Hey besties. Today, we’re going to get into how to recover from a flop era. If last semester didn’t go the way you wanted it to, or you feel like your life needs some shaping up in some aspects, I’ve got you. Keep reading to hear some top notch tips from a fellow flop era recoveree, and let’s get back on track together.
1. Accept your flop era and learn from what happened
Starting off hot is the tip to accept your flop era and stop feeling guilty about it. I know that’s easier said than done. However, we’ve all had a flop era at least once in our lives. Once you recognize that you’re only human, you’ll feel encouraged to try again. Believe it or not, feeling guilty all the time isn’t exactly conducive to getting your work done.
But, once you’ve gained that acceptance, don’t stop there. Learn from your missteps and try not to repeat the same patterns that caused the flop in the first place. It’s okay to stumble, but we can only change when we hold ourselves accountable for our own growth!
2. Figure out what systems work (or really don’t) for you
Trying to bounce back while sticking to patterns that don’t serve you can be super hard. Setting new habits is even tougher. Even if something has been working for you for a while, it still might not be the best for you. Like all-nighters for example. Studies show that getting less sleep can be a major factor in poorer performance at school. Even if you feel like it’s helping you prepare for that exam the next day, chances are you’d do better if you got some rest.
To combat those bad academic habits we all have, try to build a schedule for yourself of your designated “working hours” of the day. Set a cut-off time for when you have to stop doing work. Use pomodoro timers when you study. I find that systems like this help keep me organized, and makes tackling work easier if it’s broken down into a daily routine.
Learn how to ask for help
I’m a huge hypocrite for saying this, but learning how to ask for help is an extremely important habit to build in university. The sooner you internalize the idea that asking for help is okay, the better. Go to your professor’s office hours. Ask for that extension. Contact a tutor at the Student Learning Hub. Get your friends to brainstorm ideas with you or look over your work. Whatever you may need, it genuinely never hurts to ask. In the long run, you’ll realize the help was always worth it.
Take it one step at a time
I get that you’re probably eager to jump in and do a huge life reset, but that’s only going to feel daunting to take on. Break up the work you have to do into condensed, smaller tasks to tackle. If you’re writing an essay or a lab report, break down your to-do list into each section/paragraph so you can check off things as you go. Approach the daily habits you want to implement (like going on mindful walks, meal-prepping to save time, or having a daily study block) by incrementally adding these changes to your life.
Expecting yourself to handle a bunch of habit adjustments all at once is asking for a lot. Whatever change looks like for you, the best way to make it happen is to take things one step at a time. It’s always a better method than overloading yourself.
Remember that every day is a new opportunity
So, you’ve built the schedule, made yourself a bedtime routine and downloaded Notion. Now what? In line with pacing yourself, remember that everyday is a chance to recover. If you were off schedule yesterday and still have some catching up to do, don’t be disparaged. You can always recover, because everything is recoverable.
One bad day does not define you, and neither does your flop era either. Choosing to try and bounce back through learning from your mistakes is what really matters. Give yourself grace if you find yourself stumbling through these changes, and remind yourself that you can always try again.
Well, I hope these tips could resonate with y’all and provide you some guidance! Remember that we all have to flop sometimes in order to fly (hehe). Good luck with your semester, and know that you’ve got this!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nimrat Dhaliwal is a fourth-year English major originally from Calgary, Alberta. She is passionate about writing and creating art and is deeply invested in activism and social justice. You can almost always find Nimrat jamming out to music and ranting about her favourite albums. Or you can find her at the thrift, finding new pieces for her many incredible outfits. Her favourite thing to do in Kelowna is explore new places (and find the best places to eat) with her friends 🙂
