Dealing With Stress

It's exam time again. The worst part of any academic year. University exams seem like they're designed to make you feel as though you're drowning in revision and it's a secret, until you look at past papers, just how horrific your exams will be.
Stress around this time is something that 99% of people can't avoid,and there is often a fine line between a revision break and intense procrastination.
-I find that one of the best ways to make myself get on with revising is going to the gym. It's by no means something that everyone will enjoy or do,and truthfully it bores me to no end. But the feeling afterwards is worth it!Getting up before lunch is a new thing, but waking up early then revising,and going to the gym when I need a break seems to be fixing my atrocious sleeping pattern and putting my brain in gear. Exercise also increases the level of Brain function, so when I come back more of what I'm doing actually sinks in. If you don't like going to the gym then do something else, as long as it doesn't end up with you just sat on Netflix for the rest of the day.
-For gamers, the key thing is to take any game discs out of your laptop or hide your game console controller from yourself. Give it to a friend and tell them not to return it for a certain amount of time. Sims is not your friend!
- The thing that most people don't bother doing or find the hardest to do.....Turn your phone or at least your internet off!! It will surprise you just how much you forget it even exists ,by putting it somewhere out of sight.
-Revision should never be left until the last minute,something I learned way too late at A-Level. The key to not over stressing about exams is to feel prepared. Its better to start a bit early and revise however much you feel you can most days,than to cram the day before your exam.
-Your friends can help you revise and as long as you don't distract each other,working in the same room can be productive. Telling them what you've just learnt,regardless of what course they do, is one of the best ways to retain information.
-Taking breaks to rest your brain is key,but your breaks should never be longer than the time you've spent revising. If after ten minutes worth of revision you take an hour or two break,you may as well have shot yourself in the foot for your exam. Breaks should be short,evenly spaced and you should take yourself away from where all your work is...otherwise you won't feel like you're having a proper break.
Not to freak anyone out ,but there are so many ways you can make exam time less stressful for yourself,all it takes is a little bit of control. Think in the long term how you'll feel if you fail and how resits just make life so much harder! If you fail,it's no good blaming a lecturer or tutor, they're not paid to spoon feed you and if you think they are then you probably shouldn't be at Uni.
There's no reason why you can't revise and revise efficiently. All you need is to consider why you're doing exams in the first place and how doing well benefits you!Any student knows there's no better feeling in an exam than getting a question you feel like you can answer.Getting the grade you want is just a matter of motivating yourself, revising is the easy part compared to that!
'It always seems impossible ,until it's done' - Nelson Mandela
J x

7 Seriously Motivational Sayings

   I've been lacking inspiration lately and with exam season looming I know that like myself, all students need a little motivation to get revising. It can be difficult to know where to start planning your revision, especially when faced with some of your first exams at University or College. This is just a quick selection of some of the quotations that either inspire me to get organised or occasionally make me feel overly melodramatic,as though 'If I don't work now and do well, I'm going nowhere'. So either way these quotes make me think of the bigger picture, why I need to work and help me get my brain in gear. Coming from a wide range of different people and showing the Universal acknowledgment that hard work pays off, I hope these sayings serve you well.
1) 'The three great essentials to achieve anything worth while are : Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common Sense.' - Thomas Alva Edison, American Businessman and Inventor, Creator of the electric light bulb, the motion picture camera and the phonograph. (11/2/1847-18/10/1931)
2) 'I take pride in working very hard. You need to understand that hard work doesn't instantly pay off. My career grew gradually and taught me a lesson every step of the way.' - Tremaine Aldon Neverson a.k.a Trey Songz, American singer-songwriter, producer and actor, Nominated for 3 Grammy Awards, Released 6 successful albums since 2005. (28/11/1984-Present)
3) 'It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.' - William Henry 'Bill' Gates, Entrepreneur and Computer Programmer. Co-founder of Microsoft, Wealthiest man in the world 1995-2014 (28/10/1955- Present)
4) 'I don't pity any man who does hard work worth doing. I admire him. I pity the creature who does not work, at whichever end of the social scale he may regard himself as being.' - Theodore Roosevelt Jr, 26th President of the United States, Politician, Author and Historian. (27/10/1858-6/01/1919) 
5) I know the sun will rise in the morning, that there is a light at the end of every tunnel.' - Michael Morpurgo OBE, Poet, playwright and author. Children's Laureate: 2003-2005. (5/10/1943-Present)
6) 'Just believe in yourself. Even if you don't, pretend that you do and, at some point, you will.' - Venus Ebony Starr Williams, Professional Tennis Player, Former World No.1, 5 time Wimbledon Singles Champion, 5 times Wimbledon Doubles Champion and winner of 4 Olympic Gold Medals. (17/06/1980)
7) 'I think that anything that you do, any accomplishment that you make, you have to work for...It's not just a cliche.' - Cameron Michelle Diaz, Actress & Model, Four Golden Globe Nominations, Won New York Film Critics Circle award for Best Actress. (30/08/1972-Present) 
Good luck with whatever you need motivation for and I hope at least one of these quotes resonates with you and here's an additional quote, just because I feel like it!
'Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'! - Audrey Hepburn
J x

Film Review: Hamlet (1996)

Hello stranger,
I know this film is nearly 20 years old and already has plenty reviews but it's a piece of Uni coursework that I've had to do, so I thought I might edit it a bit and post it here. Just in case there is any other poor English student out there in need of a rough guide or inspiration, not that it's any good!

                                                                 Hamlet

  The story of Hamlet is one of the most well know tragedies in the English speaking world and perhaps the most well known film version of this play,  is the 1996 edition produced by Colombia Pictures. Written, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh as the title protagonist, this film is recognised for its strict adherence to the original plot of Shakespeare’s masterpiece. Unlike other screen versions, this film excels in its attention to detail and precise scripting. It is the first unabridged theatrical film version of one of Shakespeare’s most noted works and as a result its running length is just over four hours. It is arguably one of the best screen adaptations of Hamlet, as it builds upon the standards set by previous versions in terms of cast, technology and presentation.

  Prior to Branagh’s adaptation the longest film version was the production of Hamlet in 1980, with Derek Jacobi in the title role. Coincidentally, Jacobi returns in the 1996 production not as the protagonist but instead as a suitably venomous Claudius. Branagh’s Hamlet received four academy award nominations, demonstrating its powerful hold over audiences. Furthermore the film features an impressive cast; including a young Kate Winslet as the beautifully despairing Ophelia, Julie Christie as Gertrude, Richard Briers as Polonius and Robin Williams as Osric, who provides a brief yet veritable moment of comic relief and familiarity. Each character is strongly presented, but not so overwhelmingly that any could over power Branagh’s desperately mad Hamlet.

  It is difficult to compare this film to other productions of the same play, except maybe the previous one, as the technological advancements were profound and allowed Branagh to create a much more realistically corrupt Denmark. Additionally earlier productions, such as the 1948 portrayal of Hamlet by Laurence Olivier, seem much less dramatically coherent purely because Olivier was expected to tell the same story as Branagh in less than half the time. Unfortunately, due to the problem of timing Olivier’s film omits the minor, yet crucial characters of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. In contrast Branagh’s account of the play is commendably accurate, including every single line of the original play for authenticity. Crucially, unlike other adaptations Branagh places emphasis on the fact that the tragic nature of the play is not intended to just show Hamlet’s personal tragedy, but also to demonstrate the disorder in the country of Denmark. Contextually, the play Hamlet is very representative of Elizabethan England at the time it was written, as the disorder plaguing the country and lack of stability echoes the uncertainty which followed the death of the ‘Virgin Queen’.

  One of the best things about Branagh’s adaptation of Hamlet when compared to others is the way the setting is updated to the 19^th century. The change in setting makes this film much more recognisable, as it is removed from our lives and yet not so much so that the decor and costumes lose their interest. Furthermore, the extravagant costumes are much more at home in a later setting, as they echo the grandeur of the recent past, although admittedly are occasionally distracting. The fact that the plays setting can be changed in such a way proves that Shakespeare’s plays are truly timeless. 

  One of the film’s strongest points is its awe inspiring ‘lavish colour’[6] and set design, which simultaneously dazzles audiences as well as providing a suitably dramatic back drop. Branagh’s changing of the setting of Hamlet to the late 19^th century allows for a much wider use of colour and rich visuals, which combine with the drama of the plot itself to create a truly dynamic and enthralling film. The most prominent example of Branagh’s impeccable use of set design to exemplify emotional meaning is during the ‘to be or not to be’[7] speech. The speech is delivered in a    hallway of mirrors in Elsinore Castle,alluding to the ever present theme of appearance and reality in the play. The mirrors themselves serve as a visual metaphor in this case and this is why the famous soliloquy is delivered directly to one of the mirrors, while being secretly watched by Claudius and Polonius. 

  Overall Kenneth Branagh’s production and representation of Hamlet are arguably two of his most notable achievements, having created a gripping and enthralling experience. This screen adaptation finds its strength over others in its incredible accuracy, and its beautiful presentation in terms of cinematography, costume and set design. The duration of this film allows the character of Hamlet to be explored in full by Branagh, who does so impeccably. Branagh’s impressive performance creates a character that does not need explaining, because he is able to ‘live, breath, feel and die.’[8]

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[6] Guntner, J, Lawrence, ‘Hamlet, Macbeth and King Lear on Film’, The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare on Film, (2000)

[7] Shakespeare, William, ‘Hamlet’, ed Cedric Watts, Wordsworth Editions, 5. May. 1992,  (3.1.56)

[8] Macer, Cary M, ‘Cut! Cut!’ : http://www.english.upenn.edu/~cmazer/hamfilm.html

Procrastination:The Curse of Friday 13th

My first and latest post was over a month ago...so clearly my attempt to blog is going fantastically! Anybody who has been or is a student will know that if you do manage to find the smallest, most precious moment of free time, then it will be spent drinking, eating or in most cases, sleeping.
I have noticed that personally, I never really feel like I have anything interesting to say or worth blogging about, it's only when I'm on a strict deadline and should be powering through an essay that I feel the need to blog.
So, for this blog I though I would talk about the things I don't always remember to do, but that you should definitely do when trying to accomplish something!
I would generally refer to myself as pretty much an expert at procrastinating, so instead of writing my essay (in true procrastinator-style) I have instead decided to tell you the things I try to do in order to get things done. Here are my 3 main tips, which I've learned through trial and error, and I hope you find them useful:
1.Don't Worry,Be Happy!
- As basic as it sounds, it can be quite rare that you will ever be 100% excited about or committed to doing a project. However, whether it's a school project, a business proposal or just a personal goal, you need to be in a good mood to achieve something you can be proud of. Personally, I find that happy music, whatever that is to you, is a great motivator! My alarm in the morning is a happy, sing-a-long song and I suggest you make a playlist of music that either makes you smile or just inspires you to 'get up and go'. I have friends that like to listen to really calming music while they write essays and that works for some people, but personally, I find it just makes me sleepy and I tend to sing (horrifically) while I type. Which, I'm definitely not doing right now....
Listening to happy music or doing something that you enjoy, be it exercise, painting, eating or whatever is a great way to put you in a good mood before you sit down and crack on with work. Plus, considering most people do their work alone, you don't want to be in your room, alone in a really bad mood, because then you'll get nothing done.
My advise is just to take a minute to learn or remember what makes you happy, and use that to put you in a positive place, where you'll feel like you can do anything and no task will be too daunting!
2.Anything Is Possible!
- Cheesy motivational speaker tactic, but it's true! If you sit there staring at your screen or book and thinking of all the things you can't do, you're only going to make it harder on yourself. Sit back for a minute, calm down and think of a place to start. Whether that means doing background reading, just breaking down your essay question into something easier to follow or making a plan (which I recommend). Sometimes, literally just 'Googling' whatever it is that you have to do can be a help so don't work yourself up about it. There is nothing that you can't do if you set your mind to it, that's how man got to the moon, isn't it? If we can travel into space, then you can definitely finish your project, and do it well at that !
 Write a small list and keep it next to you to remind yourself;
a) Why you're doing it - whether it's to get a good grade, a job, to make someone proud (hopefully yourself) etc.
b) What you will gain from doing it - skills, you'll feel fab when you've completed it, you won't have to worry about it anymore and you'll have much more free time.
c) Why or how you're going to achieve your goal. It sounds silly, but even if you just write down something about yourself such as;'I want to succeed' or 'I have done harder/similar things before', it will remind you what you're capable of and that there's always something you have that you can use as a tool.
If you want something, then that's the first step. So if you think you can do it, even a little bit, then you're already on your way!
3.And Breathe....
- Do NOT stress yourself out anymore than you need to be or already are! This means, don't leave everything to the last minute (I know I should practice what I preach, but I'm getting better). The later you leave things, the more pressure you put on yourself and I know for many people, like myself, you're convinced it will work out fine or you'll just about manage it in time. Realistically if you're rushing to get something in on time, it's not going to reflect what you can really do and you're cheating yourself. Plus, if something unavoidable happens or you have to go somewhere, you've practically shot yourself in the foot. Make lists, I genuinely love making lists, to the point where it's sad and I put as much effort into that as I do the actual work. Organising your thoughts and your schedule is essential, so that you don't forget to do anything and end up panicking later.
Your biggest problem when trying to meet deadlines, is most likely going to be you, going inside of your own head too much and driving yourself mad by worrying. So literally, just breathe... if you need a break, take a break for a little while and don't feel bad about it, do something that calms you down or takes your mind of work. You'll get a lot more done if you do it in stages, rather than try and do it all at once, trust me.
Finally - good luck with whatever it is that you are trying to accomplish! I have no doubt that whoever you are and wherever you are, you definitely have it in you to succeed and get the results that you want!
'Believe you can and you're halfway there' - Theodore Roosevelt
J x

Just A Note To Say Hello

I have no idea what I'm doing.
  Despite the preconceptions that my generation are all computer whizzes and technical experts, I fail to possess the type of brain which responds well to technology. I'm the person with no patience, who freaks out when my laptop freezes and has to resist the urge to physically assault the printer when it dares to refuse my commands.
While I'd much rather physically write my thoughts down, I'd no doubt lose the pages and therefore my ramblings. This of course defeating the whole point of keeping a journal in the first place and not to mention, with the onset of the 'digital age', I'd better start adapting.
  This blog in effect will be a place for me to practice my writing skills (I study History and English at the University of Leicester) and somewhere where I can express my opinions on books, films and whatever useless rubbish pops into my head. 
  Considering I spend the majority of my life (sadly) on my laptop, it seems the perfect place to get on with some writing...although right now it is being used for procrastination and I should really be finishing the essay lingering at the bottom of my screen.
Part of my course requires me to consider all sides of an argument,so any feedback or opinions are always welcome and please take a second to comment.
'Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your inner voice' - Steve Jobs
J x