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Each time a semester starts, I always tell myself I’m going to have the best routine. A routine that’s productive, sustainable and in line with my personal values and goals. Then the stress hits, and next thing I know, my caffeine intake is off the charts, and I somehow have three meetings to attend at the same time.

My fatal error each semester – I start building a routine too late, once I’ve already got poor habits woven into my impromptu routine. So don’t be like me! Make a plan sooner rather than later. 

Here's my advice to help you get started.

Know your schedule.

This seems simple – it’s literally on Beartracks, but trust me, you don’t always want to rely on logging into an online portal to access something like your class schedule. Some people like to put it as their phone background. I prefer to put a screenshot of my schedule in my ‘favourites’ album on my phone. 

Knowing your schedule involves more than just when and where you’re learning; it also includes taking care of your body so you can learn. 

Figure out when you’re going to eat in your schedule. One semester, I had consistent lunch breaks and was able to alternate between buying food on campus and bringing my own lunch. Other semesters, I’ve had back-to-back classes. I stayed well-stocked on protein bars and small yet filling snacks to eat while walking to the next class. The important thing was consistently giving my body the nutrients it needed to focus and engage fully in my classes. 

Another part of knowing my schedule includes office hours for instructors and TAs. This can also help build study/sustenance blocks into your schedule – if your class ends at 12:20 p.m. and office hours begin at 2 p.m., you have plenty of time between to find a spot to rest or study and a bite to eat. Find the gaps and fill them with things that help you. 

I like taking exterior routes to classes sometimes, even if they’re in the same building. The ten minutes between classes is a short amount of time, but the change of scenery is worth it, for me. North Campus has incredible natural beauty, and I like to ground myself between classes to help aid my focus, energy and general wellness. It’s a small action I can slip into my schedule that helps me. 

Take a look at your schedule and find those gaps, and think about how you can shift your actions towards self-care. 

Know how to prioritize.

It can be valuable to prioritize your tasks, but also challenging to figure out how to prioritize things. One tool I think is useful is the Eisenhower Decision Matrix. I use this chart to help sort the order of my tasks.

First, I brain dump all of my tasks onto paper, including the due dates. Then, I give each task a difficulty rating and an estimated time to complete. I include everything from school, pet care, cleaning, meal prep and more, all on one page. 

Then, I start to group them according to the decision matrix. Once grouped, I have fewer things to deal with immediately. I can then use my time estimate of the task (note: be generous with your estimate) to schedule when I’ll work on it in the immediate future. 

I find that planning things this way helps me audit the amount of energy that needs to be devoted to each task. For things in the ‘delegate’ category, that means asking for help. It can be difficult, but ultimately it’s better in the long run. 

Know when to ask for help.

I’ll give you a hint: sooner than you think. As soon as you get to class, make sure you know how to contact your instructor and/or TA. When working on homework, when you get the sinking feeling of ‘oh, I’m not going to get this done on time,’ send an email to your instructor or TA immediately. Let them know your situation, and ask for help. Sometimes that looks like attending office hours, getting an extension or an excused absence. Whatever the outcome, telling someone who can help sooner rather than later is ideal.

These tools are not failsafe – they are only as effective as they are used. Still, I hope you can use them and find them helpful this semester!