Fall semester, we were all excited to be back in school with our friends. Everything felt new and exciting, and classes were mixed with tons of back-to-school festivities. But the start of spring semester can feel a lot different.
It’s chilly outside, the holidays are over for the year, and break went by fast. Don’t let the dreary start to the semester discourage you. It’s still possible to have a fun, relaxed spring and these eight tips for the spring semester will help to get you through.
Tip 1: Actually go to class.
Let’s be real. Being an 18-to-20-something in college means that you’re going to be tired a lot of the time, and if you’re like me it can be hard to motivate yourself to get up and go to classes. It’s easy to stay cuddled up in bed, which makes it even easier to fall behind in school.
Take it from someone who hates going to class – you really need to go if you want to pass! If you can’t motivate yourself any other way, do some mental math and think about the money. Say you (or your parents) are paying $2,000 for a class this semester that will meet 20 times. Every time you skip that class, it’s $100 down the drain. This mentality tends to have the desired effect and gets me out of bed in the morning!
Tip 2: Take time for self-care.
With the constant bustle of classes, homework, extracurriculars, and jobs, it can be hard to find time to take care of yourself. But, as a college student, this is one of the most important things you can do.
Block out an hour every day to do something just for you. Maybe it’s a new skincare routine. Maybe it’s meditation or yoga. Find the things that make your brain feel relaxed and your body feel calm and indulge in them everyday. You deserve it! Plus, resting your mind gives you fuel to focus better later.
Tip 3: Make friends in your classes.
I know Tip One said to go to class, but we’d all be liars if we said that was going to happen 100% of the time. You get sick, you have a last-minute shift you need to pick up; things happen. An easy way to keep up in classes is to have a friend to fill you in on things that you miss. Having a friend also gives you another reason to go in the first place. You’ll have a go-to for group projects, a friendly face in the crowd for presentations, and a study buddy locked in. It can only make your life easier!
Tip 4: Curate your diet to fuel you.
Three words of advice for a diet that keeps you energized: protein, protein, protein! It’s tempting to go for highly caffeinated drinks and sugary snacks when you’re looking for energy, but protein is nature’s most natural form of it!
Sure, sugar and caffeine will give you short bursts of liveliness, and they’re fine when consumed in moderation. But eating three meals packed with protein and healthy fats will keep your body and brain focused the whole day.
Try a homemade poke bowl with fish, eggs, and avocado, or experiment with some different flavors of Greek yogurt! Need some more meal-prep ideas for spring semester? Check out these high-protein recipes.
Tip 5: Create your own study schedule.
Experts and students alike recommend taking 10-30-minute brain breaks between work and studying. If you have a big exam coming up, don’t save all your studying until the last minute. Devote a few hours each day to review your class material, interspersing 10-minute breaks for every hour of studying.
Looking at a list of assignments for classes can be overwhelming with tests, quizzes, and presentations multiple days a week. Sometimes it feels like drowning in information, but with the right scheduling skills, it’s possible to make a busy week feel like a breeze.
If you need some ideas for brain breaks, try something fun that gets you moving, like playing a round of Just Dance or taking a walk outside.
Tip 6: Make a playlist that inspires you!
A good combination of songs can change your mood in a moment. This spring semester, try making a new playlist. Some people need background noise while they study; others need complete silence to focus.
Either way, there’s a time in your day when new music could change everything. A fun tip is to use your party playlist on the walk to class. This tricks your brain into being excited!
I have lots of playlists for different parts of my day: party playlists for walks, bedroom pop for getting ready, and rap for studying. It’s all about what works for you.
Tip 7: Relate your classes to your personal passions.
Most colleges have a few requirements these days, with a set of gen-eds, a major, and a minor. But it’s possible to pick out the classes that relate to your personal passions.
Usually, you’ll have a pretty wide variety of options within your own major and it’s worth the trek to your academic advisor to talk about what those options look like. But, you’ll also have a few credits left that you get to use for electives!
There’s nothing wrong with taking a few “easy A’s” or just picking electives associated with your major, but it could also be a great idea to try something completely new just for fun. Try a yoga class or Intro to Painting! This is also a way to give your brain a needed break from focusing on the same things all day.
Tip 8: Spend time with the people who make you feel good.
We’ve all experienced the high school drama. Whether it’s a backstabbing friend or a gossipy game of telephone, it’s easy to admit that drama is draining. It shouldn’t continue into college. It’s important to surround yourself with people that don’t cause you stress. If you’re not certain that you’re spending time with the right people, keep some questions in mind as you spend time with them:
- Does this person raise my self-esteem or lower it?
- Does this person support my goals and my dreams?
- How quickly does my social battery drain around this person compared to others?
Questions like these can help decode difficult relationships and help you to identify the friends that are going to support you through stressful times. Your support system is everything, especially in an overwhelming time like college.
For more tips on avoiding burnout, check out this article.
