The management of the University of Benin hereby notifies the entire University of Benin Community that the 2016/2017 ongoing admission screening exercise has been suspended with immediate effect in compliance with the Federal Government’s directive.
In the light of the above, an update will be sent at a later date.
All inconveniences are highly regretted.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Walking Helps Heart and Brain
Regular aerobic exercise such as walking may protect the memory center in the brain, while stretching exercise may cause the center — called the hippocampus — to shrink, researchers reported.
In a randomized study involving men and women in their mid-60s, walking three times a week for a year led to increases in the volume of the hippocampus, which plays an important role in memory, according to Dr. Arthur Kramer, of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Urbana, Ill., and colleagues.
On the other hand, control participants who took stretching classes saw drops in the volume of the hippocampus, Kramer and colleagues reported online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The findings suggest that it’s possible to overcome the age- related decline in hippocampal volume with only moderate exercise, Kramer told MedPage Today, leading to better fitness and perhaps to better spatial memory. “I don’t see a down side to it,” he said.
The volume of the hippocampus is known to fall with age by between 1 percent and 2 percent a year, the researchers noted, leading to impaired memory and increased risk for dementia.
But animal research suggests that exercise reduces the loss of volume and preserves memory, they added.
To test the effect on humans, they enrolled 120 men and women in their mid-sixties and randomly assigned 60 of them to a program of aerobic walking three times a week for a year. The remaining 60 were given stretch classes three times a week and served as a control group.
Their fitness and memory were tested before the intervention, again after six months, and for a last time after a year. Magnetic resonance images of their brains were taken at the same times in order to measure the effect on the hippocampal volume.
The study showed that overall the walkers had a 2 percent increase in the volume of the hippocampus, compared with an average loss of about 1.4% in the control participants.
The researchers also found, improvements in fitness, measured by exercise testing on a treadmill, were significantly associated with increases in the volume of the hippocampus.
On the other hand, the study fell short of demonstrating a group effect on memory - both groups showed significant improvements both in accuracy and speed on a standard test. The apparent lack of effect, Kramer told MedPage
Today, is probably a statistical artifact that results from large individual differences within the groups.
Analyses showed that that higher aerobic fitness levels at baseline and after the one-year intervention were associated with better spatial memory performance, the researchers reported. But change in aerobic fitness was not related to improvements in memory for either the entire sample or either group separately, they found.
On the other hand, larger hippocampi at baseline and after the intervention were associated with better memory performance, they reported.
The results “clearly indicate that aerobic exercise is neuroprotective and that starting an exercise regimen later in life is not futile for either enhancing cognition or augmenting brain volume,” the researchers argued.
The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging, the Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, and the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. The authors said they had no conflicts.
SOURCE : EVERYDAY HEALTH
In a randomized study involving men and women in their mid-60s, walking three times a week for a year led to increases in the volume of the hippocampus, which plays an important role in memory, according to Dr. Arthur Kramer, of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Urbana, Ill., and colleagues.
On the other hand, control participants who took stretching classes saw drops in the volume of the hippocampus, Kramer and colleagues reported online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The findings suggest that it’s possible to overcome the age- related decline in hippocampal volume with only moderate exercise, Kramer told MedPage Today, leading to better fitness and perhaps to better spatial memory. “I don’t see a down side to it,” he said.
The volume of the hippocampus is known to fall with age by between 1 percent and 2 percent a year, the researchers noted, leading to impaired memory and increased risk for dementia.
But animal research suggests that exercise reduces the loss of volume and preserves memory, they added.
To test the effect on humans, they enrolled 120 men and women in their mid-sixties and randomly assigned 60 of them to a program of aerobic walking three times a week for a year. The remaining 60 were given stretch classes three times a week and served as a control group.
Their fitness and memory were tested before the intervention, again after six months, and for a last time after a year. Magnetic resonance images of their brains were taken at the same times in order to measure the effect on the hippocampal volume.
The study showed that overall the walkers had a 2 percent increase in the volume of the hippocampus, compared with an average loss of about 1.4% in the control participants.
The researchers also found, improvements in fitness, measured by exercise testing on a treadmill, were significantly associated with increases in the volume of the hippocampus.
On the other hand, the study fell short of demonstrating a group effect on memory - both groups showed significant improvements both in accuracy and speed on a standard test. The apparent lack of effect, Kramer told MedPage
Today, is probably a statistical artifact that results from large individual differences within the groups.
Analyses showed that that higher aerobic fitness levels at baseline and after the one-year intervention were associated with better spatial memory performance, the researchers reported. But change in aerobic fitness was not related to improvements in memory for either the entire sample or either group separately, they found.
On the other hand, larger hippocampi at baseline and after the intervention were associated with better memory performance, they reported.
The results “clearly indicate that aerobic exercise is neuroprotective and that starting an exercise regimen later in life is not futile for either enhancing cognition or augmenting brain volume,” the researchers argued.
The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging, the Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, and the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. The authors said they had no conflicts.
SOURCE : EVERYDAY HEALTH
Why Do Onions Make Us Cry?
For some people, slicing a raw onion is no big deal, but for others, it causes a stinging reaction that results in tears and mild discomfort.
What’s to blame for this teary reaction?
Enzymes in the onion that release a pungent gas when you slice into it, and when the gas comes into contact with your eyes, it forms sulfuric acid, which is responsible for that telltale stinging sensation. "The more pungent the onion is, the more likely it will make you tear up," says Irwin Goldman, PhD, department chair and professor of horticulture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
That means that yellow onions popular in cooking are the biggest culprits, and sweet, mild Vidalia onions are the least likely to trigger tears. Luckily, onions are the only type of vegetable that cause this crying reaction, because of their unique sulfur compounds.
So why do onions make you well up, but don't seem to make your partner weepy at all? Dr. Goldman says it's probably due to the individual chemistry of your eyes: Some people have little or no reaction to sulfuric acid, while others have a stronger sensitivity. And while some people find that wearing contact lenses reduces their onion-related tears, others may find it makes no difference.
Dry Up Those Onion Tears To minimize onion-triggered weepiness, Goldman recommends freezing or chilling onions before cutting them up.
The cold temperature causes a slower release of the enzymes, which helps reduce your reaction. "You can also start chopping an onion from the top end — where the skin comes together — instead of from the bottom end, where the stem is," he adds. Enzymes are more conentrated in the bottom of the onion.
If onions cause you to tear up excessively, consider wearing eye protection when you slice them. " Swimming goggles really do work," says Goldman. Or just delegate the chore to another cook in the kitchen.
What’s to blame for this teary reaction?
Enzymes in the onion that release a pungent gas when you slice into it, and when the gas comes into contact with your eyes, it forms sulfuric acid, which is responsible for that telltale stinging sensation. "The more pungent the onion is, the more likely it will make you tear up," says Irwin Goldman, PhD, department chair and professor of horticulture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
That means that yellow onions popular in cooking are the biggest culprits, and sweet, mild Vidalia onions are the least likely to trigger tears. Luckily, onions are the only type of vegetable that cause this crying reaction, because of their unique sulfur compounds.
So why do onions make you well up, but don't seem to make your partner weepy at all? Dr. Goldman says it's probably due to the individual chemistry of your eyes: Some people have little or no reaction to sulfuric acid, while others have a stronger sensitivity. And while some people find that wearing contact lenses reduces their onion-related tears, others may find it makes no difference.
Dry Up Those Onion Tears To minimize onion-triggered weepiness, Goldman recommends freezing or chilling onions before cutting them up.
The cold temperature causes a slower release of the enzymes, which helps reduce your reaction. "You can also start chopping an onion from the top end — where the skin comes together — instead of from the bottom end, where the stem is," he adds. Enzymes are more conentrated in the bottom of the onion.
If onions cause you to tear up excessively, consider wearing eye protection when you slice them. " Swimming goggles really do work," says Goldman. Or just delegate the chore to another cook in the kitchen.
Why Do We Talk in Our Sleep?
Has your partner ever referred to a conversation that occurred the night before -and you can't remember a thing you said? Unless it's after a wild night out, the cause may be somniloquy, better known as sleep talking. Sleep talking falls under the category of parasomnias, which are disruptive sleep disorders. Other parasomnias include sleepwalking, bedwetting, and night terrors. Although it can be startling, sleepwalking is generally nothing to worry about.
"Sleep talking is benign for most people," says Russell Rosenberg, PhD, who is the chairman of the National Sleep Foundation in Atlanta. "No one knows exactly what causes it." A lot of nighttime chitchat can cause you to feel tired the next day, but it's generally not a cause for concern. It's also quite common: although statistics vary, about 60 percent of us will have at least one episode of sleep talking, according to William Kohler, MD, the medical director of the Florida Sleep Institute in Tampa.
The When and How of Sleep Talking Sleep talking tends to occur during two different stages of sleep: During stage two, when it's just a stream of thoughts not accompanied by a dream, and during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when it's accompanied by active dreams.
During REM sleep it's easy to arouse a person out of sleep talking, but during stage two, it's very hard to wake someone up, and they likely won't remember what they were talking about. And even during REM sleep, what a sleep-talker is saying may not be related to what's happening in their dream. "With sleep talking, we may have active dreams — we may be speaking about what we're dreaming. On the other hand, we could be dreaming one thing and speaking something completely different," says Dr. Kohler.
Sleep talking can vary in frequency and intensity, and can be caused by a variety of factors, which may be as simple as drinking alcohol before going to sleep. "Having a high fever, being under emotional stress, taking certain medications, and having underlying sleep problems like sleep apnea can all cause a person to talk in their sleep," says Kohler. Sleep talking may also run in families, he says. There aren't any specific medications that have been singled out to cause sleep talking.
What Does All That Chitchat Mean?
Although you may be tempted to read a lot into what your partner utters in their sleep, experts don't recommend taking too much stock in those sweet nothings. "It's not a reflection of what's going on in your life," Rosenberg says. Kohler agrees: "There's a myth that secrets can be revealed with sleep talking, but that's not really accurate.
The things people are talking about can potentially have nothing to do with reality." And as many parents know, sleep talking is common in kids. "This is more of a brain development issue in children," says Rosenberg. "Most kids will grow out of it." If your partner or child is chattering away in their sleep, "let it play itself out — just observe and make sure they are safe," recommends Rosenberg.
So when would sleep talking actually be a cause for concern? Only if you feel overly tired during the day, if your nocturnal chatter is disturbing your partner, or if your sleep talking is accompanied by any other "acting out," such as sleepwalking. If you're feeling sleepy all the time, a sleep specialist can help determine the best course of action to ensure you get better sleep.
SOURCE : EVERYDAY HEALTH
"Sleep talking is benign for most people," says Russell Rosenberg, PhD, who is the chairman of the National Sleep Foundation in Atlanta. "No one knows exactly what causes it." A lot of nighttime chitchat can cause you to feel tired the next day, but it's generally not a cause for concern. It's also quite common: although statistics vary, about 60 percent of us will have at least one episode of sleep talking, according to William Kohler, MD, the medical director of the Florida Sleep Institute in Tampa.
The When and How of Sleep Talking Sleep talking tends to occur during two different stages of sleep: During stage two, when it's just a stream of thoughts not accompanied by a dream, and during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when it's accompanied by active dreams.
During REM sleep it's easy to arouse a person out of sleep talking, but during stage two, it's very hard to wake someone up, and they likely won't remember what they were talking about. And even during REM sleep, what a sleep-talker is saying may not be related to what's happening in their dream. "With sleep talking, we may have active dreams — we may be speaking about what we're dreaming. On the other hand, we could be dreaming one thing and speaking something completely different," says Dr. Kohler.
Sleep talking can vary in frequency and intensity, and can be caused by a variety of factors, which may be as simple as drinking alcohol before going to sleep. "Having a high fever, being under emotional stress, taking certain medications, and having underlying sleep problems like sleep apnea can all cause a person to talk in their sleep," says Kohler. Sleep talking may also run in families, he says. There aren't any specific medications that have been singled out to cause sleep talking.
What Does All That Chitchat Mean?
Although you may be tempted to read a lot into what your partner utters in their sleep, experts don't recommend taking too much stock in those sweet nothings. "It's not a reflection of what's going on in your life," Rosenberg says. Kohler agrees: "There's a myth that secrets can be revealed with sleep talking, but that's not really accurate.
The things people are talking about can potentially have nothing to do with reality." And as many parents know, sleep talking is common in kids. "This is more of a brain development issue in children," says Rosenberg. "Most kids will grow out of it." If your partner or child is chattering away in their sleep, "let it play itself out — just observe and make sure they are safe," recommends Rosenberg.
So when would sleep talking actually be a cause for concern? Only if you feel overly tired during the day, if your nocturnal chatter is disturbing your partner, or if your sleep talking is accompanied by any other "acting out," such as sleepwalking. If you're feeling sleepy all the time, a sleep specialist can help determine the best course of action to ensure you get better sleep.
SOURCE : EVERYDAY HEALTH
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Sex and Relationship : Tips can help you create and maintain a healthy relationship
Communication is a key part to building a healthy
relationship. The first step is making sure you both
want and expect the same things—being on the same
page is very important. The following tips can help
you create and maintain a healthy relationship:
Speak Up. In a healthy relationship, if something
is bothering you, it’s best to talk about it instead of
holding it in.
Respect Your Partner. Your partner’s wishes
and feelings have value. Let your significant other
know you are making an effort to keep their ideas
in mind. Mutual respect is essential in maintaining
healthy relationships.
Compromise. Disagreements are a natural part
of healthy relationships, but it’s important that you
find a way to compromise if you disagree on
something. Try to solve conflicts in a fair and
rational way.
Be Supportive. Offer reassurance and
encouragement to your partner. Also, let your
partner know when you need their support.
Healthy relationships are about building each
other up, not putting each other down.
Respect Each Other’s Privacy. Just because
you’re in a relationship, doesn’t mean you have to
share everything and constantly be together.
Healthy relationships require space.
relationship. The first step is making sure you both
want and expect the same things—being on the same
page is very important. The following tips can help
you create and maintain a healthy relationship:
Speak Up. In a healthy relationship, if something
is bothering you, it’s best to talk about it instead of
holding it in.
Respect Your Partner. Your partner’s wishes
and feelings have value. Let your significant other
know you are making an effort to keep their ideas
in mind. Mutual respect is essential in maintaining
healthy relationships.
Compromise. Disagreements are a natural part
of healthy relationships, but it’s important that you
find a way to compromise if you disagree on
something. Try to solve conflicts in a fair and
rational way.
Be Supportive. Offer reassurance and
encouragement to your partner. Also, let your
partner know when you need their support.
Healthy relationships are about building each
other up, not putting each other down.
Respect Each Other’s Privacy. Just because
you’re in a relationship, doesn’t mean you have to
share everything and constantly be together.
Healthy relationships require space.
Sex and Relationship : What Your Sign Says About How Likely You Are to Cheat
While there are so many factors that could contribute to whether or not you'd cheat on your partner, if you're an astrology geek, you might have a hunch your sign plays a factor. To help figure it out I talked to Cosmopolitan.com's own Maressa Brown to get the real deal on how much your sign influences how likely you are to stray.
Aries: You're super competitive, so if you feel like your partner doesn't think you're hot AF, you might turn your love life into The Hunger Games. Not in the way that someone will die, but you might get into dicey territory while you're trying to make people fight for you. Be careful.
Taurus: You are known for being stubborn as hell and loyal AF, so once you commit to someone, you're in for life. Still, if you feel like your partner isn't giving you all the rose petals and sexy One Direction mixes you deserve, you might look for that in someone else.
Aries: You're super competitive, so if you feel like your partner doesn't think you're hot AF, you might turn your love life into The Hunger Games. Not in the way that someone will die, but you might get into dicey territory while you're trying to make people fight for you. Be careful.
Taurus: You are known for being stubborn as hell and loyal AF, so once you commit to someone, you're in for life. Still, if you feel like your partner isn't giving you all the rose petals and sexy One Direction mixes you deserve, you might look for that in someone else.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
9 Things Successful People Do To Always Get What They Want
SOURCE: LIFEHACK.ORG
One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was the
decision to take on the job of hosting my own weekly
radio show where I find some of the most successful
people in the world, and bring them on my show to
ask them about what they did to become so successful
in life and business. In this article, I’m going to share
with you some of the key take-aways I’ve picked up
from talking to – and reading about – thought leaders
from various fields about the things successful people
do to always get what they want. Ready to dive in?
Let’s go.
1. They know what they
want.
The first and most
important thing that
successful people do to
always get what they want
is so simple that most
people totally forget about
it: they figure out what they
actually want. When you
know what you want, you
can get clear about what
you need to do to
actually get what you want.
(If you’re unsure about
what you want in life and business, I’d suggest picking
up some career and self-improvement books to help
you gain some clarity and focus).
2. They’re assertive.
Successful people know that they need to be
both bold and sincere. Balancing these two
characteristics is the essence of assertiveness. Oh,
and by the way – being assertive is not a natural talent
someone is born with. Assertiveness is a learned
skill. And anyone can do it. Including you!
3. They learn.
You may have heard the old saying, “great leaders are
readers”. For the most part, I’d say this is totally true.
Let me give you an example … On my radio show I
regularily ask successful people about their habits
which lead towards success. You want to know
something really neat? Every single one them reads
books. Successful people read and learn as much as
they can about what they want; so that they
can get what they want. If you’re low on time,
subscribe to a book summary site to get the core
concepts of the books in your industry quickly.
4. They make things meaningful.
One of the most powerful things successful people do
to always get what they want is that they make things
meaningful. That is, they ensure that whatever
endeavor they decide to embark upon is meaningful to
them (and not necessarily to anyone else). They know
and understand that it’s only worth it if it matters.
5. They ask.
One big thing that successful people always do in
order to get what they want is this: they ask. Most
people are too shy to ask for what they really want.
Don’t be like most people. Here’s an exercise you can
do to get over it: next time you’re buying something,
regardless of what it is, ask for a discount. Just do it.
The worst case scenario is that you’ll get a chuckle
from the Barrista at Starbucks. The best case scenario
is that you’ll get comfortable with negotiating when it’s
time to buy your next car.
6. They take action.
Insight without action is useless. Successful people
know that in order to always get what they want,
they’ve got to take massive action. One of the most
powerful exercises I’ve ever discovered is this: never
leave the sight of a goal without taking some kind
action towards its achievement. In other words: as
soon as you decide you want something, or as soon as
you set a goal of some kind, do something – anything –
that shifts you closer towards getting it.
7. They use their time wisely.
Have you ever heard of NET time? It stands for “No
Extra Time”. For example: when you’re driving, and
sitting in traffic, are you listening to Mylie Cyrus? Or
are you listening to an audiobook? Successful people
take NET time seriously. Get yourself some audiobook
so you can start listening to the best business and self-
improvement books available – all while you’re on your
way to work in the morning.
8. They choose to lead.
You don’t need to have formal authority to become a
leader. You just need to choose yourself. All successful
people know this. And so should you. Don’t wait for
anyone else to do it, because the truth is, that most
people want to be led anyway. So just step up and
claim authority. Be the leader you wish you always
had.
9. They contribute.
Successful people know that in order to get what they
want, they got to be willing to help other people get
what they want. What happens when you stop doing
your job? What happens when you stop caring about
your school work? What happens when you become
emotionally disconnected from a relationship? You
suffer, that’s what happens. Successful people know
and understand that in order to succeed, they need to
contribute. They need to add value to the lives of
others. They need to do their best, so that they can
become the best.
So, now what?
I hope this article has re-ignited the fire that
you already had within you to be successful at any
endeavor. The reason why I’m stressing the fact that
you’ve already got everything you need to succeed and
get what you want, is because you wouldn’t be reading
this if you weren’t already motivated to be successful.
At the end of the day however, all the insights in the
world are worth absolutely nothing unless you
combine them with action. When it’s all said and done,
it’s totally your decision what you do with this list and
how you apply it to your life and career. But if I may,
here’s what I would suggest you consider as you get
started doing the things to help you succeed:
Review this list of the 9 things successful people do to
always get what they want and then compare it
with where you currently are at each one of these 9
things. Rate yourself in each one of the 9 things.
One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was the
decision to take on the job of hosting my own weekly
radio show where I find some of the most successful
people in the world, and bring them on my show to
ask them about what they did to become so successful
in life and business. In this article, I’m going to share
with you some of the key take-aways I’ve picked up
from talking to – and reading about – thought leaders
from various fields about the things successful people
do to always get what they want. Ready to dive in?
Let’s go.
1. They know what they
want.
The first and most
important thing that
successful people do to
always get what they want
is so simple that most
people totally forget about
it: they figure out what they
actually want. When you
know what you want, you
can get clear about what
you need to do to
actually get what you want.
(If you’re unsure about
what you want in life and business, I’d suggest picking
up some career and self-improvement books to help
you gain some clarity and focus).
2. They’re assertive.
Successful people know that they need to be
both bold and sincere. Balancing these two
characteristics is the essence of assertiveness. Oh,
and by the way – being assertive is not a natural talent
someone is born with. Assertiveness is a learned
skill. And anyone can do it. Including you!
3. They learn.
You may have heard the old saying, “great leaders are
readers”. For the most part, I’d say this is totally true.
Let me give you an example … On my radio show I
regularily ask successful people about their habits
which lead towards success. You want to know
something really neat? Every single one them reads
books. Successful people read and learn as much as
they can about what they want; so that they
can get what they want. If you’re low on time,
subscribe to a book summary site to get the core
concepts of the books in your industry quickly.
4. They make things meaningful.
One of the most powerful things successful people do
to always get what they want is that they make things
meaningful. That is, they ensure that whatever
endeavor they decide to embark upon is meaningful to
them (and not necessarily to anyone else). They know
and understand that it’s only worth it if it matters.
5. They ask.
One big thing that successful people always do in
order to get what they want is this: they ask. Most
people are too shy to ask for what they really want.
Don’t be like most people. Here’s an exercise you can
do to get over it: next time you’re buying something,
regardless of what it is, ask for a discount. Just do it.
The worst case scenario is that you’ll get a chuckle
from the Barrista at Starbucks. The best case scenario
is that you’ll get comfortable with negotiating when it’s
time to buy your next car.
6. They take action.
Insight without action is useless. Successful people
know that in order to always get what they want,
they’ve got to take massive action. One of the most
powerful exercises I’ve ever discovered is this: never
leave the sight of a goal without taking some kind
action towards its achievement. In other words: as
soon as you decide you want something, or as soon as
you set a goal of some kind, do something – anything –
that shifts you closer towards getting it.
7. They use their time wisely.
Have you ever heard of NET time? It stands for “No
Extra Time”. For example: when you’re driving, and
sitting in traffic, are you listening to Mylie Cyrus? Or
are you listening to an audiobook? Successful people
take NET time seriously. Get yourself some audiobook
so you can start listening to the best business and self-
improvement books available – all while you’re on your
way to work in the morning.
8. They choose to lead.
You don’t need to have formal authority to become a
leader. You just need to choose yourself. All successful
people know this. And so should you. Don’t wait for
anyone else to do it, because the truth is, that most
people want to be led anyway. So just step up and
claim authority. Be the leader you wish you always
had.
9. They contribute.
Successful people know that in order to get what they
want, they got to be willing to help other people get
what they want. What happens when you stop doing
your job? What happens when you stop caring about
your school work? What happens when you become
emotionally disconnected from a relationship? You
suffer, that’s what happens. Successful people know
and understand that in order to succeed, they need to
contribute. They need to add value to the lives of
others. They need to do their best, so that they can
become the best.
So, now what?
I hope this article has re-ignited the fire that
you already had within you to be successful at any
endeavor. The reason why I’m stressing the fact that
you’ve already got everything you need to succeed and
get what you want, is because you wouldn’t be reading
this if you weren’t already motivated to be successful.
At the end of the day however, all the insights in the
world are worth absolutely nothing unless you
combine them with action. When it’s all said and done,
it’s totally your decision what you do with this list and
how you apply it to your life and career. But if I may,
here’s what I would suggest you consider as you get
started doing the things to help you succeed:
Review this list of the 9 things successful people do to
always get what they want and then compare it
with where you currently are at each one of these 9
things. Rate yourself in each one of the 9 things.
Things You Need To Drop To Stay Motivated
You are constantly struggling with staying motivated.
You start things but you never complete them. The
excitement that you had in the beginning of your
journey slowly fades. Does this sound familiar?
In order for you to stay motivated you have to get rid of things that are weighing you down. Below you will find 10 things you need to drop in order to stay motivated.
1. You will need to drop the sense of entitlement
You are not entitled to anything in this world. We all have “started from the bottom.” Work hard to accomplish your goals. You got this.
2. You will need to drop stress
Stop stressing yourself out over things you can’t
control. Reduce stress by keeping your mind, body and
soul active. Exercise, play sports, get yourself a
companion (animal), write, etc. We all have to deal with
stress in our life. The key is how you deal with it.
3. You will need to drop negativity
Focus on the positive and drop negativity. Dropping
negativity means that you distance yourself from
negative people and negative influences. Distance
yourself from people that do not care about your
dream.
4. You will need to drop comparisons
“When you are content to be simply yourself
and don’t compare or compete, everybody
will respect you.” – Lao Tzu
Stop comparing yourself to other people. Focus on
your life. Live your life. Comparisons can make you
envious and jealous of others.
5. You will need to drop time management
issues
“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep
going.” – Sam Levenson
A lot of people struggle with time management and
blame this for the lack of motivation. Drop the time
management issues and learn how to manage your
time better
6. You will need to drop impatience
Impatient people usually do not follow through with
their plans. Do not become this person. Understand
that it takes time, effort and energy to stay motivated.
Visualize success on a daily basis.
7. You will need to drop the lazy attitude
“The secret of getting ahead is getting
started.” – Mark Twain
Drop the lazy attitude and focus on your work ethic.
Give 100% day in and day out. Become the person that
people enjoy being around. Remind yourself that you
are destined for greatness. Get up earlier. Do the
harder tasks first.
8. You will need to drop the ungrateful mindset
“An ungrateful man is like a hog under a
tree eating acorns, but never looking up to
see where they come from.” – Timothy
Decker
Drop the ungrateful attitude and be thankful for the
life that you are living. Be thankful for where you are
and where you will be in the future.
9. You will need to drop the serious mentality
Put a smile on your face. Laugh a little bit. Okay, so you
have dealt with a few things in your life. But still,
please stop being serious and live life. Enjoy the
presence of others. Spend time with your family.
Progress towards a bigger goal by making smaller,
realistic goals.
10. You will need to drop the excuses
Drop the excuses. Nobody wants to hear them. Stop
looking for people to blame. Stop pointing a finger at
others and start pointing a finger at yourself. Look at
the person in the mirror and address what is holding
you back.
We hope you enjoyed this motivational boost. If you
find this information helpful please share it with your
friends and family.
You start things but you never complete them. The
excitement that you had in the beginning of your
journey slowly fades. Does this sound familiar?
In order for you to stay motivated you have to get rid of things that are weighing you down. Below you will find 10 things you need to drop in order to stay motivated.
1. You will need to drop the sense of entitlement
You are not entitled to anything in this world. We all have “started from the bottom.” Work hard to accomplish your goals. You got this.
2. You will need to drop stress
Stop stressing yourself out over things you can’t
control. Reduce stress by keeping your mind, body and
soul active. Exercise, play sports, get yourself a
companion (animal), write, etc. We all have to deal with
stress in our life. The key is how you deal with it.
3. You will need to drop negativity
Focus on the positive and drop negativity. Dropping
negativity means that you distance yourself from
negative people and negative influences. Distance
yourself from people that do not care about your
dream.
4. You will need to drop comparisons
“When you are content to be simply yourself
and don’t compare or compete, everybody
will respect you.” – Lao Tzu
Stop comparing yourself to other people. Focus on
your life. Live your life. Comparisons can make you
envious and jealous of others.
5. You will need to drop time management
issues
“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep
going.” – Sam Levenson
A lot of people struggle with time management and
blame this for the lack of motivation. Drop the time
management issues and learn how to manage your
time better
6. You will need to drop impatience
Impatient people usually do not follow through with
their plans. Do not become this person. Understand
that it takes time, effort and energy to stay motivated.
Visualize success on a daily basis.
7. You will need to drop the lazy attitude
“The secret of getting ahead is getting
started.” – Mark Twain
Drop the lazy attitude and focus on your work ethic.
Give 100% day in and day out. Become the person that
people enjoy being around. Remind yourself that you
are destined for greatness. Get up earlier. Do the
harder tasks first.
8. You will need to drop the ungrateful mindset
“An ungrateful man is like a hog under a
tree eating acorns, but never looking up to
see where they come from.” – Timothy
Decker
Drop the ungrateful attitude and be thankful for the
life that you are living. Be thankful for where you are
and where you will be in the future.
9. You will need to drop the serious mentality
Put a smile on your face. Laugh a little bit. Okay, so you
have dealt with a few things in your life. But still,
please stop being serious and live life. Enjoy the
presence of others. Spend time with your family.
Progress towards a bigger goal by making smaller,
realistic goals.
10. You will need to drop the excuses
Drop the excuses. Nobody wants to hear them. Stop
looking for people to blame. Stop pointing a finger at
others and start pointing a finger at yourself. Look at
the person in the mirror and address what is holding
you back.
We hope you enjoyed this motivational boost. If you
find this information helpful please share it with your
friends and family.
Monday, June 27, 2016
The Most Powerful Career Advice That Every PAAU Student Needs To Know
Everyone turns into a Yes-man to get a job after
college. That is why many people go through their
careers hating their job or jumping off from one
company to another. People go to college to get a
degree and to pursue their passion and interest.
Unfortunately, once they step outside the university
they make choices different from the things that they
want to be. They seem to become oblivious of their
own goals.
Uni doesn’t only prepare you for a job rather it’s a preparation for life. A college diploma will open doors of opportunities. It will show you how to get there. But remember, your destination — your future success — are yours to choose. Whether you’ve tailored a long-term plan or you see new possibilities for your future career, these powerful pieces of career advice
will empower you as you encounter difficulties in
facing reality.
“Enter every activity without giving mental
recognition to the possibility of defeat.
Concentrate on your strengths, instead of your
weaknesses… on your powers, instead of your
problems.”- Paul J. Meyer
Life in the real world is different from being a student.
Challenges are inevitable as well as failures. However,
if you focus on your strengths and use your
weaknesses to improve yourself, nothing is impossible
to a determined person.
“Success consists of going from failure to failure
without loss of enthusiasm.”- Winston Churchill
You are young. It’s okay to make mistakes. If you get
into a wrong career path, or you meet a bad boss, or
you’re dissatisfied with your job, it’s okay that’s
normal. In the span of your career journey, you will
surely make mistakes and fail many times. You’re still
inexperienced so enjoy exploring life. Fix your
mistakes and learn from them, then move forward-
That’s the joy of learning.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of
value.”- Albert Einstein
Everyone wants to be successful in life. But instead of
running behind success, aim for excellence. Strive for
it and eventually you’ll become successful.
“Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you
it can’t be done. Life’s too short to think small.”-
Timothy Ferriss
Dream big and act on it to make it happen. Do what
you’re passionate about and embrace it. Whatever you
enjoy doing make it your profession. Satisfy your inner
interest before others. It’s you who can make your
dream come true and not them. Take a chance and
trust yourself.
“In between goals is a thing called life, that has
to be lived and enjoyed.”- Sid Caesar
You can concentrate on your goals but do not forget
to have life. Study effectively and work hard but don’t
forget to relax and enjoy a bit. Go out with friends and
have quality time with your family. Pursue your goals
while living a balanced life.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the
beauty of their dreams.”- Eleanor Roosevelt
Envision yourself living to your dream and figure out
how you can achieve it. If you dream to become a
business person, teacher, doctor, nurse, engineer, etc.
then plan how you’re going to reach it. No matter what
life throws at you, keep going and live to your purpose.
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have
to work a day in your life.”- Confucius
Do something that you have talent for and you love
doing. Using your interest as your basis in finding your
career path will help you determine the right direction
towards your goals. If you love your profession, you
will have a great time doing the job and less likely to
experience stress.
“Too many of us are not living our dreams
because we are living our fears.”- Les Brown
There will be moments when you doubt your own
ability to succeed. You lose enthusiasm and drive to
keep going. But instead of letting yourself defeat by
your own fears, why not give yourself a fair chance to
do everything that you can. You never know where
your courage will take you.
“Desire! That’s the one secret of every man’s
career. Not education. Not being born with
hidden talents. Desire.”- Bobby Unser
Having a strong desire or will is what keeps you from
achieving your goals. If you desire to succeed in life,
you can do everything to make your goal a reality. This
gives you hope, inspiration, and driving force to move
forward and accomplish something.
“To accomplish great things, we must not only
act, but also dream, not only plan, but also
believe.”- Anatole France
A dream without action is dead. Having dreams
without believing on it is useless. If you dream make
sure it’s big, plan on how to get it and be confident
that you can reach it. If you desire to get a particular
job, even if it seems impossible to achieve, never stop
believing and do your best to get it. You can start from
taking small steps until you reach goal.
“We become what we think about.”- Earl
Nightingale
While you’re young, have a clear vision of your future.
Even though you’re still clueless with your destination
just think of what you wanted to become. Fill your
mind with positive thoughts, dreams, and beliefs so
that it would manifest into your life. Stop worrying,
stop complaining. Do not let the idea of “what if’s”
corrupt your dreams. You might not control
everything that may happen to you but you have a
choice to take it or leave it behind.
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but
it is the journey that matters, in the end.”- Ernest
Hemingway
It’s good to have a goal so you know where you’re
heading at. However, aside from focusing on your
destination, it’s the long journey that will matter in the
end. The goal of most college students probably is to
have a good career. You study hard to complete your
education and acquire the skills needed for your job
application. Of course, you can set your eyes towards
your goal but do not forget everything you’ve learned
and experienced while you’re on your way there.
“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.”-
Chris Grosser
Successful people didn’t wait for opportunities to
knock on their doors. They created it that’s why they’re
reaping what they have sown. Apply this truth to your
life and you’ll definitely accomplish everything on your
own.
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is
what keeps you going.”- Jim Ryun
Staying consistently motivated in reaching your goals
will eventually become your habit. If you continuously
do things properly then you’ll keep going until you get
to your destination. When you’re motivated, you have
a reason to do what you love.
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The
most certain way to succeed is always to try just
one more time.”- Thomas A. Edison
Failures happen to anyone and yes, it happens all the
time. Don’t feel hopeless after failing many times. You
just have to understand perfectly the purpose of
failure in your life in order to realize that it is
something you need to succeed. Giving up will stop
you from achieving greatness and making a difference.
So instead of thinking about quitting, why not take it as
an opportunity to make things way better?
CREDIT: LIFEHACK.ORG
college. That is why many people go through their
careers hating their job or jumping off from one
company to another. People go to college to get a
degree and to pursue their passion and interest.
Unfortunately, once they step outside the university
they make choices different from the things that they
want to be. They seem to become oblivious of their
own goals.
Uni doesn’t only prepare you for a job rather it’s a preparation for life. A college diploma will open doors of opportunities. It will show you how to get there. But remember, your destination — your future success — are yours to choose. Whether you’ve tailored a long-term plan or you see new possibilities for your future career, these powerful pieces of career advice
will empower you as you encounter difficulties in
facing reality.
“Enter every activity without giving mental
recognition to the possibility of defeat.
Concentrate on your strengths, instead of your
weaknesses… on your powers, instead of your
problems.”- Paul J. Meyer
Life in the real world is different from being a student.
Challenges are inevitable as well as failures. However,
if you focus on your strengths and use your
weaknesses to improve yourself, nothing is impossible
to a determined person.
“Success consists of going from failure to failure
without loss of enthusiasm.”- Winston Churchill
You are young. It’s okay to make mistakes. If you get
into a wrong career path, or you meet a bad boss, or
you’re dissatisfied with your job, it’s okay that’s
normal. In the span of your career journey, you will
surely make mistakes and fail many times. You’re still
inexperienced so enjoy exploring life. Fix your
mistakes and learn from them, then move forward-
That’s the joy of learning.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of
value.”- Albert Einstein
Everyone wants to be successful in life. But instead of
running behind success, aim for excellence. Strive for
it and eventually you’ll become successful.
“Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you
it can’t be done. Life’s too short to think small.”-
Timothy Ferriss
Dream big and act on it to make it happen. Do what
you’re passionate about and embrace it. Whatever you
enjoy doing make it your profession. Satisfy your inner
interest before others. It’s you who can make your
dream come true and not them. Take a chance and
trust yourself.
“In between goals is a thing called life, that has
to be lived and enjoyed.”- Sid Caesar
You can concentrate on your goals but do not forget
to have life. Study effectively and work hard but don’t
forget to relax and enjoy a bit. Go out with friends and
have quality time with your family. Pursue your goals
while living a balanced life.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the
beauty of their dreams.”- Eleanor Roosevelt
Envision yourself living to your dream and figure out
how you can achieve it. If you dream to become a
business person, teacher, doctor, nurse, engineer, etc.
then plan how you’re going to reach it. No matter what
life throws at you, keep going and live to your purpose.
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have
to work a day in your life.”- Confucius
Do something that you have talent for and you love
doing. Using your interest as your basis in finding your
career path will help you determine the right direction
towards your goals. If you love your profession, you
will have a great time doing the job and less likely to
experience stress.
“Too many of us are not living our dreams
because we are living our fears.”- Les Brown
There will be moments when you doubt your own
ability to succeed. You lose enthusiasm and drive to
keep going. But instead of letting yourself defeat by
your own fears, why not give yourself a fair chance to
do everything that you can. You never know where
your courage will take you.
“Desire! That’s the one secret of every man’s
career. Not education. Not being born with
hidden talents. Desire.”- Bobby Unser
Having a strong desire or will is what keeps you from
achieving your goals. If you desire to succeed in life,
you can do everything to make your goal a reality. This
gives you hope, inspiration, and driving force to move
forward and accomplish something.
“To accomplish great things, we must not only
act, but also dream, not only plan, but also
believe.”- Anatole France
A dream without action is dead. Having dreams
without believing on it is useless. If you dream make
sure it’s big, plan on how to get it and be confident
that you can reach it. If you desire to get a particular
job, even if it seems impossible to achieve, never stop
believing and do your best to get it. You can start from
taking small steps until you reach goal.
“We become what we think about.”- Earl
Nightingale
While you’re young, have a clear vision of your future.
Even though you’re still clueless with your destination
just think of what you wanted to become. Fill your
mind with positive thoughts, dreams, and beliefs so
that it would manifest into your life. Stop worrying,
stop complaining. Do not let the idea of “what if’s”
corrupt your dreams. You might not control
everything that may happen to you but you have a
choice to take it or leave it behind.
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but
it is the journey that matters, in the end.”- Ernest
Hemingway
It’s good to have a goal so you know where you’re
heading at. However, aside from focusing on your
destination, it’s the long journey that will matter in the
end. The goal of most college students probably is to
have a good career. You study hard to complete your
education and acquire the skills needed for your job
application. Of course, you can set your eyes towards
your goal but do not forget everything you’ve learned
and experienced while you’re on your way there.
“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.”-
Chris Grosser
Successful people didn’t wait for opportunities to
knock on their doors. They created it that’s why they’re
reaping what they have sown. Apply this truth to your
life and you’ll definitely accomplish everything on your
own.
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is
what keeps you going.”- Jim Ryun
Staying consistently motivated in reaching your goals
will eventually become your habit. If you continuously
do things properly then you’ll keep going until you get
to your destination. When you’re motivated, you have
a reason to do what you love.
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The
most certain way to succeed is always to try just
one more time.”- Thomas A. Edison
Failures happen to anyone and yes, it happens all the
time. Don’t feel hopeless after failing many times. You
just have to understand perfectly the purpose of
failure in your life in order to realize that it is
something you need to succeed. Giving up will stop
you from achieving greatness and making a difference.
So instead of thinking about quitting, why not take it as
an opportunity to make things way better?
CREDIT: LIFEHACK.ORG
Ways To Make A First Class In PAAU
NOTE : LESS THAN 10% WHO SEE THIS POST WILL READ IT TO THE END BECAUSE MORE THAN
90% OF THOSE WHO GAINED ADMISSION ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE A FIRST CLASS
It is true that the method of assuming academic success is not applicable to everybody. However, there are specific principles that you can follow in order to guarantee academic success during your time at the University. The department or course notwithstanding, earning a reputation for yourself with that CGPA or aiming to be the best in your faculty or the university depends on most of these frequently overlooked but important cues.
#9 – Take Extensive Notes
Probably the most tedious of our top 10 9, maintaining
a consistent habit of taking good notes is hard to do.
In our present world, many students find it difficult to
maintain their focus long enough to record the
information given out during lectures. The advantage
being that when time comes to write a quiz/test/exam,
you’ll be glad you have that pile of notes to review and
refresh your brain with. Taking good notes is an act of
learning in itself. This small but potent act goes a long
way to creating the foundation for a quintessential
and unparalleled understanding of the material being
covered.
An excellent method is also to scribble down
everything that seems useful in some manner, almost
as if you were transcribing the lecture. Later, transfer
and rewrite the notes into an understandable form in
another notebook. This will cement the information
into your mind, moving the material from your short
term memory into your long term. Time and again, we
seem to understand a lecture when it is delivered.
Unfortunately though, a week later or two we seem to
lose almost every point that was made. Note taking is
one of the best ways to consolidate short term
memory into long term.
#8 – Obtain Old Exams Question papers and
Assignments from your senior colleagues to
procure a satisfactory idea of what subject matter the
instructors are most likely to test you on.
They are even more useful because you can attempt
the exam/assignment as a check of knowledge,
identifying weak areas that you must take into further
consideration or re-study. Last semester, I was
studying gluconeogenesis in Medical Biochemistry and
a senior colleague of mine happened to pass by. He
appeared interested and proceeded to supply me a
couple of past questions. One was “Gluconeogenesis
is not necessarily the reversal of Glycolysis. Explain”.
Propitiously, in my end of semester examination, it
was asked exactly as I was given in Number 2. It was
worth 10 marks.
One common tactic many students use for science
laboratory classes is to find a graded laboratory
notebook from a previous year. Laboratory work is
notoriously difficult with respect to time limitation and
what is expected from a student’s lab report. Having a
format to follow along with is a phenomenal help.
Knowing where to avoid mistakes is fundamental as
well.
#7 – Begin Studying For Tests and Exams
EARLY
Between academics and your social life, time is not
something you will have in ample quantity throughout
your stay in University. One cardinal act you should
always make time for is studying early for exams.
There’s nothing worse than leaving all of the studying
for the night before an important test or exam. The
stress causes you to panic and you won’t perform as
well as you normally would if you had studied early
enough. Studying a little bit during the semester will
not only make you better prepared but will also
remove most stress you’d have if you leave your
studying for the last minute.
Early exam studying allows a student to identify weak
spots in their understanding and to prioritize their
studying accordingly. Just imagine studying until the
early morning of the day of your exam only to find
you’ve completely ignored a section that you have little
or no understanding in. Don’t let that happen.
#6 – Use Your Time Wisely in between classes as
well as before and after school.
There are many opportunities to sneak in some studying or homework
that many students either don’t realize or just don ‘t
use. I’ve known people who would study on the keke
during the ride to and from school. I’ve also known
people that would combine the time waiting for a
lecture to begin with their study time!
Just bring your notes and instead of pinging or
chatting endlessly with friends. You get a workout for
your body and for your brain! Always keep your notes
handy and use any spare time for simple review to
make sure you’re on top of the material. All of those
small moments you fill with studying will really add up
to a solid understanding. You’ll discover that you will
require less studying when exam time arrives. That’s
huge.
#5 – Get Your Questions Resolved
Information in your field of study is cumulative and
the last stuff you learned will be instrumental in
understanding the next stuff! So anytime you don’t
understand something or have a question about the
subject matter, get your question answered as soon
as you can. Whether by asking during class, after class,
or by asking a fellow student – do it. You need to stay
on top of the subject matter in order to be ready for
the next stuff that’s coming. Don’t let the holes in your
understanding be knowledge pits for the future!
#4 – Get To Know Some of Your Classmates
This one can be extremely demanding for many
people these days. Meeting people is becoming
increasingly difficult in a world of social stigmas and
fears of disapproval. I’m not going to tell you how to
meet people. But when you do, the benefits will
become apparent. Having someone to lean on for
notes from a lecture that you missed, being able to
bounce questions and ideas off of somebody, and
most importantly having someone to check your
assignment answers with before you hand it in, are all
spectacular reasons to swallow your nerves and start
saying “Hi! My name is….” to the people in your class…
and don’t have too many female friends
#3 – Explore Other Class Resources
Many class outlines will have “optional” reading listed
along with the required textbook. This is often a HUGE
opportunity for easy marks and guaranteed success in
the particular class. Lecturers are humans just like me
and you. Their job is to relay the required material and
then test you on it. If they’re using the required
textbook as reference for the learning part, where do
you think they’re going to get the material for the
testing part? If you say “the required textbook”, you’re
probably wrong! Lecturers will often take exam or test
questions out of their favorite textbooks, resulting in
quality assessments from a trusted source. Those
favorite textbooks are often listed as optional reading
material on the course outline. Also don’t forget the
mighty Internet. Use Wikipedia and Google as well to
find extra (often better!) resources on whatever it is
that you’re struggling with.
2- Pre-Read Lecture Material
One night I was bored. Very bored. I grabbed a
textbook for a class whose lecture I had the next
morning and I began reading from the point we
stopped at in the previous lecture. It was difficult to
understand and took a lot of focus to push through it
but the next day in class while listening to the teacher,
it crystallized in my mind and was easy from then on.
It had the added benefit of being committed to my
long term memory giving me a better understanding
of the material. It makes sense if you think about it. I
was essentially learning the material twice. First, alone.
Secondly, with the help of an expert. These combined
into a solid understanding that I still possess to this
day.
I suggest that you do this for every class. Also, you
may use this technique for anything that you deem to
be very difficult or abstract. That way you’ll have a
great head start on understanding and mastering the
hard stuff, leaving plenty of time for filling in the gaps
with the easy stuff!
MERCY
90% OF THOSE WHO GAINED ADMISSION ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE A FIRST CLASS
It is true that the method of assuming academic success is not applicable to everybody. However, there are specific principles that you can follow in order to guarantee academic success during your time at the University. The department or course notwithstanding, earning a reputation for yourself with that CGPA or aiming to be the best in your faculty or the university depends on most of these frequently overlooked but important cues.
#9 – Take Extensive Notes
Probably the most tedious of our top 10 9, maintaining
a consistent habit of taking good notes is hard to do.
In our present world, many students find it difficult to
maintain their focus long enough to record the
information given out during lectures. The advantage
being that when time comes to write a quiz/test/exam,
you’ll be glad you have that pile of notes to review and
refresh your brain with. Taking good notes is an act of
learning in itself. This small but potent act goes a long
way to creating the foundation for a quintessential
and unparalleled understanding of the material being
covered.
An excellent method is also to scribble down
everything that seems useful in some manner, almost
as if you were transcribing the lecture. Later, transfer
and rewrite the notes into an understandable form in
another notebook. This will cement the information
into your mind, moving the material from your short
term memory into your long term. Time and again, we
seem to understand a lecture when it is delivered.
Unfortunately though, a week later or two we seem to
lose almost every point that was made. Note taking is
one of the best ways to consolidate short term
memory into long term.
#8 – Obtain Old Exams Question papers and
Assignments from your senior colleagues to
procure a satisfactory idea of what subject matter the
instructors are most likely to test you on.
They are even more useful because you can attempt
the exam/assignment as a check of knowledge,
identifying weak areas that you must take into further
consideration or re-study. Last semester, I was
studying gluconeogenesis in Medical Biochemistry and
a senior colleague of mine happened to pass by. He
appeared interested and proceeded to supply me a
couple of past questions. One was “Gluconeogenesis
is not necessarily the reversal of Glycolysis. Explain”.
Propitiously, in my end of semester examination, it
was asked exactly as I was given in Number 2. It was
worth 10 marks.
One common tactic many students use for science
laboratory classes is to find a graded laboratory
notebook from a previous year. Laboratory work is
notoriously difficult with respect to time limitation and
what is expected from a student’s lab report. Having a
format to follow along with is a phenomenal help.
Knowing where to avoid mistakes is fundamental as
well.
#7 – Begin Studying For Tests and Exams
EARLY
Between academics and your social life, time is not
something you will have in ample quantity throughout
your stay in University. One cardinal act you should
always make time for is studying early for exams.
There’s nothing worse than leaving all of the studying
for the night before an important test or exam. The
stress causes you to panic and you won’t perform as
well as you normally would if you had studied early
enough. Studying a little bit during the semester will
not only make you better prepared but will also
remove most stress you’d have if you leave your
studying for the last minute.
Early exam studying allows a student to identify weak
spots in their understanding and to prioritize their
studying accordingly. Just imagine studying until the
early morning of the day of your exam only to find
you’ve completely ignored a section that you have little
or no understanding in. Don’t let that happen.
#6 – Use Your Time Wisely in between classes as
well as before and after school.
There are many opportunities to sneak in some studying or homework
that many students either don’t realize or just don ‘t
use. I’ve known people who would study on the keke
during the ride to and from school. I’ve also known
people that would combine the time waiting for a
lecture to begin with their study time!
Just bring your notes and instead of pinging or
chatting endlessly with friends. You get a workout for
your body and for your brain! Always keep your notes
handy and use any spare time for simple review to
make sure you’re on top of the material. All of those
small moments you fill with studying will really add up
to a solid understanding. You’ll discover that you will
require less studying when exam time arrives. That’s
huge.
#5 – Get Your Questions Resolved
Information in your field of study is cumulative and
the last stuff you learned will be instrumental in
understanding the next stuff! So anytime you don’t
understand something or have a question about the
subject matter, get your question answered as soon
as you can. Whether by asking during class, after class,
or by asking a fellow student – do it. You need to stay
on top of the subject matter in order to be ready for
the next stuff that’s coming. Don’t let the holes in your
understanding be knowledge pits for the future!
#4 – Get To Know Some of Your Classmates
This one can be extremely demanding for many
people these days. Meeting people is becoming
increasingly difficult in a world of social stigmas and
fears of disapproval. I’m not going to tell you how to
meet people. But when you do, the benefits will
become apparent. Having someone to lean on for
notes from a lecture that you missed, being able to
bounce questions and ideas off of somebody, and
most importantly having someone to check your
assignment answers with before you hand it in, are all
spectacular reasons to swallow your nerves and start
saying “Hi! My name is….” to the people in your class…
and don’t have too many female friends
#3 – Explore Other Class Resources
Many class outlines will have “optional” reading listed
along with the required textbook. This is often a HUGE
opportunity for easy marks and guaranteed success in
the particular class. Lecturers are humans just like me
and you. Their job is to relay the required material and
then test you on it. If they’re using the required
textbook as reference for the learning part, where do
you think they’re going to get the material for the
testing part? If you say “the required textbook”, you’re
probably wrong! Lecturers will often take exam or test
questions out of their favorite textbooks, resulting in
quality assessments from a trusted source. Those
favorite textbooks are often listed as optional reading
material on the course outline. Also don’t forget the
mighty Internet. Use Wikipedia and Google as well to
find extra (often better!) resources on whatever it is
that you’re struggling with.
2- Pre-Read Lecture Material
One night I was bored. Very bored. I grabbed a
textbook for a class whose lecture I had the next
morning and I began reading from the point we
stopped at in the previous lecture. It was difficult to
understand and took a lot of focus to push through it
but the next day in class while listening to the teacher,
it crystallized in my mind and was easy from then on.
It had the added benefit of being committed to my
long term memory giving me a better understanding
of the material. It makes sense if you think about it. I
was essentially learning the material twice. First, alone.
Secondly, with the help of an expert. These combined
into a solid understanding that I still possess to this
day.
I suggest that you do this for every class. Also, you
may use this technique for anything that you deem to
be very difficult or abstract. That way you’ll have a
great head start on understanding and mastering the
hard stuff, leaving plenty of time for filling in the gaps
with the easy stuff!
MERCY
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