THE Focus EDITION ISSUE #02 APRIL 2018
@teeepppsss
ORIAL
FI N D W H AT’S IM P O RTA NT AGAI N My favourite thing to do after a long day is to curl up on the couch and watch a movie with some popcorn. There’s just something relaxing about escaping to another world where the problems aren’t yours and you lose focus on all the crazy things going on in your own life. But, (and here is where I’m about to ruin your day of planned procrastination…sorry) What are we focusing on and why are we doing so? Lately, there is always something more interesting or far more entertaining than my work and the daily jobs of life. And there is always something I want to be doing instead of my assignments. There is always something more important than time with God. I am constantly allowing myself to be pulled away from what I should be doing and toward things I would rather be doing instead. Netflix has just made it too easy really let’s be honest. And so, for our second issue, we’ve chosen the theme of Focus to help you (and me!) find what’s important again. If you have been feeling lost or unmotivated, or questioning what you are doing here at college then this magazine is for you. This life is too short to be focusing on the unimportant.
Kayla
INFO COLLEGE CHURCH CONTACT Phone: 02) 4980 2272 Email: collegechurch@avondale.edu.au AVONDALE COUNSELLING SERVICE CONTACT DETAILS Phone: 0403478994 Email: counselling@avondale.edu.au Open Mon-Thurs, 9am to 4pm Our counsellors offer confidential counselling to students experiencing a range of academic, mental health and personal concerns. PAGES TO LIKE...
EDITOR Kayla Carter ASSISTANT emmerson grey GRAPHIC DESIGNER Minah Bocchino Images sourced from pexels.com COVER ART/ PHOTO Tepa Afele Thanks Mcdonald’s fries Warm weather Loyal friends No thanks Cold fries Early starts Procrastination
K AY L A C A R T E R Kayla loves chocolate and dark chocolate and is hoping that this semester doesn’t make her stress eat to the point of having to actually use her gym membership.
EMMERSON GREY Sometimes I think my life could be a really hilarious sitcom, then I realise that eating, watching hours of Netflix and running into every inanimate object isn’t classed as entertainment. Thank goodness I’m going to succeed with my stable Arts degree. C H R I S M CC L E L L A N D Chris is a Secondary Education student who wishes he was musically talented and has been asked multiple times to be “less critical of capitalism” for some reason.
F R A N C H E S K A S A N D O VA L If tripping and bumping into things was a talent, I would win an Oscar Award. I am a proud paper cut survivor and an adventure junkie.
B EN JAM I N LOWE I was raised on a wheat farm near Esperance, Western Australia. I am passionate about the beach, fitness and most importantly sharing the Good News of the Bible! Currently I am in my third year of Ministry and Theology studies here at
B EC CO L L E Y I like to think I’m good at sport but realistically, I probably have no idea what I’m doing. I just like to eat cookies.
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regulars 8
wo/man
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#avondalexp
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competition
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interview
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t h e c h e at s h e e t
features any mans death diminishes me, because I am connected online
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close tabs
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Ta k i n g t h e s h o t
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spiritual sight
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Any Man’s Death Diminishes Me, because I am Connected Online Chris McClelland This morning I woke up to a Facebook notification saying that a friend of mine was safe from a disaster.
It’s a comforting thought, knowing that if there was any chance people you cared about were in harm’s way, you could so quickly find out if they were safe. Think about the strife, the gut-wrenching anxiety you’d have to endure if you had no way of reaching them. That example, of course, only looks at a single facet of the very complex, very flawed gem that is social media. It would be dishonest of me to say there aren’t dangers, especially in the wake of the recent privacy incident Zuckerberg has to clean up after. And it’s safe to say that it has diluted the word ‘friend.’ For full disclosure, I have only spoken to that friend I mentioned earlier about five times in my life. Having said that, language was evolving even before social media, and the word friend was beginning to cede its meaning to the more descriptive term ‘best friend’. The issue is not endemic to social media, either. Are friends of convenience any
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better than the misnamed acquaintances people criticise social media for? And none of this is acknowledging the impact social media has on spreading ideas and movements. The #MeToo movement and March for Our Lives all grew out of social media because people had a medium through which to communicate and come together. In the words of John Donne, “any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind”, and more so than ever now I can hear them across the world. All you need to start social change now is a laptop and a good cause. As with all things, I think a balanced perspective is necessary. Sure, there are issues, but we have the opportunity to let this new technology evolve under our supervision. What is best for us might not be best for the Zuckerberg’s wallet, and we need to have an active role in how social media grows, encouraging positive evolution and fighting against negative. I’d rather that than discard something with so much potential. It’s important to be conscious of what you put online, what you want people to see and remember about you, but as a human species, I don’t think social media
is the indictment of our kind that some people say it is. There’s a poem by Tumblr user herrsassyfras (okay, so maybe fixing embarrassing usernames is one of the ways social media can positively evolve) called ‘Live-tweeting the Apocalypse’, written in response to the cliché joke that my generation would spend their last living moments on earth blogging. The last few lines read:
they were consumed by fire, had a chance to tell their friends and family throughout Rome “I love you” “I’m scared” “Don’t forget me” Don’t you think they’d have taken the chance? I think that’s a side of humanity worth remembering.
It would mean a second by second update of the humanity’s connection with one another, Proof of empathy, love, and friendship between people who may have never met in the flesh. … Because if the citizens of Pompeii, before
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wo/ Chanachai 1. What’s your favourite Disney movie? I love Tangled. 2. What fictional character do you believe you resemble most? Alice in Wonderland. 3. Do you have any hidden talents? I think keeping quiet and still is something I am good at. 4. Name 3 things at the top of your bucket list: I need to go scuba diving in Maldives, visit the first and only Micropia Museum in Amsterdam, Holland, and watch the Northern Lights in Norway. 5. What is the most unusual way you have hurt yourself? I was casually playing basketball and realised the next moment that I had a meniscus tear. It was so random, and I had to go for a surgery after that. 6. The girl/guy of your dreams is sitting right in front of you, what is your opening line? I am not sure if I would say a word. Maybe a “Hi” is the best I can think of. 7. What is the best experience you’ve
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had at college so far? The best experience for me in college right now is having enough sleep through the week. I am enjoying this moment while it lasts. When the workload gets heavier, I will need to sacrifice some of that sleeping time. 8. What would be the worst thing to hear as you are going under anesthesia before heart surgery? When the doctor would say “you’ll be alright” and his voice starts to fade away, that’s scary. 9. If you could switch lives with a millionaire for a day, what would you do? I think I would use the money to build schools for children in developing countries, so they can have a better education. 10. What is a legacy you would like to leave in Avondale? If people must remember one thing about me, I hope I am remembered as a positive influence with the passion to learn and help others.
man Louwen 1. What’s your favourite Disney movie? Though not a classic, I loved Coco! But if we’re talking old school, Atlantis is super underrated! 2. What fictional character do you believe you resemble most? Jack West Jr. – Matthew Reilly. Family first. Always. 3. Do you have any hidden talents? I can fly planes. 4. Name 3 things at the top of your bucket list: 1. Leave a legacy that creates joy. 2. Race in a 12/24-hour endure. 3. Hike the Pacific Crest Trail. 5. What is the most unusual way you have hurt yourself? Workplace accident. Wire brush decided to eat part of my arm.
Initiation was pretty good. Definitely one of the more ‘bonding’ experiences I’ve had here. 8. What would be the worst thing to hear as you are going under anaesthesia before heart surgery? “I heard his family’s leaving him.” 9. If you could switch lives with a millionaire for a day, what would you do? Start a scholarship, grant a wish, help someone in need. 10. What is a legacy you would like to leave in Avondale? To be seen as someone who encouraged community. Who was never too down to laugh (loudly) and always up for a chat. A listener who strived to help others achieve their goals. Oh, and become the white Michael Jordan #ballislife.
6. The girl/guy of your dreams is sitting right in front of you, what is your opening line? *slides meme across table* 7. What is the best experience you’ve had at college so far?
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close tabs Francheska Sandoval You know that feeling of sitting in front of a laptop with your assessment rubric next to you, staring at the screen? The little flashing caret mocks your inability to type one word and suddenly, YouTube seems so enticing. So, you think, “One video and then I can go back to my assessment,” but deep down, you know you’re heading down a rabbit hole. Three hours into watching vines, cat videos and YouTube challenges, you happen to glance at your watch; yes, it’s nearly midnight. Did you do much? No, but a Maccas run seems good right about now! Focusing is so difficult, and somehow while at college it seems ten times harder. There’s always something happening, a meeting to attend, basketball night, variety hour, a new episode of Riverdale (ahem) and the list goes on and on. We live from one assessment to the next assessment, and though it may seem cliché to say; we tend to lose focus on the important things. We have all heard it before: live in the moment and focus on your goals and dreams. Although those are perfectly good points, I propose we focus on things that do not include ourselves, because there is so much more that needs our time, attention, and most importantly, our prayers. We are living in a time where our world is falling apart, and though I hate to be the bearer of bad news, here are some facts. The civil war that began in Syria in 2011 has not ended. That’s seven years in which a country has torn itself apart and as a result, an estimated 400,000 Syrians have died. As of February, this year, an estimated 5.5 million – yes, million – Syrians have fled the country
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and have sought refuge in neighboring countries. In Yemen, 8 million people are on the verge of famine and nearly 1 million cholera cases have been declared. There is escalating civil unrest in Afghanistan, Ukraine, D.R Congo, and Venezuela. Tensions between North Korea and the United Nations have intensified, and the threat of a nuclear war is slowly materializing. Twelve weeks into 2018, 17 school shootings were counted, averaging to 1.4 shootings per week in the United States. Human interaction is not the only thing that’s deteriorating, nature is too. Mass animal deaths are occurring globally. Thousands of dead fish have washed up along the shores of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, England, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, South Korea and the United States. Birds, whales, cattle, and other animals are also dying by the thousands due to rampant diseases, extreme weather conditions, and pollution. Four major natural disasters occurred within hours of each other in 2018, namely: The Mount Mayon eruption in the Philippines (displacing 56,000 villagers), a 7.9 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Alaska, Mount Kusatsu-Shirane in Japan erupted, and a 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Java, Indonesia caused extensive damage to the island. All these events have occurred in 2018 alone, but we should not be shocked or surprised by this. We have been warned ahead of time by Jesus himself in Matthew 24:6-44. The end is coming. Close tabs. Now focus. Really focus.
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Asa STATEMENT Kirah Jones As the Avondale Student Association, our first priority is that of the student body, both on and off-campus. Upon hearing the proposed SSAF, we had many of the same concerns that we believe many members of the student body also had and have been working as a committee to ensure that these concerns are heard. After discussions with the Vice President for Finance and other department leaders involved in the implementation of the SSAF at Avondale College, we have begun discussions on how to create the best outcome from this new initiative. With the proposed funding going towards the ASA we would like to begin venturing on new projects that best suit the needs of the students, whether that be through more on-campus facilities, better support networks or child-care facilities. As such, look out for upcoming polls that will allow you to choose where this funding goes so that we, as the ASA, are able to make the best of this new initiative that we are sure will help see Avondale grow throughout the coming years.
The student Services and Amenities fee 1. What does it include? The Student Services and Amenities Fee replaces any previous student facility fees. It is a charge which applies to all students for student services and amenities of a non-academic nature and will be introduced at Avondale College in Semester 2, 2018. The Student Services Amenity Fee (SSAF) Legislation sets out types of services that the SSAF fee can be used for. They are: • Contribute to the cost of providing food or drink to students on a campus of the higher education provider; • supporting a sporting or other recreational activity by students • caring for children of students • providing legal services to students
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• promoting the health or welfare of students • helping students secure accommodation • helping students obtain employment or advice on careers • helping students with their financial affairs • helping students obtain insurance against personal accidents • supporting the administration of a club most of whose members are students • supporting debating by students • providing libraries and reading rooms (other than those provided for academic purposes) for students • supporting an artistic activity by students • supporting the production and dissemination to students of media whose content is provided by students; • helping students develop skills for study, by means other than undertaking courses of study in which they are enrolled • advising on matters arising under the higher education provider’s rules (however described) • advocating students’ interests in matters arising under the higher education provider’s rules (however described) • giving students information to help them in their orientation • helping meet the specific needs of overseas students relating to their welfare, accommodation and employment. There is also provision in the budget for purposes / projects identified respectively by the Avondale and Wahroonga student bodies which will meet their specific needs ($30,000 per year for the Avondale campus and $10,000 per year for the Wahroonga campus) To provide some context, when we have a look at the eligible services (based on the above list) Avondale will be providing approx. $550,000 in eligible services in the second half of 2018 (July – December), or $1.1 million in a full year. We estimate that SSAF Fee income for Semester 2 2018 will be $128,000 or about 23% of the value of eligible services provided in that same period. 2.
What are the benefits of it compared to the one we have now?
• SSAF is more equitable as all students pay it. The present Facility Fee is an optional payment, which in some cases gives specific benefits to those who have selected the package [eg: 5% discount of Bookshop purchases, discount on the hire of College facilities, Jacaranda, Parking]. It also means that not all students contribute cost of some facilities which are provided for the use of all students {Audo, squash courts, tennis courts, pool]. • SSAF will provide students with a voice, as effective consultation processes will be in place to promote and support student input into what services and amenities are available at the College. This will help the College to better direct funding toward meeting these priorities. • Make Avondale greater by increasing the amount of student services and amenities and ensuring that those provided are what the students need and want. • Students eligible for SA-HELP do not need to pay up front; they can defer their payment (like FEE-HELP). • It will bring Avondale College in line with other Australian Higher Education Providers
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who already charge this fee to fund their student services and amenities. The SSAF was introduced in 2012, and most universities have already implemented. • Increases in the Facility Fee are determined by Avondale (the 2018 increase in the Avondale Facility Fee was 1.96%). However increases in the SSAF are set under the legislation (the 2018 increase in the SSAF was 1.36%). 3.
When will it start?
In Semester 2 2018. The fee is calculated based on student enrolment mode and study load and the maximum amount for Semester 2 is $149, half the annual legislated amount $298 4.
Why has Avondale chosen to instigate this?
Avondale has chosen to instigate the SSAF because of what we see as the advantages (see point 2 above). Further, in 2016 there was an independent review in the Avondale’s Student Services Department and the services provided to its students. It made a number of recommendations about the structure of the department, the enhancement of existing services and / or the provision of additional services. A number of these recommendations have either already been actioned or are in the process of being implemented. One of those recommendations was to “investigate the feasibility and implications of adoption of the Student Amenities Fee as a means of financing enhancements in student services provisions”. This has been done ultimately resulting in the decision to introduce the SSAF.
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taking the shot Bec Colley The clock’s running down. You’re down by one with three seconds to go. Defenders block the way to the hoop. Everyone is watching from the sidelines, watching your every movement. Your teammates around you wait on your move, believing in your ability. It all comes down to this. Every muscle in your body aches and you can feel the pressure. Focus. Breathe. Shoot. The Avondale Eagles will feel the pressure at Uni Games on the Gold Coast in July. Led by our captains, Damee Vonu Kea and Cherith Teo, Avondale’s student athletes will represent the Eagles in men’s and women’s futsal, touch and volleyball, and men’s basketball this year. Finishing third in per capita rankings at Eastern Uni Games last year, our Eagles have the potential to pose a serious threat in Division 2. As the teams get ready for the games, the Eagles look to follow Henry Fui’s lead after he was selected for the Green and Gold list for men’s rugby sevens at Australian Uni Games, recognising him as one of the best players across all Australian Universities.
FOCUS. BREATHE. SHOOT. Closer to campus, the Avondale basketball and volleyball associations are well underway. 24 men’s teams and 20 women’s teams are five weeks into the ABA competition. The Spartans lead men’s A-grade, while the Flames and McFresh Fries are battling for first place in the standing of women’s A-grade. Six of the 13 mixed volleyball teams are tied for points four weeks into the AVA Monday night competition. Regardless of the level of game you’re playing, whether it be at an international level, or a D-grade social basketball game, there is an element of pressure that plays against us. The expectations others have of us, or we have of ourselves, can feel incredibly heavy. Take the shot. Get the steal. Make the tackle. Win the game. It can feel like it’s too much at times. Sometimes the defenders blocking the way are far bigger than us, and we can’t get through them. But you’ve trained for this. Focus. Your team has your back. They believe in you. We believe in you. Bruce Lee once said “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus”. There’s always a clock running down in our lives. Whether it’s a game clock, assessment deadline, job interviews, or any number of other pressures, we all feel the weight of it sometimes. But you’ve trained for this. Whatever you’re working towards, whatever your goal is, no matter the defenders and obstacles in your way, remember you’ve always got someone on your team. You’ve got this. Focus. Breathe. Shoot. Score.
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sight Benjamin Lowe Last year I discovered that I have quite poor eyesight. I always thought it was perfectly normal that I needed to sit at the very front of the class to be able to read what my lecturers wrote on the whiteboard. But I did think it was weird that I couldn’t study for more than an hour without developing a terrible headache. It wasn’t until I was in Nepal with a group from college at the end of last year that I realized something wasn’t right with my eyes. As they gazed upon the wondrous grandeur of Fishtail mountain and the Annapurna ranges and exclaimed: “Wow! Nature is so beautiful!” I found myself thinking “Wow! Nature is beautiful…and awfully blurry” A visit to the optometrist and a couple of months later I was decked out with a pair of glasses. I placed them on and raced outside into the street to see what the world looked like through fresh lenses, and admittedly I was not expecting the difference that they made. The world was suddenly bursting with fresh new detail, all the trees were far more intricate then I remembered them. The ground had so much texture and the clouds in the sky were so vivid it felt as though I could reach out and touch them. Now when I take my glasses off, I feel disappointment, as though I can only see half the picture and I can scarcely believe it’s what I once called normal. Over and over again the Bible refers to another kind of poor eyesight (Rev 3:17-18). Not physical blindness, but spiritual blindness. And just as it was possible for me to be oblivious of my poor eyesight, it is entirely possible to have poor spiritual eyesight and be unaware. But once you have experienced Christ and His love, once your spiritual eyes are open to His working, there is no going back. The beauty of Christ is so intricate, so “WOW! NATURE IS BEAUTIFUL...AND AWFULLY BLURRY” fresh and so detailed that without Him you realise you can only see half the picture. Perhaps that is why the psalmist wrote: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple” Psalms 27:4. His eyes were opened to the beauty of the Lord, so much so that dwelling in the house of the Lord and gazing upon his beauty became the sole focus of his life. He couldn’t live without God, or at the very least he didn’t want to. And so here is the crunch. What is your picture of Christ? Do you see a clear image, or a blurred, distorted image? Maybe you don’t look at Him at all. There is so much beauty to be found in daily seeking his face. Shift your focus of the distraction off the world, turn your eyes to Jesus and pretty soon his beauty will start transforming your life.
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s c o t t h i l l (chewy)
1. What is your role around College? My official title is Security & Safety Officer, however that title may be a little bit vague, as my role seems to change depending on the situation at hand. I think a lot of our staff here are in the same boat. We may have an official title, but we tend to try and help each other out and do what needs done to keep things rolling and try and provide a safe and fun environment for the students to live and study. I’ve been known to fix things, retrieve keys locked in cars, jump start cars, catch various animals and reptiles and relocate them, clean, vacuum, mop, a bit of heavy lifting, make beds, assist in well planned chaffs, some people graciously refer to me as the night time chaplain, I sometimes gently and not so gently remind people to behave like adults when they forget, I’m a shoulder to cry on and the official beard of Avondale College. Oh and if Jai Youse is ever in need of a mirror, I lend him my shiny head. Coz I’m just extra like that. 2. What’s a favourite hobby of yours? I love going fast! So, anything that makes that happen really. Riding my motorcycle and longboarding have been my go to for the last few years for that. 3. What made you want to become a
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Security Night Guard? The fame, the money and the moon tan! Honestly I didn’t want to. Who in their right mind really wants to work permanent nights?! But really…God placed me here. It took me a while to realise it, but I know for sure now and I love this job! 4. What’s the favourite part of your job? Connecting with and helping the students in any way I can. But particularly sharing Jesus with them. 5. Did you go to college here? What did you study? I did. I came over here from Christchurch, New Zealand in 2007 to study Theology. My first semester ended in meetings with 3 different lecturers lovingly conveying to me verbally what every school report card had written on it since the age of 5… That I had the ability, but they didn’t feel like I was really into it and thus not using my full potential. And maybe I could find a passion in another vocation…? I had already made that decision though and so thanked them for their concern and frankness, shook their hand, left and packed Weet-Bix for 11 months. Turns out I am not hugely passionate about Weet-Bix either, but I am twice as passionate (if time is the measure)
about Weet-Bix than I am about Theology classes. 6. What’s one piece of advice that you would give to students? Stress less, pray more. Study hard but play harder. These will likely be some of the absolute best and fun years of your life! Make good friends and take all the opportunities you can to make great memories!! 7. What is your favourite part of the Bible? Ephesians Chapter 6:10-20. It has for years provided me a freedom and insight into dealing with life and other people. And because dealing with people is a large part of my job, I revisit it regularly.
9. How did you meet your wife? Short story…at our home church in Bishopdale, in Christchurch, NZ. It’s a pretty hilarious and unconventional love story, or horror story (depending on how you look at it). 10. What is the weirdest thing you have ever stumbled upon on campus? Haha! I could seriously write a book on this topic. This question has become a bit of a legend. There is a story that gets passed on every year from students to students about a tree and a couple of adventurous students. I assure you, it is true, it was back early days in my time here and no I won’t tell you who the students were.
8. Do you have any pets? I have two Dogs (Billie-Jean and Macy) and up until just recently I had 4 pythons (Griffin, Diamond Dallas Page, Apocalypse and William Snakespeare).
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Th e
Sh eet
In order to succeed in the pursuit of higher education, it’s paramount that you are giving yourself the best opportunity to achieve your goals. Our focus is on sharing some useful resources that will give you victory over this unavoidable task.
APPS Forest Forest (APP/Google extension) : Forest is an app that keeps you focused by using something as simple as growing trees! The app disables your phone as a distraction. You can switch it off at any time, however when you do your tree dies. It is a paid app however this money is donated to help plant trees around the world. { 8/10 }
Headspace Headspace (APP/Website) : This app helps with mental tension. It focuses on breathing and calming your mind so that you can then focus on the things that are most important. { 7/10 }
Noisli Noisli (Chrome Extension): Noisli provide white noise, songs and a range of ambient sounds that maintain focus and productivity during your working day. Whether it is focus on God, assignment or even yourself, Noisli allows you to set a designated time of focus and plays your choice of ambience accordingly. { 9/10 }
Pocket Schedule Planner Tide (APP) : Tide is very similar to Noisli, except you can use it on your phone. This app is aesthetic and minimalistic in design while having a various amount of noises and set times for the ultimate focusing session. { 9/10 }
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Youtube Lavendaire: Focus enables us to be successful in productivity, time management and maintain a generally healthier lifestyle. Lavendaire provides advice on better all of the above all while in a minimalistic and calming format. { 9.5/10 }
p l ay l i s t s Set yourself a study playlist rather than using Youtube to search for songs. Scrolling through Youtube can cause you to become easily distracted by clickbait leading to hours of wasted time that could be used on studying.
Reading Music (instrumentals) (Spotify) by Trevor Reeves: This playlist is filled with a range of instrumentals ranging from movie soundtracks to smooth jazzes. It has plenty of songs for hours of seamless play as well as it isn’t distracting so you can focus solely on the task at hand.
Peaceful Songs for Anxiety (Spotify): Not all focus is based upon productivity, sometimes it is important just to focus on you. If you feel overwhelmed by the stresses of college, it is important to put yourself into a good headspace and focus on what matters to you. This playlist is very calming to the mind and the ears and is soothing to the cluttered mind.
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