Take a Break and Listen to a Podcast

Good afternoon lovely students,

It is very important to do your classwork, make sure you're learning, and getting the most out of your education here at DCAD, but...sometimes you just need a BREAK. I'd even say it's even more important to take breaks so you don't get burned out or exhausted. 

STORYTIME: (I'll get to the point, be patient)

In 2012, I worked a summer in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee as "bear patrol." No, it was not meant to protect people from bears but rather bears from people. Bear protector! Anyway, around that time, as I was riding my bike in circles around the park, I started listening to NPR and other public radio shows. And then in 2014, when I worked on a conservation crew in Missouri, we started listening to the podcast "Serial" and I've been hooked on them ever since. My point is, sometimes you need something to listen to as you're working on a visual assignment or sometimes you need to take a break without it turning into a 3 hour nap. Give podcasts a chance! 

Here are some I've been listening to recently:

1. Uncover: Escaping NXIVM...if you're into cults, this is the podcast for YOU. NXIVM is a weird, weird cult, but super fascinating. This podcast focuses on one woman who left and led a mass exodus, Sarah Edmonson. 5/5 would recommend

2. Sibling Rivalry (with Bob the Drag Queen and Monet X Change)...if you love drag queens and drag race, Bob and Monet are two of the best to come out of the franchise. They are really funny and warm, listening to them makes me happy. 5/5 would recommend

3. Why Won't You Date ME (with Nicole Byer)...need I say more, Nicole Byer is so genuine and funny and just a total goof. It's definitely a good podcast to listen to if you need to just relax and enjoy something or go on a walk. 5/5 would recommend

4. The Loser's Club (a Stephen King podcast)...are you a nerd? This is a great podcast for you, whether you love Stephen King or not. These folks go deep into King's works, resulting in 2-3 hour podcasts. This one is for a long walk or long break, but worth it. 5/5 would recommend

5. Crimetown (Season 1)...THE ITALIAN MOB and the Patriarca crime family. This podcast is so captivating and as a Bostonian, something about hearing Providence accents is comforting to me. A deep dive into organized crime in Providence with interviews from former mobsters. 5/5 would recommend. 

*If you want any more recs, I am obsessed and will gladly help you to become obsessed as well*

The moral of the story is this; take care of yourself. You deserve it. 

-Emma

Something to smile about

I know this isn't related to writing, but here are some photos of my old girl to put a smile on your face today. 

How I've been getting through quarantine, a short vlog

 

Procrastination

Procrastination is something that plagues most of us, including your teachers (including me). It can be really hard to dig yourself out of that procrastination hole. But if you keep telling yourself, I'll do it tomorrow I'll do it tomorrow I'll do it tomorrow, it will never get done. 

Here are some tips to get you through it:

1. Make a to-do list. 

      This may sound too obvious, but sometimes making a simple list can really help you to get what you need to do done. I use to-do lists all the time, especially now, to remind myself what to do on any given day. 

2. Prioritize

      Whether that to-do list is physical or in your head, make sure you prioritize what needs to get done first. With school work, this should be easy as you have more of structure with your schedule and when assignments are due. At the start of the week, if you know one thing is due Wednesday and one is due Friday and they'll take the same amount of time to do, prioritize the Wednesday item. This way, when it's done, you can feel more calm about getting the next thing done. 

3. Set a timer 

       Sit down and set an actual timer for 30 minutes, 1 hour, whatever it is, to get something done. This can help you to focus for at least that amount of time. 

4. Make sure you're well rested

       If you're sleeping well, a lot of things will be working better in your life. Your mind won't wander as much if you're not exhausted trying to get something done. 

5. Use a physical calendar to schedule things

      I have two physical calendars, one for school stuff and one for personal. Writing it down helps keep me in check and reminds me of things I have to do. You can use the calendar in your phone for this and utilize things like the alert function to remind you of class or assignments. 

6. Don't beat yourself up

      You want to get things done when they need to be done, but beating yourself up about it won't help you. Looking for blame in yourself is different than taking responsibility. You can take responsibility without feeling bad about yourself. Take a breath, find your calm, and tackle that next project without worry. 

AND lastly, here's a video from world famous drag queens Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova with their tips on battling procrastination 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59BsqqTZPPQ 

Writing an Introduction

Starting a paper can be difficult. Writing an introduction can be even more difficult.  Check out my quick-and-easy guide on the right side under "Emma's Tips for Writing." 

Motivation 101

 

Welcome! Fall 2020

 Hello students! 

Welcome back to DCAD. While things are a bit different, the Writer's Studio will still be running, online of course. 

Everything you need to know, who I am, instructions on booking appointments, and other resources are available on this blog. 

This blog will be updated weekly with a new booked appointment schedule. I will also upload new resources and writing tips here.

If you have any questions about the tutoring sessions, please email me at elena@dcad.edu 

-Emma 

P.S. Here's the video instructions (also linked in the email I sent you)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDRlCzYAstE