{"id":8203,"date":"2026-01-13T13:31:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T18:31:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/?p=8203"},"modified":"2026-01-13T13:31:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T18:31:20","slug":"starting-fresh-for-the-winter-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/2026\/starting-fresh-for-the-winter-term\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting Fresh for the Winter Term"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Starting Fresh for the Winter Term\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                                    \n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The days may feel long, but don\u2019t let January trick you into thinking you have endless time, planning early is key.<\/p>\n\n\n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">January marks the beginning of a new year, but it also carries lessons from the fall. Whether you\u2019re starting fresh or balancing deferred exams, this month is about setting a strong foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"learn-from-the-fall-plan-ahead\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn from the Fall, Plan Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reflect on what worked (and what didn\u2019t) last semester. Adjust your study habits accordingly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Start organizing your schedule now. Weekly planners or digital calendars help keep deadlines visible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have deferred exams, carve out time to review past material while balancing new coursework.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">Explore the Time Management Module<\/strong> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/brightspace.carleton.ca\/d2l\/home\/53292\">PMC Learning Strategies <\/a>course for templates and strategies.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>How to Register for the PMC Learning Strategies Modules: <\/strong>In the \u201cDiscover\u201d tab on the Brightspace Main page, search <a href=\"https:\/\/brightspace.carleton.ca\/d2l\/home\/53292\">PMC Learning Strategies &#8211; PMC_Learning_Strategies<\/a>, and select enrol. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the course does not appear, you may already be enrolled so check the \u201cselect a course\u201d menu in Brightspace.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"review-course-outlines-carefully\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Review Course Outlines Carefully<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">Course outlines are more than just schedules, they\u2019re roadmaps.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pay attention to <strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">course descriptions and learning outcomes<\/strong>. They highlight what\u2019s most important to learn.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">Make note of major assignments, exams, and participation expectations<\/strong> early. Make them in a term calendar and add the percentages each item is worth to help you with prioritizing tasks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use outlines to <strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">prioritize your study time<\/strong> and avoid surprises later in the term.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"adjusting-your-course-load\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adjusting Your Course Load<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you find yourself falling behind after the first few weeks&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consider whether a reduced course load might help you balance responsibilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speak with your PMC Coordinator to explore this option and ensure you still have access to resources and services.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">Remember: adjusting your load is about creating space for success, not stepping back.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"balance-old-new-material\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Balance Old &amp; New Material<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For students with deferrals, schedule regular review sessions for last term\u2019s content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pair this with active engagement in new courses. Don\u2019t let one overshadow the other.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Digital tools can make studying more efficient:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.ankiweb.net\/\">Anki<\/a> for spaced repetition and effective memorization using digital flashcards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.ankiweb.net\/\">Quizlet<\/a> for flashcards and shared study sets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gizmo.ai\/\">Gizmo AI<\/a> for creating personalized study quizzes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/notebooklm.google\/\">Notebook LM<\/a> for organizing and linking your notes with ease audio podcasts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"energy-time-management\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Energy &amp; Time Management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the days get longer, it\u2019s tempting to stretch your study hours:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Set clear start and stop times to avoid burnout.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use focused intervals (e.g., 45 minutes study + 15 minutes break).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t let January\u2019s \u201cnever-ending\u201d feel lull you into procrastination. Deadlines will come faster than you think.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"questions-or-concerns\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Questions or concerns?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Email the PMC Learning Strategies Team at <a href=\"mailto:PMC_LS@cunet.carleton.ca\">PMC_LS@cunet.carleton.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>January marks the beginning of a new year, but it also carries lessons from the fall. Whether you\u2019re starting fresh or balancing deferred exams, this month is about setting a strong foundation. Learn from the Fall, Plan Ahead Review Course Outlines Carefully Course outlines are more than just schedules, they\u2019re roadmaps. Adjusting Your Course Load [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":279,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1,32],"tags":[62,58,75,106],"class_list":["post-8203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-live-feed","category-newsletter","tag-learning-strategies","tag-learning-supports","tag-resources","tag-time-management"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/279"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8203"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8204,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8203\/revisions\/8204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}