Saturday, March 19, 2011

Surviving the March blues

It's finally March, a month that most students have been dreading. Not only is it a month full of presentations, essays, reports and creating media kits in my public relations program, it is also the month before placement.

March is also a common time for college students to be "down in the dumps" as people call it. Staying motivated to complete all of these upcoming assignments can be a struggle, but if you are in need of some ideas, I have compiled a list.

  1. Indulge

You just finished that essay you've been working on for weeks. Before going onto the next assignment or reading, reward yourself for a job well done. Go to Starbucks and get that macchiato you've been craving all afternoon or spend a few hours at the park. You received a great mark on that midterm you've been stressing over. Go and buy the dress you've been eying for weeks. The couple hours you spend on you will revitalize your whole mindset.

Of course, doing this for everything you do is not healthy. There is only so much Starbucks intake that can be healthy and clothes buying that your wallet can handle; everything in moderation.

  1. Buy an agenda

It being this late into the semester, I would hope you already own one. However, there is a difference between owning one and actually using it. Knowing when assignments are due is half the battle to time management. In your agenda, be sure to map out an attack plan to getting all of these assignments done on time. Whether you are more of a couple hours on each per day or completely finishing an assignment at a time, write it down. You are more likely to stick to the plan if it is in writing.

  1. Maintain your health

With the stress of assignments and work, sometimes your dietary needs are pushed to the side. Whether it's during midterms or exam times, students often spend their nights cramming. I know this may sound obvious, but a healthy diet and sleeping schedule will give you more energy to complete your tasks.

In case you are not aware of the Canadian Food Guide, check out their website for the recommended nutrition you should intake.

From my perspective, I feel that students get bogged down at this time of year because they lose perspective. You will survive these next few weeks. I will end with the dreaded cliché, but I truly believe that the best is yet to come.

7 comments:

  1. Starbucks and moderation DO NOT go together....especially in March!!!

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  2. Ha Sabine, that is soo true! A girls gotta have her Starbucks!

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  3. That is such great advice, especially with having such a heavy work load during this time, thanks!

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  4. Thanks for the great advice. I know that I am feeling the stress of school right now, so I will have to try out some of your tips.

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  5. This is the first year I have owned and used an agenda. I have to say it have been a great help. Great tips.

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  6. I am admittedly a person that starts out most years using an agenda frivolously, but as time passes, I end up using it less and less to the point where now, I'm using only a calendar on my phone to remind me of what is due and I don't even know the whereabouts of my agenda.
    I know this is something I could afford to work on, so if any of you uber-organized people have tips on how to stay on top of something like this, I'm all ears.

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  7. I never thought much about how March could be more stress-inducing but I do see what you mean. It's been hard to stay motivated knowing that we're so close to finishing.

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