Hello, lovelies! This has been a very busy week and it’s only Wednesday. I’ve either had a big project or test every day so far this week, and I still haven’t posted a blog post, which is why I’m writing now.
This topic is very last minute, but it felt right all things considering. After almost three years in college, I’ve gotten good at managing my time during busy days, so here are a few things that I do to survive busy days in college.
//I Get Enough Sleep
I am not one of those people who can function on three hours of sleep. I would literally pass out in the middle of walking if that happened. I succeed at getting enough sleep every day, but I make an intentional effort in getting enough sleep the night before a busy day because I know I’ll end up staying up late the following day (how was that for a run on sentence?).
I’m one of those people who calculate the latest I can wake up without being late and with the correct hours of sleep. I usually end up falling asleep at 1 AM and waking up before 9. That’s more than enough sleep to keep me going all day.
//I Get Fully Dressed Every Day
I don’t like being in my pajamas all day. Even on weekends. It makes me feel lazy. On busy days, I make sure to get fully ready. I almost never wear makeup, so this doesn’t take too much time. I just get dressed, brush my hair, which takes five seconds now that it’s short, and occasionally put on jewelry.
This step is important because when I look ready for the day, I feel ready for the day. When I’m wearing loungewear, I don’t feel like doing work. I want to lay in bed and read a book. Feeling physically ready for the day helps me get into the mindset that I need to do work.
//I Pack Lunch And Snacks
Most blogs tell you to eat a big breakfast, but I don’t get hungry in the mornings. I do, however, drink two or three glasses of water because I’m super dehydrated when I wake up. In the mornings, I eat a banana and just plan on having an early lunch. For some people, it’s easy to forget to eat on busy days. I am not one of those people. I eat three meals a day every day no matter what, which is why hunger can make me feel unfocused. Instead of taking multiple breaks in the middle of studying to wait in line at a restaurant to buy lunch, I keep it with me in my bag, along with a bunch of snacks to satisfy any cravings I have. (This also helps my wallet). When I already have food with me, I don’t have to think about how and when my next meal is. On that note…
//I Plan My Day Very Meticulously
Honestly, busy days usually mean things like deadlines, study sessions, and club meetings. Not necessarily self-imposed deadlines (I suck at those). This means that I need to be in certain places by certain times, which is why I need to map out when I can have meals, go to the gym, study, etc.
Yesterday, for example, was a very full day. I had three classes, a study session for my test today, and a club meeting, so I wasn’t going to be home until 8 PM. Prior to that, I had planned out when I was going to the gym, what time I was going to eat lunch, and when to get on the bus because a lot of these events were relatively far apart. Doing things like that gives me peace of mind and allows me to get everything I need done.
This isn’t necessarily written down on paper. I mostly schedule and reschedule things in my head. Don’t worry. The main points are written in my planner. I’m just better off planning things in my mind rather than procrastinating on things by writing all my plans down. I do this with everything, work schedule, driving time, meeting up with friends…I’m able to do all the things I want or need to do because I organize my time well.
//I Still Go To The Gym
Today is a bad example because I didn’t feel like going to the gym today, but I normally go Monday through Thursday. I especially make time to work out when I have a full schedule because exercising gives me energy and makes me feel like I did something productive with my day. It’s also a nice break in between sitting at a desk for hours.
I know that it’s hard to get your butt to the gym on full days (trust me, I do), but it’s worth the effort.
//I Get Work Done Ahead Of Time
I have this huge project due tomorrow, but the reason I am able to write this post for you right now is that I finished said project last week. Yup! Knowing that this week was going to be crazy, I made sure to finish as much as I could in the weeks prior, including studying for today’s exam early. That way, I don’t lose my mind and can still do other things, like blog or rewatch every Marvel movie before Avengers: Endgame (I’m justifying this because I’m going to use them for a future post)
//I Schedule Breaks
If you don’t schedule breaks, your body will schedule them for you. I believe that whole-heartedly. Procrastination is honestly the death of me and the biggest way I prevent it is by scheduling intentional breaks, where I don’t guilt myself for not doing work. When I do this, I feel less of a need to scroll through my phone or browse Pinterest in the middle of writing a paper because I’ve already given my mind a break. This saves me so much time and makes my day more productive in the long run.
Related – 5 Tactics I Use To Avoid Procrastination In College
//I Don’t Add Anything Extra To My To-Do List
On busy days, I keep my to-do lists to a minimum. I didn’t even plan on posting anything on Monday and Tuesday because I knew I had more important things to worry about. Same goes for things like getting ahead on readings or homework assignments. I do the bare minimum of extra tasks on busy days because I know what my priorities are: Study for whatever exam I have soon or finish the project due tomorrow. Anything extra can be delayed to another day.
So, I guess that’s it. Even though it’s been such a busy week, and I’m only in the middle of it, I feel good. Prioritizing self-care helps me stay sane on weeks like this, so don’t forget to take care of yourself. No one can run on 100% forever, so make sure busy days don’t take over your life.
Related – How To Prevent College Burnout | Motivation, Productivity, Self-Care, Etc
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How do you survive busy days in college? What do you do to handle a busy schedule?