By the time last semester ended, I was full of stress. I wasn't sleeping, taking classes I didn't enjoy, and procrastinating a lot. Because of that, I set my goal for this semester to be: make it a better one. These are a few ways I've improved my second semester and it's never too late to improve yours.
1. Sleep
Believe it or not, you're not invincible. Getting at least 7 hours of sleep will make you feel much better when you wake up in the morning, especially when it comes to those 8am classes. Longer sleep also improves your ability to remember the information you have learned that day and therefore help improve your grades. Getting an appropriate amount of sleep also gives you the correct amount of energy you need for the day as well as helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
2. Re-write your notes
While this may not work for everybody, one of my strategies for studying is to re-write the notes that I took in class that day. Re-writing my notes after class allows me to memorize the material better which helps me perform better on tests. Seeing the notes in my handwriting also helps me to comprehend the material better because I am putting it into my own words, which forces me to understand the concept.
3. Eat balanced meals
Being in college makes this one especially tricky because, lets be honest, nobody eats normal meals at normal hours. The most commonly skipped meal is breakfast, which is unfortunate since (as your parents always tell you) "breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Waking up a few minutes early to be able to get breakfast is really worth it because it will set you up to have a more productive day by giving you that initial piece of energy. It doesn't have to be a full meal, but even grabbing a granola bar or a banana to bring to class will make a significant difference. Although it's hard, avoiding junk food and eating late at night are both easy ways to maintain a healthy diet.
4. Create a routine
Once you get your schedule for the semester, planning out the time to eat and do your work will help you create a simple routine. They key word is simple, you don't need to plan every day by the minute, but by having a general idea of the routine of your day you will be more efficient in getting your work done and therefore have the leisure time you desire.
5. Journal
This is another suggestion that may not work for everybody, but personally it has helped me a lot. Being able to write down my feelings about my day or about anything allow me to take a mental break from my work and clear my head without getting distracted by watching a TV show. Although I write, a journal could also be full of art. If you're more into drawing or painting then you could do that to clear your head as well. And of course you could always do a combination of both, whatever helps you best to feel calm and clear minded.
If you're struggling this semester, hopefully these tips can help you. These suggestions are just what worked best for me, but they may not all apply to you. However, you should try to think about what works best for you and highlight those strategies in your daily life.