Mark Robson's Blog, page 3

Mastering The Art of Thesis Statement

The essay writing process often starts with planning out your piece and making an outline. However, the real core of any essay is the thesis statement. It might be pretty difficult to come up with a good one for your essay, but we will hopefully help you out. Keep reading to learn how to create a proper thesis for each of your papers.

Understanding Thesis Statement

First and foremost, what is a thesis statement? It is the central argument that you are making in your essay. Sometimes, it might be supported by evidence and proof, or sometimes, it might even be debunked by the essay itself. A thesis statement is typically placed at the end of your introduction paragraph and provides a concise summary of the main point or points of your essay that you will be addressing in the following paragraphs. Think of your thesis statement as the basis or foundation for your essay. If it is weak or poorly constructed, the entire paper might be too weak as well.

Characteristics of a Strong Thesis Statement

When working on the main point of your essay, you might be thinking of characteristics that it should have. Here are the ones that you might find valuable and useful when working on a thesis statement for your piece:

It is specific. A good thesis statement is clear, focused, and specific. It should clearly articulate and explain the main idea of your essay to leave no room for confusion.It is arguable. Your thesis statement should contain an argument or perspective, which means it should provide some space for debate. It should not simply state something but rather take the stance that can be discussed later, supported and defended with proper arguments and proof in your essayIt is relevant. Your thesis statement should be directly relevant to your essay, its topic, and its content. It also should address the central issue or question and not focus on anything else.It has a scope. While you should keep your thesis statement specific, you should also remember to give it some space to be broad enough. It should be done in order to provide some insights and ground for the following arguments that will be discussed in the paper. By avoiding overly narrow or overly broad thesis statements, you can improve the depth of your analysis.

So, basically, it is important to find the balance. Your thesis statement shouldn’t be too narrow or too broad; address the main point of your essay but still leave a bit of space for the following discussions. If you find this task challenging, don’t worry – you are not alone. Many college students have issues with thesis statements as well as other parts of the essay writing process. This is completely fine as we all have different strengths, and academic writing might not be just one of yours.

You might want to try an essay writing service to help you with any essay that you need to be done. We are a team of experienced writers who can help you out. You can surely delegate some of your academic tasks, and it will significantly help with the stress that college often causes.

How to Craft Your Thesis Statement

Now that you understand what your thesis statement should be like, it’s time to start crafting it. Remember that it might not be the final version that you will include in your essay. Sometimes, after you complete your writing, you may need to come back to your thesis statement and change it a little bit so it is more suitable for the paper that you have created.

Identify the topic

First of all, of course, you need to understand what your essay will be about and, thus, its central and main idea that will be addressed in your thesis statement. Ask yourself questions “What am I writing about?” “What is the main goal of my essay?” “Why is the topic important?” “How will my reader understand my point?” By answering these questions, you can identify the core that should be specified with your thesis statement.

Phrase the main question

In order to create the thesis statement itself, formulate the main question that it should answer. For example, let’s say you are writing about caffeine intake. After you gather the basic info and answer the questions from the previous step, you know that you should be writing about caffeine intake problems. So, you might come up with the following question that your thesis statement will answer:

“Is daily caffeine intake damaging to a healthy person with no heart disease and blood pressure issues?”

In the case of such a question, your future thesis statement might be the following:

“Excessive caffeine intake among healthy individuals can lead to a myriad of adverse health effects, including but not limited to increased heart rate, disrupted sleep patterns, heightened anxiety levels, and potential long-term consequences on cardiovascular health, even if they never experienced any health issues before.”

Take a stance

Based on a question that you come up with, you might try to sketch the thesis statement itself. Make sure that it really provides that answer to your question and has potential for the following arguments and discussion.

Come back and edit

After you are done writing your essay, be sure to come back to your thesis statement and reread it. Chances are that you will have to edit or slightly change after you have all of your arguments and points addressed in the essay.

You might also want to check your thesis statement and ask yourself the following questions:

Is my thesis statement clear and specific?Does it present a strong argument or perspective?Is it directly relevant to the topic of my essay?Does it encompass the main points I’ll be discussing in my essay?Can it be supported with evidence and examples?

If your thesis statement needs improvements, be sure to polish it and change it a little so that it suits the main topic of your essay and your point of view.

Conclusion

A perfectly strong thesis statement often needs some extra effort. That is because it is the heart of your piece, its voice, and the main message. So, be sure to pay extra attention to your thesis statement and use our tips to polish it.

The post Mastering The Art of Thesis Statement first appeared on Essay Writer.

The post Mastering The Art of Thesis Statement appeared first on Essay Writer.

Choosing a Major: Passion or Financial Practicality?

Many of us find it hard to make a decision, especially when it comes to important and pivotal ones. Such a decision might be the choice of a major. The more you worry, the harder it becomes to choose between a few options. This is when you might try to list all the pros and cons of each major. But what if you suddenly realize that you are choosing between the path of your passion and the “wise” or “safe” major option? This blog post will try to help you make the right choice. So, if you are currently choosing a major, keep reading to learn some valuable tips.

Many Paths

When choosing a major in college, it’s important to remind yourself about self-reflection, which allows you to analyze your interests, passions, strengths, and values. For example, you might highly value the ability to help people or animals, and you would want to have such an opportunity in your life. Also, be sure to explore your options – research different majors and academic programs offered by colleges and universities in your location first. After that, you might consider colleges and learning institutions that are more distant. You can also search for the most popular or the least popular college majors to understand the needs of the job market today.

Goals

Consider your career goals, as there might be different career goals for different people. For example, some people would love to succeed in their career growth and become a manager or a team leader with many employees under their supervision. Others would appreciate a rather quiet job with less responsibility or less communication. Consider what is best for you.

Get Help

You can also seek advice and guidance from faculty members, career counselors, and professionals working in the field of your interest. Ask them about their job, responsibilities, and duties and what their typical work day looks like. It might be very helpful to you and affect your opinion while making the decision.

Choosing Passion

Be sure to check if you are suitable for the programs that you like the most and list all the cons and pros of picking this major. Keep in mind that you can change the major in the future in case something goes very wrong, but try to pick the major that you would not need to change. According to a perfect scenario, you should be able to complete your studies and receive your major without making any changes during your academic path.

The Downside

When you choose a major according to your passions, for example, if you like drawing fonts or playing video games, you might see that there are not enough college majors and programs that are suitable for you or that are available. This is a pretty common case for narrow niches and rather unpopular jobs. You may be very interested in repairing antique typewriters, but would you be able to find a job in this field? Think of this when choosing, and try to find vacant workplaces and job ads that would suit your choice.

However, many people working today don’t have passion for their current job, and this is very sad. They might be hating their workplace, hating their duties, and might be hating their career future. That’s why making a choice according to your interests and your likes is very important.

True Passion – True Happiness

Remember that pursuing a passion can lead to an authentic and fulfilling career path. Not everyone can be happy working their normal and common job while having a dream job in mind. Many people don’t succeed due to them being in the wrong place and doing the wrong things. This is what you should try to avoid. Think of the satisfaction and fulfillment that your career of passion might bring you. Don’t forget to be realistic about your expectations and financial gain – some of the specifics should be researched beforehand, and that is where advice from professionals in the field might come in handy.

Choosing Practicality

On the other hand percent practicality means prioritizing career, prospects and financial stability, especially in an increasingly competitive job market. Thinking of the competition is a healthy way to approach the process of choosing a major. For example, high demand for particular specialists can create more student programs and even national grants, scholarships, etc. More narrow niches might not provide so many different options.

Stability Is What We Need?

Many choose their major considering financial stability and stable employment. For example, employment in the sphere of finances and IT is very high and can be called stable for the next few decades. That’s why these college majors are the most popular ones nowadays.

The price and value of college education can be viewed as long-term investment it would require less risky decisions, thus picking more popular and “safe” major options: healthcare, computer, science, engineering, business, and finances.

Valuable Skills as a Bonus

Practical majors, the ones that provide a lot of job opportunities, often also provide students with valuable skills that can be transferable across various industries and sectors. For example, business majors, equip students for jobs where they can put their problem solving skills or teamwork skills to work. This often means that graduating with such a major can provide a lot of financial and employment opportunities in the future, even if not working in the niche of your major.

Finding Balance

One might debate for a long time about passion and practicality. However, the reality is that it’s possible to find a balance between the two. Passion and practicality should be viewed not as mutually exclusive but rather as things that can be mixed together in one major. Your task is to pick the one major that has them both.

So, one approach is to pursue a double major or minor that combines a passion with a practical field of study. For example, if you are interested in environmental issues, you can major in environmental science while also minoring in business administration. This will help you combine your interests with practical skills in management and entrepreneurship.

Another strategy is to experiment with your learning opportunities, such as entrepreneurship, co-ops, or research projects, that will allow you to explore your passions within the real-world job offers. This will be a perfect option for people who are not yet confident about what their perfect and expected job might be like. You can test your career aspirations and build a professional network while gaining experience in the field of your interest. And while you are in the process of reflection and search, you can count on your favorite essay writing team and have your deadlines covered.

Early, you can put resources available to you to use, for example, career counseling services and alumni networks that will provide you with some valuable experience and insight about specifics of particular jobs and the state of the job market for your sphere of interests.

Conclusion

Making a choice is hard, but choosing a major is especially challenging as too many things should be considered. However, we believe that it is possible to find a balance and pick a major that would suit your career expectations and also meet your interests.

The post Choosing a Major: Passion or Financial Practicality? first appeared on Essay Writer.

The post Choosing a Major: Passion or Financial Practicality? appeared first on Essay Writer.

Finding a True Friendship in College

Finding friends always seems like good luck more than everything else. And it is partially true – you sometimes need a dash of luck to get to the right place at the right time to meet the right people. However, the majority of us forget that there is more to this. For example, putting effort into creating bonds with people, learning how to be open and friendly, adapt to changes and transformations around and inside of you. These things are no less important than simply waiting for the perfect friend match for you and true friendship bonds. This blog post will help you navigate the challenges of college friendships and will surely help you find your tribe.

Understanding the Dynamics

The first thing you should understand about college is that it is a complex and even tough time for a lot of us. It is a time of transformation, learning, overcoming, and living under stress and pressure. What does that mean in terms of friendship? It might mean that the bonds that occur might break with no fault of any of you. Or that sometimes it might be hard to see the person as they are due to the challenges they are going through. It also might mean a lack of time to nurture friendships at all. And all of this should be kept in mind.

College also often makes you fall into superficial friendships that are based on whole wrong things – convenience, for example. What you should remember is that your roommate does not always have to be your friend, just like people from your class or study groups. Analyze the communication that you have – surface-level interactions are typical for acquaintances rather than true friends.

Search for people with the same interests, values, and views as yours. A deeper level of connection can be reached only with time, so, of course, your relationship might go through a few stages. However, development and positive dynamics are key.

Being Authentic

As it was said earlier, it’s better to have a friend who shares your interests and views. This is impossible if you don’t get a chance or don’t want to share your personal beliefs or hobbies – and this is the main problem that many young adults face. You need to be authentic to find true friendship. Don’t try to be someone else or act to please people around you. Being able to express your point and have a word in conversations when it comes to interests or, for example, a group decision is crucial.

If are among people who love partying and pretend to like it as well, you will not find a true friend. It will be all lies and fake talks until you find people who are close to what you really enjoy. Otherwise, you will be doomed to pretend.

Finding Balance

During college years, you might feel overwhelmed with the number of tasks and spheres of life that you need to juggle. Socializing, working, studying, resting, finding time for hobbies, family, and resetting – all of these things might feel like too much to be taken care of.

It’s important to find the right balance between the most important spheres of your life. Work-life balance is often referred to as a key to success in your career and academic life. But what is also important is that it is the key to your friendship too. What it means is that you should not solely focus on the “finding friends” task or “maintaining friendship” task. This issue often happens to people who are anxious about losing potential friends or are not socially active enough.

After high school, with lots of constant interactions, college friendships might feel less dynamic and vibrant. Less hanging together, less talks; it’s all alright if you know the secret – the quality matters more when it comes to true friendship. Spending eight hours together is not always as deep as having a deep conversation for half an hour.

In other words, avoid extremes – don’t put yourself or your studies aside in order to make more time to  hang out with potential friends. Also, don’t lock yourself in your dorm room with books – find a balance and a perfect ratio in your daily schedule. Prioritize self-care and listen to yourself; the rest will naturally come.

Making an Effort

Another important factor is making an effort. Being proactive is important as sitting in your room wouldn’t help you make friends, right? So, going out, attending events, and being open to new acquaintances are crucial elements of the process of making friends in college or any other place.

What’s even more valuable is making an effort internally – to smile more, participate in conversations, and learn how to be friendly. Many people need to remember and work on these extra things because it can drastically change the situation, even if it implies forcing yourself a little. And it means truly making an effort and getting true friendship.

Being Open-Minded

We do not always share each and every one of our views with our friends; sometimes, there might be differences in opinions or lifestyles. This is perfectly normal, but one must be ready to hear and deal with these differences.

Being open-minded is one of the great ways to learn in life. When you can embrace diversity and avoid being judgmental towards others, you can significantly improve the quality of your social life. It will also help you achieve your goal – finding friends. Sometimes, all you need is to put your biases aside and be ready for something new in your life.

Prioritizing Quality

As it was said earlier, surface-level communication can be pleasant and interesting, but it doesn’t make you friends with these people. When setting a goal towards true friendship in your life, make sure you prioritize the quality of these connections rather than their quality.

Some people opt for as many friends as possible. But oftentimes, it’s better to have fewer friends with stronger bonds. True friendship is not about numbers but about mutual respect, support, understanding, and sharing. That’s why prioritizing quality is important.

Final Thoughts

College is a time of transformation and many challenges. It’s surely easier and better to go through these times surrounded and supported by friends. The ones whom you can share your thoughts and issues with, get a helping hand, and spend quality time together. We hope that these tips above will help you find true friendship in college.

The post Finding a True Friendship in College first appeared on Essay Writer.

The post Finding a True Friendship in College appeared first on Essay Writer.

Renting Off-Campus. Part 2: What You Should Know About Subletting

This is the second part of our blog post about renting your own place instead of living on campus. The first part was dedicated to various unexpected expenses that you should know about and budgeting for rent in general. If you are interested, we suggest you check out that blog post. The following post will be about subletting and renting from another renter because chances are you will likely face this housing option at one time or another. There are definitely a few little details that you should be aware of; that’s why we decided to explain this topic a little more and provide you with some valuable tips. Let’s get started.

Understanding Subletting

What is a sublet or sublease? It is a thing that occurs when an original tenant who has a contract with a property’s landlord is not the one living there but rents it out to a third party for a period. The main thing about subletting is the lack of a contract between the person who sublets and the landlord, making an original renter a connecting link between the two. An original renter might or might not get a little extra for the deal from the tenant.

Reasons Why You Might Choose to Sublet

Renting an apartment is a very unique experience for everyone. Sometimes, a tenant might face various difficult situations and issues or make a decision in the middle of the current lease contract. Subletting might not be something that comes to mind first. However, you may consider this option in cases like the following:

Temporary relocation. If you need to move somewhere for a few months, you might not want to pay for the place you are not living in. In this case, finding a temporary subtenant would be a great option. In return, it is also very convenient for a person who would not want to sign a long-term contract and needs some place to stay for a few months.Summer break. The same applies if you need to go back home for the summer and can’t afford to pay for the apartment when you don’t live there. Search for someone who will stay in the town for the summer.Financial hardships. If you find it hard to pay rent, finding a subtenant is a great choice. You might also try to find a roommate to split the bill. Subletting the whole place is a good way to give yourself time to find another job or make the right choices.Study abroad programs. If you are leaving the country, having someone live at your place and pay rent is perfect. You can save a lot of money and not worry about the place, especially if you like it a lot and want to continue the contract in the future.Legal Considerations

You can probably remember the scene from the TV show Friends where Monica tells Joye that she is living in her grandmother’s apartment, meaning that it is her grandma who is a renter. In Monica’s case, she and Rachel were illegal tenants, as the plot later states, which is a great deal when it comes to terms and conditions of subletting. If you don’t want to get into trouble, you should always make sure that your landlord approves the sublease and knows about your situation.

Before making a decision about subletting, here are a few things that you should check or pay attention to:

Check the lease agreement with the landlord. There are lease agreements that strictly regulate and prohibit any third-party contracts, which means that subletting would be impossible. Violating the lease rules would surely result in eviction, contract breaking, and additional charges. Be careful with the legal terms mentioned in the contract.Obtain the permission. Before subleasing, the original tenants need to obtain permission from a landlord. Subleasing without permission is a big red flag and might result in legal consequences for both parties.Signing a sublease agreement. The final step, one of the most important ones, would be to sign a sublease agreement between the original renter and the second one. Being an original renter in this process means taking responsibility for preparing all the paperwork and checking the terms and conditions of a sublease. The points of such an agreement would be details such as the rental rate, duration of the sublease, responsibilities of each party, and any rules or regulations governing the use of the rental unit.Finding a Subtenant

Being an original renter who is looking for a subtenant is not that easy – you need to find a responsible and neat person who is in need of a temporary contract. There might not be that many people who meet your criteria; be sure to take the process seriously and check the backgrounds of your applicants before making a decision.

To make the process of finding a subtenant easier and quicker, you might want to do the following:

Network within the community. Ask your mates, peers, and friends if they know someone who would be interested in temporary housing and thus subletting your apartment.Check online platforms. Post a listing on your Facebook page or dedicated platforms. This might not be the best option due to safety reasons, so try not to overshare details in your ad.Verify identity. Always make sure to ask for ID and even make a copy of it to save with the contract. Having information about your subtenant on hand is crucial.Require a security deposit. Just as you were paying your deposit when renting your apartment, you need to have the same thing when subletting. Your subtenant might break something or break tenants’ rules – in this case, the deposit will come in handy to pay for fixes or fines.Important Things to Remember

Here are a few things that you should keep in mind when subletting your apartment:

Collect rent payment. Establish the process of collecting the rent payments and transfer them to your landlord yourself.Communicate openly. The key thing that you should remember is to maintain open and transparent communication with your subtenant and your landlord. Don’t try to hide anything, but keep all the parties informed.Conduct inspections. When your subtenant moves in and moves out, you need to be present and conduct inspections together. This should be done in order to make sure that the state of the property is just as said and that there is no damage that is not addressed.Conclusion

Subletting might be tricky but it also can be the best and only option in many situations that might occur. You may be the one who is renting from the original renter or the one looking for a subtenant – in any case, we hope that these tips and key points will help you in the process.

The post Renting Off-Campus. Part 2: What You Should Know About Subletting first appeared on Essay Writer.

The post Renting Off-Campus. Part 2: What You Should Know About Subletting appeared first on Essay Writer.

Renting Off-Campus. Part 1: Budgeting and Hidden Expenses

Living on campus is not always possible or comfortable. Many students choose to rent a place where there are fewer rules to follow and more private spaces to study. That is not the most financially affordable option; however, sometimes, it might even be less expensive than college housing. It all surely depends on conditions and various housing options, so there are no two exact situations. However, we are sure that some of the following tips will help you with building an effective budget and getting prepared for possible hidden expenses and issues. Let’s get started!

Budgeting and Managing Rent

Off-campus living is all cakes and butterflies until you actually start looking for options and checking is they meet your budget expectations. Some of the house options your agent shows you might be too expensive for you or not good enough to cost that much. When making a decision, pay attention to:

The placement of your future home for the next few semesters is crucial. The more it takes you to get to your campus, the less suitable it is as a housing option during your college years. You might face situations when you need to get to your campus as quickly as possible. So, it’s better to pick options near your learning institution.Rent terms. Duration, rental fees, rent cost – these things should be clearly stated in the contract that you sign. You should also pay attention to a deposit sum and its terms – these deposits may be huge and too hard to get back after the rental period is over.The property’s location often tells if it is a good play to live at. Avoid neighborhoods with high criminal rates, too many sight-seeing locations, or situated in secluded areas. Your safety comes first.Roommate compatibility. Let’s be honest; we are not living in a TV show where everyone can afford to live in their own apartments. You will most likely share your rent with a roommate or a few of them. Their habits and personalities are crucial as they will most likely determine your relationship and the way your household operates.

Once you get to the point of the cost of the rent in this whole challenging task, you need not only be sure that you afford the rent itself but also be able to live your life and have other expenses. It is better always to plan things like this on paper and consider the following:

Determining Your Income

Your monthly or weekly source of income is what you should be very sure of when renting. It may be your paychecks or parental support; having a stable source and a sum put aside as an emergency fund is important to be sure about your future.

Calculating all of your monthly income will give you an idea of what you can work with. There can be some unexpected expenses or costly purchases – being able to cover them is an important factor. Be realistic about your budget and plan your costs so that you have some spare money just in case.

Calculating Fixed Costs

Fixed costs are the ones that you know will definitely occur in the upcoming period – a month or a week on a regular basis. For example, your rent. It is a fixed cost that you need to prioritize when planning your monthly budget. It will probably be the most expensive cost that you need to cover no mater what. Some landlords allow you to be a little late with your paycheck but it happens very rare. That’s why having the designated sum of money prepared for the payment is crucial.

Other fixed costs might be – internet and cell phone, utilities, etc. These costs should be covered first and the rest of your money can be distributed over other categories of your expenses – groceries, fun, clothes, etc.

Set Money Aside for Emergency Fund

As it was said earlier, having an emergency fund is crucial in case your employer is late with your paycheck or you have to get your laptop fixed. Things happen, and if you can’t be prepared for everything on this planet, you should be at least prepared for a month or two of living on your emergency fund.

Prioritize your fixed costs, expenses like groceries or important items, and emergency funds. Other expenses can be postponed and you might spend less this month so that you meet your budget expectations.

The Unexpected: Hidden Expenses

Beyond the obvious things and costs that you might be putting into your budget, there are also several things that you might not be aware of, especially if you are renting for the first time. Being aware of these possible costs and talking about them with your landlord or agent would help you save yourself from unnecessary stress and worries. You will also be able to plan these expenses and adjust your budget accordingly. So, they might be the following:

Security Deposit

Not everyone is aware of the security deposit that the majority of landlords require you to pay. This is a sum of money that you transfer and which you can get back at the end of your contract if the place is in the same condition as it was before. This means not doing any damage and not making any trouble.

Application Fees

Some agents, property managers, and landlords might be charging an application fee – a payment for submitting your application. This can cost you around $25-$100 and would not be refunded even in case your application is not approved.

Moving Costs

Hiring a company of movers who will get your belongings from one place to another is pretty pricey. Especially in case you are moving with lots of stuff and big furniture items. These costs might add up quickly.

Parking Fees

Living in an apartment complex doesn’t always mean using the parking lot for free. Sometimes you’ve got to pay for parking separately, especially in a big city, which might be pretty expensive.

Maintenance and Repairs

Surely, landlords are often in charge of large repairs, but tenants may be accountable for little maintenance and upkeep. You might need to do some fixes here and there before you can move in. For example, a leaking faucet or some Wi-Fi router repair. It is pretty widespread, so you should be aware of such possibilities.

Conclusion

Renting off-campus while studying in college is a big step and responsibility. You should be very careful when making decisions and planning your budget, so we hope these tips will help you out. The second part of this blog post will be dedicated to subletting and all the stuff that you should know about it. Don’t miss this blog post, and good luck to you!

The post Renting Off-Campus. Part 1: Budgeting and Hidden Expenses first appeared on Essay Writer.

The post Renting Off-Campus. Part 1: Budgeting and Hidden Expenses appeared first on Essay Writer.

Tips on Creating a Stress-Free Study Environment

Studying in college can be mentally and physically exhausting due to high demands, pressure, and excessive study load. Every student gets their highs and lows, has unique experiences, and faces challenges that can sometimes be very hard to handle. That’s why the problem of stress among college students is very common. We have prepared a few tips for you on how to create a safe and productive environment to relieve stress and make studying more fun. If you are interested in a stress-free study tips, keep reading, as we have a lot of valuable info for you.

Choose the Right Location

In order to eliminate as much stress from your life as you can, you need to pay attention to all the elements of your study and daily routine, including your study spot. The place where you study is crucial and has a significant effect on your productivity and mental health. For example, if you study in a crowded and noisy place, you can miss the fact that you are overloading your brain with excessive information that it has to process.

Picking the right location for your study sessions might change a lot, starting with your concentration, study time, and your mood. By picking a calmer, quieter, and more secluded place, you can significantly reduce your daily stress. Even if you don’t notice it at once, it has a long-term influence on your overall well-being and your productivity.

The ideal location would be a separate room with enough daylight, a comfortable desk and chair. However, if it is not possible, be sure to find a space where you feel alone and focused.

Personalize Your Space

You might think that making your study space truly yours doesn’t really matter, but, in fact, it’s not true. When you personalize your desk and your room, make it more accommodated to your personal needs and preferences, you create a safer space, psychologists say. You create a place where nothing is moved and touched, where you know the placement of your belongings, thus making a comfort zone.

Being in a steady study environment with minimum changes can create bonds that help you relax and feel less stressed. There is no trick – people simply tend to feel less overwhelmed and more confident in a familiar environment. Personalization also allows you to create a more likable space, thus improving your attitude toward the studying process.

So be sure to put your posters on a wall or a few framed pictures on a desk, a house plant, a convenient stationery organizer, or a few pillows on a chair to personalize your stress-free study space.

Minimize Distractions

Various noises and other distractions can put you under unnecessary stress. It happens because your receptors react to sounds and visuals even when you are focused on a task. Thus, you don’t really notice these distractions, but your brain does.

If you are easily distracted or tend to procrastinate, be sure to eliminate distractions such as your phone, Netflix, YouTube videos, etc. You can even install apps on your phone that would temporarily block some of the most distracting functions of your cellphone, such as text messages, phone calls, and social media notifications.

Also, avoid watching movies, shows, videos, or podcasts while studying, as it also makes your productivity drop a lot. You can listen to music if it helps, but that is not always the case, so try different things to find the most effective one.

Establish a Routine

Creating a schedule with a set time is a powerful and important step for everyone who wants to create a stress-free study environment. A study routine allows you to feel less overwhelmed with the tasks and time ahead. Having a plan with detailed steps written down always makes a difference and allows you to reduce stress levels.

A study routine also helps you train your brain and easily transition into a study mode. You can create a schedule that will consider your classes and the most productive hours, thus improving your academic performance.

Few More Tips

Here are a few other tips that will help you create a stress-free study environment:

Invest in noise-canceling headphones. Many students admit that such headphones help a lot with focusing. They can be used even in crowded spaces with many noises and block out distractions, helping with stress-free study routine.Keep hydrated. If you feel like it’s hard for you to focus sometimes, or you feel dizzy, sleepy, and unwell, the problem might be that you are not drinking enough water. Keep a full water bottle at your desk to drink periodically without leaving your study space.Alternate tasks or methods. In order to avoid being bored with monotonous tasks, alternate processes, materials, or methods. If you find yourself reading for a long period of time and feel tired and not focused, take a short break. Grab a snack or simply walk around a little bit. After that, put the previous task away but do something else instead. For example, you might take a few notes or search some materials online. This will help you avoid burnout and overload.

You might also want to invest in a high-quality chair – it can significantly boost your comfort during study sessions. However, there are less expensive options, for example, a good cushion.

Conclusion

Creating a stress-free study environment is a key to a better mental health and academic performance. Don’t forget to prioritize yourself and your well-being – sometimes it means that it is better to delegate the task. Fortunately, you can always turn to a professional essay writing service for help. We can help you make your studying easier and less challenging.

We hope that you will be able to use our tips and change your study environment for the better. Mental health is nowadays becoming an issue among college students due to factors like high pressure, the financial burden of student loans, lack of available work places. We need to work on stress-relief techniques and professional help available for everyone in need. That would be a great goal to achieve.

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Social Benefits of Joining College Clubs and Organizations

The college experience is often discussed in terms of academic achievements, with lectures, assignments, and tests being in focus. However, there is a lot more to that. It is a time of change, growth, and personal development, which would be impossible without the diversity of challenges, goals, and life spheres. Some people make friends for life or build a powerful and useful network during their college years. If this is what you would also like to do, keep reading to learn more about how joining college clubs and various college organizations can help you meet new people and more.

The Importance of Clubs and Organizations

While you might think that college clubs are only for nerds and are not something that you should try, you might be very wrong. Why? Because there are multiple benefits that you might miss, and they are not all academic-related. Here are a few things that you should know about college clubs and organizations.

The sense of belonging. Generally, college students have diverse backgrounds, interests, and aspirations. Joining a group, in this case, often equals finding your niche and your place among people you feel comfortable around. The feeling of belonging, a place that you are interested in, a social group that you can blend with – these things are crucial for successful personal development. It is known that the sense of belonging can help a lot during the adjusting and transitioning process, for example, at the beginning of college.Growth and development. The majority of college clubs support and provide personal growth opportunities. Various conferences, group studies, and events can come in handy for those who would love to share and expand their experience, as well as improve their skills. The latter can also be done by taking leadership roles in the group, communicating and competing with other groups, etc. By simply attending club meetings, you can drastically improve your time management and teamwork skills.Networking opportunities. While the social sphere of your life can mainly be focused on communication that brings you joy, it’s also useful to take care of social connections that might bring you some benefits. Professional networking opportunities that an average club provides might not be that impressive, but they are still very valuable. Attend conferences and meetings, professional or interest-directed events, concerts, or group studies to meet new people and professionals in your sphere. You might find great career opportunities, valuable contacts, and wonderful friends; don’t miss your chance.Navigating the Club Landscape

Finding the right club or college organization might not be that easy. Some students have the luck to find their passions and spheres of interest pretty fast and thus don’t have to take the path of trials and mistakes. Here are a few tips for you if you are looking for a perfect club option for yourself.

Explore Your Interests

In order to find your tribe, you need to know what your interests or expectations are. Think of what you would enjoy as a long-term activity. How do you imagine your meetings? Would you like to meet online or offline? Do you want these meetings to be more intense or rather relaxing and chill? These are important basic questions that will instantly help you narrow your search.

The next step is to check the clubs offered by your learning institution and match them with your spheres of interest – literature, art, physical activity, etc. Most colleges offer a diverse range of clubs and various cultural or academic organizations. You will surely be able to find a good match.

Attend Fairs and Club Events

Most colleges hold fairs and gatherings that are meant to provide an opportunity to get acquainted with various clubs and their activity. By attending one, you can explore what these organizations have to offer. Take your time and be sure to pay attention – ask questions, collect info flyers, establish contacts.

Avoid Overcommitting

During the first few months of attending club meetings, it’s tempting to get fully committed. Instead, you might want to be careful with the amount of time you spend attending clubs and make sure you don’t get burned out.

While you are exploring your interests and your opportunities, you can surely pick a few clubs and try them out. Start with two or three, attend a few meetings, and see what their members and activities are about. Don’t try to blend in right away – you might later feel obligated to attend. Remember that you have every right to leave whenever you want.

 A Couple More Things

Here are a few tips that will help you get the most out of a club membership:

Seek leadership opportunities. If you want to add to your resume, and if you feel like being a leader or manager is your cup of tea, be sure to try out leadership roles in the group. Not only are leadership or any active roles in a group a fulfilling experience, but they also allow you to improve your skills or explore a new side of yourself.Active participation is a key. Don’t forget to actively engage with other members of the group, attend meetings, and help with the organization. You can get a memorable and valuable experience by connecting with other people or doing your best for the team.Be friendly. Social aspect of joining a club often depends not on the type of people that are in the group with you but rather on your effort. Be friendly, establish connection, contribute to the group goal, connect outside of the club.

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End of Semester: Reflecting, Analyzing, and Setting Goals

When the end of the semester approaches, the results of finals week and your academic performance are what you might be thinking about a lot. However, worrying about grades is not productive or effective at all. What you should do instead is to take time to reflect on the past semester to learn your lessons and get an understanding of how to make things better during the next semester. Here is how you might do that.

The Past Semester

Every college student has a unique academic experience with their highs and lows. Being able to reflect on this experience and learn from it is crucial in order to grow. So, the end of the semester is a perfect time to look at the work you have done throughout this time and be able to set new goals for the next one.

But why is it important? Reflection is a powerful tool that is based on critical thinking and self-awareness. It helps us define and analyze our mistakes, learn from them, and apply our experience to future behavioral patterns. Meaning that reflection should be used for growth, improvement, and development.

Important Questions

Look at your past semester. Remember how it went from the very beginning – were you ready to study? Did you put in your effort from the start? Analyze how much time you spent doing homework – maybe it took too much of your free time, and you would rather do something else. Or maybe you did not do enough, and now you know that you need to avoid making the same mistake.

Other things that you should ask yourself about might be the following questions:

What achievements am I proud of? Think of the best moments of this semester that you, as a student, can consider as your contributions, achievements, and decent pieces of work.What challenges did I face? Acknowledging the difficulties and challenges of the past semester is a way to grow and make changes in the future, for example, in your study routine.Did I keep my work-life balance healthy? Your mental health is important, just as important as being able to balance various spheres of your life.What lessons can I learn from my experience? Mistakes are inevitable. However, if you make the experience turn into a valuable lesson, the negative effects of the mistake can become less significant.

By answering these questions, you can get a proper understanding of what you should pay attention to during the next semester. You might also remember some of the accomplishments that you have forgotten and thus improve your self-esteem. Sometimes, we do much better than we think of ourselves.

Analyzing Your Semester

While reflecting and estimating your past semester, you might want to think about the following things:

Academic performance. The change in your GPA (or the lack of it) as well as course highlights. Identify the courses or projects that stood out to you, as well as topics that you have found particularly challenging.Study habits, routine, and time management. Reflect on the study techniques that you were using and their effectiveness, as well as your routine, habits, and overall productivity. You should also pay attention to your time-management skills and the way you were organizingSocial interactions. Socializing is a crucial part of anyone’s life. Reflect on the social interactions with your peers and professors, analyze the feedback and network connections.Personal growth and development. Reflect on the past semester regarding new skills gained, achievements, personal challenges you have overcome, etc.Physical and mental health. Mental and physical well-being should be paid attention to at all times. Studies often come with lots of stress and lack of sleep. Be sure to reflect on the things that negatively affected your health this semester and what can be done in the next one.Turning Reflection into Action

Now that you have an understanding of what the past semester has taught you, it’s time to turn your knowledge and experience into action. What everyone can do to make the next semester better is to set goals and make changes to the studying routine.

Effective goal-setting implies taking a few important steps and being meaningful. Here are a few things that will help you with that.

Identify Priorities

After reflecting on the past semester, you might find that your priorities are a little bit shifted. For example, you might be focusing on your grades rather than on knowledge or on sports rather than on health.

Identifying priorities for the next semester means learning how to filter things in your life that might be harming your development and mental health, even if it means sacrificing some of your goals.

For example, being a straight-A student seems to be a great honor and an effective way to start a career. However, it also often means paying a pretty high price – mental breakdowns, lack of social communication, high pressure, and stress. Pursuing high grades is not for everyone, so changing focus in this case will only benefit you.

Set Specific Goals

Aspirations are good, but being specific about your plans and goals is much more effective. When setting goals, be sure to stay concrete about what you want to achieve and when.

Saying, “I want to improve my plans during the next semester,” seems too vague and uncertain. However, when you are specific about the GPA you want to achieve, it’s easier to make the goal more realistic to accomplish.

Break Down Goals

Larger goals might be unrealistic. Breaking down goals into smaller and more manageable pieces ensures that your plan is more effective. It also allows you to be realistic about the upcoming semester and focus on things that you are able to work on rather than on dreaming.

Also, be sure to set some criteria to make sure that you are on the right track to achieving your goal. By making your goal measurable, you can better see your progress and celebrate small victories on your way.

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Budget-Friendly Winter Holidays Activities

Winter holidays are a truly magical time, even if it is not your favorite time of the year. When finals are over, and you really want to have a break with a joyful celebration, you might find yourself concerned about the limited budget. However, we assure you that there is no need to worry about it. We have a few ideas for you on how to spend holiday break, enjoy winter time, and not spend a fortune on fun activities. Let’s get started.

How to Make Your Budget Survive Holidays

The end of the year, winter holidays, spending break on campus – things that might become a challenge, money-wise. And it’s completely normal as we tend to spend more and plan less around the holidays. But that is what you should avoid in order to make your budget work.

Plan Ahead

Make sure you plan your holidays (or winter in general) budget ahead. Setting a realistic budget with gifts planned and other expenses considered. Don’t forget about the post-holiday period, and make sure to include regular expenses like rent or groceries into your budget plan.

Create a Shopping List

When you are on a money-saving mission, you need to stay away from impulse purchases. That is where shopping lists come in handy. Pick the gifts beforehand, and be sure to check the prices for the items in different places. After you have this purchase planned in your budget, avoid purchasing other things outside of your list.

Shop Early and Strategically

It’s important to start the gift-hunting early when the prices are not that high. You might also find a lot of great deals if you put some effort into shopping. Use store sales, discounts, coupons, or brand deals to save on your groceries. It surely takes some time, but your budget will only win.

Potluck Party

If you are going to spend holidays on campus, you might need to think of the feast and its format. The most budget-friendly option for a nice holiday dinner would be a potluck one. Invite your friends and college mates to a Christmas dinner and ask them to each bring one dish so that everyone can enjoy a good variety of food.

The potluck format is a great way to save money and still get to enjoy a holiday feast. You don’t need to buy many groceries and can opt for one or a few dishes that you provide. Another great thing about potluck parties and dinners is that you can get acquainted with the family or national traditions of your guests. You may try various dishes that you have never heard of and also try yourself cooking something.

DIY Ugly Sweater Contest

A perfect type of activity with friends during holidays would be to start a contest. But when it comes to college students who don’t have much money or materials to work with, it’s best to keep the contest budget-friendly and simple. That’s why we suggest an Ugly Sweater Contest.

Ask your friends to come in an ugly sweater – they are madly popular now. You can opt for homemade decorations added to a sweater or keep it simple and thrift sweaters at a local thrift store. The winner with the most interesting sweater might get a prize that you all agree on.

Contests of any type are a great way to add a fun activity to your holiday schedule and a perfect opportunity to show your creativity.

Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Instead of buying a gift for each of your friends and pals, have a Secret Santa gift exchange. Encourage your friends to establish a gift budget limit and assign everyone a person to buy a gift for. A personalized, interesting, and quirky gift will surely bring a lot of joy and will be a better solution for those who want to save some money during the holidays.

Secret Santa gifts are not about the value but rather about the thought of the person for whom you buy a gift. A mug with a favorite meme, a piece of décor, a fandom small thing, a book, a funny T-shirt – all of these things don’t cost much but can make a lot of good memories.

Cookie Decorating Party

Having everyone together for the holidays is a pure joy and an essence of what it is supposed to be about – love, joy, and company. One such activity that can bring you and your friends together is a party. A cookie decorating party is one of the budget-friendly options that you can choose for this year.

Buy cookie dough and everything to decorate the cookies with – icing, berries, chocolate, and food colorants. Have fun with baking, decorating, and expressing your creativity. This is where everyone can create something special and fun.

Holiday Movie Marathon

Another great and cheap holiday activity idea is to host a movie marathon party with popcorn, snacks, friends, and favorite holiday movies. Such a marathon can also be held in the common area so that everyone from your dorm can join.

Watching movies, especially during the holidays, is a great way to spend time together, have a deep discussion, and get much-needed joy and festive emotions. It also doesn’t cost much as each of you can bring your own snacks or drinks to such an event.

Video Game Night

For those who live spending time playing video games, having a game night with pals is a perfect idea. Who said that Christmas video games are not a good way to spend holidays? Some of the main things about winter holidays are to have fun and reboot for the next semester, so if video games can do that for you, go ahead.

Picking titles for a video game night might seem hard, but it is actually not, as there are many Christmas-themed games. Pick your favorite genre, and you will surely find a lot of games that suit the topic. There are even Christmas horror games, in case you are a fan.

Holiday Crafting

For everyone who is a fan of crafts and DIYs, a great option would be to host a holiday craft evening. Create your own Christmas décor, ornaments, paintings, or even costumes. If everyone brings materials or some thrifted items, it will not cost much at all. However, you and your friends will surely remember such an event that brought you so much joy.

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Job Search Strategies for College Seniors

The end of college approaches, and thoughts about further career growth visit you more often than before. It is pretty normal, if not expected as well, some level of stress, worries, and even fears about the upcoming graduation and a whole bunch of other things. If you are thinking about your future or current job from a perspective of growth and development, you might be wondering if this is the right path for you or have doubts. In any case, whether you want to change your current job place or find the first one, you need to know about a few valuable search strategies that will help you make the whole process easier and less daunting. Let’s get started!

Understand the Situation

The first step of any process is usually preparation and research. Almost any time-consuming or crucial task involves this part, which might not be that exciting, but it should be done. In the case of a job search, the rules are the same. You need to understand the current trends and see the whole picture of the market in order to understand what your chances and perspectives are.

For example, when the market is overflowed with the number of specialists or a small specialty or niche, the competition becomes so high that many of the vacancies are closed very quickly with lower paychecks. If you are considering different niches and options, you need to be aware of the market state to see what suits your needs and what you can count on. In other words, finding the best option depends on your research and knowledge.

Not only is the research important for you to be able to find a decent job, it is useful to see the whole picture in order to get the job. When you look through various job postings, pay attention to the requirements and employer expectations to be able to meet them and also tailor your approach during the interview.

Check Out Every Opportunity

When it comes to a job search, you want to be sure that none of the opportunities are missed by chance. This is where you might need to differentiate and spread your attention onto a few sources at once. Being too focused on only one source might not be as effective.

Here are a few ideas for you on where to search for a job:

Job Search Engines: Check out popular job search engines such as SimplyHired, Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn Jobs. As they gather job adverts from several sources, these websites make it easier to find opportunities across all industries.Business Websites: Many companies tend to post job openings directly on their websites. Go to the jobs or employment sections of the company you’re interested in to view current opened vacancies.Social Media: In addition to LinkedIn, utilize other social media sites. Businesses, for example, often post job openings on Facebook and Twitter. Follow organizations and industry leaders on social media to stay up to date.Staffing Agencies: Make contact with recruitment firms or staffing agencies that specialize in your field. They can help you match your skills with available opportunities.Sites for Freelancers: Explore freelancing markets such as Fiverr and Upwork. Even though it is not a full-time job, freelancing may give valuable experience and relationships that may lead to other professional opportunities. It may also help you feel financially stable or at least somehow help you until you get the desired job.Company recruiters and HR specialists: Make contact with HR professionals and recruiters from organizations that you are interested in on LinkedIn. They may be open to direct conversations with possible candidates in addition to often publishing job postings.Career fairs and online expos: Attend online career expos or local job fairs. Attending these events allows you to network with potential employers.

Depending on a niche and job specifics, some of these sources may be more relevant than the others and can really benefit your job search strategies.

Craft a Resume that Stands Out

Crafting a perfect resume takes time and effort, but it is definitely worth it. You need a document that will represent you and your achievements in the professional world, and that would be your resume. While working on one, be sure to mention relevant experience, coursework, and projects, as well as extracurriculars that show you in a favorable light.

If you need some help with your resume or in case you need it tailored for a specific job application, be sure to turn to a team of professional writers. Not only can they help you with building a resume that is up-to-date and suits application requirements, but they can also make it really stand out and highlight your achievements and strengths.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to tailor your application materials to suit a particular job opening. Not everything that you can put in your resume aligns with the job requirements – you need to highlight what is important for a specific employer.

Build Online Presence

Nowadays, the online world is as important as the real one. Online presence and the personal brand that you show with it need to be tailored and polished. Be sure to fill your LinkedIn profile with valuable information about yourself and your achievements. Network with professionals in your field and follow their updates. Join relevant groups, share valuable content – in other words, be present in the online segment.

Tap Into College Resources

Colleges are often very powerful in terms of networks and connections between professionals, organizations, and niches. They have some valuable resources that you can use to your advantage if approached right.

For example, you can improve your job search and increase your chances by attending resume workshops, job search seminars, networking events, alumni meetings, etc. Some of the best professional network connections can be built through alumni gatherings or with the help of college staff.

Be Adaptable and Positive

The job search is a challenging path that sometimes results in a line of rejections, one after another. This might really affect one’s motivation and approach. Maintain your composure in the face of difficulties, learn from each experience, and adjust your plan as needed. Asking for feedback might be extremely helpful as it allows you to tailor your strategies or your approach. Don’t quit, and never stop hunting for the perfect opportunity just because you faced a few rejections. Keep in mind that obtaining the right job frequently takes perseverance.

Conclusion

Searching for a job might take some time. It also might be a tough and stressful process. However, if you are consistent and use our tips when looking for a desired job, you will surely achieve success. Check out various sources, craft a good resume, or order one, and stay positive and persistive with your job search strategies. We wish you the best of luck.

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