College life: No one said it would be easy. In fact, it can get downright stressful. During exam time, which could be almost every week for full-time students, stress levels can be at an all-time high. While it is normal to have some stress during your college career (and life in general), it is common for those who plan to succeed to manage their stress. This is something that can be controlled, if you are able to exercise some self-discipline.
The Art of Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is all about knowing your own strengths and weaknesses, and that takes honesty. It is important to be honest with yourself in order to execute self-discipline with optimal success. This may be a little more challenging for some than it is for others because being able to admit one’s own limitations takes a certain level of maturity and even humility. Pride can often get in the way of these two things, as you might feel as if you are admitting some small defeat, thus devaluing your own character.
The truth is that everyone has limitations. The sooner you can recognize your own, the better you will become at moving forward to try to supplement these limitations, thus becoming a more self-disciplined student.
How Does This Apply to Students?
Self-discipline is crucial for students because there are so many deadlines and responsibilities. Understanding your own limitations early on will help better manage your career. For example, if there are multiple exams that you need to take, it might not be a good idea to wait until the last minute to start studying for all of them! For a select few, it might be possible to retain all of that information, but for others, it might be a challenge.
It is also important to carefully plan a study schedule. It is equally important to manage your time after exams. The advantage here is that the bar is set very low when it comes to exercising self-discipline!
Balancing a Healthy College Life
College life doesn’t have to be work, work, work all of the time! You will easily burn out this way, and this too can be unhealthy mentally, physically, and academically. It is understood that exams can be assigned back-to-back and sometimes there’s minimal time to recover from one before diving into another. Then there are other times when you might have a wider gap between exams.
Florida National University (FNU), an accredited university located in Miami, Florida has composed a list of helpful tips of how students living in the South Florida area can relax after a stressful exam period, whether it’s for a couple of hours or an entire weekend!
Ways to Relax After a Stressful Exam:
Take a Nap!
Sometimes the body just needs to recharge, and doing nothing at all may be the solution. When it comes to studying, the mind is constantly working to retain a great deal of information. This can exhaust not only the mind, but the body as well. Shutting everything down by taking a nap is like re-charging a smartphone overnight. In a few hours, it’s ready to go!
Get to Know Your Campus a Little Better
Students can get so busy with their classes that they often acquire tunnel vision, not aware of anything else going on at their school. When exams are over, this is the perfect time to get to know the campus a little better. A good way to do this is to inquire about what kind of events are going on around campus. Chances are a classmate might know. Also, be on the lookout for flyers and social media alerts as this is one of the best ways student events are publicized.
Step Away From the Campus!
The term “campus fever” is a real thing. Oftentimes, a change of scenery can make all the difference from stress to total relaxation. There have been instances when one has been extremely exhausted at work or school, but as soon as that period has ended, one gains a fresh new perspective on the day and is ready to take on the world! By simply stepping away from the campus may indeed offer the much needed and deserved relaxation for the body and mind.
Treat Yourself to a Tasty Beverage
Oftentimes, it’s the little things that make a significant impact. Although everyone is responsible for nourishing him or herself with healthy food and drink, treating oneself to a tasty beverage could be just the boost needed to get through the next test!
Take a Trip to the Beach
One of the advantages to going to school in South Florida is that the beautiful sandy beaches are right at your doorstep. Furthermore, the sun is always shining! FNU is practically a stone’s throw from the beaches. This means that 30 minutes after an exam, a student could be swimming in the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean!
Have a Celebratory Dinner in Miami Beach
Nothing says “job well done” than a celebratory dinner right on the water. Miami Beach has a variety of restaurants that offer an extravagant ocean view. Have a memorable dinner or a casual meal, then take a stroll on the walkway as the ocean air breezes across your skin!
Ever Been to the Bahamas?
Most people save their money for almost a year to vacation in the Bahama Islands…and as an FNU student, the island of Bimini, one of the Bahama Islands, is only a day’s trip from Miami! Now that’s a treat!
FNU: Balancing Your Academic Schedule
Here at FNU, we understand the importance of down time and understand how valuable it can be to the betterment of your academic studies. College life is a career, and requires hard work and dedication, but it can also be rewarding and fun IF you exercise self-discipline.
FNU has admissions counselors on standby for anyone who is interested in making South Florida the place to earn their college degree. Take a look at our academic programs here. If you need help in deciding your major, contact us today.
