How to Save Your Semester After an Ugly Start

After binge watching shows and hanging out too much on weekends, you realize now that you’re nearing the middle or end of the semester, and you realize the workload is multiplying. Everyone seems to be progressing well with their projects – and you’re sitting there confused and lost. There’s no need to panic, you can still keep your semester from hitting rock bottom if you follow these steps:

Stay Away from Social Media

Hard pill to swallow: if you want to save the semester, you have to prioritize your studies over your social life. Keep the daily breaks short, and try removing all your social distractions. Log off from Facebook, Instagram and other social media for a bit and put your phone on silent. Try to get rid of impulsively checking your phone once every few minutes, and you’ll see that, soon enough, you’ll be able to dive into your study material. You can’t go switching constantly between tasks. Get through each one by giving your undivided attention to that task.

Organize Your Study Area

Prepping your study area is also a very significant step in saving your semester. To make yourself more productive, simply begin by prepping your study area. Organize it at your desk, so that your body knows it’s supposed to enter “study mode.” And most importantly, remove all distractions. If your gaming device is lying innocently on that table, make sure that you hide it away from sight.

Practice Productivity & Time Management Techniques

Try doing the famous Pomodoro Technique. With this technique you break down your study time into increments of work and rest – and for every 30 to 40 minutes of study, you take a five-minute breather. Your brain gets a “reboot,” and you’ll be able to focus better on the next study increment. To-do lists and schedules are also a good way to keep yourself in check with your time. Set the time when you are supposed to study and do your projects – and stick to it in the long run.

Start on Time and Stop Procrastinating

Pick out the big and important projects from the batch that you have to do and start working on them. The earlier you start, the better it will be for you. Embrace the discomfort and reap the benefits. Tackle the hardest task that you keep putting off that just needs to be done. If you don’t, then the tendency to procrastinate will mean that the task never gets done. Completing this task will help you in the long term and you will reap the benefits.

Avoid Analysis Paralysis

We tend to spend hours and hours dwelling on a low grade or on a missed deadline. However, if you constantly analyze what has gone wrong, you will spend all of your time dwelling on the problems, and not focusing on the solutions. Be conscious of when your mind is dwelling on negative thoughts. Switch your mindset to the positive. Focus on the solution – not the problem.