Must concentrate! Learn to stay focused!

After having an exciting Spring Break (driving home in a snow storm, getting rest and actually working on a film with REAL film), I'm now back on campus and am having a tough time staying on page with what I have to do to graduate. Either it is the senioritis kicking in or it's something that happens to every college student when they come back from Spring Break: they get lazy. There, I said it. When everyone gets back and there's only a little bit more than a month left, they start to get lazy and not want to do anything. These are the common things you're most likely to hear: "I didn't know that was due today!" "It's such a nice day today! I'd like to spend it outside." "I'm almost out of here! I've done it plenty of times before!". Those are what you'll expect to hear from various people. But the most important thing to remember is to not get side tracked and stay focused on your work and whatever you love to do. There isn't much time left, but here are some tips to help you get in the zone (no, I will not go by what that commercial says!):

1. Create a list of what needs to be done

This tip is just as it says. Make a list of what you have to do. It should go something like this:

1. Do homework for classes (you can be really detailed right here)

2. Do extracurricular activities tonight (once again, be really detailed here with whatever you do)

3. Prepare for this special event (ditto like the last two)

4. Put gas in the car (or something like it. I put this here because that's something that I have to do)

But a list is a great way of keeping track of what you have to do (and no strings to tie around your fingers too!).

2. Organize the hard from the easy

When compiling the list, determine which of these activities is hard to do and put the easy stuff at the bottom (that's what I do). So something like "gas in the car" would be easy and put at the bottom while doing classes or special events would go up on the list (because they can be hard!). Do it in a descending order.

3. Keep calm and stay on top of things

If you have a lot of things on your plate (five course meal, just kidding!), just remember to keep calm and take into effect the stress reducing techniques that I mentioned a couple of blogs ago and still manage to stay focused on whatever you're doing. It's as simple as that.

4. Do not daydream!

This happens to a lot of people, including myself (yes, I confess). We think a lot about something else and do not concentrate on the task at hand. Try to eliminate that and think about the dire consequences of daydreaming. Focus in a class instead of thinking about what will happen on Grey's Anatomy later that night.

So that's really all I have to say as I have to focus on the Exchange and the next blog I have to do. Doing it all from concentrate. Tropicana style! I'll see you around!

I'm melting! I'm melting! When the snow melts.

With all of the white snow melting right now in mid-March, that can only mean one thing: SPRING! There are a lot of things going on right now with the warm weather finally reaching us (although if I remember correctly, the other three years I've been here, it always seemed to come in April...oh well!). With the beautiful weather outside right now, there are going to be plenty of things out there to do! Here is what you can do to enjoy the fulfillment of the changing weather (besides the allergies that I'm going to have during this time):

1. Spend more time outside

Get more active! Send that lazy bum of yours off the couch and outside! Run around, jog, walk and get in shape! This is a great time to start a fitness routine for anyone who is interested in being outside. Just remember to bring some sunscreen, depending on what is happening out there and choose the right SPF, otherwise you'll end up fried like a stick of beef teriyaki!

2. Do activities outside

That is the key right there! Play some basketball, golf, tennis or some kind of sport that will have you staying fit and having fun. Have some kind of a picnic outside for those who like to eat outside and spend time with the people you know. Hey, that even means that you could climb Mount Monadnock as well (just make sure you don't go alone! It's easy for one to get lost on the mountain!).

3. Interact with the environment

Like the 2nd tip, mountain climbing/hiking is good, going out in the woods and getting in touch with nature is fun (just don't get TOO in touch) and even go out on the water and do some kayaking or even to swim. Just have a lot of fun out there and leave things as they are (I'm referring to all of those litter bugs out there!).

4. Admire the scenery

Something that I always enjoy, no matter where I am is the scenery. I sit back and think about the scenery that I'm observing and what it has been through. I look at the trees, bodies of water, the sky and realize just how lucky I am to observe such magnificent wonders. Great, now I'm sounding like my sister (although admiring such things is always good to do). When outside, if you have time, reflect on the scenery and your own personal thoughts if you want to. This of course doesn't mean that you have to analyze your soul and personal chi. Just do it because it feels right.

5. Being outside makes you happier

This is true to everyone, including myself. For the most part, I have been cooped up inside, whether it is for classes, work, not feeling well or even because I forget just how beautiful it is outside. There are times when I feel miserable inside, but when I am outside, I feel refreshed and happier with myself. That's all there is to it. It improves your mental mood and makes you really happy! Happy as a kid in a candy shop (mmmm, candy! Those peanut butter cups in my room aree really tempting right now...).

But what I'm trying to say here is to do things that are fun and when you're outside, it makes you feel better both physically and mentally. So just do it! Great, now I sound like I'm advertising Nikes! See you next time!

Ahhhhh! The stress! Tips to relax.

Now is the time of the year where college students start to get a little more work and they have a lot more going on in classes and extra curricular activities. For myself, I have a lot going on in my life right now. I take 5 courses, I work at the television statio, I have a 2 hour radio show every Thursday, I do a little broadcasting on the side, I write for the Exchange and the newspaper, I do 10 hours of shuttle a week, work in the stained glass lab almost every night, do filming on the side that has nothing to do with courses and I'm the secretary for B.R.O. That is a lot to do! But at the same time, I suffer from a lot of stress and tension with everything I do. I've strived to make my last semester one to remember as I run to every class, make sure I'm there for every show, bust my chops on stained glass projects and try to remember everything there is to know about every single day that passes by. But at the same time, I tire myself out. And just like me out there are students who do a lot of activities and have to balance classes at the same time. I can say that my freshman year had none of these things. Actually, my freshman year had me doing very little. All I did was a little bit of the radio station and a little of the tv station. But with everything I do, I need some time to relax and unwind. So...here are some tips to help anyone who is stressed out and to feel RELAXED!

1. Do a fun activity

Take part in something that you love doing. Whether it is getting exercise, reading, watching tv or movies, playing video games, etc. As for myself, I like to work with stained glass (yes, that is a relaxing activity surprisingly enough except for when you cut yourself and accidentally drop hot solder on your hand!) and I play some video games (break out the Tetris, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. and Soul Calibur II, although SCII gets pretty agressive when I play with my roommate. Scratch that one.). But do something that you love doing and it is one step to staying relaxed!

2. Take a hot shower

Something that everyone does to relax the muscles and tension that they get in their body is through a hot shower. Wash your troubles away and feel refreshed through a shower! Just as long as you don't make it TOO hot and you come out of the shower looking like a chili pepper. But at the right temperature, you can feel great. Another thing: If you're feeling really good about yourself, don't sing or speak in the shower. When someone does it, one will think that the place is haunted if you're loud enough.

3. Eat comfort foods and drink something good

Eat something that makes you really comfortable inside like your favorite food. When you eat that food, you become happy. And drink something that is really good too. My comfort food would be spaghetti or even some Sun Chips that are made of whole grain (but sometimes I will go for the occasional peanut butter cup). My comfort drink would be cinnamon or green tea (got to love those antioxidants!). Anything to make you relax, and to have your tummy feel great too!

4. Get rest

Some people will scoff at me when I say this, but get plenty of rest. When you get plenty of rest, you feel reenergized the next morning. Not enough and you'll be as grouchy as Oscar the Grouch on a good day. So get some sleep! (Reminder to self, never give another example involving Sesame Street ever again!)

5. Hang out with your friends

As good as these other 4 steps are, it is even better when you spend time with the people you know. It's never fun to be lonely and secluded. But when you're around people who care about you and show that they care, then it makes it much better. Aw! Group hug!

So those are the best tips I can give for something like that. And for everyone who is feeling awful and tensed up, think back on these tips and you can feel much better yourself! See you next time! (Yeah, that picked me up pretty good! Now, where's that green tea when I need it?)