Panic, procrastination and pot of gold

As I’m sure you’re well aware by now, we have reached week 10 already. How on earth did that happen?? If you’re anything like me that sentence just sent your brain into the upside down, inside out, Alice in Wonderland world of chaos and confusion.

Okay, so lets procrastinate for a moment or two and really give this some thought…. It’s week 10, you’re still working on that task from week 2 and your assessment to-do list that you wrote with all good intentions in week 1 has long been re-purposed into a coffee coaster, that is no longer legible for the coffee stains. It’s at this point you start thinking, what am I doing, I’m so far behind, I’ll never be able to catch up and get it all finished in time, I may as well QUIT!!

After you’re mini quitting meltdown, you think to yourself, “It’s going to be okay, I’ve got this! I’m going to write a new to-do list and I will get started on the first task straight away!” Full of optimism, you write that list, then look at it and think, “No problem, I can have that ticked off by week 12, maybe even a little earlier!!”

Now that you have your beautifully colour coded to-do list in your hand, it would be safe to assume that you sit down and get cracking on that first task, right?  Wrong! Instead you photograph that list and post it on all your social media pages, boasting to all your followers about how organised you are. You then take a break because you’ve worked so hard today making said list, plus you need to keep refreshing your feeds to make sure your fans are liking and commenting on your outstanding display of time management. We all know that this cycle continues with you cooking toast for dinner at 9:30pm because you flicked over to watch some funny cat videos online whilst waiting for people to comment on your post. It’s at this point you realise you didn’t tick a single item off your to-do list and you now have one less day to get everything completed. But this doesn’t phase you too much as you trundle off to bed at midnight (you had to just check in on your social media accounts one last time for the day) you think to yourself, “I WILL get started on it first thing tomorrow”.

As you drag yourself out of bed at 10am (“Oh no! I overslept, how on earth did that happen??”), you have a serious case of the dreaded ‘can’t be bothereds’, which let’s face it was pretty much inevitable after a dinner that lacked some serious nutrition, followed by a really late night, smashing down red bull, eyes hanging out of your head scrolling through mind numbing news feeds.

It’s right about now that I’m going to hit you with some tough love, prepare yourself, it’s time to get real! If you stay on this current trajectory, it will be week 11 before you can blink, you won’t have achieved anything you set out to do and the stress levels will be completely unmanageable. But if you want to see the light at the end of the tunnel and calmly walk (well maybe run) into it, you have got to do things differently.

I have two techniques that I have picked up over the years that may be of value to you. I did not design these and I stumbled across them far later in my degree than I would have liked but never the less they made my last year of university my least stressful.

Tip # 1: Just do something, anything!!

The idea here is that you have that beautifully colourful to-do list already complete, first job done, tick! Now let’s get cracking. Pick one thing on that to-do list that you can do really quickly. I mean the quickest easiest task on there, do it now and cross it off. We all know how satisfying it is to cross something off a list, so much so that I have even been known to write things on my to-do list that I already accomplished before writing said to-do list just so I could cross them off straight away, everybody does that right; right? Each day for the next three and a bit weeks make it your motto to ‘just do something, anything’ on the list, because something is better than nothing, and the more somethings you do the more motivation you gain to do the rest of your somethings.

Tip # 2:    5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Blast Off!

The first tip is great but there’s a a grey area to it’s success and that is the over-thinker. You and I are the people who pick a something on a our to-do list and then decide to make a cuppa and give it some thought before starting. We are also the people who put off making that call to the doctor/hairdresser/tax accountant to book an appointment, we sit and we think and we think and then we think so much that we eventually talk ourselves out of doing it, because we probably don’t have the time to do it now, and we put it back on the list to deal with tomorrow, which soon becomes next month. The 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, blast off theory is that once the rocket is launched there’s no way to stop it from taking off. So, pick your something to do and then in your head do the count down and when you hear the words blast off, just do it there and then. Job’s done, cross it off in big black marker, so very, very satisfying!!

Although there’s always a bit (sometimes a lot) of pressure, stress and tension at this time of the semester, everyone around you is usually feeling the same way, you are definitely not alone. All you can do is take a deep breath, eat well, get plenty of sleep and give these tips a go, you just might find your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Good Luck!!

Beck

ASK Desk, SMB.

 

Finding the right study/chill balance

Hey there everybody. I’m Alisha, a Berwick student as well as student futures crazy. I am a mentor, PASS leader and SAL this semester.

So, it’s almost time for our mid-semester break. Also known as, two weeks of watching Netflix whilst eating too much junk food. Then having that guilty feeling in your stomach that you should be doing something a bit more productive. In my first semester at FedUni, I did just that. I maybe read one or two chapters of a textbook but that’s it. Then after the break I was swamped with assignment after assignment which caused me to come to uni at 9am then leave at 7pm each day.

I learnt from that mistake. Second semester I adjusted my time pretty well doing around half study and half chill. My after break shock wasn’t that bad this time. This semester break I want to do that again. I am a morning bird so I plan to study in the morning then chill later in the afternoon. I am also week 2 into a 12-week body transformation with exercise and meal plans. I hope I can keep it up this break and don’t slack off the hard work I’ve done so far.

Overall, I think it’s best for you to figure out what works for you. Do what you want this break but remember Uni assignments might come up and haunt you.

Have fun and do what you love this break!

Your Berwick Butterfly, Alisha

Tea or Coffee?

I am a self-confessed tea addict. No, not a coffee addict, a tea addict- I looove tea and HATE coffee. I cannot stand the smell or taste of coffee. I have been an adamant tea lover and coffee hater for years.

I drink two cups a day, depending on the weather. I always find myself drinking more tea on the colder days than the warmer days. I think I like drinking tea so much because of the taste of it — I actually thoroughly enjoy the taste. I am a huge fan of English breakfast tea! But every once in a while, I make myself a cup of coffee just in case my taste buds change and I begin to like coffee. But nooooooo! Still hate it.

Usually people drink coffee over tea to stay alert and awake, as it contains caffeine. Interestingly, I just learnt that tea also contains caffeine. Who knew? Certainly not me! I was under the impression that tea did not contain caffeine at all!

So, it got me thinking. Technically, both tea and coffee addicts are addicted to the same thing, right? That thing being caffeine. But was exactly is caffeine? Caffeine is a psychoactive drug that stimulates the central nervous system. It is also the most widely consumed psychoactive drug in the world! But I thought I would compare the caffeine in both tea and coffee.

Tea contains, on average, less than 50mg, whereas coffee contains, on average, more than 100mg. But I think that also depends on the type and strength of the cup. The important thing here is that everyone enjoys their coffee or tea in a certain way. As I mentioned before, I am a big fan of English Breakfast tea. I prefer 1 sugar, with 1/4 of the cup milk, and the tea bag dipped a couple of times!

Lucky for all the FedUni students, the student lounge has a tea and coffee station. Meaning you can make your own cup anyway you like! How great is that! So whether you’re a tea or coffee person, we’ve got you covered. You can also purchase a FedUni ‘grab-and-go cup’ from the bookshop to enjoy your lovely hot drink anywhere you like!

Never Work with Children

So after hours of organising I have finally got the children to sit down in front of the TV to watch their favourite show on Netflix. They have snacks, drinks and their favourite teddy bears. I should be able to get at least an hour out of them to finish working on my assignment that’s due at the end of the week, right…? WRONG! No sooner than I sit down and turn the computer on, I hear the dreaded “Muumm, Nate’s hitting me!” (insert frustrated face). I go down and sit them on separate sides of the couch and promise that if I can have just an hour to do some work, I will take them outside to play afterwards.

I know it’s not ideal, but bribery is one of the only ways I can get some time to work. Having 3 children ranging from 2 to 7 years old they are not at the point where they understand deadlines and “mummy has an assignment due”.  So in an attempt to get a little time to myself, I resort to bribing them with TV, food, drinks and some play time afterwards. I know — bad parenting moment — but as a student, mother, wife, housekeeper and taxi (just to name a few of my roles) there never seems to be enough hours in the day to get what I need to get done.

Anyway, back to trying to steal an hour to do some homework. Did this end well? Did I get any work done? Did the children sit down and watch TV as planned? The answer to all of these is: NO! In between the dirty nappy, the spilt drink, the fighting and the crying, I achieved nothing. NOTHING!

So here’s my advice on trying to study with children: try and plan your week so that you get as much study done when you’re not home. Then when you are at home you can focus on being mummy and the many other roles you play. It is ok to say that this is important to me and I need some time without the kids to get it done. Ask your partner, your family and friends and, if finances permit, get a babysitter or try the kids in day care. In an effort to keep these two role separate on the days I am at Uni, I stay later and get my husband to do the school/day care pick up. This allows me time after my classes to get my study done. Then when I get home the kids can have my complete attention as I am not distracted with what homework I have to do. During the busy times when assessments are due I may even come out to the Uni on the weekends for a few hours and I achieve a lot more in a couple of hours than I would all day at home trying to bribe the kids.

If you do find yourself in the position of having to study while you’re at home with the kids I have found that the kids are happier to allow me a few minutes to myself if I break it into smaller intervals. Start by asking them to do an activity or watch a show for 20 minutes while you work and then you will come and play with them. If you continue this cycle you will at least reduce the stress on yourself.

Remember that it is ok to put yourself first sometimes, and don’t allow the parental guilt to creep in. You are important and what you are trying to achieve is important as well. Think of the positive role modelling you are doing at times when you feel you have been away from the children too much. Remember: it is the quality, not the quantity, of time you spend with the kids.

– Bonnie

Finding a Job

ScottLife as a student isn’t cheap. There are heaps of things to pay for: food, living on res or rent (and the bills) or for some, maybe a mortgage. And while the trusty student card may get you a discount on some things, it’s not common currency everywhere.

Sure, for those who qualify for Youth Allowance or Austudy, this is a nice start but is likely not enough to cover all of your expenditures. A simple equation shows that if expenditure is greater than income there is a loss. How do you solve this? You could try scrounging money from your parents, otherwise a part time job might be the answer.

You could try visiting some local businesses to see if there are any vacancies. There is also a job board located at both Gippsland and Mt Helen where local jobs are posted. It is near the door to Student Connect at the Gippsland Campus or outside the careers office on the first floor of the U Building at the Mt Helen Campus. FedUni also has an online job board called CareerHub which can you can get to by clicking this link:

https://federation.edu.au/current-students/assistance-support-and-services/student-career-hub

We are currently recruiting for PASS leaders for next year. Applications for these are open now and you can apply for these by following the link below.

 

PASS Leader:

www.federation.edu.au/PASS

Applications for these jobs close soon! PASS Leader applications are open until 9am Monday 3rd October 2016. If you want to know more about what is involved with these positions, you can contact Student Futures by emailing studentfutures@federation.edu.au or by phoning 1300 333 864.

Another job on campus that is flexible depending on your schedule is the position of a Student Ambassador. This job is tax free as you are paid with gift cards. Applications for this are different for both campuses. For Gippsland you can fill out an application form and for Mt Helen you’ll need to email Hayley Brennan.

Gippsland: http://bit.ly/AmbassadorApplication

Mt Helen: h.brennan@federation.edu.au

With these jobs mentioned above, other than being a Student Ambassador, you’ll have to pay tax, unless they’re paying you cash on the side, of course. The Army Reserve offers flexible work and is legally tax free. They also give you free accommodation and food when on courses and activities. More information about the Army Reserve can be found by clicking on the link below:

http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/army/about-the-army/army-reserve/

– Scott

Being on the Student Senate

Flying MaryDuring August last year, the University’s Student Senate began advertising for positions on the new Senate to be formed for the following year. As a third year student who had not yet been on the Senate, I was very drawn to the idea of a leadership position that would allow me to help make positive changes within the University and increase the enjoyment of the student experience. I filled out the paperwork with my ideas and what I stood for and a couple of weeks later I was luckily elected into the Sports Representative position for all campuses. As an International Studies student, it was not vital that I was a PE student but my role within the Ultimate Frisbee team and continued participation in UniGames events gave me enough background information to make my position easier.

Continue reading Being on the Student Senate

Census Day

Eric.2Alright folks, this is a public service announcement from your friendly neighbourhood SAL, Eric.

August 31st is Census Day.

What’s that you say?

“All the commercials on the tv say that the census is on August 9th

Well, yes, that’s true too.  But it’s a different census.

Continue reading Census Day

10 Things I Miss About Living on Res

Flying MaryI moved 430kms away from home in order to study the course I wanted to at FedUni. I only knew three other people in Ballarat and one of those was my sister. I obviously chose to live on campus as I had no friends and didn’t really know what Uni was all about. I am extremely glad I decided to live on Res, as it well and truly prepared me and continued to support me through my University life. I loved Res so much in my first year that I applied for a job as a Residential Advisor and continued to live on Res for the following two years. I honestly think that, without Res, I would not have enjoyed Uni anywhere near as much as I have. After living it up on Res for three years, I finally moved off this year to life in a house, but these are the main things I miss about living on Res: Continue reading 10 Things I Miss About Living on Res

Six Things I’ll Miss about Being an Undergraduate

I dedicate this post to our dearest Emma (former ASK coordinator), who for many months has been yearning for a blog post written by myself. It is truly worth the wait, Emma!

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Last November I sat my final exam, which marked the completion of my undergraduate course and meant (I thought) bigger and better things. What I didn’t expect was how much I’d miss being an undergrad student. Therefore, I am writing this post to remind all you undergrads hungry for the completion of your degree to STOP and look around and enjoy your time at FedUni!

Continue reading Six Things I’ll Miss about Being an Undergraduate

Studying Abroad

Eric.2So, you’ve got the opportunity to study abroad… Do it!

Maybe you don’t know about opportunities, but you’ve thought about it Well, look into it…and then do it!

Haven’t even thought about studying abroad? Well, think about it, then look into it, and then do it!

If you can’t tell, I’m a little biased about the whole thing.  For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Canadian. I’ve been living here for about 6 years, and started at FedUni in 2014.  But, waaaaay back in 2004 I came down to Melbourne to do a Grad. Dip. for teaching at Deakin. I’d just finished my first uni degree and had no idea what I wanted to do. And like so many other people, I thought “maybe I’ll be a teacher.” And then, right around the same time, I thought “maybe I’ll go to Australia.”  And then BOOM! It hit me: why not do both at the same time? Continue reading Studying Abroad