Staff Writer Jade Scott explores navigating the challenges of a new semester and how to find balance between academic success and mental well-being.

As the new semester begins it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Balancing coursework, deadlines, and maintaining a semblance of a social life is going to be a challenge but with great organization, comes great success (which is definitely not stolen from Spiderman). With the right planning for a semester, it can be the most exciting time of all!

Unlike the first semester of this year, the hardest part will be having to brave the cold weather. Coming to New York in first semester and the weather being so hot that I felt like melting onto the floor was a big shock. But coming back from London after winter break and seeing New York City coated in snow and being 13 degrees Celsius (or 55.4 degrees Fahrenheit), was the even bigger, gruelling shock of all. Maybe to most people this is not crazy weather but coming from a place like London, where it rarely goes into freezing temperatures and our biggest enemy is the persistent rain, I am certainly not equipped. Only recently I realised I had to buy gloves and a scarf to survive this city. 

The weather this semester may therefore be the biggest challenge. Having to get out of my warm bed and make it to a classroom that is so cold you must wear your coat anyways, is going to be tough. Not only that, but this weather does not fair well for my clumsy self. I cannot count the times I tripped over in this City in good weather, so with ice and snow on the floor, it is not looking good. 

But also, the cold weather can be a miserable thing. Some people may thrive in the cold weather but I for one, do not. I need the sun and warm weather as much as a warm-blooded lizard does. I. Hate. The. Cold. It is important to take care of yourself in the winter, especially if you suffer from winter blues and seasonal depression, or even if you do not. Your mind is just as important as everything else. 

I will be taking the following steps to ensure that I keep on track this semester, keeping mentally well, and also making sure to make the most of my time here.

• Making the most of the city. Perhaps this is just an individual thing as an exchange student, who chose to go to Columbia/Barnard for both the university and the city, but I am sure that many of the students that chose to go here were also intrigued by the city. Even if not, Columbia’s location is something that no one should take for granted. Allegedly, it is “the greatest city in the world” but I think only New Yorkers say that. One of the first warnings I received when I got to Columbia was not to get stuck in the “Morningside Heights bubble”, which I realised is a very easy thing to do with the intensity and demands of classes. Maybe I even did that a little last semester, but it is not happening this time. Even if this means I am visiting museums by myself on a random Friday morning. I plan on exploring this city as much as I possibly can this semester and with the right organisation, I truly feel this is possible.

• Organisation. Leading on from my previous point, I am really going to stress the importance of organisation this semester. I know this is a great concept in theory and it is easy to make a notes page list at 3am when you are feeling motivated, but I mean true, disciplined organisation. If you have a million things to complete and you feel overwhelmed, organisation is your best friend. It certainly is not an easy thing to master, and it requires strict discipline, that I personally did not have last semester. I cannot count the amount of lists I had made to keep me on task that I did not stick to. This led me to be extremely stressed, both in and out of school, with the constant pressure of not having enough time. But organisation, in whatever way you see fit, will only be successful if you are disciplined with it. And if you can do that, you will see how you seem to have a lot more time.

• Prioritisation. Not only do I mean prioritisation in terms of tasks you need to complete and your studies, but I mostly mean prioritising ourselves. For a long, long time I have struggled with prioritising myself, always wanting to please other people – it did not matter if I was unhappy, so long as the people I care (or even did not care) about were happy. But something I have learned only recently, and something I am even practicing today, is that being selfish sometimes is not inherently a bad thing. Last semester, for example, I found myself doing a lot of things for other people, at the expense of my own happiness and bombarding my schedule to suit other peoples. But this ultimately made me miserable. This semester I have set out specific times in my day for me to have time with myself – whether it is journalling, reading, or even just simply doing nothing. Time with yourself is so important and it is something I am certainly prioritising this semester.

• Celebrating the small wins. This is something I see myself and others overlooking but it is beyond important. Being at such a rigorous and challenging institution, it is easy to get caught up with everything going on, but even something as small as sticking to your schedule for the week is a win. Perfection in life and academia is simply unattainable so there is no point in striving for it. Celebrating these small wins is what will keep you persevering and motivated. 

• Maintaining a support network. This is another very important factor within keeping mentally well, especially if you are someone that does suffer mentally from the Winter and cold weather. It is easy to feel isolated and alone in such a big campus and city. If you have a support network and great friends already then it is great to keep updated and have regular check-ins but if you do not, then it may be something you prioritise this semester. Perhaps it may seem incredibly daunting to reach out and make a friend but something as simple as joining a club could be an easy way to connect and Barnumbia has a multitude of ways to connect with other students.

But my final point I wish to make is that planning for a successful semester is all about balance. Yes, academic success is important but so is taking care of your mental and physical health. Time and time again I take my health for granted and then the next week I am completely wiped out from it. This serves as a reminder that your body and your health (mind as well) are SO! IMPORTANT!

By setting clear goals this semester, staying organised, and prioritising self-care, I hope that this semester will be less stressful and more fulfilling. But also, it is important to note that no semester will ever be perfect and there will always be ups and downs, but if you did not have the downs, then you could not possibly appreciate the ups. 

Goodluck for this semester!

Butler in Winter via Bwog Archives