Now, you may call me a procrastinator, but as the bible says, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". Also, there really is a good reason why I'm here blogging. In fact, its kinda one of my secrets of success for college life. Ready to hear more?
As most of you already know, I am an unapologetic bookworm. I love to read almost anything I can get my hands on. (I used to say anything I can get my hands on, but after reading The Canterbury Tales in Middle English, I've had to revise that statement). But college is tricky. It likes to take those activities that you love (reading, writing, math, science, what have you) and cram them down your throat until you really don't remember why you used to like them in the first place. So, every now and then, it is necessary to remind yourself. Which is why, when I'm drowning in reading assignments for my literature classes, I make it a point to reread one of my old favorite books. Okay, if I wanted to be practical about it, I probably don't really have the time for it, but it keeps me sane, so it really is important to make time for it. Which of course, is the same thing I'm doing here. Reminding myself that sometimes, I actually do like writing. As long as it doesn't revolve around Medieval gender roles as they relate to The Wife of Bath. So that is my first suggestion.. take some time to do the things you love, without the pressure and deadlines that college puts on them.
Suggestion Number 2: Surround yourself with the right friends. Now, what is "right" for you really depends on the type of person you are. If you are a perfectionist, and you put a ton of pressure on yourself to have everything done and on time and perfect and wonderful and I-have-to-get-an-A-on-this-exam-or-my-whole-world-is-going-to-implode-and-no-one-will-ever-love-me, perhaps you should consider taking a xanax. Okay, I'm kidding about the, xanax but it would definitely be beneficial to hang out with some people who are a bit more relaxed and low-key than you. Trust me, they will prevent you from having a mental breakdown. And, if you fall on the other end of the spectrum, and you have a hard time getting yourself motivated, and you don't take your classes as seriously as you should, surround yourself with some seriously motivated, hardworking people. They will whip your ass into shape. They really can't help it. In their eyes, you are faulty, and they must fix you.
Suggestion Number 3: Thou cannot live on caffeine alone. Really. I can't say how many times I've sacrificed sleep in order to get some reading or assignment or paper done. And then slept through class the next day because of it. And it makes absolutely no sense to kill yourself writing a paper if you aren't even gonna be there to turn it in the next day. You have to strike the perfect balance. There are going to be times that you have to stay up late and finish something, but you also need to know when to say "enough is enough".
And Suggestion Number 4: Take it one day (or if necessary, one minute) at a time. Trust me. When midterms come up, and you are looking a week full of days like this:
Wednesday:
tutor French 10-12
class-12-3
work 3-4:30,
study group 4:30-7:30
work 7:30-9:30
Write midterm paper and do reading for Tuesday 9:30-whenever I fall asleep over my laptop
(No exaggeration there.. that was my Wednesday this week.) But anyway, when that happens to you, and it will, if you look at your to-do list for the entire week all at once, you may just start crying. And then you really won't accomplish much of anything. Just take it one day, one class, one assignment at a time, and you'll get through it. As my father just told me, "This too shall pass".
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