Updates and Time Management

Wow. I haven’t exactly blogged in a while. My first semester flew by. As slow as it may have seemed in the moment, it went by faster than I could have imagined. The past four months have been absolutely crazy, but I’m excited that I’ve been able to take on the challenges of college, friends, a long distance relationship, and skating all at once. I’m sorry I haven’t had time to post anything, but let me update you on a few things!

First off, I managed to finish my first semester with a 3.2 GPA which is awesome for my first semester ever and my goal is to make dean’s list this semester with a 3.5 GPA (all A’s). One thing I realized about myself is that I actually do know how to manage my time. My biggest struggle in high school was managing my time and getting in fights with my parents about “time management” and “not keeping up with deadlines.” As I moved onto college  I realized that I always had those skills. Between going to class, doing my homework, studying, ice skating, and having time for friends, I actually found it pretty easy to balance out my time between the group of things I was doing. As many of my friends felt their stress increasing, mine was staying level–and if anything, it was decreasing. After being on a competitive team for 10 years, I think by now I know how to balance schoolwork and free time.

To succeed in managing time I think you really just need to want  an organized and stress free schedule. If you don’t care enough about life’s consequences then it can be really hard to be motivated enough to plan out your week or month. As a high schooler, I had no desire to do work or care about school. All I cared about was being involved in my sports and spending time with friends. I was the human embodiment of procrastination. Don’t get me wrong, I still procrastinate here and there but I am no where near as bad as I was in high school! I think what really pushed me to fix my awful work ethic and lack of motivation was to prove my parents wrong. I didn’t want to be the student that was hardly getting by because they went out too much and didn’t care about classes. I didn’t want my mom and dad to be stressed about my future, because that’s my  job. My parents didn’t deserve the stress I put them through in my high school years so I really wanted to get my act together when I started college, so I did. Once you find that sense of motivation, it is so easy to take off running and never look back.

Now, as a college student, I am passing all my classes with an average of a B or higher, successfully pursuing my skating career, and still have the free time I want. I’m definitely one of the best people to ask about how to manage your time because I went from being the worst example of time management to one of the best.

Here’s some tips and ideas to help you manage your time!

1. Invest in a planner. Seriously, I mean it. Buying a planner was the best decision I made. A planner can help you plan our your weeks day-by-day and help you remember what activities you have planned.
2. Create a To-Do list. To-Do lists are great for quick reminders like stocking up on printer paper or reading another chapter of your book. I use small To-Do lists for simple tasks and tape them to my wall or other places where I will always see it.
3. Google Calendar. Okay so the planner didn’t work out… Now what? Using Google Calendar is a fantastic way to keep track of your events and assignments if you tend to rely on technology more than a written book, such as a planner. This calendar allows you to make quick changes and color code them to your convenience as well as set reminders for specific times and days so you never forget what you need to do.
4. Sticky Notes. I use sticky notes almost every day of my life. Similar to my To-Do list, I use sticky notes when I remember something I need to do later and quickly write it down on a sticky and post it on my wall when I’m in a rush. Sticky notes are a great way to remember quick and simple things when you’re in a rush.
5. Set phone reminders. Phone reminders are one of my favorite ways to remind myself when things need to be done. I use alarms to remind me when I have practices, classes, homework assignments, etc. This is an easy way to make sure you don’t forget important events or assignments.

 

 

 

 

 

7 Reasons Why You’ll Love Having a Roommate

1. There’s always a spare key if you lock yourself out. If it weren’t for your roommate, lets face it, we’d all end up needing to call maintenance to unlock our doors (once a week).

2. Their food is your food (and vice versa). What’s great about your roommate not wanting their leftovers? It’s all yours. This also means both of you saving a lot of money on food. You’ll probably end up splitting the cost for almost everything.

3. Chances are, if you’re get along, you’re going to share a lot of the same friends. You don’t have to worry about your roommate disliking your guests because they’re already friends!

4. There is always someone to vent to. Bad day? No worries. Your roomie is always going to be there to listen to your problems and assist you on bashing the professor who failed your paper.

5. They will most likely become your best friend. Whether you expect it or not, you will get close with your roommate. Maybe you won’t become best friends, but they will become a significant person in your life. I mean, you are living with them.

6. They will give you some input towards your outfits. Thankfully, they won’t let you go out looking like a disaster. Another way your roommate is always there for you: fashion advice.

7. They could become a positive influence on your lifestyle. Maybe you haven’t always been a healthy eater or a consistent gym-goer, but your roommate has. By living with someone, some of their habits are bound to rub off on you eventually. If these habits are positive, such as going to the gym, you’ll probably end up picking up on these habits and improving your lifestyle.

Moving in

This is possibly the most exciting, yet gut-wrenching, day of your college experience. You’re not feeling like an adult yet, but you’re moving out to live on your own. For me, I couldn’t have felt more ready to be living on my own. All of my high school friends had already moved in (a full two weeks before I did) so I was ready for my turn.

One thing to keep in mind for move-in day is that it’s tiring. By that, I mean that you’re going to be moving around… a lot. If you’re moving into a building that has an elevator, be prepared to wait on the longest line. You will not believe how many students managed to bring their entire room with them to college. Wear sneakers. You’re going to be moving a lot, and as cute as flip flops may be, it’s just not comfortable footwear for the amount of time you’re going to be moving around. That’s another thing, it’s not a quick and speedy process. Be prepared to spend 3+ hours unpacking all of your stuff and setting up your room to make it feel as “at-home” as possible. If you aren’t going to have a roommate, the process may be faster. But, if you are rooming with other people, good luck. Moving in your stuff the same time as your new roommate could be a disaster, but if you remember to keep your stuff organized, instead of leaving stuff thrown around everywhere, it’ll be easy. A good tip is to bring bins that hold your clothing. Prior to moving in, pack your clothing into compact bins so you don’t need to waste time unpacking clothes in your dorm room. That way you also can utilize space under your bed for your clothes, which means more floor space in your room!

If I learned anything from moving in, it’s that you’re going to be nervous, that’s inevitable, but it’s exciting. Dorming is a great decision, and it does add to the whole “college experience” cliché. Being away from home can bring a lot of anxiety, but you will meet some of your closest friends and experience what it’s like to live on your own. Having that chance to be independent will shape your identity as a college student. If you have the opportunity to dorm in college, take it. Push away all the anxieties you have about living on your own because in the end, it’s totally worth it.