Are you overwhelmed by school? Or do you wish to rewind time so you could do things differently in poly? Here are some tips on how to make the best out of the remaining time in Poly.
Before we begin…
Breathe. Take a deep breath—inhale slowly and deeply through your nose. This will make you feel slightly more composed. When work gets too stressful, deep breathing can help clear your mind. This way, you will be better able to tackle the tough situations at hand.
3 Things to Avoid for a Better Time in Poly
#1 Unhealthy comparison with others
Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Comparison is the thief of joy”. This is a quote I hold dear to me. After I learnt to let go, I became more content and less fearful.
Personally, I have a fear of academic failure which drives my need to be ‘on top of everything’ especially for AD (Distinction) grades. Neglecting personal life to feed my ‘workaholic syndrome’ became an unhealthy lifestyle and I fell into the trap of semi-consciously comparing my school life to others’ seemingly breezy one on Instagram.
As I began to realise how toxic this mindset was, I decided to intentionally withdraw from the ‘FOMO’ mindset and focus on thriving in the present. By doing so, it saved me from the comparison slump. You should really only care about knowing your own worth. Stop wasting precious time comparing altogether and go thrive and be joyful as you are and can be.
#2 Excessive need for control
None of us like losing control—it makes us feel powerless. We want to take control of our lives to see that things go as planned. However, there are many outcomes in life that are difficult to control such as driving. Beyond my control is whether I fail three times and end up retaking two months later.
Fortunately, there are things within my control. I can choose to start my Basic Theory Test (BTT) now and practice later.
If I focus on what’s beyond my control, I may end up not starting at all. I might like driving if I was keen on learning it to begin with but I will never know my capability until I plunge into the activity itself.
You cannot control your circumstances, but you can control your choices and responses to each situation.
#3 Allowing criticism to get into your head
For most of us, criticism—constructive or not—is like a penetrating sword to the heart. Hurtful words wound and they can linger for a long time.
Instead of letting criticism get to you, own it and stand up for what you believe in. I’m not suggesting that you retaliate but there will be times when we have to swallow hard words.
On the other hand, constructive criticism helps to speed up the growth process to the benefit of those who want to be nurtured. There’s enough space for everyone to grow, so let’s not stunt one another’s growth.
3 Actions to Take
Now that we have talked about what we should avoid, here are some tips on what you should do instead.
#1 Learn to let go
If you’ve ever gotten super glue between your fingers, you know that your fingers are going to be stuck together for some time. We may not like to admit it but sometimes, we are like superglue.
Sometimes we find ourselves in sticky situations, refusing to move on. Friends come and go; grades can move up and down the scale; dwelling on these things will not get us anywhere. It is better to let go, move on with life and look forward to the endless possibilities that life brings.
#2 Serve others
What does serving others look like? I don’t mean offering to be a canteen waitress to your friends at lunch or tanking the entire group project like the soloist you are. To me, serving is putting others’ needs above your own.
Would you drop everything at once to hear and attend to your friends’ call for help? Would you delegate additional workload to yourself if a project mate has urgent family issues to attend to?
Assuredly some of the fondest memories shared between my friends and I are through helping one another. It is exceptionally delightful to experience receiving support and making every effort to give without expecting any kindness in return.
But it is important to know your limits. Consider the load you can carry and ensure you don’t drown together in someone else’s burdens that were not meant for you to bear. In this process of giving help, invite others to help you when you need it. The extra confidence and wisdom gained from a supportive friend, peer or tutor is surely a win-win for all.
#3 Shine a light
I once heard someone say: “There is always a light at the end of the tunnel; May we begin with the end in mind; Be the change you want to see”.
Nobody likes walking in darkness. Starting from where you are at, believe you are a glimmer of light that shines brighter the more it is tuned.
Fill your mind with thoughts of gratitude for the life you’ve been given and let your glimmer grow bigger and brighter. When two or more glimmers come together, the light only gets more powerful. May you glow brighter and more brilliantly with love for others.
Before we end…
This article has come to an end, more so the beginning of something new that starts with you! Go redeem that time, it has never been lost but simply needs to be found. Wishing the Year 3s especially all the best in finding and seizing the remaining time!
