The end of the first semester is a busy and stressful time for students. As a painfully type-B person, getting myself through this season is a struggle. The obvious remedy is to keep myself and my assignments organized, but this feels like an impossible task. Thankfully, I have close to four years of navigating this time of year under my belt, and I’ve gained some tips to help calm the waters.
Sleep:
Sleep is one of the most important steps to productivity, but, ironically, it’s slept on. Getting enough sleep seems unrealistic at this time of year with all of the studying necessary to be successful; thankfully, that’s a common misconception. Cramming for a test in place of a good night’s rest is actually counterproductive. UCLA Health researched this topic and found that if a, “student sacrifices sleep time in order to study more than usual, he or she is likely to have more academic problems, not less, on the following day” (Wheeler). A good sleep is like the missing piece of a puzzle; it regulates your mood, improves memory, enhances focus and increases rational thinking, which in turn reduces stress. This should never be replaced with studying that likely won’t stick!
Create a study schedule:
Having a routine of any kind helps maintain a realistic and productive workload. However, I am not an organized person, and I get incredibly overwhelmed when I look at any kind of agenda. This isn’t a problem for everyone, and I still use Google Calendar for group events, which is incredibly important for the holiday season. In order to keep myself on top of my work, I’ve found that a mental routine of studying is just as productive and doesn’t stress me out. Personally, I have time every A-Day to study after school, so I use that time to study routinely. That’s it. I understand that it’s easy to get overwhelmed, but a small and efficient routine can be incredibly helpful. Reminders are also a resource that should be used; if a particularly important or big project is due, setting a reminder is a small but motivating tool to keep you on track without feeling overwhelmed.
Mental health:
On top of deadlines and holidays, many people struggle with seasonal depression during this time of year. Feeling unmotivated and burnt out makes school feel unfeasible. Because of this, it is incredibly necessary that you prioritize your mental health in some way during this time. This can be done through small acts that increase dopamine and have a huge impact. Harvard Health suggests eating foods high in tyrosine, the chemical that makes dopamine, like poultry, avocados and bananas. Simple things like listening to music or making eye contact with others also release dopamine. This release reinforces behavior through pleasure and motivation, so try listening to music or eating a banana while studying, and it may make a burdensome task seem more enjoyable!
School should be gratifying, not an unavoidable and irksome task. Although it can be hard to find school as anything but a burden during this time of year, it’s incredibly possible to shift your habits and gain a new perspective. Some small changes to your routine, diet or sleeping habits could make this season feel more manageable.
