Back to skewl... to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool!
"BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!!!!"
That earth shattering surprise as you try to open your eyes, and suddenly remember what day it is. You don't want to be torn away; your bed is so warm and the promise of what kind of dreams it bears it irresistable. Pulling back the sheets, you rub your eyes and give one big stretch and a yawn. It's only dawn but the time moves on and you think "just 5 more minutes...."
So I'm certain you've all been eagerly anticipating this time of year again... No? You've all gotten so used to sleeping in just that while longer, spending your days assessment free, doing what you want when you want knowing there are so many days in the holidays to do all those things you shoulda, orta, coulda done before this day has arrived again. And suddenly it's hear and all those memories of free time have blissfully disappeared into a new thought..... Today I go back to school.
Starting school can mean meeting new people, juggling new subjects and even that dreaded H word....."Homework!" And with this in mind, we often experience a range of different emotions towards our education and the environment we enter in. For me, the first day was always uncertain. Coming from a small country town, you never knew what each year would bring. How much effort I needed to concentrate into my work, what teachers I was stuck with, whilst upholding a social life and all other activities I endured during a week.
Whether you're heading back to school or TAFE this week - or those days are long gone but you've got some tips to share, join us in the forums this Monday (3rd of February) at 8pm AEST, to tell us about your first day of school.
I like writing lists on expensive but gorgeous Kikki K stationary 
@florenceforever Yes...I am an avid list maker as well. And I like to plan a schedule for the day too. It has to be realistic though and you need to mix it up. Otherwise you get bored and sick of working on the same thing.
What's your best tip for staying organised?
Everyone has sort of hated me my whole life. I've always been organised. I can't leave anything to the last minute. Generally finishing things way in advance. But uni hasn't allowed me to do that because it is so full on!! I think that's what stresses me out...because I'm not as ahead as I want to be.
Basically I just start things straight away. I work best in the evening, so I spend my mornings doing anything I want, like yoga, watching tv etc. Then I start doing actual work about 2-4pm...sometimes later and work until 11pm-2am, depending on how I am feeling. I have breaks in between. This is the time where I can sit and focus and concentrate.
The secret...don't force it. You can't possibly spend the whole day studying. 6 hours is HEAPS!!! Work when it suits you.
What's your best tip for staying organised?
I think organisation is really hard to achieve, well for me anyway. I have an awful memory, so to stay organised I tend to write everything down in lists or on my phone so I don't forget. I also get really sidetracked very easily, because I have such an active mind. So I try and change up what I'm doing every 20 mins and not spend too much time on any one task, or if I need to spend a lot of time on one task I break it up into sections. So if I'm studying I might write for 20 mins, read for 20 mins then complete a question for 20 mins.
I find breaking it up really helps.
@Jordo-RO wrote:
What's your best tip for staying organised?
I think organisation is really hard to achieve, well for me anyway. I have an awful memory, so to stay organised I tend to write everything down in lists or on my phone so I don't forget. I also get really sidetracked very easily, because I have such an active mind. So I try and change up what I'm doing every 20 mins and not spend too much time on any one task, or if I need to spend a lot of time on one task I break it up into sections. So if I'm studying I might write for 20 mins, read for 20 mins then complete a question for 20 mins.
I find breaking it up really helps.
Me too! I get distracted so easily. I often jump between questions, assignments or subjects to keep myself interested.
@_sagira_ - I'm sure people haven't hated you! They've probably hated your motivation and organisation and gotten annoyed with themselves for leaving everything to the last minute!
I'm quite like you - very organised, always finishing things early, etc. I don't think it'll ever be a bad quality to have!
I'm not sure I'm qualified to give advice for staying organised, not after last year.
But I guess, just getting things done early so that there is plenty of time, and keeping on top of things. Also sleeping helps to stay organised, as it makes thinking and planning easier.
Oh, and diaries. One love for diaries/planners!
@unrealreality I certainly love my sleep too! And I know for sure if I havnt had enough sleep I'm often too zombified to even think of studying.
Staying organised for me is: Writing a memo on my phone a week before due date, Writing the memo in my diary, Having a huge year planned on my wall and writing everything I have to remember from birthdays to holidays (my fav timeof year) and due dates. I also write what unit im doing and what i need to take!
Most of all the night before class I check I have everything and usually re-read what I need to and tab the pages. My classmates think I'm a neat/organisation freak.
I also have a folio that bring with the last 3-5 units we have done with all the paper work in it. I often get asked in class what we had due or what paper work we needed to read, or asked for copies.
Hey @Fozzie, Thanks for joining us tonight 🙂
Got to love "THE PROCRASTINATOR!!", I avoided the GAMSAT by studying a Cert in Aged Care and HACC to see if I liked the idea of being a Nurse eventually. It's certainly a tough crowd to be in!!
We'd like to know what year you'll be going into and what you'll be studying???? 2nd year bach. of psychology (hopefully I'll get good enough grades to bumped up to Psych w/ Hons) As far as I know, I'll be studying social, behavioural and abnormal psychology and 'how to control it'.... Also Stat, but I don't like to focus on that... like, at all.
ALSO, I hope to study (or at least look into) counselling course at Tafe. (but that might have to wait as this year is already super, super busy!)
@Learn-to-fly Sounds pretty cool! Primary education lead to you primary school teaching/ college? Sorry I have no idea in that concept!
@Jordo-RO GO GIRL! GO GET EM!!!
@dreamcatcher You most certainly have you hands full there!!! All the matters of Pschology facinate me 🙂
You all sounds like your super busy at the moment making plans for your year of studying!! From Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and Psychology, Primary education to Counseling! Looks like you all have a lot on your hands at the moment and in the futute so that leads us to our next question....
School can be tough/stressful sometimes or sometimes our personal lives can impact our studying.
- What things stress you out the most at school, TAFE or Uni?
- What can you do to decrease your stress?
- Who can you talk to if things become too stressful?
- What things stress you out the most at school, TAFE or Uni?
I stress myself out sometimes about falling behind, or about not doing things to other people's standard. I have very high standards of myself, which is difficult, because although I am good at a lot of things, I know I can't be the best at all of the things.
- What can you do to decrease your stress?
Often I listen to music, meditate, dance around to shake off some stress, do some relaxation, have a bath, take a five minute break.
- Who can you talk to if things become too stressful?
I have some really great contacts at university so I tend to chat to this one lecturer who helps me out a lot, even if I'm not in her class. I also chat to my friends and family and I chat to myself too, which sounds strange, but I make sure my self talk is really positive and I give myself a lot of praise too.
@Jordo-RO wrote:
- What things stress you out the most at school, TAFE or Uni?
I stress myself out sometimes about falling behind, or about not doing things to other people's standard. I have very high standards of myself, which is difficult, because although I am good at a lot of things, I know I can't be the best at all of the things.
- What can you do to decrease your stress?Often I listen to music, meditate, dance around to shake off some stress, do some relaxation, have a bath, take a five minute break.
- Who can you talk to if things become too stressful?
I have some really great contacts at university so I tend to chat to this one lecturer who helps me out a lot, even if I'm not in her class. I also chat to my friends and family and I chat to myself too, which sounds strange, but I make sure my self talk is really positive and I give myself a lot of praise too.
@Kirdybirdy@ and @_sagira_ We have a facebook group for our cohort too - so helpful for information sharing and mutual-stressing, haha!
I have really high standards too, @Jordo-RO so having "positive self talk chats" to myself and is really useful for me too, to try and stop my perfectionism from derailing me.
School can be tough/stressful sometimes or sometimes our personal lives can impact our studying.
- What things stress you out the most at school, TAFE or Uni?
- What can you do to decrease your stress?
- Who can you talk to if things become too stressful?
At uni the things that stress my out most are having lots of things due close together, group assignments, and orals. And GROUP ORALS!! They are the worst. I have a few of those coming up later in the year... Excitment 😐
Things I do/ can do to decrease my stress include exercise, listening to music, practising mindfulness, mutual venting/ problem-solving with friends, trying to plan my workload, limiting outside commitments and engaging in hobbies/ leisure activities.
My psychologist, my family, student support services, friends and lecturers (I am lucky have the most supportive lecturers).
@dreamcatcher woop woop!!
Yeah I have to study stat this semester. Not looking foward to it at all!!! I'll be on placement for the bulk of it, which means extra fun times.
Argh, I hated the one stats course I had to do too @dreamcatcher - good luck with it! Good luck with getting into honours too! 🙂
@dreamcatcher - I'll be doing stats too for psych - also not looking forward to it! But embracing the challenge..
And yes @_sagira_ - I had noticed that too! It is interesting that everyone seems to be doing similar things!
I'm going back to finish my Bachelor of Arts (with a double major of sociology and criminology) and a Bachelor of Social Work.
