Dear Readers, 

With the semester in full swing, it’s easy to bask in the high you felt during the first few weeks. Classes were just starting and the weather was nice — everything seemed possible. As the semester drags on and classes and homework don’t stop, it is easy to get discouraged and become lazy. Here are some tips to ensure you give your classes and responsibilities the best version of yourself. 

In the first month of school you are wrapped up in new beginnings and opportunities, especially in your social life. Whether it be hanging out with new friends on your floor or heading to Aggieville for a night of fun, it is easy to become focused on spending time with friends instead of focusing on homework. We’ve reached mid-September, and it is seemingly easy to spend the day in bed instead of attending classes, especially with the weather becoming gloomy. 

The first step of getting over that mindset is recognizing when you begin to care more about your social life than responsibilities. Ask yourself what’s more important to you: a coffee date with a friend or a professor’s weekly office hours? Recognizing your faults as a student and honing in on school as your top priority is key during this long month. 

The next tip is to keep the routine you established at the beginning of the year. Wake up at the same time, keep your head up on your way to class and do anything you need to keep your mindset the same. Whether that means three iced coffees a day or a midday nap, keeping your routine established and regulated is the best way to ensure you get all your tasks done. Obviously every day can look different with classes getting canceled or an emergency arising — those things are inevitable. However, maintaining normalcy will help motivate you to attend all your classes and complete your homework. 

Lastly and arguably the hardest of them all is getting over the mental block of early mornings. Personally, once it hits midweek and my 7 a.m. alarm goes off, there is nothing I want more than to hit snooze and go back to sleep. However, it is important to get up, attend that 8:30 a.m. class and go through the rest of the day without giving into that “I don’t care” mentality. Fighting the thought of “If I miss one class period it won’t affect my grade,” will benefit you in the long run by saving those excused absences for an emergency instead of wasting them on a day you want to sleep until 1 p.m. 

Every day will look differently in these four years, and keeping your schedule regulated will benefit your mental and physical wellbeing as a student. Giving yourself a break is important, as well as spending time with your friends, but don’t become distracted by the glamor of freedom and socializing when your degree is on the line. 

Love, Libby