January is here which means you hear and see "new year, new me" everywhere. Gym advertisements are everywhere, church is extra crowded, and everyone's on a diet. While all New Year resolutions are wonderful, if we are being honest most are not kept. In fact, only eight percent of Americans uphold their New Years resolutions. Among these ill-kept resolutions, getting organized was number two on the top 10 list and it makes up 47 percent of New Years resolutions.
Here's the good news, you don't have to be among the 92 percent of Americans that fall short of their New Years resolutions. If you don't lose your "goal" weight, or you don't read your daily devotion every morning you'll be okay. Don't be so hard on yourself. But you should try! And whatever your resolution is (or was), you should add starting off this coming semester right. And here is how you do it:
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1. Do Not Procrastinate.
Putting things off is the best way to stress yourself out and have an unwanted all nighter. Save yourself the stress and rush and just do things as soon as they are assigned!
2. Have Multiple Calendars.
I like to have multiple calendars so that wherever I am I can look at one of them and see where I need to be and what I should expect out of my day. It might sound tedious but it really doesn't take much time and it keeps you much more organized.
3. Study Directly After Class.
A professor once told me that using the little increments of time between classes is the best way to retain the information learned. Use the 10-30 minutes you have between a couple of classes to review what you learned and formulate questions you might be asked on an exam.
4. Take Good Notes.
Nothing is more important than having good notes. You might think you will remember everything mentioned in a lecture, but you are sure to forget little tidbits or zone out for a little while. If you take clean, copious notes during class that makes for less time outside of the classroom to study and search for information.
5. Keep A Planner.
I am one of those people that would be lost without my planner. Not a trait to have in college, especially when you frequently have extracurricular activities and meetings to attend. Keep a planner and write down what you need to do each day and prioritize them.
6. Plan Out Every Day.
It wouldn't hurt to start out each week (Sunday's would be a good day for this) by planning out each day of the week with what exams, meetings and classes you have. Do this by the hours of the day and prioritize your to-dos with the empty hours in each day. (ALSO- don't forget to use those little bits of time after and between classes).
7. Make Use Of Office Hours.
I couldn't tell you how many professors tell me they sit in their office hours each day with no visitors, or the same visitors each time. They spend that time in the office for you, so use it. Even if it's just to introduce yourself or say hello every now and again, use them. Never hesitate to come with questions on subject material, as long as you follow the expected protocol for said professor.
8. Stay Motivated.
When you feel unmotivated to do something, ask someone for a pep talk, give yourself a pep talk, switch subjects that you are studying, or take a small break to do some laundry or read for leisure. Just be sure to keep that motivation going throughout the semester.
9. Make Goals And Stick To Them.
For me, I like to start the semester with a realistic grade goal for each course I am taking. I also like to come up with something else I'd like to accomplish by the end of the semester. Whatever your goal is, write it down, put it on the wall and keep your eye on that prize!
10. Get Enough Sleep.
You can't accomplish nearly as much as you want to if you didn't get a good night's rest. I know this is hard, especially in college (and in dorms) but sufficient sleep is critical for a successful academic life.
11. Eat Well.
Eat good, feel good, do good. Your body will love you for it and you will feel more like doing the things you need to get done with a healthy diet. Plus, you'll look good too!
12. Study With Fellow Students.
Make friends with your classmates and study together. As long as you're not breaking the honor code, work together. People do well with social pressure and the more the people, the more knowledge brought to the table.
13. Use The Library.
The library is abundant in resources, so use them! It's a great place to study and it's very accommodating to your study style. Give it a shot!
14. Introduce Yourself To People In Your Classes.
Get to know those around you so you can help them and they can help you. It's great to make bonds with people in your classes, and it also strives you to do better!
Take these small tips and make them into goals for this upcoming semester. Work hard and achieve everything you want to...it will be so worth it in the end. Best of luck!
