The first semester can be tricky and unbelievably overwhelming. There’s a lot of adjusting to do, especially with the current pandemic. Classes may be cancelled or moved online, which means having to change your plans and deal with the feelings of panic and uncertainty. Don’t worry, we’ve got a few tips to make this easier for you.

Focus

We understand the pressure that comes with studying, but try not to allow your feelings of being overwhelmed distract you too much. Keep your eyes on the prize, which is to complete your first semester. Do this by studying hard, getting enough sleep and prioritising your studies, so that you can move on and eventually complete your qualification with marks that you’ll be proud of.

Try to enjoy it

While you’re working hard and making the necessary adjustments, try to remind yourself why you chose the course you’re doing and choose to enjoy it. Although things are different now and the pressure is on, you still need to take a step back to appreciate and enjoy what you’re doing.

Plan

It’s really important to have some sort of plan of action in place. It doesn’t have to be intricate and detailed; it can be as simple as a to-do list for each week. Being as organized as you can be in the current climate will help you maintain a sense of control. Just remember that you can adjust and change plans along the way, don’t be too rigid with them as this can lead to more anxiety.

Grow

Your academic growth is really important. Growing includes making better choices, like choosing better friends, developing better study methods and social skills and being the best version of yourself. Use the time that you have now to contribute to your academic growth – you’ll thank yourself for it.

Achieve

Don’t get stuck on your Ls when it comes to your studies. Use every stumbling block as an opportunity to do better next time. Although you shouldn’t take failures and setbacks lightly, you don’t want to dwell on them for too long. For instance, if you haven’t been as productive as you’d hoped today, you can always try again tomorrow. The point is to keep going, even when things get a bit tough.

Once you’ve mastered getting through your first semester like a pro, the rest of the year should be a bit easier. The first semester can really set the tone for how the rest of the year will be, which is why it’s important to put in the work from the very beginning.