University is very daunting in itself. This huge jump from high school brings on a plethora of challenges—from finding your way around campus to figuring out how to network—that are often difficult to navigate and overwhelming. On top of that, we all come from different walks of life which can impact our university experience, especially when it comes to time management and organization. For some people, the generic advice we often get may be very helpful, which is great! For others, that might not be the case.
Combining my own experiences along with those of my friends and classmates, this article sums up a variety of tips that can be adapted to fit your own life.
1. Find your ideal study environment
If you live at home with reliable Wi-Fi access, you can make use of your space at home and create a dedicated study environment that primes you to focus and allows you to put your best effort into your work. This can be at your desk or on your couch, depending on where you feel comfortable yet alert.
If you don’t live at home (i.e., in residence) or don’t have stellar Wi-Fi, there are other options. Take advantage of your local library if the university library isn’t your vibe. Not only does your local library have quiet spaces and study zones, but it also has access to tons of resources, including books, audiobooks and DVDs that can help you with your work. There are also so many buildings and study spaces on campus that you can hunker down in.
I personally like to work with other people around me because it motivates me to stay on task; if you’re looking for a place like that, check out the common study areas in the Social Sciences building, the second floor of CRX, and Perez Hall. However, if you need a completely quiet and disruption-free space to put your head down to work, you can also book a private study room.
Going to a coffee shop is also a great option if you feel like romanticizing your study session (and if you’re willing to spend some money). There are tons of places around campus, like Première Moisson in the Social Sciences building (my personal favourite), Second Cup, Figaro on Laurier, and the Starbucks in the Desmarais building.
No matter where you find yourself to be most productive, make sure you find a space that you enjoy being in.
2. Find an organization and planning system that works for you
Whether you’re someone who prefers using a digital system or a paper planner to keep track of deadlines, being able to plan your time and organize your assignments effectively is key to preventing yourself from feeling super overwhelmed. I personally prefer a digital system; since I always bring my laptop and iPad with me everywhere I go, it’s super easy for me to access and saves me the stress of forgetting it at home. I use a colour coding system in Google Calendar to note down all my class times (including the location if it’s an in-person class), as well as assignment due dates, midterms, and final exam dates. As a visual learner, the colour coding comes in handy since I don’t get my classes mixed up. I also use Google Calendar to plan when I’m going to go to the gym, when I’ll have time to study between classes, and any other obligations like appointments or errands. Planning my week and day not only prevents me from feeling overwhelmed, but helps me achieve a balance between school and taking care of my own well-being.
Google Drive is also where I keep all my notes for all my classes. I recommend having a folder for each class, and a specific sub-folder just for class notes so you can access them quicker. I tend to organize my notes by week; for each class, I’ll take a look at the list of topics covered each week and create a Google Doc for each topic. That way, when I’m studying for the exam, I know exactly when what material was covered and where I need to refer back to if there are any gaps in my understanding.
No matter what system you prefer, it’s important to find one that you can stick to so you can stay on track. It may take some trial and error in the beginning; in my first semester of university, I tried a few different ways of writing my notes and organizing my schoolwork (both paper and digital) before I settled on my current system. It all came down to making sure I actually liked using it (for example, I prefer Google Docs over OneNote for note-taking because of the formatting) and that the information was visible and easy to access each day (I’m much more likely to check Google Calendar than Outlook, but for you it may be the opposite).
3. Collaborate with others in your program
It’s easy to lose motivation (and time) when you get stuck on an assignment. Collaboration is a key skill to develop in these situations because it allows you to talk to others in your program, ask them questions if you are stuck, and get their perspective. Oftentimes, you end up making new friends and you can keep each other accountable!
If you already have friends in some of your classes, ask them to study with you. Even if you don’t know anyone, reaching out to someone is not as scary as it may seem. Turn to the person nearest to you and ask them if they want to study for the midterm or work on an upcoming assignment together. Nine times out of ten, your classmates will also appreciate some peer support. When you get together for a study session, you can compare notes, quiz each other, bounce ideas off of each other for a big paper or an assignment, and get help on topics you’re struggling to understand. Make sure to also stay connected through texting or social media, so if ever you’re both too busy to meet up in person, you can chat virtually.
You can also reach out to your upper-year classmates—who you might have met during orientation week or through your student association—not only for help on assignments, but also for broader advice on networking, finding a summer internship, and exploring your specific interests within your program, especially when you’re taking mandatory courses that cover broad subject matter. Remember that they’ve been through it before, and they would be happy to give you their perspective.
4. Prioritize your health and well-being, no matter what that looks like for you.
I know we often get so caught up in the hustle of studying that it can be easy to forget to take care of ourselves, even at the most basic level. The truth is, it’s a vicious cycle: the busier we are, the harder it is to keep up healthy habits for our mental and physical health; but the more we neglect our health, the harder it is to perform at our best.
There are a few habits I rely on to make my body and mind love me during the semester, which I’ve already touched on in my article on mental health. These include moving my body every day (whether that be going to the gym or on a walk), getting enough sleep, getting out of the house every single day and limiting my time on social media. They’re simple things that make a big impact on how I feel. My friends also swear by taking intentional breaks from studying to avoid burnout and spending time with friends and family.
I also want to highlight some tips one of my friends, who’s doing a degree in social work, mentioned. The first one is to make a study plan according to the time you have and your energy levels. For example, on days when you’re in a better head space, you can tackle those larger tasks that are more time-consuming and require more attention. Alternatively, if you’re not in a good headspace, take a step back and see how you can make your work more digestible and less time-consuming.
The second tip my friend brought up is to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, which can be a game-changer for your mental health and self-confidence. You can apply this to your studies by reflecting on what subjects you’re strongest in and which ones you need to dedicate more time to understanding better. Pride yourself on what you do know and encourage yourself to work on what you know less of by saying, “I don’t know this yet, but I will soon.” Having this growth mindset truly helped me get through some of my more difficult subjects in first year, like economics.
If you’re in a class that focuses on heavy real-life topics, like politics and psychology, it’s also helpful to be mindful of your triggers and how to manage them so you can focus on your studies while prioritizing your mental health.
Hopefully you find some of these tips helpful. Although the situation you’re currently in may be overwhelming and discouraging, soon enough it will pass.