Two weeks to go until classes are done!
I’m sure we can all agree this has been a stressful semester. From the sudden shuttle bus schedule change, to the neverending detours caused by closed off entrances and areas around campus, we’ve all got our share of fall 2024 horror stories.
But I don’t let mine hold me back from locking in at the library, and neither should you.
With the last day of classes fast approaching, it is as important as ever to avoid burnout and reach the finish line with flying colours.
That being said, so many deadlines packed together can easily get overwhelming, so here’s a list of five tips to fall back on when looming assignments get overwhelming.
Sit down and write out all the work left to do. Whether or not you have a calendar where you write down all your homework, you should still partake in this exercise. No matter what, I always write out every single task a few weeks before the end of the semester — it helps me better grasp the scope of work still left to do.
And it’s not something to cheap out on either. Dividing the sheet between your different classes and writing out every single assignment or project to complete is really the key.
Don’t stop exercising. With the warm weather sports season over, a lot of people choose to completely turn their attention to finals, fully transforming their bodies into a machine that turns double-double coffees into memorized class material.
Even during finals, I force myself to exercise intensely at least a few times a week, and recreationally more often.
No better reset after sitting in the library than half an hour of time outside with your study buddies and a frisbee.
Uninstall social media. I’m sure many of you already follow this practice even outside of exam season, but I found that physically stopping myself from that sweet scroll time adds a few hours of productivity to my day.
Clean your workspace. I’ve just spent four hours deep cleaning my desk & room. Was it a good use of time? Debatable. Could I have squeezed at least one assignment in that time frame? Definitely. However, now that my workspace is clean, I feel more productive than ever. It is important to keep in mind that it’s not just your mind that needs resetting, but your physical surroundings as well.
Reset your sleep schedule. While I usually let myself off the hook during the semester, not protesting too much if I sleep less than needed, I’m usually more tough on myself before the exam period. And while this might not line up with the mountains of work to be done, there’s still a whopping two weeks of school left to do all those assignments.
All in all, I find these five principles are what set me right for the last sprint of each semester, and this one shouldn’t be much different.
With a coffee in hand and a mask on my face to protect everyone from the ill-fated sickness going around, I salute all who have made it so far in this fall semester, and who will make it to the end of the exam period — in one piece.
