By Beatrice Gar
2020 has been a tumultuous year to say the least. We have endured numerous celebrity deaths, a financial crisis, wildfires, hurricanes, police brutality/racial unrest, and a global pandemic. To curb the spread of the coronavirus, college campuses around the country have transitioned to online learning for the fall semester. Now I don’t know about you, but as a college student, this sudden change has been extremely difficult to adjust to. My friends and I are always complaining about how unmotivated and unfocused we are this semester. I’ll complete literally one assignment and feel like I’ve climbed Mount Everest. I also find myself procrastinating way more than usual and for some reason my assignments seem to pop up out of nowhere. Organization has also been a huge issue for me, and I never remember when things are due. If you’re a college student also experiencing these feelings and you would like to know how to improve your productivity this semester, here are some tips:
Buy or download a detailed planner: My planner app has been a LIFESAVER! I have never really been the type of person to use a planner/agenda, so I decided to give it a try. I’m way more organized and stress-free ever since I started using a planner. The app I use is called My Study Life and I highly recommend it for college students. It allows you to input your class schedule as well as any assignments or tests you have coming up.
Take a self-care day: Self-care days are extremely important. Everyone needs a break every now and then. I know we’re all very busy people, but college can be stressful at times and taking some time out for yourself is not a bad thing. My self-care days consist of watching episodes of Girlfriends on Netflix, eating my favorite foods (there’s an amazing taco truck right around the corner from my apartment complex and hanging out with my friend.
My therapist advises me to take at least one self-care day a week, which leads me to my next tip…
Seek therapy or counseling: This tip might be a bit more controversial, but therapy has completely changed my life. This year has been traumatizing and the sudden changes have affected my mental health. Many college campuses have counseling centers that are free to students. Please take advantage of these resources, especially during this tough time. I see a therapist back in my hometown and we meet over FaceTime, which is super convenient for me! Therapy has given me the motivation to do well in my classes and to have a more positive attitude towards this semester.
- Keep your workspace/home environment tidy: Tidiness breeds productivity. If your workspace is dirty, you won’t want to get anything done. I deep clean my room every weekend and throughout the week, I’ll tidy up here and there. I have seen a big change in my mood and I’m way more productive when my room is clean.
- Surround yourself with other people that are motivated: I am a Biology student and my friend group consists of other Biology/and Bioengineering students. We all have similar goals and we all want to be successful individuals after undergrad. They motivate me to do well and I motivate them. We study together and remind each other when assignments or exams are coming up. I think it’s very important to surround yourself with other motivated individuals because it inspires you to do better for yourself.
I hope these tips were helpful. And remember, don’t be so hard on yourself! We are ALL struggling to keep it together during this difficult time. Keep your head up; it’ll all be over soon. Stay happy!
