Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash
Written by Jessica Reimer
University can get so overwhelming so quickly, especially when assignments, exams, work, and everything else seem to pile up at the same time (because somehow every semester there has to be two midterms on the same day). While there is no perfect formula for staying on top of everything, a few small habits can make your semester feel a lot more manageable. Believe me, this is coming from someone who recently survived a 6-class semester.
1. Put Every Deadline in One Place
At the beginning of the semester (even during that first class when your prof spends an hour going through the syllabus), go through your course outlines and put every assignment, exam, and important deadline into one calendar. I highly recommend using the app Notion, which allows you to keep track of your progress, check off assignments as you finish them, and colour code each class to stay organized. Having everything in one place makes it a lot easier to see busy weeks coming and avoid being surprised by a deadline.
2. Plan Your Week Before It Starts
Take a few minutes at the beginning of each week to look at what you have coming up and decide what needs to get done. Having a rough plan can make a long to-do list feel much less overwhelming, while also motivating you to finish tasks earlier so you have more time for the fun things.
3. Take Advantage of the Gaps in Your Day
That random hour between classes or extra hour before you head to work can be more useful than you think. Use those smaller pockets of time to finish a reading, review notes, answer emails, or get started on an assignment so you have less to do later.
4. Break Big Assignments into Smaller Tasks
“Write a 10-page paper” sounds intimidating, but “find three sources” or “write the intro” feels much more doable. Breaking assignments into smaller steps makes it easier to start and gives you a clearer idea of what to work on next (plus you get the satisfaction of checking off way more boxes).
5. Start Before You Feel Like You Need To
This is a tough one for those who love to procrastinate, but simply opening the instructions, making an outline, or starting your notes early for an assignment or project can save you a lot of stress later. Your future self will definitely thank you for this one.
6. Know When to Stop for the Day
Studying for another hour isn’t always helpful if you’re exhausted, checked out, and barely absorbing any content. Give yourself permission to step away, get some sleep, get active, or do something else you enjoy, and come back to it with a clearer mind.
7. Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To
University shouldn’t be only classes, assignments, and studying (we’re allowed to have a life too). Having something enjoyable in your week like grabbing coffee with a friend, going to the gym, watching a show, or making fun weekend plans can make the busy parts feel a little more manageable.
At the end of the day, university is probably never going to be completely stress-free. The key is finding the habits that work for you and make the busy weeks feel a little more manageable because you deserve to actually enjoy your university experience.