Overcoming Roadblocks

Some say you can be good and at the same time be good for nothing, unless you use that goodness to benefit the world around you; then your good for something. The continuous knowledge you gain is wonderful and if used wisely, has the potential for great things not only for you but your family and community. Elder Robert D. Hales states in a commencement address given Aug. 14, 2003 at Brigham Young University, "You will find that your greatest success and influence won’t come solely from the knowledge you’ve gained. It will come from what you do with that knowledge—the wise use of agency to make sound decisions." His address continues with 10 axioms to help guide and enrich your life. They are as follows:

Axiom 1. "It's not the obstical that counts, its how you over come it." Whatever the circumstance may be, you have the ability to make your own decisions and you can receive guidance through prayer, fasting, scripture study and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Axiom 2. "Pursue your goals with all your heart, might, mind and strength. So often we are tentative and don’t move forward with conviction. We feel our way along, as if we were afraid in the dark. It is so much better to turn on the light of faith and move ahead with energy and commitment."

Axiom 3. "From a tiny spark can come a large fire." Speak well of others. Derogatory comments about another individual will, in most cases, get back to them. "See the good in people, and develop that goodness by your unwavering friendship, acceptance, loyalty, trust, and love."

Axiom 4. "Our greatest strengths can become our greatest weaknesses." You have skills and talents that can help you in this life, but they can also hinder your progress if they become the only things you rely on.
 

Axiom 5. "Failure is one of the greatest teachers if we have the faith to learn from it." Mistakes will be made, treat them as learning opportunities. Ask questions like, how did this happen? What is the lesson to be learned? What am I going to do to prevent this situation? What will be my response the next time I'm faced with this problem?

Axiom 6. "It is not how you start the race or where you are during the race. It is how you cross the finish line that matters." End each day, week, month, or year with the Apostle Paul's statement in 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

Axiom 7.“'If you wish to get rich, save what you get. A fool can earn money; but it takes a wise man to save and dispose of it to his own advantage.'” Be wise with your earnings and understand the difference between temporal needs and wants.

Axiom 8. "You cannot learn the Lord’s will without exercising your agency and becoming accountable for your decisions." We must continue to think about the decisions we make and live worthily to have the gift of the Holy Ghost with us to help confirm our decisions.

Axiom 9. "The more things change, the more they stay the same... As a member of the Church, you should expect to be different from your peers in the world. You should expect the distance will increase. But don’t be dismayed. Those with eyes to see will recognize you as a light on a hill."

Axiom 10. "The temple of God is the greatest university... In it we are taught where we came from and why we are here on earth, and we are given the promise of achieving life eternal in the celestial kingdom if we obey the commandments and covenants."

*Follow the link to view the entire commencement speech: Ten Axioms to Guide Your Life.

Beating The Blues

Having a miserable day or feeling sad every now and then is part of life. Such days may happen consecutively for a time, but feeling "down" constantly each day can begin to weigh on your emotional, social, mental, and physical well-being. Depression is an illness that can affect anyone. Overcoming the "blues" takes time and in some cases needs professional help. In such cases the BYU-Idaho Counseling Center is available for student use. Visit their website BYU-Idaho Counseling Center for symptoms, how to help a friend, and  intervention tools. Other local and national resources can be found here. 

It's never too late to start making positive changes, so how about starting today! Below are some coping skills that can help you get a head start on "beating the blues."

1. Plan out your day. List your responsibilities for the day and include 30 minutes doing something you enjoy. Its healthy to take a few minutes out to meditate and relax.

2. Get a good nights rest. View our post on Improving Your Sleep Habits for suggestions.

3. Take out the negative. Replace each negative thought with 5 positive thoughts. With time it will become easier to recognize the good things.

4. Get active. Go on a leisurely walk, take your lunch to the park, or participate in a fitness class. Whatever you choose wither simple or more complex, each accomplish the task of being active.

5. Give yourself a chance. It takes time and real effort to make desired changes in your life. You will have good and bad moments; don't let the bad moments cancel out your successes.

 *For more coping skills visit our previous post How to Maintain a Healthy Body and Mind.

Gym Etiquette

Slamming weights, grunting with each lift, and leaving sweat behind to "mark your machine" are only a few of the many faux pas witnessed in any fitness gym. Practicing gym etiquette displays knowledge in equipment use, efficient workout techniques, and respect for other individuals. Listed below are three tips to get you started: 

Proper care of equipment.

Wipe down equipment. Use disinfectant after each use, regardless of how much you sweat. This practice displays good hygiene and decreases the spread of germs.

Pick up equipment. This includes, but is not limited to: weights, medicine balls, resistance bands, plyometric boxes, etc. Place them in their designated area so they are accessible for the next user. It is not the employees responsibility to pick up after each use.

Do not misuse equipment. Ask an employee on staff. They can answer any questions you have about proper equipment use. 

Practice good hygiene.

Shower regularly and wear deodorant.

Do not wear excessive cologne/perfume. The gym can be hot and stuffy, adding cologne and perfume to the mix is less than desirable.

Consideration for others.

Be considerate of how long you are on a machine. There are not enough machines for every gym-goer to use at one time. Work in sets with others to accommodate both individuals.

ExRx.net provides some excellent gym etiquette tips and scenarios. Follow the link to read more: ExRx.net Gym Etiquette.

Reference:
Gym Etiquette: 11 Common Faux Pas. Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/14/gym-etiquette_n_897580.html#s308176&title=Leaving_Sweat_On

Making Better Study Habits

Watch Where You Sit. Sitting in the front does have its benefits such as: better view of the board, making eye contact with the professor, and less distractions. Julie Masterine states in a USA Today College article that sitting in the front may not guarantee an "A" grade, it does however, "improve class engagement" and build student-teacher rapport. Active engagement and a positive student-teacher rapport are two ingredients for a better class period. If the front appears intimidating at first, start in the middle of the class and work your way up.

Finding the time. Begin by making a list of your school activities/responsibilities. From the list you created, select which are priorities. Scheduling large projects and assigning deadlines on a calendar will create a simple vision of how your semester will unfold. Plan out your week and find where you can fit in adequate study hours. Note that priorities can change and personal life events will occur therefore, having the ability to be flexible is beneficial.

Select an appropriate place. Allot a specific amount of study time for each class followed by reserving an area free of distractions. Keep in mind finding the ideal place is half the battle. Shutting off the phone, refraining from social media, and closing your email (personal and work) are actions you can take to create the ideal study environment.

Establish proper eating habits. Have you ever wondered why it is difficult to focus after a large lunch? Essentially, the brain and digestive system are competing for adequate blood supply to complete their "tasks." After you've consumed a large quantity of food, the digestive system then works on breaking down the food into the nutrients that your body can use as fuel. The nutrients are then transported by the blood to other parts of the body. Eating small healthy snacks are highly recommended around study times providing sufficient fuel for the body yet not overcoming. For nutrition tips and meal planning see Making Time for Nutrition.

Maintaining a positive attitude. Texas A&M University gives some excellent tips on how to remain motivated. From their article, "Self Help-Basic Study Techniques" they suggest the following:

1. Encourage yourself to study through rational thinking.
2. Recognize your irrational ideas about studying and replace them with more helpful ideas. For example, "There's not time for both study and fun" can be changed to "There's plenty of time for both study and fun when I use my time effectively."
3. Eliminate thinking that results in procrastination. For example, Statement like "I have plenty of time to do my project" often result in putting the project off until the last minute.

Develop a positive attitude toward schoolwork.

1. View school work as helping you achieve your long range goals.
2. Look for points of interest and practical application in each subject.
3. Get to know each of your professors. Knowing your profs will help you become more positive about your courses, and it will make it easier to seek help from them in you need it.

For more study help visit the BYUI Academic Support website: http://www.byui.edu/academic-support-centers/study-skills/study-tips



Resources:
Mastrine, J.. Where you sit in class says a lot about you | USA TODAY College. Untitled Document. Retrieved January 9, 2013, from http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/campuslife/does-where-you-sit-in-class-say-a-lot-about-you

3 Do's and Don'ts for Healthy Studying in College - US News and World Report. US News & World Report | News & Rankings | Best Colleges, Best Hospitals, and more. Retrieved January 9, 2013, from http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2012/01/26/3-dos-and-donts-for-healthy-studying-in-college?page=2

Self Help-Basic Study Techniques | Student Counseling Service. Student Counseling Service | Division of Student Affairs. Retrieved January 9, 2013, from http://scs.tamu.edu/?q=node/74