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In many cases, it can feel overwhelming to balance a full course load with everything else you have going on in life. Classes can take a lot of work and a lot of time. However, there are ways you can still take care of everything.

Create a Fixed Schedule

A fixed schedule is one where all necessary tasks have an allotted time given to them. This type of schedule is usually consistent from week to week. It can be very helpful to do this so you can easily keep track of and schedule everything. If your schedule changes every week, it can be difficult to stay on top of all your responsibilities. As you create your schedule, have a fixed time for your classes and work. You might also want to schedule time for other activities such as exercising or relaxing. Having a clear and consistent outline for your life can help you have structure, and it can help you be more prepared to handle all your responsibilities.

Take Online Courses

Online courses help to create opportunities for people in a variety of situations. They give you more autonomy as you fulfill your coursework. In most cases, you can decide when to work on things and you can fit your classes around your schedule. An online course is ideal for busy parents or people who work during the day. If you have a lot of other responsibilities, you don’t need to deny yourself an education. Taking courses online can help you get a degree while still working with your current situation.

Take Care of Yourself

There’s a lot you need to handle all at once. However, you can’t properly do anything if you don’t also take care of yourself. Along with coursework and a job, you need to also make time for sleep. This is when your body recharges and helps prepare you for the next day. Get plenty of sleep at night so you can be fully productive every day. You also need to make sure you are eating well and fitting in some time to be active. Keeping your body healthy will only make it easier for you to function and complete other tasks.

Finding ways to juggle classes and your other responsibilities is very important. Doing so can help you reduce stress and feel more confident in fulfilling everything you need to. Everyone’s situation is different, so find out the best way for you to find a balance.

Read this next: How Studying in College Differs From High School

College is an exciting time and will give you many new experiences. It will also be very different from high school and you’ll need to be prepared for everything it’ll throw at you. Here are a few things you should expect that will be different once you start attending college.

Less Individualized Attention

Your high school teachers were able to work with you and help you through the class if you needed it. College classrooms are much larger than in high school, meaning professors might not be able to give you the same individual attention. However, once you get into your major classes, they’ll become smaller and you’ll get to know your professors better. You’ll have more luck scheduling meetings with your professors after class. To ensure you succeed, make sure you know your professors’ office hours. These hours are allocated by professors to help students. You might not be able to get help right away like you did in high school. But if you schedule a time during the listed hours, your professors will be available to help. Larger classes often also have teaching assistants (TAs) that can give you that one-on-one help if you need it. Getting a tutor can also be very helpful, as they can give you their complete attention and answer your questions one on one.

More Responsibility

High school will introduce you to a lot of responsibility, but college is filled with many things you’re responsible for. Studying, completing assignments on time, and even just going to classes are all things you’ll have to be in charge of. Your mom isn’t around anymore to remind you of all the things you need to do. If you take online courses, you’ll be even more responsible for managing your time. You won’t have an in-class experience to remind you of deadlines. You’ll need to come up with an organizational tool that helps you keep track of all the due dates. Try using a planner or frequently looking at the class’s syllabus and schedule to stay on track.

More Study Time

In high school, you might have been able to pass your classes by studying for a short amount of time or no time at all. However, college is different. You’ll need to commit to studying for long periods of time if you want to do well. This means that for every class hour you have, you should be studying for 2-3 hours outside of class to keep up with the coursework. For example, if you meet twice a week for one hour each, then you should be studying 4-6 hours per week for that class. This can add up, so it’s a good idea to schedule this time in advance. You’ll need to prioritize your time so you can get in enough study time.

Studying in college is very different from high school. You won’t have as much individual attention, you’ll have more responsibility, and have to study for longer. When you leave for college, you’ll need to be prepared for how different college is. That said, college is also the best time of your life and you’ll create many lasting relationships and fond memories. If you account for all these differences and make adjustments, you can be successful in your college career.

Need some extra help knowing how to help college students succeed? Join our group on how to become a better tutor!

Fulfilling all of your school obligations on top of your extracurricular activities might seem overwhelming or daunting at first, but it is definitely possible as long as you stay organized and manage your time well. First, remember that your academic work comes before anything. That’s the whole purpose of being in school in the first place. You’ll see that once you complete your assignments and prepare for exams, there’s still plenty of time left in the day. Use this time to participate in extracurricular activities, so you can stay social and healthy and become more competitive for future applications whether it is college, graduate school or even jobs.

Sports

Sports are a very popular choice among students who seek extracurricular activities outside of their academic obligations. Be sure to remember that schoolwork is of the utmost importance, and sports are there to facilitate your academic career and not get in the way of it. Students who pursue contact sports, such as football and hockey, however, must be careful.

Younger athletes are highly susceptible to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a clumping protein inside your brain that can kill brain cells. CTE can impact a person’s behavior, mood and memory and cause impaired thinking/judgment and dementia in the long term. If you’re playing contact sports, it’s important to wear protective gear, especially for your head, because wearing a helmet can lessen the chances of getting CTE.

Theater

Another popular extracurricular activity is the theater. Working in theater as either an actor, stagehand, writer, musician/singer or anything else is a lot of work. It requires a great deal of energy, time and focus. It might seem overwhelming at first, but as long as you write out your schedule and manage your time consistently, you’ll be fine. If you commit three hours to your schoolwork, make sure you commit yourself to that time. If you finish all your assignments before the three hours are up, you can apply to colleges or scholarships during that time. Use your time productively and wisely.

Practice Self-Care

Self-care is very important during this period. You’re learning how to multitask and balance a number of things at once, but you can’t do it if you don’t take care of your body, mind and spirit. Be sure to get plenty of sleep. An average of seven to nine hours of sleep a night will work wonders for you. Get a planner, and stay organized. This is also a practice in self-care because you’re managing your time in a way that is ideal for your performance. Also, remember to eat well. Don’t skip meals. Bring snacks, and make sure they’re nutritional and balanced. Taking care of yourself will allow you to perform at your optimal level in school and extracurricular activities.

Balancing academia with extracurricular activities is possible as long as you protect yourself, practice self-care and learn to use your time wisely. Keep in mind that your academic success comes before your extracurricular activities. Remember this whenever you find yourself stuck between these two worlds.

The intrinsic benefits of being a tutor are vast. Empowering students to reach their full potential is one of the most rewarding aspects of working in education. However, many students present difficulties that can be challenging for the tutor. By recognizing these challenges and working to overcome them, a tutor can become an invaluable tool for any struggling student. Here are four ways to approach helping students achieve academically:

Stress Importance Of GPA

Savvy tutors understand the importance of emphasizing that high school students that are interested in attending higher education should aim for a GPA of 3.3 (though some colleges take GPA as low as 2.0). By laying this framework for the importance of good grades for future success, tutors can help to motivate students to stay on task. Students who are resistant to the tutoring service are more likely to buy into the process if they fully comprehend the ramifications of bad grades.

Incorporate Time Management Skills

The root of the struggles for many students is poor time management skills. Some students simply are not equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to effectively balance school with the demands of work, sports, extra-curricular activities, and home life.  This is where having a tutor can really help.

Empower Students

Students need to be empowered to work within their aptitude and skill level. The first step in empowering your students is to identify their unique learning style. Whether that be through instruction or hands-on demonstration, successful tutors understand the importance of recognizing the individual learning style of each student. Once you’ve learned more about how they learn best, help them to understand how to use that knowledge to help them study better when they’re not in tutoring. If they learn best through writing help them with their note-taking strategies, and so on.

Set Goals

Hesitant students are more likely to strive higher if there are official goals in place. Before each new semester, sit down with your student and lay out a set of formal goals. These goals should be challenging yet attainable with hard work. To ensure a successful session each time you meet, tutors should set a list of mini-goals to meet by the end of the appointment. Not only will these goals keep students on task, but they will also encourage the student as the goals are met. Start small so that the student will feel some measure of success when the goal is achieved and continue.

By empowering students to reach their full potential, you are setting your clients up for a lifetime of success. Despite the challenges that many students face, an effective tutor can help to overcome these roadblocks.

Note taking has been one of the most helpful, research-tested methods for successfully learning new material since the dawn of education. It’s one very important study habit. Students may find it tedious, but there really is no better way to cement information into their brains. You may be surprised to learn that handwritten note taking is better for your brain because it maximizes learning potential because of the kinesthetic connection between body and brain. Here are some things to consider as you look to refine your study habits.

Review Notes From The Previous Lecture

Before heading into your next class, take some time to review the notes from the previous lecture. This will help kickstart your brain and help you access the pathways initiated in the last class. Think of your mind like a filing cabinet, and before you can add onto to a file, you first need to open it up and rifle through. You can complete this task in as little as ten minutes.

Take Handwritten Notes

While most of us have enjoyed the luxuries of our laptops and iPads, when it comes to note-taking, there is more value in writing your notes by hand. The process engages your brain and body in a process that allows for better retention. Also, because most students type faster than they write, they end up writing down almost exactly what the teacher says. When students take longhand notes, they engage their brain in rewriting the information, a process that helps personalize the information and make it “stick” better. In this way, handwritten note taking is better for your brain. It may be tempting to just take notes on your phone or laptop, especially if you participate in any kind of online school, but you’ll learn much better if you get out the paper and pencil. 

Ask Questions to Clarify the Subject

Another helpful study tip is to ask questions as you need clarification. Not only does this show your teacher that you are actively listening, but it also helps your brain absorb information correctly– the first time around. It’s difficult to learn the next building block of information without understanding the first, so be sure to inquire early and often. This can be more difficult if you’re taking classes online, since most lectures aren’t live. However, if you have questions, send a message to your teacher right away instead of just sitting on it.

Pay Attention During the Lecture

All of these tips can help you pay attention during a lecture, which is really your most valuable habit. This might sound obvious, but minds do often wander. Curtail this by being an active notetaker and asking questions; this will ensure your mind is engaged and your brain working at optimum capacity.

Forming good study habits will provide efficiency in your learning. Don’t spend twice as long trying to study; instead, try reviewing previous lectures, taking handwritten notes, asking good questions, and keeping your brain focused during class.

References:

Huffpost

College America

The Conversation

Edudemic

CalPac