By It’s 10 p.m. on a Sunday night. Your roommate’s been asleep for an hour. Two empty Red Bull cans have joined the caffeine graveyard on your desk.
And you’ve just started your paper due at midnight.
College can often feel like an Olympic sport.
For some students, this experience can be nerve-wracking. When parents aren’t around, things can get disorganized fast.
Being able to take care of yourself, succeed in academics, and keep up relationships with your peers can be tricky. This is true whether you are a freshman stepping on campus for the first time or a senior preparing for your last year.
“It’s a challenge to stay on top of everything school-related while also maintaining an active social life and engaging in extracurriculars,” said Ella Kuenzli, a sophomore political science major from Colorado Springs, Colo.
So, as someone who’s been around a long time, I’ll offer some tips and tricks to best approach the Olympic sport that is college.
Stay Organized
Staying organized, maintaining self-care, and finding what works for you are some of the most important skills to have as a student.
The pace of college is fast.
This means that staying organized is an essential skill to learn.
“The importance of organization not only reduces stress levels, but it also helps save time, achieve success, and enjoy a clutter-free zone both within your physical environment and your mind,” said University of the People in an article titled Keeping it Together: How to Stay Organized in College.
The most important part of staying organized is time management.
“To stay organized, I usually keep a planner of all of my due dates and assignments,” said Keetyn Sayers, a junior nursing major from Helena.
With a challenging course load and demanding schedule, Sayers has mastered the skill of staying organized.
“I also play basketball, so I have to keep on top of things because I have a lot of time commitments with school and sports,” said Sayers. “My planner saves me because as long as I check it, I’m not scrambling to finish assignments, and I can get them done during the day instead of staying up all night.”
Although it may seem like a juggling act, staying organized is key to balancing friends, family, and hobbies without sacrificing school work and extracurricular activities.
Practice Self-Care
On this note, self-care is an often overlooked aspect of a successful college career.
Self-care can look like a lot of different things. It can be anything from enjoying your favorite activities or hobbies to getting extra rest on the weekends.
The important thing to remember is that maintaining self-care is vital to preserving both mental and physical well-being.
A lack of self-care can lead to a reduction in school performance, social life, and in most cases, burnout.
“I maintain my self-care by making sure I carve out time to do things I enjoy and help recharge my battery,” said Maddie Geritz, a senior education and business major from Boise, Idaho. “As long as I’m setting aside things that bring me happiness, even if I do feel crunched for time, it gives me the motivation to keep going.”
Ultimately, no one size fits all.
“There are many different ways to find success in college, and it’s up to each person to find what works best for them,” said Kuenzli.
Experimenting with various different study habits, activities, clubs, and sports will help you find what’s best for you.
“The biggest study tool I use is studying in the library or in a classroom,” said Addie Ekstrom, a junior Health Science major from Bozeman. “I find it helpful to isolate myself from distractions so I can focus better. Using a whiteboard to work through lecture content also helps me to be successful.”
Be daring: Experiment!
Lastly, the best advice we can give is to experiment.
There are many unique opportunities offered on campus to help broaden your horizons. Extracurriculars, clubs, and campus activities are a great way to get involved and find what’s best for you.
If getting plenty of exercise and eating healthy works in your routine, go for it!
If completing all of your homework two weeks early helps you as a student, do it!
Getting a grasp on your own learning style, study habits, and time management is a key to success in college.
Carroll seeks to drive its students to succeed at everything they do.
There are a multitude of resources on campus to help, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help.
Staying organized, maintaining self-care, and finding what works for you in your journey will help you better find success.
Embrace the hardships of college, make friends, reach out for help, and have fun because four – or maybe five – years only lasts so long!
