Battle it out with Bill and Becca

Don't procrastinate. Prioritize and take a breather.

What can I say; the holidays are a busy time of year, and the bane of procrastinators everywhere. Between papers, exams, and holiday activities, there don't seem to be enough hours in the day. What I think is a good strategy for dealing with a hoard of tasks is to make a list. Write down all of things that need to be done. Then check your schedule. Seek out any free time in the schedule and plan on doing work during that time. Planned times for getting things accomplished is a good strategy for getting things done because it designates times for productivity, which cuts down on procrastination.

Remember to get rid of all distractions during these productive sessions. One thing that I see a lot of people do is deactivate their Facebook account during midterms and finals. Basically, organization is the name of the game.

Another important thing during finals and the holiday season is to de-stress. Everyone gets stressed, but too much is unhealthy. Take just a little breather every once in a while. Some other unhealthy things that people tend to do are miss out on the proper amount of sleep and nourishment; skipping those will not be good in the long run. Productivity will drop if you don't get enough sleep or food.

I realize that this time of year can get a little rough, but the end of the semester is right around the corner. Don't give up. I believe in you.

-Bill

Make lists and check things off as you go. Little by little is always better.

The holidays can be, and for me it is, the best time of the year.  However, this holly jolly mood can be stomped on by the daily tasks and stresses that seem to build up during the season.  I am a habitual procrastinator so I can understand the stress of all-nighters and caffeine indulgences during exam time, but there are so many better ways to deal with finals and all things involved in the month of December (did you know that December is the only month that has a D in it? Mind Blown).  Making a list and checking off completed tasks is a great way to start. (how do you think Santa is so efficient?)  Also, scheduling your life for the next month might sound ridiculous, but it is helpful to tear down the mountain of to-dos.  I also find it useful to multi-task, and watching TV while trying and failing to do homework does not count.  What I mean is that if you want to find time to hang out with friends and also holiday shop, why not combine them?  There is no better way to bond with a friend than mulling over a Snuggie purchase.  Don't forget to take time out for yourself and whatever you do try to get some sleep. Another hidden secret for destressing is amusing knock-knock jokes. For example:  "How do snowmen travel around?" Answer: "By icicle!" So this year before becoming a Grinch, remember that the holidays are supposed to be a time when you take a step back and celebrate the things that are important.  If you have a good sense of humor and only take on things that you can manage, before you know it, you will be around that holiday fire with the ones you love.

-Becca