September is equally the most exhilarating and tense time of any post-secondary student’s yearly timeline. After a 4 month hiatus from any and all academic responsibility – which was either spent basking under the sun in Muskoka, polishing off your resume from a full-time job, or travelling to a different continent to fulfill your wanderlust – another school year is fast approaching. There’s no better feeling than rejoicing with familiar faces and catching up from summer’s’ adventures. Stepping out onto Richmond Row and walking through our charming campus allows us that “at home” feeling we have yearned for whilst awaiting another exciting year to begin.
Although we could not wait for the first ticket out following last year’s finals, there is something about Western and London itself that has its residents missing their student life surroundings the second they step foot in their hometown. However, the strenuous routine of University life is also bound to catch up with us faster than our tans fade and bank accounts diminish from Septbender festivities. It’s easy to get caught up in the whirl of responsibilities being thrown at you from every direction, and settling your feet flat on the ground can seem next to impossible after being used to the carefree nonchalance of summer break.
We all aspire and set out to be timely and organized from the onset of the academic year. However, once that first post-Jack’s day spent watching reruns in bed becomes a pattern, any hope of that being a reality is shattered. Forming good habits early in the year is a crucial aspect of remaining on top of things and feeling thoroughly balanced among the intertwining demands of university. Sure, none of us are perfect, and there will be many unproductive days spent recovering from nights out or allowing yourself some downtime after a loaded work week. It’s the small things in between that really matter and effectively help you to manage a routine. Here is a selection of suggestions anyone can easily start following immediately and if kept up over time, your stress levels and healthy body will thank you…
1. Set an alarm and get up at the same time daily
Although dreadful at the start, a set wake up time helps your internal clock follow a routine and allows you to get more accomplished before and after class. Select a wake up time that you can easily maintain, and ensure it is not too painfully early or inconsistent with your natural pattern. Getting out of bed at the same time every day will eventually help you to sleep better at night and feel well rested to take on the day. It is beyond crucial that when your alarm goes off at your chosen wake time, you actually get up and avoid hitting snooze or lazing around in bed. Consistent rising will allow your body a natural rhythm and will contribute to better overall health. Being groggy in lecture just makes the whole environment more painful.
2. Make a personal fitness routine built around your weekly class schedule and stick to it
This will make sure you get your physical activity in amongst your other priorities. Exercise is an amazingly natural way to relieve stress and increase focus levels, and the on-campus rec centre is just steps away from your classes. If your building is further away then there you go – you’ve already gotten in your cardio. Wearing gym clothes to class helps save time and facilitates the process, and bright coloured Lulu apparel is always a cute and comfortable look when sitting through lectures. Many students complain about the difficulty of working out due to their hectic schedules and “lack of time,” but all you need is 30 minutes before, between, or after class to release your endorphins and break a sweat. Your brain will feel more relaxed and clear and thus prepared to retain information and you will feel accomplished that you fulfilled your daily activity requirements.
3. Carry around a planner
Because it’s always on you, it’ll be simple and quick to organize specific dates and events that you can visually see and check back to. You can also set notifications if you create a digital version on your device so that you’re kept updated and are constantly aware of your balancing act of a schedule. It may seem like a tedious, unnecessary initiative to write down all your priorities as they arise, but planners and organizers are a great way to maintain time management and facilitate the craziness of everyday life. Plus, there is a multitude of beautifully designed planners from brands like Kate Spade, Lilly Pullizter, and basically the entire shelf at Chapters/Indigo, so why not have an excuse to possess a pretty accessory whilst keeping sane at the same time?
4. Allocate several nights of the week for going out
Going out is more of a “on a whim” basis, but Richmond Row has many established nights for its specific bars so it’s easier to pick and choose what nights you want to let loose. Going out every night, although possible for some, catches up with you eventually and makes it harder to stay sharp and energized while trying to survive the week (frosh week, frost week, and halloweek exempt). The fear of missing out you receive whilst watching your friends’ Snapchats, Instagram posts, and group chat texts of how exhilarating their nights out are may creep up on you, but late nights involving heavy alcohol consumption, little sleep, and greasy drunk food never lead to good outcomes (if done on a regular basis). Everything in moderation is the essential motto when hitting the town, and maintaining a balance between bar hopping and nights in studying is the key to success in postsecondary education. Work hard play hard am I right?
5. Show up to class on time (and actually go to class)
Skipping class is so simple in college as no one calls home to report your absence and no one notices in a class of 400, but falling behind in school work early (and at any point of the year) can leave you in a seriously stressful predicament that can be solved by simply dragging your butt to class. This tip may seem like a given to some as classes are the reason we are all here, yet once your priorities start to stack up or you get caught up in a hole of laziness, start regularly skipping class to get caught up, or because you are always too tired to go is not reasonable. Sure, everyone may miss a few here and there due to conflicting events, illness, or simply just needing a well-deserved off day, but setting a goal to attend at least 70-80% of classes for the whole year is a good way to stay on top of things and not having to worry about finding missed notes and deadlines because your bed was too comfortable or you needed to watch just one more episode.
6. Pack your lunch
College students arguably face the most debt and finance-related stress, so forming habits that reduce spending is key to ensuring you don’t faint at the sight of your bank balance. Simple saving habits involved in your monthly budgeting are as easy as bringing food from home to campus so you are not tempted to spend some cash here and there at Starbucks, Pizza Pizza, or Subway. A $6.00 sandwich can seem harmless at the point of purchase, but campus eateries surround us and that $6.00 a day can add up to hundreds over time. You already need to spend money on groceries, so why not bring some of that food as your lunch or dinner when you know you are going to spend the majority of your day on campus?
7. Take a small amount of $ when going out, and leave the plastic at home
Limiting yourself to a sort of allowance for your nightly activities can actually save you a lot. Your drunk, carefree self may have no problem buying a round of shots for your group of 10 friends or an XL pizza with multiple sides, but when you wake up and wonder why your credit card has been maxed 1 week into the month, you’ll be appreciative. Modern day technology has made it seamless to access our bank accounts from any location, and the in-house ATMs at clubs are tempting when you want to heighten your buzz from just a few drinks more. Taking money out only to allow you several drinks and cab costs is all you need. Leaving the credit and debit cards at home can really save the thirst to take out extra (and also reduce the risk of losing them). $30-$40 for a night out is what I have found to be a perfect amount to allow me a good night out, and the cash-only method will save you from waking up and checking your bank app in a panic wondering the damage your credit card did the night before.
8. Budgeting
Many students are financially independent and must provide all expenses for themselves. Budgeting each and every cost may seem like a tedious act, but you’ll thank yourself when you’re not forced to scramble up change to purchase dinner for the remainder of the week. Allocating monthly cost limits to groceries, gas, entertainment, and personal belongings such as clothing and accessories is a beneficial way to separate required costs and ensure you will live comfortably from month to month. There are many weekly and monthly budgeting templates that can easily be found online, and your spending will of course differ depending on activities and demands, but it’s good to have a sort of idea of where your money is going.
9. Setting goals
This was something we all dreaded in the early school days, and by the time the new year rolls around as goals can be set too high and thus difficult to upkeep, as we all know. Setting small but attainable goals such as achieving a certain average in a class or the amount of times you’ll visit the gym in a week can be a rewarding way to form a routine. There’s no need to be a keener and plan to fulfill a ridiculous set of goals; this will only make it harder and add to your stress levels of not getting enough completed that you desired to. Planning strategically and tactically will allow you to set clear goals and focus on a path to achieving them. Organizing your goals on a timeline structure can help you plan more effectively, and thinking simple will almost guarantee success if you put your mind to it and work towards it actively.
Research of the brain suggests that it takes 21 days for a habit to form, which is both good and bad. If you create a healthy routine equipped with simple but beneficial habits at the start of the school year, in less than a month you will be accustomed to the schedule you have set for yourself and you will be reaping the benefits in no time. My best advice is to start small and start slow. Planning to go to the gym every day of the week for 2 hours and getting up at 5am before class to get some studying in is definitely not the way to begin. Starting simple will ensure that you can easily build up a personal routine fit for your needs and goals and will leave you feeling like less of a failure if you cannot complete the extensive list of to-do’s. Go to class, eat your veggies, do your squats, spend wisely, and cheers to a good year ahead.