5 Times the Library Is NOT Your Study Buddy
0 comments Posted by The Masland Library Blog at 10:30 AM
Student workers promote the library; but sometimes even we
acknowledge you can have too much of a good thing. Here are some suggested
alternatives.
1. You really need sleep, but you should be studying: You’ve
been up all night, but all night wasn’t enough, and your eyelids weigh a
million pounds, each.
Alternative: stay in your room. Consider sleeping 10-20
minutes. This light sleep cycle is perfect for a mind-clearing power nap, and
your best sleep is bound to happen in your own bed, not at a library table.
2. You’re really hungry, but you should be studying: You’ve
got a craving for potato chips. You know, and I know, that those chips aren’t
supposed to be in here, what with the rustling bag and the oily finger prints.
Alternative: head to the commuter lounge. The noise level is
fairly low, there’s couches, tables, computers - you can even buy your chips in
the vending machines there!
3. You really want to fight with your friend/significant
other, but you should be studying: you can’t seem to stop thinking about how
annoying the world is, when you should be figuring out how to end world hunger.
Alternative: walk through the neighborhood. Grab a friend
who will listen, or if you feel comfortable, go for a run by yourself. The
creepiest people who live in that neighborhood are probably your professors,
and the walking will calm your nerves and clear your head.
4. You’re really getting claustrophobic, but you should be
studying: Your room, the library, the MAC, yourroomthelibrarytheMACyourroomthelibrary--
MAKE IT STOP! You need a car.
Alternative: take the bus to Newtown. From the stop outside
Bottom Dollar, to the stop near Starbucks, the trip is $2.25 each way. The ride
is a little long, but if you want a place to study all day, that Starbucks is
definitely the cutest place to do it.
5. You really want to drop out of school, but you should be
studying: forget campus, forget even Newtown - that’s way too close. You might
see someone you know. You might think about homework. You might have a
flashback to today’s lecture. Help.
Alternative: go home. Sometimes, if at all possible, you
just need your family, your room, and some good food before you venture back to
the familiar face of the library front doors. And that’s okay! Even the most
independent of us need a break from the sterility of library life. Take the
weekend, and come back refreshed.
If we’re being honest, there are loads of times the library
just isn’t your best friend. That’s okay. Before you waste hours staring at the
wall, get your mind and body in the right place. And when you come back, you
might actually be able to get things done.
~Christine
1. Stay hydrated:
This may sound silly, but you can be surprised how far a little water can go. When your water intake is low, you may experience headaches or even exhaustion. Water even can help you with your digestion as well as helping your brain function well.
2. Get plenty of rest:
One of the things that you hear about a lot in college is students who pull all-nighters before a test. This may not be your best option. Cramming all that information in your head tires you out, and then your brain has no time to process it. When you sleep, your body and brain are realigning everything from the day. As a result, the person who attempted the all-nighter will not be able to process the questions well on the test that they studied for - if they can read them at all. Several of my friends have not slept like they should and had trouble functioning the entire day sometimes have nearly passed out. Personally, I cannot function well in class or stay awake unless I have had a minimum of 7 hours, but that may be different for you.
3. Eat well:
This one seems like another duh, but when you become busy as a college student, it is easy to skip meals. I really do not recommend skipping meals from personal experience. I had skipped breakfast a few times, and I always felt so hungry by 10am, or I felt sick. Several of my friends also had bad experiences with this.
4. Know your limits:
One of the mistakes that I made sophomore year was that I jumped into too much at one time. My grades showed it. I didn’t fail, but I didn’t do excellently either. If you know you are someone who stresses out too easily, don’t get too involved. There are going to be times where you have to skip an event to finish a paper. It happens.
5. Plan ahead on your assignments:
This one was a killer for me. I was told by a professor freshman year that I should start papers, especially big assignments, two weeks ahead of time. I wish I had listened to him. It would have saved me a lot of grief. Always have a time to study and a place. This helps a lot. For those who would like to study in the library, I am including the regular library hours in this post.
Monday - Thursday 7:30 AM - 11:00 PM
Friday 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Sunday 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
6. Do not neglect your personal bible study:
This one may seem more like “Why do I have to do this?” I know. I have had that attitude. As a student, we feel saturated with Bible content because every semester we usually have one bible class. At times, I thought it was enough, but it never was. I felt emotionally and spiritually run down faster when I was not reading my bible. There are some things that you cannot get from Bible classes as well. God can speak personally to you through your bible study. There have been so many times this semester already that my bible readings have encouraged me when I was feeling down, or my trust of God was wearing too thin. Your personal time is when God wants to let you know that you can be still and know that He is God.
~Elisabeth (Beth)
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