For those of us obsessed with Parks and Rec, Leslie Knope is one of the best role models that a girl could ask for. She’s hard working, passionate, and caring; however, most of all, she’s real. She’s not held to an unattainable standard, and she goes through ups and downs just like the rest of us. With a new semester upon us, I felt like it would be a great time to channel our inner Leslie Knope. And, I mean, who doesn’t want to be like her?
Start off right and get the semester organized right off the bat
There’s no shame in being over-prepared for the semester. It’s definitely better than being underprepared, which can be quite the wake-up call. Get your syllabi in order, make sure you know the details of every class (including attendance policies…), and, if you really want to Knope it up, get color-coded everything.
Try to grab something to eat in the morning
The best way to start the day: Waffles (According to Leslie). However, if you don’t have time to eat a full breakfast in the morning (which a lot of us don’t), just grab something. A nutritionist told me that something, like an apple or a granola bar, jumpstarts your metabolism and allows you to start the day right.
Find ways to keep you motivated, especially when things feel low
We all reach that lull – the point in the semester where everything seems gray (and I’m not talking about the permacloud). It’s hard to even open up your laptop to do work and it’s harder to drag yourself to class, especially when it’s in a distant location. Things like getting a pep talk from your friends or family, watching cat videos (my personal favorite), or even listening to your favorite song by Sarah Mclaughlin that pumps you up. Just finding a way over that hump will help a lot in the long run.
Stay positive
Nothing can hurt a semester more than negativity, and once it starts, it seems never-ending. Take a positive outlook on some things that may seem dreary, like an exam or a paper that seems impossible. When that happens just remember that, if negativity happens to fall in your path, you are a beautiful, talented, brilliant, powerful musk ox.
Don’t stress yourself out too much, take some time and treat yourself
If we were to all go-go-go for all hours of the day every day, we would all be exhausted and our brains would almost be non-existent. It’s not shameful to take time for yourself. That could mean hanging out with friends and watching a movie, or chilling in your bed just reading a book. Just make sure you have days where your mind and body can catch up with you. Somehow, Leslie is always working, but she’s a superhuman, so we’ll ignore that.
Work hard
This one seems so trivial, but it’s the epitome of Leslie Knope’s work ethic. She gives everything her all, and doesn’t second guess herself. If you trust yourself and your capabilities, you will get far in whatever you do. Working hard can mean something different for everyone, so make sure you work hard and know your limits.
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