7 Tips For Beginning The New Semester

Out with the old and in with the new! A new year means a new semester. And if last semester went well, the only thing there is to do now is to keep it up. But if last semester wasn’t exactly a breeze for you, it’s time to get down to business and make some changes. Follow these seven tips for jumpstarting your semester and getting on the right track.

1. Organize Your Space….Even Consider Changing It

Start your Spring cleaning a little early. Get rid of any unnecessary papers, books, tools, and clutter that are taking up space in and on your desk. There’s no need to bring last semester’s junk into the new semester.  You’d be surprised to find that a tidy and organized space can help keep your head clear.

You may even consider spicing up your room. New year, new you! So why not give your room a new look. It never hurts to shake things up a bit. Redecorating, even if just only a little, could add a hint of freshness to your life, bringing you away from the same old same old of last semester.

2. Set Up Your Calendar

Look over your syllabi. Review your work schedule. Plan your extracurricular involvement. Consider any upcoming events you may want to attend.  Anything with a date and time or a deadline should go onto your calendar. With your calendar planned, you will have a general gist of what to expect each month and how much free space you have to what you need to do and what you want to do.

3. Rid Yourself of Your Old and Bad Habits

Do you tend to wait till the last minute to do anything? Are you prone to vamping before a morning full of classes?…Try to break any bad habits that you have.  You don’t want to enter the new semester doing anything that could compromise your success (especially if you know these habits contributed to your demise last semester). Besides, bad habits are termed “bad” for a reason.  Do yourself a favor and get rid of them! 

4. Get into a Groove and Stick to It

Try to establish a routine. Make an attempt at going to bed and waking up around the same time each day. If exercise is a part of your lifestyle, find a consistent time to do it. Set aside time for schoolwork. Establish an eating schedule for your meals. Whatever it is you choose to do each day, try to make it a part of a routine that you wouldn’t mind following. Once you become satisfied and accustomed to it, getting into a comfortable groove will be easy. The structure will only contribute to your success in the new semester. 

5. Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thin

You know how the saying goes of “having too much on one’s plate.” Try to avoid having too much on your plate. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, whether that involve extracurriculars, overloading your coursework, or even hanging out with friends. The more you attempt to force things into your schedule, the more some area of your life will suffer (your grades, your relationships, your health, etc.). Making sacrifices to make your overloaded schedule work will ultimately hurt you. So why not try going on a diet and taking a few sides off of your plate if it’s already a little full.  

6. Study…That’s Why We’re Here

It goes without saying….you should study. What better way to start the new semester off than to put in some study hours.  Get prepared and get ahead. After all, they say at least two hours of out of class studying should be allotted per class. You do the math! Whew! 

7. Relax and Live a Little

Don’t forget to take a breather. Try not to become overwhelmed or obsessed with all that you have to do and remember to be flexible with your schedule. Every second of every day doesn’t have to be chalked full of work and activities to have a successful semester. Be sure to find time to unwind in your busy student life. After a day of hard work, you’ll deserve it.

• new semester
• New Year
• organization