With finals and our last projects and papers coming up time management is key to being successful. I did building blocks to finish because it is a good visual to use to see how much I have due in each class. It keeps me organized because it also serves as a list that I can check off each task when I finish it. Marcia used building blocks to chunk the task because she realized it is possible to get everything done. The daily calendar helps her visualize what she needs to do to prepare for her finals and it also lessens the stress she had about finals. Jess used the final exam study schedule because it is hard for her to get everything done efficiently on time. By using this strategy, she manages her time in a way that works best for her without feeling overwhelmed. She broke up her work according to the days in which her exams were. She found the schedule motivating and helpful in showing her when she needs to study. 

Study Schedule documentation

documentation

I made a pie chart of what stresses me out as well as a list of my sources of stress. The pie chart is beneficial because I can clearly see what stresses me out the most. Then, I can begin to tackle one stress at a time, which will reduce my overall anxiety. 

This week's app

This week we talked about stress.  For our app, Marcia, Julie and I all agreed that since it is coming close to the end of our freshman year of college, we are all very stressed.  Both Marcia and I right now are mostly worried about money, and what we will do this summer in order to make some extra cash.  College is very expensive, and it is starting to all add up.  We used the pie chart as a visual to point out the top 5 stressors that we are all dealing with right now.  This visual helps us to see where it is we are struggling, and how we can reduce that.

Stressor documentation

stress documentation

Documentation!

This week we revisited procrastination. I, Marcia, chose to test the effects music has while I study. I had many grammar online exercises to complete so I did one with no music, one with music with words I know, and one with just instrumentals. I found that the music with no lyrics was when I was most productive. I will now make a playlist of songs without lyrics to listen to while I study. Julie used a chart to find out what her “time wasters” are. She found that she procrastinates her work by doing something that either takes a long time or something she knows will distract her. This chart helps her realize what she does to procrastinate, so she can catch her procrastination before it starts. Jessica also forced herself to look at why she procrastinates and she found out she procrastinates the most when she has a big project and it is difficult to start. She then will do other things with her time and puts of the project. She is going to limit her distractions to be more productive. 

procrastination documentation

This week in CLS we talked about motivation, and what it takes for us to be motivated to succeed. As a group, we collectively agreed that we all are self-motivators, and that our motivation is internal. For example,  Marsha had to read a play for DRA 115 and really didn't want to.  She pushed herself to do it and made an agreement that if she finished the play, she would reward herself by watching a movie afterwards.  This motivated her to read the play.  For me, I have a huge paper due tomorrow.  I have been doing bits and pieces each day but I am motivating myself by thinking about how much will be taken off my shoulder if I just sit down and finish it.  For Julie, it is also crucial for her to motivate herself and not have others do it. Collectively we all agree that our motivation comes from within.

Motivation documentation

motivation documentation