Your Guide to the Best School Year Yet

By Brandon Slade

The start of the fall semester is a unique mix of fresh-start energy and a sense of overwhelm. New classes, a packed schedule, and the pressure to perform can leave you feeling like you’re already behind. The common response is to just work harder, but what if the secret to success wasn’t about more hours, but smarter strategies?

At Untapped Learning, we’ve partnered with lululemon to bring you a game plan for not just surviving the semester, but thriving in it. It all starts with understanding how your brain works.

The Foundation: Your Executive Function Skills

Before diving into daily to-do lists, it’s crucial to understand the skills that power them. Executive function skills are the complex cognitive processes that allow you to set and achieve goals. Think of them as the CEO of your brain, responsible for:

• Planning & Problem Solving: Breaking down a 10-page paper into manageable steps.
• Time Management: Allocating enough time for studying, classes, and your social life.
• Task Initiation: Getting started on homework instead of procrastinating.
• Organization: Keeping track of due dates, notes, and materials.

These skills are essential for everything from remembering your student ID card to managing overlapping deadlines. The good news is that they aren’t fixed and can be strengthened with practice and the right strategies.

Strategy 1: Incorporate Movement

A healthy mind starts with a healthy body, and incorporating movement into your routine is one of the most effective ways to boost your academic performance.

• Improves Brain Function and Memory: Moving your body increases blood flow and oxygen to your brain, helping you learn faster, remember more, and understand new ideas more easily.
• Sharpens Your Focus: Physical activity helps you concentrate better in class for up to a few hours afterward. Taking short movement breaks can also help you reset and regain focus when you feel distracted.
• Reduces Anxiety: Exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good, helping to lower stress and anxiety. This can lead to better sleep and a happier, more relaxed you, making it easier to learn.

Strategy 2: Study Smarter, Not Harder

Let’s start with the core activity of being a student and focus on making your study time effective. Effective learning is about quality, not just quantity.

• Move Your Body: Feeling stuck? A quick walk or stretch can improve attention and memory, making a world of difference before a study session.
• Write It Out: Instead of passively rereading, create a one-page summary for each topic. This forces critical thinking and reveals gaps in your knowledge.
• Use Spaced Repetition: Ten minutes of daily review is more effective than cramming. It moves information to your long-term memory for better recall on finals.
• Prioritize Sleep: A good night’s sleep is better than a few extra hours of studying. Sleep is when your brain consolidates what you’ve learned.

Strategy 3: Organize Your Week with Time Blocking

Knowing when to study is as important as knowing how. Try time blocking instead of a simple to-do list. Assigning specific time slots to tasks reduces ‘decision fatigue’ by telling you exactly what to do and when.

Prioritize in this order:

1. Non-negotiables: Lock in your classes, work shifts, and appointments.
2. Academic Time: Schedule specific blocks for studying, homework, and big projects. Instead of a vague “Study” block, write “Review Chapter 4 for Psych 101” or “Write English essay outline.”
3. Basic Needs: Block out time for sleep, meals, and movement. This is non-negotiable for your brain to function well.
4. Free Time: Intentionally schedule downtime to de-stress and recharge. Protect this time!

Strategy 4: Zoom Out with Semester Planning

To avoid feeling overwhelmed, see what’s coming by planning your semester from a big-picture perspective. This helps fit your weekly time blocks into a larger strategy.

• Map Key Dates: Add all important academic deadlines to your calendar, like add/drop dates, breaks, and finals week.
• Add Personal Commitments: Block out personal events like trips or family visits to plan your work around them.
• Use a Semester Checklist: Proactively find professors’ office hours and create digital folders for each class. A little prep now prevents panic later.

You’ve Got This, and We’ve Got You

Returning to college can be overwhelming, but these strategies are the building blocks for success. With confidence, you can take on the semester. You don’t have to do it alone. If you need help creating a system that works for you, our team at Untapped Learning is here to 

provide personalized support.

For more resources, visit www.untappedlearning.com.

Have questions or need additional support? Reach out to us at hello@untappedlearning.com.