Students who enjoy scheduling and organization can rejoice in the fact that advising season is now upon us.

As of last week, Central Connecticut students are able to view available courses for the spring 2021 semester. This will be the first time students will be selecting classes knowing we will likely still be in the midst of a pandemic; this could change the way many of us register. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Reflect on This Past Semester

How many classes are you taking now? How has the pandemic affected your performance in those classes? Can you afford to comfortably take more classes next semester? Should you reduce the amount of classes or are you content to keep the amount you have now?

These are the types of questions to keep in mind in order to ensure peak performance and mental health for next semester. If something needs to be changed, you have the power to change it now.

Mind Screen Fatigue

As of Monday, Oct. 12, roughly 79 percent of the classes listed on WebCentral for the spring semester are set to be fully online (532 on-campus and 1,963 online). It is likely that students will conduct most, if not, all of their classes through their computer screen.

Scheduling classes back to back may have been ideal in past semesters, with the convenience of making less trips to the academic buildings. However, it’s always good to allow yourself a break in between classes to rest your eyes, grab a snack and mentally prepare for another hour of online learning.

Allow Yourself A Break

If this semester is a struggle and thinking about next semester warrants a headache, it may be time to reevaluate whether it’s worth it to continue with classes or take a semester off.

If taking a semester off isn’t ideal or possible, consider packing next semester with fun electives, or classes that aren’t challenging. A minimum of twelve credits are required to be a full time student, which is typically four standard three-credit courses would satisfy the requirement.

The stereotype that people who take longer than four years to complete their degree are lesser or dumb is false and damaging. Even more so now in the midst of a global pandemic, which has impacted everyone’s life in some capacity. 

Account for Obligations

While it can be difficult to plan for the unknown, some factors are controllable. Many college students have jobs, clubs or other obligations that make doing homework or attending classes challenging. It’s important to ensure that you don’t overextend yourself and commit to too many obligations.

Consider how long it usually takes you to complete homework and make sure you have enough time open in your schedule to complete your assignments, while still giving yourself a moment to relax.

Sometimes we get overambitious and think we can do more than we should. It’s better to start by giving yourself more time than you need and add more obligations as the semester continues only if you can handle it.