This semester has by far been the busiest of my college career thus far. With that being said, it can get overwhelming when I feel like I don’t have my sh*t together. Throughout the year, I’ve developed some good habits, and although they may be small, they seem to lessen the stress I feel throughout the week.
- Checklists
My favorite way to navigate assignments and tasks I have throughout the week is to create a checklist for each day. In my checklist, I have a category for assignments, my schedule, and a to-do list. I use the same decomposition book each day so I won’t forget to look at my lists. At night, I sit down at my desk and create lists for the next day which helps me feel prepared to tackle whatever is on my plate. I also use this notebook to take notes for my classes which keeps everything in one place; this way, I can see what day certain notes were taken on which can be helpful if I’m looking for a specific topic.
- Pack the night before
At night I enjoy packing my bookbag for the next day so I don’t forget anything when I’m in a hurry to get out the door the next morning. I normally make sure essentials such as my wallet, keys, laptop, notebook (the one I mentioned above), and snacks are all packed and ready to go. I have never been a morning person, but having this done when I wake up makes the mornings a lot easier for me.
- Make your bed (no matter the time of day)
When I was younger, I never took the time to make my bed because I was always in a rush to catch the bus in the mornings. When I’d get home later in the evening, I didn’t see my unmade bed throughout the day. Now that I’m able to come and go from my apartment and to and from classes, if my bed isn’t made, I feel significantly less productive and not put together. When I come home to my neatly made bed, I’m more likely to keep getting tasks done because I am not tempted to lay down or go on my phone. Normally I don’t make my bed before I go to my 9:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. classes, but when I get home around lunchtime, I make my bed to feel like I have completed another task and because it uplifts my mood to see my room looking clean and organized.