Why Every Student Needs a Website and How to Make One

BY SYLVIA KOHL

A personal website offers innumerable possibilities for a student. It’s not only a place where you can show off your creativity and glowing personality to the world. A site is a tool that can help you achieve new heights in academics and even get you started on the road to business success.

4 Reasons Why You Need a Personal Website

There are dozens of possible uses for a website, so the benefits it can offer are truly limitless.

1. It can help you get a better job.
   Worried about your employment after college? 56% of hiring managers freely admit that they are more impressed by candidates that have high-quality websites. Create a page that will show you are a skilled professional, despite your lack of experience, and your chances of landing a position will increase.
2. It gives you a substantial online presence.
   Like Facebook Device allows you to connect your digital devices with your social media account, a website can tie together all your accounts and internet projects. This will allow you to establish a ‘digital personality’ that will impress your classmates, partners, teachers, and even friends when they Google you. As our world is getting more dependent on the Internet by the day, a website that reflects your strengths will go a long way in making a positive image of your personality.
3. It can help you make money.
   Your website may become a source of extra income in many different ways. For example, you can review some products, join the Amazon Affiliate Program, get commissions from purchases made through the links in your posts. If you prefer to run a blog, you can make it profitable by attracting advertising. Any business endeavor today needs online marketing, so if you plan to create a startup, you’ll have to make a website for your enterprise.
4. It can help you achieve great results in studying.
   Many study projects require surveys of popular opinions or other types of input from the public. You can use your personal website for research purposes, attracting attention of the targeted group (for surveys) or asking industry experts for advice. Publish parts of your project to drive criticism that will help you improve, or openly ask for advice from interested readers. The wealth of information you can collect this way will enhance your research and allow you to create fantastic projects.

How to Build a Great Personal Website

There are free platforms that will allow you build a simple site and launch it within a few days. However, to make it truly successful, you need to bear in mind the following things:

1. Your purpose.
   Do you want to have a blog to rant about college, a place to advertise and sell your handmade goodies, or a site fit for an affiliate program? The structure of your website will depend on its purpose, so you need to set the goal first and look up the best platform based on this.
2. The site structure.
   The best way to develop the perfect structure is to research other resources similar to the one you want to create and seek inspiration from them. Be sure to study several professional guides as well, because you need to make your website better than that of prospective competitors.
3. Creating a website is easy, but you also need to let the world know that you have it. Look up some guides on digital marketing and be sure to spread the news through your social media accounts. Keep in mind keywords and SEO optimization both when you create the site and when you add new content to it.

You need to consider these things regardless of whether you create the site on your own or hire a professional to do it. Note that if you want the website to help your future career, it should be made by experts.

 

Author’s bio:

Sylvia Kohl is an IT teacher with more than 7 years of professional experience. Her main spheres of interest are e-education and beta-testing. This writer chose news about the increasing role of IT usage in colleges and schools as the most common topic for her articles.

 

7 Things To Greatly Improve Dorm Life

BY MELISSA BURNS

For many students, their life at college is the first prolonged stay out of home. They are stuck in unfamiliar surroundings and have to adapt to conditions that are often annoying, unpleasant or simply too unusual for them for comfort. But why not try and adapt the surroundings to your taste a little bit as well? Here are seven things that can make life in your dorm room a little bit more comfortable and pleasant.

1.    Potted Plants

Some believe them to be boring and mundane, but they really do liven up the place and give you something to care about besides yourself. In addition to that, you may grow something useful as well as pretty – herbs for cooking like basil or rosemary, for example. Just make sure they get a lot of light.

2.    A Fine Mattress

Dorm beds are notorious for being unfit for human consumption in more ways than one. Thus, if you value the quality of your sleep, investment into a quality mattress doesn’t seem to be an outrageous waste. You will thank yourself every morning you wake up refreshed and rested instead of stiff and sore all over.

3.    Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Quality headphones may seem like unforgivably expensive investment when you have a pretty tight budget, like most students do. However, they are a godsend when you live with an annoying roommate or loud neighbors or simply like to have an opportunity to deal with your own business whenever you want it and not when everything happens to be quiet. So, if you value your sanity and don’t want to end up murdering an especially obnoxious neighbor, better buy a pair.

4.    Sleep Mask and Screen

Light is an important zeitgeber (an external cue that influences your body’s internal biorhythms), which everybody who ever tried to go to sleep with lights on knows. Having a sleep mask and/or a screen to separate your bed from the rest of the room when you try to get your forty winks will let you sleep whenever you want and need. Your roommate may be staying up all night – it won’t concern you at all.

5.    Lofting Your Bed

It may be a little difficult to do, but payoffs are considerable. Raising your bed will create additional space you can use for keeping items that would otherwise clatter up the rest of the room when you don’t need them, like boxes with stuff you don’t need every day or even something larger, like a small desk or a couch.

6.    Investing in Better Lighting

Default dorm lighting is always awful, no exceptions. However, your college years are also most likely to be the only period of your life when you don’t have to pay for utilities – which means that you needn’t care about electricity bills and can outfit your room with any lighting you want. There are tons of options that will turn your room into a brightly lighted place where you can read small print at any time of night and day. Your eyesight will be grateful.

7.    Mirrors

In addition to making a room immediately look larger than it is in reality, mirrors reflect light, further helping with your endeavors in this area. Putting them across from windows and near light sources will work wonderfully no matter what kind of room you have.

Life in a dorm doesn’t have to be miserable. You have a lot of freedom in organizing your environment, so don’t forgo an opportunity to spice things up whenever you can – as you can see from these tips, there are many ways to do so without going out of your way.

Melissa Burns graduated from the faculty of Journalism of Iowa State University in 2008. Nowadays she  is an entrepreneur and independent journalist. Her sphere of interests includes startups, information technologies and how these ones may be implemented.

 

Common Mistakes to Avoid For Online Courses

BY ROBERT PARMER

 

My freshman year of college, I made a huge mistake–I enrolled in hybrid and fully online classes without any real foresight. I assumed that online learning would be simple for me since I’m a digital native. However, as I quickly learned online courses present a unique set of challenges.

Last month I wrote about the trials and tribulations of online learning in my College Puzzle article How to Prepare Yourself for Taking Online Classes. Now, in addition to sharing ways to prepare for online learning, I’d like to share some common mistakes to avoid regarding online learning endeavors.

While online learning allows for immense amounts of flexibility, it requires a lot of personal accountability. The following common mistakes for online college students should be avoided at all costs.

Lacking Foundational and Tech Knowledge

The first step to successful online learning is ensuring that you have the basics mastered.

Recently, a close family member of mine decided to finished their degree online after a couple of decades away from school. They made a common mistake that many older people finishing college are faced with: a lack of foundational computer skills.

It’s possible to thrive in online learning environments no matter what your age. Don’t get discouraged or upset if you feel out of the technological loop, there are many free courses designed to quickly get you up to speed!

You must be proficient at typing, emailing, online etiquette, and understanding the ins and outs of web forums and discussion boards. Also become absolutely confident with online research and learn how Google search works. Google Scholar will likely be your best friend some day!

These foundations skills are absolutely crucial, and learning them before going back will save you a lot of stress and headaches.

Related: Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Online Learning? by US News

Not Identifying Your Learning Style

Before you fully commit to online education, consider your learning style. Is this something you’ve never really thought about? If so, that’s fine, but you should at the very least familiarize yourself with the multitude of learning styles. Recognize how they may amplify your efforts or detract from online learning for you personally.

It’s a good idea to fully comprehend your learning style before signing up for online classes. There are many free resources that help with this. Here are a few that have been helpful to me in the past:

Overview of Learning Styles by learning-styles-online.com

What’s Your Learning Style? Quiz by Education Planner

Student Self Assessment by Wayne State University

Working in a Bubble

At times, online education can create a bubble effect where you feel secluded or overly solitary. But just because you aren’t learning at a brick and mortar school doesn’t mean that you should feel closed-off.

It’s possible to engage with your peers through forums, social media, and other activities. Utilize this as much as possible because feeling isolated can oftentimes lead to depression or other mental illness. Burnout and procrastination are also common associated phenomenons.

Work from multiple locations if possible to mix up your study routine and if possible, plan visits to your University!

Not Critiquing Your Study Environment

You need to be looking at your study and test taking environments with a critical lense. Is it actually quiet enough where you study? Is the internet connection spotty? Are you actually comfortable where you’re at?

Simply put, if you aren’t comfortable your levels of success could plummet. You have to be alright with changing things up if they aren’t working. It’s important to learn how to navigate organizational change.

Sometimes the layout of your room or desk can greatly impact your success. Even something as simple as an uncomfortable office chair could be hurting you both physically and mentally. Recognize these situations that may backtrack your efforts and combat them.

Furthermore, make sure you aren’t overly cluttered or unorganized. Take pride in your workspace!

Failing to Speak Up When Struggling

Online learning can create communication barriers. It’s easier to bury your struggles when you don’t regularly meet face to face with your instructor and your peers.

In an article on the Chicago Tribune, Tamara Popovich, associate director of student services at ASU Online offers great advice for seeking educational assistance:

“Students are always hesitant to ask for help. They start to drown and they take drastic measures, or they don’t take measures at all. Either way, they end up making a mistake.”

“We don’t want them to fail miserably. There’s always a middle ground,” she adds. “Let’s rescue what we can, and then move forward from there.”

Robert Parmer is a freelance web writer and student of Boise State University. Outside of writing whenever he has spare time, Robert enjoys creating and recording music, caring for his pet cat, and commuting by bicycle whenever possible. Follow him on Twitter @robparmer

Resources to Fight Bullying and Harassment at College

BY JANE HURST

It doesn’t matter whether it is grade school or college, there is going to be bullying and harassment going on. In many cases, it is other students who are giving their fellow students a hard time. There are also cases of bullying and harassment on the part of teachers. As a college teacher, it is your job to be able to identify harassment, and help students deal with it appropriately. All teachers should be aware of the many resources that are available to help fight bullying and harassment at college, as well as at all other levels of education. If you have personally dealt with these issues, or you suspect that some of your students are being bullied or harassed, here are some resources that can help.

• What Is Bullying: Young Adults & College Students – This is a great site to go to for information about bullying and what to do about it. It is loaded with resources that you can use to help students and teachers deal with harassment and bullying in a mature and responsible manner. Learn what bullying actually is, what cyberbullying is, and how to respond to and prevent bullying.
• Cyberbullying in Depth – This is a site that was started to help people find affordable colleges, but also provides loads of information on a number of topics that concern college students and teachers. Here you will find loads of great articles and videos about cyberbullying, and learn how to recognize cyberbullying for what it is, the effects of cyberbullying in college, and where to find help for students who have been affected by this type of harassment.
• Bullying and Harassment Toolkit – The Superintendent of Public Instruction offers the School Safety Center, where you will find information about staying safe on college campuses. There is a safety planning tool kit, which includes information about bullying and cyberbullying, as well as contacts and additional resources.
• Recovery Tips – In addition to bullying, students and teachers often deal with other issues, including drug and alcohol addiction. You can provide them with the resources they need to get help, including ReachOutRecovery. This site is maintained by a non-profit organization with the sole purpose of addiction education, prevention, and recovery help and support for children and teens.
• Safe from Bullying – This is a site that is dedicated to helping people to understand, prevent, and deal with bullying and harassment at the college level. Learn about why it is important to deal with bullying in colleges, how bullying can be stopped, how to respond to bullying, and more. There is also a list of other resources for information, advice, and support.
• The Prevalence of Bullying and Cyberbullying – Here is a site that offers loads of great information for students and teachers at all educational levels, including college. Learn about how prevalent bullying and cyberbullying actually is, the effects of bullying, how to prevent bullying and cyberbullying, and much more. As with many other sites on the subject, you will also find a link to additional resources for help.
• The Bully Project – Here you can get the tools and resources you need to understand and prevent bullying, and to help those who are affected by bullying and cyberbullying. There are tools for educators as well as for students and parents, as well as a special needs tool kit, Spanish tools for educators, tools for advocates, and a graphics tool kit. You will also be able to learn the legal ramifications of bullying and cyberbullying.
• American Psychological Association – The APA offers resources on numerous topics that can affect one’s psychological well-being, including bullying and cyberbullying. Information presented here can help you to recognize the signs of bullying, so you can recognize potential bullies in the classroom (as well as other teachers and colleagues), and recognize victims and offer help.

Byline:

Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter.

The Only Proofreading Guide College Students Need

By Brenda Savoie

If you’re a student, you probably dread the moment when you put a full stop to your writing. Then you know it’s time to proofread your work, and after hours or days of working on a piece, it’s the most boring task you could be given.

However, it’s essential no matter how good of a writer you think you are and if you really want to get a good grade. Proofreading not only enables you to fix spelling, grammar and stylistic errors, but to have a look at your own writing and ideas with a rested mind.

If you want to tackle the proofreading game and learn how to do it properly, without wasting time and missing errors, take a look at our short and concise guide. It’s actually quite simple, but all the points combined make a powerful proofreading guide.

 

1.  Give It Time

This might not sound like a great idea, especially if you have a tight deadline with your essay or assignment, which is why you need to make sure to do your writing in time. But, taking a time out, and leaving your writing intact for some time can do wonders for your proofreading. Your brain will get some rest, and you’ll approach the work with a completely fresh and rested mind. Whatever you do, avoid proofreading your work right after you’ve finished it. It doesn’t show great results.

2.  Make a ’Mistake List’

Every single student makes mistakes while writing, and that’s a fact. You’re learning and that’s normal. And usually, every student has a unique mistake they make and keep repeating in each new writing. Whether you’re aware of it, or are starting to realize it right now, you shouldn’t ignore it. If you want to make sure it doesn’t slip past you the next time, make your own ’mistake list’. Use it as a guide and a reminder to pay special attention to your usual errors.

 

3.  Read Out Loud

Students often like to read textbooks and notes out loud because they memorize it faster. Read your writing out loud to notice errors more swiftly. It’s something about the sound that makes you focus more on words and phrases and the entire sentiment. It’s easier to spot mistakes that are not that obvious if you’re reading it out loud as if you were explaining the writing to someone else.

4.  Triple Check

The key to becoming the ultimate proofreader is to triple check your writing. While double checking may seem like enough, it’s not. Triple check your writing and don’t leave it up to chance. The more you go through it, no matter how much you hate reading it over and over again, the more mistakes you will find, so by the time you’re finished triple checking, your writing will come out spotless.

5.  Reverse It

How many times have you missed an error because you didn’t take the time to read your work thoroughly? Get rid of this nasty habit and notice every single error by reading your writing backwards. Start from the bottom and go all the way to the top. That way you’ll spot even the tiniest errors that you couldn’t while you were rushing to read the text top to bottom.

6.  Focus on Words

By now, you must be thinking, well of course I will focus on words, but the fact is, most students tend to read what they meant to say by writing and not what’s actually there. Focus on writing and each word, phrase or sentence to see if you put your idea into the correct form. You’d be surprised the things we miss out, or read to ourselves that aren’t even there.

7.  Get another Pair of Eyes

Literally. After a couple of times of proofreading the same work, especially the one you have written, it’s hard to spot errors, both grammatical and spelling, as well stylistic ones. If you can have someone else go through the work one more time. They will be able to detect errors that you haven’t even seen, if there are any.

Conclusion

While proofreading might be your worst nightmare sometimes, there’s no great writing without editing and proofreading. It’s not just essential for avoiding critical errors, but also for sprucing up your writing and improving it. With a fresh mind and several read throughs, you’re able to take your original writing and shape and mold it to perfection.

 

Brenda Savoie is a grammar tutor at Essayontime A private English tutor and desperate dreamer. Writing her first romantic novel. Find her on Twitter and Facebook

How to determine if you need to pursue a Ph.D.

BY ETHAN DUNWILL

 

Now that you have your Master’s degree, you have some choices to make. While you have been in college for several years now, you may be wondering if it would be wise to go after your Ph.D. While the thought may sound intriguing, it is crucial that you have a good understanding of the degree and why it might (or might not) be a good choice for you.

What is a Ph.D.?

Ph.D. stands for Doctor of Philosophy. This postgraduate degree is generally chosen by students who have completed their master’s degree program and who enjoy research. It is a recognized globally and is awarded by educational institutions to students who submit a thesis or dissertation that is based on research within their chosen field.

Top 5 Reasons to Pursue a Ph.D.

 

1. You enjoy research.

Getting a Ph.D. is all about researching within your particular field of study. Some people thoroughly enjoy researching during their undergraduate studies, and if that is you, then pursuing your Ph.D. will be extremely gratifying to you.

 

2. You will be recognized as an expert in your field.

Unlike others, you will have the knowledge to speak intelligently and rationally about your field. In a day when everyone thinks they are an expert, you will definitely be “the” expert after spending three to four years studying the same subject.

 

3. It shows prestige.

Some people want to be recognized for the work in their fields, and by having a “Dr.” in front of their names, they are more easily noticed. The degree shows the area of talent and proves that you have talent and tenacity.

 

4. You enjoy academia.

If you love working flexible hours, lab and office work, and academic stimulation, you probably will enjoy working on your Ph.D. While it can be difficult at times, you will find challenges and freedom by working in an intellectual environment.

 

5. To improve your life.

You shouldn’t pursue a Ph.D. just for more pay because it may not work out that way. On the other hand, if you have a deep desire to increase confidence, be a better communicator, and gain additional skills (that may help you land that great job), a Ph.D. may be just the thing for you.

 

Top 5 Reasons to Not Get a Ph.D.

 

Just as there are many good reasons to pursue your doctorate, there are other reasons not to go in that direction. If you are considering a Ph.D., these reasons of why you shouldn’t pursue the degree are not to discourage you. The fact of the matter is that many people pursue a Ph.D. for the wrong reasons. While getting a Ph.D. is commendable, there are many dropouts from Ph.D. programs because people begin for the wrong reasons. As you read through this list, remember that every situation is different and what applies to some individuals does not apply to all. Here are some of the top reasons you should think twice about pursuing your Ph.D.

 

1. It doesn’t guarantee you a better-paying job (or any job at all).

There is a false perception that if you continue to get more education, you will be able to land a high-paying job. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. While some jobs require a Ph.D. (usually a research job), most of the time, having a Ph.D. will not guarantee a job with substantially higher pay.

 

2. Pressure from friends and family.

You may have friends who have decided to pursue their PhD and it just seems like the right thing to do. Or, you may have family members who are convinced that you need your doctorate. When it’s all said and done, however, the person who has to do all of the work (and pay all of the tuition) is you. No one else can really make this decision for you. If you are feeling lots of pressure from others in your life, you might consider finding an outside person to whom you can talk. Someone who isn’t personally involved in your life can help you talk through your options to make sure you are doing the right thing.

 

3. You can’t pursue your dream job.

If you continue with your education, you won’t be able to start working within your chosen field. Do you want to delay your lifelong ambitions to get more education, or are you ready to move on with your life?

 

4. You will accrue more loans.

Unless you have a full scholarship, you will continue to add to your student loan. Once you graduate from college, you are not be guaranteed a job. Make sure you can handle the increase in loan payments after graduation due to additional tuition costs.

 

5. Some jobs only request an undergraduate degree.

Some firms will not hire someone with a Ph.D. because they know they will be expected to pay more salary. While it may seem a little odd, it is possible for some employers to view job seekers as overqualified for a job.

 

Pursuing a doctorate is not for everyone. Life offers many twists and turns, and it is impossible to foresee the future. The only thing you can do is weigh your pros and cons and make the best choice for your own life.

Ethan Dunwill is a business consultant and contributing blogger for several websites, who currently works for content writing service.

He believes that education is the most important part of any developed society and always eager to share his experience. You can talk to Ethan via Twitter.

 

5 Useful Tips to Stay Healthy in College

BY SYLVIA KOHL

Receiving low grades is not the only college student’s nightmare. In fact, gaining the “freshman 15” is considered much worse, especially by the female population of campus. There are several simple ways to stay in a good shape and avoid this syndrome.

First of all, it is crucial to understand why some teens face this typical problem. The causes might be:

• Poor food quality
• Overeating
• Stresses
• Bad habits
• Passive lifestyle (sedentary life)
• Lack of motivation
• Too much pocket money

Do not focus on your studies only – the life still goes on, so your fit body will play you a favor. All you actually have to do is to take care of your daily ration and physical exercises. Cheerleading activities and football may be not that popular in college like they were back at your high school. However, you can be the one to set your own fashion standards.

Share these helpful hints with your peers to see how well you can control your weight and stay healthy in any environment.

1. Health & wellness center

Sign up for such facility to have regular check-ins in professional doctor’s office. In case your college does not provide its students with such opportunity, it would be cheaper or even free for students to keep track of their health condition in one of the public hospitals around. It would be great if you possess a financial opportunity to pay for individual physician, but it is not necessary.

2. Join a club sport

Every educational institution has one or more sport clubs despite its level. And we’re not talking about chess or other board games. It can be ping-pong or mini-golf – in other words, any activity which trains both your body and your brain. Swimming is a nice option for lazy people. It is the only kind of sports that makes ALL human muscles move. It is said that this type of after-class activity burns about 400-500 calories in 40 minutes. Some sources name different numbers, but they are still great.

3. Avoid getting too drunk

I am not telling you to avoid alcohol in any life situation. Unfortunately, this is the thing most students can’t resist. The good news is that you can at least try to control the level of alcohol in your blood during loud parties and gigs. If you decide to drink some beer or cocktails, choose physically and emotionally safe environment. Besides, the majority of standard alcohol beverages contain upwards of 100 calories per serving.

4. Don’t skip the workouts

Except for extra weight, students may face shoulder and back pain. At least 15 minutes of going sweat per day might solve this problem if you select the right exercises. You can read more on the typical pain students may experience to discover details.

5. Watch after your daily ration

Nutrition is something you have to take care of. Healthy teens avoid sugary cereal, French fries, hamburgers, and pizza. As for the ice cream, milk shake, or popcorn at the cinema, it is OK when done in a while. It is better to exclude crisps! Switch to veggies, lean protein, and fresh fruits/vegetables.

Sylvia Kohl is an IT teacher with more than 7 years of professional experience. Her main spheres of interest are e-education and beta-testing. This writer chose news about the increasing role of IT usage in colleges and schools as the most common topic for her articles.

Overcoming First Exam Syndrome: Tips and Tricks

BY MELISSA BURNS

Test anxiety is something every student should cope with. Nervous condition can prevent you from answering all questions correctly. To determine whether you have a spooky first exam syndrome, refer to this list of symptoms:

• increased heart rate
• digestive problems (e.g., nausea, diarrhea, etc.)
• jittery feelings
• sweating
• shaking
• shallow breathing

Even if you experience all of these factors, there is no need to panic. Many ways to minimize test anxiety exists. On the whole, student has to come up with a clear study plan/schedule, have enough rest, and discover healthy ways to handle stress. However, the main goal is to get rid of the source of your anxiety.

Think about what scares you most of all. Perhaps, you are afraid of failing or performing badly. And that’s OK. There are some useful tips to relax your subconscious mind and perceive the test easier.

1. Decide on a study plan and revision timetable

Begin with planning. That’s the key success factor of any professional manager. You may wonder, but it is even more important to decide on your breaks than on the working hours. According to the research by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 20-30 minute spells work best, because student’s concentration is higher. Brief but frequent breaks are the clue. It is also better to mix the disciplines. Here is an example of such timetable:

• 8.30-9.00 Course 1
• Break 7 mins
• 07-10.00 Course 2
• Break 7 mins
• 07-10.45 Course 2
• Break 10 mins
• 55-11.40 Course 3

And so on.

2. Put away all sources of distraction

Forget about your phone, social networks, favorite games, and other factors that can distract you from your mission. It is better to switch everything to the silent mode. By the way, some final homework assignments may also distract you from the main material. Teachers should not assign essays or math problems day before your exam. Thus, we recommend trying easy writing service to solve this problem.

3. Eat and drink more

Don’t be afraid that you can gain some extra weight. Although grown-up human brain weighs about 1.4 kilograms on the average (2% of total body weight), it demands 20 percent of the resting metabolic rate (RMR). In other words, we really loose certain amount of calories when thinking really hard. Memorizing things belongs to this category. So, eat whenever you feel hungry. Avoid fast food and alcohol beverages. It would work much better if you choose green tea.

4. It’s okay to ask for help

There is no need to be too proud to ask for help. We are not talking about your parents and peers only. After all, they are not experts in education. Unfortunately, they cannot teach you in a proper way. You should not hesitate to ask your teacher t explain some topics. He or she is there to assist you in all academic issues until the day of exam comes.

5. Find some time for physical activity

We are not talking about meeting with a personal trainer for heavy exercises in the gym. We rather mean no more than 30 minutes of simple aerobic activity like running, squatting, or jumping. You can simply have a walk around your favorite places.

Melissa Burns graduated from the faculty of Journalism of Iowa State University in 2008. Nowadays she  is an entrepreneur and independent journalist. Her sphere of interests includes startups, information technologies and how these ones may be implemented.

 

8 Ways College Seniors Can Stay Highly Productive

BY LALE BYQUIST

 

Being a final-year student, you start thinking about your future career, and it’s more likely you try to shift the educational process and career growth as it’s important to create a good portfolio to get a great job position after the graduation. Obviously, to succeed in both processes, you need to be highly productive, and it’s not an easy thing to do.

If you want to be A+ student who manages to work and study, learn more about eight actionable ways to burst productivity:

 

1. Prepare Assignments in Advance

If you have some college task that is not urgent, don’t wait until the deadline comes to write it. The earlier you complete it, the more time you have to spend on your career development. None loves being pressed for time, so never skip doing assignments in advance.

 

2. Learn on the Move

Most senior students have a big load of tasks, and it’s important to read, write, revise a lot. To save time, you can learn on the move: read books, write outlines, pass online courses, revise materials, listen to podcasts on your mobile gadget once you have time to do it. For example, use your spare time the right way while waiting in a queue.

 

3. Ask for Help

Every person gets stuck on completing some task from time to time. If you don’t know how to do something, ask for help. It’s better to learn how to ask for assistance in order to avoid making the same mistakes than putting much effort to do everything on your own. Moreover, it’s important to offer help if you see that someone needs it.

 

4. Stop Using Social Media

Let’s be real: all modern students keep in touch with their friends using social media. Although we love writing SMS, it takes a considerable amount of time to text them, and it takes extra time to check your phone for receiving a reply. If you need to discuss something, call your friend, and never use social media if you don’t have free time.

 

5. Earn Money Online

Most modern professions give an opportunity to find out ways how to create your portfolio and earn money online. Studying at college or university, you need to spend a considerable amount of time learning, and if you have a possibility to work online, never lose it.

 

6. Cope with Stress

Shifting work and education can cause stress, and it’s crucial for you to learn how to cope with it. Stressful factors can be everywhere and they affect your well-being which means reducing your productivity. Thus, you’d better prevent stress, and keep being a happy person.

 

7. Make the Most Out of Your Breaks

Productive people know how to manage time the right way. No matter why you have taken a break, use it with a benefit. For example, you can revise college material while having a lunch, read useful articles while relaxing after a hard working day, or simply call clients while being at college. Learn how to save time, and your productivity will increase with ease.

 

8. Stay Inspired

There is no better way to boost productivity than stay inspired. If you have energy and desire to complete something, you can save time and efforts on making it. Thus, you’d better stay inspired in college life as it might help you deal with different tasks.

 

The Wrap-Up

Productivity is a key to success when it comes to being a happy person. It goes without saying that having good time management skills can help you get more things done without sacrificing your personal life. It’s highly important for senior students who want to be good at college and work.
If you have your actionable tips on productivity, don’t hesitate to share them!

 

About Lale Byquist

Lale Byquist is a media communications student at Trinity University, Texas. Lale created PresentationSkills.me site as she had faced the fear of public speaking. She is sharing tips and tricks on overcoming this fear, and you’re welcome to contact her on Facebook or Twitter.

Smart and Hardworking Does Not Equal Success – Here’re 6 Reasons Why

By Samantha Brannon

A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between, he does what he wants to do.” Bob Dylan

We knew them in high school. We knew them in college. Those students who were really smart and who really put in the hours studying. Several years later, however, we find them still working hard, and yet their careers and other parts of their lives just don’t seem to be “taking off.” How does that happen? Well, it happens because there is more to professional and personal success that just being smart and hardworking.

Defining Success

The world tends to see success through a very narrow perspective. Most often, it means having lots of income, so that new shiny things are affordable – the big house, the new car every two years, that country club membership, etc. But success has a much broader definition. It includes great relationships, doing what we love, helping to make this world a better place, and to and being happy with who we are and with what we are yet to become. Within this broader context, then, a lot of smart and hardworking people are not successful. Here are the things that keep them from that success.

1. Not Learning to Operate Outside of the Sandbox

The school is a sandbox. We learn to follow the instructions of our teachers; we practice getting along with others in a contrived environment; we learn that working hard will get us good grades and lots of praise; we learn how to memorize and take tests. Life, unfortunately, is not a sandbox. And if we continue to exist in that sandbox, we are always waiting for others to tell us what to do, what and how to learn, and how to be successful.

2. Not Reaching Out for New Connections

Lots of smart, hardworking people tend to move in the same circles – that’s where they are comfortable. They continue relationships with like-minded friends from high school or college; they find a niche of like-minded people in their workplace. They stick with these relationships, because they are safe and because they reinforce the values, principles, and inbred standards of “work and play.” Doing this narrows a person’s perspective so much that s/he does not see the almost limitless possibilities within the world.

3. Not Taking Risks

Smart, hardworking people often choose security over freedom. There’s a lot to be said about security, of course. But here’s the thing: That security can become so important that we can’t force ourselves to take the risks that will move us up in that hierarchy, and we live what Thoreau called, “lives of quiet desperation.” We are trapped in our bubbles, and we then come to the end of lives wondering what might have been. Taking those first steps are scary, but just one can lead to the next and the next. Thinking up great new ideas has its place, but when there is no follow through, they are, in the end, just daydreams.

4. Not Living in the Now

We read a lot about “living in the now,” as philosophers like Eckhart Tolle advise. While many focus on the fact that they should not worry about their futures, this also means not living in the past. One of the most important principles of success is that the past is a great teacher, but it is not a predictor of success today. Every day, we must wake up thinking what ca I accomplish today? What new idea can I work on today? How can I impact others and the world around me today?

5. Insisting Upon Perfectionism

Smart, hardworking people often insist upon perfection. This is a holdover from the sandbox of school. They needed that 100% on a test; they needed that perfect “A” paper. And when they get into the world, that habit continues. The problem with perfectionism is that we don’t move forward and are seen by others. Perfectionists cannot delegate and cannot let their team members make mistakes and grow. They micro-manage everything.

6. Not Knowing When to Ask for Help

This may come from a lingering sandbox ego. Smart people achieve success through hard work – they always have. So, if things are not working out, then it just means they have to work harder. And so they do. And in the end, when they do not ask for that help, they often fail. And because failure is intolerable, they feel utterly destroyed. People who have experienced failure in the sandbox can tolerate it, and they learn to rise above failure on when it is critical for their success. Never failing at something means we haven’t tried new things – how boring and unfulfilling is that?

The High School Reunion Brings it All Full Circle

Last year, I went to my high school reunion – you know – that event at which everyone tries to demonstrate how successful they have become. The kid who everyone thought would not amount to much now has his own successful business and in thriving in his passion for what he does. The kid you thought would set the world on fire has settled into a corporate position which sounds a bit dull. And me? I am neither rich nor am I settled into a secure job. On the other hand, I am pursuing my passion; I am taking chances and failing sometimes; I believe that what I do helps others, and I wake up each morning wondering what new challenges await that I can sink my teeth into. I’ll go out having enjoyed the ride, and that, to me, is a success.

 

 

 

About the Author:

Samantha Brannon is an entrepreneur and freelancer. She is also a co-founder and writing editor at Trustessay writing service. Samantha loves self-education and rock music.