Reporter: Rebecca Clancey
You know how, when a new semester begins, you tell yourself that you will go to all of your classes, you will take your notes and study hard, you will get enough sleep, and so on… And you know how, once exams begin and Winter break is over, your sleep schedule is all over the place, you’re running on 1000mg of caffeine and a granola bar, you’ve skipped that one class for over two weeks, and you have never known anything but the freeing comfort of your sweatpants… Yeah, let’s manage that.
Tip 1: Eat. Eat regular meals, get the nutrition you need (and deserve.) The better you eat, the more energy you’ll have, and the less stomach sick you’ll feel after you’ve finished your fourth coffee of the day.
Tip 2: Sleep. Very important; you will be able to retain more information when you’re well-rested, and again, more energy. If this means missing a morning class here and there because you were up late studying or writing a paper, you’re forgiven.
Tip 3: Management. Buy a planner- or start using the planner you’d bought at the beginning of the semester and never touched. Keep track of when everything is due, and, this way, you’ll be able to decipher what to work on first, giving yourself time to take a break in between and work on something different so you don’t over-think.
Tip 4: Me Time. Find time for yourself. This may mean waking up a little earlier to relax in the morning or taking a weekend off from socialising. It’s important for you to find time to do things you enjoy during the semester lest you lose your mind altogether.
Tip 5: Study Dates. Although many people benefit from solo studying, sometimes the socialisation and the ability to relate to someone else can help you feel better about the struggle through an exchange of support to help everyone survive.
Tip 6: Extensions. More often than not, many courses have similar due dates, or everything happens to be due within the same week. And, more often than not, your professors are willing to help you, therefore requesting an extension (with reasonable notice) is definitely helpful to handling a heavy course load.
Tip 7: Take Time Off. If you’re working one, two, even three jobs, ask for time off or even less shifts. One week with a reduced workload won’t hurt you as much in the long run as letting the slump ruin your academic progress. This way, you’ll have more time to relax and more time to focus on school.
If you’re ever struggling to stay afloat to the point where you’re feeling down most days, finding it difficult to get out of bed or do average everyday things, you may benefit from seeking support from the MUN Student Wellness and Counselling Centre. Everyone struggles in different ways and the strongest thing you can do is ask for help!