While fall always seems like a time for fun, this semester you might also have your work cut out for you. Between classes, an internship, a job, and a social life, sometimes everything seems a bit overwhelming. With just a little balance and some organizing though, this fall might be the best you’ve had yet.
First things first. When it comes to a new semester, grab yourself a new planner or organizer as well as a calendar. Both will be useful when it comes to deadlines. Â Make sure that your calendar is in a spot where you can see it everyday. Each month, write down big dates such as an exam, meeting, or paper deadline. It’ll help you see the big picture of things going on that month. Take your small planner with you everywhere. This will be helpful for writing down homework assignments due for the next class, or simple reminders such as shooting a professor an email or meeting up with a friend for lunch. Â Try and correlate your big picture calendar into your planner by reminding yourself of big, upcoming due dates. That way when the big day arrives, you have already prepared and didn’t leave everything for the last minute.
After you get organized, find out what’s really important to you this semester. Do you want to get involved in a few clubs? Did you score an awesome internship or a new part-time job? When you find out what’s really important, then cut back on the other things. Chances are, you don’t really need to be taking 17 hours this semester. The class will most likely be offered again in the spring and you’ll still graduate on time, so don’t stress.Â
Instead, try joining a new club, or even volunteering for Dance Marathon. All of these things will be great resume builders and also give you fun experiences that you won’t find in a lecture hall. If you are one of the lucky ones who scored a great internship this semester, then that should be at the top of your priorities list. Internships are a serious matter and often require more time than listed when you applied. Plus, it’ll look great to future employers if you could handle a full time class schedule as well as an internship.
Along with cutting back a class or too, don’t freak if you don’t have a job or work is giving you too many hours. Employers understand that college is a busy time and that work isn’t necessarily your primary focus. You have your whole life to work, plus colleges give out financial aid for a reason. Don’t be afraid to ask your manager to schedule you less hours or take some time off. Â Just make a weekly or monthly budget, whatever works best for you, and stick to it the best you can so funds don’t get low.
The most important thing to do when times get stressful this fall is to simply breathe. Everything will pan out and be okay in the end. Don’t forget about words like fun or friends. Sometimes the best thing you can do when you seem overwhelmed is to simply walk away from it all (just for a little while). Take an hour break and read your favorite book or go for a nice run. And don’t forget to try new things. College is all about new experiences so grab a friend and try a new class at the rec-center or make a date with your boyfriend and cook that new recipe you found on Pinterest. While things may seem overwhelming at times, time will fly, so make sure you have things to remember by!