The first semester of any school year can be hard. Finding that new balance of school, work and college life is a challenge when starting the new year. There are things that we all need to remember while this semester comes to its ending.
We are all ready for the holidays to come around and go home for winter break. But we need to remember that there is still a month left till we can get that wonderful time off. So when you feel like you are losing your mind on your homework, or you are just too tired to even keep your head up in class, take a break. Although your school work is important along with your friends and other activities, taking time for yourself is a good way to relieve that stress. There is something to be said for laying in your warm bed with your favorite new Netflix show and some leftover Halloween candy to make a nice relaxing night. Having time to yourself can be a good way to breath for a minute and rejuvenate yourself.
Making a list of things you need to get done is another way to make yourself feel better. Now, this is not for everyone. Sometimes making lists stresses people out, but sometimes it can be a tool in order to plan out your week and feel organized. A list of things to do can be satisfying when you accomplish something on the list. Another strategy similar to this is sticky noting. Writing important tasks to get done on sticky notes and taking them down after accomplishing each one is a way to check off those tasks in a more visual way.
Doing work during the day in small intervals can also help you get work done easier. Most college students can wait till the absolute last minute to finish that paper or lab report, but when you have an hour between classes or a break after lunch, try to get as much work done as possible. This can relieve stress from later in the day when it is 11 o’clock and you are just starting to study for that test. Breaking up when you do your work can also extinguish any of those long hours of doing work straight through.
Take a breath and a break while being stressed. Holding down emotions and stress is not a healthy or helpful way to get work done. There is always going to be time to do homework, but students forget about the relaxation time they need to be able to function as real human beings. So remember to take time for yourself, plan your week and make better study habits for yourself to maximize sleep. These will make being a college student at least a little bit easier.