12 TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR A NEW SEMESTER
Considering a new semester often incites a barrage of emotions, from excitement to fear to outright panic, whether you’ve been out of school for 2 months or 8 months. However, the fact that you’re considering it at all is a step in the right direction. The next step is to plan ahead. Returning to school without a plan is like going on a road trip with an almost empty tank. You might have a reserve, but it won’t last! The first few weeks of school often determine how the rest of the semester might play out. You don’t want to spend them trying to figure things out. Creating a plan helps relieve your anxiety and increases clarity. Now, here are 12 tips for you.
1. GET ORGANIZED
This takes so many different dimensions, but the long and short of it is to take control of the semester. Some basic ways to pull yourself together include:
a. Find out what courses you’re taking and what you’ll be learning in each.
b. Find out what textbooks/course materials you’ll be needing and get those that you can, if not all.
c. Clear out old and unimportant school materials from your devices to create space for new materials. If you don’t want to delete files, consider saving them to a flash drive or cloud storage.
d. Create folders for each course, course materials, projects etc, according to your needs and taste.
e. (Re)join class groups to stay up-to-date.
d. Buy new stationery (notebooks, pens, pencils, sticky notes, jotters etc). Don’t forget to buy extra.
e. Prepare to study by purchasing items like lamps and power banks.
f. Note things that need to be fixed or replaced.
2. REVIEW/REFLECT ON YOUR PAST PERFORMANCE
Going over your result from the last semester can help you visualize what you need to work on/change. Think about the factors that contributed to why you did well in a course or did not do so well. While academics are at the top of the list, you can also review other aspects of your school life. Everything adds up at the end of the day. So think about how you spent your free time, the kinds of people you spent it with and so on.
3. SET ATTAINABLE GOALS
It’s always a good idea to set goals for yourself at the beginning of each semester. Doing so provides a yardstick with which to measure how well your semester is going. It also acts as a guiding light on tough days. So, make a list of realistic goals, ensuring that they’re as specific as possible. Once you’ve figured out what your goals are, create a detailed plan, including a realistic timeframe, for achieving them. While achieving set goals can give you a sense of pride, do not get discouraged if you’re unable to meet them. Simply adjust your expectations and your plan with the new information that you have. You can do it!
4. GET A PLANNER
Planners are seriously underrated, but every student should consider getting one. Now that you have goals and a plan to conquer the semester, you need a planner to lay it all out neatly. You can add little notes of encouragement to yourself, or color code your plans. Planners are also key for creating/adding timetables and scheduling all your activities and appointments. Create schedules for both academic and personal events. In short, plan for EVERYTHING possible, even sleep!
5. CREATE A BUDGET
Somehow, students are often on the verge of being broke regardless of how large their allowance is. To avoid, to an extent, experiencing financial difficulties, create a budget that makes the most of your allowance. When creating the budget, prioritize needs above wants, and create a section for emergencies. Also, if you can, get a separate fund for school materials. Note that budgets should be reviewed often to reflect current economic situations.
6. TAKE YOUR HEALTH INTO ACCOUNT
Getting sick or having a mental breakdown in school is the last thing you want. Of course, it’s not entirely within our power to prevent them from happening but we can still take measures. Are you prone to malaria? Get a mosquito net and keep some mosquito repellents handy. Do you have allergies or asthma? Stock up on your medication or inhaler; place a few in multiple bags in case you forget when you switch bags. Are you dealing with a mental health condition? Identify your triggers, stock up on medication, find a community you can rely on for help etc. Also, exercise as regularly as you can, eat healthy and sleep well.
7. GET YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE BACK ON TRACK
During breaks it’s easy to slip into weird sleeping patterns because time is more flexible and/or unplanned. While university life doesn’t always guarantee you as much rest as you need, it’s better to establish a much healthier pattern before the semester begins. Or else you can think of it as catching up on sleep.
8. MAKE A PLAYLIST
Every student needs a playlist, in my opinion, even if it’s full of whale sounds. Music is a great tool for setting the mood for various occasions. You could make playlists for when you wake up, for when you’re on your way to class, for when you’re studying and for when you need to unwind. You could even create playlists according to moods! For instance, do you get overwhelmed a lot? Then make a playlist for when that happens!
9. BUILD A CAPSULE WARDROBE
Even if you’re passionate about fashion, university schedules can leave you without the time to plan outfits on the go. At the same time you don’t want to look rumpled or ridiculous. Capsule wardrobes provide a way out. This is achieved by getting a collection of clothes that can be easily interchanged to build multiple outfits from the same set. An important tip is to start building your collection with basic pieces like jeans and t-shirts, then gradually work your way up to the more seasonal items like jackets and hoodies.
10. PLAN FOR YOUR IDEAL LIVING SPACE
Whether you have an apartment or a bed space in a hall of residence, you should prepare for your ideal yet realistic living space. Think aesthetic and function. Ask yourself questions like: how do I want my space to look/feel? Do I want this space to function as a haven from schoolwork or as a comfortable place to study? Remember, it doesn’t have to be either/or, a space can meet multiple needs. When you have it figured out, decide on a way to achieve it.
11. RECONNECT WITH YOUR FRIENDS/PLAN TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS
Never underestimate the power of friendship and community. Having good friends makes being in school a lot easier, especially on bad days. Your friends will be there to encourage you and lift your spirits. When you need to unwind, hanging out with friends is a great fix. When you need a study group, your friends are an easy go-to. So, before school resumes, get in touch with your pals, even those you haven’t spoken to in a while but consider valuable. If you don’t have friends, plan to make a few. You could even include attending school events to make friends as one of your semester goals.
12. BE POSITIVE!
It’s hard but try to stay positive. Your outlook goes a long way in determining how you perceive the situations you find yourself in. A dilemma can be turned into an opportunity with the right mindset. Of course, you won’t always feel this way as the semester progresses, that’s why you need a support system!
We’ve reached the end of the road, and I hope you’ve found some useful information. Don’t forget that it’s always better to plan ahead; it saves you a lot of time, energy and resources. You can also add your own tips in the comment section; we’re always ready to learn new things!
