GETTING AHEAD OF THE GAME

/in /by

We’re back from Christmas break, and I’m writing this on the first day of the New Year. Many campuses open today and have classes beginning this week or next. Your thoughts are likely moving forward to the coming term with some combination of eagerness and apprehension.

A core key for long-term academic success

There are the usual administrivia to look after, but more important is getting your head shifted from the break and excitement of the holiday and into your grounded space. Your term, and likely your life, will be more effective in terms of effort to result if you set aside space in your day to pause and reflect, pause and schedule. If you do nothing else this week, set aside that daily time and put it on your scheduler. You can try it out this week and adjust as the term progresses.

The little things

None of these little things will cause your term to implode if you don’t do them this week. But as you know, time moves along, we mean to look after them, then they become critical at just the wrong time! So pencil into your calendar sometime over the next ten days to

  • get your daily calendar or scheduler–paper or app
  • get your wall calendar up on the wall
  • check dates and arrangements for any deferred exams
  • check your grades from last term
  • check your enrolment status in all courses
  • check syllabi for all courses–note class times and deadlines on app and wall calendar (pencil)
  • check computer and app requirements for courses
  • check for texts and access to online texts
  • ensure funding is in order
  • ensure accommodation documentation and letters are in process
  • check commuting arrangements–parking? Shared ride? Student bus pass?
  • . . .
  • . . .
  • . . .

Each time you tick off one of these little things, take 20 seconds to endorse yourself (this is you being the most effective boss of you, as I’ve discussed in past blogs).

What else this week?

We all have excitement and good intentions the first week of class. Then life happens. The grind gets grittier. We power out. It’s hard to keep going. Writing this it sounds so dreary it’s hard just to keep on writing. Yuck.

Before this happens it’s time for preventive maintenance. This week we can plan for the physical, mental, and emotional sustainers that will allow us to gear down during the tough times without burning out. This week, think about what works for you in terms of brief reinforcers and rewards. Think about and maybe put in place your supports for exercise, meditation, hydration, social connection, and nutrition. If you were a Formula 1 racer, you’d be doing this for your car–this is the week to do it for yourself.

Oh–and if you’d like to get a running start on the winter term and stay on track from the get-go, connect with me in the form below or directly through email: [email protected] 

The information in this blog cannot take the place of support from your own mental health professional or community health resources. Reach out to them. And IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS PLEASE DIAL 911.