Staying Focused While Studying

By: Emily Huff

It’s official- with midterms upon us, we’ve reached that point in the semester where exams and assignments are quickly piling one on top of another while our new-semester energy begins to dwindle, meaning that it’s more important than ever to make the most of your time studying so that you can remain productive while making sure you don’t fall into the trap of letting your work absorb your entire life. Hopefully, the following list of tips can help you set healthy studying habits and ease some of the pressure that’s inherent to the more challenging points in the year.

  1. Make a schedule- Block out certain times for certain assignments and stick to it. It's okay to go overtime or make changes as needed, but if you commit to yourself that you will get work done within a specific time frame, you’re more likely to do it. 

  2. Find a good study space- Everyone knows that the library is a great place on campus to find some quiet and be productive, but there are many places you can go for a change of scenery. If you prefer to work with a few more people around, the hub is a great place to go, or even the dining commons during the less active hours. And with warmer weather quickly approaching, there's no better place than outside to get some sun and stay focused. 

  3. Take good, meaningful breaks- You can’t expect yourself to work nonstop for hours on end and see satisfying results. It’s important to give yourself time to recharge before getting back to it. Spend time with friends, take a walk, watch TV, or do whatever is best for you to relax, so you can return to your work refreshed and refocused. 

  4. Have a good playlist- Music is a great way to take some of the monotony out of those really long assignments or long nights of studying. Have a good playlist ready of songs that make doing work more enjoyable.

  5. Continue living your life- Schoolwork is important, of course, but so is establishing a healthy balance. You’re not putting your best foot forward when you let stress rule your life. Ultimately, a grade that’s perhaps a bit lower than expected or a rushed assignment that snuck up on you is not the end of the world. Holding yourself to an inhumane academic standard can only hurt you. Dust yourself off, and turn your focus to the future.

Dean Anne Massey Tomorrow!

Happy Sunday!

Join us tomorrow, Monday, March 7th, at 7pm in Isenberg 137 (Flavin Auditorium), where Dean Anne Massey will be joining us for our first meeting of Women's History Month! This is a very important meeting where Dean Massey will be giving an introduction to her background and answering some questions! Please come prepared with questions and be ready to participate in our discussion.

We will be live streaming on Zoom for our virtual members to attend:

Zoom Link: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/92299580036
Meeting ID: 922 9958 0036

WiB Boston Networking Trip - As of right now, all spots are filled but please still sign up here to be put on the waitlist as we anticipate some people may drop out. More information will be emailed to those who have signed up, so keep an eye out for an email soon.

Why WiB Wednesday - Fill out this form to be featured on the Instagram for "Why WiB Wednesday"! We want to show off our members by sharing what they love most about being a part of WiB!

Peer Mentorship Program - Our first event of the semester, will be held this Wednesday, March 9th, at 7:00 PM in the Hub! This will be a welcome-back meeting with fun bingo games!

Committee Sign-Ups and Reminders:

  • Fundraising Committee - To sign up for the fundraising committee, click here!

  • Community Service Committee - Please sign up here for the community service committee! Our next meeting will be this Wednesday, March 9th, at 7:00 PM!

  • Marketing Committee - Sign up here for the marketing committee. Our next meeting is this Thursday, March 10th, at 7:00 PM where we will be talking about how to improve your mornings and the benefits of a 10-minute meditation!

Be sure to follow our social media accounts for more frequent updates, Instagram specifically (@IsenbergWiB), and check out our website here!

Additional Opportunities


Womxn of Color
There is an upcoming Isenberg event called Womxn of Color Survival Guide: Navigating Space, Place & Professionalism happening on March 23rd from 5:30 - 7:00 PM in the Flavin Auditorium (Room 137). This event provides a space to discuss how intersecting identities shape the experience of Womxn of Color at work. Tips will be provided on how to navigate and disrupt traditional notions of professionalism. Please click here to view panelists and register!

AlphaSights
AlphaSights is looking to hire bilingual students for a variety of roles. International students are encouraged to apply! AlphaSights is looking for language speakers interested in launching a client-facing career on a dynamic, global team. They will be holding an AlphaSights Webinar: Applying Your Language Skills in an International Environment on March 8th, from 5:00 - 6:00 PM. Please register here.

John Hancock Virtual Career Fairs
John Hancock is hosting two virtual career fairs in March, on the 8th and 23rd. They will be discussing their internship opportunities in addition to their full-time post-graduate opportunities as well. Please see this graphic for more information.

Career Hub Events Over Spring Break
The Career Hub and Mount Ida Campus in Newton, MA are hosting this event for UMass students over Spring Break on Wednesday, March 16th, between 3:00 - 7:30 PM. The first event is a Boston Area Employers Internship Fair where Boston area businesses across many industries are hiring Summer interns, Fall interns, and Co-ops. This event will be held from 3:00 - 5:00 PM on March 16th. For more information and to register, please click here.

Following the internship fair, there will be a Night of Connections: UMass students & Alumni Meet-up, which is an opportunity for students across all majors to meet up with UMass Amherst Alumni across 11 different industries. The alumni attending will be each representing specializations aligned with each of the Career Community Groups found on Connect UMass. To learn more about which Career Communities align best with your interests, sign up for Connect UMass and click "Groups" at the top of the page: connectumassalumni.com. For more information and to register, please click here - space is limited.

Women Entrepreneurship UMass
Women Entrepreneurship (WE) is a non-profit organization that promotes entrepreneurship among young women and offers entrepreneurship programs at leading academic institutions. WE UMass meets weekly on Wednesdays at 8 PM over Zoom. Our meetings feature entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders in a variety of industries that speak to us about building a personal brand, marketing and fundraising for a business, or sharing their stories. This semester you can look forward to three different panels on Food Tech, BioTech, and Fashion. To learn more, please sign up for their email list here.

iXperience
iXperience is a study abroad program that focuses on teaching skills combined with an internship and doing it in beautiful locations around the world such as Lisbon, Costa Rica, or Cape Town. For two years they haven’t been able to offer travel programs, but they are now back. They have figured out how to give you a safe travel experience and boost your career at the same time. They have had over 2500 students do their programs of which 30% are working at Fortune 500 companies. Explore their website and see everything they offer.

Honors Thesis Survey
One of our members is currently working on her honors thesis, where she will be analyzing gender disparity on Wall Street. She has created an undergraduate survey in order to analyze the differences and connections between different genders and decision-making/risk-taking preferences. If you would like to take the survey to help one of our members out, please click here. It should take ~5 minutes to complete.

A 10 Minute Meditation A Day Keeps the Stress Away

By: Anna Murphy

College can be a very stressful time for people. Whether it is stress from trying to make new friends, school work, or planning for a career, this time in our lives can come with lots of stressful baggage. With balance and mediation, though, college can be a wonderful time. 

Many scientific facts about meditation prove its benefits for mental health. People who consistently meditate show more signs of compassion, less stress, and sharpened attention. There is even research that says meditation can increase your memory. With our lives being so busy and our minds constantly connecting with technology, it is essential to take a small daily break. That is why I suggest a daily ten-minute meditation session. 

For me, my perfect meditation happens before I go to bed in a quiet room. During this meditation, I focus on my breathing and clearing my mind of the stresses and problems during the day. Meditation can be different for everyone. It doesn't have to be done at night in a quiet room; it can be done on a walk or in the sunshine. It all depends on what works best for your mind and body. Here are some steps that I follow. 

Steps for successful meditation: 

1. Focus on your breathing. Focusing on your breathing will help keep the invading thoughts away. I like to focus on the thought of my lungs expanding and contracting. Another area to focus on is the breath entering and exiting your nose. 

2. Find a quiet place. It is essential to be able to meditate in a quiet area. Outside noises tend to be very distracting and can interrupt your thoughts. It isn't easy to find a quiet place in a college dorm, so I put my headphones on when meditating. 

3. Listen to a guided meditation. Guided meditations make the process much easier. You can find many free videos or podcasts online in which someone will guide you through meditation. Whether trying to clear your mind of anxiety or from stress with school work, you can find many guided videos involving these concerns. 

4. Stay consistent. If you find a time every day where you can complete a ten-minute meditation, it will only get easier each time. Eventually, you might even want to switch off of guided meditation and do your own. 

The process of meditation can be much easier said than done. I, too, am still trying to get myself on a schedule with mediating because I tend to only do it during the week or when I am extra stressed. I can say, though, that I have noticed the very immediate benefits of meditation. I find that I sleep better when I do it before bed, I have learned more about my mind and body, and most importantly, my anxiety and stress levels are down. 

Sources:

https://shedefined.com.au/wellbeing/i-meditated-for-10-minutes-every-day-and-this-is-what-hap pened/ 

https://mindworks.org/blog/why-is-meditation-important-facts-you-need-to-know/


Dean Anne Massey Next Meeting!

Happy Women's History Month!

Please take the time to read about what Women's History Month is, why it's important, and how you can celebrate on our Instagram!

Thank you to everyone who came to Monday's meeting where Dave Wells presented on how to maintain a work-life balance. We loved hearing everyone's personal experiences and hope this has inspired you to learn when to say no, and that it's ok to do so!

Next Monday, March 7th, at 7pm in Isenberg 137 (Flavin Auditorium), Dean Anne Massey will be joining us for our first meeting of Women's History Month! This is a very important meeting where Dean Massey will be giving an introduction to her background and answering some questions! Please come prepared with questions and be ready to participate in our discussion.

We will be live streaming on Zoom for our virtual members to attend:

Zoom Link: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/92299580036
Meeting ID: 922 9958 0036

WiB Boston Networking Trip - As of right now, all spots are filled but please still sign up here to be put on the waitlist as we anticipate some people may drop out. More information will be emailed to those who have signed up, so keep an eye out for an email soon.

Why WiB Wednesday - Fill out this form to be featured on the Instagram for "Why WiB Wednesday"! We want to show off our members by sharing what they love most about being a part of WiB!

Peer Mentorship Program - Our first event of the semester, will be held next Wednesday, March 9th, at 7:00 PM in the Hub! This will be a welcome-back meeting with fun bingo games!

Committee Sign-Ups and Reminders:

  • Fundraising Committee - To sign up for the fundraising committee, click here! Our next meeting will be this Thursday, March 3rd, at 6:00 PM via Zoom!

  • Community Service Committee - Please sign up here for the community service committee! Our next meeting will be next Wednesday, March 9th, at 7:00 PM!

  • Marketing Committee - Sign up here for the marketing committee. Our next meeting is next Thursday, March 10th, at 7:00 PM where we will be talking about how to improve your mornings and the benefits of a 10-minute meditation!

Watch Last Week's Meeting by Clicking Here:


Be sure to follow our social media accounts for more frequent updates, Instagram specifically (@IsenbergWiB), and check out our website here!

Additional Opportunities

John Hancock Virtual Career Fairs
John Hancock is hosting two virtual career fairs in March, on the 8th and 23rd. They will be discussing their internship opportunities in addition to their full-time post-graduate opportunities as well. Please see this graphic for more information.

UMass PR Club Event
Join the UMass PR club on Thursday, March 3rd from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the Journalism Hub (ILC, fourth floor) for a featured talk with Diane Schwartz, CEO of Ragan Communications. Diane will be sharing insights and answering questions related to attributes that lead to communication career success. This event it open to all majors, and everyone interested in public relations is encouraged to attend.

Career Hub Events Over Spring Break
The Career Hub and Mount Ida Campus in Newton, MA are hosting this event for UMass students over Spring Break on Wednesday, March 16th, between 3:00 - 7:30 PM. The first event is a Boston Area Employers Internship Fair where Boston area businesses across many industries are hiring Summer interns, Fall interns, and Co-ops. This event will be held from 3:00 - 5:00 PM on March 16th. For more information and to register, please click here.

Following the internship fair, there will be a Night of Connections: UMass students & Alumni Meet-up, which is an opportunity for students across all majors to meet up with UMass Amherst Alumni across 11 different industries. The alumni attending will be each representing specializations aligned with each of the Career Community Groups found on Connect UMass. To learn more about which Career Communities align best with your interests, sign up for Connect UMass and click "Groups" at the top of the page: connectumassalumni.com. For more information and to register, please click here - space is limited.

Women Entrepreneurship UMass
Women Entrepreneurship (WE) is a non-profit organization that promotes entrepreneurship among young women and offers entrepreneurship programs at leading academic institutions. WE UMass meets weekly on Wednesdays at 8 PM over Zoom. Our meetings feature entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders in a variety of industries that speak to us about building a personal brand, marketing and fundraising for a business, or sharing their stories. This semester you can look forward to three different panels on Food Tech, BioTech, and Fashion. To learn more, please sign up for their email list here.

iXperience
iXperience is a study abroad program that focuses on teaching skills combined with an internship and doing it in beautiful locations around the world such as Lisbon, Costa Rica, or Cape Town. For two years they haven’t been able to offer travel programs, but they are now back. They have figured out how to give you a safe travel experience and boost your career at the same time. They have had over 2500 students do their programs of which 30% are working at Fortune 500 companies. Explore their website and see everything they offer.

How To Improve Your Mornings

By: Hannah Berry

Good morning!! I hope you’re already having a lovely morning and an even better Wednesday filled with sunshine and iced coffee. If you aren’t having the best morning, don’t worry there’s still time to turn the day around. I bring to you seven ways to improve your mornings- coming from a midmorning person! (I am not a 6 am morning person, but an 8 am morning person, you feel me?) 

  1. Start waking up ten minutes earlier than you need to wake up. These ten minutes give you time to lay in bed, manifest or set your intentions for the day, and maybe read the daily news on Snapchat, or check your horoscope. (Where are my other Virgos at!!)

  2. Set your alarm to one of your favorite pump-up songs. I love waking up to Kesha. It makes me feel hyped and ready to go even if I know my day isn’t always going to start off wicked exciting.

  3. Have a morning “treat” you look forward to having. Mine of course is iced coffee. However, if you aren’t a coffee person maybe you look forward to kombucha, tea, lemon water, or a chocolate chip muffin. Your motivator doesn’t have to be food either, you could also amp yourself up with time to watch an episode of your favorite show or read or chapter of your book. Whatever gets you out of bed! 

  4. Plan your outfit. When I like my outfit my day is at least 75% better. Especially when I plan my outfit the night before and I am excited to wear what I picked out all day. Dressing up makes me feel more put together which correlates to more productivity and a better day all around.

  5. Say your affirmations. I know it sounds stupid and this notion is everywhere right now. But affirmations are so real! If you say three nice statements to yourself in the mirror every morning you will start to feel more positive about yourself. I am confident. I am loved. I am enough. 

  6. Set your intentions. This is different from saying your affirmations even though they sound very similar. If you have time, write down your goals for the day. Whether they are small goals like getting out of bed by 10 or larger goals like hitting 115 on my bench press, write them down!! You are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down! (This is a statistic from Forbes).  

  7. Let some sunlight in. If possible open up your blinds and let the sunlight into your room or living space. Sunlight is a perfect provider of vitamin D and an instant source of happiness! 

Mornings can be tough. Some are definitely way better or way easier to wake up than others. There’s a vast difference between waking up at 5 am for a flight to Florida and waking up at 5 am to play in a tournament. Taking every small step you can to improve your mood early in the day will lead to better days (que NEIKED, Mae Muller, and Polo G). Manifesting a fabulous Wednesday for you all!!