Finding Your Routine

How to fall back into a groove coming back from winter break and starting a new semester.

For many people, returning from break can be a tiresome and rude awakening. This struggle is particularly true when coming back to a rigorous academic environment after being free of assignments for two and a half weeks, a time period not short, but somehow not long enough. The hardships do not end—we then receive exam scores the next day, leaving no time for anticipation. The band-aid is ripped right off, and we are forced to accept our scores, be it good or bad. Despite the many troubles that arrive with the transition back to campus life, there are methods you can use to ease yourself back into the far away but still familiar routine of Middlesex life.

The most important factor of success in getting back into the groove is a consistent and healthy sleep cycle. In the break, many international students returned home and others traveled to different countries with completely different timezones, causing severe jetlag when returning to campus. Even students who did not travel may have slipped into the relaxation of break, going to bed and waking up later than advised. 

Nevertheless, as we return to Middlesex, it is necessary to remedy these sleep schedules. In order to go to sleep at an acceptable time, such as 10:30 pm-11:00 pm, homework should be completed by 10:00 pm. Staying up later than this will only result in lower quality work. A helpful tip to avoid procrastination is to set an alarm for when to work; when it goes off, begin the work immediately with no distractions.

While fixing the sleep cycle solves half the problem, there are still a few sleep habits that can be altered to further help you assimilate back into the MX lifestyle. The first step is to ensure that sleep is restful. Experts widely advise to reserve at least 30 minutes of screen-free time before bed, as it will allow sleep to come more easily and improve its quality. This time can be used to de-stress and engage in hobbies such as listening to music, drawing, or reading a non-school related book. Consistently going to bed and waking up at healthy times will make rising in the mornings feel less like a chore and more like a natural response to your body’s internal clock. If you want to achieve academic success and an enjoyable lifestyle, constant drowsiness will make learning and everyday life considerably more difficult.

As previously stated, the complete 180 from relaxation to a rigorous academic environment can be arduous for many. However, there is a saving grace. Finals are over, the semester is over, and classes are new. This means that we have a fresh start to finally reorganize and fall into a reliable and healthy work schedule. To become primed for studying once again, you should slowly ease yourself into the work, rather than instantly switching to school mode. Additionally, with the new classes, it is time to either put away or throw out the old material. To stay organized next semester, having a folder for each class is helpful in order to keep track of each assignment. In the folder, there can be regular worksheets on one side and the tests on the other. This will allow you to be neat and safe from the anxiety of being unable to find homework or a lab. Lastly, staying behind after class to talk to your teacher about assignments can deepen your understanding of the material while also strengthening your relationship with them. By doing so, classes will become more enjoyable, and you will build strong bonds with your teacher, becoming fully reacquainted with school life again. 

As we are all thrust back into work and assignments, it is also essential to prioritize our emotional and mental wellbeing to avoid creating a toxic study lifestyle. Most importantly, it is crucial to remain positive and constructive. Receiving our final grades is scary, and, for some, upsetting. Even so, regardless of the grades you received, the worst possible thing a person can do is to ruminate. Instead of beating yourself up about a mistake, it is better to think: “what can I do to improve and not make this mistake next time?” With this positive mindset, you accept the grade you have achieved, while acknowledging your ability to improve. Moreover, it is important to take a step away from academics and reconnect with friends and family. Remembering that there is both a work and social life can help you feel balanced, providing an outlet for school-related worries. 

With all of the chaos that comes with returning from break and starting a new semester with new classes, it is perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed and even suffocated by stress. Adjustment does not happen immediately, and some students may require extensive time and effort to find their own schedule and groove once again. So, for all the people who do find themselves unable to settle right back into the MX lifestyle quite as easily as others, please acknowledge that such sentiments are not unusual, and there are many tips and tricks that can assist in bringing you into a healthy and reliable routine.

Isabella Saunders ‘28