Snapping Out Of A Funk

[MrCastle]

How do you do it? I'm in the middle of a serious funk. Not dating wise -- I'm not focused on that right now.

 

It's school.

 

I'm a senior in college, this is my second to last semester. I just can't for the life of me bring myself to care. I'm sleep walking through these classes. Somehow, I missed two weeks worth of assignments for one of my online classes. Today, we had a paper due that we had weeks to work on that completely slipped my mind. I wrote it a few hours before it was due. I'm good under pressure and believe I turned out a gem but that's not the point.

 

I don't want every assignment being an emergency situation type of thing. I am feeling majorly stressed and overwhelmed.

 

I think it comes down to time management. I have a lot of free time, but it's mostly spent going on photoshoots, hanging out with friends, etc.

 

I refuse to become one of those people who spends their college years locked in their room with a book. I never had to be before, I don't want to start now. So balancing my social life and academic life is an issue. At least this semester.

 

It also doesn't help that I hate every single class I take. Basically I took all the fun classes and electives I wanted and pushed back the ones I have to take in order to graduate, so my classes now are either boring, difficult, or both.

 

I would ask what your secret is for snapping out of funks, but I'm sure a good lot of you are out of school and working, in which case the motivation is quite easy -- you slack off, you get fired, no more money. So you're driven by that fear.

 

I'm not sure why I made this thread, I guess I want to know how you guys pull yourself out of a funk when you get in one?

[MrCastle]

Anyone?

[bentleychic]

Paint your toenails bright red! That'll brighten your spirits.

 

You are welcome.

[carhill]

What's your goal? I mean, other than snapping out of the funk....

[Art_Critic]

How about powering through your priorities so you have less pressure, I'm guessing the photoshoots are for cash, do you need to keep them up ? if not then maybe a little locking yourself in your room with the books and less working will get you through this, refocusing yourself isn't always easy but if sounds like to me that your focused elsewhere...

 

Are you feeling depressed ?

[GorillaTheater]

I hate to be the one who brings this up, but: "self discipline".

 

I understand what you're saying; I'm a naturally lazy person who managed to successfully coast through undergrad, and got one hell of a rude awakening in postgrad.

 

Sometimes you just have to lock yourself in a room with a book. If for no other reason than avoiding the angst that comes from not doing so.

[mea_M]

Ok well your in college to get a degree. Its your senior year is that not a big YAY? Think about it your on your way to graduation. What is the plan after you graduate? I'd focus on the plan because to me that would be exciting. Its something to look forward too. You've worked hard to reach this point I'm sure. Just a few more hurdles and degree in hand. Be proud. I'm not sure this helped, but I hope it did.

 

Mea:)

[MrCastle]

I'm typing on my phone so I'm not gonna quote every single poster but rather do some quick hits.

 

-My goal: is to snap out of this funk so my grades don't suffer. I got a C on a test last week. C. I'm an honor student. Absolutely unacceptable. I get upset if I get a B. To see a C on my paper was a haymaker. As much as it bothered me, seeing that grade, I haven't picked myself up and turned things around. I'm still in a fuzzy daze where I'm half assing assignments and not taking anything seriously.

 

-My photography: Some jobs are paid, some are for fun. I go out on shoots every week as a form of therapy. It's a passion of mine and something I hope to make a career out of some day, so I'm building a portfolio. Aside from the pictures, it gives me a reason to get out of the house, good way to clear my head, enjoy myself, and take my mind off of real life, if just for a moment.

 

-I would say I'm borderline depressed, yes. Not sure why. I have nothing to feel depressed about, Thank God. I really have no complaints. It's just a cycle I can't seem to break. I hate my classes, so I half ass them, I half ass them, I fall behind, I fall behind, it makes me hate the class more, etc.

 

Somewhere the cycle has to break. Something has to break it. I need to find out what exactly.

[xxoo]

You don't have to give up your fun times for studying, but school has to come first.

 

When I was in school, I would make a schedule of when I was going to work on each assignment. The entire week was scheduled. On tuesday, do the work I planned to do Tuesday, and then I had the rest of the day for other things. Don't worry about Wednesday's work until Wednesday, because it's all scheduled out. It was sort of like budgeting, but time not money. Any time left over AFTER I did what I needed to do that day was for me to spend as I wish.

 

Senioritis isn't uncommon. Persevere.

[Johnsmith1003]

I am right there with ya. This too coincidentally is my second to last semester, and like you, my online classes are just becoming too much of a distraction to me. I'll do em, but procrastinate as much as I can and put half effort into it. I don't think I'm burning out of my career interest, per se, but rather going to school for as long as I have. Not complaining that much, I see lawyers and doctors and they school themselves twice as long as I do. But you may be in a rut like I am, and need some life goals. Live more.

[MrCastle]

I am right there with ya. This too coincidentally is my second to last semester, and like you, my online classes are just becoming too much of a distraction to me. I'll do em, but procrastinate as much as I can and put half effort into it. I don't think I'm burning out of my career interest, per se, but rather going to school for as long as I have. Not complaining that much, I see lawyers and doctors and they school themselves twice as long as I do. But you may be in a rut like I am, and need some life goals. Live more.

 

Exactly. I hate online classes. I had no choice as they were the only ones being offered. So two of my classes this semester are online. I need structure . I'm doing better in my on campus classes because I know every week at the same time, I show up to X room, and take X class.

 

The online classes, you think would be easier, but the professors make it complicated by having assignments due on different days/hours. If you're not logging in every single day you may miss an announcement. That's really not fair as my other classes meet once a week for 3 hours.

 

So they should make everything due same time, same day of the week, every week. But they don't. And it seems like they give me a lot more work than my on campus classes do.

 

Online classes are just a money grab for the school. They are offering extra classes because they're not taking up any physical classrooms. So you can offer 100 different online classes and charge the same amount for them as you would an on campus class. It's all about money, plain and simple.

[camillalev]

Stop focusing on school and focus on what you want with your life. Even if you're not 100% sure, start somewhere outside of school - like an internship in something you find interesting, just to start. Do something that makes you excited and nervous. Of course you're bored - it's your senior year and you're over it. You dont seem to care about the essay you wrote and neither will most people after you've graduated. I've learned that unless you're getting a law degree, becoming a doctor, etc, classes and school are very inconsequential. Experience(resume), portfolio, relationships, connections, that's what matters. Build that. Unless you become a writer/blogger you will never have to write another essay in your life(maybe save your CV).

 

I wish someone had told me this earlier. I know a lot of people who either dropped out or never went to college - but they get paid a sh't ton because they used all that time to surround themselves with the right people(big factor), gain actual real-life-real-workplace experience and build a resume/client list.

Edited October 17, 2013 by camillalev

[camillalev]

-My photography: Some jobs are paid, some are for fun. I go out on shoots every week as a form of therapy. It's a passion of mine and something I hope to make a career out of some day, so I'm building a portfolio. Aside from the pictures, it gives me a reason to get out of the house, good way to clear my head, enjoy myself, and take my mind off of real life, if just for a moment.

 

 

Maybe photo assist someone. Every full-time working photographer I know got their start this way.

Edited October 17, 2013 by camillalev

[Arabella]

Ah, I remember this feeling all too well. I was like you.... honor student through the first 3 years without even trying. Anything less than a straight up A was an insult to me. Then on my Senior year, life smacked me in the face.

 

Getting a college degree is a pretty hard push... not because it's difficult material (in most cases, it's not), but because of the amount of time it takes. It's really hard to keep up the same level of self-discipline through at least 4 years.

 

Suddenly getting those straight As is a lot harder, and every time you fail to do so, it hurts your own self-esteem. It starts to feel like you will never get those grades back.

 

How do you get it back?

 

Simple... you don't. Accept that you're human. Try to do well, but don't stress if you get something less than an A.

 

Start your assignments the same day you get them, and try to complete them well in advance. I am good under pressure too, but it really started to take a toll on me when I waited until last-minute to get everything done. Less stress means better performance overall. You will also enjoy your free time more, and sleep better, when you don't have things hanging over your head.

 

As far as your online class goes... I didn't have any issues with that because I'm extremely organized, but you can try putting reminders on your smartphone's calendar of when things are due. I do that for my SO, and it really helps him.

 

Anyway... remember, it's just your undergrad. A year or two after graduation, nobody will care whether your GPA was 3.9 or 2.8. In fact, your entire degree will become completely irrelevant after your get admitted to grad school.

 

Hang in there

 

-A