How To Get Stuff Done

Lately, I've realized that procrastination has become a big issue for college students, even those who normally get good grades, largely due to the so-called "Spring Fever." So here are some tips for how to stay on track and be productive!

1. If you're having trouble concentrating, ask yourself why. Is it because you're hungry?

 Get some food! Is it because you're tired? Take a 20-minute power-nap. Is it because you're stressed about other life issues (relationships, financial situation)? Tell yourself that those matters can be dealt with later and that your top priority at that time is to get your work done. If you try to focus on both, you won't get your work done or the other issue solved either.

2. Concentrate for about an hour at a time, and take 15-minute breaks.

 I've found this to be super helpful when I'm studying, because even though I have to force myself to focus, I know I'll be able to take a break soon so the time studying doesn't feel as long. During the break time, you can do basically whatever you please - watch some TV, eat, text your friends, or take a quick nap. Doing something other than studying for that short amount of time will make you feel more refreshed once you go back to studying.

3. Drink lots of water. 

If you're one of those people who has to be doing something other than just sitting at a desk while studying, drinking lots of water is a good alternative because not only will grabbing your water bottle constantly keep you a little occupied, but it will keep you hydrated and awake (make sure it's cold water)

4. Study in a semi-comfortable place.

I've heard many different opinions on where to study - many say you should study in an uncomfortable place in the library with no distractions so as to force yourself to study, but I personally prefer to not sit in an uncomfortable metal chair for hours. While I would definitely not advise studying on your bed, I do think that sitting in a comfy chair or even a couch is a good idea because you can relax your body just enough so that you can focus more on the material instead of being uncomfortable.
I hope these tips work out for everyone!

Latinmetalhead

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Things to do in downtown Madison

Hey everyone!
I decided that I would write about some fun things to do in case  yourself in downtown Madison one days! Here are my top 3:
1. State Street
This is the main area where college students go to grab a bite to eat before heading over to the library, have fun at the bars, or take a little shopping break at the Urban Outfitters store. Filled with small boutiques, shops, restaurants, State Street is perfect for walking on a nice sunny day and exploring the many places it has to offer.

2. The Overture Center
Also located on State Street, the Overture Center hosts many plays and student performances all year-long, in a gorgeous building that will leave you in awe. Last year, I attended a performance of the play Rent here, and it was spectacular.

3. Memorial Union
Not only does the Union have delicious ice cream made from milk from native Wisconsin cows, but it is also host to dozens of performances and dance parties on its Terrace overlooking the lake. During the summer, the Union is the place to go to listen to live music and drink some good, old-fashioned Wisconsin beer.
On Wisconsin!

Latinmetalhead

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Tips for Pulling All-Nighters!

Hey guys!

If you're not on spring break already, you're probably (like many students) currently overwheled with midterms and papers that are due before you get on break. And if you've procrastinated (also like many students), you may be faced with the reality of having to pull an all-nighter. While I normally do not encourage this, as it makes you less productive in the long-term, sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures and you just literally don't have the time or the luxury to get your eight hours  of beauty sleep. So here are some tried and true tips for staying awake all night that will help you get that paper done on time.

1. Have some caffeine - but only a little bit.
 I've read many things online that say to avoid caffeine while pulling an all-nighter as much as possible, but lets face it: if you're already tired from going to school or work all day, it will be near impossible to stay awake for the rest of the night without a little boost from some coffee (black, no sugar, of course). However, your caffeine intake should be strictly monitored because too many cups of coffee can give you a terrible crash that no extra amount of caffeine will fix. A good rule of thumb is to drink no more than two to three (medium-large) cups of coffee throughout the entire night (but less if you can manage on only one cup).

2. Take a shower!
Over the years, I've found that taking a shower right before studying for the rest of the night really wakes me up and makes me feel refreshed and feeling more energized to begin the long night ahead. Quick, ten-minute showers are best because they don't take up too much time and will save you some time the next morning as you're getting ready.

3. Take power naps.
Although taking naps might feel "lazy" to some, it has been found that many people are actually more productive after taking short power-naps than if they just continued to work without naps. The optium length to shoot for is around 20 minutes; less won't help very much and more will leave you feeling even more tired and groggy. To get the best results, I've also noticed that drinking some coffee before taking the power-nap helps you to feel even more awake.

4. Stay hydrated.
If you're going to be staying up all night, it is essential that you continue drinking water throughout the night. Not only will a glass of ice cold water help you to stay awake, but it will help detoxify and cleanse your tissues which may be aggravated by stress.

I hope these tips help you guys and good luck with exams!

Latinmetalhead

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Quick Tip!

Hey guys,
just wanted to share another quick college tip with you!
If you're like me, you sometimes have a hard time focusing on studying when you have a lot of things on your mind or you just feel distracted. Well, I've found that drinking an ice cold beverage with ice helps a lot because it wakes you up and quenches your thirst, and you can chew on the ice chips! Also, I've found that if you're at home, taking a quick shower also refreshes you but also makes you feel more relaxed after a long day at school or work. However, (you may have heard this before), but do NOT  study in your bed! As tempting as it may be (I've done this plenty of times before), I can almost guarantee you that you will feel way too comfortable and after 20 minutes you will fall asleep on top of your textbooks.

So those are just a few suggestions on how to stay focused while studying.
More to come!

Latinmetalhead

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Top Five Tips for Surviving College Lectures

1. Do. NOT. fall. asleep.
Especially if you are in the first rows. This should already be obvious to most of you, but if not, you should definitely know that although you may be in a lecture hall with hundreds of people, the professor WILL be able to notice that one student in the back that is snoozing away (a.k.a., you). This goes for cell phone usage as well. The professor will know that you are not just smiling at your lap for no reason and certainly not just "touching yourself." Also, why go to lecture in the first place if you're just going to be on Instagram the whole time? (I will admit that I have been guilty of this myself a few times, however).

2. Eat before lecture. 

Anything. Well, preferably, something that gives you "healthy" energy such as a piece of wheat bread with some peanut butter, or a piece of fruit. However, many times in college you may not have time to pack a snack before rushing to class and you may have to resort to buying something out of the vending machines. If this is the case, your best options will be a bag of trail mix or a granola bar; for drinks, skip the soda and try some iced tea or fruit juice. Eating before lecture will help you to pay so much more attention because you won't be focusing on how hungry you are or thinking about what you're going to make for dinner as soon as you get back to your apartment. Also, I have found that it is acceptable in many lectures to eat during class, as long as you pay attention and clean up after yourself.

3. Do the assigned readings BEFORE lecture. 

This is something that many of you (I hope) will learn naturally over the course of your college career, but it is always good to know from the beginning that actually doing the assigned readings before attending class will help you to understand the material so much better. If you go to class without having read the material, you might feel completely lost and not get anything important out of the lecture except confusion and frustration (especially in classes like Organic Chemistry). Doing the readings is also important for discussion sections, where you will actually need to know what you're talking about because you will be discussing the material.

4. Ask questions in lecture.

I know that for many people, including myself, asking the professor a question in the middle of a class full of hundreds of people can be horrifying because of its potential for embarrassment,  but trust me, professors LOVE it when students ask questions. Asking questions in lecture earns you major points with the professor because they can see that you are actually engaged with the material and have "done your homework" enough to be able to ask a question. Furthermore, your question may be one that half the students in the class also have but are too shy to ask. They too will then love you for this. Lastly, it can be a good way for the professor to recognize you in class so that you can stand out as a student who actually pays attention. However, it is also important to remember not to take this too far, as asking too many questions too often can lead to frustration from both the students and the professor.

5. Do NOT pack up early.  

All professors, although they may not show it or mention anything because of their professionalism, absolutely hate it when students begin to leave or pack up their things before the lecture is finished or before the set time period. Not only is this rude and disturbing to other students trying to pay attention to the last bits of information that might be on a future exam, but the professors WILL notice the students who pack up early apart from the others who stay until the end.

Those are my top five tips for surviving college lectures; I'll have plenty more tips on more college stuff in the future as well! Please leave any comments with suggestions for future posts or feedback on this post.

Thanks!

Latinmetalhead

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