downside to spring: finals. The warm weather is cause for celebration but it’s also a reminder of the intense amount of work we all have coming up with final projects and exams. And, let’s be honest, the nicer it gets outside, the less motivation you’ll have to sit inside McKeldin all day doing homework. It’s important to remember that balance is key in college. For me, schoolwork has always been my top priority, but I do my best to manage my time in a way that keeps me sane during this busy time of year. Here are four tips for how to keep your grades and your spirits up this spring.
1. Go Running
When you have a ton of homework, sometimes it’s hard to imagine being able to fit in a workout. But trust me—going out and getting some good exercise is one of the best things you can do to stay calm and regroup. So don’t be afraid to step away from the books and go on a 20-minute run. It’s too beautiful out to spend your whole day inside studying, so take a short break to go get some exercise. If you’re too swamped to really get away from your studies, take a textbook to the gym and read while you bike. The first time I did this, I was surprised at how much my mood lightened and my stress went away. It made me even more ready for a night of studying.
2. Eat Right
It’s easy to resort to fast food or Ramen when you feel like you just don’t have enough time to cook, grocery shop, or eat out. But when you don’t eat well, you won’t feel well, so it’s really important to invest a little bit of time each day not only to eating well, but to eating enough. A healthy cereal or a Greek yogurt is a good option for a quick breakfast. For lunch, make a sandwich with turkey, lettuce, and tomato on whole wheat bread, or heat up some pre-made tomato soup. Trust me, it takes about 10 minutes. For dinner, throw together a quick salad with whatever veggies you have in your fridge. Taking the time to eat right will really improve your day in a ton of ways, because nothing good can come out of eating bad food.
3. Don’t Procrastinate
We’re all guilty of doing it. I myself am a pretty bad procrastinator, but I’m really working on fixing that, and I suggest you all do the same. Thinking ahead about what you have to do in the upcoming weeks can be so helpful. On your less busy days, or on the weekends, take an hour or two to look through your upcoming assignments and get one or two of them done. When it gets to be the night before they’re due and you have a million other things going on, you’ll thank yourself.
4. Go Out
With all the work that comes with the end of the semester, sometimes it’s hard to imagine being able to fit in time for socializing. However, while academics should be the number one priority, it’s so important to remember that college is also about so many other things. You only have four years to experience college, so don’t forget to go out and have fun with your friends whenever you can. Whether that means going to a party or just staying in for a movie night, spending time with friends is a great way to keep you sane amidst all the pressure of school. All that being said, you should still be smart about when you have to say no to a night out. If you’re tired or if you have a ton of work, don’t give into the FOMO—stay in, do your work, get some sleep, and save the socializing for another night.