Marisa Macri, Contributing Writer |
It is often said that our college years are our best years, as it is a time to have fun, live our lives to the fullest, and learn about ourselves. But what comes along with all of the new experiences is a lot of stress, surely something every college student can relate to. Whether it be keeping up with class work, having a job, maintaining a social life, or focusing on health and fitness, it at times seems nearly impossible to balance everything at once. This article will highlight a few tips that, if you practice them regularly, can help you have the successful semester that we all dream of having.
First, it is a good idea to go into the semester having some goals set for yourself. What would you like to accomplish this semester? Do you want to boost your GPA? Do you want to join a new club, sorority, or fraternity? Do you want to lose five pounds? Whatever it may be, setting goals for yourself can help you push yourself out of your comfort zone and turn these dreams into a reality. It is important to keep in mind that these goals should be realistic; don’t tell yourself you’re going to go to the gym every single day of the week when in reality, even the biggest gym rats take days off. Don’t tell yourself you’re going to work a full time job while taking classes so you can save up for that new car you want, when we all know how difficult it is to be a student and have a part time at the same time. It is all about starting off slow and building your way up to reach your fullest potential.
The next biggest thing is time management. This is such an important skill to possess, but it is also hard to master. As college students, it is hard to keep track of all the things we have to do on a daily basis, and this makes it so much easier to forget or procrastinate. But with time management skills, we can avoid all of this. That’s why this semester is the perfect time to start! The key to time management is planning ahead and focusing on the most important tasks at hand first. If you know you have an assignment due on Friday, but you know you’re going to want to go out on Thursday, start working on it earlier in the week so you know it will be done on time. If you know you have a huge test coming up, don’t cram for it all in a couple of nights, start studying little by little ahead of time so you know you’ll be prepared when the time comes. Having good time management skills greatly reduces stress; it’s a fact!
Along with this comes organization. Making lists is a great habit to help you stay organized and on top of your game. Crossing things off at the end of the day gives you the greatest sense of achievement; you really feel accomplished. Even buying a big calendar and writing everything down that you have to do that month is a great way to stay focused. It feels great being able to look at it and see when you have events you have to go to or assignments you have to turn in.
If you follow these tips, you’ll be sure to feel less stressed and have a successful semester. It’s not as hard as you would think once you organize and plan.
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