Semester Start

By now, most universities have started the fall term. A new year can be exciting and overwhelming. Grad school comes with higher expectations, rigorous coursework, clinicals, and a demand to handle it all! The goal of this blog is to help you set some routines to help you thrive in your program.

Whether you are a new or returning graduate student, make some resolutions!

Organization: With all the demands of your rigorous program and life in general, effective organization is a must! Being organized helps you stay on top of things. Here are some suggestions:

Use a planner or digital calendar, whichever works for you! Some students use both! I have had students who swear by the app, GoodNotes. During your first week, enter all the assignment and tasks due dates. If using a planner, write in pencil. Oftentimes, professors will be flexible with due dates in an effort to reduce student stressors.

Set the notifications on your Learning Management System (Canvas, Blackboard, etc.). Often, the LMS is the preferred mode of communicating with students.

For those large assignments: it can be overwhelming! Break the assignment into chunks and set deadlines for each chunk. One recommendation is to schedule the time you want to work on that assignment in your planner. I recommend creating a folder for each course. Then downloading any documents, you need from the LMS. Some of my students use a tablet for note-taking and annotating articles.

Prioritize: Try using the Eisenhower Matrix to set your priorities. Determine the urgency and importance of each task. Use this matrix to identify tasks that are urgent and important.

Urgent & Important, then DO

Urgent but not Important, then DELEGATE

Not urgent but Important, then SCHEDULE

Not urgent or important, then DELETE

Time Management: Time is your most valuable resource. Managing can make the difference in your success!

Create a weekly schedule: Some of my students plan their week (classes, assignments, fun, family, work) on Sunday evening or Friday afternoon. Be sure to schedule fun time to maintain a sense of wellness.

Try the Pomodoro Technique when working on school-related tasks. Set a timer for 25 minutes and focus on your task. When time is up, take a 5-minute break. Repeat three more times, then take a longer break. This technique helps students who are highly distractible.

Avoid multitasking! Research has shown that multitasking is not effective. It divides your attention. Choose one task and one task only to do.

Set Boundaries: Graduate school can be all encompassing and can seem to take over your life. Don’t let it. Set boundaries to avoid this.