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Creating routines to shape our day, week, or term is a valuable way to improve our academic performance. Healthy routines can benefit both our physical and mental health by reducing stress and providing shape and structure to our tasks and responsibilities. Working adult students have several demands on their time and energy, so creating schedules and routines is important to doing it all successfully. 

The quotidian details of life are prone to neglect or overthinking. Start by shaping a daily routine that includes time for personal hygiene, good nutrition, adequate sleep, workday demands, and focused learning. For example, begin each day with a glass of water and include time to do something for each of your classes, even if it’s only 30 minutes of reading a textbook or catching up with a discussion board. 

A successful routine provides structure to the daily grind, and it also considers the larger shape of the week. A typical workweek might run Monday through Friday, while the academic week at Purdue Global runs Wednesday through Tuesday. We may also have activities that repeat every weekend or that we only do one or two nights a week, like a course seminar. Plan a weekly routine that accommodates all of these demands on your time and gives shape to everything you need to accomplish each week. For instance, mark time on your calendar to post to the course discussion boards at least 3 days every week, like on Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays. Schedule regular time throughout the week for exercise and spending time outdoors. Finally, remember to rest. A productive routine includes regular downtime to be quiet, be grateful, and spend time with the people we love. 

For students, establishing productive routines also includes consideration of the term as a whole. Create repetitive patterns for each term that help to promote academic success. For example, schedule time to preview each course before the term begins, mark your calendar with all the test dates, deadlines, and projects, and leave time at the end of each term to reflect on what went well and what you could do better next term. Use these as goals when you preview your courses and plan your next term! 

The life of a working adult student can often feel hectic and even overwhelming. Use routines to give shape and structure to your day, week, and term, learning as you go and leaving time for rest.

Until next time, this is Dr. Linscott with another Learning for Success podcast. Happy Learning!