4Rent – Rentals4Students – January 2, 2023

editor’s desk

By Amanda Pereira

stay stress free this semester

If you’re anything like me, you’re a bit of a self-professed ‘stress bunny’. From something as preventable as being late to an event to meeting deadlines – if there’s an opportunity to stress about something, my mind is going to find it. My formative schooling years were no different; from getting to class on time, not missing the bus, or more preventable situations like doing an assignment on time; my stress levels often left me walking on eggshells.

Of course, as anyone who habitually stresses out will attest to – we don’t intend to succumb to these feelings, it’s just something that is, unfortunately, innate to us. However, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve had to learn the hard way about the importance of managing my stress levels and keeping my cool in situations that neither warrant a stressful response, or situations that are high tension that can easily be made worse by ‘freaking out’ over it.

Here are some tips on how you can stay stress free this semester:

KEEP YOUR COOL

If something isn’t going quite the way you planned, pause, and collect yourself. Is this worth having a meltdown over? Will this matter in an hour? A day, a

week, a year? If this is a temporary inconvenience or situation, focus on getting over the hump and overcoming adversity.

STAY ORGANIZED

I cannot tell you the number of stressful situations I could have avoided if I had just organized my time better. You may cringe at the prospect of having to keep an agenda, but with tools like the iPhone, there’s no excuse for not staying on top of deadlines and engagements. This may seem like a hassle, but trust me; future you will be in your debt.

TAKE “ME TIME”

When you’re stressed out, it’s important to make time for leisure and to take a mental break. Some apartments featured in Rentals 4Students are equipped with great amenities that keep you stress-free such as fitness facilities, media rooms, and laundry rooms (because let’s face it, not having clean clothing is definitely something you’ve stressed over before.)

Keeping calm, being prepared, and showing a willingness to give yourself a break are important factors in having a successful school year that doesn’t end on a sour note. We hope these tips serve you well this semester – good luck!.

Carolyn Porteous carolyn@mediaclassified.ca

Terry Buhay terry.buhay@mediaclassified.ca Gina Pappas Gina.pappas@mediaclassified.ca

GROUP SALES MANAGER Randi Segal randi.segal@mediaclassified.ca MANAGER CUSTOMER SALES & SERVICE

Marilyn Watling marilyn@mediaclassified.ca

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER

Leo Racioppo leo@mediaclassified.ca

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

John Racioppo john@mediaclassified.ca

ACCOUNTING INQUIRIES accountingteam@mediaclassified.ca CIRCULATION INQUIRIES distributionteam@mediaclassified.ca

EDITOR Amanda Pereira DIRECTOR OF PRINT MEDIA Lauren Reid-Sachs

GRAPHIC DESIGNER & ASSISTANT MANAGER Alicesa Pullan GRAPHIC DESIGNER Johannah Lorenzo All submissions from interested parties will be considered. Please submit to the editor at editorial@mediaclassified.ca

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strategies to improve your ability to focus

Distractions have never been harder to resist. According to Deloitte’s “2022 Connectivity and Mobile Trends Survey” (third edition), the average household in the United States now has a total of 22 connected devices. Things are a little less connected in Canada, where a J.D. Power survey of television service subscribers found that the average household has about 10 devices.

The prevalence and accessibility of devices can make it difficult to focus, but tablets, smartphones and other technologies are not the only culprits that can compromise the ability to concentrate. Harvard Medical School notes that underlying medical conditions, the side effects of medication and excessive alcohol consumption can each make it harder to focus. That’s a significant detriment, as an ability to focus can help individuals be more efficient and perform better at work and in school.

Each individual is different, so efforts to improve focus might require a little trial and error until a person fi nds what works for them. In the meantime, the following are some effective strategies that can help people sharpen their focus and reap all the rewards that a heightened ability to concentrate has to offer.

TURN NOTIFICATIONS OFF

Notifications are a bigger distraction than people may realize. A 2015 study

from researchers at Florida State University found that simply hearing the ping of a notification was as distracting as taking a phone call. Individuals may fi nd the idea of answering as little as 20 or more phone calls per day unrealistic, but researchers have found that the average smartphone user receives around 80 push notifications per day. Such constant inflow of notifications is detrimental to smartphone users’ ability to focus. Turning notifications off while in school or during the workday can help people avoid this seemingly endless stream of distractions, thus improving focus.

ADOPT A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

The experts at Harvard Medical School note that many aspects of a healthy lifestyle can help people focus better. Researchers have discovered a direct link between exercise and a person’s ability to pay attention, noting that exercise increases the availability of brain chemicals that reduce stress and improve sleep, among other things. Less stress and a good night’s rest can make it easier to focus.

An ability to focus pays myriad dividends. Individuals can try various strategies to improve their concentration skills and reap the rewards that such improvement provides. –

Rebound Plan Ahead

what students can do to rebound in the second half of the school year

Students begin a new school year hoping to do their best in the classroom. When those hopes are overcome by academic struggles, students may need a little help to get back on track.

Students and their parents must keep in mind that no school year is derailed by a poor performance in the year’s opening months. There’s plenty of time for students to rebound, and the following are some ways for students to get back on strong academic footing.

MAKE IT A COLLECTIVE EFFORT

Rebounding from a difficult start to the school year may require a collective effort on the part of students, their parents and educators. Concerned parents can reach out to teachers to learn where students are struggling and seek recommendations about what to do to help them rebound. Once those areas are identified, students, parents and educations can work together to devise a plan to help kids improve.

GO OVER CLASS NOTES EACH DAY

Lectures require significant note-taking, and many students scribble notes as fast as possible so they can keep up. Scribbled notes may be hard to deci-

pher days after a lecture, but they’re more likely to be understood immediately after class or when students arrive home at night. Going over notes at the end of the day or after each class, and even transcribing them from notebooks into typed documents, can help students grasp material more effectively. Typed notes also can make study sessions the night before a test more effective.

RESERVE DAILY QUIET STUDY TIME

Rebounding from a difficult start to the school year will likely require a daily commitment to performing better in the classroom. Daily study time in a quiet setting, whether that’s at home or at the library, can provide the time students need to focus on their studies without distractions getting in the way. Turn smartphone and device notifications off during study time. Students can even keep a study log to track what they’re studying and the amount of time they study each day. Th is log can be useful if students need to determine which areas require more time down the road.

A school year is long, so students who struggle at the start of the year still have plenty of time to get back on track and achieve their academic goals.

– News Canada

Self-control

Avoid these mistakes how students can avoid ‘senioritis’

Senior year of high school can be a whirlwind of activity. The early months are spent wrapping up standardized testing and applying to college. Since many colleges and universities ask for mid-year transcripts for students to aid with class placement and/or make final admissions decisions, students also need to maintain their studies and grades throughout the fall and winter.

Come the spring, when graduating seniors have already picked a college, students with their eyes on the finish line may feel like pulling back a bit. According to Southern New Hampshire University, the term “senioritis” refers to a common condition reflecting a lack of motivation by students who are reaching the end of their coursework. While it occurs in high school seniors and college and university seniors, those in trade schools or other programs also can experience senioritis. It’s important not to let senioritis set in to the point that students’ academic futures are suddenly compromised.

CONSIDER THE REPERCUSSIONS

According to the University of the People, many colleges have a policy that incoming freshmen must maintain a certain GPA to become students at their institutions. Letting grades slip can ruin chances of attending the school you worked hard to get into, even if you’ve already been accepted.

SCHEDULE BREAKS

Take advantage of time off from school and on the weekends to engage in fun activities. Respites from schoolwork can help you return to studies fresh and ready to engage anew.

HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE

Get together with a close group of classmates to inspire one another to continue to study and maintain good grades. Accountability to another person can serve as motivation.

ASK FOR HELP AND SUPPORT

It’s common for seniors to want to slack off if they’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed. If various factors in your life are causing you anxiety, reach out to your parents and friends for help.

ESTABLISH STRONG HABITS

Learning to stay focused even throughout the spring of senior year can help set the course for good habits that spill over into college, like time management and focus.

Avoiding a case of senioritis can be challenging, but it is in students’ best interests to stay focused on their work until they don their caps and gowns.

– Metro Creative Connection

Modern fully furnished 1–4 bedrooms suites. 6 appliances. Amenities: music studio, basketball court, art room, free bike rental, 14 study rooms, movie lounge and gym complex. For housing there is nothing like THEO in the heart of Ottawa.

Study Hacks Attention Savers

what students can do to block out distractions in the classroom

An ability to focus in the classroom can go a long way toward helping students achieve their academic goals. But distractions lurk in every corner, making it easier than ever to succumb to a lack of focus. Maintaining focus in the classroom can be difficult in the digital age, but students can try various strategies to block out distractions once class begins.

DISCONNECT YOUR DEVICES

A 2020 report from the nonprofit association Educause found that the majority of students report connecting two or more devices to campus Wi-Fi each day. Devices often serve as useful tools that augment classroom lessons, but they also can distract students. Students can turn off notifications on their phones and tablets before class begins so that familiar ping does not sound during lectures and lessons. In addition, unless devices are necessary during a class, students can store them in places where they won’t be tempted to check for messages or other alerts when they should be learning. Storing devices in a separate pocket in a backpack or even in a locker outside the classroom can remove the temptation to log on during class.

PREPARE FOR CLASS IN ADVANCE

Organizing before class can help students stay focused when a teacher is lecturing,

explaining classroom material or engaging students in a discussion. Students who can’t readily access their notes, books or assignments may be forced to spend valuable class time looking for such materials, thus distracting them from the lesson.

BRING QUESTIONS TO CLASS

Students who jot down questions about a subject prior to class are more likely to be engaged once class begins. Students can ask their questions during the lesson and listen intently to hear if their teacher or professor is answering their questions during their lecture. Either way, bringing questions to class and going over them before class begins can help students narrow their focus to the subject at hand, reducing the likelihood that they’ll succumb to distractions.

SIT IN THE FRONT OF CLASS

Students who are having trouble focusing can try sitting in the front of class. Sitting in the front ensures students can hear their teachers or professors, and sitting so close might subconsciously compel students to perk up so they’re not caught wandering. Devices and other distractions can easily compromise students’ focus in the classroom. But various strategies can help students focus so they can perform better academically.

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