So I just finished my first year of college and learned very helpful lessons about time management. This matter of time management was stressed a LOT at the beginning of the fall semester. In one of my FIG (freshmen interest group) meetings, we took a blank Monday-Sunday schedule and filled in our class times. Then shaded in time for eating, sleeping, just hanging around and practical stuff like that. After we were through with that, it was amazing to see how little time was left unshaded. This exercise was to show us how important it was to manage what little time we really had for studying and school work. I feel like a BIG misconception when coming to college is that you have all of the free time in the world. It may seem like it since you spend considerably less time in the classroom, but with less work in class comes more work outside of class.
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| So... when do I study? |
Something that I really found to be helpful was to start the day
early. Although this may not be a desirable concept to most incoming freshmen to college with their first ever opportunity to choose class times, it can really make your first year run more smoothly. Don't get me wrong, I am not one to be opposed to sleeping in until 1 o'clock in the afternoon, but think about all that time wasted! During my first semester, my earliest class was at 10 AM, but what I tried to do was to get to campus (since I lived off campus) by 8 AM and study or do work until my class. You would be AMAZED how much more
focused you can be in the morning and how you can get the same amount of work done in two hours that at any other time of the day may take twice as long.
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| everything seems more clear in the morning :) |
So if I had to give an incoming freshmen one piece of advise regarding how to not bomb your first year of college, I would say develop
healthy, normal sleeping habits. Don't schedule only afternoon classes, unless you are super dedicated and have the will power to wake up early without the pressure to get to a class. Become a morning person. The morning can be the best time to study and think. During my spring semester, I had either a class or work at 8 AM Monday through Saturday. And because I'm not the type of person who can just wake up 10 minutes before having to leave, I would usually wake up around
5 or
5:30 in the morning to have adequate time in the morning to study some and prepare for the day. Some people thought I was crazy, but these morning study sessions really saved me this past year.
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| learn to love your alarm clock! |
Okay, so I understand that just because this worked for me doesn't mean that it will work for everyone. I personally have a friend you is a complete night owl and she's doing just fine. :)
girl, you crazy. =) but it works! having early classes(8am) helps your schedule alot.
ReplyDeleteHealthy normal sleeping habits. I totally agree. This way, you have enough energy to be productive the next day!
ReplyDeletehaha Joseph I you would call me crazy! But waking up early in the morning is good for many reasons :) More time to get prepared for the day, there's time to spend reading the Word and with the Lord, you can even squeeze short study sessions in. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right Vania! The only way to consistently have energy to be productive is to develop a normal sleeping pattern. :)
that's awesome... apparently your brain is most active from 4 am - 7 am which is the time when you remember most of your dreams. This also happens to be the best time to study. Last year, a friend and I tried it together...well we actually woke up at 5 am. 4 am is really hard. You have to be super motivated. But yea, studying in the morning is definitely the most effective way to study. By the way, check out Proverbs 6:9. It is just a funny verse that kind of relates.
ReplyDelete"How long, sluggard, will you lie there? When will you arise from your sleep?" (Proverbs 6:9)
ReplyDeleteHahaha thanks for the verse reference!
But I agree. Morning is the best time to study. This has caused me to want 8 am classes now. Good things most others don't want them, so they are usually open. :)
It's hard to wake up early at the bro house....or go to bed early. :(
ReplyDeletehaha its okay... like I said, some people do just fine as night owls. There's still hope for you Chris :)
ReplyDeleteDanielle, I like your title for this blog! Its really catchy. This really helped me out a lot!!
ReplyDeleteJyesha, I'm glad this helped you! But I am not worried about your study habits! You are so studious :) We must study more together this semester!
ReplyDeleteHaha this post made me laugh. But so true. Three years into college and I still have a hard time waking up. But I will definitely consider Proverbs 6:9 the next time I don't want to get out of bed.
ReplyDeleteWhat! Kapable Kelly has a hard time waking up? This surprises me. ;) Haha yes that verse it very motivating :) You could write it on a notecard and post it on your ceiling or something, so it is the first thing you see in the morning! I knew someone that did something similar :)
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