October —the warm month that brings the smell of pumpkin spice wafting through the air as the leaves change various shades of color, and all things spooky are welcomed. Although it’s a cozy time of year, I realized it is also going by a bit fast. We are already halfway through the semester, which is a horror in itself. For some of us, our grades are satisfactory —for others, not so much. Here are some steps to take that will help destress you and take charge of your grade.
Step 1: Panic time
You’re allowed to panic, there’s no rule against that. One thing I’ve learned is that keeping it in won’t do you any good as it will only increase stress. If you feel like panicking then do it — not only will it help you release tension, but it will help clear your mind and let out all your worries.
Step 2: Now breathe
Wipe those tears away, take a deep breath, drink some tea or even eat a whole carton of ice cream, and make a game plan of the next steps to take in order to get back on track. I have something called “Grade Goals,” which is a list that I create of all of my classes and the overall grade I aim to work towards. I tape it somewhere visible so that way it not only serves as a daily reminder but as a boost of motivation.
Step 3: Get out of the house
And run, not walk, straight into your professors office. If they require an appointment, then do so at the earliest possible convenience. Talk to them. Discuss extra credit options and if they don’t offer that, calculate how many points you need and what assignments you need to do really good on to get to your desired grade.
Step 4: Party
Form a study party with your friends, whether it’s in the library or even in your dorm! Having a group to study with will help you to concentrate. It’s a safe space where you can ask any questions and triple check that you fully understand the material. If study parties aren’t for you, then one-on-one tutoring can be just as beneficial.
Step 5: No Netflix
Try and limit things that get you distracted as much as possible. It’s tempting to go on Netflix with the promise of watching just one episode, but one becomes two and so on and so forth, and before you know it, the whole night has passed and no homework or studying has gotten done. So make sure you avoid the things that distract you. If you have to temporarily, delete an app or even shut off your phone, then do so.
Although there’s only November and half of December left in the semester, it’s important to remember to start setting goals for yourself now. It’s not too late to change that grade! So keep your head up and march forward.
Photo credit: cnn.com