It's the first time your day doesn't start at 7:00 A.M. and end at 3:00 P.M. Your schedule is different every single day, and you have more free time than ever. It's easy to get your days confused, forget to complete assignments, and forget everything you were ever taught about self-care.
Here are five ways to keep both your academic and social life on track this fall semester.
1. Invest in a planner.
We all had planners in high school. Whether they were given to you by the school, or you purchased your own, you most likely had one. The other side of the story is that you probably didn't use your planner in high school. A lot of the time, you didn't need to use it.
Homework could be done during lunch or during other classes that whatever was left, you just remembered to do it. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for college. With a different schedule every day, it's easy to lose track of time.
Get a planner. Plan out your weeks and months, and add in test dates and paper deadlines. Cross them off so you actually know that you finished the task at hand.
2. Hang a calendar in your room.
There are going to be times where you can't remember what day it is. It's totally possible that you could end up walking in on the wrong class because you got the days mixed up.
Keep a calendar in your dorm of what classes are what days and what events are going on during the month. It's a great time saver to glance at it before you leave your room for the wrong class.
3. Post-It notes are your best friend.
Have a meeting with your advisor? Are you paranoid that you'll forget it? Write yourself a Post-It note and stick it somewhere obvious that you'll see. Stick them on the coffee cup you know you're going to use the next morning. Or on the mirror, you'll fix your hair in before heading out for the day.
Post-Its are perfect for little reminders. They're also great for times where you need to be passive aggressive to your roommate.
4. To-do list all the obscure tasks.
There's nothing more satisfying than crossing off items on a to-do list. I leave a small notepad on my desk where I'll write my homework, projects, errands, chores, or anything that I know I want to accomplish.
Keep a pad or notebook around to write down all the obscure things you need to get done and get ready to feel the satisfaction of crossing every item off.
5. Don't forget about yourself; make a daily checklist.
It's college. Regardless of whether you live on-campus or you commute, it's a different life than high school. Your schedule changes every day, and it's easy to get distracted and forget to take care of yourself. Especially for the students living on-campus, it's the first time you've been without your parents reminding you to wash your face or eat dinner.
Create a daily checklist of just self-care. Remind yourself to wash your face, take your vitamins, and drink some water. Don't be the kid that's always sick because they don't know how to function.
