YouAlberta
I find it difficult to remember the basics when I’m stressed — eating, drinking water and even going to the washroom regularly take a backseat for my stressed self (which makes the stress worse).
To circumvent this cycle, I started scheduling body breaks into my schedule.
At the beginning of each semester, I follow a similar process to build a routine that helps support multiple aspects of wellness. I find that doing this work at the beginning of the semester reduces my mental load — which helps immensely once assignments start coming in!
I typically focus on these main areas.
Where are my classes, and how long does it take me to get from class to class?
Every semester this looks different; it also changes as I learn what works for me and what doesn't. I start by identifying the times and locations of my classes on a U of A campus map so I can visualize the paths I’ll take between classes. I also look up transit times so I know when I'll have to leave my home in the morning.
I typically plan a few routes so I can stick to my indoor routine on rainy or cold days and my outdoor routes on sunny days. This assemblage of routes helps me adapt to small unpredictable changes in my day without derailing my sense of routine.
For my indoor routes, I’ll sometimes go a step further and add a more accessible route to my toolbox; this has been incredibly helpful not only for me, but for friends and peers with mobility limitations.
I find it helpful to practice the routes before classes start — the first few weeks of classes are chaotic and crowded, so becoming familiar with the various routes I'll take before the chaos is key. When I do my pre-class planning walks, I take stock of the resources along the way:
- places to get food
- microwaves
- washrooms
- places to sit indoors and outdoors
- university services
Another key component of my routes is noticing little details — what kinds of plants do I pass as I go from class to class? What does that plaque near that tree say? How many campus community members do I pass by, human or otherwise? Are there any baskets with free snacks or paper resources that interest me?
When am I going to eat and take care of other human needs?
When it comes to my human needs, I’ll try to build a break between classes into my schedule, but it doesn’t always work that way. If I have back-to-back classes for three or more hours, I stock up on snacks I can keep in my bag and eat in the ten minutes between classes. Pumpkin seeds are a personal favourite.
When I do have a scheduled break, I like to have a list (either physical or mental) of locations I can sit and eat, as well as bathrooms near each location — that's where the pre-class planning comes in handy!
It reduces a lot of stress for me to have familiar options for where to go if I want to sit or use the washroom. It also makes me feel more at home on campus. These routines are little rituals that I repeat daily; this repetition is how humans can leave fingerprints in time.
How can I best support my studying while acknowledging my limits?
Supporting myself and my studying is always a dynamic balancing process. One thing that helps me immeasurably is taking 30 minutes to an hour after my last class of the day to consolidate my to-do list and get a start on my assignments.
I fill a page with thoughts about the day, related to information from lectures, birds I saw, what I ate, upcoming deadlines, chores — whatever I'm stressing about comes out of my brain and onto paper. Then I highlight things into groups that make sense to my brain.
The key part of this is doing the first step of my assignments. It's easy to say I'll take notes on the assignment description immediately after taking transit for over an hour , but it's unlikely I actually do it. If I make the document and copy-paste the description in before I leave, then I can add things to the existing document on the bus. It's much easier to pick the task back up, rather than start from scratch.
By building little things that support my wellbeing into my routine, I avoid burning out, thwart (some) procrastination and have a positive semester.