Tips to Focus

This has been a very busy two weeks for me. One thing that has made it extremely busy is that I joined a sorority, and I am going though Orientation which is very time consuming. Luckily we have set study hours to help get homework done, but because I am with my new sisters, it is difficult to focus on studying instead of socializing. It is extremely important to stay focused during study hours and stay on-top of grades because classes are the reason we are at Trinity! Because of this, I have compiled some tips to help you stay focused when studying.















1. Put away distractions. This includes the computer and cell phones. If you do not need a computer, do not even bring it with you when you study. It is too easy to long on and open up facebook. Turn off and put away your cell phone so that you are not distracted by your friends and family.
2. Don't socialize. If you are studying around people you know, don’t strike up a social conversation in the middle of studying. This breaks your concentration and takes up important studying time.
3. Focus on one thing at a time. If you have a variety of homework, don’t move from one topic to the next without completing your first task. This breaks your concentration on your first assignment and rushes you. Moreover, if you complete a task before moving on, you will feel a sense of accomplishment!

Homework Overload—How to Manage

Have you ever had various homework assignments, paper, and tests all due around the same time? Well, that is my homework situation this week, so I decided to focus on the implementation of a schedule that will get work done in a timely manner. In the previous post (January 20th), I talked about using a calendar to help plan your day. If you find yourself in my situation of homework overload, you might find it helpful to plan out a daily schedule that specifies not only what time you will start a given assignment, but also how long you will spend on that assignment. Your schedule does not need to be planned down to the minute, and you can slightly alter it to fit your needs as the day goes by. It is important to remember to not alter the schedule too much, because it provides a basic outline that will keep you on track in all you endeavors. Considering all details, such as calculating how much time it will take to walk back to the dorm, to eat each a meal, and even the time it takes to shower, will visibly show you how time adds up. Being conscious of the time NOT spent doing homework will keep you on track and focused during your scheduled homework time (and help you recognize how much time is wasted by that half hour spent on Facebook). Good luck!

Time is Precious

Time is precious. Time is too important to waste. The time you spend doing homework reflects the grade you get in class. Getting good grades, and thus a good education are the reason we are all here at Trinity. But what about the time we spend outside of the classroom? What about the time you spend with friends? Is that important too? The time you spend with friends can lead to fun activities, serious discussions, goofy moments, and a brief therapy session. This time you spend with friends can teach you many lessons that the classroom doesn’t teach. Unfortunately, though, how you separate your time between the classroom and social activities can become very stressful, and lead one to feeling overwhelmed. I definitely think that “Timing is Everything” when it comes to managing this stress. In order to manage my time, I employ the use of my Outlook Calendar. I am currently really busy because I not only have my classes and homework to worry about, but I am also going through Rush (which is very time consuming), as well as trying to maintain my relationships with my close friends and family. Overall, it can be pretty stressful, and my Outlook Calendar helps keep me on track (even though updating it can be time-consuming and stressful as well). I always feel less stressed once I have my days planned. It is so nice to have everything organized and color-coded so it is easy to know what I need to get done. Without my Outlook, I would waste so much time procrastinating or being confused over the things I need to do; I would be lost! The saying “time is precious” is definitely true.