You have to get down to work. You have to sit down to study. But instead, you make another a cup of tea, chat with a friend, or shop online.
We all do it, because procrastination is one of life’s guilty little pleasures. But if procrastination becomes a habitual pattern, it can add a lot of stress to our lives.
So, do you procrastinate? According to the book Good Stress, Bad Stress, these could be the underlying reasons:
Cumulative procrastination – If you’ve let your work pile up, it becomes harder and harder to attack it.
Perfectionism – If you’re worried that you cannot handle certain tasks well, you tend to avoid them.
Conflict avoidance – If you fear that tacking a certain project will trigger disagreement with your boss or a colleague, you tend to avoid it.
Here are some procrastination-fighting techniques recommended by Barry Lenson, author of Good Stress, Bad Stress:
Tackle unpleasant tasks first thing in the morning. If you’ve been delaying a touchy conversation with your boss or a colleague, have it as soon as you arrive at work. Tackling dreaded tasks first gives you energy that can boost your productivity through the day.
Say, “I’ll work on it for just five minutes.” This tactic works especially well if you have let work pile up. When you make just a small commitment to start on a backlog of work, you break the logjam and get going.
Work with a partner. Take a batch of coding work, divide it up with a colleague, and get started. (And offer to share his or her work in the same way.) When you cooperate on a body of work, you stand a better chance of whittling a pile of work down to size. Cooperation is fun and energizing.
Have you found strategies for fighting procrastination? If so, why not take a moment and share them here with the UMA community.
If you believe that some people are naturally good students and other people aren’t, you might not realize that study skills can be taught. In fact, psychologists and educators have developed some highly effective strategies to help people study better and learn more.
So, what are good study skills? Here are some pointers from HowToStudy.com.
• Don’t procrastinate. Schedule a time every day to study, and start promptly.
• Set reasonable goals for each study session. If you plan to study just one chapter or master one concept, you will study more effectively than if you start out by thinking, “I have mountains of information to absorb.”
• Create a quiet place for your study. Equip it with everything you need – from highlighters to a good desk chair.
• Don’t allow interruptions. Turn off your cell phone and tell your friends not to call or text you during your study time.
• Avoid studying when you are hungry. Hunger, like stress, is a distraction that can hamper your ability to learn.
• Start a study group. When you study with other motivated students, you can absorb information more efficiently.
• Take breaks. Frequent little breathers help you maintain your energy and motivation to study.
• Review what you learned later the same day. Even a quick review goes a long way toward getting your new knowledge to “stick.”
To build your study skills even more . . .
Read the Wikipedia article, “Study Skills.” It offers some sound advice on reading efficiently, listening actively, and taking better notes.
1. APPEARANCE
Have you heard the term, “Dress for Success”? This adage is more than just a cliché used to encourage proper dress. If practiced it can make the difference in getting that job you want and not getting the job you want. It takes more than having the credentials and experience to show your professionalism. Your attire is a part of your first impression therefore; it must be memorable in a good way. When you interview it is imperative that you find out the expected dress code. After starting a position, it is also just as important to inquire about the dress code to ensure that you are dressing appropriately daily. Dress codes should not be assumed by someone else’s appearance. Professional attire will make a lasting impression and increase your possibilities of getting the job you want!
2. ATTITUDE
A person’s attitude usually has a great impact on their success rate or lack thereof. Having a positive outlook can increase one’s accomplishments. The same way, having a negative attitude can daunt your chances of achievements. Positivity is always more appealing in the workplace than negativity. Many times employers will promote individuals with positive attitudes versus those that always see the glass as “half empty”. While every employer has challenges in their work place, you must find a way to find the positives and take every challenge as a learning experience leading to your credibility as a medical professional with experience.
3. ATTENDANCE
It has been said, “Half of success is showing up and the other half is showing up on time!” Nothing is truer in the business world. Employers seek those who come to work and refrain from calling out unless necessary. Attendance is usually a part of your performance evaluation. If you are not at work, clearly you cannot make a viable contribution to your team. In an externship, you are required to complete a certain amount of hours. If you are not in attendance, this can hurt your changes at passing and future success. Arriving at work on time is just as important as showing up. Both of these qualities show your dependability. Whether you are going to your externship or job, you should always be on time.
Exciting News!! UMA is now a test site for Prometric, a company that does nursing assistant certification for the state of Florida. We have been approved as a testing site for UMA students only and we are not considered a regional test site. The nursing assistant test dates are as follows:
The applications are available with the Nursing Assistant instructors or Ms. Angela Reyes and completed applications must be given to Ms. Reyes no later than 2 weeks prior to the test date. If you need help with the application, please contact Ms. Reyes at UMA.
You can also visit www.prometric.com/fl/nurseaide for any questions you may have. This is a written and hands on clinical certification exam. Students must be present before 9am on the test date. Shortly, UMA will be offering tutoring on Friday’s for the Nursing Assistant students who may need additional clinical practice. Dates for tutoring will be posted at a later date or you can contact Ms. Reyes.
Understanding your student loan repayment options and learning how to be financially responsible may help you in the repayment of your loans. Choosing not to repay your student loan may negatively affect you. Remember that you’re not alone. Men and women live every day with student loans and pay them off successfully. Your life doesn’t have to be bogged down by debt and you don’t have to feel controlled by financial obligations. Instead, arm yourself with helpful information and handle your loans without worry.
First things first – when you sign the promissory note agreeing to receive and pay back your student loan, you agree to:
• Make your full monthly payments according to the scheduled payment plan.
• Ensure you send your monthly payment on time, to the correct address, regardless of whether or not you received a bill.
Tips for making your monthly payments
• Plan to make your student loan payment from one paycheck per month. On the day you’re paid, write and mail the check to your lender.
• Sign up for automatic withdrawal if your lender or servicer offers this option.
• If you realize a payment is late, call the lender and offer to make an immediate payment over the phone.
• Be careful about making a payment in an amount smaller than that scheduled without the prior approval of the lender. The loan will remain in a delinquent status until the lender receives the agreed-upon payment amount.
• Some lenders offer incentive programs, such as a reduction in your interest rate for on-time payments or using automatic withdrawal. Contact your lender to find out what benefits might be available to you.
Getting help when you are unable to pay
If you are unable to make your scheduled payments, contact your lender to discuss your options. You may be able to lower the amount of monthly payments or even postpone payments. The important thing is to call versus avoiding the situation.
Some of the common options include:
• Deferment – Temporarily postpones repayment of your student loans principal payments for eligible circumstance (i.e. being unemployed).
• Forbearance – Temporarily postpones or reduces repayment of your monthly student loan and is granted at the discretion of the lender.
The process of repaying your student loans can seem complicated; however, the process becomes easier over time. The most important tip is to stay in touch with your lender. Also, UMA is always a resource to you. Feel free to call us to request assistance. We can be contacted at debtmanagement@studymedical.com or by calling 813.676.5714.
UMA held the largest graduation ceremony in school history on January 30, 2010 at the Florida State Fairgrounds. The ceremony celebrated the graduation of over 500 students, from both campus locations and also the first graduates from our online programs. UMA also celebrated the first graduation of the inaugural dental assistant class. With over three thousand family and friends in attendance to support the graduates, the graduation ceremony was a memorable and joyous event.
Campus President Sunny Sharma described the ceremony as “full of energy, excitement and pride.” He said that, “The looks on the students’ faces when they walk across that stage to get that white rose and their diploma and shake our hands – that is the true sense of accomplishment for us all.”
Florida State Representative Janet Long, who served as the graduation speaker, offered inspiration to the hundreds of graduates. She spoke about her experiences and journey to her current position today as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.
Overall, it was an exciting and festive celebration of over 500 UMA graduates. We look forward to our next graduation this coming summer when we will continue to graduate hundreds of more trained healthcare candidates.
Sharma finished by saying that, “Graduation day is the ultimate achievement for our students during their educational journey. But it is not the end – it is just the beginning. This is what it is all about – this is what our students, faculty, and staff work so tirelessly for every day.”
Like any two-way street the relationship between you and Career Services goes in both directions. The success of finding employment lies in both sides’ ability to meet in the middle.
As you are aware, the overall function of Career Services is to prepare and assist you with employment in your field of study. But what is your role? As a graduate your new role is to seek employment. UMA does not expect you to take this journey alone which is why we provide you with a Career Development Specialist (CDS).
Your first responsibility is to meet with your assigned CDS. They will explain all the resources available to you that you should take full advantage of including resume assistance, workshops, and job listings. You will be held accountable for following up with job leads and attending scheduled interviews with your portfolio.
As a student you learned valuable life and employment skills in the Think, Build, Live, Success series. Applying what you learned in Joining the Workforce is an important part of your role. Some of the essentials of what your learned included the importance of doing the following in preparation for all interviews: dressing professionally and wearing minimal jewelry. While appearance is greatly significant while interviewing, you must also remember to work on your networking and communication skills. Keep in mind, when you begin your job search, networking will prove to be extremely valuable to you.
The support and resources available to you at Career Services, combined with your dedication, hard work and in-demand job skills, are the perfect combination. As you travel on your path to success, we will meet you on that two-way street, giving you all the needed directions, guiding you when you are off course, and cheering you on as you reach your destination!
Welcome to the first post on the new Ultimate Medical Academy Blog. Please stop by often, because we have some big plans. In the coming weeks and months, you’ll find ...
Up-to-the-minute information about all things UMA! This blog is your destination for news about the school. You’ll find posts from career services, student services, and more. And fun things too, like profiles of your favorite instructors, recent graduates, and all the great people who contribute to the school.
