If you were to ask students on campus how they feel about keeping up with coursework, many would tell you that they miss sleep, are stressing over assignments and midterms, and have a difficult time keeping their grades up. Many students are trying to balance this heavy course load with a part-time or full-time job (or three). Though it can seem daunting to take on so much work, it is entirely possible; here are some ways to make it work.
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1) Â Â Â Â Â Accept that you will never finish EVERYTHING.
When you’re working the night shift and have to be at school for an 8:30 a.m. class, there isn’t a lot of time to get assignments done. It’s better to work on a three-page paper that’s due the next day than to stress over a chapter or a quiz that’s only worth 2% of your mark. If your time is seriously limited, evaluate what you can afford to skip over.
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2) Â Â Â Â Â Take advantage of quiet-time.
Sure, you’d love to hang out in the lounge or student centre with your friends, but let’s face it: you won’t get any work done there. Sometimes it’s best to just put in your headphones and take over a deserted corner in the library. You’ll thank yourself later.
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3) Â Â Â Â Â Caffeine is your new best friend.
When sleep is a long-lost dream, coffee or tea can help you power through boring lectures and difficult readings. Just make sure you don’t overdo it; trust me.
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4) Â Â Â Â Â Take the easy way out.
If you get creative, you’ll figure out that there are faster and easier ways to achieve almost anything. By cutting out unnecessary steps in your routine, projects, and work schedule, you’ll save yourself valuable time.
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5) Â Â Â Â Â Give yourself a break.
Even though you could push yourself to the limit and work your butt off at every available moment, it’s important to take time to relax. Even if you only give yourself one day a week to go out with friends, letting loose will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed. School and work are important, but your well-being should be your number one concern.
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6)      Remind yourself why you’re working so hard.
Maybe you want to keep your scholarship or pay off student loans as fast as possible. Whatever your reason for taking on a heavy workload, make sure to remind yourself of it every day. Thinking of future goals will help you keep up that killer hustle.
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7)      Admit when it’s too much.
If you really have taken on more than you can handle, don’t be too proud. Admit that it was too much work and clear your schedule of something, whether it’s a job or a course. It’s better to get less work done well than more work done poorly.
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8)      Remember that you’re not the only one.
Whenever you feel like no one else understands what you’re going through, talk to others. Chances are your friends and fellow classmates are going through similar amounts of stress. It can be good to talk to peers about how your schedule makes you feel like you’re dying slowly. You’ll probably help each other out just by knowing that you’re not alone.