Driven to Distraction

This week I am trying an experiment. In order to finish my summer research proposal (Due Thursday) and not fail my upcoming Neuroscience exam this Monday morning, and keep reasonably up-to-date in my other classes, I am going to cut out the two most common time-wasting activities: Reading the "news", and playing Lux on my iPhone.

The news for a few reasons. First, I'm mostly reading it to procrastinate. I like the self-educationnews can provide, but that is secondary to my work avoidance. Also, every time divisive topics come up in the news, I find my ability to concentrate completely gone. I feel like I need to read every article as though eventually one of them will eventually will refute the facts I learned in the first article. Divisive political news does not lend itself to learning how the body works (at least not for me). Lastly, the "news" I read seems each day to be less about important world events, and more tech gossip, celebrity gossip, legal gossip and even political gossip. I can't justify that with all the other things I need to do.

Lux, a knockoff version of Risk, is available as a free version for the iPhone, which I have played relentlessly (to Janelle's, and my own, dismay). I openly use it as a coping mechanism for stress. It is completely ineffective though, as even after having won the game three times in a row, I still crave world domination just as fiercely as when I started. "Lux! I delete you!"
[I am now deleting this off my phone. You'll just have to trust me about that.]

I do sometimes need a break from the books, but I am determined to do that through more productive means. It's getting nicer so I might even try taking walk or two in our wetland trail. I don't know if I'll have time, but going for a run would be nice too. Any other suggestions for a quick (<10 minute) study break/stress buster?

Burnout...

I have finished my third week back since Spring Break, and I'm not sure exactly why, but yesterday at about 5pm my brain decided there was nothing more it cared to do. Granted, Friday was a long day to cap off a long week. In retrospect I was probably burning myself out getting through what I was doing, but now that it is the weekend and I know I have no tests until a week from Monday, I can't seem to focus or keep on task at all.

I've pretty much given myself a pass for tonight, although I may try to read a few things for school. I just feel discouraged, distracted, and unmotivated. Oh, and stressed out. I hope it doesn't take me long to get back to normal.

Soundtrack to a Medical Education

I wanted to share the 15 songs that, so far, have saved my sanity and my GPA here at Midwestern University. After five months of studying, I have listened to these songs for over 116 hours (Yeah, I figured it out. What's it to ya?). For me, they provide the right balance of being interesting, having undistracting beats, and occasionally waking me a bit when I'm feeling dozy. For your enjoyment I present my studying soundtrack:

1. Mike Mills - Air
2. Lovers' Carvings - Bibio
3. No Distance Left To Run - Blur
4. Letters from the Sky - Civil Twilight
5. I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie
6. Your Heart Is An Empty Room - Death Cab For Cutie
7. Transatlanticism - Death Cab For Cutie
8. Blind - Hercules and Love Affair
9. Bulletproof - La Roux
10. Gimme Sympathy - Metric
11. Knights Of Cydonia - Muse
12. Just - Radiohead
13. Buildings & Mountains - The Republic Tigers
14. Take Me To The Riot - Stars
15. Night Windows - The Weakerthans

Directions: 1) Listen, 2) Succeed, 3) Repeat.

The only other track that might be stealing my attention is "Brown Noise Loop" on the album White Noise Loops for Sleep. No music - it is just muffled noise sounds that keep you from paying attention to other sounds (like when people are laughing in the quiet study room, ahem), but it may been the best $0.99 I've spent in some time.

A Great Start

Last night I took my first one-on-one medical history in a simulated clinic setting. There was an actor portraying a patient with whom I interacted as though I were the doctor. I wanted to do a great job because it was my very first time in this role, but the first thing I did was knock the clock off the wall by closing the door too forcefully, leaving a pile of broken glass on the exam room floor and a no-longer-functional clock on the counter for housekeeping to replace.

I'm not a doctor yet, but I'm off to a great start.

13 hours, 5 minutes

I just realized/found out that the test I've been studying for all yesterday and today isn't tomorrow. It is on Friday morning. The test that I haven't started studying for yet is tomorrow. At 8:10 am I have a biochemistry exam. That gives me roughly 13 hours and 5 minutes to prepare for it (and sleep).

{rolling eyes}