Your first year away at college can be stressful. After a long time of anticipation, you are now on your own and responsible for creating your independent life and your schedule. How you spend your time at college will dictate the your success or failure. Having an organized plan of action will save you untold stress and help you enjoy your college experience to the fullest.
Tip One: Plan your days. After you have settled into your dormitory and met your roommate, get out a new binder and sit down with your class schedule. You will need to attend all your classes, schedule time for studying, eat, sleep, and also do your own laundry. There are only so many hours in a day, but by managing your time wisely, you can do all of the above and still have time for a fun-filled social life!
Tip Two: Get enough sleep. After you have decided what time you should arise each morning, figure out what time you should go to bed in order to be well rested. Be courteous with your alarm clock; if they don’t have to be up until hours after you do, repeatedly hitting the snooze button may cause discord. Check with your roommate; you may need to agree on a schedule for bathroom privileges so neither of you will be late for class.
Tip Three: Study faithfully. On ‘light’ class days, plan on extra studying right after class, while you are at your most alert and before you drift into recreational activities. Keep the television, phone and instant messenger turned off during your study period. If you are too tempted by the relaxing atmosphere of your room, the library is a good alternate study environment. Breaks are necessary to refresh your mind and body, but don’t let yourself get distracted; make a habit of setting definite goals and meeting them
Tip Four: Don’t skip class. This can adversely affect your grades and may even lead to being forced to drop out, wasting valuable time and money. If you are forced to miss a class due to an appointment at the doctor or dentist, take your textbook or class notes with you so the time will well spent.
Tip Five: Eat right. Keep your body healthy, and your mind will benefit too! If you opt out of the cafeteria, try to keep your room stocked with healthy snacks, and plan on at least one hot meal per day.
Tip Six: Remember to have fun! College is a wonderful privilege, and social interaction is a large part of the whole experience. Pick and choose your parties carefully – it is all right to have a good time, but stay away from the law-breaking crowd; your education is too important to risk by an ill fated adventure.
College is the first big step on the road to life. By managing your time wisely, you will lay the foundation for prosperity in the years ahead. Be smart, and balance your life with the proper mix of studying and socializing, and you will graduate a strong, mature person, ready for whatever lies ahead!
