Adapting to Change: Tips for Shifting School Schedules

by Charlotte R Coyle, Reporter

Do you hate change? Do you feel stressed when anything in your daily routine suddenly shifts? If so, then you are like most of us. Change, wanted or not, is always scary at first. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey our campus has seen a lot of change, every single staff member and student has been affected in one way or another. Below I am providing five tips to help you more easily adjust to the changes you might be facing in school and how to do better, not only on your school work but also with your organization.

Wide Awake: This tip is referring to online class workload. Since many students, that didn’t have online classes before now have several, if not all, of their classes online, this is an important one to talk about.

• Don’t Get Behind, Stay Active: This can be detrimental if you have several online classes. It’s important to check your classes everyday and make sure you do at least one thing per class each day. Online classes are the same as other classes except the responsibility to keep yourself on track is doubled. Figure out the time of day when you are the most awake and therefore can be the most attentive. Take full advantage and get as much as you can get done during that time period each day.

Remember, just because it’s more flexible doesn’t mean it’s easier.

Life is a Highway: Another change some of us have had to get used to is driving to possibly multiple campuses a week. This can be very frustrating for some students who have to drive around all day, everyday.

• Leave earlier than you think you should:  It may just mean ten minutes earlier. Look at the traffic in your area and take into account school zones, time of day, and look for shorter routes you could take. The earlier you get to campus the more time you will have to study for an upcoming quiz or test. Leave time to study any notes or flashcards, not last minute homework assignments.

Seek Support: You are not alone in your educational career.

• Ask Questions: If you need help don’t hesitate to ask your professors, email them or go to their office hours. Also, go to one of the great tutoring services Lone Star College offers for help. Sometimes just talking out loud about what you don’t understand will help you make sense of the assignment. If you prefer working with classmates, form a study group and plan a time and place to meet.

Everything in its Place: During times like these, it is important to stay organized and responsible. With that being said, just because your class is online doesn’t mean you won’t need school supplies.

• Mark Your Calendar: A planner can become your best friend when it comes to school deadlines. Writing things down not only helps you remember them better, it also feels great when you can go back and check off all that you got accomplished.
• Make Great Use of School Supplies: You may not want your book bag to start giving you back problems, but having a separate notebook for each class can help eliminate clutter and organizing things by class will help you keep track of assignments. A one subject notebook for each class won’t add too much weight to your bag.

Find your Study Style: Don’t let the stress of online classes get to you. You’re human after all and it’s okay to take a few breaks.

• Grab Some Pencil and Paper:  Rather than typing your notes,  physically writing them out on paper helps you remember them better. Once you are through writing your notes, use them to look back to and create flashcards as studying material.
• Study Intervals: Study for about thirty minutes to an hour, then take a small break. This will give your brain a break and allow you to remember what you were studying instead of plowing through all of it at once. As you take breaks, make sure to not stay in the same spot as before. Allow your body to get some exercise, but make sure you go where you can stay focused.
• Take a Snooze: If you are able to, it is healthy to take about a twenty minute power nap in the middle of your day so you can get recharged and be more productive in the latter part of your day.

Change is never going to stop being scary but it’s also never going to stop happening. For those reasons the only successful way to deal with change is to face it head on. Know your strengths and weaknesses and seek help where you need it. Remember, you are not alone in your educational career and just because something is stressful doesn’t mean it’s a barrier. In fact it can often be a starting point.