The Scope
As a first-year graduate student, the stress of adjusting to school has not been easy. With the increased load of course material, long days on campus, and the fast-paced nature of grad school, life can get overwhelming. For a long time, my days consisted of studying, note taking, work, and if I was lucky, watching a show at the end of the night. At the end of the fall 2025 semester I decided I wanted to return to my fun, lighthearted self, so I made the conscious effort to enjoy the next few months as we stepped into the new year.
In January 2026 I started a new hobby or went to an outing every week and I believe it significantly improved my mood and overall quality of life. I started by making a list of things that looked interesting, using sources such as TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube videos. I also took note of the activities that I had always been interested in but never had time to do. I made use of my Outlook calendar and pre-scheduled time to study. This ensured I had a cutoff and did not overwork myself. After my academic life was well organized, I picked which activities would accompany each Friday and Saturday of the month. Below is the exact plan that was made in my Notes app at 2 a.m. for January and the future plans for February.
January Plan
February Plan
These small, preplanned activities made the weeks feel much lighter, both mentally and physically. I was able to take my mind off exams and assignments and remember that life is more than what I have due soon. I was also able to become more active and make up for the many hours that I sat on campus and stared at my devices.
I plan to incorporate this weekly planning tactic for the rest of the Spring semester and continue to learn new things and explore my interests. I encourage anyone struggling with adjusting to school or life in general to try this. Interactions with friends combined with doing the things you enjoy can add a spark back to your life, and it just may be the thing you’re missing.
- Taelor is a first-year Audiology student
