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Sometimes you get stuck with the dreaded summer classes. That may be how your school year is divided up (as some schools do some funky things now), you’re behind, want to be proactive and get ahead or you’re in graduate school (like me!).
No one ever really wants to do summer classes. The weather is nice. The majority of your friends will be around and you will be stuck inside studying.
So, how can you still make the most out of your summer when you will have deadlines? I got you covered! Here are 3 great tips.
1. Realistically choose your classes.
I’m certainly guilty of this – biting off more than I can chew. You may think that you are so ready for a summer full of classes, but then you get into it and see your friends having fun and you can’t make it because of a deadline, so choose less and work hard at those classes rather than taking on too much. Maybe you can load up on classes because that’s just who you are and if that’s the case, then good for you! But if you don’t think you can do that, then that’s okay too. Choose classes that may be easier and leaving the challenging ones for the school year so you can complain with your friends – it’s always more fun to complain with others.
Sit and think about if you realistically will want to do all this work – it will be hot, your friends may be having fun, and you may have a summer job too. Just take a few minutes to lay it out and really think as you don’t want to jump in and start drowning and then not be able to drop out. Use your free time to learn new skills on your own time instead of within a classroom if you feel like you won’t be productive.
2. PLAN AHEAD!
Classes will give you syllabus’ and I find that classes in the summer seem to be better about it, or smaller classes in general. You’re more likely to keep to the schedule. So you should be pretty certain about what is due when. If you have to go to class, that day will be blocked off, but if it’s online, that can be challenge. A calendar will be your best friend! Plan out clearly when things are due, as those will be days you need to work around. Clearly set out when you plan to study so your work doesn’t spin into the whole day.
So if you are taking two summer classes, for example, and you have to be on campus. The days you go in are not free, the day before a test probably won’t be free and then you need to give yourself X-amount of hours for studying. Write it out so you can clearly see when you are free. Then you can see when you can realistically make time for your friends. You won’t be at that pool party stressing about the paper due in a few days.
3. Do your homework outside.
Sometimes this can’t be done, especially if your classes are online (like mine). You can’t really see your screen in the bright sun so you have to do a lot of the work inside. But, you might have readings to do, so print them, or as much as you can. If you’re in a creative class, do your work outside instead of holed in your room. Find a way to do some of your work outside enjoying the weather. But do something that may not require as much concentration. So writing your paper or doing that really challenging math problem may not be the best to do outside, but planning and reading is perfect to do comfortably outside.
Summer is a lot of free time and you may want to fill it. Or maybe you have to take classes because your parents are making you. Whatever the case, you need time to relax and just enjoy yourself before school starts up again. I can tell you from experience, I didn’t do as much as I wanted to and now that I have to take classes in the summer and have jobs looming soon, I’ve partially missed the boat. You live and you learn.
Take your classes, work super hard. But also remember to have fun!
