I remember that my transition from high school to college was rough. I had to suddenly put in more effort to get great grades, and on top of that had to sometimes choose between getting that assignment in on time, go to work and make money, or find time for myself by having a "mental health day." Personally, the first day of each semester is the one day I dread. It seems that each professor wants my peers and me to dedicate all my time to their specific class, which I understand, but I think they can sometimes forget that there are students working full-time jobs, involved in extracurriculars, and on top of that, doing full-time school to graduate as early as possible! Even if your whole agenda isn't completely full, it can be a hassle, especially now that we're in the middle of a pandemic. Here are 5 ways that I will be setting myself up for success this semester that I thought would be great to share.
1. I got a planner, and I'm using it!
I am huge on using my planner. Not only will I be continuing this daily habit into this new semester, but I will also be setting up time blocks so that I know what I am working on and when. There will be no slacking on any homework assignments for me this year. Not only can you write in what time you go to class and when assignments are due, but you can also take the time to write out a budget and even your grocery list to take on the go. Personally, I take it everywhere.
2. I won't make my bed my study space.
As someone who doesn't have a desk at home, I've always done my homework at the dinner table, but doing that can be disruptive if you have a large family that comes and goes a lot. So for this semester, I will be taking the time to drive to school and sit at the library at least twice a week. This way, I can sit and finish assignments that are due for the week and have some peace and quiet to actually focus and study. (I have a GKT exam to take this semester so lots of my prep will be going towards that!)
3. I'll make sure to get eight hours of sleep each night.
Everyone knows their body, and if you're one of those people that can get five hours of sleep and function the whole day, then I commend you. However, I know that when I don't get my full eight hours, I can be very grouchy and not as focused on what I should be doing. I will feel like slacking, so instead of watching Hulu into the late hours of the night, I will be eating a banana or pistachios before bed to get some of that au natural shut-eye.
4. I'm putting my clothes away as soon as they're done.
While I have always managed to eventually get my clothes in the closet once they are folded, it has taken me at the most two weeks to get them there, and that's just something that made it to my list of goals this semester. Not only will my room be more organized, but I know that it'll give me peace of mind if I do it now and it'll save future me from wanting to smack well... past me.
5. I'm learning to say no so I don't stretch myself too thin.
I know from many past experiences that I have this habit to always say yes if someone asks me to maybe come in for a shift or go out when I have assignments due. While I have said the occasional no, I almost always end up giving in thinking, "I'll just finish that essay later," and then forget to finish that essay later. So this semester I will be focusing on school and putting 85% of my time into that, but the biggest goal is to make sure that I am a straight A-student like I want to be this semester.
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