College is an exciting time. It denotes a transition from school to a sea of endless opportunities. As enriching the college experience is, it can be overwhelming at times too. There is academic pressure, endless submissions, and extracurricular activities. It can become challenging to manage everything in college. Thus, to deal with the stress and also have a fulfilling college experience, here are some tips you can follow;
- Establish Routines
The college environment is new and can disrupt the routine followed before. Therefore, a set routine can give a sense of purpose and normalcy. Following such a routine establishes a daily to-do list that covers enough workload and leaves you with time to relax or practice your hobbies. Planning your day and ticking off each item from your list one by one gives a feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day.
2. Prioritise Goals, Adhere to Deadlines
College offers a multitude of opportunities, and we often feel the need to engage in a lot of activities. This can lead to an overload of work and reduce our productivity. Setting reasonable goals and prioritising these goals is essential. We must realise that our work-life balance also reflects our efficiency in the tasks we undertake. Segregate tasks based on deadlines and importance. Some tasks would not require your immediate attention, whereas certain tasks would need you to start working beforehand. Establishing a priority list enables you to begin working on time and not get left behind.
There will be several deadlines which college students would have to workaround. Therefore, it is important to avoid delays or last-minute one-nighters for submissions.
3. Define Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
What you do in college sets the course of your path in life. It is crucial to keep this in perspective and work around it. Keeping a broad-minded approach towards learning different skills that would help you grow and establish a set of long-term goals that will assist you in the future can prove beneficial. Similarly, you can set short-term goals and work towards achieving them.
4. Take Breaks, Enjoy College
College is not just about work and studies. It opens up new horizons and a vast myriad of opportunities to explore your interests. It is equally important to spend time exploring your passions and hobbies. An overload of work decreases the quality of work and can cause burnout. This can have long-term effects on your mental and physical health. Thus, spending time relaxing or taking a day or two off from work can boost productivity.
Whether it be playing football or going for dinner with friends now and then, these experiences also encompass the entirety of a college experience.
5. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
A sound mind lives a sound body. Often college students undergo intensive stress and anxiety due to the workload. Especially during the exam season, several students forego following a proper sleep schedule and end up skipping meals. They may shift to an unhealthy diet and pull all-nighters. This is counterproductive as it affects the memory capacity adversely.
A proper sleep pattern maintains the body’s internal clock. It supports the proper functioning of the brain and allows your body to recharge. Following a balanced diet also provides the body with the necessary nutrients. Maintaining your health under stressful conditions is important, as we need our body to be in its best shape.
6. Stop Procrastinating
The adverse effects of procrastination are extensive. We may feel that we have enough time to complete the work later on but do not realise that our workload just keeps piling on, and we do a half-hearted job at each task to meet the deadlines. Besides, circumstances cannot be predicted, and there might be a sudden, unpredictable spike in workload, which would leave us much less time to devote to each task. Studying for exams diligently while religiously following a schedule leads to less stress and anxiety.
With the above tips in mind and a broad-minded approach towards learning at each step, you are sure to make the most of the college experience.
-Content Writer, Anushka Das
