This is what has really got me the last week... School can be pretty overwhelming sometimes and that includes the weekend too.
Last week I had two tests that were on the same day (due to rescheduling because of canceled days due to snow) so I was stressing out. Not because I had two tests, but mainly because I had two tests on the same day. Did I forget to mention that they were 50 minutes apart?
But, despite the stress I have some amazing friends who kept me on track and focused. Now if only I could see those test grades....
1. Although procrastinating is easy, it causes more stress when it comes time for the exam/project/whatever that you've been slacking on. I mean, I have a speech due on Tuesday that I haven't written mainly because I hate the topic. But that just means I'm going to hate my life for the next forty-eight hours because I've put it off. I'm still working on what "three people (one fictional, one famous, and one personal) I want to take on a road trip."
2. Better results in the end. The more you study over a period of time, the better your grades will be (unless it's math, in which case I will always have problems!). Studies show that when you cram or pull an all nighter you're a lot less likely to even retain the information that you need. So crack open those books!
Showing posts with label studying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label studying. Show all posts
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
on prioritizing
Now, I know that prioritizing is hard. Believe me, I know very well.
I mean, if I had it my way I would be going to get frozen yogurt with my best friends every night, spending hours cooking and baking each week, and then spending any remaining free time with my boyfriend and at the mall spending all the money I definitely don't have.
But, unfortunately, college is a lot different than high school or your summer life. Here, if your like me, you have to pay for your own school but you have no one to answer to; Who's going to make you go to class? Write your papers? Take your tests?
The answer is no one, except for yourself.
Here are a couple of things I do to help motivate and force myself do what I need to do:
1. Get a planner. I have a really cute one courtesy of one of my best friends. I keep everything I need in it. It even has a small pocket to keep things; I keep to do lists and grocery lists handy. For each day I have written out what I need to do (I did this when I made plans/got the syllabus for my classes) and fill in the spaces as the days go on. That way everything I need to do is available for me to see and be reminded of.
2. Have a good motivating friend. And this goes both ways. My best friend Meigan is my motivator and I am hers. We push each other and remind each other of what we need to do and what we want to accomplish. We set up study dates that can't be backed out of unless there is serious emergency, we remind each other every day of what we want to accomplish (we remind each other we need to work out, eat better, etc.) and get a jump start on what needs to get done.
3. Minimize distractions where ever you choose to get things accomplished. And this can be hard if you're a serious social butterfly like me. I have the tendency to make friends where every I go to get anything done, so sometimes I get seriously distracted. I try and go places where people have to be quiet (6th floor of the annex!) or where there won't be many people.
Like I said, it's not hard and prioritizing is a lot of self control. But having good friends can make it so much easier. :o)
I mean, if I had it my way I would be going to get frozen yogurt with my best friends every night, spending hours cooking and baking each week, and then spending any remaining free time with my boyfriend and at the mall spending all the money I definitely don't have.
But, unfortunately, college is a lot different than high school or your summer life. Here, if your like me, you have to pay for your own school but you have no one to answer to; Who's going to make you go to class? Write your papers? Take your tests?
The answer is no one, except for yourself.
Here are a couple of things I do to help motivate and force myself do what I need to do:
1. Get a planner. I have a really cute one courtesy of one of my best friends. I keep everything I need in it. It even has a small pocket to keep things; I keep to do lists and grocery lists handy. For each day I have written out what I need to do (I did this when I made plans/got the syllabus for my classes) and fill in the spaces as the days go on. That way everything I need to do is available for me to see and be reminded of.
2. Have a good motivating friend. And this goes both ways. My best friend Meigan is my motivator and I am hers. We push each other and remind each other of what we need to do and what we want to accomplish. We set up study dates that can't be backed out of unless there is serious emergency, we remind each other every day of what we want to accomplish (we remind each other we need to work out, eat better, etc.) and get a jump start on what needs to get done.
3. Minimize distractions where ever you choose to get things accomplished. And this can be hard if you're a serious social butterfly like me. I have the tendency to make friends where every I go to get anything done, so sometimes I get seriously distracted. I try and go places where people have to be quiet (6th floor of the annex!) or where there won't be many people.
Like I said, it's not hard and prioritizing is a lot of self control. But having good friends can make it so much easier. :o)
Sunday, February 6, 2011
on studying
All I have to say is:
SUCK IT UP
or you will most definitely fail.
Learn how to study or college will seem impossible.
SUCK IT UP
or you will most definitely fail.
Learn how to study or college will seem impossible.
Monday, November 29, 2010
on finals
Well, now that it's the week after Thanksgiving break and a week and a half before my first round of finals exams I'm pretty much freaking out.
Hey, high school kids this one is for you:
1. Theres a reason it's called dead week. And it's not meant to just party party party because we have no classes. 85% of the people (the smart ones who will return in the Spring) are holing themselves up in the library, the annex (a study building with hundreds of study rooms that is 24 hours, with many quiet floors), in their dorm or apartment. I have currently been holing up with my future roommate's (whom I will be sharing my first apartment with!) apartment for the past two nights. I had my bio lab final today, and have two finals next week, then three the week after.
2. If you weren't going to class before, get with someone who has been going. That is, assuming the class was large and you're absent wasn't noticed. If you skipped a small class, those kids probably won't help you out... you don't deserve it.
3. If you don't study now, LEARN HOW before you get here. There is NO WAY around having to study. The smartest kids have to study, especially for the harder classes. You may have been the numero uno big shot smarty pants in high school, but all those kids now attend school with you and the courses are meant to challenge the egg heads, leaving the slackers in the dust.
Now back to writing my final Anthropology paper for the semester....
Hey, high school kids this one is for you:
1. Theres a reason it's called dead week. And it's not meant to just party party party because we have no classes. 85% of the people (the smart ones who will return in the Spring) are holing themselves up in the library, the annex (a study building with hundreds of study rooms that is 24 hours, with many quiet floors), in their dorm or apartment. I have currently been holing up with my future roommate's (whom I will be sharing my first apartment with!) apartment for the past two nights. I had my bio lab final today, and have two finals next week, then three the week after.
2. If you weren't going to class before, get with someone who has been going. That is, assuming the class was large and you're absent wasn't noticed. If you skipped a small class, those kids probably won't help you out... you don't deserve it.
3. If you don't study now, LEARN HOW before you get here. There is NO WAY around having to study. The smartest kids have to study, especially for the harder classes. You may have been the numero uno big shot smarty pants in high school, but all those kids now attend school with you and the courses are meant to challenge the egg heads, leaving the slackers in the dust.
Now back to writing my final Anthropology paper for the semester....
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