Well, friends….my summer is two days away from being over and my husband and I start our last semester of our college undergraduate degrees on Monday. That seems absolutely CRAZY. Where did the last four years go, amiright? In those last four years I have learned a trick or two about how to stay sane and get stuff done during that crazy back-to-school time. So today, I am bringing you my 10 tried-and-true tips for taking back your sanity and killing it this semester.

8 smart tips for college students

8 Back-To-School Tips & Tricks To Keep You Sane

This post is sponsored by Herschel Supply Co. All opinions are mine and mine alone.

TIP ONE: Productivity is a science.

8 tips for the overwhelmed college student.

What you need to figure out now is WHEN you are most productive. For me, it is right after class, in between classes or pretty much anytime before 6pm. There is no way I am getting up before my first class at 10am (college will do that to you) and after 5pm I have a hard time focusing on school and I want to play. So what does that mean? It means the hour breaks I have been classes need to be optimized. It means not going home and watching tv between class. I go straight to the library with Adam and do my assignments and studying there. That way I have minimal distraction and I can focus. It also means that when 6pm rolls around, I can hang out with my friends or my husband and work on Blonde & Ambitious. Makes my life a LOT easier.

TIP TWO: Plan out your day.

8 tips for the overwhelmed college student.

I have a cute planner that I use to keep track of assignments and due dates so I can stay on track. I like to make neat little to-do lists in my planner and check the boxes off. I feel accomplished when I look down at a list full of checked off items. Try it. I promise you’ll feel accomplished too. Another way I stay organized is to order things by importance. I like to make sure all of my assignments are completed in accordance to their due dates. For example: If I have 3 things on my list — homework due in class the next day, studying for my test in two weeks and working on a group project due this weekend — which item would I want to do first? The homework due the next day! Then the group project and THEN studying for my test. That way, if for some reason I don’t get the last item done, at least my most pressing items are completed.

TIP THREE: Get your jam on.

8 tips for the overwhelmed college student.

Making study playlists are the perfect way to keep on track. Science says that in order to stay most productive while listening to music, you should follow these easy tricks:

  1. Pick music without lyrics (or choose lyrics that aren’t in your native language). Scientists say that when you listen to music with words, you pay more attention to the words than what you are studying. That means your mind is split 50-50. You aren’t retaining nearly as much information. So choose songs without words to maximize your productivity!
  2. Make two playlists. One that has slow, build-up songs. Like the beginning of movies. Songs that start slow and end a little faster. The other should have battle music, faster music. Play the first playlist when you are just doing your homework and studying without being on a time crunch. This will help you retain information. Play the second playlist when you have a fast approaching deadline (like writing a paper due the next day or cramming for a test).

TIP FOUR: YouTube is now your best friend.

8 tips for the overwhelmed college student.

Get reallllll acquainted with YouTube. I swear half my college education was gained by watching videos to help me learn. If you are a visual learner this tip is definitely for you. We live in an AMAZING digital age. This means there are hundreds of videos on the topic you are studying. This has been especially helpful in my biology classes. I can watch videos of things like DNA replication to get a much better, 3D understanding of the concept. Talk about amazing! This won’t completely replace your classes (obviously) but it can seriously be a game changer when studying for tests.

TIP FIVE: Take better notes.

8 tips for the overwhelmed college student.

This one should be obvious. Part of the reason you aren’t doing as well as you should in your college classes is probably because you aren’t taking the right notes. Stop trying to write down every sentence the professor says. Grab four colors of pens (I choose black, blue,, red and green) and start color coding the important stuff. I do definitions in red, concepts in blue and  important tips to remember in green. The rest I write in black. That makes it easy to pick out the things I should be studying and I don’t get lost in a sea of black pen.

TIP SIX: Actually get ready.

8 tips for the overwhelmed college student.

I know it is easy to get up and go to class in your pajamas. Trust me, I know. BUT. Don’t. Studies have shown that when you are wearing real clothes and not in your sweats from last night, you actually perform better in the classroom. You sit up a little straighter, you aren’t prone to falling asleep in class. Your teachers will respect you just a little bit more, as well. I don’t like going to class all gross from just waking up because I feel like I’m still groggy. If I am able to get a shower in and throw some makeup on then I can honestly say I do SO much better in my classes.

TIP SEVEN: Aroma therapy is a real thing.

8 tips for the overwhelmed college student.

Aroma therapy for studying and keeping concentrated is a real thing. Rosemary, sage, peppermint, and eucalyptus are great choices for improving concentration. They have been tested for improving memory and concentration in students and children with ADHD. Test scores increase by up to 50%. A good part of why this works could be because essential oils (the right ones, anyways) calm your senses. You do much better on quizzes and exams when you aren’t stressed out of your mind. So take a deep breath, kiddos. You got this.

TIP EIGHT: Carry the right backpack.

8 tips for the overwhelmed college student.

When you are carrying 10lbs of books to and from class, you can’t afford to carry a bag that doesn’t give you the support you need. Sure, the over the shoulder bags are cute but they WRECK your shoulders and back. You need something with support when you walk on that college campus. That is where Herschel Supply Co. comes in. Not only are they fashionable, but they have a ton of support as well. Well-made, built to last and able to hold countless notebooks, folders and your laptop as well. Pictures don’t lie. Herschel has it all together. You should absolutely look into getting one of these bags for the start of your semester.

 

Well, friends. Those are all my tips right now. Hopefully these help you to survive your college semester! I hope you enjoy it and that you KILL all your classes. Keep your head up and don’t get discouraged. You are worth more than your grades. As long as you pay attention and actually study (come on, don’t cram), you should have no problem doing just fine on your exams this semester!

8 tips for the overwhelmed college student.

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to share this post with your favorite students!

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103 Comments

  7. Yes, carry the right backpack for the tremendous amount of heavy books you will be required to take to class with you. Classical music works if you want instrumentals as you were saying. Yes, take great notes. Take it from someone who just graduated last semester. They help a lot. Good luck in your final semester of college!

    Reply

  8. These are such great tips! The backpack is adorable, too! I love what you said about Youtube videos – they are my go-to when I’m trying to figure something out or look something up! And YES to aromatherapy!

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  10. Love these tips! Wish I would have known YouTube was such a great resource while I was in college (maybe I’ll get to use it when I go back for MBA!) Also, you’re so right on getting ready. I always dressed up for class, which some of my friends never quite got, but getting a nice outfit on always puts me in a “get stuff done” mode.

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  15. Fantastic tips! I’m a college professor and I am going to share this post with all my under grads! Thank you!

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  18. I did the exact same thing as you – rock the YouTube – for all four years of college. ‘Twas my saving grace, especially when advanced accounting finals rolled around…at Wharton that was no joke, but I couldn’t stop joking abuot how bad I was at it! Ha! So YouTube = SAVE.

    Coming Up Roses

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  20. Is it horrible that I’m sitting here considering back to school, because I want all the school supplies but none of the work? 😀
    I’m not sure if I would have earned my degree without YouTube! Any yes to music, always music. 🙂
    Great tips!

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  25. These are great tips! My college days are long gone, but these are helpful tips for anyone looking to get organized. I especially like the study playlist idea, having a cute planner, and using aromatherapy. I didn’t know peppermint and eucalyptus help with concentration but I have both of those oils in my cabinet so I may need to put those babies to work! Good luck in your senior year of college!

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  38. Such great tips! I am all about You Tube for about a million different things – I like seeing how to do something versus just reading about it!

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  41. Planning and organizing is so important. I did my undergrad full time while working full time and as a single mom- it’s a science for sure! Now, on to grad school! Haha.

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  42. The gorgeous supplies are my favorite part! I’m headed back in Jan for my masters. I will keep these tips in mind!

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  44. With all the lessons being thrown at you, it’s good to be prepared and organized. I always had a planner with me when I was in college and that’s what I always tell my daughter as well.

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  46. You have wonderful tips that I found can relate to someone who works from home(me!). I am still learning what times I am most productive and trying to balance that out with children. My kids insist on listening to music when they do homework and I wont let them. Now I have something to back up telling them no and an alternative solution, music with no words. 🙂

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  49. This post is so loaded with great tips, I can’t choose my favorite ones! I’ll definitely be sending this over to my friend who just started back up at school, thank you hon!

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  53. Great tips. You are so right about music being distracting. I have to have silence when I am studying or doing homework. I am going to have to try the aroma therapy.

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  56. I definitely cant listen to music with lyrics when I study! I just end up singing along. haha. SO distracting! Also, I totally agree with you about “getting ready” I always feel better when Im actually DRESSED even though yoga pants are awesome.

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  57. When I was in college, I loved using my planner! Also, I second the whole not going to class in your pjs thing. I am out of college, but I often try to use my days off to blog. Mornings where I get ready and actually sit down at a table vs. just blogging in my bed when I awake are WAY more productive. And I waste less time doing stupid stuff on the Internet when I should be getting blog tasks done.

    Nina
    aworldofdresses.com

    Reply

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