As finals have taken way, graduation capes have been thrown, and ultimately our entire semester’s work will be finalized, the feeling is bittersweet. It is an amazing sensation to finally reach success and accomplish your intended goals you jotted down at the beginning of the year.
Although it’s bitter because I am finally able to relax from countless nights of little sleep and extra espresso shots. Exhausted, I am extremely overwhelmed and yet I have no desire to sleep. I am not necessarily exhausted from sleep deprivation, but from all of the looming responsibilities I’ve had to manage as the year wraps up.
With all of these concerns and having to take on new roles, I have quickly learned to adapt to this new schedule. Along my journey, I’ve observed others and tried to gather the most applicable information that would prove helpful. Primarily focusing on time management, I’d like to share the advice I found to keep me afloat on this life raft as the school year comes to an end.
Honestly, truly taking time to prioritize seemed to make a significant difference in my ability and motivation to complete assignments. First, always prioritize by the due date – make sure that you always complete the assignments due on Wednesday before you start to tackle the weekend essays. Aside from the due date, it is convenient to complete the little assignments that don’t take long to finish. I tend to work on these during breaks between classes or early in the week when I am tired after a night’s work. Also with heavier assignments, break the workload into sections and complete small tasks throughout the week. For example, doing the research, making an outline, and writing the actual essay could be easily divided.
It is helpful to find a routine and understand that it will get easier. There is a sense of discouragement and dreariness when you’re so overloaded with assignments, work, clubs, and other activities. Take each task one step at a time. For example, I was terrible at writing and responding to emails. The constant communication was difficult to maintain, so I decided to take time each morning to respond to all the necessary emails and deleting all of the spam. Incorporating minimal changes makes it simple to adjust and still ensure your routine is realistic. Along with your routine, make sure you write it down, make a plan – even if it’s an imaginary blueprint in your head. I recommend writing; it helps with organization. Make a note of all your meetings, social gatherings, and due dates. A planner will ensure you not to wait until 11:50 pm to write an essay.
Simply implementing a little organization into one’s life makes all of these college responsibilities seem less overwhelming. When you know where you’re going and how your day will progress, it doesn’t make it so bad when your socks are mismatched. Time management, prioritizing, and making a schedule truly have made my world go 'round in these last weeks of finals. These tips have helped me survive and hopefully they will help you in moments of stress.