How to Survive a Busy Semester

Prioritize

This is probably the most important of all. Be careful though! You don’t want to fall into the trap of making to-do lists that never get done. My recommendation is to use the 4 quadrants. I use this every day for my own work organization. I love it so much I wrote a whole post explaining how to use this method. Essentially, it teaches you to organize your tasks based on their importance and urgency. This helps you to avoid wasting time on insignificant tasks that may seem important at the time.

These quadrants allow you to separate emotions from your tasks. In turn, you’ll be more efficient with your time and more productive. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of busy work that comes with college classes. Learning how to sift through this means you’ll be less stressed!

Set Your Sleep Schedule

And stick to it (during the week at the least.) A month before your semester starts you should start adjusting your schedule to the times you want to wake up and go to bed. I prefer having some extra time for myself in the morning. I’m not a morning person, but I like my morning routine. (Just don’t talk to me for the first 10 minutes!) Check out my previous post for ideas on improving your busy morning. Make the most out of those few hours to yourself.

Keep Yourself Motivated

Piggybacking off one of my points from my morning routine post – I love listening to audiobooks or podcasts in the morning. It doesn’t have to be in the morning though! I spent countless hours on the bus commute from my apartment to campus and walking to my classes. All this time can be spent either listening to uplifting music or motivating podcasts.

Some podcast recommendations for college students are:

1. Tiny Leaps, Big Changes – habits for everyday life that add up to a bigger change
2. The College Info Geek Podcast – study tips and advice
3. Stuff You Should Know – it’s…random stuff you should know
4. Girlboss – new featured guests every episode with inspiring stories behind their success
5. You Need a Budget – financial tips, start saving now!

Avoid Mid-Semester Burnout

Take time for yourself! This means study breaks and time with friends. Don’t seclude yourself even though you have a heavy course load. If you have an activity you enjoy, work it into your schedule. I was a dancer, so I joined a dance club. We’d meet once or twice a week for classes and would put on a performance every semester. This gave me a chance to meet new people and clear my head.

If you find yourself studying for hours, schedule study breaks! These are imperative to your mental state. There are many studies on the importance of giving your brain a break. Set a timer on your phone to study for 20 min and break for 10. It’s like a HIIT workout for your mind. Quality over quantity every day!

I hope this helps you start your semester off on the right foot. Don’t stress about the little things and keep your eye on the big picture. College is an experience to enjoy. There are so many new things thrown at you. Embrace all the change with an open mind.