4 Academic To-Dos for This Semester

4 Academic To-Do's for This Semester If youre like many students, you rely on some version of a list to make the most of your semester. This may occur in the form of a calendar, a reminder on your smartphone, or a handful of yellow post-its. No matter what form your list takes, it is an important way to organize your academic life or at least narrow the focus of your priorities. Now is the perfect time to establish your goals for the semester. Here are four academic to-dos to keep in mind for this semester and how to achieve them: 1. Set academic goals One of the hardest parts of academic success is focus. Begin your semester by identifying goals youd like to achieve this semester. Write them down so youre more likely to work toward them. Find ways to hold yourself accountable and stay focused throughout the semester. However, it is important to keep your goals realistic. Earning a 36on the ACT is ideal, but a 30 is also fantastic, and could perhaps be achieved with some ACT tutoring. Dont beat yourself up if you achieve slightly less than perfection. Plus, make sure your goals fall into both personal and academic categories often, academic success is all about balance. 2. Organize your school life Theres nothing quite like a well-organized calendar, inbox, and note-taking system to propel you to academic success. The ideal time to foster habits to become a more organized student is before the semester begins, but its never too late to start. Mid-semester organization can boost your focus and preparation for midterms. Establish a way to keep yourself on track, either electronically or through a system of notes, tabs, or planners. Get used to writing everything down so that youre less likely to forget an assignment or test. 3. Identify your resources The perfect time to identify resources available to you is before you are struggling. This semester, focus on identifying potential problems before they arise, and work toward possible solutions. Now is the time to make a list (because youre organized, remember?) of places you can turn to for help. Perhaps your school has a center withwriting tutors or a peer mentorship program. Think about how these things may help you and make a connection early on. Then, when youre in need of some help, youll be comfortable seeking it out. 4. Find healthy ways to manage stress It can be difficult to have the foresight to plan for stress later on in the semester, but now is the time to do it. Figure out what helps you relax, and get into the habit of stress management now. Practice yoga, enjoy meditation, or spend 30 minutes reading for pleasure whatever puts you at ease. This way, when youre in a particularly difficult week, youll have a plan that will make your life easier. Many students manage stress by joining an extracurricular activity, which can help you manage academic stress in a number of ways. Not only will you reduce stress, but youre likely to meet new friends who can act as study partners. Planning for success may seem like a difficult task when there are so many variables, but it can be done by utilizing these academic to-dos for this semester. By approaching your semester with a list of things youd like to accomplish, staying organized, utilizing the resources available to you, and managing stress, youre working hard but youre also working smart!