I'm not slacking off, I promise.

At least I'm not intentionally slacking off. I've just been really spacey lately. I just completely forget about important things that are coming up, like assignments and meetings and such.

Example A: I had this project and paper for one of my classes and I swear to God it was due on Thursday (aka tomorrow). This semester I have a lot of my classes with the same people, so a few of us were talking as we were waiting for the bus after our Monday night class and I find out that it's actually due Tuesday (aka yesterday). Keep in mind that I find this out Monday after my night class and I hadn't even started it yet.

Example B: Yesterday, I was pretty pumped because I didn't have anything going on last night. I remember checking my phone calendar, seeing nothing, and thinking "Wow I actually have a free night? That never happens." Anyway, after supper I was doing homework and all the sudden I was like "Oh efff, do I have a meeting tonight??" Yes, I had a meeting. And yes, I was late. I have a committee meeting for student government stuff EVERY Tuesday at 7 pm. You'd think I'd remember it right?

I blame my dependence on my phone calendar. And my inability to remember things, but mostly I'm going to blame it on the fact that it wasn't in my phone (which is still my fault because I forgot to put it in there...)

I'm a bit notorious for putting everything in my phone calendar: meetings, appointments, work shifts, lunch dates, weekend plans, etc. See if it's not in my phone, I will think I don't have anything going on then. I know I work Fridays for three hours as soon as I'm done with class, but if it's not in my phone, I will be making plans with someone, look at my phone calendar, see nothing on that date and be like, "Oh yeah, Friday after class works perfect" and then about two hours later I will remember that I actually have to work.

The only think I don't put in my phone are classes and assignments. I write those in my planner. Unfortunately, I'm the kind of person who writes things in my planner, closes my planner, throws it in my backpack and forgets about it. Hence, the spaced-off papers and quizzes and such. I'm really trying to get better at actually looking at my planner this semester.

I've figured out that I have to write things in my planner and on my marker board. Towards the end of last semester, I started to have a permanent to-do list on my marker board. It's perfect because it's right by my desk and I see it every day. I can all sticky-note it and it's magnetic so I can put other reminders and stuff on it. For some reason, I haven't been using it this semester but that changed yesterday. Now it's got every class on it and what I need to get done.

Before

Just a side note, I didn't draw any of that.

After
Much better.

I told you I'm still trying to figure this whole college thing out.

More AHHHH!

I'm officially the lamest person ever because I am actually going to stay in on a Saturday night and write a paper. And that doesn't bother me.

It's not that I want to write a paper tonight, it just needs to get done today so I have time to revise it and make it not crappy by Wednesday, and so I can spend tomorrow studying for my finals on Monday and Tuesday.

I've been working on this stupid thing for literally like three days and it's just not happening. I've almost got 6 pages done, and it's supposed to be in the 15 page range. I was going to try to shoot for around 12, but I think I will take 10 at this point since there isn't really a minimum, just a maximum page limit of 15.

It's a damn good paper though, and I'm going to be pissed if it doesn't get an A.

Now I'm going to actually try to go be productive and hack away at this thing some more. Happy Studying!

How to Survive Dead Week

Today, the unthinkable happened.

WE GOT A SECOND SNOW DAY.

That happens like never.

Dead Week is much more enjoyable if you don't have to go to school.

But since that isn't the case most often, I've been coming up with a survival strategy so I don't go crazy.

First off, get some good music. Preferably nothing produced in this decade, but whatever floats your boat. Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with the 80s-R.E.M., The Police, Journey, Hall&Oates, Elton John, Queen, Styx, Foreigner, stuff like that. The 90s are also fantastic, but none of that N*Sync crap. Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind, Counting Crows, Better Than Ezra, Ben Folds, more R.E.M, Barenaked Ladies. And then of course The Beatles. You can't go wrong with The Beatles.

Second, don't sit at a desk and try to do homework. It doesn't work. Find a comfy couch somewhere, bring your books and your iPod and be productive. Also if you have someone to study with, that helps.

And third, don't freak out. Yeah there's a crap ton of stuff to get done, but take a break to watch a movie with your friends or go play in the snow. Your not going to lose anything by taking an hour or so off. I took about 12 hours off yesterday, and I'm fine =)