Adapting Back to In-Person Classes
After almost a year of completely or mostly virtual classes, adapting back to having in-person classes can be challenging. Although there are various drawbacks to having classes or meetings virtually, I realized how convenient it was. I did not have to account for the transportation time. So, I want to share a couple of changes I’ve made to adapt to things being in-person again.
The first change I made was to start getting ready for things early now that I have to take the time it takes me to get dressed and walk to my class into consideration. Before, it was easy to wake up before class and just log into zoom. Now, I always make sure to wake up a little early to have enough time to get ready for the day, eat breakfast, and walk to class. So, I set my alarm back 15-20min so I am not rushing every morning. This small change has helped me so much and I’m no longer tardy for class or meetings.
The second change is to create a realistic and manageable schedule at the beginning of the semester. I dedicate the first couple weeks of each semester to testing out schedules. I build a realistic schedule where I make sure to include classes, jobs, etc. Because you have a lot more freedom in college to create your schedule compared to high school, it’s really important to stick to a schedule that works for you. You don’t want to feel burned out in the middle of the semester, so adjusting it to your needs is important.
If you have trouble with time management, the StAAR Center (https://students.tufts.edu/staar-center) has resources that can help! They even have time management tutors who can help give you tips and tricks you can implement to manage your time better.