Unfortunately for us, reading period is coming to an end. If you’re like the majority of Lawrentians, reading period means sleeping in during our regular class period and moseying over to Andrew Commons only when it is utterly and painfully necessary. That short break from the daily grind is just what the doctor ordered!
Given that Sunday is considered the leisurely day of the week when most folks set aside their phones and openup the newspaper with a cup of Joe, you should be doing just the same. But if you do have academics to attend to and you’re stressing about how you’re going to finish your assignments by tomorrow read below for tips on how you can manage your time more effectively!
Evaluate and Identify Where You Spend Most of Your Time
You know how the saying goes, “the first step is admittance”? Well, the spotlight is on you! We’ve hit mid-term, and you still have time (no pun intended) to change your bad habits. Consider how long it takes you to get ready in the morning; Do you shower in the evening or in the morning?; How many hours a day do you devote to being active?; How many hours of class do you have?; How do you spend your free time?; Do you have a planner? The list can go on and on. But here are some helpful tips to eradicate those bad habits for good:
Shower in the evening so you have one less thing to worry about in the morning
Invest in workout DVDs. Try Turbo Jam by Chalene Johnson. She has a killer 20-minute workout that will save you from walking to the Y and kick your butt in half the time!
If you’re completely disinterested in doing your homework, visit CNN, read some current events, then tackle your work. Controlled distractions temporarily you’re your mind off of your task at hand and enable you to focus better.
Lay out your clothes and pack your school bag the night before. Forgetting something for class can completely throw your day off.
Visualize Success
I try my best to juggle my campus activities, academics, friends, boyfriend, etc… However with all that I have to do important tasks like paper deadlines can slip my mind. In an effort to combat my forgetfulness and stay on task, I put everything that needs to get done today, tomorrow, and beyond on Post-it® notes on my desk. That way every time I sit at my desk and peruse Facebook, I am reminded of what I should be really doing. It’s also really rewarding when I rip down a post-it task that I’ve accomplished!
And if you don’t already have a planner, GET ONE! There’s no better way to remember what (exactly) your professor wants on your homework assignment than to jot it down while he’s telling the class. Carry it around with you like it’s your best friend. The more you get in the habit of using it as a reference book to your busy life, the more you’ll be able to accomplish!
While the following tidbit of advice isn’t intended for you to do everyday, it could be a part of figuring out what your priorities currently are and if you really need to change them. Try creating a typed out schedule for one day of the week (I suggest starting with Monday- there’s no better start to your week than being organized). Include your meal times, classes, extra curricular activities; essentially all things you have to do. In between the skeleton you’ve just created, allot reasonable time for you to tackle your work. Make sure to disperse the time evenly, you don’t want to psyche yourself out with 5 hours of study time. Print it out. Tape it to your lovely new planner, and see if you get more done with your typed out schedule.
Leave the Perfection for Bree Vandekamp
That’s right, I said it. It would be nice if we could perfect 24/7 but aiming for perfection sets you up for defeat. The key to being “perfect” is to shift your focus from doing things according to how others would expect it to making a conscious effort to do the best you can do with the resources around you.
If you’ve watched Bree Vandekamp’s character develop over the seasons, you know that Mrs. Perfect Housewife shares the same issues as the frazzled soccer mom down the lane, has a terrible relationship with her children and her perfect demeanor doesn’t accurately portray who Bree actually is as an individual. Erase perfection from your vocabulary and, rather, aim for the best you that you can be- both academically and socially.
Multi-Purpose Programming
It sounds more daunting than it actually is. All I really mean by it is that you can combine certain activitiestomaximize your free time.
For your weekly play date with a friend offer to take a walk to a coffee shop on the Ave and bring homework along. Look at you! Socializing, being a good student, and getting off campus all at the same time!
Kill two birds with one stone. Who knew academics and exercise went hand in hand? While you’re seated in an upright position at your desk doing your work, try lifting your legs slightly up from the floor then lower and without touching the ground repeat the same motion. Do this for 20 reps and you’ll feel the strength in your core and simultaneously progress with your work!
Regardless if you choose to follow all of this advice or just some of it, reflecting on how you manage your time is beneficial for all types of students. Remember to not over exert yourself because you’re only a college student once so make it these four pivotal years count! Good luck.
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