As UC Davis students, we enjoy a long summer. For us, school is starting just as fall begins. Unfortunately, the laziness of summer is no match for the fast-paced quarter system. Sleeping in and missing just one class could have you scrambling before your first midterm!
Don’t let it happen to you. Try adding these steps into your back-to-school routine to have the best fall quarter yet:
1.Be realistic when you set your alarm.
We’ve all done it — we decide we’ll wake up at 5 AM the next day to fit in a workout, a study session, and a full breakfast before our first class. Fast forward and we’re pressing snooze on our alarm in a desperate attempt to get “just 5 more minutes” of sleep. After a summer full of late nights and later mornings, waking up early for class is hard. Be realistic about your body’s response and set your alarm with the goal of just taking a shower and grabbing a bite before heading to campus.
2. Bring your book with you EVERYWHERE.
Okay, some textbooks are ridiculously heavy, but chances are you’ll have at least one that’s somewhat portable. Make this book your best friend. Take it with you, and pull it out to finish your reading while waiting for the bus or between classes. It’s a much more productive use of your time than scrolling through Instagram or Facebook — as much as we wish it were true, you’ll never be quizzed on that adorable video of a dog in a tutu. If all your textbooks are too big to carry, carry around your notebook for a class and review your notes!
3. Make a new playlist.
Your summer playlist might be loaded with some of your favorite songs, but they’re just going to take you back to road trips and beach days. Regrettably, those days are long gone. Instead, fill up your Spotify with contemporary classical music or film soundtracks and let them play softly in the background as you unwind from a long school day or begin your homework. It is much easier to stay focused when your music isn’t filled with lyrics you want to belt out, or set to a beat made for boogying.
4. Eat your favorite meals, but make time for them.
You can still eat your favorite ice cream once a week or have pancakes for dinner like you did in the summer, but you’ll need to give these foods their own special time of the week. Of course, it’s vital not to go crazy on the junk food. The important thing is to establish a routine for eating, rather than eating whatever you want, whenever you want. Tell yourself that you’ll indulge in desserts on Fridays — it motivates you to eat healthier the rest of the week and gives you something to look forward to.
5. The same goes for your friends.
Summer makes it seem like we have all the time in the world to hang out with our friends, but then fall makes it seem like we don’t. We do! Just like with your favorite cookies, it’s important to make time for the people you care about to keep your social life healthy. Even if you’re busy with coursework, the short breaks in your schedule are great times to catch up with a friend over coffee. You can’t get through this quarter alone and neither can they.
Just one of these changes could have an immense impact on your fall quarter; imagine what all of them could do!