The end of summer can only mean one thing: back to school. Two years ago, as I entered my very first semester at Indiana University, I did not have a system to manage my assignments and courseload. A few weeks into school, I was talking to the girl who sat next to me in Fundamentals of Economics, and I realized I had missed two homework assignments in a row. We only got one homework drops, which meant I had already wasted mine. I had to sit down and create an actual plan to manage my assignments so this would not happen again. On top of that, I had to work twice as hard to ensure that I got perfect scores on the rest of the homework assignments to balance out the two zeros I got.
It was a tough pill to swallow, but it hammered home the importance of being organize. Here are three strategies I’ve adopted to set myself up for a good semester and successfully manage stress.
1) Find a way to organize assignments, events, and deadlines that works for you: When schools went online during COVID, innovators created many different websites and applications designed to help people better organize their lives and schedules. My two personal favorites are Google Calendar and a paper planner (thanks Dad for this habit). I use my Gcal for events such as meetings, classes, my work schedule, and appointments. My physical planner is for all school related deadlines: assignments, tests, presentations, and readings for class. A few other applications I have dabbled in are Todoist, Apple Calendar, and Notion. It really does not matter what you use as long as you have a system to keep track of what you have going on.
Sunset at Griffy Lake
2) Set aside time once a week to do something for yourself: One of the things I love most about going to school in Indiana is all the beautiful parks and trails where I can hike and explore. Every Friday morning, I explore a new hike or trail somewhere in the state. This past week, I went to Griffy Lake, a very local and easy hike that I have done many times. Taking a break by doing something I love always makes me feel so much less stressed when it is time for me to do my homework or study for a test. Be intentional about setting aside time to do something that you enjoy; it breaks up the monotony of the weekly routine of school.
3) Spend an hour every weekend planning for the upcoming week: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Every Sunday, I sit down and look through my agenda to get an idea of what assignments and homework I have due the upcoming week. I look at any meetings or evening events I need to account for when planning out my days. I also look through the fridge, make a grocery list and get the stuff I need to meal prep food for the week. It does not take long to look ahead and plan what you have going on – but it can make your week less stressful. By planning ahead, you minimize the chance of being surprised by planning your week out around your commitments.
Shireen Sahrawat
A FINAL THOUGHT
One idea that I have lived by in college is this: Getting a degree in college is a secondary accomplishment. Your biggest achievement will be learning how to be responsible for and manage your own time. College teaches you life lessons that have nothing to do with your major, from dealing with difficult roommates to cooking for yourself.
I was recently listening to an episode of the Mel Robbins podcast where she quoted a very famous Mark Twain quote that I believe perfectly sums this up. Twain said, “Don’t let schooling interfere with your education”. The best lessons that I have learned while at college have been outside of the classroom.
Shireen Sahrawat is an undergraduate student at the Kelley School of Business, studying Finance with a minor in Creative Writing. Shireen is involved with Kelley’s Capital Markets & Banking Workshop and Indiana University’s WTS as a Writing Tutor. She is excited to combine her love for writing with the experiences she’s had at school to give you a glimpse into the community she is grateful to be a part of at Kelley.
