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Stress-Eating and Studying

My second set of midterms is already coming up for Chemistry and Biology. Learning from mistakes that I’ve made when preparing for my first set of midterms, I have finally incorporated an easy-to-follow weekly routine that helps me plan out what I will do during the day and the times throughout the day I will dedicate my tasks. It’s extremely hard to study for hours straight, so I’ve included topics in this blog about study snacks, staying active, study tips, and how to stay motivated to alleviate the stress of studying.

Munchies and Staying Active

Before midterm week, I usually like heading down to Brandywine to get at least 1-2 cups of coffee in for a study session, especially if I am extremely tired mid-day or towards early evening. I try not to drink coffee past 8 PM, since I will most likely stay up until 2 AM. I don’t believe “all-nighters” are all that helpful when trying to learn/study material and I think it is VERY important to get as much sleep as possible, plus my brain cannot function or comprehend material when I am tired. Trying to run off energy drinks late at night is definitely not the move for me. As for snacks, I always snack on almonds or other mixed nuts like pistachios or cashews. They are great study snacks that are very convenient when you run to the library to study and can keep you full for hours!

It is always a good idea to take breaks when studying, but it is even better when those breaks are focused on activeness! For example, I have finally got back into my workout routine six weeks after moving it because I’ve gained quite a few pounds from overeating at the Anteatery and Brandywine. I have also been keeping up with my weekly hikes with the Hiking Club at UCI, which is a great way to take your mind off of school by embracing nature and socializing with new people, while at the same time, staying active! I always feel great when I am doing something active and getting back into the study session motivated right after.

Here are the photos of the things I’ve done to stay active for this upcoming midterm week!

My Helpful Study Tip and Keeping a Motivational Mindset!

I find it difficult to stay focused on studying, so I like to set myself one-hour timers where I dedicate that time to studying and studying ONLY. No phones, no games, NO DISTRACTIONS. Then, I usually take 10–25-minute breaks depending on how tired I feel after taking in an hour’s worth of reviewing material. This studying method is also known as the Pomodoro Technique, where you have intervals of studying and take breaks in between to help you recharge every so often. Some people will use these breaks to play a quick video game or scroll on social media; however, I think that incorporating these activities into your breaks will prolong them because they are a source of distraction, causing you to lose track of time. I think an active activity is a better way to take breaks and recharge for your next few hours of studying! For instance, going out on a short walk/run, stretching, or simply doing a few jumping jacks are better because they help with blood circulation and oxygen flow to the brain, helping you stay alert. Furthermore, staying optimistic about studying helps with enjoying the material you are learning. You basically have you hype yourself up and force yourself to like what you are learning. Having a negative mindset will leave you unmotivated and lead to procrastination. Also, setting a simple study goal for yourself, like telling yourself that you will finish reviewing these certain chapters by the end of the day, will help you get by those long study hours.

Thank you for reading my blog and please stick around to read even more of my Zot Blogs!

All the best,

Lucas

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Always read your UCI emails! 

Hello Anteaters! I would like to start off by saying that you, yes you, should always read your UCI emails or any student email on a daily basis. Why am I saying this? Well, if I had not read my emails, I would have missed the opportunity to go to the special event, Dinner with the Anteaters. 

Back in October, The UCI Student Alumni Association sent an email about spending a meal with UCI alumni and other UCI students. I thought this would be a great opportunity where I could meet new people and take a much needed break from homework to learn about UCI alumni and their personal journeys and stories. I also had never heard of an event like this before. I also believe college is always about taking advantage of new opportunities and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. I ended up signing up and about a month later, I got a response saying that I would be attending a dinner on November 5th. The dinner was with two alumni and UCI students at St. Pepperoni Pizza, Irvine Location. The sound of pizza really stood out to me and it was a no-brainer that I would be attending ( I am kidding, but jokes aside, I was really excited to attend this event!)  

I think what really stood out to me from this event was how welcoming the UCI alumni were to us guests. They were just as excited as us to spend an evening together and gladly shared their college and career journeys.  One of my favorite parts of the evening was listening to all of the alumni’s advice. One of my favorite pieces of advice was to always ask for help and take advantage of all the opportunities available at UCI. This piece of advice stood out to me because as a first year, the whole college journey is new and scary at times. After listening to the ladies, I learned that everyone, including those who already graduated, walk through life with the same fearful thoughts as a first year. If one asks for help in the beginning, one saves themselves hours of stress. There is nothing wrong with asking for assistance, even if one desires to be a perfectionist and figure things on their own. 

I am so glad I went to this event! 

And remember to always read your emails!

Until next time, ZOTZOTZOT!

Yummy pizza!! 

HUGE gumball machine! I mean huge!

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To new beginnings and the Importance of Self-Advocacy :)

Hello Anteaters! Although school has only been in session for about a month, my experience at UCI has consisted of meeting new people, adjusting to the college lifestyle, and balancing school work with outside activities. 

Because my STEM courses are taught in the “flipped classroom” style, I have been adjusting to learning material independently and creating a consistent routine when it comes to watching online lecture videos. I learned early on in my General Chemistry course that missing one lecture video will result in a difficult class session. Thankfully, this occurred during week two, so I had time to change my study habits and no longer had to “play the catch up game” (which was a sigh of relief). Trust me, you do not want to fall behind, especially in STEM courses!

Another new piece of information is that I had the opportunity to declare Math as my major! During week two, I worked alongside the supportive Undecided/Undeclared staff and the Physical Sciences Department to switch from an Undeclared major to a Mathematics major. Although this process included physically knocking on the Math Department’s office doors just to hear the same answer, “no, you have to wait until you meet the requirements,” my last attempt was successful! I was greeted by an academic counselor and given a strict deadline to switch into Math by the end of that week. I am grateful that I can continue to blog, even as a new Math major! 

Furthermore, a significant part of the college lifestyle is the food at UCI and around the city of Irvine. 

My ultimate study snack is from Brandywine, and it is their delicious vegan pumpkin bread. Every time I eat at this dining hall, I take two or three pieces because they are not only tasty, but are already saran wrapped, which makes for a quick snack after a long day of classes. I also have my friends try the bread, and believe me when I tell you that they all would give it a 10/10:)  

Yum!!

TIP!!!

You may be wondering why I included a photo of a doorstop. If you are living in the Mesa court classics I recommend buying or asking for one! By keeping the door open, I have met several students in my dorm building. This was great during week 0 when everyone was moving in and meeting each other. 

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“On Your Marks, Get Set, Bake”

Introduction:

The warmth emanating from the oven as you watch the dessert within rise and become a perfect golden brown. The heavy, nearly palpable smell of sugar lingering in the air. The anticipation of finally taking your first bite of the sweet treat. From cakes to cookies to bread, baking is a hobby that I have been involved in for years. Although I am far from professional, my simple desserts are often found at friends’ birthday parties, family gatherings, and class potlucks.

Overview:

You are likely already familiar with baking from watching your relatives or binging shows like Sugar Rush, Nailed it!, and The Great British Bake Off. Many consider baking an art due to the creative flair involved in assembling and decorating aesthetically pleasing desserts. It can simultaneously be viewed as a science because of the precision needed to calculate the correct amount of each ingredient. Add too much of an ingredient like baking powder, for instance, and the dessert’s taste and texture will be manipulated. Thus, baking requires a great amount of skill, especially on a professional level.

Personal Thoughts:

For my family and many others, baking has served as a means of coming together and creating something delicious that we can all enjoy after a meal. I inherited a love of baking from my mother, who would always make desserts for family gatherings before I adopted the responsibility. Furthermore, baking is an enjoyable and even therapeutic activity that allows me to unwind on the weekends after a stressful week of school.

How to Get Started:

There are countless recipes on websites and social media platforms such as Pinterest, Tiktok, and YouTube. One recipe that my family constantly requests is the Kentucky Butter Cake (recipe linked here), a moist pound cake that is both delicious and extremely easy to make.

Furthermore, I often use recipes from the website, Joy of Baking, which contains countless desserts ranging from cakes to muffins to pies to bread. I recently made a carrot cake from this website for my mother’s birthday, and it was a hit at her party. The sweetness of the carrots, spice of the cinnamon, and crunch of pecans all complemented the tangy cream cheese frosting. I would recommend this recipe and the many others found on the Joy of Baking website.

I understand that it may be difficult to bake when living in the dorms. However, there are alternatives that you may want to consider, such as mug cakes that can be made in the microwave. Although I have never made them myself, I’ve linked some from Tasty, a helpful website that features a variety of recipes and videos. Happy baking!

Your friendly neighborhood Undeclared major,

Sabrina

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Going With The Flow

It’s been a few weeks into college and just wow, I know I just started but it still feels so unreal how I’m almost half way into the quarter. Besides slowly transitioning to college and having assignments everyday, my grueling death match to stop my self from snacking on anything is still ongoing.

I’ve began to snack on anything my hands can get on when I’m studying and I refuse to become one of the victims of freshman 15. Although I don’t see any changes yet, my master plan to keep my munchies at bay is still pending, but I’ve been walking around more often and I think I take more than 10k steps a day. I’m almost sure I know about 80% of the campus don’t quote me I said almost, I’ve also been going to UTC a lot the lively atmosphere is great with the right people also. Definitely recommend going to try insomnia cookies triple chocolate chunk at least once or blaze pizza, If I’m being honest I never really tried either of those till I came to Irvine.

As the weeks go by, classes are getting busier and taking a break to ease the mind is now a necessity and a walk sounds like a lot but it’s become a great way for me to destress and socializing is just a bonus, if that still not convincing enough then I’ll have you know that there weddings at Aldrich park and if you’re lucky you’ll get to see them. Also just incase you see me, I sometimes wave or say hi just in case someone might need it and maybe sometime I get a response back or just an awkward stare. If you see me please wave back or come say hi whichever one you prefer, I promise I won’t bite.