For most of us as college students procrastination is our biggest down fall. Whether it is because we are busy or because that mid-afternoon nap sounds too good, we often let procrastination get the best of us. While some students work better under pressure others may produce messy, last minute work that is not presentable or substantial for professors or could avoid so much stress if you got it out of the way earlier rather then later. Below are some simple tips that help me with procrastination. I hope they can help you too!

1. Avoid putting off any task that will take five minutes or less to complete.

2. Break larger jobs into small parts. Do one and then pause. This will feel less overwhelming.

3. Start with easier projects. Crossing them off your list will provide motivation to keep going.

4. Adopt a “touch it once” policy. For example, pick up a bill, pay for it, and file it all in one swift process. This will keep to-dos from piling up and feeling impossible to complete.

5. Consider multitasking. For example, start your laundry before sitting down to read emails.

6. De-clutter. Clearing your physical environment can lead to a clear mind, too.

I hope this helps 🙂
– Kayla

You cannot possibly tell me you’re not proud to be a Riverhawk at this point. Back to back Hockey East titles and now we are on to regionals for the second time in a row. Last year was a blast making it to the Frozen Four, but before we can do it again this year, we need your help. Even if you can’t make the next game, you can watch it online or listen to the audio via goriverhawks.com.

Hey kiddos!

Spring Break is next week. I don’t even need to elaborate on the subject. Go have immense amounts of fun, but remember to be smart about your actions as well. Here are some tips to follow as well as some general Spring Break information: 

Schoolwork – If you have something due the week we get back, get it done before you leave on Friday! Or at least get it started. The last thing you want on your plate on the Sunday we come back is schoolwork that is due on Monday morning. 

Stay active! – Being on break doesn’t always mean you should be a couch potato.. okay, maybe for a couple days.. but try to stay away from being dormant for the whole week. It will only make getting back into the swing of things that much more difficult when you get back. Exercising or even just walking around a mall for an hour is much better than sitting and watching TV.

Safety – This is so important that it gets its own bullet point list. If you plan on vacationing anywhere with some friends, safety needs to be your top priority. 

• Buddy System – Don’t go anywhere alone, especially at night. The bigger the group, the better.
• Drinking – Do your best to limit your alcohol consumption. If necessary, make someone your Designated Driver or call a cab if you are unable to operate a vehicle on your own.
• Contact Info – Give your parent/guardian all of your trip and contact information before you leave. If anything happens, notify them right away.
• You can get more helpful safety tips for vacationing by clicking here.

*P.S. SUPPORT YOUR RIVERHAWKS THIS WEEKEND IN THE HOCKEY EAST QUARTERFINALS!
If you would like to attend the upcoming hockey playoff games this weekend, ResLife is providing you with the option of staying in your residence hall both Friday and Saturday night. If you’re interested, simply email them at ResLife@uml.edu stating that you would like to attend the hockey games and they will grant you access to stay longer.

Enjoy thou breaking of spring!
-Rach 🙂

It is that time again, and just so we do not forget (I almost did) about FAFSA (Federal Student Aid) I thought I would remind you and myself that the deadline for UML is March 1st. This is soon, so if you need financial aid or would like to apply/reapply make sure you do so soon.

You can click on the link below to bring you to the FAFSA home page:

https://fafsa.ed.gov/

If you have ANY questions at all feel free to contact me through email or any of our social networks!

Happy mid-semester y’all!
– Kayla 😀

Hello All!

As you may have noticed UMass Lowell has been and continues to be on the rise. Just last semester we opened two brand new, beautiful, suite style residence halls. One on South called Riverview Suites that has a fitness center on the first floor and the other on East called University Suites that has a Red Mango frozen yogurt on the first floor. We also opened a new Health and Social Science Building with amazing classrooms, a nursing department that has doctor stimulation labs, and also the Psychology and Criminal Justice department. There is also the new bridge and then the new garage on South Campus that has made parking so convenient. OH and how could we forget the new bright Riverhawk blue turf that our student body named “Wicked Blue”!

My personal favorite is coming this fall and is called University Crossing. This is going to be our new student center. The idea is that it is going to be a one-stop-shop for students. Financial Aid, UMass Lowell Police, Registrars Office, all stand ran clubs, and our new two floor bookstore are just some of many facilities that will all be located in this new states of the art  building! It is located on Pawtucket Street right in between East and South Campus and directly over the bridge from North Campus!



And just when you thought that was the end, an Alum of the UMass Lowell Manning School of Business donated 5 million dollars to build a brand new business school where Eames Honors Housing currently is. This new business school is going to be equipped with mock wall street rooms. Talk about the best academic experience right?
With our admissions shooting up along with our requirements, education, and overall University standards UMass Lowell is a great place to be a part of and will continue to shock us with its continuance to grow and develop!

Yay to all of us for being students here and being able to be a part of this growth! Isn’t it so exciting?! 🙂

-Kayla 😀

      Valentine’s Day.. Let’s face it, it’s a pretty bittersweet holiday. Some people choose to avoid it, others use it to buy immense amounts of chocolate for their better half, flowers, and so on. But either way you look at it, it’s about love. And I don’t just mean “The Notebook” kind of love, I mean a series of great experiences between two people, lovers, friends, family members, etc. Point is.. people need other people. So if you’re not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day, you need not worry my friend. Take a second this Friday to be thankful for the people you have around you everyday. Single or not.. you’re loved by someone somewhere, trust me.

…or you could just agree with Sheldon. Dude’s pretty smart.

*Just in case you were looking to grab a little something for someone, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is hosting a carnation sale on north campus. If you’re going to buy something for Valentine’s Day, you might as well help out your fellow students too! Here’s more info:

I don’t think I have to explain to you how much UMass Lowell is growing. You can take one step outside and see something brand new being built or an older building being renovated, all things that suggest growth and success in UMass Lowell’s community. But what about the overall town of Lowell? I won’t spend too much time talking about it, but watching this video will blow your mind. My hope is that when you are finished watching it you’ll gain a new appreciation for you school and the town that houses it. Lowell’s 2020 vision is a masterpiece in the making. We’re on the map ladies and gents, UMass Lowell is the place to be, and you my friend are a student in the heart of one of the fastest growing cities in Massachusetts. 

Going to college itself is pretty cool and all, but what if you could do the same thing in a different country? Not only would you be able to earn credits toward your degree, you can also learn the lifestyle of a completely different culture while you’re at it! You can even be teaching others about your experiences here in the U.S. as well as make some great networking connections along the way. This is a great way to expand your education, see what other places around the world have to offer, and spice up your summer! 

Click here for more info on the sessions as well as contact information!

*More information will be provided at the info session scheduled for this Thursday night (February 6) at 4:30 p.m. in O’Leary Library room 222. If you’re interested, you can also visit the Office of Study Abroad & International Experiences located on the second floor of O’Leary Library (right above Starbucks). 

Go! Do! Get out of this place for a summer, take some pictures, learning some crazy new things, experience a different life, and share the awesome experiences to come with everyone! 

-Rachel

     So I assume you’ve heard of this show called “Adventure Time” correct? Because if you haven’t, you need to get a television. TV is great. I’m warning you now though, this blog post has NOTHING to do with the show. But the title is a pretty good attention-grabber, eh? I did, however, choose this show because I want to talk about adventure for a moment. I’m talking serious adventure. Mountain climbing adventure, sky diving adventure, etc. And yes, it’s all completely available to you through UML’s very own Outdoor Adventure Program. I should mention there is a little money involved to go on these types of trips, but the prices are insanely lower than paying full price to go on your own rather than through the school.

Do you have a family member, friend, or even an acquaintance that is part of the LGBTQ community and you want to learn more so you can be an ally and a resource for this individual? There is a perfect opportunity coming up at UML! It is called Ally Space Training!