April Goals

I was reading another blog earlier and saw that every month, the writer set herself goals for things to achieve in the forthcoming month. I thought it was a lovely idea, hence this post being here! It will be nice to carry this on throughout the year so that I can actually see that I'm doing something, and it'll be an easy way to blog more. So, here are April's goals...

1. go running

There was a stage after Christmas where I was running pretty much every other day, and I started to really enjoy it. I think I stopped when I restarted Tae Kwon Do because that was a more sociable form of exercise, but now that I'm home for Easter I'm not able to train- so I definitely need to do something! As of tomorrow I will start running every other day again, and I will hopefully carry it on once back in Southampton too...because I don't really fancy turning into a huge blob over the Easter break!

2. be motivated

I noticed that towards the end of last term (probably for the last 3 or so weeks) I've had little or no motivation for anything to do with university work, despite the fact that I was still really enjoying my modules and do want to do well. So, I'm going to get back on track this month. I've already started planning for my Stage and Screen module portfolio (which isn't due until 22nd May...gasp) and have planned out an essay that isn't due until 5th May- hopefully I will knuckle down this holiday and get some proper work done so that when I go back to Southampton I can feel a little less stressed and crazy!

3. read more books

I realised that I haven't actually read a book that I want to read, that is, outside of my university course, since reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (a review of which can be found here). In fairness, I haven't actually been reading all that much for university either, so I don't have any excuse not to be reading! I still have a stack of books left from my last book splurge, so I think I will get myself back into the swing of reading with either William Burrough's Junky, or Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being as I have both of those at home with me!

4. worry less

Another thing I found towards the end of last term was that I was worrying about everything. Even things that don't need worrying about. So, I think I need to concentrate on worrying about things that I can actually do something about...and instead of sitting about in an anxious mess, actually doing something productive about the things that I'm worrying about. It's definitely easier said than done, but if I manage to get my motivation back on track hopefully I'll find myself with less on my mind!

Update on...pretty much everything!

Seeing as I've just come to the end of my second term at Southampton (gasp, time please slow down) it seems fitting to do a little round up of recent happenings, especially as this term has been a pretty hectic one! I've also realised that I haven't blogged in a very long time...I spend a lot of time being busy doing nothing when I'm at university, but I'm hoping to get back on track with this blog from now on!

The last time I actually did any sort of life update was way way back in November, so five months down the line you'd think I'd have a lot to talk about- and I probably do, but I can't really remember everything I've been doing. It's probably easiest to do little sub-headings of important parts so that I can get everything down (which is probably better than plodding through month by month!).

I'll start with University:

Work-wise, everything seems to be going pretty much okay. I managed to bag myself a couple of firsts on some of the assignments that I was completing over the Christmas holidays, and a first in my Old English exam, so that stuff was good. A new semester meant new modules, and I think almost everyone taking the Old English module last semester was extremely happy to say goodbye to it! My modules this semester have been far better than the ones I was formerly taking- but I have to say that I really miss doing a proper Film module. My favourite at the moment is Stage and Screen, which as the name would suggest is about as close to a Film module as English can get. We've been looking specifically at the Classic Hollywood period, along with looking at theatre too- and it was this module that bagged us all a free ticket to see Caryl Churchill's A Number at the Nuffield Theatre (my little write up can be found here). Surprisingly, I've really enjoyed Critical Theory too- even though after most of the lectures I exit questioning almost everything about my life and literature! The last part of this year, when I go back to Southampton after Easter, is probably going to be the most important part of the year. I haven't got any exams (high five to English degrees) but I do have two 'take away' essays (that unfortunately do not include take aways, though I'm sure my flatmate Becca and I will reaching for the late night Dominos when writing them), and two portfolios...so I think things will be pretty hectic once I'm back. My only worry is the horrible lack of motivation I've had for the last few weeks or so, I found myself submitting work that I knew could probably be better whilst saying that I didn't care- which for anyone who knows me, is really, really unlike me. I'm hoping that a little time off and a break will help get me back on track and that once I'm back in Southampton I will get my bum back into gear and finish this year well!

Whilst writing that, I've kind of realised that I'm going to bore anyone who reads this to death if I carry on rambling, so for the rest I'll just do a little summation of good stuff that has happened! Nick coming to stay in February was ace, as you will know if you've read my blogpost about it! It was really cool being touristy in a place I've lived in for about 7 months now, and was great fun showing Nick around. The lovely Georgia also came to stay at the end of term, and it's fair to say we remember very little of it...but I think two great nights out were what we needed! In March, I went to see Joanna,  a friend from a module last semester, in a play called The God of Carnage (which I didn't review and I feel a little bad about) and it was hands down the funniest play I have ever seen, and it was only composed of one scene with four cast members. I need to carry on doing nice little things like going to the theatre, and I think after I've finished my assignments for this semester I may have to treat myself to another trip. In March I was also lucky enough to go to the Student Tae Kwon Do Nationals (yep, after six years I have started Tae Kwon Do again) with Southampton's club which was an amazing experience- not only because we won overall, but being part of such a great team was incredible. A more recent cool thing was seeing Wild Beasts in Cambridge on Monday, which was absolutely amazing (...and another thing I haven't reviewed but should have done). They were supported by a really cool guy called East India Youth, who is very temptingly playing at Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth soon- so I might have to go to that. Looking at all of the good things that have happened over the term show how great it's been, and I have lots more to look forward to! On 2nd May I have the Athletics Union Ball with Tae Kwon Do, on 6th I'm finally seeing Arcade Fire with Georgia and Bradley, and I've also put the deposit down on my Reading ticket for this year- so things are looking good!

Georgia in Southampton feat. most of my flatmates!

SUTKD!

Sorry for such a heavy text based post, I will hopefully have some more interesting stuff to come soon! (watch out for a denim jacket post feat. Ladybird Likes, more book reviews when I get myself back into reading, and probably a post about the AU Ball!)