I am two-thirds of the way through my freshman year of college, and the year has been full of ups and downs, laughter and stress. However, through this year of college, I have picked up on a variety of tips that, had I known before starting college, I would have been less stressed and worrisome. So, I wanted to share these tips with all of you, so you can be conscious of them and apply them to your college years, high school, or even in the future with a job.
1. Purchase a planner - Having a planner in high school saved my life, and I had to have one in college too. Having a planner allows me to write down exams dates, the homework I have for each of my classes, and plans I have with friends. Planners allow you to write down everything you need to remember, and you can bring them with you to class or slip them into your purse/bag, and bring them everywhere with you!
2. Have an organized desk or study area - My parents told me that having an organized study area is crucial, and it is. You do not want to have a desk crowded with textbooks, pencils/pens, and other items. By clearing off your study space or finding a way to organize everything neatly, you will have a designated open area for your laptop, as well as more open space to lay out your homework and other items you need.
3. DON'T study in bed - Don't study in bed or do anything academic related in bed. Your bed is the primary destination spot for sleeping/resting, and if you study or attempt to do homework in bed, you will most likely fall asleep. This has happened to me before, and it does NOT feel good. Nothing is worse than waking up 2 hours later to find out you fell asleep while reading your textbook. So, try to study at your desk, in the kitchen, or anywhere where you have to be sitting up.
4. Balance your homework/study time and your leisure time - Make sure you balance your academics and free time. If you want to go out with friends but know that you have a paper due in a few days, stay in. Everyone goes out with friends thinking they will have time to finish whatever they need to do before it is due, but you will find that you will naturally procrastinate until the day before it's due. So, known when you can go out and have fun, and when you absolutely stay in. You want to avoid those stressful moments and panic attacks.
5. Try to be on top of your work - I have said this in a lot of my blog posts regarding academics and I will say it again: DON'T PROCRASTINATE! I procrastinate a lot myself, and I am trying to get better about that. I feel like people procrastinate unknowingly, only to feel the stress when they have to finish a project or a paper the day before it is due. So, try to avoid that. Start big projects early on, and do small pieces of it every day instead of throwing it all together in one day.
1. Purchase a planner - Having a planner in high school saved my life, and I had to have one in college too. Having a planner allows me to write down exams dates, the homework I have for each of my classes, and plans I have with friends. Planners allow you to write down everything you need to remember, and you can bring them with you to class or slip them into your purse/bag, and bring them everywhere with you!
2. Have an organized desk or study area - My parents told me that having an organized study area is crucial, and it is. You do not want to have a desk crowded with textbooks, pencils/pens, and other items. By clearing off your study space or finding a way to organize everything neatly, you will have a designated open area for your laptop, as well as more open space to lay out your homework and other items you need.
3. DON'T study in bed - Don't study in bed or do anything academic related in bed. Your bed is the primary destination spot for sleeping/resting, and if you study or attempt to do homework in bed, you will most likely fall asleep. This has happened to me before, and it does NOT feel good. Nothing is worse than waking up 2 hours later to find out you fell asleep while reading your textbook. So, try to study at your desk, in the kitchen, or anywhere where you have to be sitting up.
4. Balance your homework/study time and your leisure time - Make sure you balance your academics and free time. If you want to go out with friends but know that you have a paper due in a few days, stay in. Everyone goes out with friends thinking they will have time to finish whatever they need to do before it is due, but you will find that you will naturally procrastinate until the day before it's due. So, known when you can go out and have fun, and when you absolutely stay in. You want to avoid those stressful moments and panic attacks.
5. Try to be on top of your work - I have said this in a lot of my blog posts regarding academics and I will say it again: DON'T PROCRASTINATE! I procrastinate a lot myself, and I am trying to get better about that. I feel like people procrastinate unknowingly, only to feel the stress when they have to finish a project or a paper the day before it is due. So, try to avoid that. Start big projects early on, and do small pieces of it every day instead of throwing it all together in one day.
