That Spring Break tasted so sweet, and you can feel summer pearing around the corner. However, before those summer months come, there are a few more weeks left of school. “Finish strong,” they say, and “don’t give up,” they shout. While everything inside of you wants to throw in the towel and run to the beach, it is important to stay focused for the remainder of the semester. But what do we do to stay on track for these last few weeks? Here are some great ways to get you through the semester.
1. Prioritize.
If you don’t have a planner…get one. If you’re more on the tech savvy side, pull out the notes or calendar on your phone to organize your week. Since you can see all of your assignments in advance, take advantage of spreading out what you can as to get all of your different classes organized. This can help you avoid procrasination, and hopefully you won’t get stuck with piles of homework.
2. Stay Flexible.
This means that those of you who plan out your lives to a ‘T’ that everyday may not go as planned. That’s ok, you just need to reevaluate! To the “mom” of the group, (you know who you are), I’m talking to you! It looks like you need to be able to move some things around in order to let loose and do some spontaneous adventures with your friends. They’ve been asking for you, and I was sent to tell you to chill out.
Nobody wants to look back on their college days and thing, “Man, those nights in the library were crazy! Studying for that philosophy class was rough, but I got an A! Remember when Nick brought donuts to our study group? Totally rad.”
No. That’s lame. You want to remember the time you left campus at 2a.m. to get tacos, ended up in a car chase, had to bail out your friends, and went to class chugging a large coffee in order to stay awake.
Just kidding. You definitely skipped class after a night like that.
But isn’t that what we all dream about when we get ready to go to college? Maybe you want to let loose a little bit (or a lot bit). Either way, you need to stay flexible in order to give yourself permission for those opportunities when they arise.
3. Find a Balance
Between prioritizing and being flexible, there needs to be a sound balance of the two instead of leaning on one side too heavily. Prioritizing and planning too much might keep you from what could be the best time of your life. On the other hand, staying too flexible might lead to some long-term procrasination that may be hard to recover from. To help find the balance, make daily goals. For instance, if you have fifty math problems due at the end of the week, aim for ten problems a day. Have an essay due Sunday? Resort back to middle school tactics by making an outline, and writing one paragraph a day. Everyone is different, so trial and error is a great way to find what best works for you.
4. GCU Wants to Help
Nobody really wants to walk all the way over to the learning lounge, because let’s be honest – it’s a hike. However, in the long run it could make a big difference, saving you from headaches and panic attacks. Most importantly, this could help save time, get homework done faster, and give you the freedom to do some fun things with your friends.
The student success center is open:
Monday – Thursday 8:00AM-Midnight
Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM
Saturday 10:00AM-4:00PM
Sunday 5:00PM-10:00PM
Just because you’re going to the student success center doesn’t mean you can’t drag some friends with you! At times it may feel like you’re the only one with homework, who wants to graduate and keep your scholarships. But you aren’t the only one! You may be surprised at who decides to go with you; it never hurts to ask.
Utilize these helpful ways to get you through the rest of this semester. Your future self will thank you, I promise. With a combination of good decision making and solid motivation, you can own the rest of this semester with ease. Remember: have fun, be smart, and may the last few weeks of school be ever in your favor!