Students blog

In the chaos of college life, keeping up with assignments, extracurricular activities, and maintaining a social life can feel like an uphill battle. I've come to realize that effective time management and organization are not just desirable skills but necessary survival tools. Amidst this chaos, one strategy has proven to be most successful for me: to-do lists.

Picture this: it's Monday morning, and your brain is already buzzing with a million tasks begging for attention. You've got lectures to attend, assignments to complete, meetings to join, and a list of other commitments. It's overwhelming, to say the least. With a simple to-do list, you can lessen the mayhem and reclaim control over your day. Incorporating to-do lists into my daily routine has been life changing. It's a simple yet incredibly effective method for organizing my thoughts and prioritizing my tasks. Each night, I take a few minutes to jot down everything I already know I’ll need to accomplish. From major assignments to minor errands, it can be so helpful to just visualize what I need to get done.

I recommend setting aside a few minutes each night to think about your goals for the week and what you need to accomplish each day to make that happen. I even write down my classes for the next morning so I can get a full layout of my day before it even starts. The best part is when I can start ticking off items throughout the day. There's something so fulfilling about checking off each line as tasks are completed. There’s nothing like reaching the end of the day and seeing a to-do list fully completed, a visual representation of my productivity. I no longer need to worry about what I may have forgotten or neglected.

To-do lists can be very effective if used correctly. Just writing things down and hoping for the best won’t be enough. If you take the time to write out your tasks and goals, you can be productive every day of the week.

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As a college student, I have a lot on my plate. From homework, to clubs, to maintaining relationships, it’s a lot. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed at times. Whether it is an upcoming exam, or a task I have to complete for an extracurricular, I can get stressed out pretty easily. That is why I find it important to set aside at least 15 minutes each day to be active. This does not always mean going to do a workout at the gym. On especially busy days, I take a short walk around my neighborhood and just allow myself to decompress.

Keep Active

Your mind needs breaks in order to perform at its best. Remaining active is a guaranteed way to keep your mood up while dealing with all of the struggles of schoolwork. Walks are especially great because they are so low commitment. As soon as I’ve made the decision to take a walk, I’ve technically already begun! All you have to do is step out your front door and the rest is whatever you make it! I love walking around my neighborhood because I never know who I may run into.

Get Fresh Air

It is also really important for your health to get fresh air, so you’re really doing a lot for your health by just taking a walk! I find it really peaceful to walk down to the lake that is behind my apartment complex; however, you don’t need a lake in order to enjoy nature! There are so many things to appreciate, and it can bring you joy to even just look at what’s going on in the sky. My favorite is when I see cool clouds or really pretty sunsets. And just like that, all of my stress is off my mind and I’m in a great mood.

Other Stress Relievers

There are many different things you can do for your health, both physical and mental. Physical activity has incredible benefits for your heart, body, and mind. It has been proven that physical movement reduces stress, depression, and anxiety. You can incorporate extra movement throughout your day. This could be taking your dog for a walk, choosing to take the stairs over the elevator, or even biking instead of driving. These may seem like small steps, but they can have significant impacts on your wellbeing.

I find that being active is a very effective form of mindfulness. It brings peace to my day as it allows me to be with my thoughts. It is so important to remain active and give yourself breaks from all of the hard work you do!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started!