My first semester of Freshman year flew by. Like seriously, I don't know how it went by so quickly. I feel like the series of events that happened between Syllabus week and Finals week were a complete blur. Even though I did end up maintaining a competitive GPA my first semester, there are definitely a few things that I could have done differently in order to keep myself in ship-shape throughout the entirety of the semester.
Here are six ways that you can stay on top this semester!
1. Treat School Like it's Your Job.
Trust me, after a long day of classes and meetings, the very last thing I want to do is study. Last semester, I'd take a "little break" (typically a three hour nap and Netflix binge), and start my homework at around 8 PM each night. What an awful rookie mistake, let me tell you. By that time, my brain was pretty much done with doing anything productive, and any studying I attempted to do was pretty much a huge waste of time. My plan now is to start my homework and studying as soon as possible after my classes, and then allow myself some time after all of my school work is finished for the day. If is my main focus, and if I dedicate the most time to it, then success is sure to come my way.
2. Exercise...Like, Seriously
Another mistake I made during my first semester of college is that I didn't spend nearly enough time in the gym. Granted, I started out pretty strong, going to the gym every other day. However, as the semester went on, my time spent in the gym dwindled down to nothing, which caused the performance in my academics to dwindle down as well. This semester, I am determined to head to the gym as much as possible, with a goal of at least three times a week. The natural endorphins that the human body produces during exercise are proven to increase motivation and drive, two important aspects to success in the college atmosphere!
3. Mental Health Days Are Okay
Everyone is so skeptical about "mental health," but let me tell you, it's a real thing and it needs to be taken seriously, especially throughout the college years. I never understood how important the health of my mentality was, until I let it fall during this past semester. Weak mental states are much more susceptible to long-term effects (i.e. depression, anxiety, etc.), so keeping mental health a priority will benefit you in the long run. Take a day to relax and recover is NOT a bad thing. If you need a mental health day, then love yourself enough to maintain your mental health.
4. Socialize, but Not TOO Much
We all know that Freshman year is the optimum time to build relationships, but I made the mistake of putting that in front of my studies multiple times throughout the past semester, which ultimately caused me to not do as well in my classes as I could have done. There is a healthy balance between academics and relationships, but unfortunately, it requires a bit of trial and error. However, a good rule of thumb is, for every hour you spend socializing, you should spend an hour hitting the books and getting your work done. That way, you're not spending all of your time chatting away, and you're equally spreading out your time.
5. Don't Eat Like a College Kid
Yes, I know you have access to all-you-can-eat food buffets, fifteen restaurant chains on campus, food trucks, and vending machines that take your campus dollars, but eating like a college kid will honestly only leave you feeling really crummy and feeling pretty unproductive. If you can't, however, avoid the buffet, keep the complex carbs (like rice, bread, etc.) to a minimum after 6 PM, and remember, SALAD IS YOUR FRIEND. If you remember to keep your food intake on a healthy level, then your productivity and overall wellbeing will increase tenfold.
6. Do Not Procrastinate
I know, I know. A million-bajillion people have told you this over the course of your lifetime, but hear me out. From personal experience, procrastination is quite possible the worst thing you can do to yourself while in college. Okay, maybe not the WORST, but it's pretty bad. Waiting until the night before to write a ten page paper on presenting the Gospel was not really the highlight of my semester (hard to believe?), so I strongly advise against the notion of procrastination.
Well, those are my six ways to ensure that you have a successful semester at college! I sincerely hope that these tips have helped/will help you in your college adventures!
