Ok, you'd think with twins, a husband, a household to maintain, bills to pay, grocery shopping, commuting to work and squeezing in quality time with family and friends -- I'd have my act together. Well, I do and I don't. At least not to my satisfaction. Every semester I begin with a basic plan -- write everything down. and do it by the due date. Simple, yes. Possible? Not always. By mid-semester -- coming up soon. I reevaluate my feelings of adequacy and this year, I'm already feeling like I'm slipping behind. I need to go into lock down mode and get to business before it's too late.
Here are educatingrita's tips on how to maintain your sanity and still have a life while when you have uber multi-tasking reponsibilities:
Write it down - PDA, hard book organizer, cell phone, wall calendar - writing down reading and writing assignments are key. If you're not attending full-time - and most of us aren't -- then time management is not just your friend -- it's your BEST friend. At the beginning of the semester take the time to lift dates and deadlines off each syllabus and write 'em down. If you're super busy (like me) I even schedule my study times. If i don't, I'm like trying to read assignments in the shower, kidding (well no, I did try it once just to see if I could read in the bathtub -- not a good idea. A similar crazy idea -- someone once gave me to write my term paper drunk for a particular professor's class. Note to others: don't do that either. Some actually did, with disastrous results. Back on topic, these blocks of times ARE in a very real sense, appointments. Professors are not thrilled when you ask for 3 day extenstion on an assignment. Trust me.
Group Projects Are Very Real - nearly all classes have them. They've gone from educational trend to permanent classroom fixture. Honor your classmates and prepare your materials and have them ready when they're due. Stay in the communication loop. Do not drop off the radar. No one wants to hear at the 13th hour that you're planning to be out of town the entire week before a presentation and you can't have your portion of the assignment ready. Think ahead (and this is where the calendar thing comes in handy) and be kind to your groupmates. You're all in the same academic boat together, even if you are out of town you can take measures to keep the project floating nicely. Don't sink it (and possibly tank other people's grades in the process) by not communicating or stepping up if you need to.
Cramming is not a good idea: Perhaps in undergraduate courses you could get away with it. Graduate level courses often have term-long assignments which require organization across the entire semester. If you haven't come up with a research topic and started the research for your final paper at least 2 months prior to it being do, you are skating on some seriously thin ice. And make no mistake, Professor can smell a rush job from 20 paces. Do yourself a favor and get onboard sooner rather than later in the research paper department. This also goes a long way to avoiding a mild nervous breakdown right before the Thanksgiving holiday when you realize you're academically screwed. Cramming reading or exam preparation also simply doesn't work. You're paying for this. Make the most of it and make it an enjoyable (hopefully not too stressful) experience by making the effort to stay on top (not get buried by) your academic committments.
Technology is your friend, sometimes: I recently purchased a laptop which imploded in it's 2nd month of operation. Thank you Vista! During which I had a paper due, since I couldn't figure out how to print the dang thing out, I emailed it to the Professor. The professor also couldn't print out my attachment (naturally, again, Vista you suck) and he was slightly peeved I had to email it. I don't blame the guy. Why should he bear the burden of my technological snafu? If you've acquired technology, make sure it's good to go. While educatingrita is still bucking the all things electronic era , I do work with it for a living. I really should be more proactive with my gear at home. At work, I pick up the phone and dial IT and a 12 year old comes upstairs and fixes the problem in 7 minutes. I turn red, mumble thanks and he goes back into the IT batcave. At home I'm clueless. Thank you to Circuit City for replacing my laptop (with the demonic Vista disease) 2months out from purchase.
Down time is key: Seriously. Go see a movie. Go apply picking. Go shopping for new shoes or a back to school outfit. Reward yourself for hitting your academic goals so far. Go to the nearest bar and cheer for the Sox!!! Even the Egyptians knew they had to take a break from pyramid building...
The sentiment expressed by All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy was first recorded by Egyptian sage Ptahhotep in 2400 B.C.,
One that reckons accounts all the day passes not a happy moment. One that gladdens his heart all the day provides not for his house. The bowman hits the mark, as the steersman reaches land, by diversity of aim. He that obeys his heart shall command.
Don't forget to schedule some fun. It's crucial for mental health and will even help keep you focused. -- ER
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