3 ms·

Learn to meditate, find a sport that you like and do it regularly, take a class on how to learn (Coursera has a good one "Learning how to Learn"), and take a cl

Learn to meditate, find a sport that you like and do it regularly, take a class on how to learn (Coursera has a good one "Learning how to Learn"), and take a class on how to take good notes. You might also want to study up on personal organization and personal finance. WRT study groups, YMMV. I found them incredibly stressful and counter-productive, but other people really seemed to like them. Eventually I actively avoided them. Start your projects as soon as possible, and then put them aside. You'll come back with new eyes, but your brain needs time to chew on it. Sadly, I think a lot of college courses go too fast, and sometimes you'll have an "aha!" moment months, or even years later. Not sure if there is a solution to this. Love is almost inevitable, and is almost always a huge disaster for everyone. It's possibly an even worse impact on study than video-game addiction. I would say try to avoid love, but honestly its wonderful. But if you feel lonely, feel lucky that you're not either distracted or heartbroken.

codemonkey-zeta 6y ago
Whoa, harsh take on love, but I understand it. I met the love of my life during my freshman year, and though there have been times I feel my focus and productivity suffered as a result, I would not have it another way. Love, and even heartbreak, are such fundamental and enriching parts of human life that I really think they are worth sacrificing for. I can get past distraction. I still code don't I? I still learn. But to eschew love for fear of heartbreak is cowardice. "Far better is it to have a stout heart always and suffer one's share of evils, than to forever be fearing what may happen." - Herodotus
- javajosh 6y ago
  I didn't recommend to "eschew love for fear of heartbreak" though. I was really trying to ease an FOMO he might feel if he doesn't fall in love in college (which is pretty common, too, especially among the nerdy set, or at least was when I went to college in the 90's).
  - codemonkey-zeta 6y ago
    I did not read your last paragraph that way. With this explanation I totally understand your advice now. I had friends who seemed dead set on finding a girlfriend as priority number one. I even had multiple friends express their jealousy to my face that I had found a person to love and they hadn't. I wanted to smack those friends and say "just live your life man! There's nothing stopping you from being happy except yourself." The FOMO is real and I think your advice is great.

codemonkey-zeta 6y ago

Whoa, harsh take on love, but I understand it. I met the love of my life during my freshman year, and though there have been times I feel my focus and productivity suffered as a result, I would not have it another way. Love, and even heartbreak, are such fundamental and enriching parts of human life that I really think they are worth sacrificing for. I can get past distraction. I still code don't I? I still learn. But to eschew love for fear of heartbreak is cowardice. "Far better is it to have a stout heart always and suffer one's share of evils, than to forever be fearing what may happen." - Herodotus

javajosh 6y ago
I didn't recommend to "eschew love for fear of heartbreak" though. I was really trying to ease an FOMO he might feel if he doesn't fall in love in college (which is pretty common, too, especially among the nerdy set, or at least was when I went to college in the 90's).
- codemonkey-zeta 6y ago
  I did not read your last paragraph that way. With this explanation I totally understand your advice now. I had friends who seemed dead set on finding a girlfriend as priority number one. I even had multiple friends express their jealousy to my face that I had found a person to love and they hadn't. I wanted to smack those friends and say "just live your life man! There's nothing stopping you from being happy except yourself." The FOMO is real and I think your advice is great.