Ever feel like even if you added an extra Saturday, cut out Mondays, and bumped up your available hours for sleep up to 14, you still would feel like you didn’t have time for yourself? I know I do, more weeks than I’d like. Getting the most of your time may take some adjustments; here are some tips on where to start!

Stop spending so much time on social media

I know this is my greatest time-sucker. Some of my friends deactivate their accounts during exam time. Others disconnect Internet during work periods. A trick I use is to allow myself 5 minutes of social media time for every 20 of studying. Experiment with what works for you, and remember, it will still be there when you’re done your midterm!

Know yourself

Do you work or study best in complete silence, but really want to blast some Queen B? Are you still tired even after 8 hours of sleep? Okay, maybe these questions are just to myself. Either way, knowing what works and what slows work for you is essential to success. This may mean you have to do some experimenting. Try studying with music, in silence, in the library, in your room, in the kitchen etc. once you’ve found a favorite space, you can get in your zone and study effectively.

Be okay with saying “no”

Often when we feel that others are depending on us, we will stretch ourselves thin to help them out, even when we’re already busy and stressed. Out of fear that we will let people down, we knowingly take on more than we can handle. Doing this often increases your stress, which no one needs more of! A way to politely let someone know you’re too busy might be: “I have already committed to a lot this week; is there anything I can do to help out next week? I want to make sure I have the time to do my best”. Don’t be scared to say “another time”!

Don’t slack on sleep

Sleep is more important than we give it credit for sometimes. University students need at least 6 hours of sleep a night, and for many 8 or 9 is necessary to feel fully rested. While all-nighters are tempting, and okay every so often,

Napping is okay!

I never napped until I came to university, and now I don’t know what I’d do without them! A quick 20-minute nap revitalizes your mind and refreshes you so you can get back to work. Try to limit your naps to 40 minutes or less though, because past that point your brain slips into the second stage of sleep, making it harder to get up and leaving you feeling possibly more tired than you did before!

Stay on top of your health

What you put into your body has a huge affect on how you feel. Try to balance your meals, including something from each food group in each meal. Often, exercise time is one of the first things that get cut when we feel pressed for time. However, a workout doesn’t have to take a long time! Even a half-hour run will make a difference in your day. It’s easier to use your brain when your body feels good too!

By Gabe Ricci