Imogen Moxhay ‘20
Contributing Writer
Dear Sophian,
As a first year, I’m feeling stressed lately with course registration, doing my work, making time to hang out with friends and doing well in my classes. How can I balance all of that and stay sane?
Dear Student,
Don’t worry! The middle of the semester is a stressful time for everyone. I know it can seem especially tough as a first year when everything is still new. Here are three tips:
•Make sure that you have a system to help keep yourself organized. This could be using a bullet journal, an organizational app or just old-fashioned list, but just make sure that you find what works best for you. Although it can take some time and effort to find what feels helpful, in my experience it is well worth the time. Establishing a good system that you can rely on will help you keep track of your multitude of tasks. This is especially true on days where you have had little sleep.
•As far as course registration goes, my best advice would be to make sure you have all the information you need available and readily accessible. You will want to double check that you have the correct codes for each of the classes you want to take as well as your general registration code. Writing this all out the night before will ensure that you aren’t scrambling to find the information the morning of registration. If you are still unsure about the whole process, feel free to talk to your Student Academic Advisor (SAA) or a Head of New Students (HONS) in your house. They are there to help you and can likely provide some reassurance.
•Remember that it’s okay to admit that you can’t do everything. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at this point in the semester and keep in mind that you’re definitely not the only one feeling this way. Taking time out for yourself is an important and legitimate part of maintaining balance. It’s okay to not finish school work in order to hang out with friends. It’s also okay to cancel hanging out in order to spend the night in. Remembering that setting realistic expectations can help you feel proud of what you have accomplished rather than disappointed about what you haven’t. Ultimately, you need to listen to your instincts and know your personal limits.
