CollegeCandy – Life, Love & Style For The College Girl: It’s pretty evident that Adderall and other prescription ADD and ADHD medications are everywhere on college campuses. Whether you’re getting it via script from your health center, the frat guy who thinks he’s a dealer, or your best friend, these drugs are abused all over the country. When I was younger there were only a handful of kids my age that had a prescription for Adderall or Ritalin, and now it seems every other person I know has it.
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I feel like a lot of the things in this article are common sense things. There have been all kinds of studies that have circulated in the last few years about exercising helping to increase brain stimulation, and that power naps are actually good for your body as long as you don't wake up in the middle of a REM cycle. It's also common sense that having a to-do list helps you focus and prioritize the things that you need to accomplish. As far as using technology in order to prevent you from becoming distracted by technology, that seems to be redundant. If you're going to be going so far as to setting up some kind of block so you don't go on social media sites, and needing to set timers in order to stay focused, it seems you already have a much bigger problem. If facebook is a distraction, I imagine setting up a block would become a distraction in and of itself. Of course, I wonder what happened to good, old-fashioned self-control. If facebook is distracting you, close the browser window. If you can't focus long enough to write a ten page paper, then maybe you shouldn't put yourself in a situation where you have to write those papers. Technology has completely changed our generation to the point that it is starting to become crippling. Just have some self-control and do what you need to do.
I surprisingly found this article a helpful reminder to myself. I knew about the exercise and taking a short nap benefits, but often it's easy to forget about those things when a deadline is on your mind. I actually didn't know that lighter roast coffee has more caffeine in it, often I go for the darkest roast coffee possible (because I enjoy the taste), but if I need to stay awake and it's not about sitting down and enjoying a cup of coffee, then I'll try the lighter roasts. The technology and to-do list advice were things I definitely hadn't forgotten about. I run my life on physical to-do lists that I write out everyday. Technology is the most efficient way to get many assignments done. Yes, occasionally social networking gets in the way, but I make it a habit to not bookmark those sites or have reminders of them around me while I'm working. Having a calendar on my phone that reminds me of when I have crew calls or when I need to go see a teacher is so important, and I'm very grateful for technology for that reason. It organizes me, and stores all of my important documents in a compact, portable, and transferrable way. Technology abuse is a problem for many, but I do try to reduce the negative and distracting impacts it can have on my work ethic.
I have definitely found this pill obsession to be evident throughout my first semester here at CMU. People try to sell me pills, pop them at the library like sweettarts, or tell me about a friend who's grades skyrocketed because of them. But why rely on something so unhealthy and unnecessary when there are much safer, healthier alternatives? This focusing list is a great reminder of natural, easy ways to keep your body working the way you want it to. And oddly enough, I realized that I actually do most of these things, except maybe the caffeine, on a daily basis, and it really does work. I have found that exercise especially has allowed me to endure the long hours I have to pull, and even to be happy about it.
With a website name like "College Candy", I really wasn't surprised with the rather abysmal tips for staying focused. They're essentially all common sense. Don't use Adderall without a prescription: Wait, really? I had no idea. If you've been through even a few weeks of college, you've probably figured all of these out on your own. The tip about peppermints is just weird. Yeah, I'm definitely going to rub some peppermint oil all over myself while working on my next drafting assignment. Maybe Dick will feel more refreshed when he grades it.
Drugs like adderall really freak me out in that they can alter your mind to such an extent. Im really glad they posted this because there are so many natural and good-for-you ways to help focus and work. I am personally not aware of an adderall problem here if there is one, but in my opinion there is a pretty severe energy drink problem. When I try to talk some friends out of it they always say, "but I Really Cant work with out it" and thats just not true. I have always been a big believer in the exercise and power naps that she mentioned, and I actually have had peppermint oil rubbed on to my temples, for a different reason, but it would definitely keep you alert and focused, it is a serious wake up call, and I think that would be an interesting experiment for someone to switch that for coffee.
Well I think that not taking pills that aren't prescribed to you is an obvious one but one that people need to hear nonetheless. These were all tips that I had heard of before but this article gave me more helpful details about the tips. For instance, I didn't know that a lighter roast of coffee has more caffeine or that peppermint oil is more effective then just eating peppermints. One that was completely new to me was the ability to block social media sites online. I applaud whoever came up with that one as todays youngsters definitely need it. But in the end I think staying focused has alot to do with your own mind power.
I had no idea what Adderall was until i came to college and heard about it from students around me. I have a very hard time focusing but i've never taken a drug for it. I also do not drink coffee. What usually helps me is turning off my wifi when i am doing computer work(when the internet is not needed). Also setting a specific amount of time to work and taking a break after helps. What works best for me is moving to a new place every so often. The same scenery can get boring and tiring after too long.
I personally feel like this article is a bit of bullshit. As in yes all of those things can help but also its just kind of common since things too. like this isnt helpful at all really, and personally i do all of these things and i still feel like i should be on adderall. useing technology is one of the biggest distractions out there most websites say that. I think there are things you can do that are alot less known about that would be way more useful for focusing.
I think there are some really useful tips that a lot of people don't know about here! I am a particular fan o the power nap- 25 minutes or less. They leave you feeling energized, but not too sleepy when you wake up. Its amazing how many people I talk to don't know what sleep cycles are like and what the most efficient ways to sleep are. I'm also a huge fan of the working out suggestion.
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