School Edition (September/October 2018)

COPING MECHANISMS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018
OHBELOVEDONE.COM
I tend to have a lot of trouble focusing on something if
I’m not totally into it. I’ll be honest: I wasn’t totally into
studying when I was in school. But I had to do it anyway.
So here are my top four general studying tips, or as I like
to call them, coping mechanisms.
STAY
HYDRATED
DON'T
STRESS
Okay, this may sound silly, but
I promise it’s not. I found I
couldn’t focus on anything if I
was dehydrated. So I’d fill a big
glass of water and sip on it
while I worked. Give it a try. You
might be surprised at the
difference it can make!
I promise it’s not the end of the
world if you miss an assignment or
botch a paper or something. I
promise. You’ll be fine. Do the best
you can and leave the rest up to
God: if you’re being honest in
doing the best you can, that’s all
He asks.
SET
TIMERS
REWARD
YOURSELF
If I really didn’t like the subject I
was supposed to be working on
(see: math, science, and anything
with a text book), I would get
really down and depressed and
miserable. Setting a ten minute
timer was a lifesaver. I can do
anything for ten minutes! When the
timer is up, take two minutes to
check your phone or something
– use your timer – and then go
back to work for another ten
minutes. This really helped keep
me on track.
School is hard. Okay? Pretty sure
we’re all agreed on that. I’m
twenty-one and work as a fulltime
writer, teacher, and I manage
much of the household stuff. And
school was still harder. When you’re
done studying for the day? Go
read that book you’ve been dying
to read. Spend some time outside.
Give yourself a few gummy bears.
Just be sure that what you’re doing
is actually a reward, and that
you’ve earned it. That will help
you be more consistent.
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