The holidays are over, and winter break is coming to an end. Spring semester is creeping up on us quite quickly, and unfortunately, that means heading back to all-nighters, crazy-hard exams and loads of stress. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead of dreading about all the upcoming pressures spring semester holds, how about you prepare for them? Doing these simple tasks before the new semester will make going back to school mode easier, and it will also give you that extra push to feel motivated!
1. Buy a new planner or update your current one.
If you are a Type A person like me, planners are EVERYTHING. And when I say everything, I mean that little book filled with paper and scribbles is my life. Sounds overly intense doesn’t it? But planners are your friends! Starting a new semester means new class schedules, new work schedules and the activities you are involved in are changing. I will forever remember my first class of my college career. Teacher assistants passed out an eight page syllabus, and all I kept thinking about was, “well why doesn’t the professor write what is due by the next class on the chalkboard?” Then I realized I wasn’t in high school anymore and that was what the syllabus was for. This is why having a planner is important. You can note all important due dates and visually see how many days you have to work on it until it is due. This also ensures that you don’t freak out and feel like you have to complete everything in the syllabus all at once. Planners keep your life in order and your brain sane. Or at least help to do so…
2. Figure out where your classes are.
Speaking about schedules, after figuring out your class schedule go look around campus to find the buildings they are in and where in the buildings they are located. Again, freshman me was 20 minutes late to a required discussion in the notorious maze-like building, Humanities, at UW-Madison because of that awkward experience showing up through half of the discussion and all of the uncomfortable stares of my classmates and the panic in my eyes, I make sure to know the location of my classrooms before class even starts.
3. Do research on the textbooks/course materials you need.
Textbooks and school stuff is pricey. Make sure you buy things like notebooks and pencils and all those other fun goodies before you come back to school. Buying them on your college campus at a bookstore can add up real fast with prices that are most likely higher than what they are back at home or elsewhere. Also, look up your textbooks online to see if you can get them cheaper somewhere other than the bookstore. If you are a person who doesn’t need a hard copy of your textbooks, a lot of the times you can actually find the required text or course materials as pdfs or ebooks online for a cheaper price or even better, free. Do yourself a favor. Do some research and save some money!
4. Clean your desk area.
Nothing is more distracting than working at a cluttered desk. Thinking about it makes me feel uneasy. Working at a clean and organized desk not only means you have a working space, but it also means you are free from distractions. You are more likely to get stuff done and feel productive working at a clear space. Plus all the items you need for studying or doing homework are right at your fingertips.
5. Clean your room.
Again, cleaning isn’t necessarily the most fun thing to do, but it helps clear your living space and your mind. Get rid of things you never use, wear or need. When you get back to your dorm, apartment or house, take time to organize or reorganize. It might give you a new feeling about your living situations, and there’s nothing wrong with a little change. New semester, new attitudes, right?
6. Set some goals.
Make them realistic, and don’t make them general. Instead of saying you want to do well in all your classes, determine a certain GPA you want to reach. Figure out what you need to get in each class by doing so and then ask yourself if it is attainable. You also shouldn’t just make goals for academics. By making goals in other areas of your life, like fitness or for the club you are involved in, you are allowing yourself to realize that school isn’t everything. It’s good to be focused and determined in all areas of life.
7. Think about school payments.
Finances aren't fun, but they are important. Make sure you know how much you need to pay for tuition for the semester. Once tuition is paid off, figure out a budget for rent or housing, textbooks and course materials, as well as food and activities. Even if you don’t really need to budget, you should. It prepares you for that time in your life (aka: a couple years from now) when you are off on your own, making a living for yourself. I’m all about learning the life skills. And if learning how to budget in college isn’t one of them, I don’t know what is.
8. Make sure you set some time aside each day for yourself.
School is stressful. It really is. Starting a new semester can be a shocker at first because you aren’t quite familiar with your classes and the workloads they all entail. Do yourself a favor. In that awesome planner you bought that I was talking about before, schedule some time for yourself each day. Whether it be going to the gym, reading a book, watching Netflix or hanging out with your roomies or friends, these are the kinds of things that are going to keep you sane. You don’t need a mental breakdown within the first two weeks of the semester. Heck, mental breakdowns are never okay. It means you aren’t giving yourself a break. There’s more to life than just school.
These simple tasks are ones you won’t regret. Whether you give none a try or all of them, I hope your spring semester back at school is one you are excited for!
