How To Get Back Into the Swing of School and Being Productive
By Noelle Nigrelli
Adjusting to school after summer vacation can be hard. Your sleep schedule has changed, your eating and exercise habits have changed, and your comfort level has changed. Whenever I go back to school, I find it hard to get back into my groove, specifically in terms of being productive with my time, friends, and my school work. Today, I am going to share with you some tips to help you get back into your groove, adjust more easily, and become more productive.
The first tip to become more productive is to always wake up at a reasonable time. The more you sleep in, the more the day passes, and the lazier you feel and become. Wake up an hour or two before your classes and start the day with a smile! Play some music and have a cup of coffee to get your day started on a positive note. Another important way to be productive is to make your bed every morning. This can help you feel accomplished from the second you wake up. Also, wake up supporting yourself with words of affirmation. For example, say things to yourself like: “ I am awesome,” “I am loved,” “Today is going to be a great day,” or “I will ace this test.” Doing these steps require minimal change, but they can change the direction of your day and send you into your school day feeling good!
This next tip will help you be more motivated with your time. When arriving back at school, it can be very hard to manage your time and fit everything into your day. My first suggestion is to have a planner and write all of the assignments you have in it for each day, as well as any clubs or meetings you have on that day. This can help you have a better idea of what you need to accomplish each day. My next suggestion is to find pockets of time in your schedule. Designate each pocket of time for a specific thing. Maybe one pocket can be grabbing lunch with friends, another can be a TV or music break, and the others can be going to Bartley to get some work done. No matter what you want to do in that pocket of time, plan it out so that you have time to get your other things done as well.
Finally, coming back to school or even coming in as a first-year student can bring up a lot of feelings of loneliness or even homesickness. Each year it takes me some time to open back up, meet people, and get over the sadness of missing my family. The first piece of advice for mentally adjusting to your school year is to make your room a safe place. Make it comfortable, and make it feel like home. Hang a lot of pictures of family, friends, and of course bring some furry friends. This will help you feel close to the ones you love when you are away from home. Next, make your bed cozy with warm blankets and fluffy pillows! Getting your sleep and being well-rested is very important in college, so make sure you are comfortable in that space. Finally, reach out to people! I know it can be hard and scary but I promise everyone is looking for a friendly face. The more people you get to know the more Villanova will feel like home!
I hope you take these tips and implement them into your daily life so you can have the most successful school year yet! Until then, BeWell Nova will be here cheering you on!
