How To Deal With It

In a busy week back from break, my blog post was sadly neglected. I was stressing out about it, unsure of a topic, only to realize it was right in front of me: how I was dealing with everything. Everyone’s bound to have a busy schedule in college, and learning how to use your time wisely and get everything done without freaking out saves you a lot of trouble. So in a week where my iCal was filled with overlapping colors due to homework, over 200 pages of notes, a voltmeter to build, an analog tape edit, three tests looming on the horizon, four concerts to record, and four meetings to attend, here are my tips to make a busy week a little less stressful.

Make a List - Write down everything you need to get done, because you’re bound to forget something. Plus, crossing things off makes you feel like you’ve completed and made progress. That’s why the first thing on my list is, make a list.

Keep Your Schedule - If you have a standard schedule, stick to it. Changing it only makes you feel like you have more to do. If you usually go to the gym on Tuesday, go! That way “Go to the gym” doesn’t end up on your list.

           
Take Breaks - Don’t just sit down and try and do everything at once. You’ll go insane. Do a couple hours and then take a half-hour to watch an episode of your favorite TV show or something ("Big Bang Theory" for the win…)

REMEMBER TO EAT! - No food = No energy =No good work.

Don’t Sit In Silence - Throw on some music or something in the background, but nothing distracting. Instrumental or music in a foreign language goes a long way.

Prioritize and multitask when possible and you’ll quickly have a list of crossed-off accomplishments... and your colorful iCal won’t be so scary.

Get Connected!

Computer bank in Read lobby.

In the technology-based world that we live in, computers are a must.  Internet access is necessary and having it anywhere is a requirement. For those with laptops, IU’s entire campus is wireless and every student has access via their IU login information. If you live in campus housing you are also supplied with an Ethernet cable which, after extensive use, I can safely say nearly doubles the speed. 

For those of us that don’t carry our laptops everywhere, there are multiple locations on campus with computer banks open to the public. Places like Jordan Hall, the IMU, and residence halls have banks of 3-4 computers where you can check your e-mail throughout the day. 

Computers in the Music Annex.

It’s the day before your paper is due, and your computer crashes; what do you do? You may be sitting there thinking, “That will never happen to me. It’s too cliché.” Trust me, it will. It happens to everyone. Thankfully, IU makes it easy to overcome this disastrous situation. Most residence halls and libraries have computer labs where you can sit and type. And type. And type. The labs in the Wells Library are even available 24 hours a day, for those times when you don’t start your paper until 2 a.m. the day it’s due.

Paper is finished, now what? Print! While some students have a printer in their room, it’s really not worth the cost. Keeping up on paper and ink cartridges is expensive, especially when IU gives you 650 pages per semester, with the option of rolling over up to 300 pages if you don’t use them all! Color printing is also available at certain labs for $1 per page. Take advantage of the computer resources available to students throughout campus. IU’s services can make a horrible situation a manageable one. Get connected!

Get Around Town

Given the size of IUB, getting around campus seems like it would be tough. The university covers more than 2,000 acres and stretches from Third Street to Seventeenth Street, and from Indiana Ave. to Union Street. It takes almost half an hour to walk from one end to the other. My first piece of advice for navigating such an expanse is to choose your housing wisely, so you don’t have to walk twenty minutes to class every day. Beyond that, here are the best ways to get around campus:

1.     Find a friend with a car! (Because most of us don’t have the luxury of having a car…) If you plan on bringing a car, be forewarned that parking isn't always convenient or cheap, and that it may be more trouble than it's worth.

2.     Ride your bike. Bloomington is a bike-friendly town; there are plenty or places to lock up your bike with no worries. Quick, easy, and efficient, your bike may be the best way around B-town, except in the winter. 

3.     Use the bus system! As an IU student you get free rides on Bloomington Transit (BT) just by showing your ID. BT is the best way to get to your friend's off-campus apartment. In addition to BT, the university runs a campus bus service that loops around campus from 7:30 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, and until around 3 a.m. on weekends. There’s even a Bus-tracker iPhone app available, developed by IU students for IU students.                                                 

4.     When all else fails, walk! You’ve got feet--use them. Sure it takes longer, but the exercise is good for you. Plus, you get to see the beauty of campus, which is always a plus. 

So get out and learn the best ways to get around IU and Bloomington. Master the buses and get your legs in shape so that 20-minute morning walk to Swain Hall doesn’t seem so bad.