-
-
archives
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
-
-
categories
-
-
-
On the Blog:
#WhatIBuiltToday apps campus ghost stories college college advice college fashion college football college ghost stories college life college organizing college recipes College Sports college style college technology college trends cosmetics Dish It DIY DIY Dorm download worthy easy college recipes easy DIY easy recipes fair trade fashion freaky friday get organized month haunted college campus inspiration london 2012 monday morning motivation monday motivation motivation motivational quote music NOOK apps organization tips pinterest social media study tips style style that gives back tailgating technology the it list
Instantly Become More Productive
Forcing yourself to be productive is a tricky business for most. Sometimes our brains just don’t want to cooperate! Since you probably don’t want to end up spending St. Patrick’s Day catching up on homework, here are six strategies to reclaim focus right now and get stuff done today.
Use the 5 minute rule – Stick a note on your laptop or desk that says “5 minute rule.” If it takes 5 minutes or less to accomplish a task, always just do it right away! Pretty simple stuff, but you’d be surprised how much less you will procrastinate.
Don’t underestimate the power of coffee and some fruit, like a banana and some strawberries. Caffeine will definitely help you focus and regain some ambition, in addition to being a rich source of antioxidants. Consuming fruit or a light starch with coffee helps to keep you from becoming edgy or over caffeinated. Don’t like coffee? Make it a Macchiato, Chai tea, or herbal alternatives to coffee like Yerba Mate.
Play new or unfamiliar music to trick your brain’s cycle of productivity. Listening to ambient strains of music can double or triple the amount of time you can focus before needing a break. According to music technology service Focus@will, “Most people can only concentrate for a maximum of about 20 or 30 continuous minutes before needing to take a quick break,” but listening to new or unfamiliar music can help break this cycle by “subtly soothing the part of your brain, the limbic system, that is always on the lookout for danger, food, or shiny things.” These distractions can be overcome by listening to music at low volume, slightly louder than ambient noise.
Take a 20 minute nap, it’s like hitting the restart button on your brain. The ideal nap time is between 1:00 and 3:00 PM in the afternoon, according to Lifehacker.com, and should be 15-20 minutes long.
Get out of your room and go work in the library, coffee shop, or a quiet cafeteria. Surprisingly, the bustle of a public place can actually help you focus. According to the Wallstreet Journal, research suggests, “small doses of distraction—including hard-to-read fonts—prompt the mind to work at a more abstract level, which is also a more creative level.” Take into account some coffee shops are louder and more crowded than others. If you still prefer to stay in and study, you can synthesize ambient noise by turning on the TV the volume low or opening the windows.
Look at Pictures of Baby Animals. It’s scientific fact that looking at infant animals can awaken paternal instincts, making you more alert and observant. I recommend kittens, but bunnies, pandas, seals, otters, chicks, ducklings, or puppies will also do.
When and where are you most productive? Let us know in the comments or tweet @bncollege #beingproductive. Stay Focused my Friends!
Dish it: Eggs McMuggin’
If you have 3 minutes in the morning, plus a mug and a microwave, you can whip up this easy egg dish and skip the breakfast lines in the dining hall. Hungry Girl has a variety of egg in a mug recipes but we like the McMuggin’ special. It’s pretty low-fat and is a good source of protein, so it’s the perfect breakfast for those spring-getting-ready-for-bikini-season mornings.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup liquid egg substitute (or egg whites)
- One wedge The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss cheese, cut into pieces
- 1 1/2 oz. (about 3 slices) lean ham, chopped
- One-half slice bread
- 1 tbsp. shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
Directions:
Toast bread and slice into little squares (think crouton size). Spray a large microwave-safe mug lightly with nonstick spray. Add bread cubes, egg substitute, cheese wedge pieces, and ham, and stir. Microwave for about a minute. Stir gently, and then top with shredded cheese. Microwave for another 30 – 45 seconds. Enjoy! For more easy recipes, check out our Pinterest 
Photo and recipe courtesy of Hungry Girl.com
Operation Hat Trick
To many people, a hat is just a hat. To many veterans, however, a hat can mean so much more.
Operation Hat Trick came about after a Boston-based radio station asked its listeners to guess the item soldiers with head injuries most often asked for upon returning home to the US. Luckily, the University of New Hampshire’s Senior Associate Athletic Director, Dot Sheehan, was among those listening. Though she was surprised to learn it was something as simple as a covering for their heads, it wasn’t long before Dot realized the Athletics Department was more than equipped to help.
And so, Operation Hat Trick began.
Purchasing Operation Hat Trick (OHT) products helps with the recovery of wounded soldiers and veterans. Ten percent of all sales go to the VA General Post Fund, which provides funds to patients and their caregivers for recovery.
Operation Hat Trick hopes to memorialize two very brave young men: Nate Hardy (a song of a UNH professor) and Mike Koch, two Navy SEALS who are buried together at Arlington National Cemetery.
Operation Hat Trick products are currently available at select Barnes & Noble College campus bookstores. Stay tuned while they arrive at more!
Made in the USA: Whitney Howard Designs
If an outfit is a cake, accessories are the frosting: they might not be essential, but they sure make things a whole lot better. Our most recent Made in the USA obsession,Whitney Howard Designs, takes accessories we love – necklaces, rings, bracelets – and puts a little extra heart into them.
If you’re looking for a small gift that holds a big meaning, these accessories are for you. From “Inspire Rings” to “Keys to Your Heart“, these tiny trinkets pack a heartfelt punch. The entire collection is inspired by the designers’ desire to bring peace, love, gratitude and healing, to those who give and receive them.
One of our favorite pieces is the Quotable Cuff. Each has a tiny graphic and inspiring quote that will keep you motivated all day long. Stack them or wear each cuff one at a time! We love that these earth-friendly products are made from recycled pewter.
Swing by select Barnes & Noble College Campus bookstores and pick out gifts for all those close to you!
A Handy Chart: The Shelf Life of Food
I sometimes wonder whether things are truly OK to eat after they’ve been left out on the counter or in the back of my freezer for 6 months. Here’s the deal on how long you can leave stuff out, when leftovers need to go, and what “expiration date” or “best by” really translate to. Seriously important stuff! No one wants to get sick right before Spring Break (yuck!). See the full (downloadable) list here.
Five Travel Tips for Your Spring Break
The greatest and most hyped up week of the spring semester is soon approaching. That’s right, spring break is right around the corner! Everyone has his or her own stories of beach days and endless nights. However, safety should always be a top priority. Whether you are road tripping to Panama City Beach or cruising to the Bahamas, keep these 5 tips in mind!
1. On the road…
Buckle up! Take turns behind the wheel. We all have that one friend who yells, “SHOTGUN,” but it’s important to make sure that no one is distracting the driver. Make sure everyone has a valid driver’s license, vehicle registration, and obey the speed limit!
2. At the beach…
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of WATER. If you start feeling light-headed, get in the shade immediately. Use sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and reapply often. No one wants to look like a lobster!
3. Going for a swim…
Make sure there is always a lifeguard on duty. If the tides look rough, wait until it’s safer. Try to stay within the designated swimming area and always bring someone to come with you.
4. Venturing out…
We all have that one friend who wanders off, so make a pact to look out for one another. If you are in an unknown area, stay in pairs. Go out with your friends, go home with your friends.
Get your passport...and don't procrastinate!
5. Leaving the country…
You need a passport! The passport process can take awhile, so plan about 6 months in advance before a trip abroad. Having gone abroad last summer, I had to obtain certain documents. There was a high-demand, therefore I received it JUST in time! Make sure to get all the paperwork that is necessary as well. When flying, remember to check out the Transportation Security Administration for what you can and cannot bring on board.
College is the perfect time to get a feel for the world. Live in the moment and don’t look back saying, “What if I went with them?” or “We should have planned something.” Stay organized and safe and your trip will a blast.
So what will you do this spring break?
Written by Guest Blogger, Melissa G. of George Mason University
Download Worthy: Pocket
We’ve all been there… the awkward moment when you say to your friend, “I saw the most hilarious thing online yesterday! Hold on, I’ll show you!” You search for what feel like forever for the video of Grumpy Cat doing the Harlem Shake, at which point it’s really not as funny anymore. Pocket, an iOS and Android app, allows you to save online articles, videos, and more to any device to which you download the app. Not only is it available for iPhone, Android, and iPad, but also Safari and Chrome, making it easier to have your own media library anywhere you are. My favorite things about this app are it’s usefulness as a replacement to Chrome and Safari’s “bookmark this page” and the ability to tag saved items.
The app for Google Chrome and Safari has a Pocket button, similar to the Pinterest “Pin It” button, making it easy to save a webpage and in nano-seconds. It also prompts you to add tags to make it even easier to find the page in your Pocket Queue later. The smartphone app allows you to Pocket via the Mail Link to this Page option, from which you send the link to Pocket (the app prompts you to save this to your contacts when you install it), and the link goes right to your List. As the New York Times aptly called it, it is “DVR for the web.” Nifty, huh?
Dish It: Cake in a Mug
Do you find yourself dreaming about homemade cakes? Are you drooling over the thought of your mother’s baking? #Collegeproblems! This sweet recipe for microwaveable cake mugs, submitted by Sydnesaurus to CollegeFed, is guaranteed to make all your cake mug dreams come true. Yes, I said cake mugs. Minimum effort + a microwave = #collegesolutions.
Image via CollegeFed
What You’ll Need:
- Cake Mix – Any flavor your heart desires!
- Other Ingredients – Check the box: Do you need eggs and canola oil?
- Frosting
- Sprinkles
What You’ll Do:
Pour the mix into mugs, filling it about 1/3. Try not to go over that or it may overflow!
Microwave each mug for about 3 minutes. Let it cool for 2 min. Then frost, add sprinkles, go nuts! Don’t forget to send Instagram pictures of your awesome cake mug creations to us when you’re done @bncollege #cakemug!
If you liked this recipe let us know in the comments and we’ll be sure to bring you some more like this one!
29 Ways To Stay Creative
Did you know that daydreaming can help spark creativity and enhance problem solving skills? Here’s 29 other ways to stay creative!
Image via Islam Abudaoud on Behance
