Barring the three classes I have today, my first week of class is basically over. My main goal this semester has been trying to improve my work ethic, and I am finding this to be an obtainable goal. I try to finish my homework before hanging out with friends, do all my homework alone rather than with a group of people and I am trying not to rush my notes or readings so that I can fully comprehend them the first time. Besides accomplishing homework, I have tried to really engage in all of my lectures. I find that sitting in the front row is really important. It forces you to pay attention because you are so close to the professor and it prevents you from checking your phone (which I do compulsively) or staring at the people in front of you. Also, people in the front row are less likely to be surrounded by people who talk throughout lectures (one of my pet peeves).
This semester is the first one where I am doing the typical four course work load, and another thought has occurred to me throughout this past week. I think that I do better when I'm taking more classes. This may sound counterintuitive - fewer classes means more time to devote to each one. However, it also means that I already perceive my workload as being "easy" and will be less likely to think I need to work hard. This semester, I know that Biology and Psychology are easy to fall behind in, so I am apt to try harder to stay on top of my work. Knowing that it is easy to fall behind is a strong motivator and is likely to push me towards being more successful.
I have also thought about the fact that I have started trying to turn over this "new leaf" for a new semester and I wonder if this type of change is possible in the middle of a semester. Why does it feel easier to break habits when we start something new, whether it's a new calendar year, school year or a new semester of classes? Perhaps we have been conditioned by society to wait until something new for a "fresh start" to the point where we cannot create new beginnings on our own. The cult of "New Year's Resolutions" essentially proves our society's obsession with new beginnings starting at specific times. Also, I have never witnessed anyone who pulled their entire life together halfway through a term. (One could argue that I spend my life around complete bums which I will neither confirm nor deny).
If you are struggling with school, or your personal life, but there is no new beginning scheduled for you, change can be more difficult. Time away from a daily routine can provide an important break necessary for introspection into your life. I postulate that it is indeed possible to change your behavior half-way through a year or term but it feels like it takes more effort, even if it doesn't. We are of the age where we need to change our conditioning. Society dictates enough of our behavior and there is no point letting arbitrary constructs dictate when we decide to make a positive change. Take your break from everything when you want it, over a weekend for example. Spend a day writing out what exactly you want to change and how you are going to cultivate the habits of mind to change it.
Think about yourself, think about your future and think about what you want out of your life or academic experience (based on which area of your life you are applying this advice to). Changing your life is something that takes daily effort and I admit to failing at this a number of times. Failure, is in a sense a part of success. Success means nothing if you have never conquered failure at some point in your life. So, go along with your weekend. Think about changes you want to make, and carve yourself into a better person whenever you damn well please.
This semester is the first one where I am doing the typical four course work load, and another thought has occurred to me throughout this past week. I think that I do better when I'm taking more classes. This may sound counterintuitive - fewer classes means more time to devote to each one. However, it also means that I already perceive my workload as being "easy" and will be less likely to think I need to work hard. This semester, I know that Biology and Psychology are easy to fall behind in, so I am apt to try harder to stay on top of my work. Knowing that it is easy to fall behind is a strong motivator and is likely to push me towards being more successful.
I have also thought about the fact that I have started trying to turn over this "new leaf" for a new semester and I wonder if this type of change is possible in the middle of a semester. Why does it feel easier to break habits when we start something new, whether it's a new calendar year, school year or a new semester of classes? Perhaps we have been conditioned by society to wait until something new for a "fresh start" to the point where we cannot create new beginnings on our own. The cult of "New Year's Resolutions" essentially proves our society's obsession with new beginnings starting at specific times. Also, I have never witnessed anyone who pulled their entire life together halfway through a term. (One could argue that I spend my life around complete bums which I will neither confirm nor deny).
If you are struggling with school, or your personal life, but there is no new beginning scheduled for you, change can be more difficult. Time away from a daily routine can provide an important break necessary for introspection into your life. I postulate that it is indeed possible to change your behavior half-way through a year or term but it feels like it takes more effort, even if it doesn't. We are of the age where we need to change our conditioning. Society dictates enough of our behavior and there is no point letting arbitrary constructs dictate when we decide to make a positive change. Take your break from everything when you want it, over a weekend for example. Spend a day writing out what exactly you want to change and how you are going to cultivate the habits of mind to change it.
Think about yourself, think about your future and think about what you want out of your life or academic experience (based on which area of your life you are applying this advice to). Changing your life is something that takes daily effort and I admit to failing at this a number of times. Failure, is in a sense a part of success. Success means nothing if you have never conquered failure at some point in your life. So, go along with your weekend. Think about changes you want to make, and carve yourself into a better person whenever you damn well please.
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