an inspired space

In a recent team meeting at Echoing Green, a non-profit that promotes social entrepreneurship, my boss asked my colleagues and me to think about a social ill that we would like to see remedied, solved, or overcome.  He told us to envision a world without this problem, to describe what that world might look like, and to share this with the team.  I spoke about mass incarceration.  One of my colleagues spoke about inequality in education, another about the oppression of women.  After we had shared what the world might look like without these problems, my boss explained that seeing these ideal worlds brought about is what inspires us to work with Echoing Green.

The purpose of this exercise was simple and profound.  It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of a job (or a life, I would argue) and to forget what it is we are striving for.  At Echoing Green the everyday tasks my team and I do can overshadow and draw our minds away from our passion and why it is we were drawn to the organization in the first place.  Thinking about what drives us and about what we are working towards can bring us back to that emboldened and committed state-of-mind.  It can keep us inspired, and it is that inspiration that keeps us productive.

Sure, it’s hard to stay in this state of inspiration, passion, empowerment.  Day-to-day minutia has a way of weighing on it, but there are always ways to keep yourself engaged and thoughtful.  One such way I have found helpful is defining an inspired workspace.  When you’re surrounded by things that inspire you, your workspace becomes a safe place for open-mindedness and free-thinking.  It is then that the monotony of everyday tasks can be overcome.

My desk at Echoing Green.

At my desk at Echoing Green I am surrounded by my favorite books (like Prudence Carter’s Keein’ It Real), pictures of my favorite places (like the South Bronx), and notes/quotations from people I admire.  When my mind wanders for a minute as I read emails or when I need a quick two-minute break from staring at an excel spreadsheet, my eyes focus in on these things.  I am brought back to a state of awareness, awareness of what I am working for and towards.  So after our team exercise I added a new knickknack to my desk – a small poster about incarceration in the United States given to me by a close friend.  Now when I need to refocus and get inspired, I just look up and read, “Incarceration Nation.”

This week think about your workspace, whether it is a workspace in an office or just your desk at home.  How can you make this space yours?  How can you make it a space that screams inspiration, that gives off passion, that empowers you and keeps you focused?  This kind of project is not only one that will make you more productive, but it is a lot of fun, too.

Click here for your two minutes of procrastination.

if i had more time…

I spent part of my weekend last week at my bakery on Staten Island serving up bread and pastries and cookies as I do two to three times a month.  As I struggled to chat with one of my friends there – a baker I have known for nearly 5 years now – I thought to myself, “I really need to brush up on my Spanish.”  This is a thought I have probably one a week.  And, it’s always followed by another thought… “If I had more time, I’d speak it fluently by now.”

When you’re busy this second thought is a common occurrence.  Variations of it plague my mind whenever I am presented with something I’d love to do, but for which I just don’t have any time.  They go a little something like this: “If I had more time…

• “… I’d make pretty scrapbooks.”
• “… I’d get caught up on How I Met Your Mother.” 
• “… I’d spend some quality time with my boyfriend.” 
• “… I wouldn’t be so tired all the time.” 
• “… I’d walk instead of taking the train.”

Yes, we all have things we’d like to do if we had more time, but what do you do when this list gets ridiculously long?  What do you do when at least once a day you start a thought off with, “If I had more time…”?

My answer here is I don’t know.  What I do know is what doesn’t work - or perhaps what doesn’t work well.  I’ve tried writing these things down – that only created documentation of all the things for which I do not have time.  Then, I tried dedicating one hour a day to working on one of these items.  When that became too stressful (and impossible with my schedule), I worked on fitting in one hour a week.  And when that was still too stressful, I gave up.  At the moment I get along by following this kind of thought with, “When I graduate, and I’m not so busy I’ll make time.”  I know it’s just wishful thinking.

This week I really want to hear from all of you.  What do you do when you want to do something, but can’t find the time?  Is this a problem you face?  Is it one you’re working on?  Is it one you’ve solved?  Please, share your own thoughts and experiences below.  And, click here for your two minutes of procrastination.

pranayama

December – is there a crazier month in the whole year?  Is there a busier month?  Is there a more stressful one?  I sure can’t think of a single one that rivals December in any of these ways.  It is essentially a jumbled combination of end of the semester projects; the stress those bring; holiday shopping, planning, and baking; new year planning, and end of the year cleaning.  And, what’s even worse is that amongst this mishmash of a million little tasks, this is also the time for reconnecting with friends and family.  This season, which was once meant for relaxation and recharging I am sure, has become for many of us the most troubling time of year. 

The holiday season isn’t something you can schedule (though this year I have been trying – check that post out here).  It is more of a feeling, a mood, a state of mind.  Yes, scheduling in an hour of holiday fun time a day can get you in the spirit, but the other 23 hours tend to just eradicate the jolliness.  So as you may have already guessed, I been trying out new ways to not only get into the holiday spirit, but stay there.

The solution to this worldwide problem won’t be found under any holiday tree.  No, the answer comes from ancient Sanskrit: pranayama.  Pranayama, which literally translates to “extension of the life force,”  is the contemporary word for yoga breathing.  Though these breathing techniques can get pretty advanced and difficult, their basic concept is our breath propels us – it gives us power and vitality. 

Breathing techniques won’t get you into the holiday spirit, but they can quell the stress and anxiety that can rush the spirit away.  Feeling stressed about your finals?  Dreading going home for the holidays?  Anxious about getting your Christmas shopping done last-minute?  Just breathe.  Take a deep inhale that opens up your rib cage.  Fill your body with air, and feel it expand.  Now, exhale fully.  Let all the air out, and feel all your stress release with it.  Pay close attention to how your breath connects with everything your body does.  Breathe slow and feel your heart rate slow, feel your muscles relax, feel that holiday spirit sustain itself.

Don’t be too stressed out and anxious to enjoy this holiday season.  Take the time to get into the spirit, but also make sure that spirit stays with you.  Click here for your two (relaxing) minutes of procrastiantion. 

baby steps

The weather today may not reflect it, but the holiday season is upon us again. And if you’re like me, the seasons of giving can also be a season of headaches. To be honest, for the past few holiday seasons the month of December has been centered more around stress than family and friends. So this year I am making a commitment to get into the holiday spirit.

It happens to most college students. The end of the fall semester is the busiest time of year because of research, papers, assignments, and finals. Add on top of all that shopping, baking, decorating, and time with friends and family; and scheduling becomes nearly impossible. In situations like these the have to do list trumps the want to do list, and the holiday season can come and go without much celebration at all.

But, not this year. Not for me. I have devised a plan to get around this December rush. Not only have I been proactive about getting my assignments and studying down much earlier than usual, but I am also integrating the holidays into all of my days during the month of December. Instead of putting off getting into the holiday spirit, I’m already embracing the holiday. My strategy is to do one small thing everyday that is holiday related. One day I’ll go gift shopping for an hour. Another day, I’ll listen to carols for an hour while studying. Maybe I’ll even fit in some time for a holiday movie on the weekends. Taking little baby steps towards the holiday spirit will help me to not miss out, but rather stretch out my celebration over the course of a month.

As the end of the semester approaches, don’t let yourself get bogged down with school work.  The holiday season comes only once a year, so make the most of it! Even if it’s in a very small way, start celebrating now.  And since WordPress is giving me a hard time hyperlinking a video this week, copy and paste this address to see your two minutes of procrastination: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJfZaT8ncYk.

literally running from one thing to the next

It’s a well-known fact:  physical activity improves mood.  Moving around causes your body to give off endorphins, and endorphins make you happy.  I am sure you have all heard this spiel before, because I had too.  And, every time I heard it I would think, “Yeah yeah, I know exercise makes you peppy.  Whatever, I am not the athletic type.”

And that was my stance on exercise for the first 20 years of my life.  Then one day this spring when I was feeling really down, overworked, and exhausted, I told a friend that my busy life-style was catching up to me.  When she recommended going for a run, I repeated, “No, I’m already tired.  I need some sleep.”  My friend conceded that it was important to get enough sleep, but said that she never feels more energized than after a long run.  I laughed about her statement for a few days until I became exhausted enough to try anything.  Skeptical, I went for a run after work.  When I got home – instead of crashing into my bed – I wrote a paper and cleaned my room. 

Since that night I had been running nearly everyday.  This summer I dedicated myself to running between 4 and 9 miles Sunday through Friday.  Physically, I had never felt better.  And even though I had a rough summer at my internship with the Bronx Defenders, exercising helped energize me emotionally, as well.  My friend was right; while I may feel physically tired after a run, it helps me to feel more awake and focused.

Since starting back at John Jay this fall, I have had much less time to run.  Between taking four classes, working three jobs, chairing two committees, maintaining my fellowship, and planning for what I will do when I graduate in May, I would stumble home at night and head straight for my bed.  For nearly a month running was put on hold because I had more important things to do.  And, I will be entirely honest:  I started to feel sluggish, tired, and even depressed.  I felt withdrawn and cloudy and sleepy.  Initially, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong.  This weekend I went for a run, and magically my mood got better and my head clearer.  That was enough proof for me that physical activity improves mood.

Being busy and running from one thing to the next can leave little time for actual running.  The truth is, however, that when I am exhausted and my head hurts from school and work, the best thing for me to do is go for a run.  I begrudgingly gave exercise a shot, and I hope you all will too, because – like my friend said - I have never felt better than after a long run.  And, I have never felt more energized and ready to tackle a busy schedule than the day after one.  Click here for your two minutes of procrastination.

Scrooge was productive

Who works on Christmas?  Scrooge and I are the first two that come to mind.  That’s right, for the past four years I have gotten up at 4AM on Christmas morning to serve up breakfast pastries and bread at the bakery where I work, because after all Christmas day is one of our busiest of the year.  I wonder if this means Scrooge and I have a similar work ethic, or just a shared aversion to vacation.

Let me be clear, I am not advocating for working on Christmas.  Holidays are a time to spend with family and friends, to relax, and to enjoy some down time.  You should absolutely take some time off from your busy schedule to enjoy the holidays and recharge. 

That being said, the holidays can also be a great time to get caught up with tasks and projects on which you have fallen behind.  Think about it.  When school is closed and you have off from work (as most places of employment – bakeries excluded – are closed for the holidays), you suddenly have tons of free time.  Sure, a good percentage of this time should be dedicated to festivities, but some of it can also be spent proactively.  The holidays should first and foremost be a time to relax and connect with loved ones, but they can also be productive.

This week during our break for Rosh Hashanah, remember that this is an opportunity for you to rest up, but also to catch up.  Work on upcoming assignments, get a head start on studying for midterms, and start researching for your term papers.  Getting things done now can not only free up your schedule later on, but it can also reduce stress by shrinking your to do list.  So make your long weekend count, and be productive! 

Click here for your two minutes of procrastination, and donate your old and broken cell phones to Medic Mobile and Hope Phones through Phi Eta Sigma’s cell phone drive.  You can drop your phones off in room 3300N at John Jay College, or arrange to have them picked up by emailing me at marybeth.apriceno@jjay.cuny.edu.

stress less

There always comes a point in the summer, for me at least, when I start thinking, “I’m ready to go back to school.”  I suppose I begin feeling this way because of boredom.  I start to miss being intellectually challenged.  Then there is the fun part of going back to school – I get to buy new notebooks and clothes, print out my new schedule, clean off my desk in preparation.  For me at least, the week before the start of classes is always an exciting one.

Then comes the stress.  With school comes a busier schedule, more deadlines, and the pressure to do well.  The minute I receive a syllabus from a professor my eyes scan the paper making a quick assessment.  Do I need to buy text books?  Is there a research paper?  Will there be a final?  How much reading is assigned per week?  I can literally feel the stress building, and by the end of the first week of classes I am ready for a vacation, counting the days until winter break, longing for time away from John Jay.

I am sure I am not alone when I say that school is a source of stress for me.  To help me deal with this anxiety this week I am trying some stress management techniques that come from the Counseling Department at John Jay located at 3104N.  The Counseling Department provides free counseling to all John Jay students, as well as, some really cool hand outs like this one on how to manage your stress:

1. Avoid unnecessary stress.  Not all stressors can be avoided, but some can.  Take control of your environment.  If someone stresses you out, stay away from them.  Learn to say, “no,” and stick to your guns.
2. Alter the situation.  If you can’t avoid the stressor, change things so that the problem will not persist in the future.  Manage your time more efficiently.  Be more willing to compromise.  Let your feelings out instead of bottling them up.
3. Adapt to the stressor.  Learn how to regain your sense of control in stressful situations by changing your attitude and expectations.  Reframe the problem, and try looking at the bigger picture.  Accept that perfection is not always possible or necessary.  Focus on the positive.
4. Accept what you cannot change.  Acceptance is difficult, but easier than railing yourself against a situation you cannot alter.  Remember that what does not kill you makes you stronger.
5. Make time for fun.  This is my favorite – You have to remember to nurture yourself.  Regularly making time for yourself will put you in a better position to handle stressors when they come your way.  Set aside relaxation time, connect with others, and do something you enjoy every day.

This week try some of these great stress management techniques, as we head back into another semester.  Remember that school can and should be fun, so take some time to meet with your friends between classes for a snack!  Click here for your two minutes of procrastination.

the gap

Since last week’s post about the 16 (now 17) books I read this summer, I have been asked repeatedly, “How did you do manage that?”  While I stand by everything I said in my last post, I would like to add just one thing.  I realized that every time some would ask me how I had gotten so much reading done while also working full-time I would reply, “Well, I have a two-hour commute both ways, so I have a lot of time.”  My zeal to read and my long commute came together in a perfect storm that produced a very productive summer.

Why am I still rambling on about my summer full of reading?  Well, maybe it is because I am kind of proud that I took a serious bite out of my monster book list.  More importantly I think there is a lesson to be learned here.  I was more efficient at crossing books off of my list, because I had time to read – time that was otherwise unusable.  There was nothing else I could do for those four hours a day when I was stuck on busesor trains, or waiting for them.  I had a gap – free time – and I used it in a productive way. 

As classes start this week, I think it is good to keep in mind that gaps are good.  I know that most college students (and it’s even worse for commuters) who have gaps between their classes typically complain about this in between time because they have to wait around.  But, maybe we are thinking of this in the wrong way.  Maybe this gap time is an opportunity.  Like I used my commute time to read this summer, maybe you can use your gap time in a constructive way.  Perhaps during this time you can read for your next class, do other homework, join a club, volunteer, or make time to socialize and see friends.  If you have gap time, you might as well use it and use it to your advantage.

My friends always ask me how I find time to do everything that I do.  I use a lot of scheduling techniques and tricks, but this has got to be one of my mantra’s:  find a way to make useless time productive.  It’s easy to fall into the trap of squandering your gap time, but this semester try to make the best of it.  Who knows what you can accomplish!  Click here for your two minutes of procrastination.

16 books in 12 weeks

Like all Jeannette K. Watson Fellows I spent the first week of my summer preparing for an internship and fellowship program that would consume most of my summer.  The fellowship program - which takes place over ten weeks - includes weekly seminars, cultural outings, writing assignments, mandatory journaling, and a business plan project – not to mention a full-time internship.  With these tasks ahead of me it would have been easy to let everything else fall by the waste side while my attention was focused on Watson.  During the first week of the program, however, was a mandatory orientation at which all Fellows were asked to set goals for ourselves both professional and personal.  Feeling like I had had a rather productive summer last year, I resolved myself to accomplishing something – anything.

I have posted here before about my ever-growing book list (read about it here).  What I have come to call “the monster list,” started growing out of control during my freshman year of college, when my reading for class time began spilling over into my reading for fun time.  By the start of this summer – the summer before my senior year of college – my list had gotten so out of control that it blatantly clear that it needed to be attacked head-on.

At the start of this summer, when the Watson directors asked us to set some goals, I was weary of my ability to finish the book list in just a few months.  However, I was also preparing for a summer full of long commutes to the Bronx (my internship this summer was with an incredible non-profit called The Bronx Defenders).  It seemed to me, daunting as my book list was, this was the perfect time to take a stab at it.  I set the goal of reading at least ten books before the end of my internship.  Not only that, but I wrote the goal down and submitted it to the Watson directors, knowing full well that they would return that paper to me at the end of the summer and ask me to evaluate how I had done.  So not only did I take on the challenge of tackling the monster list, but I did so knowing that if I failed I would be reminded of it.

For the next ten weeks I spent my two-hour commute (four hours a day, five days a week) reading.  I spent most of my lunch breaks reading.  When I traveled to New Jersey on the weekends to see my boyfriend, I read.  When I couldn’t sleep at night, I read.  I literally spent all of my free time reading.  I dedicated myself to the goal, and at the end of my internship I had read fourteen books.  In the two weeks after my internship, with actually less time to read because of a shorter commute and two jobs, I have read two more books.  As of today’s commute home from my job with Echoing Green, I have read sixteen books in a total of twelve weeks.  Not only did I reach my goal – which I thought at the time was a lofty one, but I ended up surpassing it.

Instead of having a bookshelf full of books I want to read, I now have one full of books I have read.

I take away from this summer reading project three personal lessons.  The first is that when we put things off for too long, we start to really doubt our ability to ever accomplish them.  Procrastination makes the task seem so much worse that it actually will be.  I also learned that making a plan and sticking to it is the only way to really tackle a project.  Some days when I got up in the morning I was tired and would have preferred to listen to my Ipod rather than read, but I stuck to the plan.  And, my perseverance was rewarded.  Lastly, I learned that the threat of being reminded of failure kept me on track more than anything else.  Knowing that at the end of my summer internship I would be given back the piece of paper on which I had written that I wanted to read ten books kept me dedicated.  Writing down my goal actually may have been the single strongest motivating factor for me to read and read and read.

When you have a daunting task ahead of you, try to remember that procrastination will only make things worse, that perseverance pays off, and failure never feels good.  Know that you can do anything you dedicate yourself to doing.  Click here for your two minutes of procrastination.  And, comment with any good books you have read lately, since I am looking to build up my book list again for next summer!

new look, same blog

This week the John Jay Balancing Act got a much needed facelift.  Not only did I do some literal sprucing up of my blog, but I’ve added a lot of content as well.  The reason?  I am no longer just any old John Jay blogger.  As of this week, I am officially a peer mentor with John Jay’s Office of First Year Experience, an office that helps freshman transition into college life through a variety of different programs.  My role will be to continue blogging, help freshman develop their e-portfolios, provide information about different services at John Jay, and just be a friend to my new mentees.

So what does that mean for the John Jay Balancing Act?  Well, nothing really.  This blog will still be a space in which I share my experiences and struggles as a working college student, and those experiences/struggles will be plentiful this semester.  Not only am I taking five classes and working two jobs, but I have also taken on a slew of other activities and responsibilities (which you can read all about here).  So, this space will remain centered around time management and scheduling with weekly Tuesday night postings. 

There are, as you may have noticed, some added features specific to John Jay freshman, however (click here to check out some of them).  These pages and posts will be geared toward campus involvement and time management for new college students.  I will try in every way to also include elements in these pages and post for my non-John Jay readers, as well, so that there will be a little something for everyone.

So instead of a trying a new scheduling technique this week or evaluating your productivity, take some time to check out some of the new content here.  Comments on how to make these new features more comprehensible are certainly welcome.  And don’t forget to be productive during these last few weeks of summer! Click here and here for your two minutes of procrastination.