How to Hit the Ground Running This Semester

Caitlin Barkley Student Contributor, Clemson University

Elizabeth Levine Student Contributor, Clemson University

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Clemson chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

How to Hit the Ground Running This Semester

One of my favorite parts of starting the semester is the chance to reorganize and

refocus myself. I had a chance to relax over the break and to think about what I want

to get out of the semester. I reviewed the past semester and determined what

changes I would like to make. I anxiously awaited the chance to put these changes

into action as I pack my bags to head back to school. So I’d like to share with you my

tips on how to hit the ground running this semester and to get the most out of this

semester.

Set goals.

I don’t care whether you believe in New Year’s resolutions or not. There is

something empowering and inspiring about setting and defining goals. After a

relaxing break where you can focus on yourself, you want to recommit yourself to

taking care of your body, mind, and spirit. It doesn’t matter whether you want to

lose 10 pounds, to earn that 4.0, or to journal/blog everyday. I suggest you clearly

map out what you want to accomplish and WRITE IT DOWN! Studies show that

writing down goals helps you to accomplish them. Does the thought of semester

goals seem too intimating? You can always write out your goals by month or by day.

Breaking up your goals into smaller steps can even help you accomplish the goals

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quicker! Lastly, to make sure you accomplish everything you want this semester,

write out a semester to-do list. By to-do list I mean a list of completely not school-

related, fun-filled adventures you want to complete this semester (like weekend

trips to go on, restaurants to taste test, outdoor adventures to try, etc.)

Clean your dorm.

The very last thing I had to do before leaving campus for the

break was to clean my dorm room. I stored by the semester’s notebooks in my

storage containers for reference next semester. My friend helped me vacuum every

square inch of floor space. I went through my desk drawers and cleaned the sink

area. All my dishes were washed and put away. My bed sheets were washed, and I

made my bed to perfection. I sprayed Lysol over everything before locking up my

room and leaving for break. So you didn’t clean your dorm before break? No

worries! The beginning of the semester is the perfect time to clean up your living

space and perhaps, rearrange your furniture for the coming weeks. It’ll give you a

fresh start for the new semester.

Put up an inspiration wall.

We all like to meet our goals, and even the most well

crafted plan can falter when we lack motivation. So after cleaning your dorm room

and de-cluttering your life, put up a motivation wall. I love quotes, pictures, and

inspiration messages. They help to keep me motivated and excited to reach my

goals. It’s the perfect way to express your wants and wishes in life. With the start of

the semester, you can welcome the fresh start with a new, vibrant view of life.

Buy new supplies.

Those half-used notebooks and broken pencils from last

semester aren’t going to cut it when you’re busy being productive and fabulous.

Pitch any notebooks you no longer need. Hit up Walmart for fresh supplies that will

keep you organized. My favorite supplies include new highlighters, pens, notebooks,

and of course, a planner (it’s my absolute must-have in college). You need supplies

in order to make this semester a success. Bonus points if you can find a new study

spot that will keep you focused!

Review courses.

Before classes resume, take time to review your course schedule.

This allows you to make sure that you are covering your major’s required classes

and to make any time changes if course sections have opened. Staying up-to-date on

your schedule allows you to have the most control over classes, times, and

professors. In addition, to ensure that you know where your English literature class

meets, you will need to double-check the locations of every class. Make sure you are

familiar with the building by perhaps walking through your schedule before classes

start back. Go online and read up to have an idea on what to expect from the course

and the professor. If it is available, go ahead and print off the course’s syllabus and

begin to familiarize yourself with important dates and assignments. You’ll feel

better prepared when you sit through the first lecture.

Organize your planner.

My absolute favorite school-related thing EVER! I may be a

slight nerd in my love for my planner. It’s color-coded by course, includes

checkboxes, and organizes my weekly goals. It beautiful! With a new semester

means I must assign different colors to my course and familiarize myself with my

daily class schedule. Any and all important dates must be entered and highlighted in

my planner. This semester I’ll be trying out this new assignment planner from one of

my favorite college bloggers to keep up with assignments among my different

courses. If you don’t utilize a planner, I highly suggest buying one. Everyone is

different, so everyone will organize her planner differently. It may take a couple of

weeks to determine what works best for you. However, the beginning of the

semester will seem 10x less overwhelming if you write it all down. A simple daily to-

do list will make your life so much easier as you navigate the new semester.

Create a routine.

In order to tackle everything and anything this semester, you will

need to prioritize and make good use of your time. One of my plans this semester is

to take my class schedule and delegate blocks of time to accomplish my different

goals. I find it’s much easier to workout at Fike or to study at Cooper Library if I’ve

set aside time to do so. It also holds me accountable to my schedule and makes sure

I have plenty of time to get everything done. Even though I enjoy sleeping-in, I’m

going to try being more of a morning person this semester (emphasis of the

try…that’s the important thing). Morning people tend to get more work done in the

day anyway. I found myself wasting a lot of time this semester on unimportant

things and not managing my time as well as I could. Productivity is key, and it will

help you follow your routine. Hopefully, a routine will relieve some of the day-to-

day stresses of college as you use your time more wisely.

Be open to new friends and experiences.

Do you feel like your social circle is at a

standstill? Often times, the end of semester means we’ve settled into the

comfortable. We’re exhausted, so we resort to living in the familiar. However,

college is all about branching out and going on new adventures. So, get out of your

dorm! Pretend it’s the first week of freshmen year and go meet people. No matter

how outgoing you are, there are always people on campus you don’t know. Your

network will grow, and you now have the opportunity to make lifelong connections

with new people. Meanwhile, I suggest also seeking out new experiences and go on

adventures. College is the time in your life to try new things. Campus clubs and

organizations offer a wide range of activities, events, and trips (usually at

discounted prices) to get college kids involved. So get out of your comfort zone and

try something new!

How to Hit the Ground Running This Semester

How to Hit the Ground Running This Semester

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