As college students come out of our holiday and winter break-induced coma and get back into the rhythm of classes, studying, and homework for our spring semester, most of us are feeling pretty unmotivated and sluggish. While our classes have a consistent daily schedule, the rest of our day to day lives usually don't.
Getting into a routine every day in the midst of our busy class schedules can help contribute to a more successful, productive and healthy semester. Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas to get you started.
Get a calendar that isn't on your phone. I have a giant white board calendar on the wall of my apartment with my class schedule, work schedule, appointments, yoga classes, and anything else my week may consist of. Setting a daily schedule and sticking to it has many benefits and can help reduce the stress of each day if you always know what's coming next. Having a schedule can also help you from falling into the habit of neglecting your responsibilities and watching Netflix instead. If you have a busy schedule, you can set aside specific times for homework and studying to help you stay on track.
Exercise! Whether it's for 30 minutes in the morning or hitting the gym late at night, make sure to make room for some form of exercise in your day to day schedule. Even if you're not someone who likes to go to the gym, I for one am not, there are plenty of options out there from yoga and Zumba or just simply going for a jog on your own. No matter what kind of exercise you choose, they all come with their own benefits, and one of those being our quality of sleep. Studies show that working out during the day can help you sleep better at night. And as college students, we all know how rare a good nights sleep is. Most colleges like mine hold exercise classes daily, free of charge. Find one that fits into your schedule and make a habit of it.
Reward yourself for your accomplishments. Did you study for your test for an hour? Watch an hour of Netflix. Did you get a 100 on your last quiz? Treat yourself to FroYo or go shopping for yourself (within reason of course).
Getting in the habit of these simple day to day things will make your semester much more enjoyable, and help you manage your time to balance all of the things you need to get done. Have a happy and stress-free semester! And may the curve be ever in your favor.
