Quarter 1 is almost over, and you might want some tips on dealing with homework, balancing social life, and many more. Mrs. Racina, the counselor for kids with the last names beginning L-Z, has answered questions about how to deal with the stress of homework, good study habits, and many more.

Do you ever wonder when a good time to study is? It actually depends on when you are most alert. If you want a time, then Mrs. Racina stated that “Some studies have shown that the best time for middle school students to study is between the hours of 4pm to 9pm.”

What happens when you are stressed with the amount of homework that your teachers are giving you and you don’t know what to do? According to counselor Mrs. Racina, you should stick to a routine. As stated by Mrs. Racina you should set a timer for 30 minutes. Once the timer goes off, you should get up and move around a little bit or eat before you get back to doing your homework. 

 If you are feeling overwhelmed with the amount of school work you are getting, Mrs. Racina has said that you can 1.) talk it out with your counselor or someone you know can help you, 2.) find someone that can help you schedule your time, and/or 3.) take a deep breath and talk to yourself positively. If you keep saying that you won’t be able to do something, you start believing that you can’t. The same thing happens when you keep saying that you can do something. If you don’t want to overwhelm yourself with projects, you should “Break it down. Have due dates for parts of the project. Do not wait until the day before. Have a calendar and break it up into parts,” says Mrs. Racina.

What would you do if your friends invited you out to dinner, but you knew that you had homework to do instead? Instead of doing homework like you should, you would probably go with your friends instead.

When this constantly happens, your grades start going down drastically. So what can you do to fix it? You should make time to spend with your friends and family, while making time to do your homework. Make sure you are sleeping so that you don’t tire yourself out. You can also make a promise to yourself everyday, like doing your homework before you go out with friends. This helps you do what you need to do while also having fun.

 Everybody has different study habits. If you are looking for some study habits, you can have a specific place to do your homework, use your binder reminder daily, and write flash cards for yourself. Mrs. Racina has also advised that if you don’t understand something, email your teacher. She also says that you can do your homework the day it is assigned. This way, if you have questions, you can ask your teacher the next day. Finally, if you have the opportunity to do extra credit, do it. You never know when you are going to need it. It also won’t hurt to get a higher grade.

While this year is definitely different, there are still many ways in which you can make it the best year yet, both socially and academically. Just remember that if you want to make the best of Quarter 2 and create lifelong beneficial habits, then you need to remember your resources, reach out when you need it, and follow the tips above. If you follow these tips, you are sure to succeed in Quarter 2.