Coming into college, I was pretty overwhelmed. I was daunted by the typical things college freshman feel anxious about: making friends, grades and classes, knowing my way around campus and getting homesick. However, there was one worry that rose above the rest: managing my time.
You see, I’m pretty good at getting things done, and doing them well. That being said, I’ve got one downfall: I’m a procrastinator. I like to wait to do things until the last minute, usually prioritizing other tasks over my work.
I expected college to be the same as high school: I could procrastinate and keep the same mindset. However, keeping that mindset left me feeling unproductive. Not only that, but my grades weren’t where I wanted them to be. The reality was hard to accept, but I knew something had to change.
I’m not going to lie: learning to stay on top of things was a difficult adjustment for me to make. However, it was incredibly fulfilling. I started to get into a routine, and prioritizing things that were more meaningful to me, like my school and health.
On top of all of that, I started to minimize distractions. Finding quiet places to study, such as at the Historical Society or in the basement of my dorm building were incredibly helpful. I recognized that while I loved spending time with my friends, when I was doing homework, it was easy for me to lose focus, ultimately feeling less productive.
This expectation I had coming into college definitely wasn’t rooted in reality, but I’m glad I learned from it. This video helps to explain getting work done and managing distractions!