After enjoying a month-long winter break, going back to school seems nearly impossible. There are many things I’m sure we’d all rather be doing than going back to scheduled classes and studying for exams, but rather than looking at school as a burden, we need to use February as an opportunity for a fresh start. With new classes and new adventures headed your way this year, here are 5 things you should consider doing to change-up this new semester:
1. Take care of yourself. Often times we convince ourselves that it’s important to satisfy the needs of everyone around us, rather than taking care of ourselves. It’s easy to forget to take a break in the midst of helping your roommate with her studying, supporting a friend with her boy troubles, and working to resolve your own problems. It’s okay to put yourself first. College can wear you down fast and if you’re anything like me you might spread yourself pretty thin. But know this – it is important to always find time for yourself. Whether it’s 2 hours spent watching Netflix, reading a book, or even treating yourself to a manicure and a face mask, it is necessary to take time out of your day to relax and re-energize.
2. Make new friends. There is so much more to college than highlighting textbooks and creating flash cards. Make an effort to meet new friends in school. Whether it’s joining a club, greek life, or hanging out with your neighbors, it’s important to reach out and meet new people. It is so easy for us to stay in our comfort zones, walking into class and sitting by ourselves without saying a word to anyone. Although talking to new people may seem intimidating, there are plenty of school activities, and clubs that will make it easier for you. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how you make new friends, but putting an effort into creating a lifelong friendships will always benefit you in the long run.
3. Get organized. There’s nothing worse than rummaging through your backpack during class, only to find crumpled papers and nothing else. You shamelessly start dumping everything you own onto your desk just to find a pencil. This semester, make it a goal to stay organized. Not only does being organized help you with your school work, but it also completely changes your lifestyle. You can start with buying yourself a planner, making your bed each morning, or even just organizing your room. These simple habits will make your day-to-day routine more organized and pour into other parts of your life. There’s no such thing as being too organized.
4. Don’t take life too seriously. We spend too many nights stressing about school work and boys when we should be focusing on enjoying our time in school. Don’t let class work consume your life. Your time spent in school will fly by, so make sure you enjoy every second. Take a day trip, or have a Girls’ Night Out with your closest friends, anything to remind yourself that although you do have responsibilities, there’s still time to have fun.
5. Find a Professor who can help you in the future. I have been told repeatedly to find a professor to mentor me throughout my college experience and still have yet to do so. With that being said, I urge you to do this with me this semester. It took me quite a long time to notice that professors are here to help and encourage me, not to intimidate me. I have many friends who have graduated college and one of their professors has either written a great letter of recommendation for them or even helped them get a job. This relationship will also help you understand his or her class better, and you’ll have someone with more experience who can give you insight into how you should be going about your college years and what to do after.
A new semester leads to new beginnings and new opportunities. Whether you commit to doing these 5 things this school year, or you resolve to make your own resolutions, it’s important to take advantage of this moment. Goals encourage us to work hard, and motivate ourselves. his new semester gives us a chance for a fresh start. So, as you start school, rather than dreading late nights and school papers, find a goal to work towards that can help you actually enjoy this semester.
This writer is no longer a contributor at Unwritten
Featured image via Ivan Samkov on Pexels
