Spring semester is fully underway and now we are getting mounds of homework assignments, readings and study guides for future exams.
The beginning of this semester can be difficult to get through. The weather is dreary, there are only a few short days off and the sleep we didn’t get last semester just keeps building up.
Here are the best ways to take care of yourself to get through the rest of the school year.
Don’t lose focus
It may be easy to tune out your professor while they’re talking about a subject you’re not especially interested in during lecture, but try to resist that. Don’t lose focus during your class, or anywhere else where you have a goal to achieve. When you’re studying put your cell phone away and let the material consume you, especially if you want to top those grades from fall semester. If you dive into schoolwork and extracurricular activities, the time will go by much faster. Before you know it, it will be summer.
Get lots of sleep and eat healthy
This seems pretty self-explanatory, but like many of us know, it is all too easy to forget about the simple things. You may get overwhelmed with schoolwork and try to pull a few all-nighters. Don’t. Most of the time, it’s not worth it, and your health comes first. Go to bed at a decent time, eat whenever you have the chance and drink plenty of water. In order for our brains to learn all this new information, our bodies need to be properly fueled.
Take time to unwind
Enjoy the free time that you have now and then. Do something you love and just unwind. We may be college students, but we aren’t superheroes managing to juggle everything at once. You deserve to take some time out of your day to enjoy life and strip the stress away.
Own the weather
Wear a rain jacket, and don’t forget to keep your snow boots out. There is nothing worse than realizing winter isn’t actually over. Spring in Moscow isn’t really spring. Snow comes and goes in an instant. No matter what the weather is though just keep on moving through the semester. It will all be over before you know it.
Keep in contact with family and friends
Being back in Moscow is great, but don’t forget about the support system you have in your hometown. Keep in contact with your family and friends — they will help you stay sane throughout the semester. They already miss you just as much as you miss them. Just remember to work hard so you can make them proud when you travel back home.
Do what you love
If a professor, friend or mentor tells you that you can’t achieve something this year — prove them wrong. You can do whatever you set your mind to. Find what you love to do, and learn about it. Dive into the material, and see what you can do to make those dreams a reality. It doesn’t matter if you’re graduating or not, we are all leaving this place at some point. You ultimately get out of the experience how much effort you put in.
Don’t forget summer plans
It may be the beginning of second semester, but it’s never too early to think about internships or summer jobs. Deadline dates sneak up pretty quick, and the application process can sometimes be long. Think about if you want a job for the summer or an internship. Summer experiences look great on a resume and give you something to look forward to in the future.
Whether you’re a graduating senior, transferring or coming back next year just enjoy the spring semester. Work hard, relax every once in a while and ultimately pursue what you love to do.
Lindsay Trombly can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @lindsay_trombly