Editorial | TPN editors give their best tips to get out of the summer slump

After a glorious 17 weeks of summer, we Pitt students are returning to our Oakland campus to begin the fall semester. Many of us have used the time to relax, others have done internships, and some have taken summer courses to get ahead. I'm sure most of us have taken advantage of the lack of homework. In any case, getting back into the rhythm of the semester after summer break can be very difficult, and many will spend the first few weeks of the semester in a summer slump as they adjust to the difficult schedule of juggling classes, work, homework, extracurricular activities, and social life.

We here at Pitt News have some advice for you on how to overcome your summer slump. It certainly won't be easy, but with a little planning and advice, you'll get back into the swing of academics much faster.

Buy a planner // Adrienne Cahillane, multimedia editor

Once you start college, it's inevitable—you'll have a lot of things to keep track of. Managing classes, club meetings, and office hours can be a little daunting. It's important to stay on top of where you need to be so you don't miss anything. Many students use online calendars like Notion or Google Calendar, a good old paper calendar, or sometimes both. Once you have a commitment to be somewhere, write it down so you don't forget it later. Color-coding your commitments can be helpful for separating academic obligations from everything else. It can be helpful to choose a separate color for school, personal time, clubs, and socials. Set an alarm on your phone 30 minutes before you need to be somewhere so you have enough time to prepare and arrive on time.

Stay active and avoid stress // Aidan Kasner, sports editor

There's no denying that school is stressful. Exams, classes, and homework dictate our daily schedules, weighing our minds down with stress and anxiety. Disconnecting from the academic world and emphasizing physical activity is extremely helpful in keeping yourself alive as a new student and finding ways to detox from the daily hustle and bustle. Maintaining physical health is key to keeping your brain stimulated and working at 100%. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get involved at Pitt. While there are a variety of recreational facilities and gyms, including swimming pools, racquetball courts, dance studios, and everything in between, Pitt also offers exercise classes that will earn you credit. Additionally, there are intercollegiate sports available for you and your friends to compete in against classmates. Want to explore the Oakland area? There are many parks, yoga studios and gyms like Schenley and Mellon Park, Orange Theory and many more places to run, walk and clear your head so you're ready when you return to the classroom or study for that big exam.

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

Before you step foot on campus, review your syllabus before classes begin. Not only is it important to know where to go on the first day of class, but knowing what your semester will look like and what to expect will help you in the long run. Schedule when your tests, major assignments, and projects are due so you have plenty of time to complete them during the semester. If you have weekly assignments, decide what days and times you will complete them. If you know you always have a 50-page reading for your undergraduate geology course, plan to complete it on Thursday after class. Not only will this help you plan for the semester more easily, but it will also help you get in the right mindset and focus on your academic success.

Talk to your friends, family and loved ones // Spencer Levering, Deputy News Editor

Coming to college can feel like leaving one life behind and starting a new one. A great way to bridge that gap and get back into an academic routine is to talk to the people who support you, both at home and at school. It's hard to focus on tasks when social and emotional needs aren't being met, so make an effort to stay connected and communicate with the people you love so you can be the best version of yourself in class. Incorporating academic content into your social life can also help you kill two birds with one stone. For example, this could be scheduling a study session with a friend you haven't seen since April, making a to-do list with a family member who will listen, or calling your best friend who you know can motivate you to get started on the task. Talking to someone about your stressors is also really important. When you find someone you can empathize with, your problems will feel more real and you'll feel less alone with your problems. The time you spend talking is an excellent opportunity to get organized, recharge, and get out of a summer slump.

Just get a task done // Quinn Cilea, Culture Editor

I know that doesn't sound like concrete advice, but it's easy to fall behind and work piles up, making it harder and harder to get started. So try to just keep going. Even if you feel like you're not going to get back to school, set small goals to stay on track. For example, you could resolve to complete one task each day. Another writing tip I use when I'm struggling is to set a timer for an hour and just sit in front of your work for that hour. You might not feel like working at the beginning of the hour, but eventually you'll start going through your work, maybe even just out of boredom. Getting back started is always the biggest hurdle when coming back after a long break, so something simple like sitting in the library for an hour can slowly help shift your mindset back to your first year of school. Remember: you can also get discouraged really easily if you feel like you're having a hard time getting back into the swing of things. But everyone else is in the same boat and with small steps you can quickly get back on track.