hey pals!! i haven’t done one of these in a whiiiiile, but i start my spring semester in about two weeks so i figured i would make one about how to prepare for a new semester!
my original posts | studygram | my 8tracks
so, hopefully you’ve already decided what classes you’re going to take, and even if you haven’t, i find that there are a few things i like to do before the semester starts so that i’ll be able to make sure i can handle it!!
one thing i learned recently to do is to rate all of my responsibilities (classes, extra-curricular activities, job, etc) out of 5 based on difficulty. so, for instance, my physics class, which has two lectures a week and a lab once a week (a 4-credit course) would, most likely, be a smack-in-the-face 5/5. on the other hand, my PE class (fricken exercise and toning) would be a 0/5 (no out of class assignments, a 50-minute class twice a week).
make sure you’re not taking back to back classes!! please!! it is so stressful feeling like you’re going to be late to a class because another went over by even a few minutes. my school does scheduling so that there’s a ten-minute break between all time slots and that’s still really strenuous for me.
make sure you have enough time to eat, pal. i don’t know how other (read: bigger) schools do it, but my tiny school doesn’t let you take anything out of the dining hall. plus, it’s so much more fun to have time to sit down and talk with your friends – it’s also a really great way to destress in the middle of the day!
don’t overload. seriously. overload at my school is 19 credits and honestly the only reason you should be taking 19 credits a semester is if you’re graduating early (but you should have brought credits in so there would be no need) or you’re at a credit deficit (don’t….do that). so like. don’t overload. it’s really bad for you omg
don’t make the same mistake i did my first year and buy every textbook brand new!! here are some resources for free textbooks online + by the way, slader.com has answers to pretty much every textbook on the planet!
classic lit + references/study guides
planning/bullet journaling
using a planner and/or bullet journal is honestly the best thing you can do for yourself. i only use a planner (which works for me enormously because i like to plan according to due dates and the calendars already set up for me work better than anything i could come up with!) but i’ve heard that bullet journals are a great way to keep lists and everything you have to do in one place!
i am currently using a 17-month ban.do planner and i love it to pieces; it’s an easy way to keep all of my assignments in one place. i also keep a separate journals for to-do lists!
intro to bullet journaling (this is the official website!)
studyign’s bullet journal tag and masterpost
another masterpost on bullet journals
jammin’ on your planner (read: organization tips)
setting goals for yourself is really, really important if you want to make sure you don’t end up the typical college student: in the library at 3am the day something is due, chugging coffee like your life depends on it and typing so frantically you think your fingers might fall off.
long-term goals may seem scary at first, but if you set short-term goals in order to help you accomplish those long-term goals, it’s easy as pie!
set due dates for yourself, i.e. if you have a big essay due in two weeks, maybe have a first draft done in a week so you have the rest of the time to edit it (and maybe you’ll even finish early?)
setting goals is also important for when you hit that inevitable middle-of-the-semester slump. it happens, and sometimes you can’t get out of bed for your 8 am class, and that’s fine, whatever; but don’t make it a habit. maybe make it a goal to only miss one meeting of each of your courses?? (wink wink)
make a to do + doing + done board (i made one of these last semester and although as the semester went on i had a tough time keeping up with it i found it really helpful!!)
use your bullet journal/planner to help you with these goalsss!
i know i always forget how to do anything related to school over the month-long break between semesters because i essentially become a couch potato, so here are a few posts with study techniques/resources/etc to help you readjust!!
general study masterpost (includes such resources as help for essays, ways to get motivated, and tips on how to study when you suffer from a mental illness)
how to take notes in your lecture when your professor speaks so fast and you can’t keep up
creating your own study guide!
please, for the love of the powers that be, learn time management (you’ll thank me and yourself) + pomodoro technique!!
taking a language this semester?
no fear shakespeare (this is mostly for me tbh)
…don’t stress! take care of yourselves!
everyone gets so stressed out they can’t breathe every once in a while, so here are some things that could help
how to eat healthy this semester amid all the stress
understanding anxiety (this one was really, really helpful for me!)
ok free rice is my L I F E (feed ppl and improve your vocab?? what else could u want)
studyign’s “little happy things” post – take a step back from whatever’s stressing you out; maybe even take a break entirely from it!
guided relaxation (i literally love this website so much)
all in all, just take deep breaths. i know school is important, but it’s not everything. one D does not mean you’re a failure. heck, one F does not mean you’re a failure. it’ll be okay.
one thing that the studyblr community is just chock full of is printables to help you plan and to help you study. here are a few that i like to use!
daily planner, essay planner, assignment planner
for my literary friends, poetry terms
so! many! free! printables!!!
sticker printables ooo (these require sticker paper - or just regular paper and tape?)
your very own habit in 21 days!
why the heck not here’s another printables masterpost
kianamaiart
baratheonpilled
kaledo-art
discoholicmusic
origamiaround
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