Arleth,
I am struggling to balance having too many advanced classes. What can I do to better study and balance my classes without burning out as we start the second semester? – Anonymous
Anonymous, with the start of the second semester and already having to miss so many classes due to snow days, many of us are feeling the pressure of getting stuck behind. My short answer: give yourself grace.
At a college preparatory school like ours, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the need to be perfectly on top of everything. But as an overachiever who was in your spot not too long ago, that’s the number one way to burn yourself out so close to the end.
The most efficient way to study is to simply review the information as much as possible for as long as possible. Cramming material the day before activates your short-term memory, which may be great for the test tomorrow morning but won’t stick for the final in May.
My favorite way to organize myself and still include some much-needed ‘me’ time is to create a weekly schedule. I use a fun app called OWaves; you can create hourly schedules and dedicate specific days and times to get homework done, eat dinner, read a book, etc.
Another popular way I see our fellow classmates organize themselves is by making to-do lists. Nothing is more exhilarating for some people than checking off things on their list.
I am aware quite a bit of people use planners to write down their schedules or make their to-do lists, but as someone who tends to forget my planner at home or in my backpack, I like using my Google Calendar on my phone. After all, my phone is the one thing I know I will always have on me.
The most important thing to do in order to not burn out is to talk to your teachers, especially if you feel you’re really struggling and/or falling behind. Our teachers at Sion are always willing and wanting to help; it is simply up to us to advocate for ourselves.
I hope as the weather warms up, we can find our flow again and finish this year off strong. Good luck, Anonymous!
With Love
Arleth Guevara.
