Daylight saving time: turn it forward!

Make sure to turn your clocks forward this weekend! Daylight saving time is here again, and even though it stinks that we’ll lose an hour this Sunday and drag all weekend due to the change, this means it’ll be lighter longer. Spring and summer are on their way! In the meantime, here are some time-saving tips to keep you going until warmer weather weather arrives!

• Work on homework ahead of time. This has been my best-kept secret this semester. Every weekend, I complete all of the homework assigned on the syllabus for each class. There are so many hours in the weekend — hours that are filled during the week with classes, meetings, internship hours, etc. Instead of wasting time or sleeping the day away, get up and do your homework! This way, you’ll have a much easier workload Monday-Thursday.
• Get 8 hours of sleep every night. Doing this will help you in every aspect of your life. You will feel better, be in a constantly improved mood, have a longer attention span…the list goes on and on! By getting 8 hours of sleep at night, you’ll be on a great sleep schedule that will alert your body know when it’s time for bed and time to get up. Plus, you’ll be less prone to feeling the need for a nap throughout the day.
• Eat (some) meals alone. I’m not saying you need to eat alone! But, if you do this a few times a week, you will find yourself spending way less time in the kitchen or cafeteria. I know that when I go to the caf with my friends, we can wind up sitting there for over an hour, which is a huge waste of time. Sure, it’s great to socialize with people, but if you sometimes eat alone, you will save so much time that you will find more time in your schedule to enjoy better activities with your friends.
• On busy days, write down an hour-by-hour agenda. I need to do this when my schedule is jam-packed. Otherwise, I am way too overwhelmed by the pile of work that I just panic and lay down. This keeps me mindful of the time, and if I don’t accomplish something in the time allotted, I move on to the next thing and return to the first later.
• Cut down on screen time. Phone, computer, TV. Consider how much time you are spending staring at a screen every day. Scrolling through your news feed, Twitter feed, checking Snapchat, watching Netflix. Are you spending way too much time on your electronic device? Most likely. Cut back, and you’ll be amazed at how much extra time you have–and how much better your eyes feel! Quick tip: if your phone dies during the day (before bed), you are probably spending too much time on it.
• Turn your phone off while you do homework. Even if its for an hour, try turning your phone off. This way, you won’t be distracted by calls/texts, and you won’t feel compelled to waste time checking social media. If you are worried about people trying to contact you, let those frequent caller/texters know that you are going to be unavailable for a set amount of time. Note: simple turning your phone to airplane mode is only a good idea if you won’t feel the need to check Facebook and other apps. If you have self-control, then go ahead. Otherwise, shut that thing down! Besides, it’s good for your phone to be turned off once in a while.
• Put on jeans. I am a huge jean lover, but not when I’m relaxing! The minute I get home, I change into sweatpants or pajama shorts in order to be comfortable. However, doing this makes me way more prone to wind up laying in bed or vegging out in some way. If you find yourself unable to focus or get out of bed, throw on a pair of jeans and get to work at your desk. That will certainly keep you out of bed and on task!

Just a few quick tips to start you out this week! How do you save time? Tweet me @hbrenza and let me know!

Holly Brenza is a senior majoring in English and minoring in communications and management. In her spare time, Holly enjoys playing with her puppy, Bear, and watching the Blackhawks and White Sox, reading and trying out new recipes. After graduation, she hopes to work in public relations.