I would like to begin by wishing everyone a belated Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope everyone enjoyed this mini holiday vacation, I know I did! I apologize for taking a break from my blog, but when a busy time like Thanksgiving comes around, my number one priority is always my family, and I wanted to enjoy my time with them as much as possible. I had a terrific break, seeing friends that I hadn't seen since the summer, and being with family memebers as well. Honestly, I am not ready to pack up and go back to Seton Hall, where I will be working non-stop for the next three weeks in preperations for finals, but thats for another blog. I am ready to get back to work and continue to share my thoughts with my followers!
I would like to touch upon a few things regarding this past week. First off, BLACK FRIDAY!!!! I know most of you guys woke up in the wee hours of the night to rush to the mall to get doorbusters at stores like Bestbuy, WalMart, and Target, but it really is not necessary to kill yourself on the busiest shopping day of the year. Early indications are that sales increased from last years Black Friday, and that is a positive sign for our recovering economy as it shows more consumers were willing to spend, which in turn boosts sales and revenue. If you really think about it, the waking up early, difficulty in finding a parking spot, and crowd upon crowd at these stores is not worth the few bucks you save. Your satisfaction does not exceed the work you put into shopping and dealing with the extra nonsense.
Regarding Thanksgiving, it is one of my favorite times of the year (not only because of the food), but it really stresses the importance of FAMILY, and how at the end of the day, they will always be there for you. I am thankful to have a wonderful Italian family who is willing to do anything to help me, and I would not want it any other way. I want my readers to tell their parents they really appreciate the job they are doing raising them, or call your grandmother or grandfather and tell him or her that you love them. Little deeds like this really do make people feel good and it goes a long way. I have a grandmother who is 85 and a grandfather who is 87 years old, and I know they appreciate it anytime I call them.
Whats on tap? I hope you college students are ready for the most hectic time of our lives! FINALS! Get well rested and be prepared. Christmas shoppers,spend wisely, look for deals. Check websites for hidden coupons and look for shipping deals everywhere. I'll be back tomorrow!
-Stefano
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Time Management
A key to success in life and college more specifically is how you handle your time. Along with organization, time management is essential in being productive and an effective student. If you feel like you are constantly pressed for time, and wish that the days had 40 hours in them, then listen up.
I recommend writing a to do list every morning that you wake up. Whether it is homework assignments, errands, leisure/activities, or studying, writing it down allows you to see what your day is going to look like so that you can plan accordingly. Make sure you allow yourself a reasonable amount of time for each item, for instance of youput down going to the gym, do not write down 15 min, be more reasonable and say 45 min-1 hour. Hopefully this will help you accomplish more throughout the day.
Also, avoid DISTRACTIONS! One of the biggest anti-time management vehicles is FACEBOOK. Sure facebook is great to keep in touch with friends, but not while you have a paper to write or an exam to study for! Facebook is probably the most common distraction for every young student, so if you can stay away while you are working, hats off! I know I have trouble with it as well. Also, avoid having music or the tv on in your dorm, as this loses concentration. When you say you are going to do something, do it, don't waste any meaningful time! Remember, TIME IS PRECIOUS!
Time management also has to do with giving yourself adequate time to complete your tasks like I mentioned above. Waiting until the last second to complete an assignment is ludicrous, as you will only be more stressed and pressed for time. If you know you have a paper due, start it early so you can work at your own pace instead of rushing through it. You want to be able to go to sleep at night knowing that you accomplished a lot in your day, and that you are satisfied with the work you put in.
Special Shout out to the New York Knicks for winning their 2nd game of the season last night. Hey, at least we are better than the Nets.
I recommend writing a to do list every morning that you wake up. Whether it is homework assignments, errands, leisure/activities, or studying, writing it down allows you to see what your day is going to look like so that you can plan accordingly. Make sure you allow yourself a reasonable amount of time for each item, for instance of youput down going to the gym, do not write down 15 min, be more reasonable and say 45 min-1 hour. Hopefully this will help you accomplish more throughout the day.
Also, avoid DISTRACTIONS! One of the biggest anti-time management vehicles is FACEBOOK. Sure facebook is great to keep in touch with friends, but not while you have a paper to write or an exam to study for! Facebook is probably the most common distraction for every young student, so if you can stay away while you are working, hats off! I know I have trouble with it as well. Also, avoid having music or the tv on in your dorm, as this loses concentration. When you say you are going to do something, do it, don't waste any meaningful time! Remember, TIME IS PRECIOUS!
Time management also has to do with giving yourself adequate time to complete your tasks like I mentioned above. Waiting until the last second to complete an assignment is ludicrous, as you will only be more stressed and pressed for time. If you know you have a paper due, start it early so you can work at your own pace instead of rushing through it. You want to be able to go to sleep at night knowing that you accomplished a lot in your day, and that you are satisfied with the work you put in.
Special Shout out to the New York Knicks for winning their 2nd game of the season last night. Hey, at least we are better than the Nets.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sleep = GOLDEN
If you are constantly falling asleep in class and staying up until the wee hours of the morning to write papers and study, listen up! My father has always preached the importance of sleep, and now here I am doing the same thing. For all teenagers and college students, we are under a tremendous amount of stress. Exams, papers, classes, clubs, sports, exercise; its a lot to handle. One of the best remedies for stress and fatigue is sleep, because it gives your body and mind a chance to heal and recharge for the next day. Now, some of you can fully function on only a few hours of sleep, but that is NOT healthy. Neither is drinking 3 or 4 cups of coffee or energy drinks a day to get by, or taking things like aderol. So what is a good amount of sleep a typical 17-21 year old should get every night? The answer is 8. 8 hours a day, at the minimum, is considered a good nights rest, and if you can get 10, you are in even better shape.
You will see the difference. Try getting 8 hours a dayfor one week. See how it feels and how you react to it. Also, listen carefully. Getting 8 hours of sleep does not mean you can go to bed at 3AM and wake up at 11AM and call it 8 solid hours, the 8 hour method only works if you go to bed early, around 11 PM or so. The best rest you get is earlier on during the night. Everything I am saying can be read in medical journals and various websites, so I take no credit. Getting rest is IMPORTANT! I promise you will feel less stressed and more focused with the 8 hour a day method.
Thats all for today...(GO JAYHAWKS!)
You will see the difference. Try getting 8 hours a dayfor one week. See how it feels and how you react to it. Also, listen carefully. Getting 8 hours of sleep does not mean you can go to bed at 3AM and wake up at 11AM and call it 8 solid hours, the 8 hour method only works if you go to bed early, around 11 PM or so. The best rest you get is earlier on during the night. Everything I am saying can be read in medical journals and various websites, so I take no credit. Getting rest is IMPORTANT! I promise you will feel less stressed and more focused with the 8 hour a day method.
Thats all for today...(GO JAYHAWKS!)
Monday, November 16, 2009
College Isn't For Everyone
I have spoken a lot about college, majors, and the decisions that you make in college and how they shape your future. But college is not for everyone. There are many options for the masses. For today's post, I encourage you to read this article that is posted about jobs which do not require a college degree.
http://www.finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/108014/10-jobs-with-high-pay-and-minimal-schooling-required.html?mod=career-salary_negotiation
http://www.finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/108014/10-jobs-with-high-pay-and-minimal-schooling-required.html?mod=career-salary_negotiation
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Almost There!
As the week before Thanksgiving is about to begin, and the smell of pumpkin pie and turkey is filling our nostrils, lets take some time to pat ourselves on the back. We have made it through almost 3 months of the enduring stress that we know as college. Endless papers, exams, and hours upon hours of studying. We can see the finish line, we are rounding the home stretch, as there is close to 1 month to go, and only about 3 more weeks of classes before finals begin.
The Thanksgiving Break is a tool used to recharge our batteries, catch up on sleep, and mentally prepare ourselves for the most hectic short period of time that we have ever experienced. FINALS. Yes, I said it, FINALS. Most final exams are worth in the ballpark of 30-50% of the final grade, so doing well on the final is extremely important. You want to make sure you are well rested because there will be a tremendous amount of studying, paper writing, stress, and coffee drinking to get you through the tough times.
However, if you are prepared, I believe you will make it. Study until you can not study any more because we only have one responsibility as students; to do well at school. Treat studying like its your job, and do not stop until you are satisfied with the work you have put in. You have done well up until this point, there is no need to crack now. You know what methods of studying work best for you, now it is time to put it to the test. Do NOT cram, it will not really be beneficial to your learning.
Tip of the Day: Review Review Review. My father used to ask me if I had homework. I would respond and say no dad, I did it in school. His answer to that comment would always be, "you should review your notes". And to this day, I always try to review my notes, even If I do not have homework in that particular class, or a test or a quiz. Reviewing your notes and the material keeps it fresh in your head, that way when you study for exams, you do not have to cram. Even if it is going over your notes for 10-15 minutes a day, it will help, trust me!
The Thanksgiving Break is a tool used to recharge our batteries, catch up on sleep, and mentally prepare ourselves for the most hectic short period of time that we have ever experienced. FINALS. Yes, I said it, FINALS. Most final exams are worth in the ballpark of 30-50% of the final grade, so doing well on the final is extremely important. You want to make sure you are well rested because there will be a tremendous amount of studying, paper writing, stress, and coffee drinking to get you through the tough times.
However, if you are prepared, I believe you will make it. Study until you can not study any more because we only have one responsibility as students; to do well at school. Treat studying like its your job, and do not stop until you are satisfied with the work you have put in. You have done well up until this point, there is no need to crack now. You know what methods of studying work best for you, now it is time to put it to the test. Do NOT cram, it will not really be beneficial to your learning.
Tip of the Day: Review Review Review. My father used to ask me if I had homework. I would respond and say no dad, I did it in school. His answer to that comment would always be, "you should review your notes". And to this day, I always try to review my notes, even If I do not have homework in that particular class, or a test or a quiz. Reviewing your notes and the material keeps it fresh in your head, that way when you study for exams, you do not have to cram. Even if it is going over your notes for 10-15 minutes a day, it will help, trust me!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
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