Being a college student is tough. I mean sure, it definitely has it’s perks: new friends, tailgates, parties, etc. But I mean the real part of college, like the actual school part. Balancing classes, work, friends, clubs and whatever else you may have going on is a big deal. Time management is key in making it all work. Homework can get overwhelming, and figuring out how to balance it all can be difficult. So here are six tips on how you can ensure your night time routine is the best for you as a straight-A aspiring college student.
Feed your brain
Before you get started with anything productive, make sure to fuel your brain for the night ahead. Whether it’s a full meal or just a snack to tide you till dinner, making sure you’re fed is an important start to studying. Reading those 60 pages in your science textbook will be a lot harder with your stomach growling at you.
Get comfy
The best way to stay focused and get things done is to start by making yourself comfortable. Changing into loose clothes will help automatically make you more comfortable. Once you’re comfy, you can start to focus on the environment around you. Make sure you’re in a setting where you can keep an open mind, focus on what you need to get done and not get distracted easily. Once you’ve found your space, you’re set!
Study *eye roll*
Now that your mind and body are ready, you can get to the important part of the whole routine, studying! While it may not be the most fun way to spend your night, it is probably the most important at this point in our lives. Don’t be afraid to space out your work and take breaks when you feel yourself getting stressed. The last thing you want is to get so flustered that you just stop all together. Taking time to stretch and maybe even walk around for a few minutes is an awesome way to give your mind a break and recharge before you get back to work!
Treat yourself
Now that you’re all done with the tough stuff, TREAT YO SELF! As a reward for all your hard work, it’s time to binge watch that show on Netflix you’re obsessed with, watch that YouTube tutorial you saved in your tabs or if you’re like me and you reallllyyy wanna treat yourself…go to bed early!
Brain dump
Wait, wait, wait. One more thing, especially if you chose “go to bed early” as your reward, take time at the end of your night to do what I like to call a “brain dump.” Grab a pen and paper, or open up a note in your phone and list all the things you need to do or get done for the next day. This is a great way to plan ahead while also allowing your mind to really rest through the night. Now you won’t be stressed thinking about all you have to do the next day. Since it’s written down, you don’t have to store space for it in your head!
SLEEP
Okay, NOW you can sleep. And I really mean sleep! Specialists recommend anywhere from 8-10 hours of sleep, but let’s be real, this is college and a solid 6 hours is pure gold at our age, so shoot for that on a good night, and anything more is heaven on earth. Seriously though, this is your body’s time to recharge for the next day, so make sure you allow it to do so or else you’ll burn out!
Following this routine may take a few tries to really get it down, but once you’re in the swing of things your body, mind and GPA will thank you later!