By Danielle Cortes, Staff Writer
There’s the speaker at 8 a.m., and then class starts at 9 a.m. Work begins at 6 p.m. but doesn’t end until 11 p.m., and there is still so much homework!
Yes, that’s right ladies and gentlemen the semester is back in full swing. Some students are running around making sure that they print their papers before class starts, some are making sure that they submit their work to www.turnitin.com on time. Whatever the task may be, students can be found all over campus pulling their hair out as the semester becomes more hectic.
Some students want to take on the world and be an overachiever, but realistically they are spreading themselves too thin. To help students be more efficient here is a list of some easy steps to manage their activities: Use a calendar, write down everything, keep trying new systems, allow for flexibility, plan ahead, and lastly schedule time to relax.
The most important tool a student can have is a calendar. Every semester someone either forgets an assignment, an organization meeting, or that they had a different shift at work. A calendar helps combat these misfortunes from happening. Most students probably realize that at the beginning of the semester teachers inform students of when certain papers are due or when there are tests. If students write down the dates and times of their tests, papers, meetings, and even shifts at work, it makes it easier to accomplish what needs to get done.
Some students get stuck on the idea of buying a paper calendar or planner, but that doesn’t mean that one should stop trying new things. For example, students could buy a calendar to hang in their room. This would help the student because they would merely have to look at their wall to see their appointments, with the added bonus of not having to carry a planner around. Some students prefer the idea of carrying a calendar, but feel like it will get destroyed in their loaded backpack. For these students, the solution could be to use the calendars that they have on their phones, PDAs, Kindles, or other similar devices.
Students should also remember to allow for flexibility in their schedules. If students know that they have papers, meetings, or personal plans coming up, they should not attempt to fill every minute of their remaining time. When one over-schedules they risk the possibility of not finishing everything on time, or finishing everything, but sacrificing their health in the process.
Remember to plan ahead. If a student knows that they have a paper or big presentation coming up, they shouldn’t procrastinate. It’s common knowledge that most students will procrastinate at one point or another, but most material is given months in advance. With such advanced notice, it only makes sense that one should start on projects as soon as possible. Also, one should plan for the printer to not work, or the computer to break, that way they have a cushion in case a problem does come up.
Lastly do not forget to schedule a time to relax. Reward yourself and take a nap between classes, or schedule time to just sit down and do nothing. Some students forget to cut themselves some slack. When one is hard at work, it’s easy to forget that one needs to slow down and enjoy life. So whether it’s a moment to just breathe, or an hour and a half to nap and refresh, students need to remember that they are only human.
