Finishing Up Your First Semester Strong
Every student encounters a burned out feeling during different times of the year. The most effective way to avoid this slump is to take care of yourself before the sense of burnout creeps in. We want to help prepare you for the second half of the semester. The end is just as important as the beginning, so we have a few tips on how to keep the motivation up and finish strong!
- Refocus. Midterms are finishing up, and your mind probably needs a short break to refocus and regroup. Take a day to get away from campus and clear your mind of the stress before getting back into the full swing of things.
- Evaluate and set goals. Think about what went well and which areas may need improvement. Do you need better study habits? Did you make acceptable grades? Ask your advisor for assistance in ways to improve for the rest of the semester or visit your professors during office hours.
- Plan out the rest of the semester. Look back at all of your syllabi and take note of any important dates or projects; you can also look up the final exam schedule on the website and add those dates to your planner or calendar. You now know which classes require extra focus and can better plan out your study times.
- Prioritize. Each week, decide which projects or assignments need to be completed first and what classes you need to focus on more and decide on what can be set aside for later. Taking each piece one at a time will help decrease your stress levels and increase your work quality.
- Keep a healthy sleep schedule. All-nighters are not a healthy habit to start. It negatively affects your concentration and work quality. Restart the habit of going to bed at a decent hour and getting up with plenty of time to get to class on time. Every person is unique and needs a sleeping schedule that works for them, so figure out how much sleep provides you with enough energy to feel well-rested and be attentive throughout the day.
- Take short breaks. Long and strenuous hours of studying can cause more stress or make learning the material harder. It’s okay to take short breaks when studying to help you refocus and give your brain a second to process what you’ve just looked at. Try breaking your studying into 30-minute intervals with 5-minute breaks.
