ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => Victorian Education Discussion => Topic started by: brenden on October 02, 2013, 02:01:29 pm

Title: Be here, now.
Post by: brenden on October 02, 2013, 02:01:29 pm: “Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”

Hey everyone :)

So, 29 days until your first exam! (Does that inspire the biggest wave of terror, or what?) I guess many of you are just about to explode at the thought of the 31st, or maybe even when your last exam is.
Unfortunately, I'm not here to motivate you today. Truth is, motivational posts are cheap, and they're short-term. Like, they're good for a week maybe at best, but I mean, how many people have actually stayed motivated for a long period time after reading a motivational post? It just doesn't happen.
Something long term, though, is breathing! I think we forget about it sometimes. Sure, we're all breathing. But when's the last time you stopped to take a deep breath and just think "man... this is great".
You might be wondering about the subject line... My Mum's a bit of a hippie - she works in welfare as a counsellor in a detox centre for people addicted to alcohol and/or other drugs, and she's this insanely patient and, as you can imagine, non-judgmental person. Growing up, she used to say the most -infuriating- phrase: be here, now.
God, it used to shit me up the wall! Where else do you think I could be, Mum?!
She still says it today. I have a bad habit of furiously jigging my leg wherever I'm sitting, or messaging people on my phone/constantly checking to see if there's someone I need to reply to or anything like that, and always, it's "start living in this moment".

Honestly, it works pretty well. I'd explain it to you, but I don't fully comprehend what that means yet. If you breathe, you'll get there.

Right now, we're getting a lot of threads/posts about people burning out, people too tired to study, people feeling so guilty about wasting all their time.
Instead of answering them as they crop up; here's my answer! I'd also like to invite other students, past or present, to post on how they like to combat the stress or the "burnout".
Anyway, last year I obviously did a fair amount of work, particularly in the first half of the year - "Year 12s here, owmagawsh, gotta study so hard"... I remember having to do sprints before my first English SAC just to use the adrenaline because I was so shaky. Come the last English SAC I was like " I'm not even going to practice this book". Shit happens, your motivations dwindle. For me, it was when my Psych mid-year came back with an A. (I know, that's a really, really good score, but success is always relative to your aims, and I was aiming higher, so to me it felt like a fail). Like, Psych was meant to be my highest score; it was my best subject and if I had a chance of getting over 40 in anything, it was Psych. I always though "hmm, if I can pull like a 45 in Psych, and 38s/39s in my other subjects, I'll be sweet for the 90+, so when the A came back it was like "wow, I failed my best subject... I'm right and truly fucked now".
And yeah, I fell back into my old habits and started wagging school a bit and generally just not studying. So much procrastination and guilt/turmoil/self-loathing. I remember wagging period 1/2 Theatre Studies because I had a Psych SAC period 3 and knew I'd probably -literally- fail if I didn't cram the last AoS in those two periods. Around the same time, people on AN were saying how wagging to study for SACs was dodgy as. ANYWAY - you get the idea. My sleep was fucked, my health was fucked, everything was just shit. But I still wanted it really, really badly. What do? Take a mother fucking break, that's what.
I hate parties. Dead set, they shit me up the wall. I don't drink alcohol, so when I go to parties it's literally a bunch of drunk people trying to put drinks in my face or trying to talk to me (and talking to drunk people is just the worst conversation you'll ever get), and then when it gets later, me (gladly) making sure none of them break their skulls falling over or choke on their own vomit. I also don't really like being around too many people that much 'cause I feel like there's too much to take in. Generally, I hate parties. In 2012, prior to September, I think I went to one birthday dinner for a friend's 21st. I skipped one of my close friend's 18th parties, skipped a bunch of other 18ths that I probably really should have gone to. You get the idea. In September, I went to five parties - one every Saturday of the month, and there was one on Friday as well. Mostly because I knew I needed to do something. I was in a rut, I needed to get out.
I was in a vicious cycle that consisted of "oh my god, I need to study, it's going to be so embarrassing when I get a shit score and I will be so ashamed *goes on AN chat til 3am* --omg I'm going to fail I feel so guilty--" (Sorry to everyone on chat around that time for my bitching, love you guys)
So: I wasn't being productive at all. Not one shred. So I literally took a month off. I wasn't going to do anything anyway, was I? Nope. If I didn't take the month off, I would have done close to the same amount of work had I just taken it off, and I would have felt guilty the whole way through, and I would have gone into the exam period in the same cycle. Instead, I sacrificed a month's worth of work, and I was the height of productivity in the last weeks of October.

So here's what I'm saying you should do, assuming you're in a pretty bad rut right now: chill the fuck out. Stop. Breathe. Be here, now.

I'm telling you, if you're in a really bad cycle right now, the best thing for your score is to give yourself permission to drop everything on the condition that you will come back ten times harder. When you come back THIS WILL BE YOUR FINAL FORM.

If you're struggling really bad right now, give yourself until the 10th of October to do a very minimal amount of work. If you still have SACs; bummer; make sure you do well. But honestly, do the bare minimum. NOT ONLY THAT: go and see a movie - maybe even by yourself; go to the beach; go to the SLV and lay on the grass and listen to the musicians and the people on drugs; go for a run every day; read your favourite book again (Harry Potter 5 anyone? GET ON THOSE OWLs); try to catch Feebas. I dare you. TRY TO CATCH FEEBAS.
And you know what? The whole time you can think "This is great. I'm allowed to do this; I don't even feel guilty. But boy-oh-boy, when I come back, I'm gonna go HAM.

Seriously: you don't even realise how much time three weeks is when you're studying like a monster. It's huge. I honestly went from ~7.5ish/10 to 10/10 (according to VCAA, anyway) in three weeks. It's huge. Please believe me. So don't feel like if you chill out this next week that you're ruining everything, because you simply aren't. Have you ever just not attended a day of school? Now's your chance. Go smell the roses instead, it'll be great. Ultimately, it's better to relax now and have increased productivity later than to keep struggling along now and ultimately be forced to keep struggling along later.
*Note: if you do this and then don't come back in your final form then the plan falls the pieces. It's a strategy for the last leg of the race; not a week to slack off. Think of it like that. It's your strategy. This is a strategy/logic/tower-defence game, and you need to allocate your resources appropriately so when you get to the boss level you can FINISH HIM.

TL;DR (I know it was, I have a words problem): CHILL THE FUCK OUT AND DON'T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT BREATHe AND SMELL THE ROSES AND COME BACK IN YOUR FINAL FORM AND DESTROY THE EXAMS AND BE PROUD OF YOURSELF NO REGRETS OK I HAVE AN ESSAY DUE ON FRIDAY THAT I HAVEN'T STARTED BUT NOT EVEN GUILTY BECAUSE IT'S ALL IN THE STRATEGY OK BYE HAVE FUN
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: grannysmith on October 02, 2013, 02:11:47 pm: Okay.
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: clıppy on October 02, 2013, 02:14:16 pm: -brb finding some roses

Seriously though, this is just the realisation I needed.
Quote from: Brencookie on October 02, 2013, 02:01:29 pm
So here's what I'm saying you should do, assuming you're in a pretty bad rut right now: chill the fuck out. Stop. Breathe. Be here, now.

I'm telling you, if you're in a really bad cycle right now, the best thing for your score is to give yourself permission to drop everything on the condition that you will come back ten times harder. When you come back THIS WILL BE YOUR FINAL FORM.
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: duquesne9995 on October 02, 2013, 02:16:42 pm: We all love you Brencookie! :)
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: Alwin on October 02, 2013, 02:28:07 pm: Quote from: duquesne9995 on October 02, 2013, 02:16:42 pm
We all love you Brencookie! :)

she made a little typo hehe:

<3 WE ALL LOVE YOU VERY MUCH =D <3

Sorry, couldn't resist adding this:
(http://i.imgur.com/bTQNQci.jpg)
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: brenden on October 02, 2013, 02:29:10 pm: I want to make Bruce Almighty joke and say something about cookies but ok love u bbies xoxoxo
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: clıppy on October 02, 2013, 02:45:55 pm: I really want to hear that cookie joke now.
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: Alwin on October 02, 2013, 03:12:34 pm: Quote from: BasicAcid on October 02, 2013, 02:56:33 pm
Thank you so much Brendan, I have decided that I'm going to take a month off like you did from today, surely that will boost my ATAR when I come back all refreshed and ready to ace the exams!

Brend e n :P
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: brenden on October 02, 2013, 03:17:03 pm: Quote from: BasicAcid on October 02, 2013, 02:56:33 pm
Thank you so much Brendan, I have decided that I'm going to take a month off like you did from today, surely that will boost my ATAR when I come back all refreshed and ready to ace the exams!
I'm not sure if this was intended as an insult, but I recommended taking a break until the 10th to leave 3 weeks for intense revision.
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: brenden on October 02, 2013, 03:32:51 pm: Oh, fair enough haha!
Yeah, I exceeded my own expectations by a rocket's length :)
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: clıppy on October 02, 2013, 03:39:07 pm: Quote from: Brencookie on October 02, 2013, 03:32:51 pm
Oh, fair enough haha!
Yeah, I exceeded my own expectations by a rocket's length :)
Is that the actual length of the rocket, or how far it flew? Metric or Imperial?
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: brenden on October 02, 2013, 04:31:02 pm: Metric, length of standard rocket.
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: pi on October 02, 2013, 06:35:51 pm: Anyone else go after clicking to this thread:
> "ooooo, motivational post by Breno"
> +1 upvote
> Then read (maybe)

?

Good stuff!
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: jeanweasley on October 02, 2013, 07:03:50 pm: Quote from: pi on October 02, 2013, 06:35:51 pm
Anyone else go after clicking to this thread:
> "ooooo, motivational post by Breno"
> +1 upvote
> Then read (maybe)

?

Good stuff!

Same. I always upvvote then read.

Thanks for the awesome post, Brenden! WE LOVE YOU!!

By the way, what does the cookie joke mean, soz for asking ;P
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: abcdqdxD on October 02, 2013, 07:08:59 pm: @Brenden

Did you end up going to school for the last 3 weeks?
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: brenden on October 02, 2013, 07:16:55 pm: Quote from: jeanweasley on October 02, 2013, 07:03:50 pm
Same. I always upvvote then read.

Thanks for the awesome post, Brenden! WE LOVE YOU!!

By the way, what does the cookie joke mean, soz for asking ;P
Hahahahaha, it means I'm obsessed with the world's greatest procrastination game, in which you increase your total stash of cookies. I'd link you to it, but it would ruin your VCE. (think I'm on like 17bill, people)

Quote from: abcdqdxD on October 02, 2013, 07:08:59 pm
@Brenden

Did you end up going to school for the last 3 weeks?
Yeah I did pick the attendance back up again. My teachers ran helpful revision classes, but there was definitely the odd day that I was better off at home, in which case I stayed.
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: darvell on October 02, 2013, 09:13:10 pm: Quote from: Brencookie on October 02, 2013, 02:01:29 pm

try to catch Feebas. I dare you. TRY TO CATCH FEEBAS.

10/10 would read again

BUT WHY WOULD YOU TRY AND CATCH FEEBAS IF YOU WANTED TO RELAX LMAO THAT SHIT MAKES ME WANNA PUNCH MYSELF IN THE FACE
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: Alwin on October 02, 2013, 09:23:45 pm: Quote from: jeanweasley on October 02, 2013, 07:03:50 pm
Same. I always upvvote then read.

Thanks for the awesome post, Brenden! WE LOVE YOU!!

By the way, what does the cookie joke mean, soz for asking ;P

Brenden's right, it will ruin your VCE.

SO TO PROTECT YOU I'LL PUT THE LINK IN A SPOILER. HA THEY'LL NEVER FIND IT IN THERE
nothing of interest in here
http://www.atarnotes.com/forum/index.php?topic=143137.msg678545#msg678545
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: clıppy on October 02, 2013, 09:34:04 pm: Quote from: Alwin on October 02, 2013, 09:23:45 pm
SO TO PROTECT YOU I'LL PUT THE LINK IN A SPOILER. HA THEY'LL NEVER FIND IT IN THERE
nothing of interest in here
http://www.atarnotes.com/forum/index.php?topic=143137.msg678545#msg678545
Quote from: Alwin on August 25, 2013, 09:27:32 pm
WANT A COOKIE?

:D
Instructions unclear, VCE stuck in cookie
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: lala1911 on October 02, 2013, 09:52:16 pm: I've hardly done anything this week and have felt a tad guilty, not so much anymore. You're right though, you can do so much work between 10th - 29th October. Like right now I don't feel as if I need to do anything because I still feel as if I have time, but when that sense of urgency kicks in it drives you to work hard.

I think we just subconsciously estimate how much time we need to allocate studying for exams, so that's why right now I don't feel as if I need to work as hard because I've already decided when I'm going to actually work hard, time will tell.
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: jeanweasley on October 02, 2013, 10:02:15 pm: Quote from: Brencookie on October 02, 2013, 07:16:55 pm
Hahahahaha, it means I'm obsessed with the world's greatest procrastination game, in which you increase your total stash of cookies. I'd link you to it, but it would ruin your VCE. (think I'm on like 17bill, people)

Quote
WANT A COOKIE?

:D

Oh. haha. So you just click? I feel like a cat. haha.
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: Chazef on October 02, 2013, 11:47:02 pm: man that cookie clicker game, I played it once and thought 'woah this is major addiction material right here', managed to escape it after getting a couple of time machines. Slightly related: is there actually a point to getting heaps of cursors? I just sold all mine and never revisited them.
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: e^1 on October 04, 2013, 12:30:37 am: Thank you for posting this thread. I feel really lazy, and have been since the past few months. It's very relieving that I can relax before really getting into it.
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: brenden on October 04, 2013, 11:22:33 pm: You're welcome :). Remember to go HAM when it counts, people.
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: Damoz.G on October 05, 2013, 04:25:46 pm: Thank you very much Brenden! VERY, VERY helpful advice!
Title: Re: Be here, now.
Post by: brenden on October 05, 2013, 04:27:42 pm: You're welcome :)