Time Strategies

Time management has always been tricky for me. My mood and energy levels typically dictate how I manage my time. Sometimes I have endless motivation and I am able to accomplish a ton of work ahead of time. Other times I procrastinate until a few hours before the deadline and have to use adrenaline and stress to fuel my work. While I have always managed to get the task done, my mood and energy levels make it difficult for me to plan. I admire those who have wonderful time management skills that are not based on anything except their own will power. I hope I can achieve that someday, and the tips in this assignment really help me understand how to get there.

I have never been a part of a course that tells me about how long an assignment should take. This is a wonderful idea that not only motivates me to get the work done but also helps me to know if I am spending too much or too little time on something. A time management strategy that has always been beneficial to me is looking at the class calendar at the beginning of every week. That way I can stayed organized and at least hope that I will allocate the time for each assignment listed. Also, working ahead has always been a favorite strategy of mine. Even if I eventually stop working ahead, the initial jump start puts me ahead and gives me the peace of mind that I will be fine if there is an emergency of some sort down the line. I would love it if other courses allowed for this.

The main three articles I read were "11 ways unsuccessful people mismanage their time", "3 Steps to Recapture Time", and "How to Beat Procrastination." While they listed information I have heard from TED talks and read in time management books, they also listed new information that struck an interest in me. One tip in the "11 ways" article was to schedule in "fun time." I have found this to be very necessary for myself. Sometimes I tell my roommates I can't watch a movie with them because I am too busy and stressed, but I end up procrastinating anyways. The time spent procrastinating would have been better spent with friends. If I do not allow myself the time to relax, my exhausted brain seems to force me to do it anyways. The "How to Beat Procrastination" article gave a tip I have never heard before but now realize I used to use all of the time. The article says you should "visualize how great it will be to get it done." Thinking about the feeling of accomplishment and the clear schedule I would have afterwards is definitely something that appeals to me. Instead of thinking about the task at hand, I need to retrain myself to think about the aftermath. A final favorite tip of mine that this article gave was pre-committing publicly. This is a great one, as I hate to let people down and have noticed how much more driven I am if I told someone I would do something.

Based on last semester's courses, I think my biggest time challenge will be making use of small bits of time throughout the day. Instead of having to use an entire morning to finish an assignment, I could have used ten free minutes 5-10 times per day. I really hope I can make this change because I have never liked using random slots of time where I have enough time to start something but not enough to finish it. I want to be able to use that time for something! As the image states, time is a resource. I want to use it in the best way possible.

(Time Management image from Wikimedia Commons)

A time management strategy that works well for me is where I tell myself I only have to work on something for 1 minute and then I can stop. (This might sound contradictory to the previous paragraph but it's an entirely different idea since in this case I have enormous amounts of time to get work done.) My short attention span loves this rule but I actually end up getting so absorbed in the work and feel that since I have already started, I might as well finish." I only skimmed "The Important Habit of Just Starting" but I believe this is what it discusses.

Technology Thoughts

The technology tools I am most familiar with are blogging sites (weebly, tumblr, etc.), bookmarking, and image editing. I have never heard of Twine, though, and it seems like it will be a great tool to use. This course is definitely a good mix of familiar and unfamiliar concepts, and it has certainly chosen a different road than my other courses. I have taken somewhere around 7 online courses in college, and I have never been a part of one like this. The online courses I have taken would only make use of Canvas and textbooks, which made the courses predictable and monotonous. This course really branches out and makes use of so many fun and unexpected tools, so I do not believe I will have a chance to get bored. Either way, though, I love a course that allows me to stay in bed while also getting work accomplished!

(Sleeping cat image from Flickr)

One skill I would like to work on this semester is keeping everything online organized. With so many tools, pages, and links, I usually end up forgetting where I saw something and it takes me forever to find it again. Figuring out a system to bookmark important content would be a skill that could help me in so many other aspects of life.

Thoughts on Assignments

The assignments I am most intrigued by are the storytelling ones. As mentioned in an earlier post, I am excited at the idea of writing again. I am a bit anxious, though, as I am not confident enough in my writing for others to read it. I have not put creativity to use in a long time so we will have to see how it goes. These assignments will be unlike what I have done in other classes because I have never had to write my own version of a story. Normally I either have to come up with a completely new idea or I write an analysis over a story. Using someone else's basic plot and idea will be something to get used to (assuming I am understanding the assignment correctly), but I think it will help fuel my own creativity in the end.

The extra commenting and Wikipedia trails extra credit options grab my attention the most. For the extra commenting, I am looking forward to seeing how others interpret assignments and readings, and it will be nice to interact with them a bit about potentially differing perspectives. For the Wikipedia trails option, I have never heard of an assignment like this and being rewarded for something that sounds so fun will be wonderful to be a part of! This image ties in nicely with the idea of Wikipedia trails, and I think it is something many of us can relate to.

(Wikipedia Meme from Wikimedia Commons)

Growth Mindset: Being Previously Gifted and Other Thoughts

While I had not heard of the phrase "growth mindset" before, I have heard of similar ideas such as "grit" (perseverance and pushing through challenge). This way of thinking is a wonderful idea that many people need to hear. Academia can be extremely discouraging when a person receives a low grade, and it can make anyone feel inadequate. I have definitely been affected by this, as I have always been praised for the results I get rather than for the amount of work I put into my process. Carol Dweck does an incredible job of describing how important this is. She mentions that we need to reward kids for the process--improvement, strategies, perseverance--rather than intelligence or talent. This is vital in ensuring that children develop to have a good understanding of their worth and abilities. We want them to know that they are valued for so much more than what they can produce. Building a character of perseverance and curiosity can create a generation of people who are inspired to help improve the world. Right now, I feel like we have a world of people who are discouraged and doubtful of their abilities. 

Something I have thought about recently (and something I have seen others my age discuss) is that many of us were labeled as "gifted" when we were children. We were told we were grades ahead of our peers and we were given more challenging work. We were praised for being gifted. Eventually, though, everyone else caught up to us and maybe we even got behind. We started feeling unintelligent and we realized we were just average. This was very difficult for us to accept because we thought our intelligence made us unique. Without that, what are we? Many of us now have problems with procrastination, motivation, and ambition. I believe we grew up with a fixed mindset because we were heavily praised for getting answers right and not having difficulty with assignments. If we would have instead been praised for our process we might not feel the way we do today. 

In this video, Tiffany Ferg does a wonderful job of explaining being "previously gifted" (which is also the name of her podcast). 

("The Curse Of Being A 'Gifted' Student" by Tiffany Ferg on YouTube)

It is so incredible what a mindset can do, even for those who are given fewer opportunities in life. Dweck mentioned that children on a Native American Reservation put the growth mindset to use. When they did this, they went from the lowest performing students in their area to the top. The power of the mind and confidence in one's own ability can completely transform lives. With the growth mindset, effort becomes something intriguing and exciting. 

This idea of the growth mindset is very inspiring for me. I have a tendency to fall into the trap of thinking I am not enough if I get a low grade. If I receive a failing grade, I feel as if I should just quit because I'm obviously not cut out for the work. But if I instead read "not yet," I know I would feel like there is still potential in me. I would feel more driven and excited to work towards yet. There are so many subjects in school that I have given up on because of poor grades. I just assume that I am worse at those subjects than others, and I stopped trying a long time ago to be better at them. If someone would have just told me "you're not there yet, but you'll get there if you keep trying", I would be stronger in every school subject. Instead, my past experiences and grades have discouraged me and have served as a reminder that my talents do not lie in certain areas. This has hurt my confidence greatly. This meme does a wonderful job of reminding us that that is not the path to follow. The past is the past, and we should only use it to be better next time. 

(Image from Growth Mindset Memes blog)

Then again, I do have the criticism of the growth mindset that it is not always effective. Some things my life I have worked extremely hard for but have still not been able to achieve (for example, I have worked hard enough in certain college courses to get an A but instead I got a B or C). This makes it difficult to want to work hard in other areas of life, but overall I would say that sometimes you just won't get what you worked so hard for because it was not meant to be. That does not mean you shouldn't try in other areas of your life. 

Woo! That was a lot. It seems I have a lot to say on the topic. I'll leave it there for today. 

Introduction to an Indecisive College Student

Hello! My name is Brooke and I am an Anthropology major (edit: This has changed and I am now a Community Health major!). I am also doing pre-nursing but I am not sure whether or not I will end up going that route. I am really excited about this course because I used to love writing but stopped as my classes got busier over the years. I am hopeful that being forced to write this much will inspire me and help improve my writing.

I spent this summer taking two courses: Human Physiology and Primate Evolution. They were both really enjoyable but took up my entire summer. All I had time for was those courses and my dog, Yumi. She's a 1-year-old toy poodle, and I spend way too much time spoiling her.

(Personal image of my dog Yumi, July 2019)

Recently I have been going through a Harry Potter phase that has no end in sight. In May, I went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida which only served to intensify my love for it. I had read the series as a child but did not realize the magnificence of it until I re-read the books in January this year. They have reignited my love for stories and fictional worlds, and they are pretty much all I think about these days. Also, I have just started reading a series called The Raven Cycle, and I have a feeling I'm going to adore it just as much.

My future is unclear in spite of my junior/senior status (I took a gap semester last fall and am now confused about my status). Most of my friends already have their careers planned out while I only recently settled on a major due to my indecisive personality. Nursing is my current plan until I can find something that suits me better. I will be happy if that is what I end up doing, though, because taking care of others is something my heart finds immense joy in doing. My dream job would be creating a cartoon/animated show, but I have not yet found any doors/opportunities for that route. All I know is that cartoons have always brought me happiness, and I would love to be able to spread that same kind of happiness to others.

Good luck to everyone and here's to a great semester!

Storybook Favorites

The Un-Told Stories of Spongebob

As a lover of Spongebob, I was excited to see that someone took the plot and used it for their storybook. They used the plot and characters very creatively, and I was able to easily see how they connected a myth or fairy tale to a Spongebob-related story. The introduction does a good job of preparing the reader for unexpected stories that will diverge from a normal Spongebob story, and it stays in character very well. The layout of the page is simple but fun, which is a great set-up for the stories. I appreciate how easy the navigation is to use and how the videos are short and fun to watch. Overall, the flow of the web page is very nicely done and gives me an idea of how I might want mine to look.

Sunlight's Reflection

I really appreciated how this storybook focused not just on the story but also on the dialect and wording. Much of the story was shown through the writing style and "flowery details" (as the author mentioned). I am interested in the possibility of writing a Japanese-focused storybook so this was a wonderful introduction to the potential that holds. I also really loved the images the author chose, including this one of an art piece which adds to the character, culture, and meaning of the story.

Once Upon a Museum

Once Upon a Museum starts out with a beautifully worded introduction that I hope I can imitate in my own project. I really loved the way the author told the story of Rapunzel. She focused on changing the way it was told by making it sound like a crime show, and that intention was immediately clear when I started reading. The images were obviously carefully chosen so as to greatly enhance this idea and completely immerse the reader. The layout was very elegant and fits a museum atmosphere perfectly.


Image Information
Yama from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, from Wikimedia Commons

My Favorite Place: Okinawa

Okinawa Prefecture is a Japanese island that I have only been able to visit twice in my life, but I have grown extremely fond of it. A quarter of my family lives there and being able to see the island as both a tourist and a resident has made it an intriguing and lovely place for me. It is filled with beaches, castles, and Okinawa-specific food (my favorite being sata andagi, which are Okinawan donuts). Many people see Okinawa as an almost separate entity from Japan because its culture and food are so different from the main land's. Here you can see that it is a long but small island.

(Okinawa Island: Wikimedia Commons)

My favorite part of visiting is just walking down the streets. The atmosphere is very calm and friendly. Here is a picture of one of the streets I walked dozens of times on my last visit.

(Personal image of an Okinawa street taken December 2017.)

This elephant trunk-shaped cliff is a popular tourist destination and a really beautiful place to visit.

(Personal image of the elephant rock at Cape Manzamo, taken December 2017.)

Okinawa has many castles, but the most popular one is Shurijo Castle. Here is a picture taken from inside the walls of the castle. 

(Personal image from Shurijo Castle taken December 2017.)