nothing to do

So, you’re sitting there surfing the net, having nothing particularly interesting to do. All your work has been done, and with all your msn/skype/text convos exhausted, you’re left with nothing but the empty (well, often decorated) Google screen staring back at you.

You’re helpless, you’re aimless, and when you type in: i have nothing to do, the first thing that comes up on a search engine is a site for online games. To that I say, what a waste of a perfectly good opportunity!

Time is a function of work (or perhaps work is a function of time). The less you have to do, the longer you drag it out to complete it. However, if you had a Lot to do, you’ll find that you can complete it all in the same matter of time. What does this mean? We’re not operating at our full potential, most of the time. So what can you do to reach your potential? It depends.

Did you have a childhood dream? Or a project that you’ve always wanted to complete but never got to because you were too busy? For me, it’s learning a new song on the piano, making a scrapbook of photos, and creating an oil painting. Somehow in the past I’ve stopped pursuing my artistic ambitions due to academic obligations…and now that it’s summer already and I have time on my hands, maybe it’s time to pick them up again.

On the other hand, what about your future? Human beings are always looking for ways to improve and learn.

1) Why not start reading a new book – a classic, a bestseller, or a topic you’re fascinated about (*cough* economics). If it turns out well, why not blog about it?

2) Learn a new skill. After all these years, I’ve been disappointed that I still have not learned Adobe Photoshop. Or gotten as familiar as I would like with Access or Excel. Simple computer applications are often overlooked, and taking the time to hone these skills may be *beneficial* in the long run.

3) Speaking of runs, revisit a healthy lifestyle. Workout at regular intervals, take a dance lesson or yoga, and learn healthier recipes. Do something good for your body, especially after a tiring day at work.

4) Catch up on films and shows you wanted to watch. Hey, you learn surprisingly a lot from media if you select the right ones.

5) Don’t become a couch potato. Do not play video games all day. Do not get up at 1pm, stare at the wall, and think things are hopeless. Because the world is beautiful, and you have every second to live it.

goals



 

Here we are in University, a place dominated by the three S forces, namely: School, Social Life, and Sleep. However, we must sacrifice one for the other two – and if you think about it, it’s true. Usually, for an enthusiastic, keen, and smart student, sleep is often the force that is sacrificed.

After stumbling across someone’s goals on Facebook (the evil temptress of stalk-age), it really got be thinking about my own. How would I balance my goals between the 3 forces in a way that minimizes cost and maximizes utility? WELL. That’s an interesting question…and the best answer is, to break them down into chunks. So for the next twenty minutes or so, I’ll be brainstorming some of my personal goals…and writing an excerpt of it here.

Short Term Goals

• Read the newspaper everyday to get caught up on current events
• Work on Excel, Access, and Photoshop skills
• Do well on finals (and try not to fail French)
• Learn a lot about consulting, learn a lot about finance…decide what I want to do! For real this time.

Long Term Goals

• Find a job/internship at one of the Fortune 500 companies
• Actually follow-up and have lunch/coffee with a professional after networking
• Study abroad at an exotic and beautiful foreign country (not in the continent of Asia)
• Become someone younger students can look up to

 

So that’s it – some of the goals I have for this summer and the years ahead. I don’t know how many of them will come true, but it all depends on a little bit of luck and a lot of courage. Taking the first step in realizing your goal can be the hardest, especially when you’re like me (afraid of failure). But once you start thinking about the long-term (and of course the short-term), it won’t be too bad. Try it out!