Turning off vacation mode can be tough. Here are some tips. Photo By Marvin Meyer/Unsplash.
By Julia McIntyre Staff Reporter
Starting a new semester after a 6-week break can be stressful. After sleeping in, celebrating holidays and not worrying about cramming at the last minute for a test, it may be challenging to get back into the groove of things. Although returning to the classroom or logging back in for online classes can bring anxiety or worry, the start of a new year is a great time for fresh starts and new excitement. For those having a bit of trouble, here are some helpful tips to dive headfirst into the new semester and adjust your brain back into school mode.
1. Get Organized
A solid first step to starting the semester successfully is to make sure you have all your tools and resources in order. This includes getting together folders and notebooks necessary for each class, a planner to keep track of assignments and potential events, cleaning out your backpack from last semester, and organizing your computer files.
2. Readjust Your Sleep Routine
To avoid rushed or overslept mornings, it is important to get back into a routine as early as possible. The longer you stick to a toxic sleep schedule of staying up until 1 a.m. and waking up at noon, the more difficult it will be to have productive mornings throughout the semester. Getting enough sleep also puts less stress on your day-to-day life and keeps you alert throughout the day.
According to SCLHealth, a better sleep routine can boost your immune system, strengthen your heart, put you in a better mood, increase productivity and improve memory.
3. Morning Caffeine: Friend or Foe?
A tip that goes hand in hand with readjusting a “vacation mode” sleep schedule is to avoid jumping straight into a pot of coffee right when you wake up. According to nutritionists and dietitians featured on CNBC, “Having coffee right after waking may cause you to feel jittery and hyper-alert soon after drinking it and then very tired a few hours later.” If you do not want to feel the crash around 2 p.m., perhaps put off that Starbucks run until you are already awake and alert.
4. Improve Time Management
Most students are well aware of the stress and anxiety that comes with the bad habit of procrastination. Many simply need the motivation of a deadline, however, there is always a positive outcome to good time management. Even if you may want to binge-watch that new Netflix series or if you’re worried about FOMO (fear of missing out) if you miss a night out with your friends, remember it is better to get work done first. You will avoid stress, produce better assignments, and have a better night out if tasks are checked off your list.
5. Make To-Do Lists
A quick and easy way to make sure you are completing all work is to write down everything you need to get done. As you move through the list, you can check things off and get a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. According to the Harvard Business Review, there is a psychological aspect of to-do lists. “With the mountain of tasks we have to do each day, we cannot solely rely on our ability to remember them…when we check things off, it’s proof that we were able to get things done and that makes us feel good.”
6. Remember: M.I.T.
During the semester, you may feel overwhelmed when your workload feels heavy. When this time approaches, a helpful acronym to consider is M.I.T. otherwise known as the “most important thing.” It reminds you to focus on the most important task at the moment and push back the rest. What assignment is due first? Which class has an exam already scheduled? What is a simple assignment to quickly get out of the way? You can ask yourself these questions to decide what to tackle when stress arises.
These tips and ideas will help your brain snap out of vacation mode, boost productivity and assist you to have a successful semester.
