Alleviating Stress: the PSYC 100 Way

First -- HAPPY HALLOWEEN Weekend! I would usually party it up...but...I don't feel like it this year. And I have some hardcore studying to do. I think I give off the impression on my blog that I study a lot more than I do in real life. Besides, I had my fun on Thursday night when I saws Far East Movement -- will post some concert stuff later. (HEART)

I want to make a jack-o-lantern! D:

October is (was?) a very stressful month for me.

What does psychology say about relieving stress (1)?

1) Social support and social network -- how am I supposed to have time for social interaction when I'm at the library force-feeding lectures into my ears --> inner ear --> cochlear --> cilia --> thalamus --> auditory cortex (2)?

2) Leading a meaningful life -- HAHHHHHHHHHH.

3) Exercise -- No time because of studying/busy-ness.

4) Writing/expressing feelings -- No time because of studying/busy-ness.

Super vicious cycle, non? But I will go back to that good vibes cycle I had going on in September. It's all a matter of time management and efficient learning (positive reinforcement, elaborative learning, etc.) (3).

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Just let me eat cake. (4)

My friend's friend's cousin owns this great bakery place called Arhoma where I bought the delicious choco dessert above. It sells truffles, beautifully constructed pastries, amazing breads, an assortment of cheeses, etc. I think it's quite apparent that I will be back.

P.S. One of my friends thinks I take unnecessary photos. But she's obviously wrong. And jealous of my amazing photography skills and ability to document my experiences. Duh.

Footnotes/Citations! HAHA

(1)I was studying for psych 100 and reading the chapter about biopsychosocial model of health or something, Chapter 10

(2) Chapter 5 Perception and Sensation

(3) Chapter 6 Learning, Chapter 7 Attention and Memory

(4) Chapter 10...Emotional Eating section

Things that kind of suck

1) Pandora.com doesn't work in Canada.

2) Lack of human interaction in my 600+ classes. I really am just another student ID number.

3) Not having time to update my blog, or read, or learn things outside of class, or keep up with all my classes for that matter.

4) Having to resort to coffee, Powerade, and various energy drinks (Red Rain, ftw, it's the cheapest) in order to stay up and get work done -- I guess that's just a part of college life that I ought to get used to.

Caption: Late night coffee run. You see that guy posing? I don't know why he was posing, but I figured it was photo-worthy. If you stand like that, you're asking to be photographed.

Teeheeeeeeeeeeeeee. Energy...Epic photo-editing, right, right, right?! Okay, not really, but the background was the inside of my lampshade.

5) Realizing that being in college means I am totally not seen as a kid anymore (oh yeah, I guess turning 18 also has that effect -- in a legally binding sort of way). I remember the first time I ate a watermelon seed. I was absolutely terrified. I was certain that a watermelon plant was going to start growing in my stomach, because plants grow in moist conditions with lots of nutrients, right? Every time I pooped, I checked to see if the seed had left my body too. I'm pretty sure my parents didn't do anything to ease my terror...they were totally enjoying my anxiety, "oh yeah, of course watermelons will grow in your stomach." I want some of that childishness to remain - the creativity and freedom a kid has when unhindered by "facts." Gah. Note to self: buy Legos asap.

But let's end on a non-sucky note. Look what I made while studying for bio!

Tick Tock

Wake up in the morning feeling like I need coffee

Grab my glasses out the door, gonna hit up the library

Before I leave, brush my teeth, load up the backpack.

‘Cause when I leave for the books, I ain’t coming back...

Why are there no White Castles in Montreal?

Juss' wondering.

Memo: Microchip Request

So uh, hey. It'd be nice if someone could just, uhm, do me a favor and invent a brain-installable micro(nano, if it's not too much trouble)chip with organic chemistry info.

No big -- I don't even need all the complex info yet, just up to stereochemistry, I would say? That seems doable, yeah? That'd be good.

Oh-- and make sure it's all applicable stuff, you know. I don't want it to only work with memory, but not with critical thinking.

Thanks, need it before 7:00PM tomorrow.

Regards,

J. McGillee

This is not a food blog. I just eat a lot.

Midterms this week = I am dying.

...but not of starvation.

I'll show you my day:

1) Write rough draft of lab report on recrystallization.

2) Go shopping at Provigo -- yogurt dip, flax seed, roasted red pepper dip

3) Eat at Cora's with a friend. I've heard that this place is a Montreal breakfast place. I guess the American equivalent is IHoP -- except this place is way better.

Top: What I had (omelette) Bottom: What my friend had (eggs benedict)

4) Study for seven to eight hours at Schulich Library of Science and Engineering!

a) listen to 4-5 lectures --- about 3 to 4 hours.

b) take 3-hr biol 200 death quiz --- about 1 and a half hour.

c) research and write Journalism for Human Rights article about Iranian Adultery case -- all remaining time - 15 minutes.

d) start to edit friend's report before deciding to be hungry -- 15 minutes

5) Eat at Guido Angelina's with friends.

Bottom: One of my friends had this for dessert...of course I taste-tested it!

6) Psychoanalyze people through what they have on their Facebook profiles.

7) Blog

a) Make a list of some of the topics I have written down for later:

i) My Promise Signed by Muhammad Yunus

ii) Canadian Collegiate Football

iii) Being a Spelling Nazi in a Different Country

iv) Awkward Occurrences

v) People Who Don't Remember Your Name

vi) Getting Rid of People

vii) Funny Things My Professors Say*

viii) Frosh? Because I've never really addressed it.

ix) Cultural Differences

x) Merely for the sake of ending on an x.

*This will be a recurring post, I think.