How to hang on by all the threads, not just one, this semester

Sydney Shuler |Staff Writer

It’s the fourth week of classes, and we’re all realizing that if we don’t break out of syllabus mode ASAP, we’re doomed. Tests and essay due dates are creeping up, professors are lecturing for entire class periods, and planners are starting to look more and more like a grocery lists. So, how does the average college student keep from going under? Like this:

1. Stay Organized

Creating reminders and writing every little thing down can sometimes feel tedious, but it definitely pays off. We have the convenience of smartphones with calendars, reminders, and homework apps to help keep us on track. Get into the habit of checking BlackBoard and your email a couple times a day so you don’t miss anything important. Not only does staying organized ensure that everything gets done, it removes all the stress and anxiety that comes from doing things without any order.

2. Prioritize Your ‘Me Time’

The life of the college student doesn’t allow too much time for self-care, so it’s up to us to make the most out of the little bit of free time that we do get.

Create time to do whatever it is that keeps you sane, whether it’s spending some time with close friends; tending to yourself with a hot shower essential oils and a face mask; meditating; or exercising. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of classes, schoolwork, and meetings, so small breaks to regroup are crucial to success during the school year.

Self-neglect only leads to regression. So whatever your method is, make sure to stop, collect your thoughts and emotions, reflect, and keep moving forward.

Create time to do whatever it is that keeps you sane.

3. Maintain a Support Group

Whether it is your friends at school or back home, family, or a handful of faculty on campus, secure a group of people who are rooting for you. One of the hardest things to come to terms with as a college student is the fact that you really are in this as an individual, but that doesn’t mean you have to get through it alone.

Knowing you have people to vent to and shoulders to cry on make the weight of the workload that much easier to bear.

Stick with these three tips all year long and you won’t have to worry about hanging on by a thread at mid-semester.