Editorial | TPN editors share their best tips for getting out of the summer slump

After a glorious 17 weeks of summer, we Pitt students are heading back to our Oakland campus to begin the fall semester. Many of us used the time to relax, others worked internships and some took summer classes to get ahead. I’m sure most of us took advantage of the lack of homework. In any case, getting back into the groove of the semester can get really difficult coming off of summer break, and many will spend the first few weeks of the semester in a summer slump as they adjust to the difficult schedule of balancing classes, work, homework, extracurriculars and social lives.

We here at the Pitt News have advice to share with as to how many of us break our summer slumps. It certainly won’t be easy, but with a little bit of planning and advice you’ll get into the groove of academia much quicker.

Buy a planner  // Adrienne Cahillane, Multimedia Editor

Once you start college, it’s inevitable — you will have a lot of things to remember. Managing classes, club meetings and office hours can seem a little daunting. It’s important to keep track of everywhere you need to be, so you don’t miss something. A lot of students use online calendars like Notion or Google Calendar, a good ‘ol paper calendar or sometimes both. As soon as you have a commitment to be somewhere, make a note of it so you don’t forget later. Color coding your commitments can be helpful to separate academic obligations from everything else. It can be helpful to pick a separate color for school, personal time, clubs and socialization. Set an alarm on your phone 30 minutes before you have to be somewhere, so you have enough time to prepare and arrive on time.

Keep the stress away by staying active // Aidan Kasner, Sports Editor 

There is no denying that school is stressful. Exams, classes and homework define our everyday schedule and cram our minds with stress and anxiety. Stepping away from academia and emphasizing physical activity is extremely beneficial in maintaining yourself as a new student and finding ways to detox from the daily hustle and bustle. Maintaining your physical health is key to keeping your brain stimulated and working at 100%. Fortunately, Pitt is home to many ways to get yourself involved. While there are a multitude of recreational facilities and gyms including pools, racquetball courts, dance studios and everything in between, Pitt also provides exercise classes that award you credit. In addition, intramural sports are available for you and your friends to compete against fellow classmates. Want to explore outside of Oakland? There are many parks, yoga studios and gyms such as Schenley and Mellon Park, Orange Theory and many more spots to run, hike and clear your head to stay ready when returning to the classroom or studying for that big exam.

Read your syllabuses and make a plan // Livia LaMarca, Assistant Opinions Editor

Before you even step foot on campus, make sure you are checking your syllabuses before your classes start. It’s important to not only know where you need to go on your first day of class, but it will also help you in the long run if you know what your semester is going to look like and what to expect. Plan out when your tests, major assignments and projects are due so that you can allot enough time to get those done during the semester. If you have weekly assignments, decide what days and times you’re going to get those done. If you know you always have a 50 page reading for your Geology 101 class, plan to get that done after class on Thursday. This not only helps you more easily plan the semester, but will also help you get in the right headspace, focused on your academic success.

Talk with your friends, family and loved ones // Spencer Levering, Assistant News Editor

Coming to college can feel like you’re leaving one life behind and entering another. A great way to help bridge that gap and get back into an academic routine is by talking with your support systems both at home and at school. It’s hard to focus on assignments when your social and emotional needs aren’t being met, so make an effort to stay in touch and communicate with the people you love so you can be the best version of yourself in the classroom. Integrating academics into your socialization can also help you kill two birds with one stone. This can look like planning a study date with a friend you haven’t seen since April, creating a to-do list with a family member who will listen or calling your best friend who you know can motivate you to start that assignment. There’s power in talking with someone about your stressors, too. When you can find a person to commiserate with, your problems will feel more real and you’ll feel less alone in your struggles. Time spent talking is an excellent opportunity to get yourself organized, energized and unstuck from a summer slump.

Just complete an assignment // Quinn Cilea, Culture Editor

Now, I know this doesn’t really feel like a specific piece of advice, but it’s very easy to fall behind and let work pile up, which makes it more and more difficult to get started. So, you want to try and just stay on top of your work. Even if you feel like you can’t get back into your schoolwork, you should set small goals to keep yourself on track. For example, you could make a goal to complete one assignment a day. Another tip, which I use for my writing when I am struggling, is to set a timer for an hour and just sit in front of your work for that hour. You may not really feel like doing work at the start of the hour, but eventually you’ll start picking through your work, maybe even just out of boredom. Starting up again is always the biggest hurdle when coming back from a long break, so something simple like sitting down in the library for an hour can start slowly shifting your mindset back into your school year one. Remember, it is also really easy to become discouraged if you feel you’re struggling to get back into the swing of things, but everyone else is in the same boat, and small steps will quickly get you back on track.