Jumping Over Your Hurdles: Persistence and Resilience Tips

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As a college student, there are many hurdles you may come across. Some may be very different than others, but we all have our own obstacles. To help you jump over academic/college related hurdles, I'd like to share some persistence and resilience tips to keep in mind.

1. Growth Mindset

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People who have a growth mindset believe their talents and skills can be developed through things such as hard work, practice, good strategies, and working with others. In contrast, people with a fixed mindset believe their talents and skills are innate gifts, so there's not much they can do about it. Having a growth mindset can help you work through obstacles by putting in more time and effort. It's okay to make mistakes. It's okay to get stuck. What matters is that you keep going through these difficulties. If you don't understand an assignment right away, keep trying and don't be afraid to ask for help. Working with others is a great way to learn more and develop new skills.

2. Grit

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Grit is a trait that demonstrates someone's effort, perseverance, and passion for their goals. They embody qualities of hard work, dedication, and resilience. This is a learned trait that is not influenced by your genetics. It's the ability to not give up when times get hard, which can be the most important factor in success. Set goals in your classes and always welcome feedback. Anyone can work on having more grit, so don't give up on yourself.

3. Know your resources! Check out the Office of Student Success and Persistence at Coe.

They offer Success Coaches who provide proactive outreach to ensure a smooth transition to college. Your coach can help you navigate Coe, get connected with people, and learn about tools and resources you need to be successful. They also host College Possible. This program utilizes near-peer (recent college graduate) coaches who use a structured curriculum to help students get the most out of their four years and who serve as a resource for questions and concerns. The Office of Student Success and Persistence is located in Upper Gage Memorial Union with hours from 8am to 8pm Monday through Friday. Their team is available by appointment, but they welcome drop-in appointments as well. 

Busy and Overwhelmed: A College Student's Narrative

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It seems like the semester has just started, yet it's already November. It feels like this school year has just been going and going with hardly any room to breathe. How can we manage this busy and overwhelmed narrative while keeping our stress under control? It's not an easy task, so I want to provide some tips that may help you with stress management.

Getting enough sleep

This can be a difficult task to accomplish, but sleep is vital for our health and stress management. Think about setting a goal for yourself to get more sleep. It doesn't have to be drastic. Even just thirty minutes of more sleep each night can make a huge difference.

Being Active

Exercise can be a great way to take a break from the day's stresses and do something good for your body. Physical activity can help bump up the production of the brain's feel-good neurotransmitters, endorphins, and it doesn't have to be super intense. Just taking the time to take a walk can be a great way to refresh your mind, or if you have been sitting at a desk for a while, remember to stand up and stretch every once in a while.

Having a healthy stress outlet

This could mean something different for every person, but it's important to find things that you enjoy to help manage your stress. This could be your hobbies or clubs you're involved in. For example, I love dancing and listening to music; both of these outlets are a great way for me to lower my stress levels.

Find connections

It can be hard to get yourself to do more when you're already stressed, busy, and overwhelmed, but it can be extremely helpful to surround yourself with people who make you feel supported and calm. Joining a club is a great step to finding connections with others on campus with common interests.

Practice self-care

Once again, this can mean something different for everybody; it's important to cater self-care to what helps you feel refreshed and relaxed. Some ideas include hobbies, yoga, meditation, reading a book, talking to friends, playing games, going outside, drinking a lot of water, and listening to music.

Time management and organization

These can be tough skills to develop and continually practice, but once they are used effectively, they can be a great way to combat stress. For example, I use a planner to organize my to-do lists for the day and the assignments that I need to do for each class. For my extracurricular involvements, I use the app called Daily Planner. It's a great way to organize different lists and events in a calendar. You can also set reminders on your phone. Overall, figuring out time management and organization practices that work for you can be long process, but they are worth it in the long run.

Journaling

This can be a great way to relieve stress by getting your thoughts out on paper. For example, you may want to write about something stressful that happened; this can help you process how you are feeling through reflection. Want to learn more about the benefits of journaling? Check out this website: https://www.verywellmind.com/the-benefits-of-journaling-for-stress-management-3144611

Always feel free to reach out for help

Whether this means talking to a friend, family member, a professor, or staff member, remember that there's nothing wrong with asking for help. We can all use support from each other.

Setting Yourself Up For Success

It's the beginning of a new school year! For some, this may be your first year of college, or maybe you're nearing the end of your time here at Coe. Either way, a new school year can be both exciting and nerve-wracking in a wide variety of ways. Balancing school with extracurricular activities and jobs can be a lot of work and cause so much stress. That's why I want to share some tips about setting yourself up for success at the beginning of the school year.

Creating a Schedule for Yourself

A super strict schedule may not be the right fit for everyone. Some people thrive on specific schedules and routines while others need more flexibility. Either way, having at least some kind of schedule can help you keep organized, stay on top of homework/other commitments you may have, and combat procrastination. I use a planner to write down all the homework assignments I need to complete each day and any other important work that needs to be done for extracurriculars. I don't set specific times to do each of these things because I like a bit more flexibility, so my schedule is more like a checklist. Other people find it useful to set aside certain times during the day to work on homework. If you aren't sure what works best for you, just try different things!

Be Aware of Your Resources

• The Learning Commons offers an abundance of academic resources for Coe students. The Request for Academic Support (RAS) form is a great starting place for getting the help you need. Whether it's a tutor, help with a presentation or speech, academic accommodations, test scheduling in the Test Center, or something else, the Learning Commons is there to help.
• Professors and office hours! Your professors are there to help you learn and succeed. If you have questions, don't be afraid to reach out or stop by their office hours.
• Classmates. You can always reach out to your peers. Maybe you can create a study group with your classmates where you can help keep each other stay on task. We all have a different set of skills, so asking each other can be a great way to learn and share knowledge with others. 

Self-Care

It can be really difficult to make yourself a priority when the school year gets super busy, but it's vital to make sure you're taking care of yourself and your needs. Try your best to get enough sleep and make sure to take time to have fun and do things you enjoy! Self-care can mean something different to everyone, so spend some time thinking about what helps you feel refreshed.

Goals

Think about what you would like to achieve this semester and create goals for those things. Creating short-term, specific goals towards the beginning of the semester can be a great way to keep motivated  and on track in your classes by giving you something to work toward that you set for yourself. It can also help you measure how far you've come and how much you've learned at the end of the semester.

Engaging and Participating in Class

Try your best to get in the habit of engaging and participating in class. This could mean taking notes during a lecture or participating in class discussion. Speaking up in class can be really difficult; that is completely understandable, but it is a great way to learn from each other and really engage. Something that helps me participate more is processing my thoughts through writing before speaking them out loud, so I always make sure to bring a notebook to each class for writing things down. Also, if you know what's going to be discussed during the next class, you can prepare a bit ahead of time with any thoughts or questions you may have.

How to Push Through Burnout

 

Does your list of finals to-dos feel impossible? Are you struggling to get started? To do tasks that you know are easy? You are not alone! It’s very normal to feel overwhelmed and burnt out at the end of the semester. With no break and the condensed term, this has been even harder than a normal semester, and I think the majority of us are barely holding it together and struggling to motivate. So how do we push through the burnout to finish strong? Read on for tips to get through these last few days (yes only days):

1. Prioritize sleep as much as you can. We all know how important it is, but what’s the first thing to go when you’re stressed? Think about what is most important, and take guilt-free naps when you can.

2. Spend time doing something you enjoy. Whether that’s hanging out with your friends, playing a game, coloring, or getting some good food, take even just a little bit of time out of your day to not think about school.

3. Move your body. Take some time to go on a walk, do some yoga, or a workout of your choice. That 30 mins spent not studying will make you feel better and increase your productivity. 

4. Eat some good food. We all know how awful the cafe/pub is so treat yourself to some good food, whether that’s something good for your body or your taste buds.

5. Mix up your environment. Been stuck in your room all semester? Increase your productivity and decrease the fog by going to the library, Upper Gage, or better yet study outside.

6. Incentivize yourself. Try out different incentive methods. When your tasks feel immobilizing, set small accomplishable goals and reward yourself when you complete them. This could be with a tv break, a Tik Tok break, or a treat. Just make sure you don’t take a break for too long or you won’t want to start again.

7. Make a list. When you have tons to do and haven’t written it out, your brain might be full of things to do instead of focusing on the task at hand. When you write it out it is no longer occupying your brain, and you can prioritize what is most important.

8. Do things in person when you have the opportunity and it’s safe to do so. Life has felt like an endless Zoom call for over a year now, and it is a huge contributor to that burnout you’re feeling. Take the time to go to some of those in-person things when you can, it can be incredibly refreshing to get out and see people even when masked.

9. Take a well-deserved break. Once you have gotten through finals (which you will) take a very well deserved and needed break!! Don’t do anything that you don’t want to for at least a few days. After you take some time for self-care, you can enjoy the summer and set realistic goals for the fall.

Good luck with finals, you are going to crush it!!

Study Tips for Finals

Finals are just around the corner, so it's a stressful time! The pressure of all these final projects and tests due during one week can be very overwhelming, so we often push things off until the last minute. Do you want some tips to avoid that last minute rush? Read on for some study strategies for finals…

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1. Make a game plan for finals

Planning out study sessions for all your finals can be overwhelming, but it can be really helpful to have at least some sort of game plan. Instead of cramming last minute, setting aside spaced out study session can immensely improve your retention. Try putting them in a planner or calendar. You could even set alerts or reminders on your phone.

2. Start early (if possible)

We are all busy. Sometimes it's difficult to avoid last minute studying, but going along with the last tip, try your best to start studying for finals early. Maybe a few weeks in advance even. Try to figure out which classes you may struggle with more, so you can determine which classes you need to spend more time on.

3. Make use of academic resources (we have a whole post on this blog on how to access a bunch of different resources Coe has to offer!)

It's not too late to get extra academic support when it comes time for finals!

• Visit the writing center or schedule an appointment with a Speak Out consultant for a final paper or project.
• Make an appointment with a tutor. While regular tutoring is helpful to make use of throughout the semester, it's still not too late to request a tutor.
• Visit your professor's office hours for any questions you may have about a final or any other confusion about the class.
• If your professor gives you a study guide, be sure to make use of it.

4. Form a study group (but with people who won't distract you!)

Study with a group of people who can help hold each other accountable. Talking out loud and explaining concepts to others helps with memorization and full comprehension. Also, remember you can visit the Learning Commons study hours if you don't want to study alone. They are virtual on Sundays from 6-8pm (zoom link) and in the Stewart Memorial Library, Lower Level on Wednesdays from 6-8pm.

5. Use a variety of study aids

• Create dynamic flashcards for concept memorization
• Four quadrants on card: definition, sentence, question, and image
• Draw mind maps
• Create a quiz for yourself and take it
• Use mnemonic devices or acronyms
• Look through textbooks for:
• Review questions
• Chapter preview, outline, or objectives
• Chapter summaries
• Key terms/definitions
• Look at suggested readings or references
• Review old notes or lectures

6. Take breaks!

Study breaks are very important to refresh your mind and prevent study fatigue and burnout. They can:

• Restore your ability to focus
• Help you regain attention and motivation
• Improve creativity
• Restore your energy

Some ideas for study breaks:

• Take a walk
• Go outside
• Have a snack
• Exercise
• Draw, color, paint
• Meditation/yoga
• Call a friend
• Listen to a short podcast

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7. Remember self-care!

Don't forget to take care of yourself when you're under all the stress of finals. Remember to do things that make you happy to lower your stress levels, and don't forget to eat healthy and drink plenty of water.

8. Make sleep a priority!

Don't stay up all night studying before a final. This will not help you get a better grade. When studying like that, you just don't retain as much information, and lack of sleep only makes your brain not work at full capacity.

Sources:

“How to Study for Finals”

https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/how-to-study-for-finals

“20 Study Strategies for Finals Week”

https://www.fastweb.com/student-life/articles/the-20-study-tips-for-finals

How to Make the Most of Your Advising Appointment(s)

Feeling overwhelmed by advising season? Not sure how to make use of your time with your advisor? Do you feel like your meeting wasn’t productive? You are not alone! Advising season can be stressful with the pressure to set up your next semester correctly, an overflow of class offering emails, and no guide on how this should be done. Read on for tips and to-do items to best set you up for success:

1. First and foremost, who is your advisor?

Whether this is your FYS professor or someone in your major, get ahead of the curve and request a meeting with them. This step is required in order to register for classes! They are also your best resource to make sure you stay on track. That being said, if you have multiple majors/areas of interest, have multiple advisors! Once you are out of your first semester you can change your advisor at any time on My Coe.

2. Pull up your course catalog and layout your major’s requirements

A quick Google search is the easiest way to find the course catalog for your year, and in it, you will find all listed requirements for your major(s). I suggest creating a document with these for easier future reference! I also personally highlight sections that I have completed so that it is easier to look at and see where my progress is. Just make sure you are accessing the right catalog as requirements change each year!

3. Create a rough plan for your four years at Coe

Working backward from graduation with your desired degree(s) roughly plan out what your class schedule will look like. Include any potential study abroad plans, courses that must happen during a certain year (ie. senior seminar), and go from there! Keep in mind that some programs, such as Nursing, have a specific required plan already made for you. Don’t forget to include gen eds also found in the course catalog, and remember that this does not need to be the plan you actually follow, it is just stress relieving to have a plan of some kind. This is a great thing to work on with your advisor if you aren’t sure where to start!

4. During the meeting(s)

Bring your preparations to your meeting and talk through them with your advisor, they may make some suggestions or confirm that you are good to go! (They will also probably be very impressed that you are so prepared, don’t forget that your advisors can help set you up with connections so impressions are important!) If you are unsure about which classes to take this is a great time to ask, and to confirm what your future plans are. Make sure to talk through any study abroad plans and what adjustments you may need to make because of this. If your major allows you to, make sure to preregister for those classes while you are with your advisor! In addition, I recommend talking through two backup classes before you end your meeting so that if things don’t work out come registration time you aren’t scrambling!

5. Register for classes!!

Now that you are all prepared and have made a plan, get ready to get up early and register for your classes. The night before look through your list and prioritize which class to sign up for first based on which one is already the most full. You will more than likely be registering at 7:30 am so set several alarms and make sure you are up at least 10 minutes prior to get ready. Pull up MyCoe and your list, and prepare for the short window of time that you have to get those classes you want. Most people are going to be done within 5 minutes, so make sure you are prepared! If you are able to, use ethernet or a hotspot to register as many people will be on the wifi at the same time as you and it will be horribly slow. Using this method I have managed to snag the last spot in my preferred classes several times, that extra few seconds of speed is important! If you aren’t able to do either of these, think extra carefully about that priority list so you don’t miss out on your most important classes. And remember that if you don’t get a class you want you can always ask the professor to join the class or wait and see if a spot opens up! Remember to take some deep breaths, you’ve got this!

How to Practice Self-Care (Stressed and Beyond)

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Junior year was full of many expectations about the wonderful life I would be living as a senior. While my life is wonderful, it certainly has not gotten any easier, which was a major part of the dream. I spent my fall semester working my butt off, managing Zoom classes, balancing work and work study, and wrapping up my final officer positions with a neatly tied bow. I even earned straight As 一 defying the expectation that it would be the worst semester of my academic career 一 and made the Dean’s List! Still, taking care of my physical and mental health took a backseat. 

I spent all of winter break recovering from the fall and looked forward to finally relaxing in the spring. It’s now spring 2021, and in a few months I will graduate from Coe. Midterms have past, and I’ve taken some time to reflect on my accomplishments as of today. One of which is finally, after all these years, practicing self-care. I want to pass on some knowledge that I’ve gained about the importance of self-care and some tips on how to take better care of yourself. Trust me, you do not want to wait until you’re 22.

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Understanding Stress

I don’t mean to brag, but I am unapologetically proud of myself and am grateful for the time, effort, and stress I experienced to get to where I am today. I also realize that despite the changes to my schedule and workload I am still physically, mentally, and emotionally overwhelmed. With the temperature below zero for weeks at a time, and traveling to and from work by foot, I was drained of my naturally high energy. The accumulated stress from the past four years plus the new stress of a new job and lifestyle changes quickly took their toll as well. 

For those of you who are not aware, stress can be both good and bad. Chronic stress, or prolonged stress, is the bad type of stress and doesn’t allow enough time for you to recover. For example, if you’re not financially secure or you are food insecure you are facing constant stressors that take a lot of time and resources to work through. Without time to rest, individuals with chronic stress tend to become ill more easily and more often, and suffer from burnout and exhaustion. Acute stress, or short periods of stress, is considered to be the good type of stress, because it allows time for you to recover. Having an extracurricular (sport, club, service) that you participate in can be stressful, but it takes you away from your usual, not so fun routine, and allows you to stay engaged throughout the day.  

Fun events can still be stressful, and with negative events that also create stress the two add up and can eventually lead to burnout. Wow, that’s a lot of stress! I know, but once you notice just how stressed you really are, you can take steps to remedy. Here are some to get you started:

1.Let in the Light

It doesn’t matter whether you have one large window or one smaller than a trash can, let in the light. Natural light boosts your mood, helps you wake up (and stay awake), and makes your space feel more open. When I’m feeling ill, I keep the blinds closed to reduce migraines; however, a majority of the time letting in the light makes me happier. You can see more clearly, and the strain of computer light is lessened. Natural light can help keep you focused on your work and motivated to reach your daily goals. 

2.Sweet Scents

Another way to practice self-care is by making your environment more welcoming. We spend a lot of time indoors, so changing that space to make us comfortable will do wonders for your mental health. I prefer to use an essential oil diffuser, to spread sweet tangerine and lemongrass throughout my apartment. You could also open a window to let in fresh air, or use an air freshener. If you don’t like too many smells (allergies) you could focus on cleaning your space to keep everything fresh-smelling, for example, wiping surfaces to clear away dust. 

3.Keep It Clean

Proper, good hygiene is often a game changer for many and most don’t even realize it. Take a shower (or a bubble bath), brush your hair, massage your skin, and/or wash your face. When we’re stressed we often push our physical health to the side, when we should really prioritize it; especially once you feel better. Do your laundry, clear away trash, and/or catch up on your usual cleaning routine. This can help you feel productive and set other self-care activities in motion.

4.Take in the Sights

The weather has improved substantially. Yes, it keeps snowing, but it’ll be 50 degrees again soon. Take a stroll during the day, or walk slower on your way to and from classes. The Alumni Garden is open every day now, a little bit of nature does wonders for your health. Watching hummingbirds fly by, or hopping from stone to stone can help you feel more engaged with your body. This is most beneficial for people who struggle to feel grounded in the present moment. 

5.Sit Down and Write

Once a day where you can afford to take it easy, sit down in a comfortable spot and write. Write about your hopes and dreams, your plans for the week, or even your monthly budget. Writing can help you remain present instead of worrying about everything else you have to worry about. I enjoy writing and find that when I make time to write I feel much more relaxed and prepared to complete other tasks. If writing isn’t your style, you can always sing your favorite songs, crochet, or anything else that allows you to effortlessly focus on one moment. 

Fun fact, on Tuesday, March 23 we have our second “academic break day” of the term. This could be the day you start your new self-care journey! Below are some helpful sources and COVID resources as you should keep COVID guidelines in mind when planning your activities.

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Helpful Sources
Understanding Good Stress vs Bad Stress: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2012/12/good-stress-bad-stress.html 
Prevent Burnout:
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.htm#:~:text=Burnout%20is%20a%20state%20of,unable%20to%20meet%20constant%20demands.
Natural Light Increases Productivity:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/study-natural-light-is-the-best-medicine-for-the-office-300590905.html 

Covid Resources
Things to Know about COVID-19: 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/need-to-know.html
CDC Tips on How to Care for Yourself During the Pandemic:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/stress-coping/care-for-yourself.html
State of Iowa Agency Guidance:
https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/guidance
City of Cedar Rapids, IA COVID-19 Information:
https://www.cedar-rapids.org/alert_detail/coronavirus_(covid-19).php

Great Expectations

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 By Arabella Chamberlain

Just about a year into a global pandemic and where are we? As the weather warms, we seek the solace of sun and warmth, companionship from friends six feet away, and faces covered. But inherently, our lives are different than they were a year ago - even a few months ago.

As the world keeps turning, life has started to return to normal. Well, not really normal, more like a facsimile of the lives we once lived, filled with masks and vaccines. And where does that leave us?

We expected this to be over sooner. We expected things to be the same as they always were eventually. But they won't be.

That's okay.

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As our personal expectations of normalcy have waned, I found this to not be true in my experiences with academia. Professors were extremely generous our first semester online, as with the transitions to hybrid the second. But this semester, we find ourselves on the precipice of what life was like a year ago. Professors are starting to expect what they expected a year ago in class - attendance in-person, engagement, turning in assignments on time - and rightfully so. We're moving on. And strangely, things many of us never struggled with before have become a challenge to people everywhere. Expectations we used to accomplish without a second thought are now insurmountable when we can barely pull ourselves from bed.

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It's been a long time since we have seen professors face to face (or mask to mask), been able to go to office hours, not had to deal with buffering Zoom connections. It's truly a privilege to be where we are, and perhaps we need to remind ourselves of that next time we want to rag on a professor for pushing us a little harder than we think we can handle. You'd be surprised how much you've already endured and walked away from - maybe with a little wear-and-tear, but you're stronger for it.

I wish I could tell you all the answers to thriving in a time like this, but I don't think anyone has those answers. This is just a reminder that you've already accomplished so much, and even when this semester tries to kick your butt, know that you can kick right back. I know what it feels like when everyone around you has great expectations. But be kind to yourself. You may not always put forth your best work. You might have rough times. It's alright. Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.

Remember to take a deep breath.

And get back up again.

Because you will not let anything stop you from succeeding.

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Overcoming Writer's Block

No matter what your major is, at some point, you will be completing writing assignments. At this point in the semester, I'm sure all of you have done this. Sometimes there's a dreaded spot in the writing process where we get stuck. What exactly is writer's block? It can be defined as "an overwhelming  feeling of being stuck in the writing process without the ability to move forward and write anything new" (MasterClass). It's especially frustrating when you've got a close deadline, but nothing is coming to your head. Therefore, this post is aimed at combating that block by going through different scenarios where writer's block may occur and offering some strategies to overcome it. 

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Struggling to get started?

• Brainstorm! If it's creative writing or an assignment where you have pretty much free reign on the topic, spend some time just brainstorming topic ideas that interest you. Getting all your ideas out is a great starting place. You could also discuss your ideas with another classmate or your professor during office hours.
• Try some invention strategies:
• Ask yourself what your purpose is for writing about the subject.
• Ask yourself how you're going to achieve this purpose.
• Summarize your whole idea and explain it to someone else in a few sentences.
• If the paper involves research, start by taking notes on details that stand out to you, things you find interesting/important, or on places where you disagree with the claim presented in the research.
• Write down all the main ideas you would like to get across in your paper; this can be converted into an outline.

Moving beyond the outline:

When you can't seem to form a solid introduction or thesis, start in the middle! The writing process is different for everyone, and it doesn't have to be linear. Personally, I hardly ever finalize my introduction first. I find that after writing my body paragraphs in an essay, I discover a more solid understanding of my main point. Then, I go back and revise my thesis and introduction. Overall, don't worry about following a specific process. You can use your outline as a guideline, but if you're stuck on a certain part of a paper, make a note to come back to it later and move on for now. Otherwise, you're going to feel like you're making no progress, and that just furthers the stress of writer's block.

You've been assigned a topic you dislike or one that bores you:

• Meet with your professor to discuss how much control you have over the assignment's topic
• Find ways to personalize your topic. Ask yourself questions such as: What knowledge can I gain from writing about this topic? How can it help me? What skills will I be able to practice? Who would benefit from reading my finished product? How can I relate to this topic?

Don't understand the assignment?

• Reread the instructions carefully and make a list of questions that you are confused about.
• Consult your professor about these specific questions for clarification.
• You could also talk to another classmate or a tutor (like visiting the writing center!).

You're worried about writing "badly" on the first draft:

A first draft doesn't have to be perfect, so try not to worry about the small details. It's hard to get into this mindset, but try your best to just write and see where your ideas take you. Don't worry too much about grammar or sentence structure; you can always go back and revise for the more technical stuff later. You can also leave notes to yourself on parts you want to work on later. Check out this video for more tips on this scenario!

Too stressed and overwhelmed to write anymore?

• Take a break! This could be something as simple as taking a short walk outside. Anything that gives your brain a break from the assignment is really important to refresh and lower your stress levels. Even just a 10 to 20 minute break can give you enough motivation to write a little more.
• Break up your assignment into manageable chunks/set a schedule to work on it. For example, you could plan to write without interruption for 30 minutes each day.
• Ask for help! Coe offers many resources for academic support. Consider visiting the writing center! They can help at any stage of the writing process. You can make an appointment with a specific writing center consultant at this link.

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Other quick tips:

• Do something fun or creative on your writing break such as drawing a picture or coloring.
• Freewrite! Set a timer and spend some time just writing whatever pops into your head. Ignore grammar. Ignore writing imperfections. Just get any and all ideas out, writing freely.
• Exercise, meditation, and yoga! These are all great ways to stimulate your brain to help you get through that block in your writing.
• If background noise or the environment you're in is distracting you, find a place to write that doesn't have those distractions such as in the library. You could also just try writing from a different spot in general. Just getting up and moving to a different place can have an impact on your ideas.

Sources:

“What Is Writer’s Block? How to Overcome Writer’s Block With Step-by-Step Guide and Writing Exercises.”

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-writers-block-how-to-overcome-writers-block-with-step-by-step-guide-and-writing-exercises#quiz-0

“Symptoms and Cures for Writer's Block”

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/writers_block/index.html

“7 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block”

https://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/7-ways-to-overcome-writers-block

How Personality Type Can Affect Learning Style

Have you ever heard of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator? It’s a self-report quiz aimed at assigning personality type according to four categories. It does this by examining how people perceive the world and make decisions based on their answers.

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What are the four categories? 

1. Extroversion vs. Introversion (E v. I)

I’m sure many of you have heard of these before and probably have a good idea about which side you lean towards. But what exactly do they mean? An introvert gains energy and motivation by focusing inward. They prefer to think things through on their own and become drained when working with large groups and meeting lots of people. This doesn’t mean introverts don’t like spending time with people; they just need to have more breaks to spend time alone. An extrovert gains energy by focusing outward. They learn and process information by talking with others and become energized when working with lots of people. As with any of these categories, it isn’t a complete either/or. It’s a scale, and you may be somewhere in the middle. 

2. Sensing vs. Intuitive (S v. N)

Sensors are concrete thinkers. They focus on facts, events, and details and enjoy practical, hands on work. They don’t like theories, ideas, and concepts, relying on life experience instead. In contrast, intuitive people like theories, ideas, and concepts and enjoy looking for meaning behind things. As abstract, creative thinkers, they have low tolerance for routine work and are focused on the “big picture.”

3. Thinking vs. Feeling (T v. F)

Thinkers value logic and reason objectively when making decisions. They are task-oriented, tend to be more competitive than cooperative, and prefer to separate emotions from work. On the other hand, feelers make decisions based more on emotions. They value relationships and compassion, emphasize personal connection and tend to seek supportive work and academic environments.

4. Judgers vs. Perceivers (J v. P)

These are two different self-management styles. Judgers are very organized and structured. They are decisive and prefer to plan ahead. Contrary, perceivers like to leave things open ended and wait before making a decision. They embrace spontaneity and love freedom and flexibility. 

How can these personality types affect your learning style preferences?

Understanding your learning style preferences can help you acquire knowledge and study more effectively. As seen in the descriptions of the four categories, there are some general preferences, but they may differ between the combinations of the categories.

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The Sixteen Types:

1. ESTJ - Their interest in learning a topic is motivated by solving problems. They are analytical and driven to gain practical experience to apply what they learn.
2. ISTJ - They do best through hands-on work and repetition and prefer structured academic environments with a steady routine.
3. ENTJ - They also like structured and competitive learning environments but not a rigid routine. They prefer having overall structure where they can still take an independent path and enjoy exploring abstract ideas along the way.
4. INTJ - They make excellent independent learners and typically enjoy studying theoretical concepts. They do better with memorizing information by creating connections, analogies, or acronyms rather than just repetition.
5. ESTP - They thrive in competitive environments with contests and rewards. Learning best through hands-on experience with logical, practical instructions, they need breaks from sitting at a computer to be active.
6. ISTP - They also like hands-on work and learn better through real-life examples. Being very independent, they prefer to study and do projects on their own. They also prefer flexibility over a highly structured academic environment.
7. ENTP - They prefer learning environments where they can explore and have freedom to ask questions and discuss concepts. Therefore, they tend to struggle more with highly structured learning that revolves around lectures.
8. INTP - Their interest in learning a topic is usually driven by a desire to figure out complex problems or theorize. They excel at noticing flaws in logic and are good at asking engaging questions. In addition, they prefer analyzing things on their own rather than group work.
9. ESFJ - Learning best by working with others, they thrive in learning environments where structured collaboration is encouraged. They like real-life examples and hands-on work with opportunities to engage with others.
10. ISFJ - They appreciate a highly structured learning environment with clear steps, expectations, and instructions. They also absorb details fast and do well with repetition and memorization tasks.
11. ENFJ - Common academic interests for them surround solving people-related issues. They prefer a positive, collaborative environment making them good facilitators in group work. Brainstorming ideas and thoughts out loud with others helps when studying.
12. INFJ - They enjoy structure with some flexibility in a learning environment. Analogies or acronyms typically work better than rote memorization, and they like plenty of alone time to process information before discussing their ideas with others.
13. ESFP - Their interest in learning a topic is typically driven by their enjoyment and how using the information could help or bring joy to others. They also learn well interacting with people and doing hands-on work such as "on the job" training.
14. ISFP - They are highly independent learners who enjoy flexibility to explore and try different approaches. They appreciate hands-on learning with experimentation.
15. ENFP - They appreciate opportunities to brainstorm and discuss ideas with the teacher and other students, and they like hearing and learning about different perspectives. It's also helpful for them to get personal feedback on their work.
16. INFP - They enjoy a collaborative learning environment as long as they have had enough time to get to know the other students a bit. However, they're still drawn to privately processing information, and they typically enjoy work that allows them to be creative.

Those are just brief introductions. If you want to learn more about your personality type's preferred learning style, check out this website.

Take the test!

https://www.16personalities.com/personality-types

Or go to Coe's C3 webpage and use the TypeFocus assessment tool. This test uses components of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as well as the Strong Interest Inventory (career interest assessment).

Sources:

“The Learning Styles of Every Myers-Briggs® Personality Type”

https://www.psychologyjunkie.com/2018/01/12/learning-styles-every-myers-briggs-personality-type/

The Myers & Briggs Foundation

https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/

"Learning Styles of the 16 Personality Types"

http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality/learning-styles