This is my last semester of undergraduate coursework. I thought this wouldn't affect anything but boy was I wrong. I feel like a kid trying to sit through maths class before icecream after school. I haven't been able to get in to the swing of the semester and I can tell you why as an example of obstacles you might encounter.
1. Timetable Clashes
This is not destroying my life, but it has its problems. I have a very convenient two day a week timetable, but part of the catch is that a film class overlaps with an English seminar. It's easier for me to skip the film class and listen to the recorded lectures at home and watch the films in the library (or at home if they're available from the video store and not too rare). The problem is that I lack the organisation and motivation to do this now, and in the neverending cycle of guilt and reasoning I feel bad about it, and then less motivated, etc.
2. Mini-break Holidays
I went to Byron Bay for a weekend a few weeks ago and it was so good that I can't stop thinking about it and I'm not concentrating on work in the slightest. I met people, I made plans, I had a great time - and now I have to sit in class for hours on end? Mini-breaks are great but can be distracting more than anything else.
3. International Flu of Doom
I got the flu around World Youth Day. Yes, that is more than a month ago. I am still trying to get over it. That's what you get. Sydney has been cold this winter, and I've been out and about, busy, what not. On top of that, being at a university means lots of germs - as does living in a sharehouse, no matter how clean it looks. Being sick totally messes up your study and even your day. I find it hard to keep my eyes open or get myself to walk to class. If you feel yourself getting sick, go to the uni doctor as soon as you can. I was previously of the 'never mind it's nothing I'll get over it' school of thought but I have been converted. The doctor kindly prescribed me with $90 worth of medication and I wondered whether euthanasia would have been more convenient. Nevertheless, I am feeling a little better now.
4. Extra-curriculars
I am not even that in to extra-curricular activities but they do eat their way in to my life anyway. Verge Arts festival, PALM awards for literature and photography, societies, plays and free events - these are all things that I am in some way committed to and am overwhelmed by in ways. I love doing this stuff - I love the creative outlet - but I feel sometimes that my brain has to be switched in to the right gear for creative things and for essay things.
5. Cool courses and exciting essays
This may not make sense. But some of the courses I am doing are so radically cool that I have trouble committing myself to them because I am just so excited about learning the stuff. I am paralysed by anticipation of researching wonderful essays. A teacher told me I can remix some short stories rather than write an essay - awesome! - but how do I even begin such a cool task? I feel like slapping myself around the head sometimes.
Anyway, with all of this I suppose I should stop rambling on and force myself to do something relevant. But I'm sleepy and it's cold and there's chocolate biscuits calling my name. If anyone has any tips for how to wake your brain up, I'm all ears!