Hey, besties! Welcome back to this week’s edition of Paige’s Page, the first of the semester! I hope everyone had an amazing break. I hope it was a time to decompress, relax, maybe mature as a person and disconnect from people and things that may not have been serving you. I had a really interesting break. I turned 21, spent a lot of time with my parents, and didn’t speak to any of my friends. Now you may be wondering, Paige, why did you not talk to any of your friends? Well, I needed to take this break to do all of the things I listed above. I started to remember how to be grateful for the things I had, the communities I was a part of and the people who love me and my many, many flaws. I processed the good and the bad of the previous 16 weeks, watched Succession on HBO Max in three days, and changed the titanium stud in my nose to a rose gold hoop (a fun little physical change for the new year). I returned to Allentown ready to take on all of the things that haunted me in December. I hate to be like “new year, new me,” but I came back more resilient, more patient with myself, and better prepared for the things that awaited me. These first two weeks back have been really beautiful but incredibly challenging, and I know you all felt that too. This week, we are discussing getting back to school. I can’t wait to get into these questions!
Hi, Paige! How do I get back into my classes if my brain is still in break mode?
Hey, bestie! This is super tough. For some people, the break seems too long, and to some, it never feels long enough. I think either way it can be a really difficult transition to go from relaxing to working really hard, taking difficult classes, and maintaining all of the other things that we as Muhlenberg students do, which is always too much. Personally, I struggle with readjusting to a new routine. This obviously makes classes harder. My sleep schedule right now is so off, you don’t even want to know what time of the evening I’m writing this. But ultimately we have to learn how to live with this new daily and weekly schedule. One thing that I have been prioritizing to get me back into “school mode” is to do a lot of self-care. I know that when I’m here, I tend to let that dwindle because I don’t see it as something that is attainable every day for me with my packed schedule. Making it a priority provides me with structure, which is something I need in order to function as a human being. I know that every morning when I wake up, I take a shower, do my entire skincare routine (which usually by week three is just face wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen –NEVER FORGET SUNSCREEN!!!), listen to a podcast, and pick out an outfit that makes me feel confident and comfortable. I feel so much more ready for the day when I look and feel my best. It’s a new semester, with new professors, new classmates, and amazing things to learn and discuss. Embrace the change. Trust me, I know it is easier said than done, but I think that it really helps to just go with it. You will get used to your new routine easier that way.
Hey, Paige. Do you have any tips for getting motivated in a class you hate?
Hi, bestie! You know I do! To protect me and the future of my grade in this class, I will be slightly cryptic, however, I am going through this right now. I am taking a class to fulfill a GAR in a subject that I don’t like and I am not very good at. I have no motivation to do any of the reading or homework, even though we have to submit it before every class. I have a new roommate this semester and she and I have started this little bit together where we just think it would be so funny if we did our silly little homework, and it would be absolutely hysterical if we, like, turned it in on time and it was correct and we spent time really thinking and learning about the course material. Specifically for this class, that mindset is surprisingly helping so much because we are holding each other accountable while also keeping it light and fun with my amazing throwbacks playlist in the background. If you don’t see this ironic way of doing your homework as motivating to you, maybe find ways to reward yourself for getting your work done. It can be a snack, a phone break, or watching TV with your friends. Anything works as long as it helps you to be productive. If all of this doesn’t work, just remember that 16 weeks isn’t a lot of time, and it will be over soon.
Hey, Paige. I really lightened my load for this semester. I am used to overextending myself and I realized I need to learn how to relax. How do I do this? I feel so unproductive. Help!
Hey, bestie! This is such a fantastic question as I am currently experiencing exactly this. Most of my leadership positions, specifically the ones that had taken up the majority of my time and energy, ended when last semester came to a close. I decided to only take three classes this semester, and take on more hours at my job. This has led to a surprisingly empty week. And while some people would love the schedule I have this semester, I hate it and it’s only week three. Honestly I don’t hate it but it is just dramatically different from what I am used to, and I am trying really hard to figure out how to adjust. Recently, I’ve been feeling really useless a lot of the time, and I had to remind myself that I am doing this for my mental health and physical health, in order for me to learn how to appreciate the present and live in the moment. I think maybe you are experiencing the same thing. Let me know and maybe we can grab a meal together with all of this free time on our hands. All of this being said, I understand how difficult this is. Find activities that you previously didn’t have time for due to your busy schedule. For example, I love doing spin classes when I’m at home. I had no time to do the ones offered through the school because I always had class at the time they were scheduled, but now I am available to do them. All of your perceived unproductivity is exactly the point of your goal for this semester. Make the most of it! Enjoy your time with friends and enjoy your time with yourself. This is what you need to feel successful, and give yourself grace on this journey that, at least speaking for myself, was incredibly hard to take.
You can submit questions to https://tinyurl.com/paigespagequestion. It will also be linked in my Instagram bio— @paigeweisburg and in The Muhlenberg Weekly Instagram Linktree @bergweekly.
