Mickey Fitch

As a student, I always really looked forward to the springtime.

I attended University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for my undergrad and Minnesota State University, Mankato for my grad program.  These states fall into the category of “more winter than warm”, so once March rolled around, I always got really excited.  As temperatures rose, my concentration and ability to focus on my commitments evaporated along with the melting snow.  As a professional, trying to help students (and colleagues!) stay focused for the “post-break” six weeks is always a huge priority.

Below are five “seasoned” tips to help you stay focused through May:

1. Don’t resist the weather. Sometimes when warmer weather comes, we avoid enjoying it as much as possible because we feel like it is a “slippery slope.” The same can be said when changing your diet to something more healthy. Do you ever “eat around” what you really want to eat (chocolate!), and end up eating food that is even worse for you?  When it gets warmer out, do you do everything you can to avoid going outside where it is nice, and thus become crabby, irritable, and even more distracted than before? Don’t do that to yourself. Resistance is futile! Instead, find ways to enjoy the weather and stay focused.

2. Work in “interior” locations of buildings if you get visually distracted. If you are someone who does get easily distracted by “seeing spring” outside your window, then relocate to interior locations of buildings on campus to do your work.  Good places for this include classroom buildings, the library, and the student union.  These buildings tend to be more quiet, have less traffic, and certainly don’t have scantily clad people throwing frisbees!

3. Shift your work time with Daylight Savings. Just a few weeks ago we moved into Daylight Savings Time.  This gives us not only more daylight into the evening, but also more morning sunshine before our school or work days begin.  Shift your school responsibilities to work towards this change in sunlight.  If you are someone who would really benefit from some outside playtime, then wait until the sun goes down and do your homework later in the night.  Same goes for the morning…if you are someone who really likes sunshine and outside time, try getting up and going for a walk around campus before classes start!

4. Create accountability partners. When spring hits, I spend every possible moment outside due to an  “It MAY just snow tomorrow and it will never get warm again!” thought process.  I throw off the rest of my schedule to accommodate a desire to be outside.  You can easily spend many long nights cramming in homework that you put off during a warm afternoon. If you are someone who just can’t resist the call of the outdoors, then identify an “accountability partner” who can help you stay focused during the spring.  This person can help remind you when it’s time to go inside and get working on your homework, or can be the person encouraging you to spend some scheduled time outside.

5.  Relocate when you can! If your work or school project allows, relocate to the outdoors!   Many campuses are going wireless, to accommodate students who have laptops. So grab your sunglasses, and take your work outside!   Campuses are full of wonderful nooks and crannies with trees, benches, and lawn spaces…so take advantage of the nice weather.

It’s certainly very challenging to stay focused when the weather gets warm.  I hope these tips from my own personal and professional experiences will help you both find some quality time outside, and also stay focused on the tasks at hand. Good luck with the rest of the semester!

Mickey Fitch is a higher education professional who has crafted her career around the residence life experience on the college campus.  Mickey loves to tell stories and help students make the most of their residential experience on campus.  A native to the upper Midwest, Mickey is currently undergoing a job search to find her opportunity to serve in residence life.  On the personal side, Mickey is an avid fisherman and outdoorswoman and is currently engaged in a life-changing health and fitness journey!  You can learn more about her at mickeyfitch.weebly.com.