No truer words...

"[It's a sad day when] it's easier to get an assault rifle in the United States than it is to get adequate mental health care."  (Dr. Nancy Snyderman)

Amen.

(c) Robyn M. Posson 2012

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(c)2012 Robyn M. Posson

Tooting My Own Horn

Toot toot!!!

Ever hear the old saying "If you don't toot your own horn, who will?"  It basically means that when you accomplish something that you're proud of or have something to celebrate, you should share the good news with others.  It feels good to have others recognize and congratulate your hard work and good fortune. (You know you do the same for them, right?)

That said, I'm ready to toot.

I was recently named the 2012/2013 Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women (an awesome organization that supports, promotes and educates women all over the country):  "For excellence in her work as The Bariatric Diva, writing a blog dedicated to supporting people of size, and for being a passionate advocate against bullying."

This is a big deal for me.  I'm not the kind of person to go around searching for reasons to be in the spotlight, but when a respected group of my peers says, "Atta girl," I want to shout it to the rooftops.

I want you to highlight your accomplishments, awards and good fortune as well.  Nobody can toot your horn better than you.

QUESTION:  What kinds of awards and accomplishments (big and small) would you like to share with us? 



(c)2012 Robyn M. Posson

Surviving Finals Week

Finals are virtually synonymous with stress. The very idea of being tested on a huge amount of material learned over the course of several months, with a score that heavily impacts one’s grade, can bring almost unbearable tension. Fortunately, there are simple study tips that can get you though finals with the least amount of stress possible, and enjoy the break afterward. The following study tips can help you relieve finals stress and do your best.

Combat Test Anxiety
There are things you can do to reduce and control test anxiety, such as incorporating visualizations or breathing exercises, both of which have been found to help lessen test anxiety and some of the negative consequences that go with it. Specific stress management techniques, as well as preparation and proper self-care, can go a long way toward helping you maintain your cool and ward off the negative effects of excessive test anxiety.

Don't neglect your sleep

Most students have more activities available than time to do them all, and finals season usually puts an already-busy schedule into hyperdrive. Such busy schedules tend to affect sleep (both quality and quantity). In addition to this, the measures many students take to combat the sleepiness can actually make things worse.  Sleep is important for many reasons, and poor sleep can put students at a serious disadvantage. Therefore, it’s important to avoid sleep-damaging activities, budget time wisely, and manage stress to maintain quality sleep. The following are important strategies to remember:

• Avoid Caffeine Binges
  One cup of coffee in the morning probably won’t hurt, but powering down caffeine-laden energy drinks can actually make you more tired in the long run because they can affect the quality of sleep you get.  Step away from the Monster and Red Bull!!
• Budget Time Wisely
  Be sure you allow yourself enough time to sleep--schedule in your 8 hours as you would any other important class, appointment, or shift at work.
• Don’t Pull All-Nighters
  Contrary to what some students may think, staying up all night to study can actually backfire and result in poorer grades! (See this article for more on what to avoid during finals season.)

Maintain Healthy Habits
During the hectic craze that is finals season, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and let a few things slide. However, don’t forget the importance of healthy habits —especially during finals season. While you may be tempted to eat junk food for the sake of convenience, skip sleep to study, and basically "let yourself go" until finals are over, taking care of your body is essential and keeping it (and your mind) functioning required during finals season. The following healthy habits are important for students:

• Eat Right
  Your diet can give you the energy you need to keep going, or cause diet-related stress. Be sure you eat a healthy mix of proteins and carbs, and avoid filling on sugar, caffeine and other junk food. You need good fuel right now!
• Get Enough Sleep
  If you’re too tired, you may have trouble learning and remembering what you need to know! Be sure to get quality sleep!
• Manage Stress
  A little stress keeps things vital and exciting; too much stress can make you feel overwhelmed, and even interfere with the learning process. Be sure to keep your stress level healthy. (See this article for more on students and stress relief.)

So be sure to eat right, get enough sleep, manage stress and otherwise take care of yourself during finals week. If you make it a priority, you should find studying to be easier, and the whole process more enjoyable.



Get Organized

Organization comes naturally to some, but is also a learned skill that brings great benefits to those who develop it. Being organized with notes can make the difference between easily finding and integrating the information you need, and not knowing where to find those all-important notes. An organized schedule helps you to pace yourself so you have enough time to spend on each subject and avoid pulling all-nighters. Being organized in your living quarters can keep you from being stressed by clutter. You get the idea; putting focus into being organized can save you stress and wasted energy in many areas of academic life, and never is that more obvious than during finals season! The following are specific areas where student organization can really pay off.

• Start Studying Early
  If you begin studying before you think you need to, you can go at a more relaxed pace, increasing the possibility that you’ll retain what you learn. Because the stress response can make it more difficult to remember certain facts, avoiding the stress of cramming can help you learn more efficiently.
• Have a Study Area
  If you do most of your studying in the same place, you not only reduce the risk of losing important papers, but you can condition yourself to be more ready for learning when you sit down there. Be sure to pick a place that’s quiet, distraction-free, and clutter-free.  If finding a space at home is impossible, find a space in the Learning Center or Library. 
• Create Efficient Notes
  If you condense the most important pieces of information on a set of note cards that you create for yourself, the act of creating the cards, as well as the ease of using them, can help you to retain the information more easily.  Another bonus is that the cards are portable, and you can review them when you have a few minutes.

Choose Study Groups Wisely
A study group can provide an enriching experience where everyone shares notes, helping one another to remember important tidbits; it can help you gauge how prepared you are, and adjust your study strategy accordingly; it can push you to remember more, and break up the monotony of hours spent studying. It can also be a muted version of a party where not much gets done and you’re left with less time to get the same amount of work done afterward.

The key to study group success is to choose wisely:  Pick the most focused, "together" classmates you have available, and really work at it. You want someone who will know most of the right answers, and push you to reach the same level of preparedness. Quizzing one another while you work out, having snacks on hand, or playing music in the background can keep things interesting and make the session a little more fun, but be careful not to let things slide in to the gray area of gossip, loud music, and other traps that sap the "studying" from the session. Choose a focused, committed group of people to study with will help, but if you find yourself in a study party that has turned into just a party, don’t be afraid to be the one to bring the focus back to academics — or go home and study solo. There will be plenty of time to party after finals — when you celebrate your good grades!

Source:  http://stress.about.com/od/studentstress/ss/study_tips.htm
(c) 2012 Robyn M. Posson