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Zillah High School Guidance Website |
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Zillah High School Guidance Website |
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Learning How to Manage Your Time in College Can Be Critical for Your Success Within the first few days of starting college, many students quickly learn that managing their time is one of the most challenging and difficult aspects of being in school. With so much to do and keep track of, strong time management skills can make all the difference. 1. Get and usea calendar. It can be a paper calendar. It can be your cell phone. It can be a PDA. No matter what kind it is, though, make sure you have one. 2. Write it down. Write down everything in one place. Having multiple calendars just gives you more to do amidst an already tight schedule. Schedule when you plan to sleep, when you are going to do your laundry, when you're going to call your parents. The crazier your schedule gets, the more important this becomes. 3. Schedule time to relax. Don't forget to schedule in time to relax and breathe. Just because your calendar goes from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. doesn't mean you can. 4. Keep trying new systems. If your cell phone calendar isn't big enough, buy a paper one. If your paper one keeps getting torn, try a PDA. If you have too many things written down each day, try color-coding to help simplify. Very few college students make it through their programs without some kind of calendaring system; keep trying until you find one that works for you. 5. Allow for flexibility. Things inevitably come up that you weren't expecting. Leave room in your calendar so that you can move things around a little when needed. 6. Plan ahead. Do you have a large research paper due the last week of the semester? Work backward in your calendar and figure out how much time you need to write it, how much time you'll need to research it, and how much time you'll need to pick your topic. If you think you'll need six weeks for the entire project, work backward from the due date and schedule the time into your calendar before it's too late. 7. Plan for the unexpected. Sure, you just might be able to pull off two papers and a presentation during midterms week. But what happens if you catch the flu the night you're supposed to be pulling the all-nighter? Expect the unexpected so you don't have to spend more unplanned time trying to fix your mistakes. 8. Schedule rewards in. Your midterms and finals week can feel nightmare, but it will all be over on a Friday. Schedule a fun afternoon and a nice dinner out with some friends; your brain will need it, and you can relax knowing that you're not supposed to be doing anything else.
15 Quick & Easy Ways to Keep You, and Your Stuff, Safe While at School Staying safe while you're in college doesn't have to be complicated. These fifteen tips can be done with minimal effort and can avoid lots of problems later. 1. Make sure the door to your residence hall is locked at all times. You wouldn't just leave the front door to your house open, would you? 2. Don't let anyone into your hall that you don't know. Not letting someone in doesn't make you look like a jerk. It makes you look like a good neighbor and, if the person is supposed to be in your hall, they'll be grateful for it. 3. Make sure your room door is locked at all times. Yes, this even means when you run down the hall to borrow a book or hop in the shower. 4. Be careful with your keys. Also, if you lose them, don't depend on your roommate to keep letting you in, thinking that your keys will just "pop up." Pay the fine and get a new set. 5. If you have a car, lock it. It seems so easy to remember, yet it's so easy to forget. 6. If you have a car, check on it. Just because you haven't been using your car very much this semester doesn't mean someone else hasn't! 7. Get a locking device for your laptop. This may be a physical lock or some kind of electronic tracking or locking device. 8. Watch your stuff in the library. You may need to take a quick run to the vending machines to clear your mind just as someone happens to walk by and see your iPod and laptop unattended. 9. Keep your windows locked. Don't be so focused on locking your door that you forget to check the windows, too. 10. Put emergency numbers in your cell phone. If your wallet is stolen, will you know what phone number to call to cancel your credit cards? Put important phone numbers in your cell so that you can call the moment you notice something is missing. The last thing you want is someone cashing in on the money you've been budgeting for the rest of the semester. 11. Use the campus escort service at night. You may feel embarrassed, but it's such a smart idea. And besides, who wouldn't want a free ride?! 12. Always go somewhere at night with a friend. Male or female, big or small, safe neighborhood or not, this is always a good idea. 13. Make sure someone knows where you are at all times. Heading to a club downtown? Going out on a date? There's no need to spill all the intimate details, but do let someone (a friend, a roommate, etc.) know where you're going and what time you expect to get back. 14. If you live off-campus, call someone when you get home. You're studying for finals with a friend late one night at the library. Make a quick agreement that you'll call him when you get home later that evening. 15. Know the phone number for Campus Safety. You never know: you may need it for yourself or for something you see from far away. Knowing the number off the top of your head or at least having it in your cell phone may be the most important thing to remember during an emergency.
Your college life will be more rewarding if you learn to work in healthy habits into your routine. College can be bad for your health! Students feel way too busy to eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep. So how do you stay healthy on a college campus? The trick is to incorporate small, healthful habits into your campus life. By doing so, you'll feel better both physically and emotionally and will be better able to navigate the stressful college experience. Here are some basic suggestions for how you can stay healthy in college. Get enough sleep. When it comes to balancing busy schedules, students tend to put sleep low on their list of priorities. Don't do this. Some people can function on three or four hours of sleep per night, but most people cannot. Without sleep, you're not going to be able to concentrate well enough to get the most out of your classes. If you can't always get a good night sleep, work regular naps into your schedule. Sleep on a regular schedule. This can be hard for a college student. You may find yourself getting up early three days a week for your morning class and sleeping in until noon on the weekends. As much as possible, though, try to stick to a regular sleeping pattern. Also, try to go to sleep relatively early. Eat sensibly. College students often gain weight due to late night eating and overindulgence of junk food. Eat breakfast. Skipping breakfast contributes to weight gain. It also will make it hard for you to concentrate in class. You don't have to eat a big breakfast; a bowl of cereal or a cup of yogurt will make you a happier and healthier human being. Eat enough. Many students have problems with eating disorders, which can be deadly. If you have serious issues with food, seek help at the campus counseling center immediately. Drink water. Most people do not get nearly enough water. Resist the lure of soda machines and the unlimited soda at the dining hall and get into the habit of drinking water. Get a water bottle and carry it around with you. Don't binge drink. Excessive drinking can lead to addiction or alcohol poisoning. But there's one undesirable effect of binge drinking that doesn't get talked about as much: it makes you gain weight! Some students deprive themselves of food during the week so that they can binge drink on the weekends without gaining weight, which is a bad idea. Work in walking. You're on a college campus, so take full advantage of walking opportunities! Even if you have a car, make walking your main form of transportation on campus. There's no better way to work exercise into a busy schedule. Get a bicycle. If you go to school somewhere with a decent climate, travel around campus on a bike. Just remember: get a bike helmet and protective gear too, and ride with caution. Most college students ride bikes responsibly, but there's always a few that make drivers question the future of the species. Spend time at the student recreational center. A portion of your student fees are going to the gym/fitness/recreation center, so take advantage of it! Find an activity that you like, or take a class. You don't need to spend hours and hours working out to feel the benefits. Get regular checkups. Your parents probably took care of this for you, but now it's up to you make sure you see a doctor regularly. You're probably entitled to an annual exam at the student health center. Get a flu shot. Many schools offer them at low cost. College campuses are absolute cesspools of germs, so take this simple step to help protect yourself. Learn to relax. This can be a difficult goal for a college student, but do your best. Learn to put things in perspective. Get mental counseling if you need it. Take advantage of the counseling services on campus. College students frequently suffer from anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, and homesickness, and student counseling services are usually well equipped to help with these issues.
1. Most Importantly: Don't Stress About Being Stressed. This may seem ridiculous at first, but it is listed first for a reason: when you're feeling stressed, you feel like you're on edge and everything is barely being held together. Don't beat yourself up too badly about it! It's all normal, and the best way to handle stress is to not get more stressed about being stressed. If you're stressed out, admit it and figure out how to handle it. Focusing on it will only make things seem worse. 2. Get Some Sleep: Being in college means your sleep schedule is, most likely, far from ideal. Getting more sleep can help your mind refocus, recharge, and rebalance. This can mean a quick nap, a night when you go to bed early, or a promise to yourself to stick with a regular sleep schedule. Sometimes, one good night's sleep can be all you need to hit the ground running amidst a stressful time. 3. Get Some Food: Similar to your sleep habits, your eating habits may have gone by the wayside when you started school. Think about what and when you've eaten over the past few days. You may think your stress is psychological, but you could also be feeling physical stress if you're not fueling your body appropriately. Eat something balanced and healthy: fruits and veggies, whole grains, protein. 4. Get Some Exercise: You may think that if you don't have the time to sleep and eat properly, you definitely don't have the time to exercise. Fair enough, but if you're feeling stressed, it may be that you need to squeeze it in somehow. Exercise doesn't necessarily have to involve a 2-hour, exhausting workout at the campus gym. It can mean a relaxing, 30-minute walk while listening to your favorite music. In fact, in a little over an hour, you can walk 15 minutes to your favorite off-campus restaurant, eat a quick and healthy meal, walk back, and take a power nap. Imagine how much better you'll feel! 5. Get Some Quiet Time: Take one moment and think: when was the last time you had some quality, quiet time alone? Personal space for students in college rarely exists. You may share your room, your bathroom, your classrooms, your dining hall, the gym, the bookstore, the library, and anywhere else you go during an average day. Finding a few moments of peace and quiet with no cell phone, roommates, or crowds might be just what you need. Stepping out from the hectic college environment for a few minutes can do wonders for reducing your stress. 6. Get Some Social Time: Have you been working on that English paper for 3 days straight? Can you even see what you're writing anymore for your Chemistry lab report? You could be stressed because you're being too focused on getting things done. Don't forget that your brain is like a muscle, and even it needs a break every once in a while! Take a break and see a movie. Grab some friends and go out. Having a social life is an important part of your college experience, so don't be afraid to keep it in the picture when you're stressed. 7. Get Some Fun: You may be stressed about one particular thing: a final paper due Monday, a class presentation due Thursday. You basically just need to sit down and plow through it. If this is the case, try to figure out how to make it a little more fun and enjoyable. Is everyone writing final papers? Agree to work together in your room for 2 hours and then order pizza together for dinner. Do a lot of your classmates have huge presentations to put together? See if you can reserve a classroom or room in the library where you can all work together and share supplies. You may just lower everyone's stress level. 8. Get Some Distance: You may be handling your own problems and trying to help others around you. While this can be nice for them, check in and be honest with yourself about how your helpful demeanor may be causing more stress in your life. It's okay to take a step back and focus on yourself for a little while, especially if you are stressed and your academics are at risk. After all, how can you keep helping others if you're not even in a state to help yourself? Figure out which things are causing you the most stress and how you can take a step back from each. And then, most importantly, take that step. 9. Get a Little Help: It can be hard to ask for help. Unless your friends are psychic, they may not know how stressed out you are. Most college students are going through the same things at the same thing, so don't feel silly if you need to just vent for 30 minutes over coffee with a friend. It may help you process out what you need to do, and help you realize that the things you are so stressed about are actually pretty manageable. If you're afraid of dumping too much on a friend, most colleges have counseling centers specifically for their students. Don't be afraid to make an appointment if you think it will help. 10. Get Some Perspective: College life can be overwhelming. You want to hang out with your friends, join clubs, explore off campus, be involved in the campus newspaper. It can sometimes feel like there aren't enough hours in the day because there aren't. There's only so much any person can handle, but you need to remember the reason why you're in school: academics. No matter how exciting your co-curricular life can be, you won't be able to enjoy any of it if you don't pass your classes. Make sure to keep your eye on the academic goal. Spiritual Health Your religious practice may be an important and very personal part of your life. Going to college doesn't have to change that in any way. In fact, you may even find your religious life more enriching and rewarding while you're in school. Most campuses offer services to students. There may be an interfaith center on campus that accommodates all student groups, or your school may have a relationship with a church, temple, or mosque nearby. Given the educational missions of many colleges and universities, your school will most likely work with you to meet your religious needs. Additionally, most campuses offer programs and services that are open to the entire campus population. Alcohol/Drug Awareness. Alcohol is a drug and is the number one drug of choice at college. Don’t be pressured to partake or over indulge. When drinking, one of the first things to go is one's ability to make good rational judgments. These statistics show the very real risks of drinking in college:
Colleges have Substance Awareness Counseling and
Educational Services to anyone experiencing
problems with alcohol or other drug use, or who
is concerned about a friend or family member’s
use. Programs will assist students in making
safe and informed choices concerning alcohol and
other drug use. WSU for example has an
Alcohol 101 Information site as part of the
ADCAPS program. Check out your college's
counseling and substance abuse department during
your campus visit and/or at orientation for more
information.
In Summary: Take the effort to be as healthy as you can, and you'll enjoy your college experience all the more. We have a video that you may wish to watch before going of to college called " College Freshman Survival". It goes into all aspects of surviving your first year in college including:, study, picking classes, books, roommates, safety, planning, getting involved, home sickness, stress reduction, finances, etc. It is by former college students. (VHS video available for check out in the ZHS Library) .
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