The transition into a post-secondary lifestyle can be tedious and detrimental to your physical and emotional health if the habits you’ve learned previously aren’t revaluated and altered. It’s important to understand that the next 4 years are going to be very different from the last 4 and they will require a new set of skills and techniques to keep you as productive and motivated as possible. Below are a few things that you’ll now have to start doing differently as a university student that may not have crossed your mind just yet as you enter this new chapter in life or, if already in university, some that you may not have even considered.
Sleep More
There’s a tendency to want to stay up late and finish up that essay or do some extra studying that you couldn’t get to throughout the day, however, making an effort to sleep more can completely change the way your mind functions during your busy course schedule. Plan out your day so that you can have that extra bit of time in the mornings to feel refreshed and ready to get to class, even if that means opting for courses that start a bit later in the day. If you can’t maneuver around your mornings, try your best to avoid cell phones or computers in bed an hour before you sleep so that when you finally do your mind will be clear and your body can properly recover.
Back Up Often
Those who primarily work off of a computer can attest to how important constantly backing up your work can be. It may not have been as vital before university, but now that your course load is much heavier and your classes can be as long as 3 hours, having a safe place to store all your notes and essay drafts will give you the piece of mind knowing that you are covered in case your laptop crashes. A virtual data room is a good option for secure online storage that allows you to access your documents wherever and whenever you need to. You can also rest assured knowing that even the most confidential information, like student loan documents, will stay safe and inaccessible to unwanted third parties when uploaded to a VDR.
Work Out
Focusing on your physical health is just as important as focusing on your studies – it can completely affect the way you work, how well you study, and how much information you are able to retain over time. Those who were never athletes in high school won’t have regular exercise built into their weekly routines, so making the effort to incorporate it amongst your study sessions and days out with friends is vital in ensuring your success in university. Not only will it build physical strength in the long run, but it will better equip your mind to handle any stress that comes along with extensive studying and school work.
Prioritize
When you start university you quickly realize that your professors won’t be giving you the same amount of coddling that you got in high school. Everything is up to you to take care of and that includes remembering when your essays are due, deadlines for dropping classes, and everything else that can affect your GPA and overall university experience. As a new post-secondary student your biggest life saver during the next 4 years will be prioritizing to the best of your abilities and learning what is actually a priority and what can wait or be completely stricken off your to-do list. The easiest way to do this is by using an agenda on a daily basis to schedule out your week and document every due date far in advance so that you are ready when the time eventually comes. Some classes will be harder than others and those might require more space in your schedule for studying or essay prep. You will have to concede to moving other things back that may not be as important in order to make room for those that have a bigger effect on your final grade.
Socialize More
For some, entering university can seem like the end of a social life, what with constant work and massive classes that can make you feel somewhat isolated. While it is important to focus most of your attention on your school work, it is also necessary to put more effort into socializing as well in order to maintain a balanced lifestyle that allows you to unwind when you become a bit too overwhelmed with school. Don’t be afraid to reach out to study groups or even propose to start one of your own – it can be a great way to get ahead on your work while also meeting new people with similar scholarly interests to you.
