This week was brutal for me. I’m getting crammed with five-page papers stacking up, exams, midterms (It’s March, how do I still have midterms?), my group project is crumbling apart in front of me…I’m exhausted.
Flash Forward 1 week: My mentality remains the same.
Sound familiar?
Since Spring Break, I feel like I jumped onto a moving treadmill, and can’t seem to find a way to slow down the speed. How many days more am I going to have to tell myself just a little longer? (23 school days to be exact until finals, but who’s counting?)
Before this week started, I took a breather, blasted some music, and mapped out the next three school weeks ahead of me until all I could see was the colored construction paper, pens, pencils, and markers mess I had made. It was productive, yet fun.
To the students who are starting to feel drained or are drained from the semester, here are my pro tips to help push you through.
First I put together a list of staying organized for the remaining schedule of the semester:
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Mark your calendars by week on three sheets of paper. Putting everything in your phone works too.
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Add everything to it: Doctor’s appointments, office hours, your friend’s 21st birthday, and even a reminder to buy toothpaste.
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Post the week you’re headed into somewhere you can read it. That way, every time you come running into your room in a ball of stress, knowing you’re forgetting something, you can give it a peek and reassure yourself of all your deadlines.
I recommend putting the other weeks away temporarily so you don’t psych yourself out but keep them nearby when that week is approaching or if you need to double check a deadline date.
I won’t lie—looking at all those deadlines on my calendar was relieving, yes, but simultaneously even more stressful. Schoolwork should be one of your top priorities. And your clubs, sorority, athletic team, or resume meeting—they should be right up there as well.
But, make sure you build in time for you because self-care is the most important. If you spread yourself too thin, you’ll hit that breaking point. It is important to check in with yourself, first and foremost. Here are some tips so you don’t wind up pulling your hair out:
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Make time for eating healthy food and getting enough sleep.
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Don’t study in the same place for too long.
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Get up, take a walk. Pack up, move locations.
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Make little challenges for yourself. Like, If I can get through the next 30 flashcards I will give myself ten minutes to scroll Instagram.
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Don’t spend too much time on one thing. Chip away at projects, and once you’re sick of looking at it, switch to your next assignment and come back to it later.
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Find your buddy. Check in with them, tell them how you are feeling, rant, ask for an opinion, get them to do flashcards with you or proofread your paper. Go out on a lunch date, take an evening and watch your favorite show together. Ask them for a hug. And, be there for them too.
Most importantly, don’t bottle it all up. Maybe you are uncomfortable using your friend as a sounding board or are too nice to burden them with your rant but speak to someone. Don’t be afraid to seek help through professors, TAs, or even Tuttleman counseling. No one wants to see you stressed or struggling to keep up.
I believe in you. So, should you.
In the long run it will all be worth it.
––Nathalie Cavallo