Winter break is over, and thousands of college students across the country are now starting the new semester. If you’re stressing out about getting back into your routine and thinking “yikes”, you’re not alone! However, starting the new semester can be a much smoother process than you think. Here are some suggestions for making this transition as easy as possible:
1. Set a bedtime for each night and stick to it.
Sleep is crucial to being able to complete your coursework and other responsibilities effectively. Try to figure out your optimal amount of sleep, and schedule a bedtime that allows you to get that amount of sleep each night. While it’s easy to let sleep go to the wayside in favor of other responsibilities, prioritizing sleep is even more important than your other responsibilities because without adequate sleep, you can’t be fully productive. Make your bedtime part of your schedule and respect it as much as you respect the times you go to class or the meetings you have with your boss.
2. Make time in your schedule for activities you enjoy.
Just like prioritizing sleep is important, prioritizing activities you enjoy is also crucial to your productivity. Set aside some time each day to do something completely unrelated to work or school, even if it’s only 15 minutes. Making time for enjoyable activities helps prevent burnout and can serve as a way to “reset” your energy when you’ve been working hard. Prioritizing things you enjoy reduces stress and allows you to do your work more effectively.
3. Get a planner (and use it!)
Whether you enjoy using a paper planner or a planning app, getting a planner is critical to organizing a busy schedule. Having a concrete representation of what you need to do each day can help you stay on top of what you need to do so that you don’t get behind or forget an important appointment. Colorful pens can transform your planner from a boring list of appointments to a way to express your creativity while simultaneously helping yourself stay more organized.
4. Work mindfulness into your schedule.
When life gets hectic, the last thing we typically think of is taking a step back and focusing on the present moment. Try scheduling some mindfulness into your day so that you have time to decompress. In my daily schedule, I eat a mindful breakfast, practice paced breathing before each of my classes or assignments, and I meditate before bed.
5. Set earlier deadlines for yourself.
Something I’m working on doing this semester is staying on top of deadlines, and one way I’m doing this is by creating deadlines for myself that are earlier than the actual deadline. For example, if I have something that’s due on Friday, I’ll tell myself it’s due Thursday, that way if I don’t get it done by Thursday, I still have time to catch up. This technique can help you stay on top of your responsibilities, especially when you have a lot on your plate.
While the start of the new semester can be overwhelming, trying these techniques can help you have a much smoother start.