Day In The Life: Sophia
Being a college student is a BIG adventure. Think about it — it’s the first time that you truly have the freedom to make your own decisions about things like your studies, who you live with and what you’re eating. As a third-year student at UW-Eau Claire, I’m here to share what a day in my life looks like. I’ll share tips on how to structure a daily routine and all the amazing opportunities that #UWEC offers you.
Rise and Shine
Throughout my time as a college student, I have found that staying consistent with what time you wake up for your day is SO helpful. Depending on when my first class is, I usually wake up around 8 a.m. From there, my first stop is to my Keurig. I start my day with coffee…always;)
Throughout the next hour, my mission is to shower and get ready for my day. One of the most important parts of my morning is breakfast. Since I live off-campus, I usually have a smoothie or a breakfast sandwich. But if you live on-campus, make sure you hit the cafeteria. There are so many great options (cereal, breakfast sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, eggs, bacon, bagels). You can also get a block meal at Einstein Bagels on lower campus. It’s a fan favorite.
While I eat breakfast, I catch up on social media and take a look at my planner to see what’s going on for the day. Make sure you fit in a little time to relax so that you’re not rushing through your morning routine.
Work Time
As a Social Media Content Intern for UW-Eau Claire, my work days can either be in-office or at-home. On days where I work in the office, I make my 11-minute trek to campus and find myself in the Integrated Marketing & Communications office. There, I’m greeted by my manager and work alongside the other interns. On days where I work from home, I go to my home office and get my day started. My work consists of creating content for the various social media platforms that UW-Eau Claire holds. Because that allows for a variety of work, each day of my internship offers a new, exciting opportunity.
Make sure you see what types of internships and part-time jobs are available at UW-Eau Claire. You can find that information on Handshake.
Classes
College is a great time to figure out what you’re interested in. If you already know what your major is going to be, that’s awesome. If you don’t know what to study yet, DON’T WORRY. Take required classes your first year and sprinkle in a few that spark your interest.
When it comes to staying organized, my planner is my BEST friend. I block out times where I can focus on homework for specific classes. This consists of reviewing my notes and completing readings. I would advise all first-year students to set aside regular homework time each day. I know it’s tempting to run off and have fun, but staying on top of your academics will help ease any stress or worries.
Involvement
The biggest piece of advice that I can give first-year and transfer students at UWEC is to get involved. Whether through a student organization, Greek life, or intramural sports, being involved on campus offers great opportunities. Plus, UW-Eau Claire has over 220 student organizations. One of them might even inspire an interest that leads to choosing an area of study.
Personally, I have been active within the UWEC American Marketing Association since my first-year. As the current Vice President of this organization, my daily routine often includes some sort of task for AMA. This can include co-hosting a weekly meeting, communicating with the Executive Board, or coordinating a social-impact event for our Chapter to participate in.
Stepping Away from the Computer
An important aspect of my daily routine is finding balance within my activities. Because a majority of my work and classes involve staring at my laptop all day, finding an escape from electronics during my break time is crucial. Going to the gym, taking a quick walk, or hanging out with my roommates are perfect examples of how I do that. This is a great time to decompress and re-energize in order to stay focused throughout the rest of the day. Another step to my routine is making sure I eat my meals at consistent times throughout the day. I personally like easy meals that don’t require much prep time since my days get quite busy. If you live on-campus, some of the go-to meals are the Chicken Teriyaki Bowl from Sushi Do, the subs from Erbert & Gerberts, and the bagel sandwiches from Einstein Bagels. Marketplace on lower campus also has an awesome salad bar, as well as pizza and pasta.
Study Sessions
Usually after eating dinner, I take on any homework and leftover studying I have to do. Going to the library or sitting at the kitchen table are my go-to spots. During this time, I ALWAYS have a study playlist on (one of my favorites is UWEC’s “Finals Week Brain Power” on Spotify) to help me focus. A helpful tip I’ve learned when it comes to studying is to block out times. For example, I set a 50-minute timer for myself to fully focus on my work. Once that 50 minutes is over, I can have a 10-minute break to scroll through Instagram, answer texts, or just rest my brain. With this tactic, my study sessions can stay on track.
Time to Unwind
For a college student, finding the right amount of time to get the proper amount of sleep is easy to forget. Despite a packed schedule, I always prioritize getting a good night’s rest because I know that if I don’t, my next day will not be as productive. To wind down, my nightly routine involves throwing on whatever Netflix show I’m currently obsessed with, picking up my room, and drinking some water. At the end of a busy day, we can all agree that finally going to bed is the best part.
I hope you’ve learned something from my daily routine and pieces of advice, Blugolds. Have an amazing year! I know that I’m looking forward to it.
