With a new semester upon us, it is no secret that stress and anxiety have already ensued for many of us. Whether you’re stressed about classes, work, relationships or anything in between, KRNL has your back. Even though the first week of the semester has come to a close, I wanted to share with you all my top ten tips and tricks for starting off strong. Let’s get into it!
Tip #1: PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!
If you are anything like me and many of us at KRNL, then you already know the importance of planning. If you don’t do a lot of planning, maybe it is a habit you can pick up. Whether you prefer digital planning via tablet or laptop, or you are a pencil and paper kind of person, planning will undoubtedly make you feel more prepared and optimistic about your workload. Find a planner that has monthly, weekly and daily layouts so that you can plan as loosely or tightly as you would like! Decide what days and times you will do which assignments, and you will absolutely feel so much better prepared!
Tip #2: Make a set reading schedule!
This tip sort of piggybacks on the planning tip above, but I feel that it deserves its own sector. When you are juggling multiple courses with everything else in life, it can be super overwhelming to find the time to complete all of your required course readings. Because of this, I like to set a specific time to dedicate to each chapter that I need to read and take notes on. If you make a reading schedule, you will stay on top of your work and learn more while you’re at it!
Tip #3: Customize your Canvas shells!
You can choose different colors for your canvas shells by clicking the three edit dots in the top right-hand corner of each shell and selecting a pre-existing color or creating your own with a HEX code. Customizing your Canvas shells can help you feel more motivated and excited about working through your courses!
Tip #4: Clean up your workspace and keep it that way!
Whether you are working at a small desk in your room or a full-blown office, it is super motivating to have a clean space to work in. If you are living and working in a messy space right now, we get it! However, it may be time to pick up and do some cleaning at the start of this semester and continue to keep that space clean as we progress. This way, you always have a tidy, open and motivating space to work in!
Tip #5: Pick out some sick outfits—in advance!
A comfortable and stylish outfit is the key to having confidence and success at school, work and all sorts of other day-to-day tasks. I’m not saying it has to be fancy or high fashion—it can be leggings and a hoodie if you want! Wear whatever makes you happy. The point of this tip is to plan your outfits in advance. This could be choosing a fit the night before class or work, or if you’re like me, you can think ahead about what you would like to wear each day of the week! Either way, remember to choose something that will make you feel confident!
Tip #6: Hit up the grocery store!
In order to be prepared for a new semester, it is absolutely crucial to go pick up some of your favorite foods to fuel your body while you learn. Whether it's comfort foods or health foods, pick up whatever foods you love and have them handy for a studying snack/meal!
Tip #7: Treat yourself!
Personally, I can go a little heavy on this tip. I convince myself that I need a treat after doing the most minor tasks, but that’s okay! We are all working hard and the start of the new semester definitely constitutes treating yourself, even if that just means splurging on a venti drink at Starbucks!
Tip #8: Get involved!
This tip can mean anything you want it to. You can choose to get involved with on campus organizations, on or off campus jobs, Greek Life and so much more. The campus life here at UK creates endless possibilities of how you can get involved. Regardless of what type of involvement you’re interested in, getting involved is sure to make you feel like you belong and are a part of something new this semester!
Tip #9: Make time for things that make you happy!
When a new semester begins, it is so easy to drown in work and forget to make time for the things that make you happy. Whether this means creating art, spending time with friends, exercising or anything in between, we encourage you to schedule out some time for yourself to do the things you love!
Tip #10: Above all, be kind to yourself!
If you gain nothing else from this blog, I want you to know that the entire KRNL staff and I are cheering you on and we are proud of you. Everyone is working so hard, and the beginning of the semester is always difficult. Among this difficulty, make sure you are kind to yourself! Yes, work hard, but don’t be too hard on yourself, because you’re doing great!