They always tell us not to procrastinate…

It’s the most popular tip to give college students. I admit I’ve probably even advised it, while turning around and doing it myself. So what if we stuck to our compulsory ways and kept procrastinating, but did it to an extent which we still accomplished all we needed to? There is not enough time in a day not to procrastinate. Therefore, let us procrastinators ban together and show the people who are good at managing time how it’s done.

It’s 10 pm and where did all of my day go?

Edward Young once said, “Procrastination is the thief of time.”  Perhaps he was right. Yet that doesn’t stop us from doing it. It’s okay, take a deep breath. Even though you have a midterm you have hardly studied for and an essay to write you need to face the fact that you are a procrastinator. And then once you’ve faced that fact you need to embrace time like it was your child. Here’s how to get going and accomplish what you need to by the morning. (May result to tiredness, falling asleep in class, drowsiness.)

1. Clear your head, clear your space. In order for you to get everything done you will need the best possible work setting to accomplish the maximum amount of work. Do you need complete silence? Go to the library or stay in your room (if your roommate isn’t too distracting). Do you need background noise for inspiration? Go to a lounge or a late night coffee shop. Once you’ve settled into your workspace, clear your head from the worries of the day, the upcoming deadlines and constant worries of life. Focus strictly on what you need to do and start there.  Turn off all distractions that might prevent you from working, such as phone, Facebook, etc. Don’t take on more than one task at a time.

2. Make a to-do list! Post-its are my favorite way to organize life. Make a list in order of how important each task is/when each task is due (this is called prioritizing chronologically). By laying out all that you have to do, you can be scared out of your mind for 15 seconds and then get over that by working. Remember: Crossing off a task on your to-do list is probably one of the top 5 most satisfying things in life.

3. Be willing to work on something, regardless of how long it will take. Take as long as possible until everything is completed. When you start thinking about the other life aspects that will keep you from completing your work such as sleep, you will start to worry and it will trump over your work ethic. So stay focused and don’t think about how long it will take to complete everything.

4. Set amounts of time that you will work on each task. Though it’s important to go into working on something with the mentality that you will work on it until it is perfected, that’s not reality in a procrastinating setting such as this, because there are other things that need to get done as well. Stay with allotted times and get all that you can get done within that time, and then come back and revise as much as possible when you are finished with other tasks.

5. Get in the zone and work. Tune out the world and focus on what needs to get done.

6. Have a (preferably caffeinated) beverage nearby. This always helps me stay awake, but still allows me to sleep once I am finished with my long and grueling night of work. Even something non-caffeinated to sip on is usually helpful with staying awake, I have found.

Fellow procrastinators,

I’m sorry to inform you all that we will forever be procrastinators until we learn self control or how to manage our time. Or you can keep being a procrastinator and hopefully follow some of these tips and accomplish all you need to, while still procrastinating.

Continue reading only if you have read the Harry Potter series. I wouldn’t want to give anything away.

We’ve all been to that point, where we take particular notice of Hermione Granger’s poise and perfection, especially when she stops sucking up to the professors and we realize she’s even better because she’s human and we can relate to her. Hermione is the student we would all like to be but, unfortunately, probably never will be because who has the ability to manage their time that well? It’s the big brain and bushy brown hair that keeps us intrigued, asking, “How are you good at everything (except quidditch)?” Here are some tips that we could all learn, as students, from Hermione Granger:

1. If you don’t see value in a course, drop it. We see this when Hermione drops Professor Trelawney’s Divination Course during HP & The Chamber of Secrets. The time is among us to register for classes, be it winter quarter or second semester. When you get to your first week of classes, take note of the professor’s teaching style and the syllabus. If it’s not required that you take the class and you’d rather be doing something else, then so be it. It’s your college education, so take it by the reins.

2. Do all you have to, to figure out a problem by using your resources. In HP & The Goblet of Fire, Hermione spends hours in the library searching for anything that would be able to make Harry breathe underwater for the second task of the Triwizard tournament. Unfortunately in this situation, Hermione does not find a solution for Harry but instead we remember that Dobby saves the day by giving him stolen gillyweed from Snape’s office. But regardless of this situation, Hermione will do whatever it takes to find a solution once she is faced with a problem, by using her resources (her most favorite being the library). Take advantage of your school’s library, your academic counselor, your peers and professor to stay on track!                                                                                                                                                                                

3. Friendship is the best policy. In all 7 books, Hermione has proved to be a great, though sometimes unforgiving, friend. It’s evident that ever since the first book she agrees to stick with Harry and Ron. Their friendship is inspiring. Be inspired.

4. Punch Malfoy in the nose (to be taken figuratively). I love when Hermione punches Malfoy in HP & The Prisoner of Azkaban, not because I am huge on violence and getting revenge but because Hermione breaks a new barrier within herself. She is challenged and she succeeds. But what I’m really getting at, is if we are in a tough situation whether it be cramming for finals or in a tough spot with friends, we need to punch Malfoy in the nose and succeed! Well maybe that wasn’t the best analogy, but it works.

5. If you are really passionate about something, go for it! In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Hermione takes an overload of classes (with the help of Professor McGonagall and the time turner) and successfully completes them. And we see her happiness in taking these classes because she thrives off of learning. Take some classes just because they sound interesting, or because they’re something that you’ve always wanted to take though they aren’t relevant to your major. It’s good to be well-rounded.

6. Go with your gut feeling. Hermione knows when something is wrong. She’s always the first to sense a bad air about something, whereas Ron is always the first one to be afraid. In our college life, this can be a practical way to face a test. Not sure about the answer on a multiple choice test? Trust your gut feeling, because Hermione would. And she would probably get it correct.

7. Problem solve. Remember when she solved the riddle of the potions to continue onto the Sorcerer’s Stone? She is a genius. Hermione uses her logic in all situations, and she always pulls through. Use your logic in life, like Hermione.

8. Have a good solid group of friends. Hermione, Harry and Ron are a solid group of friends all throughout their years at Hogwarts and beyond. Though they have their disputes (who doesn’t?), they stick together and trust each other. It’s really great to have a solid group of friends like this who you can trust and rely on, especially in times of need when you’re up against Voldemort. Or more so, trials such as defeating Voldemort.

9. Love books. I have to admit Hermione is a little ridiculous, reading textbooks for fun and all. But I am sure they are very interesting. She spits out random pieces of information at the most crucial times and it’s so beneficial. Even if it’s just interesting, it’s great to have a broad mindset and wide spectrum of information.

10. Use your talents where you have been given them. Meaning, Hermione didn’t try out for the Gryffindor quidditch team, because she knew that she was terrible at the sport. Instead, she embraced the gifts she already had such as her sharp intelligence, logic and ethos. She was founder of Dumbledore’s Army, advocate and again founder of The House Elf Liberation Front. When she believed in something she went for it, even when others didn’t. Harry and Ron thought the idea of freeing House Elves was riddikulus (I like puns), yet Hermione stuck with it and continued to fight for Elf rights. It’s good to try new things and it’s also good to use your skills where they could benefit others. Maybe this looks like planning events, or tutoring, or being a DJ for your campus’s radio station. Try new things and see what you’re good at, or more importantly what you most enjoy doing.

Today is the first day that Oct. 25 ACT scores may be available online.

But don’t count on them yet. The scheduled posted by ACT.org says that these scores may be posted online anywhere between:

November 12, 2008–December 29, 2008

so go check your score, but don’t be surprised if the website is down as thousands of other students are logging on today, they seem to be having some issues.