Tuesday, April 30, 2013

ALMOST THERE

Hang in there! That's the best advice I can give all my fellow school-goers... we're. so. close.

Finish up those projects. Write those papers. Study for those exams. Just do it (sorry Nike). The harder you push yourself now, the better you'll feel once you're good and done. An trust me, I am counting the nano-seconds until I'm good and done. 

Tips... well you've heard it all before. Time management is everything, don't burn yourself out, avoid fun things at all cost, buy a yourself a personal coffee vendor, blah blah blah. What little advice I do have to offer probably won't apply to you in all likelihood to be honest, but I'm going to say it anyways. 

Tip #1: EXERCISE. I know it seems counter-intuitive when all you want to do is inject ramen and poptarts into your bloodstream and go 48+ hours without sleep, but it will help you settle your over-worked brain and keep your body from staging a mutiny against you in the long run (HA punny... long run, get it? No? Well then stop procrastinating and go back to work, lazy ass). Seriously though, working out is probably the most productive study break you can take. It will also remind you to shower when you've probably forgotten to do that during finals week too...

Tip #2: SLEEP. Once again, I know this probably sounds crazy and goes against all our innate tendencies as college students, but you literally won't be able to function without it. I checked. On the internet. Plus, we all know you won't be doing much of this once finals are over if ya know what I mean (PARTAYYYYY if you don't). 

Tip #3: EAT (or at least try to). This won't come naturally. In fact, if it does you aren't doing school right. Either way though, you need to keep a hold over your nutrients so you don't end up eating half a dozen boxes of donuts as soon as finals are over (whoops) or collapsing and missing out on the next three glorious months of summer vacation.

Tip #4: MUSIC. I'm talking motivational, inspirational, gives-you-the-energy-to-bust-out-four-papers-three-projects-and-three-finals-in-a-week music. If you're like me and get a little too easily distracted by lyrics (or if it's just me then disregard, I'm kind of a weirdo), try instrumentals like Land Observations, most STRFKR songs, Love Like a Sunset by Phoenix, Strobe by Deadmau5, some yoga playlist, foreign music like Pascal Pinon, or my personal favorite Ecstacy of Gold by Ennio Morricone so you're not tempted to sing along while you worl. <--- That, for instance, was the result of me listening to The Naked and Famous and attempting to type at the same time...

Tip #5: LET IT GO. You know what I'm talking about. It's different for everyone, but we all have that bad thing hanging over us that we use to blame our stress and failures on. Relationship problems, family issues, friendship strains, illnesses, death, anything. I know it sucks, trust me I'm currently experiencing all of the above, I know it makes you want to curl up into a lint-sized ball and cry tears of frustration to drown yourself (woah, that got a little darker than I intended it to, I apologize), but please don't quit. Prove to yourself that you can do it and forget about everyone else for once. Just buckle down and do well and you will feel buttloads better (that's a lot for those of you not familiar with the butt system of measurement). Reward yourself when you do well and don't beat yourself up when you don't; just being here and trying is something. 

Tip #6: SHAVE

OK so that last one was a little irrelevant, but my legs were starting to look like Chewbaca's face so hey, I'm just saying. Anyways, I hope that contained at least a semblance of helpful advice somewhere in there, I really do wish the best of luck to everyone. Now go kick your finals in the ass.

-Chase

P.S. I realize this must have been a hard article to get through without any pictures (I'm saving them for future pieces) so here you go. You're welcome.

 



Saturday, April 6, 2013

Feeling the Wanderlust


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Alright, this is getting bad guys. In classes, at work, when I should be doing homework- pretty much all the time lately all I think about is dropping out of school and travelling. I won't actually do it (probably), but I've never been outside of the U.S. for more than a few hours and I'm a grown adult for god's sake, it's about time I see the world. 

I'm a firm believer in the powers of travel, and think that everyone should get out there and see something new, especially if it's something they've always wanted to do. For me, that's backpacking in Nepal or travelling through Iceland, but I'll go anywhere the wind takes me... or anywhere I can afford.

 

Anyways, for those who share in my enthusiasm (and for those who don't) I figured everyone could use some pictures of amazing faraway places that get me all kinds of ready for summer, enjoy!