Seriously, are you serious?

A question to entertain during the break or time out or what ever your campus is enjoying right now. It is about school because Planet College is all about school but it is also about your life. The question and you've heard it often is, " Are you serious?" Are you serious. That is it. Are you serious about your education. Not grimly serious but steadily purposeful. That kind of serious. It is really quite simple to find out what you are serious about. How have you been spending your time. Or. Where have you been spending your time. Sleeping? Partying? Playing Rugby? Fixing your car. Talking to friends. Talking to anyone at all. Just talking period. A quick glance back at the past few weeks or the past few terms will tell you what you are serious about. If most, ok, a lot of your efforts have been generally aimed at completing your required courses then, you are serious. If most of your time has been used up in peripheral activities not directly related to graduation then you are not really serious. Really serious about graduating and getting back to Planet Earth with a job and a real life. So, really, are you serious?

To do and to don't.

Around this time of the term it is common to find yourself writing lists. Usually of things to do. These lists help clarify daily activities which need to be accomplished. There are many such methods available on line and they are usually under some time management heading. Most students have some method of compiling these lists from sophisticated day runner multiple reference overlay or iPhone apps to a short list scribbled on the back of a Domino's receipt.

However you do this, it is important that you do. Do a list. Do a 'to do' list. Some lists are too general, i.e. "file taxes." Others are too specific containing tasks the student might be doing anyway like "brush teeth". Unless it is unusual or uncommon for you to brush your teeth it is probably not necessary to write down such mundane tasks.

Still your list is your list. And if commonly occurring mundane tasks give you a feeling of getting some thing done then write them and do it. Some list is better than no list at all.

Not often found but equally effective are don't lists. This negative approach can actually jar a student into a greater level of awareness. Don't park in the dean's parking place, don't forget the paper for Comp Lit. Don't spend your share of the rent on Jeager, stuff like that. Dont's are important too.

If you are not familiar with the common 'to do' or less common 'to don't' lists then right now get a piece of paper and write down three things you can do today toward your graduation. Three things. Simple.

However you do it and what ever your approach get to it. It is that time of year.