There’s really no blissful way to start a new year of school. Endless stacks of homework, early morning lectures, ramen noodle breakfasts, lunch and dinners—you can’t avoid the misfortunes of college life. And it doesn’t help that summer mode has us watching Netflix ‘til 3am, sleeping in ‘til noon and doing whatever it is we feel like doing that day; I know we are all dreading the first day we don’t have time to watch 10 episodes in a row of Friends or bum at the beach all weekend.
Sure, we may be used to committing to a full- or part-time summer job, but adding 18 credits of class and homework, a fall internship and any other extra-curricular activities to the mix can be a major headache (not to mention finding time to hang out with family and friends, workout and have time for yourself)! But there are things you can do to make your semester a little less stressful, a little more manageable and, perhaps, even a little more enjoyable. Here are 11 things you can do to start your semester off on the right foot:
1. Create a time management plan.
Managing your time is very important and key to a successful school year. Make rules for yourself at the beginning of the semester like I will do my homework right away after class. Make a pact to go to the library and focus on homework before heading home where you will be tempted to watch Netflix and take a nap (we both know that once your bum touches a couch or a bed you’re done for). Check out these awesome tips for time management to help you come up with a plan.
2. Make a schedule.
You don’t need to have every hour of every day planned out, but having a good idea of how to manage everything on your plate is necessary. Balance is key to a busy schedule, and planning ahead is a HUGE help to keeping up with everything in your life. Dedicate times to workout, and indicate times in between classes that you could be doing homework, working out or spending time with your significant other. (It may seem a little over the top but managing a relationship in college with two busy and, maybe, even opposite schedules can be difficult and straining. Looking out for opportunities to be with each other and planning date nights or lunch dates may just save you some arguments in the long run).
3. Use a planner.
Some students are just not planner-people. We get it. But TRUST me, if you really are balancing 18 credits, an internship, work and any other extra curricular activities, writing things down is a must. Knowing what you need to do the next day or when your next test is can mentally prepare you for the days to come.
4. Organize your planner.
Not only should you buy and USE a planner, you should create an organization system for it. Write down assignments and due dates as soon as you get your syllabuses. Use color codes and post-its to keep classes and other obligations separate and organized.
5. Stock up on school essentials.
Make sure you have everything you need before school starts. Stock up on note cards, notebooks, pencils, pens, and make sure you have all of your textbooks, specified calculators and/or clickers before you start classes. These are unnecessary stressors that can be avoided by being prepared. Assign all your notebooks and folders to a class, and keep all of this in an assigned area so you know where they are at all times.
6. Know where your classes are.
Especially if you are new to the school or even new to a building, take time before classes start to walk yourself through your day, scope out your classrooms, and time yourself (this includes walking to your first class if you live off-campus). Keep your class schedule on hand. Have a printable version, keep it handy on your phone at all times and better yet, until you feel comfortable with your class schedule, keep it as your screen savor on your phone. That way it’s easily accessible, and you don’t have to pull out and stare at a piece of paper while you’re trying to hurry to your next class.
7. Line yourself up with extra curricula’s.
Keep an open mind, but search ahead of time any organizations (Hint: Her Campus UW-Lax **cough, cough**) or Group Fitness Classes you might be interested in. This can save you time in the long run and keep you mentally prepared for your semester commitments and not only what you would like to do but have time to do. More importantly, try to land that fall internship right away if you are interested in one. Between resumes, cover letters and interviews this can be very time-consuming.
8. Get a head start…
…because, let’s face it, we are all eventually going to fall behind into a web of procrastination. Read syllabuses and get ahead on reading before classes start. That way you can afford to slack off a little if you have to.
9. Take time to de-stress.
None of us are superman. We’re all human and that means we are going to get stressed out and fall into slumps here and there. That’s why it’s important to, not only anticipate this, but to take the time to breathe and de-stress yourself, whether that’s signing up for a weekly yoga class or waking up a half an hour earlier to enjoy a cup of coffee in your Pjs.
10. Find time for fun.
Finding time for fun goes right alongside taking the time to de-stress. I mean we are in college—supposedly the best time of our lives. Make sure you leave yourself enough free time in your schedule to go to the movies or go DT (at least) once a week. This might even mean cutting back on some obligations. Don’t work yourself too hard!
11. Do what you can NOW.
Lastly, one final, overall tip to help you start the semester off strong is to do what you can now—landing that internship, settling into your dorm or apartment, buying all your school essential needs, creating your time management plan, everything and anything that will lighten your load once fall semester comes to a start!