AHHHH, I so feel your pain. I started to go back to college first summer session last May 30th (yes I remember the EXACT date). Full time plus since then, no break between summer 1 and 2, 3 weeks break between summer 2 and fall, 4 weeks between fall and spring and only 2 weeks between this spring and summer 1, and on top of all that, I work the whole weekend every weekend and am planning my wedding, which is...holy crap 5 months away. I sometimes don't know what freaking day it is. I had been doing so well losing weight until finals this past semester and have just started losing again. It's so hard to eat right when you have no time to prepare or even shop for that matter. It sucks even more when you know what to do and don't do it! I don't know why it's so hard! Keep your head up, it's bound to get better! At least that't what I tell myself so I don't go absolutely insane!
Oh, I feel this way sometimes, too! Definately in my Psychology class. It's supposed to be an INTRO course, but the material is honestly something for like 4th year PSYCH MAJORS! (which I'm NOT). Hope things get better for you.
I AM a psych major, but am having to retake intro because I took it at a different college and thought it transfered but it didn't, so now I'm taking 300-level and psych 101. Guess which is harder? 101
I can understand the stress. I work full time as a nanny along with taking classes full time. And on the "side" I am the volunteer coordinator for a local animal rescue. I also try to fit in doing activities with my dog (dog parks, classes, etc) and my longtime boyfriend and its very difficult. I try to do a lot on the weekends or days when I dont have as much. Like cooking a pot of soup and freezing some, or cutting up all the veggies ahead of time. If you have a lot of fridge space you can even buy baggies and individually package them. I buy a lot of prepared stuff like frozen whole grain brown rice that cooks in 3 minutes, or organic pizza sauce that I can popl onto a whole wheat pita with some low fat cheese and bake. Prepared organic salads are lunch and yogurt for breakfast.
Trust me you can do this, if I can do it anyone can. Sure it stinks sometimes. Sometimes I really want some macaroni and cheese or some cheez its. A couple of times when I have even popped some crackers in my mouth I have just chewed them up and spit them out. I dont want the guilt.
Anywho, good luck with your diet. And maybe you could go to your schools psychologist and talk to them about your stress. Or write in a diary. If you really are having problems in a class then try to get a tutor, or look into free tutoring in your school. Some offer it.
I'm not a psyc major but I've taken 3 psyc classes. And you know what?
The intro course was harder for me than my other two (personality and abnormal) were. I think it's just that the intro courses are survey based: they dabble on the surface level on lots of different areas of the field without really going into a lot of detail. Then you're responsible for this huge amount of information without really understanding the meanings behind it. *hugs* You'll get through it! the OP didn't post about psyc specifically but it applies to all of us, regardless of major, that we can get overwhelmed with everything.
For me, I just try and set small goals so that I won't get overwhelmed. For instance, next week I have a Children's Lit midterm (I love being an English major ). Thinking about all the reading and studying makes me want to bury my head under my pillow. But I *can* read the book for this week tonight. I *can* start reviewing the other books on Thursday. I can look over my notes on the weekend, and make a list of any questions I have. Then by Monday, I'm ready and prepared for the midterm. Just take it one step at a time.
I'm with you, girls. I'm a full time student polisci student, 17 credits and its my last semester at this school....mostly upper division courses Plus I'm preparing for a semester abroad next fall, the secretary of a club (read: fundraiser, travel agent, misc. task coordinator). I'm having a difficult time keeping my head in the "game" this semester. I'm planning on law school so I can't let my grades drop but I'm having a SERIOUS lack of motivation. I've just been going full barrel for 2 years and I think I might have hit the wall? Its tough on top of that to get to WW meetings, plan meals, find the time to cook and eat the meals and go the the gym (preferably at a time when I'm not competing with skinny sorority chicks for the treadmill....no offense to any greeks, but on my campus its an epedimic...blonde skinny chicks erg!) Add a moderate social life and I can't seem to find the time to sleep.....I guess you get to sleep when you're dead, or so they say.
I feel your pain, ladies. Just stick with it, and take some time for yourself occasionally. For me Spring Break will be here soon enough and I'm going to work, but it'll be a nice break from school.
I guess to give you poor stressed people some hope, I am in my final semester of law school and I feel like I don't really have to do much at all. This is my last semester of school EVER...so exciting. But I have replaced all of the effort that I had to put into classes during college and my first 2 years of law school with effort to be put into my diet. ((I have been at those stressful times; the impetus for this diet was that I had gained 20 pounds during law school on those late night study binges)). Now I have had time to lose almost all of those candy-bar pounds and will go for some more.
I hope I don't sound like I'm gloating, but just to let you know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I have a good job lined up (hey, being a lawyer working 80 hours per week at a large firm is going to be more stressful than law school, but hey) and college and law school were definitely both worth it.
I totally get that "I'm the least prepared person here" fear... Along with the "how come everyone else can think of such cool ideas, and when I say something, I sound dumb?" I don't know why I have this academic insecurity! It's so weird!
I'm happy to be almost done with undergrad, but I'm very very not ready to go out into the real world. That's why I've applied to grad school. University is stressful, yes, and sometimes I get down on myself, but it's also a whole lotta fun... imo. I love the academic atmosphere. I love the challenge. In some weird way, I love the stress.
no college advice dreamer as i am not a student, but working full time.
however i do have this for you
set a schedule, including time for you, and stick to it. make it an appointment that you can't break - as you wouldn't if it were an appointment with someone else. give yourself some 'me' time.
School sucks, period. After 5 years in college it certaintly hasn't gotten any easier...especially not being a nursing major. I think it's normal to feel stress especially in college.
You shouldn't hesitate to seek counseling if it gets overwhelming. Most schools offer counseling because many students do feel a great amount of stress.
Awwww... hang in there! I graduated from College a couple years ago, and I swear I was the most disorganized person ever... but I still somehow managed to graduate with honours. YOu may feel as though you are the only person that is disorganized, but trust me... you are not! you would probably not believe the number of people who are doing things last minute, and stressing themselves out because they are doing it last minute.
I had to write a dissertation, that I of course left tot he last minute. I ended up taking a week off work... because I'm a sucker for punishment, and a poor student, so I had to work part time... and pretty much locked myself in the house to write night and day. It was **** on earth. I would have thought that I learned my lesson... but I didn't... I still put everything off... lol rewind to about a week ago when I had to get a university admissions essay together. It was due March 1 and of course it's the 23rd and I'm still trying to write my essay. I guess I'll never learn
But... stick with it... use your planner... set aside time for you to relax.. have a bubble bath...and set time aside everynight that is just for your school... could be catching up on your readings, or writing essays, or whatever... that way you kinda keep up on your assignments caus eyou always have that time blocked off.
I am at 18 credit hours. I work 5 days a week at 4 am. I'm tired ALL THE TIME. Sometimes, I ditch class to go to the gym. I have to. I would go nuts otherwise.
This semester more than others I can't focus on anything. It's just so tedious! Work, class, gym, class, bed. repeat.
Yuck. And thank you for making this thread. I have needed to vent that for a while now.
Had a midterm last week, had another one today, another one tomorrow, and another on thursday. Haven't managed to study for any of them. But I've been trying to stay on top of readings and assignments, and that is the best I can offer.
I really think blocking off time for yourself is key to staying sane: my rule is that, if it is swing dance related, I am allowed to do it, no guilt . Of course, now I've become completely immersed in it, but it's something I love doing, and I'm not allowed to feel like it's any less important than anything else. It's my sanity time, and I need that.
I completely understand how hard it is to eat healthy (I have sandwiches twice a day, because they are the quickest, semi-healthy thing I can prepare, that doesn't leave me with lots of dished to do). You can do it!
Struggling in College...
Definately in my Psychology class. It's supposed to be an INTRO course, but the material is honestly something for like 4th year PSYCH MAJORS! (which I'm NOT). Hope things get better for you.
). Thinking about all the reading and studying makes me want to bury my head under my pillow. But I *can* read the book for this week tonight. I *can* start reviewing the other books on Thursday. I can look over my notes on the weekend, and make a list of any questions I have. Then by Monday, I'm ready and prepared for the midterm. Just take it one step at a time.
