1. Stop eating out. Period.
Face it, you can no longer afford it. You will save a fortune, like enough to make an extra credit card payment every month. Consider buying frozen pizza instead of ordering delivery.
2. Make use of your locker and stuff it with snacks.
Always remember to eat. There's nothing worse than being in class when you can't concentrate because of your rumbling stomach.
Instant oatmeal can be consumed without utensils. Now includes fibre!
Pour one or two packets of instant oatmeal into your coffee thermos (or re-use your paper coffee cup if you've already violated tip number 1), fill it all the way up with hot water. The goal here is to make it soupy, and not thick like oatmeal is usually consumed. Hot water can be found using the water tap on the front of a coffee maker, like you might find at your school cafeteria. You can drink your oatmeal sans utensils on-the-go, and it will look like you are sipping a regular cup of Joe. Make sure to give the thing a swirl every couple of sips or most of your oatmeal will settle at the bottom.
3. Wearing a watch is essential.
Set the time on your watch, phone and computer 5 minutes ahead and swear to yourself it's accurate. When rushing around you won't have time to remember it's wrong. You'll be pleasantly surprised and impressed with yourself when you walk into class on-time because you hurried harder than you would have if you had been using the correct time.
You need to know the time when you're in college, you will be expected to meet tight deadlines. Pulling a smartphone out of your pocket or purse won't cut it when you're in a hurry.
Siri, what time is it?
4. Catch the early bus.
It goes without saying that there are such things as delayed or sometimes early service, construction zones, detours and "Sorry, Bus Full" instances, and plain ol' "I missed the bus." days. Do yourself a favour and catch the early bus. If you are really early you can catch up on some reading, review your study notes for the morning's test, take your time sipping a nice java or go to the gym.
5. Sticky tabs are your best friend.
Save time when searching through textbooks, binders or notebooks by using sticky tabs to mark those frequently used pages or chapters you have to read. Write on the tab with a ball point pen before pulling it out of the dispenser.
6. Have an "IN" folder with you at all times.
Whatever you use to tote around your paperwork, include an "IN" folder IN it (lol). A folder is a quick way to file what you receive in class without turning your attention away from what's being talked about. It will save you from crumpled and/or lost assignment handouts at the bottom of your bag and make it easy to see what assignments you currently have. Remove completed material from the "IN" folder and archive it in your binder or file folder under the corresponding class subject.
I highly suggest labelled dividers for each subject.
I ran out of funny things to say because there is nothing funny about how full this folder is in my binder right now...
7. Prepare for the next day.
Plan your outfit, make your lunch and snacks, pack your bag, and charge your laptop and phone. This will shorten your morning routine and allow you to add precious minutes of sleep. DON'T hit your snooze alarm, falling back asleep cues your body to begin the next sleep cycle, adding sleepy hormones to your morning that you could have done without. Charge your laptop and phone every night. A good idea is to have your laptop packed, with the charging cable connecting it to the A/C outlet in the wall. Then all you have to do is unplug, stuff the cable in a side pocket and you're good to go.
I have no idea why I'm awake right now.
8. Cook once, eat twice.
When you get around to cooking meals, make meals that can be eaten as leftovers. Quinoa, veggies roasted, sauteed or boiled al dente, rice, pasta, chilli, soups, chopped chicken breast. Make enough for 3-4 servings then pack servings in separated, stackable containers or ziplock freezer baggies. Pro tip: freeze the baggies flat. Take one with you for lunch, or toss one in the microwave for dinner.
Wrong. There's no frozen pizza.
9. Do jumping jacks when you read.
If you've ever used reading as a device to fall asleep, do not be surprised when you struggle to stay awake during long reading sessions when it comes to class material. You need to train your brain to understand that reading time is awake time. Perhaps you need to read while sitting in a dining chair instead of your favourite recliner for a while, you can't be too comfortable if staying awake is a problem. When you feel yourself drifting off, get up and walk around the room, make coffee, or do jumping jacks. Eventually, you will override that old tendency to fall asleep.
10. Wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends!
Set a three-hour window for yourself. The beginning of that window will be the earliest you ever need to wake up during the school year, like for your earliest class or the opening shift at your job. The end of that window is the latest you will ever be allowed to sleep in, like on weekends.
For example, wake up at 6am for Monday's early class, wake up at 9am on Saturday no matter how late you stayed up Friday. You really shouldn't be staying up later than 3am as a student. The occasional all-nighter might be necessary to finish a project but that can usually be avoided with better
time management skills.
From experience, working as a bartender or server until 2am while going to school with an 80-100% coarseload is not a good idea. Trade the -tender in bartender for an -ista in BARISTA and you'll find something that fits into your sleep schedule. Instead, BE A CUSTOMER at the bars, clubs or restaurants where you can build and maintain your friendships, which is honestly way more fun than working there.
