It's finals week. With two finals and a final research paper looming before me, I feel like I barely have time to eat, let alone sleep, work out, socialize, and keep up with my extensive Hulu queue. Buckling down and really focusing can be hard in my own room, what with the lure of my fluffy pink pillows and lack of anyone to make me feel guilty for being on Facebook, so I've taken to packing up my gear and staking out a spot in the library.
Getting ready to head to the Rock is a process I've been perfecting. There's nothing worse than arriving only to realize you left something crucial (like ear buds) behind.
Here's the checklist I usually run through to make sure I'm properly equipped for a long stay in the stacks.
1. Backpack: This is how you know things are serious. I usually carry a tote bag to class, but when I need to haul my laptop
and several books and notebooks, it's time to break out the big guns.
2. Books & Notebooks: Currently I'm studying for Roman Art and Architecture, so that means one textbook and a whole lotta note cards. However, if I'm working on my research paper I could be hauling around a massive stack of books I'm using as sources, plus whatever notebook I'm scrawling my random thought bursts into at the moment. Sometimes I bring it all, just in case I get tired of one subject and want to switch to something else. This usually makes me cranky, since my backpack gets reallyyyy heavy.
3. Laptop: Necessary. My notes, outlines, study guides, and access to the outside world are all wrapped up in this hulking blue monstrosity. Library time is the only time I'm grateful my speakers are broken, since I don't have to worry about embarrassing noises that might disturb my fellow studiers.
4. Pens, Highlighters, Pencils, Post-Its: I'm only using a particular blue pen on my note cards for art history, and I only use pencil when taking notes from sources for my research paper. My current highlighter of choice is orange, and I'm using dark pink Post-It flags in my art history textbook, and lime green ones in my research sources. I have a system, and I don't mess with it.
5. Snacks!: So important. It's hard enough to concentrate without being hungry. Last night I had a Kashi peanut-butter/chocolate protein & fiber bar. It tasted like a terrible candy bar, but it got the job done. Today I think I'll bring along a couple of 100-calorie packs of mixed nuts.
6. Water: Also important. I'll drink coffee from the cafe in the lobby like nobody's business, but if I don't follow it up with water it gives me the most awful headache.
7. Ipod: Gotta have tunes. Must remember to charge it first though, that was a total foul on my part last night. And don't forget the ear buds!!
8. Phone, Keys & ID: Because I take these everywhere.
9. Chargers: Because it stinks when batteries die.
10. Umbrella: Because this is Providence, and you just never know.
