Query: “I’m stressed and have so much to do. How do I organize my life better?”

I don’t know about you, but for me post-spring break is always the busiest time of year. Spring break fills you up with relaxation and fun but then the dark side of that is the amount of work waiting for you when you come back to school.

Naturally, a full calendar can cause feelings of anxiety and stress. Beyond that, you feel like you are missing out on the warm weather and the last couple of months of friend time. Fortunately, I believe that you can maintain your busy schedule and some fun. You just have to be organized! Here are some tips to help you lighten your homework load and your spirits.

First, dust off your planner and start scheduling everything out. I mean everything! Homework, group-projects, tests, meetings, interviews and even friend time. This might seem like overkill, but what you are doing is taking control of the business.

Second, stick to that schedule. When it is time to do homework, be fully present. It is when we have lots of little distractions that lead to wasting time.

Many of my communication professors always remind their students in class that no one is good at multitasking. We may think we are, but in reality it takes us longer to complete two tasks at the same time than separating them. I see many students doing homework for different classes during class time. Personally, it seems like a waste of tuition dollars to disregard a lecture for the sake of procrastinating homework in a different class. I will get off my soapbox now.

Third, sleep and eat a healthy amount. When I am stressed, I forget about food. Before you know it, I feel like my world is falling apart, but then I eat a snack and suddenly I feel so much better. Monitoring your body will lead to less ‘hangry’ experiences. It’s like those classic Snickers commercials, “You aren’t you when you are hungry.” All you have to do is buy some granola bars and store them in your car or backpack. You will find that you will be more focused and happier in the long run.

When it comes to sleeping, you can’t beat 8 hrs of uninterrupted sleep. In a pinch though, reward yourself with a nap after a long day of hard work. Maybe curl up in the reading room in the library or the recliners in the basement of the art building. You may see me there.

I hope some of these tips are helpful. If you are feeling incredibly anxious though, don’t hesitate to make a counseling appointment with either the health center or the chapel. You have access to free sessions at both, so use them if you think your soul could benefit.

Love, Izzy