Mind escaping from exams!

      Mind in escape mode

It’s an another beautiful day. You feel like singing, dancing , watching your favorite flick, listening to your favorite artist, cook something delicious and different, travel to fun places or want to spend a quiet time with yourself, but you just look at the wall clock and the act wakes you up  from a daydream to realize you have an exam  tomorrow. You  are in no mood to indulge in your academic books but the novel of  your favorite author. Have you ever thought ,why this happens ?

Few days back, when I had my exam next day, I saw a new status update on facebook which says , “why its only during exams that we develop so many hobbies?” And this “Why” struck my mind to think about it and dig out the answers to this open question. I personally feel like doing everything else but studies during exams and that I have to deliberately keep myself focused. The reasons are manifold . Like

•     Because you think you still have many hours left to study and you can do whatever you feel like doing in the meantime.

•   You don’t  like to dive into books for it’s full of theories, models etc that you have to make your way through cramming.

• You don’t know from where to start and how to start (studying after being left with less time).

•   You are habitually trained to spend time with your hobbies when you should actually do it with studies during tests.

•  You have not studied the whole year or semester ,  and the times come to cram all that have possibility to appear on the question paper but the  lazy mind assumes it a herculean task, hence escaping ( thats what laziness phenomenon is) .

•   Or because you lose all hope that nothing could be done at the nick of time. You wish if you have utilized your time properly or studied before.

In “Seven habits of effective people” , Stephen R Covey illustrated the matrix of time management that has four quadrants into it. Each quadrant represents the tasks based on priorities.

I Quadrant – Urgent and Important

II Quadrant – Importent but not Urgent

III Quadrant – Urgent but not Important

IV Quadrant – Not Urgent, Not Important.

The chapter explains, “When people don’t spend maximum time in II Q , they have to deal with I Q and when they don’t want to be in I Q , they shift to IV Q”

For example in context of exams, II Q involves studying daily or regularly to be updated (which is important but not urgent ), I Q is studying at the last moment to get through the exams (urgent and important) , IV Q is the normal escapal chamber (not urgent and not important).

In short , to achieve positive and productive results with no end time jitters , to avoid escaping from an important task , spend maximum of time in II Quadrant.

I hope I have made my point clear on why our mind like to be in escape mode during exams.

And I just realized , writing too (that I am doing right now)  is the kind of escape  from stress building up due to exams and project deadlines. I should better stop it right here and get back to work or sleep for it’s already 1 at night.

Keep studying and Smiling!! :)

Switch off the lights!!

Today I am going to join hands in the World Earth Hour Movement. I will switch off all the lights  for an hour at 8.30 pm to support the cause against climate change.

Ridiculous Rule

Let me share an incident with you. It's indeed funny. Okay if not for you, but for me it was the fun moment of the day!! Because I got to know about a ridiculous rule today which has been formed just few days ago .

As soon as I entered the premises, I saw the person for whom I went to college. My project mentor. He was discussing IPL and a trip with my fellow batch mates. I also joined them. I was already late for my class . I looked at the time, " still 35 mins left for the class to get over ". I had 35 spare mins and I could finish the most important task of the day i.e to discuss the project, I am working on, with my mentor. .

I   asked him if we can discuss the project and he replied ," come with someone". I wondered why and what it had to do with my project discussion . I walked out of staff room in search of a person. I caught my friend Bishu and brought him to the staff room. Then he noted, " person accompanying you must be a gal". I asked, "why sir ? " of which he responded, "I can't sit with you unless you come with one more gal ". Because the class was still  on, and almost all of my gal friends were in the room. Then I saw and approached two gals , again my batch mates, comforting themselves on the staircase, gossiping. I asked them if they could do me a favor and accompany me. I narrated them what's the case. They laughed it off ,"Sir is just joking with you  and don't take it seriously". They denied my proposal in fear of being asked by him about the status of their project on which they have not even touched yet.

I again haplessly walked back to him and reported him that nobody was interested . I was keeping my cool in frustration and asking him to discuss. He denyingly answered, "I can't help it out, it's a newly formed rule". I was amazed, "What kind of rule is this? It's absurd ". I doubtingly asked him, "Are you kidding sir  or making me a fool? It's not even 1st of April ".

Finally the class had got over by then and I entered into my class room where I got to know the truth . Unfortunately it's a rule recently issued by the university."A gal student has to be accompanied by another gal everytime she is to discuss anything with the professor (male)".

This is indeed a ridiculous rule I have ever come across. Nobody needs it.  Nobody  is in support of it . Nobody will ever follow it.

between a rock and a hard place!!

Life gives you surprises when it's least expected.

" I am standing at the cross road and have options to choose to tread on any one. No road is laid of roses but stones. Despite having knowledge about where the path leads yet unsure of the uncertainties lying ahead". It's the situation we all have to face at some point of time in life.

Decision has to be taken. No one can stand at this intersection point  for long. And thence we often have to move with all unpreparedness to preparedness to fight the battle of odds and obstacles on the way which at the end offer us the pleasure of success.

New Word #1

It's 18th day of the month March. Today it feels that its a matter of yesterday only since we have a bash on the new year. The time seems to have passed so quickly!!! Two months = Two Days if we look back.

We often have to face many moments which appears to be close when they actually have happened in a distant past.

Then I have found the term used to describe this psychological phenomenon while reading a book "Making Time" authored by Steve Taylor.

"Forward Telescoping " - the tendency to think that past events have happened more recently than they actually have.

Happy Holi(Day)!!!

Prior to 1st March, no excitement. A friend asked "What's plan for Holi ?" . I answered " Plan!! I am not even in the festive mood." Why? Because I can't see it. It might have become a regular holiday for almost everyone atleast for those I know. It needs no preparation like decoration et al. About festive food , now it all available in the market. One just need to spend some money. Making "gujiya" at home is still a pleasure which this time mom abstained from.

The forte of festival of color is that it colors you in its own spirit no matter how hard you try not to. Unlike other festivals, one need not to strain one's brain on what to wear but to decide upon which piece of clothe to sacrifice for celebration. .The first and foremost thing I did is to oil my hair and put a layer of jelly(petroleum) on skin to prevent skin damage cause due to inorganic colors.Last year i resoluted to play holi with organic colors only but i cant prevent others to use it. This year I decided to play dry as one of my another friend inspired me by explaining on how much galloons of water being wasted on this day not only in playing but in washing off the colors too afterwards. He was not at all in save water campaign, but had a thought worth considering. So i did.

Thereafter continued the Happy Holi session with rubbing the colors on each others faces, embracing and wishing holi.