The second semester has been in action for almost a month now, yet things still feel out of place, don’t they? Teachers aren’t holding back with the amount of assignments they give, and neither is the feeling of wanting to stay in bed for the rest of the semester. 

As college students, breaks are always necessary. They help us start over and get all juiced up for the things coming our way. But for some, all they do is make us tired and cause us to lose the motivation that was present in the first semester. With new classes, new professors and new routines, there is no telling if — when, you will feel used to it. There is a way to keep up with all of these new things being thrown at us all at once. 

To get started, you can gather all the new things you have to deal with and all the old things you want to include in your routine, and figure out how they can work with one other. Transitioning from first semester to second semester doesn’t mean completely getting rid of the things you did before, because some of those ideas can help you in the long run. This is the time to find a way to make your ideas better than they were before. Make a list of things you need to do, and color-code it or write down your plan somewhere on a sticky note and put it where you can always see it. This is important because you will be able to cross things off your list as you go and get into the habit of writing down the things you need to get done. It will help you start organizing both the past and the present in a way that makes sense to you. 

Another tip is to make an end-of-the-school-year goal — one you can finish by May. By creating that goal, you force yourself to take the initiative to begin something and finish it. That goal will give you a constant mental note that you have a task to finish by a certain time. Not only will it keep you busy throughout the semester, but it will leave you with a satisfied feeling every time you get closer to accomplishing your goal. 

As time goes by, tests, quizzes and projects come into view and more piles onto your plate. What do you do about that? Some steps to take can include taking a planner and putting all your scheduled assignments in it so, when the time comes, you will be more prepared and not rushing to study or turn in that assignment you waited to do. 

There will be times where you will get stuck and possibly forget you made a plan to help you get through the semester, and that is when you surround yourself with friends who want to see you achieve those goals. Having a support system in times like these is always beneficial. Not just for yourself, but for your friends as well. We are all trying to find that strategy that works best for us, and sometimes it is easier to make them work when you have people around you who want to aid you in that process. 

It’s never too late to begin getting things together to make your second semester of college easier than before. It will be hard to maintain that drive of work ethic, but that doesn’t mean it is not possible. 

Let’s end this semester with a bang and be proud of the way we finished, despite the energy it may take out of us. 

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Edited by Abby Stetina, astetina@themaneater.com