Treat Yo’ Self (And Other Sound Advice)

Welcome back! Opus is so happy to be back. Our editorial staff is already working hard to recruit submissions and organize meetings for the upcoming year! Opus is now accepting submissions until September 19^th  by midnight, so submit if you have anything you want to share! We are proud to display the diversity on campus and have some fun with friends while we talk art and literature. We are meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 pm in Lubbers 222 if you ever want to come to a meeting. Come when you can – leave when you want! We hope to see you there J

Now for our post from our art editor Samantha Grody!

Today, a certain professor told me that this is the week when we college students hit “the wall.” He went on to describe that three to four weeks into the semester we all decide that this is too hard, we can’t do it, what are we going to do…and then we pick ourselves up and move on. Why? We have to, as we will continue to have to for the rest of our lives. However, if you’d like to quicken this process and make it a little less painful, there are some things you can do to motivate yourself. In a snazzy article titled “How to get motivated, according to science,” Eric Barker details the crucial step we are all missing in motivating ourselves: emotions. This concept is crucial to understanding what we do and why we do it. We all know that when we go to class tired or after a fight with a friend our favorite classes can seem frustrating, annoying and unimportant. There is good news, though, we can change this! First, be happy! Happiness will increase your productivity, especially if you celebrate every step of progress. Endorphins make people happy; happy people don’t kill their husbands; they just don’t. Okay, I digress, but it’s true. Make a checklist with EVERYTHING you plan to do, and check off the easy stuff first. If that isn’t working for you, Treat Yo’self! Candy, clothes (modestly priced), coffee, or a day of carefree fun. Penalties also work if you can’t seem to find a proper reward. Barker suggests giving your friend a hundred dollar bill; if you finish your work on time, you get the money back. If not, that is very unfortunate. I suggest a smaller bill personally, but do what works for you. The last suggestion is to positively peer pressure yourself. Surround yourself with peers you look up to and respect, and you will be surprised at how much you accomplish. One final suggestion I have personally, is to remind yourself of why you do what you do, whether it’s writing, painting, accounting, whatever. Why did you start this? Surround yourself with motivational quotes and reminders of what is important to you. I flip through my motivational Pinterest board whenever I can’t seem to get going. I know this is a long post, and congratulations to you for sticking with me this long! I hope some of these tips can help you, and remember to just keep swimming. And check out this video!