Time Management

Here is a column I wrote about time management. Enjoy! Hopefully it is helpful to you :)

Get good grades. Get enough sleep. Get married. These are things that we, as college students at BYU-Idaho, are constantly being told to do. And we are constantly complaining that we don’t have the time to effectively balance and achieve these things.

Teachers expect two hours of study time for each hour spent in class. What if a student has 15 credit hours a week? That’s 45 hours of studying outside of class a week. No wonder we are told to think of school as a full-time job.

People joke about having to pick two out of three things while in college: grades, sleep, and a social life. They say it’s impossible to be able to do all three.

No, it is not. We can choose all three, as long as we manage our time wisely.

Elder Ian S. Arden, in the November 2011 ensign said “With the demands made of us, we must learn to prioritize our choices to match our goals or risk being exposed to the winds of procrastination and being blown from one time-wasting activity to another.”

Of course I would like to sit and watch a TV show or take a nap after a long day of classes. But of course, the better choice would probably be to finish (or start) that research paper of mine that’s due in the morning.

I will freely admit that I do not manage my time wisely. And I’m sure that most of you will too, or definitely should.

Don’t be lazy. I guarantee you that you won’t get good grades and enough sleep, or especially find your eternal companion if all you’re doing all day is playing video games or wasting time on Facebook.

I am aware of the fact that for some people it isn’t as easy to have a well-balanced life just by managing their time alone. You have to consider health problems, family issues, and other demands or trials. However, we all know that good time management will help make these challenges easier to deal with.

The benefits of managing time wisely compliment each other. Some may complain that if they don’t have time to relax after classes, they won’t have enough energy to do well on their homework. But, if they were to just try a little harder and get their homework done during the day after classes (or between) then their problem would be solved. Not only would they be able to get to bed by a reasonable hour because they didn’t have homework to do, but they would most likely be able to spend some time with friends as well.

This is all common sense. We should all know that managing our time will give us more time to do the things we otherwise wouldn’t have the time for. It will help us balance our lives and will ensure less stressful days.

We can get good grades, a healthy amount of sleep, and have a social life. It is possible to have all three. Just be wise with your time. If you don’t want to put the tiny amount of extra energy it may require, then go ahead and pick two. 

What to do when homesick

I'd be surprised if there was someone who DIDN'T get homesick while in college at least once. Some can get it pretty bad. Here are some tips on what to do:

1. Put pictures up on your wall of your family, friends, home and things that make you happy.
2. Call your parents! Its amazing how much they can help. And hearing their voices will make you feel ten times better.
3. Skype is even better.
4. Go out with your roommates or friends! Do something that makes you happy!
5. Make a favorite meal from home.

Mormon Messages

Here is a different type of if you're having a bad day post...some of my favorite Mormon Messages. So inspiring and comforting.

How to Find a Job

Having a job as a college student, if you have the time (but who does?) is a life-saver. You have more money for more top ramen!

Here are some tips at finding a job:
1. Word of mouth. Ask around! There are high chances that a friend might now of something open.
2. Look at the VERY beginning of the semester or at the end if you are staying for the next semester. It will be harder to find one in the middle or in the first month of the semester because a lot of jobs on campus will be taken.
3. Look on campus and off-campus. But if you'd prefer not working fast-food or retail, look on campus first.
4. Look at your school's online bulletin board for on campus jobs and other odd jobs.
5. Be professional. If you get a job interview, dress nice and be prepared.
6. Establish and maintain good relationships with your teachers. They could always end up offering you a job as a TA.

Good luck!

Things to do as an FHE group

Here are some fun ideas for FHE activities:

1. Have a dinner!
2. Go hiking, swimming, boating, tubing, etc. during the summer or sledding or snowboarding in the winter.
3. Have contests. Such as pumpkin carving or finger painting.
4. Go on a photo scavenger hunt!
5. Play sardines in a building on campus. (extra tip- if you're at BYU-I the Kirkham is a great one) :)
6. Play missionary tag or "I've never"
7. Go caroling around Christmas
8. Do a service activity together.
9. Have a testimony meeting.
10. Have a bake-off!

And don't forget the spiritual thought! :)

If you're having a bad day....again.

Here is our second installment of funny videos to cheer you up in case the last ones didn't work (which is highly unlikely) or if you just wanna good laugh!

Roommates: How to have fun

Now that we've talked about how to get along with roommates when they're being frustrating, lets talk about fun things we can do with them to make sure frustrating times don't actually happen to begin with!

1. Be silly. Find opportunities to just be silly with each other.
2. Watch a funny movie or a Chick Flick (if you're a girl...of course) together, like The Emperor's New Groove, Despicable Me, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, etc.
3. Go to campus events together. Go to a concert, date auction, game night, fireside, the possibilities are endless!
4. Have a sleepover. Take the mattresses of all your beds and drag them out into your living room. Order pizza and watch a movie together and/or do facials and nails. All girls deserve this once in a while! If you're a guy, have a "fat" night and eat all the junk food you possibly can while playing video games or watching a movie.
5. Take roommate pictures! This is especially fun to do either at the beginning of the semester to get to know each other or at the end of the semester when everyone is comfortable with one another.
6. Make a quote wall! Write down the funny things and inside jokes each other says on sticky notes and stick on a wall somewhere in your apartment. (usually in the living room) But keep them clean!
7. Have roommate dinner. This is fun to do on sundays or just once in a while. One roommate could be in charge of the main course (like a pot roast) and then others can be in charge of side dishes, drinks, and dessert.
8. Go pranking. Do a cute prank on your FHE brothers/sisters or friends. Something ideal would be heart-attacking their front door or sneaking into their apartment and turning everything upside down or backwards. But be careful and safe! And don't get caught! :)
9. Go out to eat or for ice cream.
10. Make a video together. Could be a music video to your favorite song, or a acted out funny one.