Have you ever been so excited for the future that it’s hard to focus on the present? After finding out that I was selected to be a CISEI intern at Chalmers University in Gothenburg, Sweden for this summer, it’s been hard to focus on classes. Spring quarter also has its difficulties because of the beautiful weather that surrounds us in sunny Santa Barbara – why work on homework inside when you could be basking in the sun outside?

How I stay focused (or try to):

1) I remind myself that I was selected to go to Sweden for my hard work in lab and classes, so I need to keep it up in order to hopefully earn an amazing internship in the future. Whenever I get demotivated about learning organic chemistry or thermodynamics, I think about how these classes might be able to help me in my research this summer. Tentatively I will be working in Professor Martin Andersson’s lab, where they study biomimetic synthesis (mimic what nature does best), regenerative medicine (using nanoparticles to help drug delivery), and nanotoxicology (how the shape of nanoparticles affects their toxicity). I am unbelievably excited for the summer at this gorgeous university!

2) Take breaks, and a lot of them. When I hit a wall with my homework, I often find its better to take a 30 minute break and then get started again with a refreshed brain. The trick is to make sure you get back on track after the break – its not always easy, but once I master this skill, productivity will be my middle name. Also, over the course of the past two years, I’ve realized that you learn a lot in college outside of the classroom. For instance, impromptu talks with my housemates can help me learn things I’d never read about in a textbook. Discussions on world news, government policies, and even TV preferences has opened up my mind to new views of the world.

3) Study with friends! It’s proven that teaching someone the material is the best way to reinforce learning it yourself. Besides, for a competitive person like myself, there is no better way to finish a problem set than wanting to figure out a problem before someone else. At the same time, if I am really stuck on a problem, its nice to have a friend give you hints and lead you in the right direction instead of struggling with it for hours.

4) Combine breaks with working out. I know, it sounds crazy; but here in Santa Barbara it’s so easy to get a great workout while enjoying the sun. For instance, going on a run around campus point lets you see the beach and going for a swim in the rec center pool means you can relax in the hot tub afterwards. Or better yet, grabbing a few friends and play basketball or volleyball outside means you can hang out with friends, enjoy the sun, and work up a sweat. I always feel productive after a good workout which encourages me to finish my work!

While I can’t say I’m productive 100% of the time, I’m constantly learning how work more efficiently and effectively. My goal for the quarter is to finish this year strong and not over pack my luggage for my summer in Sweden!