CampusIntel

We all do it. I am talking about procrastinating for those G.D. exams! You’re probably thinking, productive procrastinating? Well we all get stressed out, so if we’re going to procrastinate then it might as well be something that helps you “de-stress”.
So I thought I would come up with some ways to procrastinate that will — in the long run– help you with your studying!

1. Blog - Obviously. Blogging is a good way to get your thoughts out. Plus you can set a limit for yourself. “After I write this I will go back to studying.” If you are stressed out about exams, write about them!

2. Make a healthy snack - According to the University of Kansas Medical Centre eating a healthy snack that includes protein – such as cheese or nuts – will help energizer you! Then you will be more energetic and ready to get back to studying.

3. Stretch – for a “mini office workout” click here, which we’ll call a mini study break workout!

4. Watch Ellen – She always makes me laugh! She’ll make you laugh too. Or watch a show that you love. Limit it to one show and not a move, nothing longer than an hour. If you watch an entire movie you may get lazy and not want to get back to work. Laughing is a good stress reliever; you can study on the commercials if you’re a keener! Once the show is over you can get back to studying.

5. Clean – Sounds like a drag I know. But if you clean up your study space and have everything organized you’ll be able to study better! You’ll know where all your notes are, and not have to waste time searching your entire room for them!

6. Rearrange your room – Feng Shui your room! There are many types of Feng Shui for exam studying the best thing to do would be to feng shui for knowledge and wisdom! Here are some easy tips. Add blue to your room to increase your brain vibes. Have symbols of mentors or wise people. Like a picture of Gandhi, or someone you admire their wisdom in your study area. As for things to remove from your study space: drugs and alcohol, clutter (give yourself space), unclear stuff (windex your window, clean off your computer monitor).

7. Talk to a friend – Call up your best friend, or head over to his/her house. Take a break with them. Talk about what you’re stressed out about so s/he can offer you solutions to your exam stress problems!

8. Stick notes around your room – Run to the dollar store, or campus bookstore and buy some sticky notes. Write key facts, phrases or stuff you need to remember on them and stick them around your room. On your closet door, beside your reading light etc. You’ll look at them a lot and start remembering them for your exams!

9. Exercise – Go for a brisk walk, or head to the gym for a power hour workout! Yoga is a great relaxation technique so if you’re feeling really stressed head to a yoga class, or find an instructional video online.

10. Get fresh air – Make sure you get a little fresh air daily! A ten minute walk in the park or to the library will help.

Exam time can be so stressful, and I know everyone procrastinates, so why not do some good procrastinating?

Sleeping, while studying. If that's possible...

Good luck on your exams!

So today I had a nice little rant about how although I’m only 23 I have to have the next 7 years of my life planned out within the next few months…This may seem odd to you or about right depending on the perspective and circumstances you’re coming from…so I thought I’d write a bit about this overwhelming task as it might serve as some advice to people as well as a way for me to get all of my thoughts out.

As I may have mentioned before my career aspirations have lead me to the area of clinical psychology, for this job I need to obtain a bachelors degree in psychology, a masters and a PhD in clinical psychology. This in itself is a daunting task as you might imagine…but wait…it gets daunting…er?

You see, here’s the thing, as some of you might have already found out (or will be finding out very soon), the world isn’t set up in a well planned out and helpful way as it was in high school or any school setting before that…people don’t tell you everything you need to know to do the things that you want to do or accomplish the thing you wish to accomplish. What I mean by this is, I was unfortunately utterly unaware of the process involved of much of the tasks I have to go through in order to finally obtain the end goal of my PhD in clinical psychology.

So, welcome to my headache:

-I started off doing my undergrad in criminology 5 years ago; around year 3 of this 4 year course I realized I wanted to go into clinical psychology…simple enough right? Well, there are a few catchs here. First, upon making this decision I realized I would first have to do a thesis. This was fine, as I had already decided to do one a few years earlier, which was good since I needed an A- average to be able to do this and had been working towards this already.

-One of my profs thankfully decided to mention in class one day, that in order to do a thesis you first have to find a supervisor who will oversee your thesis project (something I might not have known until too late had this never come up in class). This meant I would have to search the department to find a professor who I wanted to work with and who was willing to work with me as well as had the same research interests/goals as myself. This also meant I had to find this individual by around March, 3 months before my application for the thesis course had to be in and 5 months before I would actually have to start the course.

-As you might realize I was very thankful someone had told me this before March…even if it was already January….So, I developed a general idea of a thesis, searched out profs and thankfully got one in time.

-In the end I graduated a year later having completed a 4 years honours degree in criminology with a specialization in sociology and a minor in psychology; completing this all with an honours thesis and still maintaining my A- average. Sounds pretty nice right? Well, that’s what I thought.

-Around the same time I heard about the thesis though I had heard about the GREs as well. These are some of those general testing things some crack-pot thought up to make it harder for students to make it though their education years (thanks).

-So, I started studying for the GREs (general and psychology specific) which I needed in order to get into clinical psychology after finishing my undergrad (as I had planned to take the year off to work and save up money for grad school). This was all fine until I went to sign up to write the course. Turns out the psychology one was only offered about two or three times a year, one I had missed, the next was in two weeks and I hadn’t studied hardly enough for it, and the third would get me my grades too late for most grad school application deadlines. Frick.

-Around this time I had started researching and writing grad schools to find out which ones I wanted to go to. After sending out countless notes trying to get a straight answer from anyone as to if I needed to go back for a psychology degree or if my crim one was fine I finally got my answer. Yes, I would have to go back. Double frick.

-So, I reenrolled to upgrade my minor in psychology to a major (so long year of work). I also found out I needed a minimum of an A- to get into grad school…which thankfully I have, but now must be sure to maintain…but I would also have to do another thesis as my crim one also wasn’t good enough for the clinical psychology master program. Triple frick.

-This meant I went though the process of finding a professor again. Unfortunately in psychology labs fill up fast and I was cutting it close when I started emailing in February.

-Now, I have found my professor and am on my way to completing my second undergraduate degree. Good.

-However, the hard part now begins. I now must write the thesis, write my GRE (specific and general), maintain my A- average, pay for this all so am working part-time, finish my classes in time to apply to Grad school asap (i.e. Sept 2011), and on top of this find funding for grad school research…which is a whole other headache…

-In order to find funding, I must first decide what schools to apply to, decide which professors I wish to work with, meaning I need to also decide what kind of research I want to specialize in for the next 4-7 years of my life and potentially focus on for my career, obtain agreement from professors in each school I am applying to to work with me if I get in and then apply for funding before actually applying to the school to increase my chances of getting in.

-All of this because with two undergraduate degrees, two thesis, an A- average and funding, writing the GREs (and hopefully getting good grades) I may still only be just over the bare minimum of other applicants wishing to pursue clinical psychology…apparently finding time to volunteer is a beneficial part of the application…

See, I don’t think people realize how HARD and f’ing demanding it is to be a student, there’s not just the idea of studying and going to classes and getting good grades, you have to be 10 steps ahead of everything else without knowing what steps to go though! On top of this, the people I need information and help from are “too busy” often and put my priorities on the back burner and think that’s ok because they don’t have any knowledge as to what students go though, that their lives are actually more demanding than someone who has a secure job! When I have to email professors, employers, schools, etc. multiple times and do follow ups and re-explain things, by the time I get the information I need it’s a month later and I’m cutting it too close to deadlines. People don’t seem to prioritize very well in this world and they sure as heck don’t put students or their requests at the top of their priorities. This is a shame because as a student you need things done NOW and not a month later or when they remember it; and this isn’t because student procrastinat it’s because deadlines happen very early and if you’re not prepared because others aren’t giving you the time of day or respect they would give to others then you look bad and this can effect a heck of a lot more than people realize, it can mean waiting another year to finish your degree, it can mean not getting a position in a school or job, or not having the correct information, it can mean missing deadlines and even having to rethink your whole career. For me, nothing can go wrong now, for the next 7 years if I miss a step a lot gets screwed up, something as simple as getting a bad grade on the GRE or missing the deadline for applications or not being able to get into that one course I need to finish my psychology degree can mean my life is put on hold for another year.

I guess what I’m saying in the end is, people need to respect students more, get their priorities straightened out and work hard because as far as I’m concerned there’s a lot of slackers in this world and unfortunately we depend on them for too much. And finally…do students another small favour…if you have information that can help them out…tell them!

It’s that time of year again ladies and gentlemen!!!! The one where your nose is suddenly to a grindstone and the month April seems to be approaching rapidly with NO regard to the fact that you haven’t started studying for exams, or haven’t started researching that essay that is due the day after tomorrow! It’s the time of year when you really start to spaz out, I mean come on, those essays before weren’t worth very much, this is the big one, the “important” one, the one that WILL define your university career and your life ahead and…. oh wait, pretty sure that is your PHD or Masters, so don’t sweat it!

Essays can be tough, I know, I am an English major, History AND Religion minor, essays are my bread and butter. Fear about writing essays is totally normal, and no matter what they told you in highschool, I gaurentee that they didn’t prepare you for university.

Now, I bet you are about to say “hold on a minute, I know they taught me how to write an essay”, well ok they taught you how to write a BASIC outline for an argumentative essay or comparison essay, but there are WAY more essays than that, not to mention that different Profs are looking for different elements within their essays. A basic essay just doesn’t seem to cut it these days.

Now, I bet you’re saying “oh no! What do we do!? Alix please help us!”, and, my dear readers, have no fear! I have come up with a little guide to help you through this last, intense essay-writing period. The important thing to remember about essay writing is that it is SO much better to start with an outline, even the most basic one. It helps you organize your thoughts, and it’s not like it’s carved in stone, if you want to fiddle around and change things go ahead!

Here is an outline that is quite basic but effective for different situations. For the purpose of this blog the argument will be “whether winter is better then summer”:

Intro: I like to make sure I save this until last, maybe only put my thesis up top, if that! Remember though, bigger isn’t always better. Most Profs prefer a direct introduction with a thoroughly thought out thesis and the start of your arguments or how you are going to argue your essay.

Body A: if you need to explain the situation here is a good place to do it, otherwise this is argument one: it is easier to warm up then it is to cool down. This is because you can drink warm drinks, snuggle under blankets, and put on more clothing… there is only so much you can take off in summer.

Body B: the second argument should be either stronger then the first argument (for example, winter sports can allow more people to participate and caters to more body types **note** if you are saying something like this then BACK IT UP WITH AN EXAMPLE or have a quotation from a book). OR your second argument should be the argument for summer  (for example, you can get the vitamin D that you need to intake more through summer, and although the sun is bad for you skin, wearing sunscreen often aliveates this problem).

Body C: your third argument should be either your strongest argument, winter rocks because you can tobbaggan, you can skate, you can ICE FISH you can build a quincy and have a fun experience outside OR your third argument should be a counter-argument for why winter is better than summer.

Conclusion: This is probably your hardest part of your essay. I cannot stress enough that you SHOULD NOT say “in conclusion” or “to sum up”. It really seems to bug Profs, I learnt the hard way and so I am trying to pass on this information to you so you don’t get marks deducted. That being said you do have to sum up, so state your strongest argument in a different way and then state the counter argument.

I realize that this is a brief outline, but it will help with the basics. There are many ways to flip it around and change it to what you think is the best fit. From my own experience I understand essay writing can be daunting, but always try and do a little bit of research a day (for those research essays) even fifteen minutes a day can make a difference. Recently a Prof told me that it was great to get your essay done a few days in advance so you can peer-edit or go over it yourself. If you are anything like me … or really any university student for that matter, that usually isn’t an option. What IS an option is reading over your essay. If it doesn’t make sense, or sounds too much like your speaking voice then change it!

And what I cannot stress enough is that COMMAS ARE NOT CONFETTI. Do not comma-splice two sentences. In the long run it will make your essay better and more effective at stating your point if you don’t. Also, almost equally as important, if you have notes from a previous essay with the same Prof, read them over, see if they apply to the essay you are writing. It may seem obvious but when a Prof sees you have taken in their notes and are trying, you do get marks!

Good luck and good writing!

Throughout my life I’ve wondered many things (my brain never stops thinking), but one of the most prominent things that pops up is, “What if we had our own restart button.” Now I know you may think I sound nuts, but I’ve analyzed this frequently (to the fact that I wished that the button would be our belly button!), and have come to some interesting conclusions.

I am sure none of us students can disagree with the fact that, at some point in our lives, we wished we go back to the beginning of something and start over. This could be pertaining to the relationship that you recently found out would end; the paths you didn’t take in terms of education or work experience; or even those times when you wish you could go back to Friday, and maybe, just maybe, get some work done throughout the weekend this time.

Sometimes though, I know, the whole aspect of starting over scares us.

As I write this blog I frequently delete words here and there. But I don’t start over. I merely push CTRL and Z on my keyboard (or Edit -> Undo), and simply undo and get back on track. Could life function that way? Could I magically now hit my bellybutton (much like those two buttons on my keyboard) and get back on the path I am supposed to be on?

The unfortunate thing is that I realize we can’t go back to the beginning of our lives and relive our obsessions with Barbie and Tonka trucks… but wouldn’t that make life so much simpler? I’ve found out the hard way that skinned knees are a lot easier to heal than broken hearts. I still don’t know what I was thinking when I was 13, claiming that I could not wait to get older and have more responsibility.

I just feel that life doesn’t prepare you for the many paths out there. I feel that you only find out about the shortcut after you climbed 62,532 stairs, swam 24353 kilometers, and hiked 3,200 mountains. I did not know that there were other paths to education (guidance counselor gave me two options… Arts or Science) nor did I realize that there was other ways of getting to my final destination (what that is… I still don’t know).

So with that in mind, I shall continue to think about my “restart” button and my “undo” button… and finally realize why Staples’ Easy button may just be the way to go…

So, right now I find myself in a situation where I’m (as my boyfriend likes to point out) ‘burning the candle at both ends’ (meaning I’m doing so much that I’m bound to burn out fast). This being said I’m much happier with things to do, but they do admittedly get a little overwhelming sometimes and I often feel the need to invest in a punching bag around say exam times….So, with these overwhelming thoughts in mind along with a recent class discussion on stress I thought it would be an appropriate time to sit back, relax and write about stress…and how to deal with it if you’re a student.

1. Expect and accept that stress is going to be a part of your life: Ok so it’s unreasonable to think that you can avoid stress altogether. No matter who you are you’re going to be in situations that cause you stress. This is especially true for students as they deal with a lot of competition, deadlines and pressures in classes, studies, life goals and work. It’s an important time in our lives undoubtedly so really…if there aren’t stressful situations in your life it might actually be cause for concern. A little stress can be good if dealt with and used correctly (honestly! It can help you develop resilience, help you grow as a person or develop new skills or strengths and definitely help you to develop coping mechanisms).

2. Manage your time effectively/organize yourself: Often times I find myself making little mental notes of things I need to do…sometimes simple things like reply to emails, schedule a hair appointment, start that assignment, etc. When I’m making these mental notes, I think I’ll remember them before it’s too late…The problem is, even if you’re making note of little things they’re bound to add up and become a LOT of little things you’ve forgotten to do (or things you’ve forgotten altogether) and this can cause stress. So, make lists…I don’t mean you’re your room with thousands of little sticky-notes. I mean make one or two list(s) of the things you have deadlines for (maybe one for school and one for daily life), and note when things need to be done and when you want to do them (i.e. goals for the weekend). Another thing you can do is use a calendar and write due dates and when you need to do what (i.e. read 2 chapters Sat)…this being said…if you DO use a calendar, make sure you actually look at it. Also, make sure you’re not scheduling too much in short periods of time.

3. Know how to deal with stress when it arises: Here’s what I took from that lecture the other day. An optimistic individual will often live a less stressful life than a pessimist as they usually see stressful or unfortunate events as opportunities. They take the time to assess the situation and often determine it to be something that they can grow from and NOT something that happened to them because they ‘deserved’ it or something that is impossible to get over or that is destructive to all aspects of their life. This being said, my advice is, when you know you’re going to encounter a stressful situation: first, step back and assess the situation as a way to grow. Second, collect the resources you need to overcome it (ex: for an exam, go to class, take notes, read the chapters, give yourself time to do this all and create a study schedule so you’re ready for the exam when it comes). Third, if the outcome is bad, try and see it as a learning experience and something to work on and grow from and not as the end of the world. If the outcome is good…then celebrate!

4: Expect the unexpected: when things come up that you haven’t planned for (such as, an assignment you forgot was due, you’re called into work on short notice, the people in the apartment above you are having a loud party when you’re studying, etc.) you’re bound to get stressed, just remember to take a deep breath (maybe scream into a pillow or punch a punching bag to let it all out) then collect yourself and follow the steps just like any expected stressor. If you deal with an unexpected stressor the same way you deal with an expected one you’ll be fine.

5. Make time for yourself: Finally, with all the hassle of things to do, you’re bound to find yourself losing hold of your social life…now before you’re known as the friend M.I.A. step back and see if you’re making time for yourself. By this I mean, make time just to chill out for a bit. It doesn’t have to be anything extensive or often or for a long period of time, but make sure you do take breaks or you WILL burn out (believe me…take this advice from a fellow burning candle).

Did you know that one of the easiest ways to relieve stress is through baking?

For that reason watch this video blog to find out how to make a very delicious stress reliever!

Enjoy!