With the fall semester arriving sooner than we realize, it's easy to get caught in the final hum of summer, lose track of time, and fall back into the same habits of the last school year. College students, take notes; here are a few bad habits to get rid of this fall to make your educational and social experience even better.
Procrastinating
The most obvious spiraling pattern for college kids, procrastinating is the easiest—and sometimes the worst—thing to do. Whether you're putting off the paper you have to write or doing laundry at the last second, procrastination adds extra, unnecessary stress to our lives. Make a calendar, a to-do list, or even set a few alarms to make sure the essentials get done.
Binging Just About Anything
Food, Netflix, exercise, alone time, social time, study time—too much of almost anything is not a good thing. Find a balance in all aspects of your life to make sure your body and mind are getting enough of what they need. Sure, obsessively watching three seasons of a tv show in one weekend is fun, but be sure to even it out with lots of studying, socialization, or healthy activities after. The same goes for junk food: pizza one night, salad the next. Find your harmony.
Showing Up Late
Whether you're late for class, a meeting, or an event, tardiness reflects on your character. Plus, rushing around when you're late can be incredibly stressful and take away from your learning (or social) experience. Arrive a few minutes early and collect yourself; it's just another way of being prepared.
Skipping Class Completely
Don't lie—we've all been there. Sometimes there are legitimate reasons to skip class, but let's admit that a tiny headache or sleep deprivation are not among those reasons. It's so easy to convince yourself that missing class is totally okay, especially when you're just not in the mood to get dressed, or pay attention, or even get out of bed. Think about it this way: the classes you are taking cost money, so every time you skip, not only are you missing out on that day's lesson but you're wasting serious cash, too. Go to class even when it's the last thing you want to do. You'll thank yourself later.
Not Sleeping Enough
Managing a social life, on top of school, on top of jobs or internships and other responsibilities can be overwhelming. It's easy to be so caught up in everything you have to do and literally forget to go to sleep. Staying up late and waking up early only works so much, and caffeine can only last so long. Be sure to balance the amount of sleep you're getting, especially before a big exam or speech.
Sleeping Too Much
Forgetting to sleep is easy. Forgetting to wake up is also easy. Sometimes using a day off or a weekend as an opportunity to recharge is healthy, but don't let sleep become your drug (it's addicting, really). Even after a long day of napping, try to squeeze in a few productive activities—again, just for balance.
Losing Positivity
This seems simple, but keeping a positive attitude during the school year is crucial to success. College is hard, independence is harder. Even on the tough days, remind yourself of how much is possible and how many more good things are to come.
