Preparing for the New Semester

By Corinne Feight

Welcome back to campus! Like many of you will agree, I’m sure, break was much too short. I was home for only about two weeks because of my Resident Assistant responsibilities. Not exactly the long and relaxing break I was looking for, but spending time with my family over the holidays was still worth it. We kicked off our intern meeting almost immediately upon our return last Friday to make the new interns (we have three!) feel comfortable and familiar with the objectives of the year and their position on the team. We also delegated out project manager duties for the rest of the semester. I got to speak for about 30 minutes about Career Week and our upcoming goals and expectations. It was exciting to explain it to our team and refresh my memory about the awesome programs we have in the works. As always, there will be a few hiccups along the way, but I am antsy to get started and get back to work in this first week, as there’s still so much to prepare.

However, for those of you who may not have a reason to be too excited for this coming semester, Kendra Cherry from About.com suggests five things you can do to prepare for classes, as it’s much more than just stocking back up on school supplies and textbooks.

1. Establish a Good Sleep Schedule

Remember that you need about seven to nine hours a night! Sleep deprivation will only drag you down, especially if you have early morning classes or exams.

2. Learn to Cope with Stress

Many of the projects and commitments you have at school can stress you out. This can hurt your academics and your personal health. Maintain your stress through outlets like athletics, sleep, music, etc. Find what works for you!   

3. Boost Your Memory

Personalize your studying! Check out this link for some helpful hints: http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/tp/memory_tips.htm

4. Focus on Good Study Skills

Does getting out of your room, house, or apartment work? Head to the library! There are plenty of study spaces on campus where you can clear your head and get to work. If these aren’t for you, find a location where you can be alone and focus on your homework. This place will be invaluable when it comes to exam time. Also, don’t procrastinate!

5. Practice Healthy Eating Habits

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We’ve all heard it before, but it’s the truth. It can really help to jump start your day and your brain. Eating the right foods can make sure that your feeding both your body and your mind. Unhealthy foods have a tendency to drag you down. Take a few minutes a day to think about how you can improve your food intake.

Source: http://psychology.about.com/b/2012/08/21/five-things-you-can-do-to-get-ready-for-next-semester.htm