Less (now) is more

Procrastination. We all do it. Or we’ll do it later (haha…come on, how could I not make that joke??).

A lot of us function (and can sometimes function pretty well) in the state of crisis brought on by cramming, and sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

But doing a couple things can help you study more effectively and generally keep your stress levels down which will help you focus better throughout the semester.

Spread, not dread

Do your work throughout the week, a little at a time, instead of cramming.

Cramming hardcore right before a test or a due date is neither a pleasant nor effective way to learn.

Instead of reading for 4 hours straight the night before (or at 2am), read for 30-40 minutes here and there a week or so before you have to have the reading done. Take notes or do whatever helps you retain the information you’re taking in while you read. That way, before the test you can just read your notes or look at your flashcards and feel good about what you’ve read.

Make a weekly and daily to-list

This helps me see visually what I have to do, and also gives me peace of mind when I see that I’m done with what I have to do today.

When I know I’m done, I can have fun instead of being stressed about what I need to do.

For those that tend to party harder than you study, this helps keep you organized so you don’t fall behind.

Having a good perspective on your workload can be the difference between a stressful day and a pleasant day. Know what you need to do and know what you don’t need to do. Why worry about things you don’t need to worry about?

Demo-Gogues: An Introduction

Now I know what you’re thinking: “Why do you need an introduction? Whose going to read that?” To that I say shame on you, an introduction sometimes provides the glue that holds the body of the work together. The thesis upon which all that follows will act upon.

Top 3 Fall Essentials

Fall is here! Although the Texas heat is still taking over, we are officially in the season of fall! Fall is the BIGGEST time of the year in the fashion industry. Fashions Night Out, NYC Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, Vogue’s annual September Issue, and so much more!! Fall is always HUGE in the world of fashion. It represents the biggest transitions of seasons through out the year! We say goodbye to our sandals and denim shorts, and hello to suede boots and fun scarves! There is so much to do with a good fall wardrobe. But here are my top three fall fashion must haves for the cold weathers ahead!!

1. Fur Vest

A Fur Vest is a must have. While it is pretty and cool you can throw it on with an easy short sleeve shirt, leggings, and ballet flats. But when the cold breeze comes our way, pair it with a long sleeve shirt, wool shorts, tights, socks, and boots. Add some bangles and a scarf and you are winter ready.

2. Riding Boots

A great pair of riding boots are always great to have. I literally throw mine on with everything. They can make a boring outfit look edgy and chic. Show off your black or chestnut leather boot with a slick pair of tights, leggings, or skinny jeans. You always want to do a tight leg to tuck into your boots. Black on black is a personal favorite allowing your legs to look tall and perfect. Since the leg is skinny, throw on an oversized bulky sweater and your in an ideal fall outfit!

3. Wrap Dress

The Wrap Dress was discovered by the one and only Diane Von Furstenberg. In 1973, she made this ionic fashion garment. It is chic, sexy, classic, and loots great on any body type! It is a timeless piece that will go to great use in your closet. Top it off with flats on a warmer day, tights & boots on a cold day. Lastly, add a chunky necklace and you are good to go!

Happy Fall!

X,

Haylee

Tech Talk: How do you keep up with your shows!

Its Time! The new seasons of your favorite shows have started. How are you going to ensure you catch all of your favorite shows while you are atttending class. There are many options out there but what if you just moved in to a new dorm, spent your last couple of bucks on MD 20/20, or mom and dad just deauthorized you as a user. How are you to watch the newest shows of Big Bang Theory, Pan Am, or Person of Intrest?

Well I will always start off with the free stuff and the best stuff so you don’t have to waste your money or your time. In my opinon Hulu or Hulu Plus, should be your first stop to finding both old and new. Not only does Hulu offer you all of your shows or links to your shows it allows you to set up subscriptions. These subscriptions are exactly what you think a homescreen that lets you know as soon as they are available when a new show has posted. Hulu plus does cost you some money but it seems to only allow you content to streaming movies.

You can of course always find some of your shows directly on FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC, or any major show networks site. However, not all of your old episodes will be there.

Netflix is also another viable option. It currently costs $7.99 for online streaming service only where you can get movies and tv shows but after a quick perusal of my account it seems like they only have all your old shows.

Slingbox is a expensive but very cool option if you still have a trustfund or if you have a job on the side. Slingbox cheapest option is the slingbox solo at $149.99 (as of this post) allows you to stream your DVR or Live TV directly to you laptop, tablet, mobile phone. Now for your more mobile devices they do require an additional $29.99 per device.

Recently, Amazon and Fox signed a deal to bring you 11K movies and TV shows if you are a Amazon Prime Member. This prime membership does cost you $79 a year for the subscription but right now they are offering a free month trial.  If you do get a prime membership you also recieve Free Two-Day shipping, and $3.99 one day shipping if you buy from amazon.

Hears hoping you find your show. Please don’t forget to take the poll below.

Email us at hashcampuslife@gmail.com and I’d love
to share anything you have learned.

Starting the semester right

I vividly remember my first day of class in college: it was a little overwhelming. Whether you are a freshman or a senior, here are some tips for my fellow Comets on how to start the semester right and keep ahead in your classes.

Read the syllabus

It takes a little time, but not much. I usually go through with a highlighter and mark important dates, like tests and assignments. Takes me like 5 minutes. This helps you know when things are due, so nothing sneaks up on you. Professors also usually describe the big assignments to you in pretty good detail, so you can know what to expect and don’t miss something that could cost you a grade. It is also your go-to for disputes with professors: what’s in the syllabus goes.

Only worry about what needs to be done today

If you read the syllabus and know what is coming up and plan accordingly, then you should know what you have to do today and therefore know when you are done and can go party it up. If partying is more your forte than studying, work hard so you can play hard. You are going to school. Respect your own time, and get the most out of the classes you are taking them. Who really suffers if you don’t get everything you can out of it? If you have a hard time finding time to breathe and have fun, you need to be able to take a break and have fun and sleep and sleep well. You learn better when your mind is rested, and if you are constantly stressed out, your health will suffer even if you grades don’t. Work hard so you can play hard. Get today’s tasks done and then take a break.

Have some tips of your own? Email us at hashcampuslife@gmail.com and I’d love to share anything you have learned.

Tech Talk: Essential Apps for UTD Life

In this day and age of smart phones and tablets essential apps to get you through the week are imperative. Here are some of the best apps for my fellow Comets.

YELP : “Real Reviews from Real People” is their slogan. If you haven’t heard, yelp is a free app that allows you to read unfiltered reviews from people who have actually been there. I find this exceptionally useful as I am a recent transfer from the City of Houston and dont’ know my way around Dallas yet, as I am sure many of you feel the same way.

EVERNOTE: Can you “Remember Everything”? Evernote is a free app that you can use on your home computer, tablet and smartphone. It allows you seemless access to notes you take anywhere at any time. It can capture weblinks, photos, scribbles and class notes. You never have to worry about losing yoru notes.

PANDORA: Really if you didn’t know this one, you missed a lot already. Streaming Music via wifi or Data connection. No better way to kill the 15 min walk to you next class.

MYTRACKS: Ever lost which lot and space you parked your car? Ever curious how far you walked on campus? Ever come out of the wrong door in a different building and are not sure where your at? Ever want to see just how far your run went? This app is a gps enabled tracking app that overlays google maps over your GPS position. It can show you all of these. I mostly track how far I have walked on a given day but this can be very helpful.

STUDYBLUE: This one may not be a must have for you but I think it has lots of potential. After you create your account you inform them of the class you are taking and with which professor. They provide you with already created flash cards. The account is free so check it out and may be it will help you get that grade.

If you have any tech news that you would like me to investigate or news send me an email at hashcampuslife@gmail.com.