Lola Mendeloff
Overcoming the Fall Semester Slump
Every year between Fall break and Thanksgiving break students find motivation lacking and the will to sleep overcoming surprising odds. The weather turns cold and dreary, midterms are over and final projects or essays are starting to loom over us, effectively taking away any free time we were planning on having. However, there are some easy ways to manage stress levels long enough to make it to break in one piece.
The first and simplest step is to write down all of your upcoming due dates. Consult your syllabi, Blackboard, classmates, whatever means necessary to nail down when your next assignments are due. Then, make a list. Order it however you deem best, (personally I put down major assignments at the top and then lesser ones later), and put it somewhere where it is always available and visible. Be specific—write down what the assignment is and when it is due so you are not left with five tasks that just say “paper”. Do not put it in a folder or a drawer, you will forget about it (I keep mine clipped into my planner or post-noted onto my desk). If you prefer to be paperless, use the sticky note application and leave it on your desktop so it is annoyingly present every time you open your laptop. As you accomplish tasks, be sure to cross them off. There is an immense feeling of satisfaction received from crossing something off a to-do list.
Another treatment for stress is remembering to make time for you. It seems pointless and counter-productive but really, it will help you with your sanity. Denison offers programs like Stress Fairs and other diverting events like concerts and speakers, whatever you feel like doing for an hour just go do it. Of course it is important to manage your time between assignments but it is equally as important to manage your time between academics and actually enjoying college. Maybe you work until a certain time on Saturday then go out for the night; thereby accomplishing work on the weekend while still having a weekend.
A key factor in managing your stress is knowing yourself. If you are like me and sometimes you just know that you will not get work done in your room—do not go to your room. Yes, the library is far but if you can get in a few solid hours of productivity than it is worth it; or maybe just going to another academic building, Slayter, your dorm lounge, anything for a change of scenery. Also, a tried but true notion is that sleep really is key. If you manage your time well then sleep won’t be sacrificed (thereby allowing you to be more productive and continuing the cycle). Be aware of your emotions, if you are less likely to have a breakdown. Know when you need a break. If your vision is doubling looking at the screen or you are ripping your hair out trying to solve a problem go for a walk or maybe take a shower. Anything that will refresh your senses will help you finish your work.
These four or five weeks can seem to go by in years or seconds, depending on your workload. The amount of stress to meet deadlines can sometimes be overwhelming and paralyzing so the important thing to keep in mind is that it is possible, you just have to look at it in steps. If you worry about everything all at once you might end up having a meltdown, so just break it down into to manageable chunks. Then before you know it, we will be home for Christmas!