While most people find finals week to be the most stressful part of the school year, for me, it’s the first two weeks of a new semester. As someone who thrives on routine, the chaos of not knowing what to expect and not being in the swing of things always makes me anxious.
After five semesters of college, I’ve developed a few strategies that help me start off organized and feel more prepared for a new semester, which other students might find helpful as well.
As I mentioned earlier, one of the most important parts of starting a new semester off successfully is staying organized. For me, this means not just reading my syllabi, but also taking notes on them. After reading each syllabus once, I usually create an outline with two sections for each class: one for weekly assignments that stay consistent throughout the semester, and another for important class information such as attendance policies, projects, and required materials. I find that writing everything down in one place helps me better understand the structure and expectations of my classes from the start. Additionally, it can be much easier to refer back to rather than having to look through each and every syllabus for information.
While creating a syllabus outline helps me understand what to expect for each class, how I actually keep track of assignments throughout the semester looks a bit different. Unlike many other students, I don’t use an assignment tracker, instead I rely on my planner to stay on top of due dates and upcoming tasks. While I’ve considered creating an assignment tracker in the past, I prefer using a planner because I find it most helpful to have just that week laid out in front of me, as seeing the entire semester’s assignments all at once can be overwhelming. What I like most about using a physical planner is being able to check each assignment off and see my to-do list get smaller as I get things done. Additionally, a planner allows me to keep track of everything I need to do outside of school, like work shifts or club events.
Over time, I’ve realized that being organized in other parts of my life makes a big difference too. Little things like making my lunch and laying out my clothes for the next day only take about 30 minutes each night, but they make my mornings smoother and help me start each day with less stress, especially if you’re someone who loves to snooze the alarm or is always running late, like me. It’s small habits like these that make the biggest difference and help me feel more in control during busy weeks.
Overall, I’ve learned that starting the semester off on the right foot doesn’t have to be complicated, it’s about finding routines that work for you and sticking with them. Whether it’s organizing your syllabi, planning your week, or setting yourself up for smoother mornings, these small habits can make a big difference in how prepared and in control you feel. At the end of the day, a little preparation goes a long way toward making the start of a new semester feel less stressful and a lot more manageable.