Sunday, February 20, 2011
Staying Sane
The semester is starting to heat up and we're just a couple of weeks away from midterms. How do you folks keep yourselves sane in the midst of everything there is to do? Pass some advice along to your fellow classmates here. As usual, 250 word post up by Thursday night (02/24) and 100 word response up by Sunday night (02/27).
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As the weeks pass I have noticed that my classes have become more and more stressful. Midterms are approaching and I think professors have decided to give me as much work as they can. This week I have 3 essays due, 1 quiz, 2 tests, and a presentation. I am going to be very busy this week to say the least. There are a couple ways that I have managed to not become stressed out when I have an overload of work. First, I always try to take it one assignment at a time. It becomes overwhelming looking at a list of 10 things you need to do in the next week. You are also less likely to get any of them done if you try to do everything at once. When it comes to tests, the easiest way to not become stressed is to be prepared. I have learned not to wait until the last minute to cram because I usually end up knowing a lot about a few things and not enough about the subject as a whole. If I study a little each week during the semester then I am not as stressed out when it comes to the week before midterms and finals. I have also found that pulling an all nighter is not a good idea when studying for a test. I believe that going to bed early and getting a good nights rest is much better at preparing you because you are alert and awake the next day. The one thing that has helped me the most though is time management. Being able to manage your time allows you to be less stressed and more prepared for the week ahead of you.
ReplyDeleteThis semester has seemed to fly buy so fast already, I cannot believe we are almost at midterms. There seems to be more and more work coming from professors, along with trying to manage tennis practice and relaxing. It seems like everything is due right before spring break, which is only two weeks away. To keep myself sane I try to write down all the work I have in advance. I write it down on a huge calendar with all the due dates so I know which assignments I need to tackle first. I also try my best to make sure I start everything early and manage my time. Procrastination is the worst and I do not like waiting till the last minute to cram in all my work. To keep sane I also try and go to bed early as much as I can during the week. Most of my classes start at 8 a.m. so I need to make sure I get a good nights sleep so I will be able to complete all my work for the day and be ready to go to tennis practice after. I believe it is so important to get a good nights rest so that I can fully concentrate on the work that I need to complete. A nice break also helps me from becoming stressed, I enjoy going to the pool for a couple hours just to relax and then I can come back and get to work. As long as I take every assignment one by one and in a timely matter I am able to stay sane.
ReplyDeleteStaying sane at university can definitely be quite the task. Between keep up with your classes, social life and extra curricular activities, life can become very hectic. My advice is to just take one day at a time. By doing this, you can eliminate some of the unnecessary stress and worry. This strategy always helps me stay sane and in check. I find, personally, that if I begin to think to far ahead about future tasks and things that “might” happen, I begin to lose sight of what is in front of me. Taking one day at a time helps me stay focused.
ReplyDeleteAnother strategy that I find works in helping me stay sane is doing things that relax you. For example, taking an hour to go to the pool or taking a day to go to the beach. Taking time off helps relieve stress and clear my mind.
The life of a college student may seem care free and easy. I know people always say to enjoy the life of a student because once you leave your campus behind, “you gain real responsibilities.” I hate it when I hear people say this. I always tell them that they are just going along with the classic stereotype that is placed on college students. People fail to realize just how much responsibility students actually have to deal with. Staying sane at college can definitely be a challenge. Learning how to deal with responsibilities in a timely manner and taking things as they come can definitely help.
To Kathleen:
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your comment about taking time to do things that help you relax. The pool is definitely somewhere that I am quite often. It helps me have fun with friends and relax and not worry about all of the things I have to do. Then when I go back to my work my head is cleared and I can focus better on the things I have to get done. Although I could be spending the time that I am at the pool on work, I find that I work better when I am happy and less stressed.
Around this time I start doing my homework right after class that way I won’t have to cram everything in that night. I start studying for quizzes and tests a week in advance that way I won’t be pulling all nighters the day before the test. I also do some stuff for me that relax me. I go to the gym and it’s a stress reliever: sometimes I run or do abs for an hour. One big thing that helps me is I do a lot of homework on Thursday night and I wake up early on Friday to finish the homework that way I can enjoy my whole weekend. I also combine tasks. For example, if I have to do laundry I will sit in the laundry room and do homework or study while I wait for my laundry to finish. I also listen to music when I do homework because music helps me concentrate for some reason. I don’t eat while I do homework because I’m constantly cleaning up a mess I make it actually just distracts you from your homework. I also work with someone in my class on homework if I don’t understand that way I won’t be sitting there staring off into space trying to figure out how to do something. I also take lots of notes during class so that way I will know everything that will be on the test and I wont have to worry about forgetting something. I’m sure if you guys simply take an hour or two out a day to do homework or study you will be fine.
ReplyDeleteTo Katie F.
ReplyDeleteI hate when teachers give so much homework at once but that why I go to the gym for a stress reliever. I usually make a list of things I have to do and I go one by one down the list, I don’t like having so much stuff in front of me either. Exactly, studying early will help you a lot; I can’t count how many times I have avoided all nighters from just studying early. Time management is a big factor in how you perform. If you only give an essay 30 minutes I’m sure you won’t do good on it.
The semester is indeed beginning to become rather hectic. Midterms are coming up, and I have a million due dates approaching for different kinds of papers and assignments. I found last year that I was entirely too stressed and it was having a major impact on my school work, as well as on my life in general. I’ve devised a way to keep myself in check, and to keep my stress level to a minimum. I purchased a large monthly calendar and write all of my due dates down on it. It helps because then I am able to see everything I have going on and make a detailed schedule of how and when I’m getting something done. I also make sure I run at least a mile everyday; exercise always helps me relax and gives my brain a rest to recoup. I’ve found that setting specific times for specific things is very helpful; and it guarantees that I won’t be cramming whatsoever. It’s also important to take some time out of the day and just relax or do something you enjoy. This may seem like an obvious statement, but getting a decent amount of sleep is more than crucial. Overnighters not only take a hard hit at your body, they decrease your work ability and thinking capacity. And no, a pot of coffee and three energy drinks will not help. Trust me, I’ve tried it. It may give you that initial boost of energy, but once it wears off your left feeling even deader then you were prior to going on a caffeine spree. Just take a deep breath, and realize with the right plan you can definitely make it through this time of the semester.
ReplyDeleteTo Kathleen:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you regarding trying to balance all of your school work, your social life, and your extracurricular activities. It can be more than stressful and sometimes even chaotic. Your advice is simple, yet it is very true. It’s important to just take it one day at a time. Otherwise, you’ll find youself sitting in misery thinking about all the things you have to do in the nearby future. Also, chances are if you are constantly worrying about every little thing and spend time thinking about something going on later in the week, you won’t accomplish much and certainly won’t do your best on what is going on that day. I also believe taking time out to enjoy your self is helpful. I know I set an hour or two aside to have a little fun in the midst of studying and everything else I have going on.
It’s almost midterm time and although I dread the upcoming weeks I also look forward to getting them behind me. I feel more prepared now that I have my first semester under my belt but I’m still equally as nervous and stressed out. In order to relax I have to take my mind completely off of schoolwork, which for me is nearly impossible. I like to drive North to Lakeland to visit my Aunt and Uncle to get away for a couple days. It’s always a de-stresser because my Aunt loves to spoil me and my Uncle is an amazing chef. Having a weekend to catch up on my sleep and eat some actual food really helps me get through the following couple of weeks. When I can’t make a trip over there me and a couple of my friends here at UT normally go to the mall and just walk around without buying anything (usually) or we head over to DSW for some shoe therapy. I’m the type of person that gets very worked up about school, so if I’m working on a difficult assignment or studying for a test you want to steer clear of me. I tend to get crabby and the only way to cure it is putting everything down and walking away from it. I think taking time for yourself is extremely important for your health and also in order to be successful. The night before a big test I’ll study until maybe 10 or 11 but then I will go to bed and get a good nights rest. If I don’t feel prepared I might wake up early to look over notes but I truly believe staying up all night studying only makes the situation worse.
ReplyDeleteTo Kathleen: I agree with your advice about taking things one day at a time. I think the main source of stress does come from trying to be too prepared and worrying far too much about what may or may not happen in the future. Everyday presents new challenges and building up these challenges and trying to tackle them all at once becomes far too stressful and ultimately unproductive. It’s so true that adults tend to tell us that college is so great but it is a lot of work and responsibility. I think being young adults we do take on a lot more responsibility than people realize. Between work, school, staying healthy, being involved on campus, doing volunteer work and finding time for friends and having fun is really stressful. Good luck on all of your midterms and I hope you can stay relaxed!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteto katie:
ReplyDeleteI do not have as much stuff due in one week, which seems like a lot of work to handle all at once. I totally agree with you when you say take one assignment at a time. The stress level lowers so much when you don’t try and complete 5 things at once. I have never had to pull a all nighters but it does not seem like something I would enjoy doing. I believe sleep is so important as well and that getting to bed early can make such a difference in preparing for the day ahead of you. Time management is also very important if someone has time management there is no need to stress for last minute activities.
As the weeks go on in the second semester of my college career, I don't really feel like the work is becoming more overwhelming, but more manageable. I've contributed this to becoming more accustomed to college life, and being prepared for class, instead of scrambling to do something last minute. Honestly, being prepared is what has kept me stress-free this semester, and hopefully I can keep it that way.
ReplyDeleteAs far as staying sane goes, I haven't really lost my mind too much this semester, so staying sane has been easy for me. I think what keeps me sane the most is the fact that I've been frequenting the movies. I'm a huge movie person, and going out to see a movie is like therapy for me. Most of the movies I've been seeing lately are comedies. I figure, if you can keep yourself laughing through all the stress in college, it might help alleviate some of it. I know this may be an expensive habit, but I'm lucky that I know someone who works at a movie theater locally, and I haven't paid for a movie the entire time I've been in Florida.
So, if you can't frequent the movies like I can, and I know that we're all broke college kids. Watch comedy central. My advice to keep sane is to do as much laughing as you possibly can. Don't they say that laughter is the best medicine? I don't really know who they are, and yes I'm aware of the cliche that I just used. Haha. However, it really is the truth. I stay sane by laughing, and I think that laughter could help all of us stay sane.
@amber.myer
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous that you have family so close, and you can just drive to see them. I wish that I could go and eat some real food and be with my family for a few days when I'm stressed. I think it's great that you can do that when you need to. I definitely agree with the concept of putting down what's stressing you for a while to clear your head. I know that if I stress too much on something, it just makes everything worse. Also, you're right. Cramming all night NEVER works. I made that mistake once last semester and got the worst grade on a test I'd had all semester. I'm a particular sleep fiend, and need my rest if I'm going to get anything done the next day. I think it's great that you realize that, and get your rest when you need it.
Since the beginning of the new semester, I have been able to keep my cool due to the fact that the fall semester opened my eyes more and made me experience what college life truly was about. I tend to keep my sanity by volunteering with the PEACE Volunteer Center in Vaughn. Since I was so active in it, I got a job there, and I have spent most of my time there. I have also joined other organizations on campus and the friends that I have made through them are very kind and open. It has made my transition much better. I also read a lot of books. I am surprised that I am still able to make time to do so with my busy schedule and through it all, I still have time left over. And to tie it all in, all my professors are cool and kind. I guess I have a god knack for picking out good professors, even when I only can see their names on the registration forms. But just as several freshmen, I have had roommate and suite-mate issues and I have totally retained my cool and try not to let it get to me. I am paying for the same of everything that everyone else is offered. I have a lot of patience. I am also very organized and thanks to my very large and retainable memory, I am always prepared for most things. I try not to stress so much, which I tend to do.
ReplyDeleteTo Slupino,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that coffee and energy drinks do not work. Well, actually, I have never tried any because I don’t like or drink coffee and don’t see the point of energy drinks. I also have an erasable planner on my wall in my dorm which I post any upcoming events to keep track of times. I also stick post-it notes on my desk for any upcoming assignments so that whenever I am on my computer, dazed in boredom, I know that I have work to do. Thank goodness for my blackberry so that I can also keep track of work and events so that when I do not have my planner with me, I still know what is going on.
As the semester progresses and classes begin to pick up the pace, I find that the stress level seems to build and build upon itself. Homework and cramming last minute never seem to work and despite my best attempts to keep ahead something always seems to get pushed back. However, there are ways to deal with the stress. Weekends becomes my stress-relief time. Finishing homework and project during the week, open up my weekends for my to just relax and not worry about anything. I can drive around and hang out with friends here on campus or I can drive home for the weekend and know that I'm not going to have to come rushing back on Sunday to finish something up. It's hard to convince myself to put the effort into finishing homework during the week, but I know that when I start planning my weekend, getting everything done and out of the way will make the weekend more fun and actually help my stress level to dwindle slowly as the weekend passes. That way, when Monday comes around again, I'm ready for the next week and anything it deems worthy to throw at me.
ReplyDeleteTo say that fall semester flew by is an understatement because spring semester literally is darting by. As midterms are approaching right around the corner I can honestly say that my professors have overloaded the work and seem to want to cram everything in right before spring break where everyone will go off and enjoy a stressful week. I feel like I have so much to do every single day. Whether it is just going to class, doing work or going to weekly meetings that must be attended my weeks are hectic. A few ways I cope or deal with stress is to always have my planner with me. The planner is no doubt my life. It tells me when and where I have to be everyday and stores all my contacts. It may seem silly but that little book keeps me in check. Also, I realized that doing my work in a timely fashion is less stressful as well. I need to take things one step at a time to accomplish a lot. Going to bed early and getting a good night of rest is crucial because I've noticed not only is it good for my health but it makes me more aware and focused in my classes. To relieve stress I love working out at the gym and do that at least once a day. Good for my mind and body. For anyone to stay sane I think everyone needs "me" time whether it's shopping, napping or laying out getting a time it makes everyone feel better.
ReplyDeleteI tend to stress myself out over the littlest of things so when it comes down to midterm week, and especially finals weeks, I get very stressed out. Usually, I keep all my stress bottled up and then explode. To avoid this, however, I try to focus on one assignment or subject at a time. I create a to-do list with the most important items at the top and cross them off one by one. Usually after crossing one off, I feel more accomplished and less stressed knowing I have one issue out of the way. I will even put the simplest of tasks, like washing dishes, on the list to do if I feel overwhelmed with all of my schoolwork.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to making a to-do list, I will usually listen to music that calms me. This will usually chill me out for an hour or so, but overall, won’t help in the long run because I still realize I’ll have so much work to do. This is usually the time that I have to leave and go run until my body can no longer function. This usually makes me feel worlds better. After a run, my head feels cleared and I am able to sit down and do a few hours of work. Even though I typically like to run in the mornings to get my day going, when I know I’m about to have a stressful week, I will wait until I feel like I’m about to explode and just take off.
At this point in the semester, the workload has started to pile up, and at times I feel as though I have no time to fit everything into my schedule. However in order to stay sane and stay on top of all my assignments I create a day to day schedule of the assignments I have due on that day, and the time I will set a side to work on them. I plan out my week accordingly. When you set a side a time to do your work it allows you to just get it done and stop procrastinated, which I tend to do at times. For me, any noise is a distraction and/ or excuse for me to see what’s going on and put off my work. In order to eliminate the distractions I think the library, or a quite study area is a great place to do your work. If you go there for a few hours a day with no distractions, your work will get done in no time and it will give you some more free time in the day. I think free time to just relax and do things that make you happy is very important. It will alleviate some of the stress that you have, in the midst of all your work.. Remember that we go to school in Florida, and to enjoy this sunny state. A little sunshine and fresh air each day always puts me in a better mood.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTo Ali Feulner,
ReplyDeleteI totally understand your need for silence when you study. Even when I go to the library, I sometimes have to use earplugs because I need that much silence. It can be very difficult if I have a test the next day and I’m up studying in my room and my roommates are being loud. Putting aside time to do your work is also very important. Doing this allows it to not build up, but sometimes I get caught up in social activities and I have to force myself to get work done. Sometimes, it’s more about sacrificing one night to finish schoolwork because, ultimately, that’s why I am here.
It’s hard to believe this semester is already half way done. I have a 7 week class and it is going to be done next week and I have two tests in it before next Friday and a paper due Monday. So I have to make sure I can organize my tasks in a way that I can get everything done in a timely manner. Planning is a big part of how you can keep yourself sane when you have heaps of work to do. You have to make sure that you space things apart so you don’t have too much at one time because it can make things extremely stressful. Oh, and of course because we apparently cannot multitask! It is also a good idea to not wait until the last minute. Procrastination is the worst thing to do and it can result in all of your work piling up on you before you realize it. If you do this then you are less likely to complete everything and if you are able to, then it won’t be very good quality work. If I find myself getting super stressed that’s when I know it’s time to get outside to try and relax. Everyone has different ways to do that but the way I do that is play football with my boyfriend. Football is my favorite sport and something about throwing the ball around really gets me calm and collected. Making sure your relaxed is a big part of being able to handle everything.
ReplyDelete@Mackenzie.simmonds
ReplyDeleteTo-do lists are my absolute favorite thing to make when I have a bunch of things I need to get done. It keeps everything in order and gives you a clear view on what exactly needs to get done. This definitely helps me stay stress free and gets me to focus better on each task. Music is definitely the best medicine to keep you going. And getting out and being active is also something I like to do. While running is your choice, I like to get out and play football. It gets me really pumped and relaxed it is the best!
College can be summed up in one word: hectic. There is obviously so much going on between school work, social life, and other various distractions. Two things that really help me stay sane are organizing my time, and taking time to relax. Every night before I go to bed, I plan my next day’s schedule in my phone. This allows me to set aside time for class, homework, studying, work, going to the gym, and relaxation time. Some days I wish I could just go back to my room and take a nap, but I try to be as determined as possible.
ReplyDeleteI think relaxing is really important because it is so much easier to focus with a clear head. I really like to watch at least 1 TV show a day that is going to make me laugh and take my mind off of things. For me, working out is a way to relieve stress and take my mind off things as well. And although my mom told me throughout my life to get a good night’s sleep and eat breakfast in the morning, and I never did, I have realized how important these two things are in college. I try to get at least seven hours of sleep per night, and always eat breakfast.
I also think that as I have become more accustomed to the college life, I have been able to focus more on what I need to get done. Last semester I was really focused on making friends and going out, but now that I have friends in place I’m able to focus more time on my school work.
Staying sane in any type of situation is always mind over matter. You can’t rely on medication or therapy for the rest of your life to try to get you through hard times. We all go through these times and especially now that we are getting closer to the real world. Not only is there school to worry about but there are friends, work, food, money and living essentials to worry about. I find it extremely helpful when I maintain a strict schedule four days of the week and then I am able to take three days to recover from the week and distress my mind. I know everyone has different schedules but this personally works for me. Also, I try to never do work before bed time. This usually always causes me to be restless in the night. If I allow myself to just watch a half hour of tv or read a book before bed it helps me clear my mind and think about other things. Also another good de-stressor is just getting up and go do something for an hour like work out, play tennis or swim. These activities let off some endorphins and help put you in a good mood. Usually I like to have a huge life de-stressor maybe once or twice a year by just getting up and traveling somewhere new. This always let me get out of my normal environment and let me free my mind by surrounding it by new environments. Then when the trip is over and I return home, my mind is free, calm and happy.
ReplyDeleteTo Brittany Ives:
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on the procrastination thing. I always tell myself it’s ok, I’ll just do it tomorrow or something. Then tomorrow comes around and I put it off some more. This is usually my downfall in life. I try to convince myself that any other time is a better time. Normally this ends in a huge bomb of work that keeps me up until the next morning. It’s so frustrating, but I never learn. I know I need to learn and manage my time better like you said. Then I will be a lot more less stressed when it comes to the day before something is due.
This semester all of my classes test during the same week. I will go two weeks without much work then have one week full of 4 tests and an essay due. It is hard to set aside time for each test and start studying enough ahead of time without forgetting the information the day of the test. Even though I don’t have much time, I try to go to the gym and exercise to get my mind off things for a little bit. It helps me release stress and take a break from so much studying. I also like to study outside sometimes. Since we have such nice weather why not enjoy it? I’ll bring some of my material to read over while lying by the pool or river. My biggest thing with studying and preparing for a test is getting enough sleep the night before. I know I’m not going to do well at all if I’m tired and can barely focus on the question. I have never pulled an all-nighter like you hear most college kids doing because I do so much better if I have had a full night of sleep. Next week is one of those weeks where every teacher crams in tests before spring break. I have so much information to cover in 3 different classes before Monday. To stay sane through this I’m not going to wait until last minute to start studying. I will go out less this weekend to stay in and study. I have already started studying some of it and I feel confident now that I will do well on my tests.
ReplyDeleteDuring first semester there was an adjustment on how to manage my time and get used to everything. By the time everything became stressful and felt like an overload, I had already lost my mind. I soon learned how to keep myself sane and to cope with everything. When I felt the stress coming on, I would just stop with whatever I was doing and take a deep breath. I would take out a piece of loose leaf paper and make a note of all the things I had to do and attack each point from the most important to not so important. Besides that, since we are in Florida, I would just lay by the pool and relax. Laying in the sun is just a good feeling to me and allows me to forget about everything and try to allow myself to become peaceful. On the days when the weather was not so nice, I would grab my coloring book and color in the pictures. Focusing the stress on the picture and coloring brings out the little kid inside of me. Since little kids are never stressed and always want to have fun and relax, I figured it is a good way to stay sane.
ReplyDeleteI find that I often stress out as work begins to pile up, however, I find a few things tend to keep me sane. One of these things would have to be a “To Do” list in order to prioritize all of the tasks I have at hand. This list also helps me to include everything I have to do. I find that taking time to relax and just have lunch with friends helps me the most. Even if I can only spare an hour or so of my day, it gives me time to reevaluate and breathe, reminding myself that I can conquer everything I have to do, and that everything is going to be okay. Plus, laughter is the greatest stress-reliever available. The most important thing I can do for myself, however, is to remind myself to take everything one day at a time. When I look at everything I have to do for the week, that is when I find myself most overwhelmed. If I narrow my schedule down and focus simply on the things I need to accomplish that day, everything becomes much easier.
ReplyDelete@brittany.ives
ReplyDeletehaha! Way to throw in the fact that we can’t multitask! It’s still hard to believe. Anyways, I definitely agree with you on the fact that organization is important to completing everything you have to do. Organization, focus, and hard work is always important, but mixing the right amount of relaxation is key. When you become too stressed, every task becomes a little harder to complete because of the pressure you place on yourself. I love football so I completely understand the relaxation you find in taking some time to throw it around and wish I had the time to throw around a football too! Since I can’t however, I usually take time to listen to music while in the car going to work or walking to class. It serves as an escape for me and really does wonders. Anyways, I wish you the best of luck. Happy studies!
To keep sane this semester I have been trying to focus on things that make me happy outside of school. Mostly, my music. I write and perform my own music in my free time. Also, I enjoy reading non-school related books. Currently I am trying to read the entire Harry Potter series. They are an easy read and a lot of fun. I have never read them before and am starting to wonder what the hold up has been, those books are awesome. Trying to stay sane with school work, I try to just stay on top of it. I don't put assignments and studying off to the last minute. I work on what needs to be done a little each day. Cramming doesn't work and you won't really retain anything that way. Also by not putting my school work off until last minute, I am able to designate an entire day where I do nothing but things that make me happy and that do not include anything school related. Night swims are a great stress reliever. I can often be found swimming at Saint Pete Beach during late night hours. It's calm, quite and there isn't other people around to share the water with. However, I wouldn't recommend this activity to those afraid of swimming in the ocean and/or cold temperatures. studying in groups also helps reduce stress. It confirms that you're not the only one that may be lost in your respective studies.
ReplyDeleteCarissa,
ReplyDeleteI think it's a good idea to make a to-do list. I would consider making them myself but I feel they would overwhelm me even more. I find the method of, taking it one task at a time is the least anxiety inducing method to staying sane. Laughter is a huge stress reliever. I watch a lot of comedies or goof around with my friends to keep myself in a good mood and happy. That makes completing the tasks at hand a little easier to complete. I think you have a positive outlook to what needs to be done to remain successful while in school. I think you'll make it out of school with few grey hairs.
In reply to Webbie39
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome that you are feeling e less stressed then last semester. I agree with the fact that fall semester was very overwhelming, completely different from my high school experience. So many new things all at once was a lot for me to handle, but I am glad you seem to have it all figured out this semester! I really want to become involved with an organization such as PEACE, that must be a very rewarding experience, and in my opinion a very good use of your time. Also, patience is a virtue, so that is defiantly a good quality to have.
To Amber Myer,
ReplyDeleteSo I totally agree with you in the fact that taking time for yourself is good for your health but also helps with success. I know personally when I'm stressed and then go and do something for myself I feel so much more relaxed and relieved which then motivates me to do some work and get everything out of the way. Also, during school days I find it very hard to stay awake until 12 at night so pulling an all nighter is a no go. So how you study until 10 or 11 is usually my approach as well and sometimes I'll ake up an hour early in the morning to review some key points. Family is so important in helping stay sane and I love that you go and visit your aunt and uncle because my uncle lives in Florida as well and I love just flying in for a day to catch up with him. I just want to end with wishing you well with your tests and everything. You'll do fabulous.
To Craig Warzecha,
ReplyDeleteYour habits for staying sane in such a stressful environment as college are similar to mine. I have always though eating a good breakfast and getting descent amount of sleep to start off your day is very important. I try to avoid all-nighters at all costs because I know if I pull an all-nighter to study I will do poorly on the test. I can’t focus if I am not well rested. I like your idea of watching at least one show a day just to get away for a little. I realize I do that too, usually before I go to bed because it helps me fall asleep. I love your idea of planning your day in your phone. I’m a very organized person and I might start doing this to keep myself from going back to my room and taking a nap. Instead I should be studying or getting homework done. It is good to have a schedule to keep yourself on track.
To Megan Ristic:
ReplyDeleteI agree that staying sane not only has a lot to do with setting time aside for having fun and relaxing, but also your mindset. I think if you are focused and determined to get assignments done and study, it makes life a lot less stressful. I also like to get all of my work done during the week so I don’t have to worry about it over the weekend. Looking forward to a free weekend always motivates me to get all of my work done. I also like to travel, and I think it is a great way to clear your mind.
To Coreyocp,
ReplyDeleteDefinitely great advice to follow. A good book is always a great way to relieve stress, just diving into another world, time and place can always help to just give you some good "relaxing" time. Though its not swimming at late hours of the night, my stress relieving exercise is horseback riding. Just spending a few hours on a horse and forgetting everything but what's around you is a great way to relieve my stress. And giving an entire day to whatever you do that makes you happy? Sounds like a great day to look forward, definitely will make doing homework earlier worth while.
In order to stay sane, I usually take time out of my day to do something I enjoy. I always talk with my friends and the people I live with at school. A good way to talk to them is by eating with each other. We all sit down, talk about our days, joke around, and just relax.
ReplyDeleteMusic helps too. I play guitar and piano, and write my own songs now. I can literally sit in the music department for hours while playing bits of songs and practicing different techniques. It's a fun way for me to escape out of the craziness that can come with school and being around the same things everyday.
Ive learned lately to walk around outside and sit in the sun. It feels nice, and I don't have to talk anybody I don't want to.
I'd have to agree with Megan on this one. I procrastinate all the time, even now. It's not a good habit to have, and I always do tell myself it will be ok, but the fact of the matter is that procrastination puts more stress on you than the task itself. Even if I don't enjoy or feel like doing whatever that task is, it's important that I get it done. So maybe I should start on these blogs right away rather than leaving them until an hour before they're due.
ReplyDeleteTo Ashley Bernstein:
ReplyDeleteI agree on everything you have said. This semester has flown by and its incredible how spring break is only a couple a days away. The only thing is going to stress me out too is how all the professors want to get all of their tests, exams or quizzes in before the week long break. It is unbearable to try and study for three exams and not want to slack off because you keep thinking of how stress free everything will be once it is done. I always need “me” time and a nap or time at the gym definitely does the trick to keep me sane.
In response to Katie:
ReplyDeleteI could not agree with you more. It does seem that classes have become much more stressful lately. I think part of the problem is that we are too distracted by the nice weather and the pool always seems much more appealing than sitting at a desk working on assignments! I find that that is what causes them to start piling up. You’re right when you say to take assignments one at a time. It definitely eases the stress that you feel when you realize that you have ten assignments all due the following day!
I am not a fan of all nighters either. I agree when you say that it is always a good idea to study a little bit each week. It helps you to stay on track and learn and retain more of the material.
Time management is a very important part of being a student. Once your learn to manage your time wisely, then you will have no problems staying on track with school work.