5 things to do during winter break

Exams are over!! Congratulations!! You did it!!!!

Enjoy this feeling. Don't think about school for the next week or two. RELAX.

I miss that feeling of being DONE. I feel it a little bit as a teacher this semester, actually. That feeling of submitting grades. Being done. It feels good.

Take some time to enjoy it. 

And then, when you feel rested, start priming again for next semester. How you do this is up to you, but here are some things I used to (and still) do during my winter breaks:

1. Buy a new journal for the year and start writing your thoughts about how the past year went and what you want to accomplish next year. 

2. Make a collage of pictures and quotes that inspire you for next year and hang it up in your room or office. 

3. Write down some goals or intentions for the next year. Keep them small, specific, little things you can control. Especially new habits you'd like to adopt - what is one thing you can do every day that would help you reach one of your biggest goals? 

4. Choose a good book and make it a goal to finish it before the next semester. The book should be something that can help you improve or get better at something you're trying to achieve. If you have a friend or a group of friends with the same interests or goals, start a mini book club or just read together and chat about it periodically.

5. Do something artistic. Paint, draw, write, take pictures, dance, sing, build, play an instrument, act, etc. You don't need to be good at it. Just create something original. I don't have any science behind this for you, but it's something I do every year and it always rejuvenates me for the next year and makes me feel like I can do anything. For some reason, I don't get discouraged at my terrible water colors or colored-pencil drawings. They aren't good - trust me. I know that. But it doesn't bother me. I still find joy in creating something just from my own brain. It's empowering somehow. Try it. Trust me. 

Due to winter break I won't be posting as frequently until January so if I don't see you until then, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!! :) 

Community college pep talk (short & sweet)

You're almost finished with your fall semester! 

Schedule hours each day for the rest of the term to spend on your campus library and finish STRONG! 

:)

You can do this.

Are you studying in the right place?

Where do you study for college? 

When you're in that environment, do you feel really productive? When you finish do you think "ahh...I got even more accomplished than I thought I would"?

Do you feel like you're at your best? 

Are you getting the grades you know you can get?

If you answered "no" to any of those questions, then it might be time to change where you're studying for college. 


For me, the best study place, the place where I could easily answer "yes" to all the questions above, was the college library. 

I almost never did college work or studied from home. I scheduled time before and in-between my classes to spend in the library each week, without fail. From the cozy corner cubicles surrounded my books to the quiet buzz of the computer lab, that is where I felt at my most productive - and I really was.

But here's the thing - I didn't realize until recently how powerful this actually was. Let me explain:

I've been working from home for almost three years now, and recently I found myself feeling restless. I wasn't feeling like I could answer "yes" to the questions above anymore. Even though I was still working hard, at the end of the day I still felt antsy, like I wasn't accomplishing what I needed. And at the beginning of the day I felt sluggish. What was up?

When an opportunity arose for me to rent an office, something inside me clicked - THIS is just what I need! I realized all this time I had been fighting against what I had known so instinctively in college - I work best outside of my home. 

My new office!

Environment matters. Just walk on the beach, into a dance studio, or onto a sports field, and see how those environments make you feel. What do they make you want to do?

For me, home has always been the place where I like to read, sleep, eat, eat, eat, watch TV, and relax. It's never been the best "work" environment for me.

I can't tell you what the "best" environment is, because I think it can be different for every person - and you might even find you need different environments at different times. 

I just want to encourage you to take the time figure out what really works best for you. Notice how you feel when you're working and preparing to do well in your college classes. If you aren't feeling that sense of flow, try changing your environment.

Because trust me, when you find that place that inspires you to do your best work, work doesn't feel like work anymore. It feels more like art.

My new favorite inspiration spot near my office. :)

College To-Do List Week 21: Summer Internships!

The college to-do list is almost over! I hope you're excited for the end of the semester. Now may feel like the time to slow down, but not quite! Keep going strong and that last day of the semester will be even sweeter. You can do this! Remember to take care of yourself, get lots of sleep, and eat healthy during stressful times. 

Now is the time to prep for your exams. Yes. Really.

An exam blog post in January? Am I crazy? Maybe a little, but crazy works really well in college.

Most students don't think about exams until the last few weeks of the semester. This is a bad idea. 

The best students start thinking about exams in the beginning of the semester. These students get plenty of sleep towards the end of the semester, never pull all-nighters, never have to say no to hanging out with their friends because they have to study, and get A's on their tests.

This can be you.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for exams now so that, come the end of the semester, you'll get amazing grades and maintain your sanity: 

1) Go to class
I know this seems obvious, but I'm constantly amazed how many students skip class. Never, ever skip class unless you are incredibly ill. Getting one day behind will set you back immensely when it comes to being on top of the material for your future exams. 

2) Takes notes with exam questions in mind
During class, pay attention to the points in the lecture where the professor seems particularly passionate or dwells longer than usual. Take notes during class in a way that makes it easy to look back on throughout the semester, especially come exam time. I'm a fan of the Cornell Notes method. 

3) Review your notes every other day
Get to each class at least five minutes early, and use that time to quickly read the notes you wrote for that class during the last session. 

4) Visit the professor
Have you visited your professors during their office hours yet? Now is the time to go! Ask for help as soon as you find you're not grasping a concept 100%, or if you feel like you're doing great, ask for clarification on a project to ensure you're heading in the right direction. 

5) Talk about the class with friends
Discuss homework or other projects with your classmates. This is a great way to make new friends, as well as delve the subject deeper into your brain. 

It's never too early to start preparing for your exams. When you spread out the work over the entire semester, you'll find yourself at the end of it calmly walking through the halls towards your exams, wondering why everyone else seems so harried. 

Congratulations to you! (A letter from me to you)

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to take a moment and congratulate all of you for finishing your Fall 2012 semester. There will never be another one again, and you should be so proud of what you've accomplished.

Exams are over!!! 

It's time to relax, appreciate the people around you, and sleep ;)

I hope you take a second right now and pat yourself on the back. Go ahead...no one's watching. Did you do it? Awesome. 

You deserve it. 

Enjoy this time off and relish in this feeling. Multiply it by 100, and that is how it will feel when you graduate. Keep going. And thank you so much for letting me be a small part of your journey this year. I love you guys.

Isa