Hannah Haney | Echo
We've been at school for about two weeks now. And if we're being honest, I think we can all agree that the switch from summer to school is a tough one. Luckily, there are some ways to make your transition as easy as possible.
Start by taking a page out of Benjamin Franklin's book. "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." Franklin was on to something. Get on a regular sleeping schedule. If you have a 9 a.m. class, make sure you are up by eight a.m., every day. Resist the urge to sleep late. Even on the weekends, try not to sleep in by more than one to two hours. By doing this, you'll set your body's natural "alarm clock," and you'll start to automatically wake up when you need to. We need seven to eight hours of sleep every night. Make sure your body is getting the rest it needs. If you feel the urge to nap, try to keep it to 20-25 minutes. Any longer and you'll feel groggy and want to go right back to sleep.
Don't forget to stay on top of your homework. It's easy to procrastinate on it at the moment, especially since the workload is lighter now than later in the semester. However, by forming a habit early, you'll be less stressed in October when you are drowning in work. Schedule blocks of time for study and stick to them. Find an atmosphere where you know you can get work done without getting distracted. Take advantage of your Odyssey! Sit down with a pen and write down when all of your homework assignments are due. Refer to it regularly. You'll always know what you need to do when.
Remember to live in the present. Summer was amazing and you have so many memories. It's easy to continue to live in the excitement and wonder of summer, despite the joy of reuniting with old friends. But dwelling on the past will make it hard to accept and enjoy the present. Find the balance of holding onto the memories and moving on from the experience. You don't want to miss out on what God has in store for you this year.
Try not to overcommit. Lots of organizations around campus are looking for new members now and it's easy to sign up, since your homework load is light at the moment. Remember, you'll be busier later in the semester as your workload increases. Don't sign up now only to rip your hair out in a month.
Never underestimate what a healthy lifestyle will do for you. Choose healthier options at the DC. It might seem boring at first, but you'll be grateful when flu season comes around. Work out at the Well. Exercising isn't just good for your body, but it boosts your endorphins, leaving you in a great mood once you're done.
If you're still struggling to adjust, consider a trip to the counselling center to talk to things out. The counselors there can help you create personal goals to help you start off your school year on the right foot. The center is in the bottom floor of Rediger. They are more than willing to talk to you and help however they can.
And most importantly, don't forget to have fun. You won't have an opportunity like Taylor again. Make a bucket list of crazy things you want to do before the year is up. Take a break once in a while to hang out with some good friends and laugh together. Remember everything you loved about Taylor when you first came here. An attitude change can make all the difference in the world.
