Back to School 2016 : So Fab Tips for Productivity

“The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy – it’s all that matters.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

Hey sweetie pies, school is in full swing for those of you who are returning to school or starting college. (Congrats by the way!) But with the start of a new school year, comes all the many extracurricular things around campus – high school and college alike. From football games to spirit groups to clubs to rush there is always something going on and of course you want to take advantage of everything. However the school work and social life struggle can be real! Whether you are involved in many extracurriculars or not, balancing your schedule is crucial to be as productive as possible.

I am going to share my so fab tips to stay on top of your academics without having to sacrifice all the extra things that you want to do.

This may seem either obvious or completely redundant, but either way you totally  should. Take it and use it everywhere you go. Write everything of importance down. I know for me, if I don’t write it down, I am more likely to forget. Once you know your class schedule, write down time to study every weekday or every other day and write any other extracurricular activities down. (Studying a little bit every other day will keep you from having to cram the night before a big test) This is important because it gives you an idea of the spare time you have to do social things that you like. There is a vast number of options out there that you can customize as well as budget friendly options. 

Being a college student with an active social life requires you to be organized and stick to your schedule once you know what it is. Time management is a huge and important skill that I learned while I was in college. Effective time management allows you to make the most of your time and keeps you from becoming overwhelmed.

If you are in college especially, it will seem as if there is always a million and one things going on campus. It is going to be very tempting to want to attend everything but you have to remember that you are a student first. Prioritize what’s important and whatever you have time for then you do that. This is a lot easier if you plan and stick to a schedule as much as you can.

Now you are probably thinking I have gone off of the deep end because of this tip, but trust me on this one! Exercising is a great way to stay in shape and de-stress! Just so you know, Freshman 15 is SO REAL and keeping a workout schedule will become your best friend. Exercising helps to boost your metabolism and gives you more energy throughout the day. Even if it is only 2-3 times a week that is better than nothing.There are also plenty of ways to make exercising fun! Find a workout buddy so you can hold each other accountable and make it through those power squats together. A lot of universities also offer really fun classes at their activity center such as Zumba or yoga so sign up and get moving! Check out some of my workout must haves below!

To some this one may seem silly but discombobulation in your living space is not conducive to being productive, at all. You will always be late because you are struggling to find your belongings. If you don’t have a clean workspace in your dorm then you won’t ever get any work done there. A tidy room can help you stay focused.

We are creatures of habit, with that being said, do you have a habit of always being on your phone? Even if you don’t think you are on your phone a lot, you are. Try to put your phone and any other distractions on silent or away completely. So much of our time throughout the day is eaten away because of pointless things that we are doing on our phones. Especially if you are on a schedule (which you should be) you don’t want to be distracted every 2 minutes because of a social media notification or text.

This may be another one that sounds silly but I can speak from personal experience on how much this one has helped me. It is part of the reason why I love doing my weekly/monthly layouts in my planner. I am always excited to look at my pretty planner and check tasks off my to-do list. Using cute pens, erasers, notebooks etc always made schoolwork a little less dreadful. Those same supplies will help you to keep all of your classes organized as well.

Give yourself a day that you can unwind and prep for the upcoming week. For me that was on Sunday. I usually had 8 or 9 o’clock classes throughout the week. (I am more of a morning person, don’t feel the need to do morning classes if you are not a morning person) So on Sunday if I didn’t go to church, I would sleep in, catch up on some shows, clean my dorm, and plan for the week ahead as much as I could. Make sure to give yourself some ‘me’ time and a mental break from everything. 

Remember, maintaining a balanced life as a college student is tough but definitely feasible. I was a full time student who danced, did theater, was active in a sorority from meetings to step shows and stroll offs, served on the executive board for my sorority and our governing council – all the while maintaining an active social life where I got to do the things that I wanted and a pretty decent GPA. It was definitely challenging and had a few setbacks but it is possible!

What are you most excited about for this Fall semester? Whether you’re in college or not I want to know! Leave your thoughts below!

As always, XO and Stay FAB! ~ Stormie J