The buzz of a new school year is in the air. Students anxiously prepare for their walk to new classes and meet up with friends. However, without a sturdy routine, it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling disconnected.
A good place to start establishing a routine is to look at what you can fit into the day. Basic necessities such as eating three meals a day are a must and are even linked with your circadian rhythm, which is your body’s internal clock. When you align eating habits with this rhythm, your behavioral and digestive patterns are better.
In addition, attending those classes you signed up for last semester or over the summer is probably a good idea, too. It really is true the more you skip class, the harder it is to pick it back up. But if you are struggling, the Academic Achievement Center is a good place to start.
Adding tutoring or academic support to your routine can make sure you are spending less time focusing on that one concept you just can’t seem to master.
Once you have a basic outline for what you have to fit in, make sure to build in time in your routine for pockets of joy. Maybe this is meeting up with a friend for dinner or creating a standing appointment every week to watch Love Island.
Maybe your pocket of joy is reading the book you keep saying you will get around to, as 81% of Americans say they wish they read more but can’t seem to find the time.
Or if you are anything like me, it’s making time to have a nice, warm cup of coffee and sitting in your pajamas to savor it. Whatever floats your boat.
I find the less of a routine I have, the more I feel out of control and scatter-brained. When your mind is running on that assignment you forgot to turn in, you don't have as much capacity to savor your walk on College Green, or Back South.
Routines are extremely valuable tools for grounding and can help you feel your best. You may not know what grade you will get on your exam or how that big interview will go, but you can always fall back on a routine.
Sometimes a routine is not daily. It could even be something that takes place across a week. I say this as a student who cannot remember if it is Tuesday or Thursday, the first week of the month or the last.
I find it helpful to have markers throughout the week, which ground me in the present and remind me there's predictability amongst all the Canvas notifications.
For example, grocery shopping and doing laundry are parts of my Sunday routine, while Thursday, I take note of what I still have to complete for the week.
Routines are bigger than just what you eat for breakfast or how you like to get ready for bed. I believe having a solid routine as a college student serves as a connection to something you can trust.
Back on the concept of coffee, my morning cup of joe is a quiet moment of reflection in the morning, where I can prepare for the day. Picking out my outfit after eating breakfast signifies more than just getting dressed; it is me putting on my self-expression and confidence.
Another thing I find is that a good routine operates in a more long-term manner. Semesters go through routines, too. We know syllabus week can feel like starting the climb to Mount Everest, but the routine passing of time during a semester ensures we will move on from it and into the time where we are confident students attending lectures and labs.
During the spring semester, students are in the routine of the academic year where they are looking for internships and jobs. Visiting Career Services is one of my favorite things to add to my routine when updating my resume or planning for a new job.
Attending coaching, like resume reviews and mock interviews, can establish control in a process that is largely out of our control. Knowing what to expect and what you bring to the table in the job-hunting process is another routine students should not forget.
Whether you are a returning Bobcat or it’s your first year, let's make this semester a great one by setting ourselves up for success. Let’s do this, Bobcats.
Emily Stokes is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Have something to say? Email Emily at es542222@ohio.edu
