ENGL 320

Hi everyone, Today I want to talk about how to handle stress and anxiety while managing school. Most people experience some form of stress or anxiety at some point in their lives. For me, it was when I was postpartum and attending school full-time. Let me tell you—it wasn’t easy, but it was manageable. And here’s how I got through it. One of the biggest challenges postpartum is the lack of sleep. Between taking care of a newborn and being a full-time student, I had to get creative with my sleep schedule. I would nap when the baby napped, go to bed earlier if possible, and do schoolwork during the times the baby was awake or content. This approach helped me balance getting enough rest while staying on top of my assignments. Another thing that really helped me manage stress and juggle family responsibilities was finding a hobby to decompress. For me, that was working out and running. The feeling I got during and after a run was so relieving—it gave me a chance to reset mentally and emoti...

  Hello everyone, For this week's topic, I wanted to talk about being in a routine. Oftentimes, we find ourselves stuck in a routine—especially if you're someone like me who thrives on structure. When something disrupts that routine, it can throw me off and leave me feeling overwhelmed or out of place. So, I wanted to dive a little deeper into that. I live by my routines, but being in one—and staying in one—isn’t always a good thing. For example, the first time I had to break out of my comfort zone was when I was working at a dermatology office. My schedule was ideal: it was only eight minutes from home, I had a one-hour lunch break where I could see my son, and the commute was a breeze. It truly felt like a dream! Then, I was offered a chance to grow and move up in the company. The catch? It came with a 35–40 minute drive, lunch breaks away from my son, and heavy traffic on the way home. Yikes! I seriously considered turning it down because I was so comfortable in my routine. ...

  Hi everyone, Today, I want to discuss one of the course objectives from the syllabus:  "Manage sophisticated writing and research projects, planning, documenting, completing, and assessing work on time and within the constraints of a project." Throughout the semester, I have applied these skills to various projects. Planning, documenting, and completing work on time all go hand in hand. For example, one of the assignments required me to build a mock website. In this project, I had to document the information I gathered about pricing, different electrical jobs, and other relevant details. Another example of time management and organization was the Job Assignment, where we researched a job we envision ourselves in five years from now and created a resume and cover letter. This task required careful research, planning, and documentation to understand what employers are looking for and to craft a strong application. Overall, this class has reinforced the importance of time mana...

Oftentimes, we see our homes as a place of comfort, relaxation, and personal time. Since the pandemic, many jobs have shifted to remote work, and for some, that change has remained permanent. While working from home has its benefits, it can also lead to unhealthy habits, such as poor eating choices and prolonged sitting. Staying fit while working from home is challenging, but not impossible. Here are a few tips that have worked for me. First, keeping a daily schedule is essential. A structured routine helps you stay focused and make time for movement. For example, I plan my schoolwork during downtimes, such as lunch breaks, and then follow it up with a 10–15 minute indoor walk to keep my steps up. Sticking to a schedule allows you to balance work, productivity, and fitness effectively. Another great way to stay active is by setting a clear fitness goal. I personally aim for 10,000 steps a day to avoid sitting for a long period of time. Even if you only have a couple of spare minutes, u...

Staying organized—especially with two kids is a daily challenge. One moment, the room is spotless, and five minutes later, the toy box is dumped all over the living room. Having two kids at very different ages doesn’t make things any easier! However, I’ve found a few strategies that help me stay organized at home and in life. One way I keep things tidy is by cleaning up immediately after every activity. For example, in the mornings, while making my son’s breakfast and school lunch, I wash and put away any pots and utensils as I go. By the time they’re done eating I clean up my toddler while my son washes up and gets ready for school. This way, everything is spotless before we head out the door, making my return home less stressful and allowing me to focus on my toddler and my own breakfast. The takeaway? Always clean as you go, it saves time and effort. For schoolwork, I rely on two calendars: a paper calendar and a whiteboard. On my paper calendar, I track class due dates and tasks re...

Hi everyone, In a world full of chaos, where we find ourselves caught in routines—getting ready for work, school, cooking, cleaning, and more—it often feels almost impossible to sit still and truly enjoy the moment. Even in our downtime, technology keeps us occupied; we find ourselves watching shows or endlessly scrolling through social media without fully engaging in the present—without technology, without noise, just silence. Today, I decided to change that. I made the choice to sit still and be alone with my thoughts. Over the past two weeks, my family and I have been sick—fevers, coughing, and everything in between. As a mother, spouse, and full-time student, I rarely have time to pause and just be. But today, I did, and let me tell you, the thoughts that surfaced were eye-opening. We often take the little things for granted. After being sick these past few weeks and watching my little ones struggle, I realized how much we overlook the simple blessing of good health. Being able to ...