Embarking on a journey of postgraduate studies is a big deal and I want to say congratulations to anybody who is considering grad school. Grad school is a long process, filled with hours upon hours of studying and schoolwork. However, it is important to remember to incorporate methods of relaxation to get your mind off of everything in order to save your mental health. So, here is a list of the dos and don’ts for when you’re preparing for grad school.
- Do: Keep a Calendar and Planner
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Grad school is going to add a lot of things to your plate, so keeping an organized calendar or planner will help you keep everything you’ve got going on in check. Color coordinating everything is a must and if you prefer having a handheld copy, investing in some cute pens and highlighters is a great. They provide a way to have assignments, exams or papers stand out. If you’re like me and prefer having a calendar on your electronics in addition to your paper planner, I recommend using Google Calendar because you can color coordinate it with your planner and sync your class schedule to it so you never forget a class or assignment.
- Don’t: Be afraid to say no
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You’re only human and can only handle so much. If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed by everything you are participating in, remember that it is okay to take a break and say no to things. You are allowed mental health days, so incorporating at least one into your weekly schedule will help save your sanity throughout the semester.
- Do: Find a Study Buddy or Group
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There is going to be a lot of material for you to cover throughout your time in grad school that you can’t possibly go through all of it on your own. Finding a friend or two to form a study group to split up outlines and research will save you valuable time when it comes to finals and writing papers at the end of the semester. Creating a shared Google Drive with everybody’s notes can lead to easy access to a lot of information and gives you the chance to maintain a social life and friendships with individuals in your classes.
- Don’t: Put yourself last
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With classes, friends, jobs and internships, and anything else you incorporate into your daily life, it can be hard to remember to set aside time for yourself. Like I said before, mental health days are important but that doesn’t necessarily mean forgetting to put yourself first. Putting yourself first can simply be incorporating an hour or two everyday to go to the gym, watch your favorite mindless TV show, or incorporate some self-care into your everyday life like doing a face-mask or taking a bubble bath.
- Do: Find activities you love
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Wherever you end up attending grad school, they’re going to be organizations within the school and in the surrounding community that you could join. Whether it’s something fun like a co-ed sports team, joining the campus newspaper, or organizations geared to your particular interests will create a separation from school that you’ll desperately need. Making time for fun activities in your day-to-day life will benefit not only your mental, but physical health as well. They will leave you feeling happy and satisfied.
- Don’t: Forget to have fun
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Once you finish grad school, you will be thrust into adulthood. The days of frat parties, tailgating every weekend and staying up into the late hours of the night cramming for papers or exams will be gone. They will be replaced by an endless time-loop of a 9-5. Make the most of the time you’ll spend in grad school by finding the perfect medium between studying and fun that’ll create memories that will remain with you for the rest of your life.
Other useful tips when beginning your preparation for grad school include: investing in electronics and a good backpack that you will keep for years to come, creating an environment that doesn’t have distractions when you are studying late into the night, finding a few professional outfits for interviews and presentations, and create spreadsheets to keep track of all your expenses, whether it be for groceries, tuition or rent.