BTS: How To Start The Semester Off Right

Hey guys! Welcome to the third installation of my back-to-school series!
We all know and can't deny that summer is quickly ending, which means that the first day of class is just around the corner! It's crazy how fast summer went by but i'm excited to start school again just so i can use all my new supplies. Is this weird? Am i the only one who's excited to start school for that reason? Yes? Okay then. I'm always looking to improve on anything i was unable to accomplish the previous school year. In other words, has anyone find the cure for procrastination yet? If you're like me, you would want to have all the tips you can get to start your semester off right. Luckily for you my friend, i have a few that will help you kick off this semester on the right foot.

Get Organized

Get a planner and write your life it in. Okay maybe not your entire life, but you get the gist. Sometimes I don't write things in my planner because I think I will remember them, but I’m almost always wrong. Storytime: It's my first semester in college, I’m in an English class with a "only my class matters" type of professor. She assigns an essay that'll be due in two weeks, and I decide not to write it in my planner because I apparently won't forget about it. In the meantime, life happens, I forget about it and I’m now awake at 3 AM frantically typing a multiple page essay that's due in a few hours. Saying that it was a rough day, would be big understatement. Moral of story, don't be like me friends. Write everything down. Once you get into the habit of doing this, life will be so much easier. When you get your syllabus, make sure you actually go through it and write down all the major assignments in your planner. If you will be taking an online class this semester, make sure you check out these tips first.

Get to know your professors

It's important that you introduce yourself to your professors. All you have to do is maybe shoot them an email to introduce yourself or stay a few minutes after class and chat a little. You know how professors can never remember the names of certain students? When you raise your hand to answer a question and they're like "Yes, umm... student." It's because those students never take the time to interact with the professor. I once had a substitute who called everyone "Sugar plum." It was funny to us but now that I think about it, it was probably because she didn't know our names. She was slick. Developing a relationship with your professors can benefit you in so many different ways. If something were to happen and you couldn't submit that paper on time, your professor will be more likely to give you an extension rather than a student whom he can barely remember is part of the class. 

Do I need to remind you to make yourself known in a good way? I mean, it's pretty obvious that if you constantly disrespect your professors and disrupt class, they won't be willing to go the extra mile for you.

Set goals for yourself

Think of some things you want to accomplish this semester and make a list. Reflect on how the last semester went and think of what you would like to change or improve on. I for one, would like to attempt to become a morning person. We'll see how that goes. What worked well for you and what didn't last semester? These can be long term goals or short term goals depending on what you want to accomplish. Make sure the goals you set for yourself are attainable or else you won't really get anything done. Don't beat yourself up if you sometimes get behind schedule, you can always do better the next day. Also when you're on top of your goals and you're doing pretty good, don't forget to reward yourself. As a student, it doesn't have to be anything extravagant. You could treat yourself by staying in and watching Netflix or just by going to your favorite restaurant. 

Find your study space

The setting in which someone can totally concentrate and study varies from one person to another. For example, I cannot understand for the life of me how some people can study while listening to music or in loud crowded places. I would never be able to concentrate! Not only would I not be able to hear myself think clearly, I would probably sing along to all the songs or stare at what other people are doing. Whether it's in your room, at a coffee shop or in the library, you just need a place where you can focus and get things done. One thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn't find a study space that keeps you overly comfortable, or else you might just take long siestas instead of studying. 

Take care of yourself

Get into the habit of prioritizing your health. It's a good thing to be determined and to want to achieve all of your goals, but you also have to care for yourself. School can get quite overwhelming and if you have other obligations on the side, it's easy to drown yourself in stress. Don't forget to make time for yourself to just breathe and replenish yourself. You don't have to ask me twice! I personally like to hang out by myself. I often go out to eat somewhere or stay in my room to watch TV (criminal minds is all I need) while licking Nutella, because why not? Remember, if you're good to your body, your body will be good to you!

What are your goals for the semester?

  Share This: