Crunch Time Already?

If you’re at all like me, everything is starting to come due.  So, instead of panicking like I’ve done in the past, I’ve created a checklist of things to do to keep from getting sick because of the stress of all those projects we thought we still had time to do, but don’t.  This week I have a ten page paper due, in Spanish, and another due in English.  Luckily, this semester doesn’t include a great deal of tests, but if it does for you, you have all my sympathies.  I’m tapped into the literary and scientific paper stream this semester, so my linguistic facilities are about dead by the time it comes to creating regular, every day conversations. To keep from reaching max overload, here’s my checklist: 1. Get enough sleep. For me it has to be at least 6 hours nightly for coffee to even have a chance. If I go under 4, it gets ridiculous. 2 Make sure you have a drink nearby. If you’re like me and get the munchies while studying or writing, usually stemming from dehydration or restlessness, a hot drink like tea can help you stave off gaining stress weight while helping you keep your focus. 3. Plan in some fun.  If you burn out too quickly, you’ll never make it through the close of exams. Thus, it’s extremely important to have fun. I like bowling, so I go to Laurel Ave’s dollar bowl on Sundays; the people there are sweet and it means at least 2 hours of activity and non-academic thought. 4 Start projects before the week it’s due. This semester all of my deadlines have been stacked one on top of the other, so in order to survive, I’ve given myself a week at least in advance of each due date to start preparing, even if it is only reflecting on the due date as I eat popcorn at the movies. 5. Finally, stay organized. There’s nothing more frustrating than not having what you need during crunch time, so keep a planner, make sticky notes, or whatever works for you. Personally, I stack all of my library books by topic with my notes on top so I can strategically ignore them until it’s absolutely necessary. Then, I write the deadline in my planner so I won’t ‘accidentally’ forget to turn in the finished product on time. Best of luck to you all out there in academia as exams and projects loom over us during and after the break!