The end of summer always seems to come a bit too abruptly, and although I'm ready to get back to the campus lifestyle, the idea of trading in my lazy days for early classes and nonstop meetings has got me feeling pretty wary. But no matter how many times I hit the snooze button, it’s time to whip myself out of the summer mood, and fast!
Here are some tips and tricks to help you get through that summertime sadness.
Scheduling with sisters:
First off, lunches, because no one likes to sit alone. Figuring out everyone's schedule and all grabbing a bite to eat between classes is a great stress reliever during a busy day. After bid day last year, my favorite part of the day was meeting up with sisters, eating with them, and getting to know one another better! A quick message in a groupme, and suddenly, you'll have great company around you. Coffee dates and lunches are also a great way to catch up with friends after this break. Need something at the store but don’t have a ride? Group trips to the store kills two birds with one stone, and who doesn’t love going to Wally World?
Balancing work and play:
The beginning of the year is always the hardest part. With all the hype of reunions, classes tend to drift out of our minds. Balancing work and play is definitely difficult to do, but being disciplined will make life a lot easier. Classes are, of course, our first priority here. When choosing between going out and preparing for a test, the answer should be pretty obvious. But you don't always have to give up fun! Studying in groups is not only fun, but productive (most of the time). We all have to do it, so we might as well do it together. But make sure you don’t stress yourself out as well. You are only one person, and spreading yourself too thin is never a healthy thing to do.
Plan wisely:
When it comes to classes, I leave the week for work and the weekend for fun. It’s really easy to get into habit of saying “I can just do that tomorrow” and going out instead, but it’s harder to get out of. One of the biggest lessons you will learn in college is time management. When you have a list full of things to do and realize there’s only so many hours in a day to do it, the list can become pretty overwhelming. But believe it or not, with proper planning and evening out of your schedule, things can be accomplished! Having a planner—and actually using it—makes it easy for you to stick to a schedule and visualize what you can and can’t do in only one day.
The new year comes with new opportunities and it’s only up to you to make them great ones! Have a great year everyone, and welcome back!