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Illinois International News
Illinois International News is a collection of globally-focused blogs and stories from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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  • The Next Four Years: Building a Routine

    Oct 3, 2023 2:45 pm by Mia Hackett
    Students work and discuss design projects in the Classroom in the Round at the Campus Instructional Facility CIF. The classroom was designed to allow faculty and students to see each other more clearly, featuring a central podium surrounded by curved rows arranged in concentric circles. The In-the-Round classroom also features the next wave of audiovisual displays and offer opportunities for exploring newer immersive technologies to enhance student engagement and participation.

    Students work and discuss design projects in the Classroom in the Round at the Campus Instructional Facility CIF. The classroom was designed to allow faculty and students to see each other more clearly, featuring a central podium surrounded by curved rows arranged in concentric circles. The In-the-Round classroom also features the next wave of audiovisual displays and offer opportunities for exploring newer immersive technologies to enhance student engagement and participation. 

    UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS / FRED ZWICKY

    Images

    8:00-8:30 AM: Wake up, skin care routine, and get dressed
    8:30-9:00 AM: Breakfast
    9:00-9:25 AM: Walk to class
    9:30-10:50 AM: Class
    11:00 AM-12:20 PM: Eat lunch and do homework
    12:30-1:50 PM: Class
    2:00-3:20 PM: Class
    3:30-5:00 PM: Workout
    5:30-6:30 PM: Dinner
    6:30-8:30 PM: Study
    9:00 PM: Spend time with friends  

    College can seem incredibly overwhelming! It is so different from high school. Your classes are spread out throughout the day and alternate throughout the week, there is no designated lunch period, and there are so many new clubs to join.

    Building a routine is a great way to add your own structure to your somewhat chaotic new schedule. Following a routine doesn’t mean you need to do the same exact thing every day but having a general idea of what you need to do outside of class and work can make you more productive and maximize your free time.  

    I have included my actual schedule from the fall of my junior year. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I had three classes. Since my apartment was kind of far from the quad, I saved a lot of time (and money) by packing my lunch instead of walking all the way back.  

    I also made sure to prioritize time for myself. Fitness is very important to me, so I made sure to make it a part of my day by knowing that I would go to the gym right after my last class. A personal rule of mine was to not study or do homework after 9 PM so that I could decompress or socialize. Making study time a part of my routine made it easier to have my nights free.

    Know yourself and what’s important to you! By sticking to a routine, you can make the most out of your college experience.