Hello, my Gael friends!
As you may know, my schedule this term is wildly different than other terms I’ve experienced throughout my Engineering degree. Instead of taking 6 - 7 math and engineering courses at a time, I only have 4 courses, including a commerce elective.
Would it be bad to say that this semester, despite having a lighter workload, is no better than the last? One would imagine that having fewer classes would free up time, and in turn, give me more opportunities to do things that make me happy. So far, that’s only been slightly true.
Perhaps it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy—an engineering friend of mine once took only 3 courses in a semester, and she said that it was probably her worst semester since there was too much downtime and it was difficult to stay in the ‘study’ mindset.
As I reflect on this term, I’m thinking about the struggles I’ve faced in different environments. When I have a heavy workload, the difficulties lie in digesting an abundance of content, completing a pile of deliverables, and the stress of having too much to do. This is what all my blogs have been about in the past—how to navigate heavy workload environments.
What makes it easier, though, is momentum. Like the physics law, “an object in motion will stay in motion,” a student studying will (most likely) continue studying. You complete one task, then get a dopamine rush, then complete another, and another. At university, there are tasks due ALL THE TIME. There is no time to think about what to do next, and it’s almost a luxury to not think and just do.
Now, with a lighter workload, there is less momentum. You have too much time to think, which can lead to procrastination and anxiety. I tend to think about if I want to study, rather than whether I must study. I have more time to relax and watch TV, but then I end up watching five straight hours of TV because it’s so much harder to get back to doing schoolwork when there are fewer deliverables. My brain pushes it off, saying, “I’ll still have time later.” Lastly, when I have too much time to think, my brain overloads on all the decisions I could possibly make. When my schedule is full and I have a lot to do, I stick with my gut and move forward quickly.
Throughout the past week, I’ve been trying new habits to accommodate for this new, slower academic environment.
- Last semester, I did not use the Pomodoro method at all. This semester, I find it crucial because it provides a finish line I can visualize, making it easier to start tasks. I usually work in 50-minute study sessions with 10-minute breaks. I like this site: https://pomofocus.io/.
- I added a Chrome extension that blocks specific websites. I use https://blocksite.co/ for YouTube and Reddit.
Additionally, I had to shift my mindset:
- I remember saying this in my blog in first or second year, and it feels funny that I forgot about it and am now saying it again. You’re never going to want to do anything tough. No one ever wants to study or start an assignment. You’re not going to magically get the motivation to want to do it. I think acknowledging this is important; people hold off on tasks because they think that if they wait long enough, the motivation will come, though it generally never does. Telling yourself, “I know I will never want to do this, so I’ll just do it now to get it over with,” is key.
- Just like in a heavy workload environment, don’t think and just do.
- Just like in a heavy workload environment, don’t think and just do.
- I don’t want to give myself the luxury of too much time to overthink. I want to make decisions like I normally would in a high-pressure environment and continue moving forward.
- If it’s difficult to start something, tell yourself you only need to do it for two minutes. Two minutes is better than zero minutes, and two minutes often leads to more minutes. Most of the time, getting started is the most difficult part.
- Make a to-do list with 2 – 3 items per day. Having too many tasks on your list may be daunting and encourage procrastination, but 2 – 3 actionable items allow you to prioritize what’s most important to complete that day.
Even though this semester is tough, I’ve learned a lot about my habits and what drives me. Everyone is going to have busy times and downtime over their life, and I’m glad I know what to do in either situation in the future so that I can make the most of it.
Full steam ahead to the end of year!
Liyi