If you’re anything like me, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point in the semester. I do a few different things on this campus and the culmination of all my areas of responsibility can feel like at lot, at times. One of my favorite author/blogger/life-hacker/entrepreneurs is Tim Ferriss, and as you can probably guess, he’s all too familiar with the feeling of being overwhelmed. Here’s the thing, you don’t have to give up doing what you like to stop feeling overwhelmed. The keys are to set strict rules about your time and to prioritize your responsibilities. Ferriss gives this advice on his site http://fourhourworkweek.com/2013/11/03/productivity-hacks/:
1) Write down the 3-5 things — and no more — that are making you most anxious or uncomfortable. They’re often things that have been punted from one day’s to-do list to the next, to the next, to the next, and so on. What’s most important usually is most uncomfortable, with some chance of rejection or conflict.
2) For each item, ask yourself:
– “If this were the only thing I accomplished today, would I be satisfied with my day?”
– “Will moving this forward make all the other to-do’s unimportant or easier to knock off later?”
3) Look only at the items you’ve answered “yes” to for at least one of these questions.
4) Block out at 2-3 hours to focus on ONE of them for today. Let the rest of the urgent but less-important stuff slide. It will still be there tomorrow.
5) TO BE CLEAR: Block out at 2-3 HOURS to focus on ONE of them for today. This is ONE BLOCK OF TIME. Cobbling together 10 minutes here and there to add up to 120 minutes does not work.
6) If you get distracted or start procrastinating, don’t freak out and go into a downward spiral; just gently come back to your ONE to-do.
I can personally attest to the successfulness of this method. While I don’t always have two hours to block off, I try to work on one task at a time, starting with the ones that stress me out the most. The lesson here is: do what needs to be done, and the rest will fall into place. (With a little luck.)
Feeling Overwhelmed? Prioritize
A welcoming home means a lot to left-behind rooks
Norwich University is a private military college, which means that like at other private military colleges, the freshmen here have a different first year than other college freshmen and sometimes need to escape. As someone who has gone through Rookdom, I can say that it is rewarding – but honestly, about as much fun as standing in the ice and snow while some random person you barely know screams at you. In fact, that exact situation happens a lot here at Norwich University. [Read more…]
That’s What She Said…
Sometimes, even for the best of writers, it is hard to find the words to say. How do my readers expect me to summarize the last four years, three of which have been with The Guidon, into a short few paragraphs? How can I condense all of the work we have done this year into just a few sentences?
I will try to do so without sounding like a Hallmark card. [Read more…]
That’s what she said…
At Norwich University, some people call me “Ma’am” or “Eaton.” Some call me more informal names like “Elle” or “Ari”. Others call me more colorful and unpublishable names. And, if I was successful here in my four years, all will use one from each category at some point (hopefully ending with the more friendly of the three). [Read more…]
That’s What She Said…
‘Honor’ and ‘integrity’ are probably two of the most important and common words you hear on campus aside from “I will try” or “Norwich” and “Forever”.
Being the military brat I am, I moved in the middle of my sophomore year in high school, from outside of Ft. Benning, Ga. to just outside of Seattle, Wa. Back in the day, I was very involved in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and transferred to the local Navy unit. The culture shock from my military base on the east coast to the west coast was challenging with regard to the level of patriotism and military support. But, I was also quite taken aback by how honest and morally grounded the cadets were for high school students.
“Integritas,” my new commander would greet us with a fist pounded against his chest. I did not understand what he meant, until he told me a tale of the Roman soldiers making the same tight-fisted gesture against their armor as they yelled the Latin root word for our word “integrity.”
The word means “whole” and that their armor was not broken. It was strong and honorable, like the soldier himself. They were mighty warriors who serve as the renowned models for many militaries to this day. As NU cadets, we live by their code today with our “Integritas” keeping our armor of education and moral aptitude strong. Like the Romans, our integrity keeps us whole as Cadets and as we look to the future.
“Integritas!”
Arielle Eaton, Editor-in-Chief, The Guidon
That’s what she said…
Often times here at The Guidon, we are asked (and ask of ourselves) what is “the student voice”? It is a term I hear even when it is not directly spoken. Regardless, it is said in daily conversations in the Chow Hall. It is written in the SGA’s legislation. It is whispered in the library and blared out during the UP 500. It is sung during Karaoke Night and danced to at Junior Ring Ball. All of those voices, conversations, movements, and songs contribute to “the student voice.” [Read more…]
That’s what she said…
It is always an interesting conversation to have regarding how students “grow up” through the four-year progessive leadership model that is Norwich University. NU is a learning lab unto itself for students to take on various leadership positions, whether civilian or corps. We take, typically, recently graduated high schoolers and turn them into the future leaders of the world with our program. But, when, during the course of this leadership training, do we actually “grow up.”
Though nearly all, if not all, of the students here at NU are technically adults. I admit that I am guilty of referring to my subordinates as “kids” from time to time. The other day, a colleague of mine called me out publicly for using that term and I realized that I never really thought about it before. It was just part of my vocabulary when referring to my group of subordinates.
Maybe it is just my style of leadership and/or the desire to build bonds with the people I am leading. Maybe it is how my mind views and processes how I can make the most trustworthy connection to those under my purview. Maybe, more than likely, it is the need to give them a sense of security in their role as a subordinate. Maybe, it is just because I have a maternal streak in me so prominent that it affects my arguably effective leadership style.
Yes, I completely understand the idea behind avoiding the word “kid.” We are not kids, we are adults making adult decisions. The term “college kid” should be offensive considering that some of us are even making the very adult decision to put our lives on the line for our communities, states, and/or country. I never meant it in a condescending way and, as far as I can tell, no one has really taken it that way before. But, the argument still stands to reason.
However, I would like to argue that we associate so much wisdom and knowledge with the term “adult,” This is college, this is a time of learning and making mistakes. “Adults” are looked at to know without or with minimal mistakes. “Kids” are allowed to fail and be forgiven much more easily.
In a way, referring to my subordinates as “kids” is my way of allowing them to fail because I will forgive them and take blame. And, for the record, I have never once received a complaint from a subordinate about my calling them a “kid.” So, I must be doing something right.
That’s what she said
A s some may know, I wear many hats on this campus aside from just being the Editor-in-Chief of The Guidon. I am a cadet, a student, an intern, a published journalist and the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) in the Corps. We at Norwich all carry with us a selection of covers, ready to switch out to fit the situation. Even I do not need a code flag to tell me who I need to be at any given time.
But, what happens when these different roles we play cross? I was recently faced with this dilemma when I was writing the story in this issue on recognition. I pride myself on my journalistic ability, but this one was difficult to piece together while withholding my own bias.
As a cadet, I was supportive of the delay. As a journalist, I was happy for the big story. But, as the PAO I was defensive.
I was worried for the image issues that would conflict with the strong front our cadet leadership worked hard to put out all year. That bias began to influence my ability to give you the truth. And then I realized, while I was transcribing the interviews for my story, that sometimes you have to remove all of your hats and accept the fact that you are one person created by your experiences. The story you have in your hands has come from the PAO, a cadet, and your favorite Editor-in-Chief all wrapped up into one.
They are the facts balanced by my mixed emotions which I think makes it a fair story.
That’s what she said…
As the Editor-in-Chief of The Guidon, I feel it my duty as well as my privilege to explain the publication of our last issue on Nov. 21.
First off, I would like to thank Pres. Richard Schneider for his continued support of The Guidon. Nothing makes me more proud to be a Norwich Cadet than when we have the support of our administration as we, the students, live and learn through our four years here on the Hill. [Read more…]
The Army reverses course on its restrictions on tattoos. It’s a wise decision.
May 10, 2015 Leave a Comment
As an institution, the army has grown to accept differences in race, gender, and now sexual orientation of its members, differences which, in the past, did not conform to the standard. Yet despite this, army leadership still deemed it right to deny enlistment and promotion for tattoos that did not meet strict criteria, because tattoos do not conform to the image of those in uniform.
It is wrong that the army would deny someone’s abilities, courage, patriotism, and willingness to serve because of ink that has been embedded in their skin. The Army has wisely decided to reverse some of its policies on tattoos after considerable outcry from the troops.
[Read more…]