the master plan … or a to-do list

If you have not noticed it by now, let me say again that one of my biggest pet peeves is wasted time.  When you are as busy as I am every minute needs to be used productively and wisely.  Since being so busy can mean that your mind is focused on a million things, to-do lists can be a great way to keep track of what needs to get done.  They ensure that no time is wasted and that nothing slips through the cracks. 

With the summer coming, I know most of you are asking “Why are we still talking about being busy?  School is over.”  Well, you are right.  With classes, papers, studying, and commuting out of the way our schedules open up a lot over the summer.  Which is precisely why I want to talk about to-do lists and using time wisely.  If you are like me you build up a list of things you want to do or need to do over the fall and spring semesters, things that fall through the cracks, things we just do not have time for.  Since we have this break from the craziness of school, why not use our time productively and wisely?  Why not wipe the “to-do slate” clean for the coming fall?

Most people think of to-do lists as a quick laundry list of things to get at the store or to fix around the house.  Let me help you revolution your way of thinking about these lists.  I guarantee you (as I do all the time) think of things you need to do or want to do, but forget them, and so they end up never getting done.  Think of a movie you really wanted to see or a book you have been meaning to read.  If you forget about them they are gone forever, but if you put them on a list they are put aside for later.  Now think of this summer’s to-do list as a culmination of all the things you did not have time for in the past year.  You have three (or so) months now to tackle these things and get them done before classes start back up in the fall.

So what kinds of things go on a summer to-do list?  The possibilities are endless.  Why not start that diet you have been putting off, apply for that job you think will work well with your schedule in the fall, or start keeping a journal like you have been meaning to do?  The things on your list do not even have to be this broad or time-consuming.  Why not catch up on your favorite shows so that you can watch them when they return in the fall, read that book your professor recommended, or clean out that overgrown closet of yours?  Anything you think you should get done over the summer to help you when you get busy again in the fall is a good idea.  I personally like to add other things to, like goals I have for myself that will help me to better myself for the coming school year.

So how do you get this master plan list?  It can get a lot more complicated than you think, especially when you have a year’s worth of things you want to catch up on.  To keep it simple and organized I have come up with five ways to come up with a productive summer to-do list:

1. Give your list a title or theme.  This will help you narrow down the goals you have for your summer and the things you want to accomplish.  A list that is too diverse can have you running in all directions, but a list of to-do’s centered around one general theme can help you grow and learn.  Think about a to-do list focused around resume building.  Or, one concerned with nurturing your social life.  There are dozens of things that could go on each list, but each one has a general theme and purpose to keep you centered.
2. Do not keep it short.  Giving yourself a set number of to-do’s can be the cause of letting those little to-do’s slip through the cracks yet again.  Put everything you think is important on the list, no matter how small.  If you think something is too small or not worth your time later on, you can always cross it off.
3. Be thorough.  The key to a to-do list is brainstorming, and brainstorming a lot.  For one particular to-do list I might work for three or four days, writing down things that come to mind, reorganizing them, rethinking them, re-reorganizing them, adding on, and tweaking items here and there.  A list that you take a day to make can end up leave things out, things that are important. 
4. Use subgroups.  When I am done making a to-do list it often times looks like a tree chart.  One item branches out into four, which each themselves branch out into two more items.  Using this process allows you to list a general item on the list (let’s say “live a healthier lifestyle”), then break it down (“start eating healthier food”, “start exercising”, and ”learn how to better cope with stress”), and break it down to its simplest form (“research healthy eating habits” or “read new research regarding stress relieving methods”).  Through this technique each item gives you an overview or a goal, followed by subgroups that explain and plan out how to go about accomplishing the goal.
5. Write it down.  Keeping a list in your mind is a romantic idea, but let’s be honest, can you really remember everything?  Writing things down not only helps us remember what to do, but it can help us organize (remember step four?).  Also, by writing things down and checking them off, we feel a sense of accomplishment in seeing what we have gotten done.  This helps us to not become discouraged.

I hope this post helps you as you embark on a fun-filled summer.  Remember, this summer can be anything you want it to be: productive and inspiring, or lazy and useless.  Making a list now can help you get a jump-start on what you want to do and how you plan to do it.  Keep it simple and keep it posted somewhere you will see it everyday to remind you to keep working hard.

I hope everyone is kicking butt on those finals.  School is almost over so keep working hard and think about making a summer to-do list.  What do you want to get out of your summer?  What do you want to accomplish?  What do you want to get caught up on?  And more importantly, in September when you are filling out job and scholarship applications, how will you answer the question, “What did you do this past summer?”  Enjoy your summers and your two minutes of procrastination.

mental health day

As a psychology student, specifically one who takes on way too many responsibilities, the term “mental health day” is one I hear a lot.  In college, and even in high school, we are always hearing people say they need to take a mental health day or they are going to.  But, what exactly does it mean?

Psychologically speaking, it can be summed up in one famous line:  “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.  More scientifically speaking, it refers to stress.  Working all the time, taking on tons of responsibilities, working on the weekends, not getting enough sleep, and feeling like the work is never-ending can all lead to stress.  And, stress can lead to increased loss of sleep, crankiness, loss of productivity, and more work.  So really a mental health day is an attempt to take some time out from our busy schedules to finish up those to-do’s that seem to linger for weeks, to catch up on some sleep and some cleaning, and to refresh our minds so that we can go back to work being more productive.

The problem with mental health days comes when they come too often.  Taking too many days off can become a procrastination tool, causing the work to pile up, ultimately decreasing productivity (and if you have not noticed by now, I am all about maximizing productivity).  So to prevent this from happening, I have come up with five rules to follow when contemplating and taking a mental health day.  Here they are:

1. Do not make it a habit.  Mental health days, while they are tempting, are for times when stress is at an all time high, and when taking a day off is an option.  They should be used infrequently and only as a last resort.  Some times it can help to take half a day off in stead of a full day.  Mental health days should not be overused.
2. Do not flake.  If you have something very important to do during the day, as in a final or a presentation, that day would not be a good day to take a break.  Mental health days should be scheduled for days that can afford to be taken off.  If class on a particular day will simply be a review, and you would rather spend the day writing a paper for another class, you can afford to take the day off.  However, if you have more important things to do, the mental health day should wait.  Which leads us to number three …
3. Prioritize.  It seems that every time I make a list like this the word prioritize comes up, but having this skill is invaluable.  By being able to prioritize your schedule, you can tell more easily if it is worth taking a day off from work to study, or if you can skip class to prepare for a presentation.  Knowing what you must get done in a week, as opposed to what you hope to get done in the same week (see the post one ”due and do lists” can help you schedule your mental health day more efficiently.
4. Maximize your time.  If you take the day off, do not waste it sitting in front of the television.  Take the time you have to get other things done.  Having a shorter to-do list can help your stress level go down, so take the day to cross off those nagging to-dos that have been lingering for weeks.  I often throw in some cleaning and sleeping a little bit later than usual on my mental health days, as well.
5. Lastly, remember the purpose of your mental health day.  Take the day to chill out and calm yourself.  Try not to stress over what needs to get done, but rather focus on relaxing and refocusing yourself in every activity you do.

While I almost never take a mental health day, I do enjoy their effects on my productivity.  After a day of “resting” I feel rejuvenated and refreshed for the work to come.  I find that these days are most helpful when they come during months when my schedule is constantly packed, even on weekends.  During the last four weeks of school, taking a mental health day (again, on a day when it will not interfere too much with your schedule) can work wonders.

I hope everyone is enjoying the last two weeks of school.  Keep in mind this is the last sprint of the marathon, so do not get discouraged.  Study hard and keep the end goal in your sights.  While I am not sure procrastination is needed during the last two weeks of school , here it is your two minutes (and 43 seconds) or procrastination.

tactful use of a corkboard

Hanging next to my desk in my room is a cork board, typically covered with notices, assignment breifs, and opportunity fliers.  But the cork board did not alway hang there, in fact it is a fairly recent addition to my scheduling coalition, which includes calendars, day planners, dry-erase boards, and post-its.  I did not always have a cork board because I have long been weary of them, and questioned how productive one could be.

In school cork boards are used to display notices and upcoming events, like a marketing technique.  Often times, however, they become cluttered and over grown with outdated and past due fliers that cover-up the current and pertinent information.  Hence my hesitation in getting one.  In my life things need to be organized, both for my schedule to flow and for my OCD to stay in check.  Since I thought of cork boards as chaotic at best, I put off getting one for a long time.  But with college comes lots of fliers, assignment briefs, syllabi, etc. and so I gave in eventually.

Over the past two years, however, I have experimented with my cork board a lot, making attempts to make it more user-friendly.  In curbing my cork board woes and increasing its productivity, I found that five easy steps are all it takes to stay organized.  For your viewing pleasure, here they are:

1. Be selective.  Do not post every little thing you come across on your cork board.  Mixing all sorts of fliers and papers can give you a headache later on.  Give your cork board a theme or two – on mine I keep only things with deadlines (like assignments and event fliers)  - so that other random things do not get lost.  Keep those things that do not belong on your cork board in another place, like in a folder or desk draw.
2. Set limits.  Overcrowding is the leading cause of frustration when it comes to cork boards.  After all, they are designed to make finding things easier, so do not hide that opportunity flier behind two layers of assignment briefs.  Choose a manageable number of tacks - my cork board is fairly small so I only use seven – and make sure to post only as many papers as you have tacks at any given time.  This way things are easy to find, easy to read, and easy to keep track of.
3. Leave notes.  In posting assignment briefs on my cork board I always attach a post-it with the due date and any other pertinent information.  With fliers about college events and opportunities I leave notes with phone numbers or email addresses of those in charge, who I may need to contact.  This makes it much easier later on, because all the information you need is in one place.
4. Keep it positive.  If your cork board contains nothing but things from your have-to-do list, you will dread looking at it, which defeats its purpose.  By throwing in some positive things, like an invitation to a friend’s party, a list of movies you want to see (this is one I keep on my cork board and always update), or even some cute decorations, looking at your cork board will not seem like such a terrible thing.
5. Lastly, keep it current.  There is no reason to keep old and past-due fliers or assignments on your cork board.  When you have completed something, take it down.  When things you did not get to become overdue, throw them away.  It is this kind of thing that builds up and clutters your cork board.  Check it weekly for papers that can be taken down, and keep up only those papers that are relevant and current.

They seems like a simple concept, but cork boards can grow out of control and gain a mind of their own if not monitored.  Keep your cork board under control so it works for you and helps you stay organized and on schedule.  It is times like these – the last week or two of classes – when cork boards can really come in handy, especially when it comes to final projects and final reviews.  Keep on top of these things, and do not get discouraged – summer is just around the corner.  Study hard, and enjoy your two minutes of procrastination by clicking —> there.

chink in your armour or brothers in arms

In scheduling, working hard to fit everything in, and taking on new responsibilities I rarely let myself get discouraged.  I always tell myself that I am working toward something better and that the work I do now will pay off later.  I schedule in some “me” time here and there, make sure my want-to-do list does not get too long, and make sure to get enough sleep to function.  So what gets me down?  It is quite simple actually: people who belittle me.  One comment about how I do not do as much as I think I do, about how I could do more, or about how what I do is not that hard and my mood ring changes color instantly. 

I believe that everyone has this same thing – a sore spot – a weakness.  They stem mostly, from what I have seen, from insecurities and uncertainties.  No matter how much I tell myself that my work now will pay off in the long run, no one can say that for sure.  And even in achieving smaller goals, I can still sometimes doubt myself.  I wonder if what I will eventually gain is worth what I am giving up now.  Days when I have to cancel on my friends, miss out of parties and hanging out, and even lose friends all together it makes me feel like I am giving up too much.  I think about what it must be like to be a care-free college student, who does not work (or blog or intern or take honors program classes), who has no commitments or responsibilities, and who can party and hang out all he or she wants.  All I need is one comment about how easy my life is to make my head spin around.

There is an old adage that says, “Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.”  How true is it that the people we associate with, spend time with, and grow with become a part of who we are?  I certainly believe that in my life those who surround me influence me, which brings me to the point of this post.  Those who we let into our lives shape them and shape us.  Their words, their actions, their beliefs, and their attitudes can change us and our futures. 

If those around us can effect our well-being, why not control who gets to be around us?  If a friend of yours tends to be a downer, to belittle you and your accomplishments, and to make you feel useless, then why keep that person in your life?  Why let into your inner circle someone who does not have your best interest at heart?  It is not beneficial to have people around you who care about you and your success.

While I am in no way an advocate for burning bridges, I do believe in monitoring those we befriend and count on.  In my personal life I only keep close to me those people who I trust and who I know will support me through all my endeavors.  Others, who tend to criticize me and my efforts, I keep at an arm’s length, because they do not deserve my support if they cannot or will not give me theirs.  To use another adage, “True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and choice.”  Or as I like to say, when it comes to friends quality is more important than quantity.

Do not ever let others put you down for doing what you believe in.  Friends should always support you, and never belittle what you do.  Instead of probing for that chink in your armour – your weakness – your friends should be your brothers in arms.  So support your friends in these coming weeks as final papers, projects, and presentations come due.  Work hard now so you can enjoy the summer, and remember to save some time for yourselves so you do not go crazy with work.  You can click here and here for two minutes of procrastination.