Pilots Prevent
September 28, 2021
After more than a year of remote learning, it’s been exciting to get back to life on campus and in-person classes this semester. But the adjustment hasn’t been without its challenges, and with mid-term exams approaching, it can all feel a bit overwhelming right now. Just remember, you’re not alone, and UP offers many resources to help you manage the stress.
The first step is to reach out. There’s a whole community of people at UP willing and able to help, whether it’s to offer essay writing tips or help you manage your stress.
If you’re struggling to stay motivated to study, remember that studying with other people is a proven way to stay on track. “Reach out to classmates or people in your residence hall with the same major to form a study group,” says James Peña, Wellness Education and Prevention Programs Coordinator for Residence Life.
It’s also important to stay committed to managing your time well. “That’s a primary challenge of coming back to in-person classes,” says Peña, “You have to really pay attention to time management and organizational skills. If that’s not a strong area, reach out to people like Brother Tom at the Shepard Academic Resource Center, who’s fantastic at giving students strategies for time management and study skills.”
Peña says residence hall staff are also a great resource, as is the Academic Toolkit on the SARC website, which offers tons of great tips for time management, including downloadable planners and time budgeting sheets.
There are lots of study and organizational tools out there, it’s just a matter of finding the system that works best for you. “It’s about making a commitment to the planning,” says Peña. “It’s not everyone's strength but it’s something you can really benefit from learning and giving your time to.”
Aside from finding a system for staying organized, a big part of time management is resisting the urge to surf and scroll. As we all know, once you start it’s hard to stop. Also, all that screen time just adds to the fatigue.
“Really trying to limit some of that screen intake is helpful,” says Peña. “Try to find other ways of taking a break. We really encourage exercise to move the stress and anxiety through the body. And practicing mindfulness, like prayer or meditation, is huge in terms of stress reduction. It can be as simple as five minutes trying to be present, aware of your body and your surroundings.”
Exercise and meditation have the added benefit of keeping your body in good health and relieving stress, both of which contribute to keeping your immune system strong. And healthy eating plays a big role in that too. “Sometimes it's great to have a bag of Cheetos but try to get a more regular intake of things that are more nutritious as well,” Peña says. “And getting enough sleep is critical too. That can be hard in a college setting but prioritize it. Think of it this way: Taking care of yourself in a holistic way will lend itself to performing well in school.”
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