The pep talk you need when your stressed.

I don't usually let the pressures of school and life get to me, but the other day I was literally freaking out so bad I couldn't focus on what I was trying to study. So I made myself some tea and gave myself a pep talk involving most of these things.

1. Put your situation into perspective. How much does this test/quiz/presentation/reading really count toward your grade? In the grand scheme of things, how big a deal is it if you get a B or C in this class? D stands for Diploma after all. I'm not saying you should stop caring and shoot low, but when there are a lot of things on your plate at once, its best to do what you can and let a few things slip so you can finish other tasks and get at least some sleep. 

2. You are so smart. If its a presentation, an essay, or something with a bit more leeway to the answers then I remind yourself that you are smart enough to bull shit a portion of this presentation/essay and for a bit you have the ability to fake the fact that you don't know what you're talking about. Just know that you are smart enough and wiley enough to talk yourself out of a situation.

3. Worrying about it and stressing yourself sick is not going to help. At a few points in my stressful night, I was so worried I couldn't focus. Being worried about how little time you have, so much so that you can't get anything done, is the definition of being counter-productive. I remind myself that all this worrying isn't going to make the problem go away or make me work any faster, so I just have to calm down and focus in. 

4. Organize your thoughts or tasks with a list. When I get overwhelmed I write out everything I have to do in order of importance and write to the side when it needs to be done by. Then I can sit down and start working on what I know is most crucial to finish. And you know how good it feels to cross something very important off a list :D

5. Take a break when you deserve it. Make some you time to reward yourself for getting so much done so far. This has to be away from the computer and not working on anything else. JT says to take a shower for an extra 10 min and just make that time about you, your shower, and your thoughts. Maybe take a walk or sing one of your favorite songs. Have lunch with a friend in a different field then you and don't talk about school work.

Most of all, try to keep calm and carry on. 

Everything will be ok and you will come out

 on the other side of this triumphant.

What do you do to chill yourself out when you are stressin? How to you spend your break time? What stresses you out? I love comments and would love to hear from you! :D


Got a big project thats overwhelming? Need to stay focued? Check out some study tips that work for me!

Upbeat songs

As you are studying for you multiple tests this week and next, its always nice to have some upbeat songs to bop along to during a study break. Here are a list of some of my favorites that will be driving my room mate crazy for the rest of the time I’m up here in Waco.

Lets see if I can get this playlist thing to work...

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Study Tips

You probably know or have been told a million ways to study or tips for remembering information, but I felt I couldn’t go on as a college blog without at least one post about studying. So with finals coming up I thought now is the best time.

Break up large projects into chunks. This has saved me more then once when all of a sudden I have a million things to do the day before a 5-page research paper was due or 150 pages of a book needed to be read. I usually write on a sheet of notebook paper what I have to accomplish that week with the days of the weeks written on it. I write which chunk I will do each day and it makes everything more easily accomplished. Plus when you sit down to do homework, it will be easier to start focusing instead of feeling overwhelmed by the looming due dates.

Study somewhere with few distractions. This is the productivity killer. I have an understanding with my roommates that none of us ever close out bedroom doors unless they can’t come in. So my door is always open unless I am changing, sleeping, or studying. They know not to come in or bother me if I’m hold up in there. I also give myself the rule that I cannot get on facebook until I finish everything I need to accomplish. I keep my desk clear of everything except my MacBook, a cup of pens/pencils/highlighters, and whatever paper or book I’m using at the moment.

POMODORO! My newest best friend. Pomodoro is Italian for tomato. I’m not sure what that has to do with time management, but I don’t really mind. Its kinda fun to say. So basically, you get a sheet of paper, write out what you want to accomplish in a list. Then set your timer for 25 minutes. You work on your first task for that 25 minutes. No getting up to check something, no chatting with roommates, no facebook, and no email. If you think of something you need to do, write it down on your paper and take care of it after your pomodoro. So once the 25 min is up you get a 5 min break. I usually hope on facebook or check out Yes and Yes. After your break you start another 25 minute pomodoro. Its so fantastic. If you want more information about it you can go to the official site and read more into it.  You can download the pomodoro timer that talks to you and keeps you on track. (Which is what I have) :D 

Go to the Library. If all else fails you could definitely hit up the library for a quiet study space. Though I have heard that it can get kinda noisy around finals time. (I've never been) But if you go into almost any building on campus, there will be study spaces sprinkled around the various floors. Go on an adventure for the study space grail that no one knows about!

Where do you like to study? What do you do to stay productive? How do you deal with chatty roommates?