What I Wish I Knew From Day One

by Posted on

The most common question college upperclassmen/alumni get from newcomers is “What do you wish you knew before you started college?” The answer you get will vary with each person you talk to. Many people say things like “take advantage of all the student discounts,” or “make friends with your professors.” This is great advice and definitely something I would still recommend. With two years of college now under my belt, I have determined that the one thing I wish I knew from day one is this:

The importance of self-care.

Self-care is an umbrella term for a ton of different things that I am going to elaborate on in this post. Underestimating its importance can be detrimental, so I hope that this advice sticks with you. There are three main topics I want to discuss: sleep, time management, and leisure. This is going to be a very lengthy post because I want to make sure I explain in detail the significance of each point for those interested, so feel free to skip around as you please. Let’s get started!

Sleep

Back in my undergraduate year, I was very adamant about completing every task I planned for that day, even if it meant putting off some hours of sleep for it. After a while, my sleep schedule became extremely irregular because some nights I would get done early, some nights I would overshoot and stay up until 3:00 AM, and there was even one night I remember going to sleep at 4:00 AM studying for my last chemistry exam that was at 6:00 AM. I would tell myself “I’ll just get some coffee in the morning and get back at it” which usually worked for a few hours until I crashed later in the day. In the end, I still made the good grades but at a cost too much to my mental health that I couldn’t afford. This is exactly how you can get burnt out quickly and it is very hard to correct, especially at a critical point in the semester.

Last year I made it a point to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night, or at least 6 in the worst-case scenario; no matter what. I cannot even begin to explain how much a simple commitment like this improved both my mental health and academic performance. Feeling well-rested throughout the day with the occasional need for a pick-me-up coffee relieved so much pressure. I wasn’t falling asleep in class, having to reread entire paragraphs in a textbook, or facing constant study blocks. I learned to tell myself that it’s more important to close the books and go to sleep at night, even if you don’t get everything done that you wanted to. It can be frustrating to push things off into the next day, but I promise that you will thank yourself the next day. There will always be enough time.

Everyone has probably heard by now that the average amount of sleep for adults is 7 to 9 hours per night. The key is to find the sleep pattern that works best for you and commit to it. For me, I find that I work best when I get around 7 hours of sleep. Anything after that I usually get a little groggy and it’s difficult to wake up in the morning. I want to discuss a couple of facts about sleeping patterns that help me optimize my sleep schedule. First, most people feel more alert upon waking up when they are in a light sleep stage (stage 1 or 2 of NREM). This is because stages 3 and 4 of NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep are considerred “deep sleep” and its characteristic physiology makes it hard to wake up from. The second key is to maximize the quality of your sleep. Deep sleep is considered the most important stage for a well-rested sleep, and you should generally get from 1 to 2 hours of it per night. Additionally, you should also spend about 20 to 25% in REM.

I have a smartwatch that tracks my sleeping patterns each night, I’m going to use this screenshot from one of my sleep cycles as an example of what optimal sleep looks like for me. The key points of this data include: 7.5 hours sleep, 1 hour of deep sleep, About 27% REM, and wake-up in light sleep:

The main takeaway is that everyone’s sleep cycles are different and what’s important is that you find what works for you from the get-go. I know not everyone has smartwatches, but you can do just fine by judging how many hours of sleep makes you feel the most energetic during the day. This Healthline article does a fantastic job at explaining sleep in more detail as well as providing advice for better sleep, I suggest you check it out!

Time Management

One of the biggest adjustments you will make in college is how to fine-tune your time management skills. The thing about it is that you probably won’t get it right the first, or second, or even the third time around and that’s okay. In fact, what works for you one semester might not work for the next one so it’s important to be adaptable. Also, time management looks different from person to person. The three main points I want to talk about are studying habits, schedules, and taking breaks.

Whether you’re coming fresh out of high school or are already in college, finding a good flow in study habits can be challenging. The way you study certain material may differ between subjects and it’s imperative that you recognize what works for you. I want to share with you two of my tried-and-true study habits that MANY other college students use as well – the Pomodoro Technique and Cornell Notes.

The Pomodoro Technique

This technique uses timed intervals to accomplish big tasks. It can be reduced down to these simple steps:

  1. Study for 25 minutes
  2. 5 minute break
  3. Study for 25 minutes
  4. 5 minute break
  5. Study for 25 minutes
  6. 5 minute break
  7. Study for 25 minutes
  8. 20 minute break
  9. Repeat

Essentially, this technique is great for minimizing distractions, improving motivation and focus, and maximizing the quality of your studying. I’ve found that this helps reduce stress while handling especially complex material. My one pointer is to avoid using your phone during the 5-minute breaks; instead, stretch, use the restroom, drink some water, etc. Using my phone derails me from my “study mindset,” and I catch myself thinking about the funny TikTok I just saw while I’m trying to relearn Kreb’s Cycle for the 50th time. You can adjust the times based on what you prefer, too. For example, you may find that studying for 30 minutes with 10 minute short breaks works better. It’s just a matter of trial and error! Here is a link to a website I like that is specifically designed as a Pomodoro Timer.

Cornell Notes

This is a note-taking system that emphasizes organization and paraphrasing. The standard set-up is a piece of paper (real or electronic) divided into three sections: cue column, note column, and summary (refer to the image below). The cue column is used for main concepts, keywords, and questions. The note column is used to elaborate on the ideas in the cue column; use symbols, abbreviations, lists, etc. The summary is intended for putting the big picture into your own words for easier recall. Cornell Notes reflect the fact that physically writing notes improves understanding and recollection of new material. Also a little FYI for my visual learners – I like to color-code my Cornell Notes so I can have that visual cue of separate sections/chapters/topics!

cornell note taking method
source

The next time management skill is creating efficient and/or detailed schedules. Schedules are important for visualizing important events and creating intentional time for your priorities and goals. I like to have a fixed weekly schedule, a daily general schedule, and a deadline spreadsheet. I’ve posted images of each below for reference!

Weekly Schedule

My weekly schedule gives me an overall idea of the times I’ll either be busy or available. I usually use it for situations where someone asks me “What time and day does ____ work for you?” and I can quickly refer to this schedule to tell them “I can do this and this, but not that.”

Daily Schedule

My daily schedule is to help myself manage priorities, stay organized throughout the day, and maintain a routine (very important). This is also where I identify what needs to get done today and remind myself what needs to get done tomorrow/assignment deadlines. (This is a VERY basic daily schedule I had for summer, during the semester I usually have written times dedicated to studying, lunch/dinner, leisure, etc.)

Assignment Spreadsheet

At the beginning of each semester, I create an “assignment spreadsheet” with all of the assignments for every class in chronological order of their due dates. I keep a copy of it in my photos and I hang it on the wall by my desk so I don’t have to worry about forgetting anything. I cross off each assignment only after it is submitted because I used to have a habit of finishing an assignment but not submitting it immediately after.

The final time management skill, and arguably the most important one, is taking breaks. I cannot emphasize enough how crucial it is to know your limits; EVERYONE has a breaking point, and nobody can withstand being pushed beyond theirs. Not only is it unsustainable but it’s also unhealthy; you will burn out fast. It is ideal to incorporate intentional breaks for your day/large tasks like food breaks, naps, or study breaks such as that seen in the Pomodoro technique. Creating intentional breaks is critical because it eliminates the guilt many people – including myself – experience for taking time away from the grind. Allow me to possibly be the first to tell you this: BREAKS ARE PRODUCTIVE! Ironically, sometimes unproductiveness is more productive than forcing yourself to be productive; think quality over quantity! However, we are all only human. There are times when we are in the middle of doing something and we just need a break and that is okay. It’s so easy to get caught up in the mentality that you’re not cut out for this field if you can’t even get through a full study session. Recognize that this is a symptom of overambition and reframe it positively; tell yourself instead that it’s a good thing you are striving for success even among high pressure. You will be able to tell if you are taking necessary breaks for your mental health versus lazy breaks. Trust yourself and most importantly, give yourself some grace. You’ve come this far because you’re more than capable.

Leisure

I want to briefly touch on the subject of leisure in this post because there is some misconception that you have to put aside the things you enjoy doing so that you can focus on school. Ask any student in the program and they will tell you this is not true. I think that making time for leisure is actually necessary to have academic success! Of course, you won’t have quite as much time as you have before but there is still enough. Leisure keeps you sane and allows you to recharge. Obviously, everybody has their own idea of fun but I want to share a few things I like to do in my free time that you might relate to or want to pull from.

Reading

Reading is my favorite pastime! I love getting lost in a good book. It lets me escape from reality a bit and brings me peace. I recently finished reading The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake, which I highly recommend. I am currently reading The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab and so far I am obsessed, it’s SO beautifully written.

Creative Projects

My current creative fixations are embroidering and painting. I hand-embroider apparel whenever I want to commit to a long-term project because it is very time-consuming, but the hours always fly by. I also enjoy small-scale painting even though I could hardly call myself an artist. I like it that way though, I find imperfect art the most beautiful. I am currently working on a zodiac series depicting my sun, moon, and rising signs!

Podcasts

I just recently got into listening to podcasts and now that’s almost all I listen to in my car now. Crime Junkie was the first one I ever tried even though I wasn’t big into true crime, but now I am an avid listener. I also love Anything Goes by Emma Chamberlain. She’s just so relatable and absolutely hilarious, 10/10 recommend it for any young adult who likes to laugh. My recent favorite is The Sustainable Minimalist. I’m on the journey to the “eco-minimalism” lifestyle and I find this podcast extremely helpful and insightful.

So there you have it, all of the things I really wished I knew before I started college! Here’s the thing, unless somebody has given you this advice before, almost everything I’ve talked about is only learned through experience. I wish I would have had somebody tell me these things before I had to learn the hard way, but I hope that you can use this wisdom to your advantage and build from it. Of course, you yourself will still have the errors with trials but be steadfast in the face of frustration. Adversity is temporary and necessary. I hope this helps! 🙂

Published by Kat Schneider