Coping my Problems using the COPER

Stressed of not finding the solution to your problems? Frustrated because you can't be happy ?
Tired of thinking 'WHEN IS THIS GONNA END' ?
Anxious because your thinking the problem would resolve itself sooner or later knowing that it won't unless YOU take action? ...




This is exactly how I felt when I couldn't do my Woman's Gender Reading in PEACE ! Fidgeting in my seat, distracted by my friend's loud voices, hearing music on people's laptop made me just want to tell everybody to BE QUIET ! ... but then who would actually listen to me. In reality, NO ONE!

While reading Dr.Blumin's book "It's all about choices", I realized that the title was really true and in order for me to solve my problem, it would be my choice to fix this annoying situation I was in.

Let's go into depth what that "annoying situation" was and I'm pretty sure everybody has had one of these...

MY PROBLEM


For my Woman's Gender class, I would have assignments for homework to read at least 10 set of pages for each particular chapter. Although they might not seem a lot, it's hard to process everything in your head and understand the terminologies. I would have to be extremely focus and re-read the chapters over again to fully understand the main concepts. What was bothering me was that I couldn't do so because of the surrounding around me. It was either...

• My room but my bed would be so inviting for me to sleep so that was a NO !
• The study lounge at Day Hall but my friends were always there which meant DISTRACTIONS !
• The bad staircase at Day hall, although it was quiet and peaceful, it would be cold there and it got UNCOMFORTABLE to sit on the steps for a long period of time and there wasn't any tables so of course, a BIG NO !
  

My solution to end this problem ?

I decided to use the COPER which was really helpful for me because it was visual and actually allowed me write out each step to my problems and what i would do to fix it. This method would allow me to organize what my problem was and it allowed me to focus my attention on what i can do to fix it or to have options on fixing it as well.
How do you use this brilliant method ?

First, you make 5 rows and two columns and then you write in each row..

• Current conditions
• Options
• Plan
• Execute the plan
• Reflect

On the second column you summarize your responses.

1. For current conditions, you write out what was your problems, when did it happen, where does it happen and what were the consequences of it. This step helps you analyze the problem.
2. For options, write out what options you are willing to take to solve your problems and why do you think this would work? Also, write out what do you think the results would be. This step allows you to brainstorm solutions for your problems.
3. For plan, write when will YOU take action for the Options. *include the date and time. This step allows you to have a set date and commit to it.
4. For execute, I didn't really understand what to write for this column but i just wrote what i did to accomplish my solution. This allows you to see what you've done to solve your problem.
5. For reflect, write out how effective your plan was and explain the impact of it. Also, explain if you need to continue this plan or have to consider another option.This allows you to see what was a successful or unsuccessful solution.

My Results

Overall, I tried this method and it helped me see what was a possible solution i can do everyday. First off, i stopped going to the lounge and started going to the library in Bird and Carnegie more often. Everybody studying at the 'quiet room' in bird library respected the fact that it was a quiet room and in Carnegie as well. Although it could get a little noisy in bird library(quiet room), i managed focus on my readings without any distractions. Carnegie was extremely quiet and i could barely hear a pin drop. The only bad thing about Carnegie is that on weekends, they close at 5 in the afternoon. At least i can get my work done on time and concentrate better without any loud noises. My attention span has increased when i read my WGS chapters and i can successfully understand it without any distractions which was often time consuming.

The COPER method has allowed me to actually think about my problem and think of possibilities on what i can do to fix it. It was a guide that allowed me to get up and take action and evaluate the results. I also like the fact that it took off a lot of stress, i mean who doesn't ?

Frittering to Find Time

Fritter Finder the best method to use for those people who say "I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO ANYTHING !". That is one of the biggest mistake's people say and honestly, I am one of them. I would procrastinate so much and leave all my assignments till the end of the day and stay up late till 2-3 in the morning completing my homework assignments. But now that i have found this strategy and used it for some of my course, it has become efficient to use and to look it for an idea what my week is and how will i use my time right.


Fritter Finder is an excellent method for exam preparation or time availability to catch up on readings, review notes before lecture or to do homework. To manage your time, Fritter finder allows you to visually see how much time you have available between, before or after classes. I didn't know how much time i had between classes to actually do some homework and fritter finder allowed me to see that and according to learning preferences, I am a visual learner so this was a perfect method for me to use in order to manage my time.

How to use this method ? First, write a schedule of your weekly classes from the time you wake up every day to when you are ready to go to sleep. Color the spaces of class time with different shades of color and the non-class time with a different color that represents your FREE time. Add the amount of FREE time, and from that time you can decide when you can use it to be productive. All the FREE time you find is the hours you frittered away.

This method is perfect for those who have a busy schedule like working jobs, extra curricular activities, sports, etc..


This method was really helpful for my Spanish 201 class and my Woman's Gender 201 class.

How ?


For my Spanish 201 class, i have to study every Monday and Thursday because my teacher gives out quizzes on those days. But for Monday and Wednesdays, i would have to do many readings for my WGS class, on top of that my 2 other classes assignments. So what i would do is on Monday and Wednesdays, between the classes of my SPA and CLS, I would have an hour break and i would do some readings for WGS in between classes instead of taking naps or socializing. By the time Tuesday would come, I wouldn't have a lot more readings to complete and I could study for my quizzes on Spanish. Instead of sleeping until class started, i can now wake up and review some of my Spanish notes or flashcards before my Sociology class started and then when Spanish class starts i can actually have a fresh memory of yesterday's lesson. The fritter finder also allowed me to find time to do my WGS assignment like essays. I could start doing the readings on Monday and then after all my classes i would start a rough draft on paper and then for Tuesday, bring in my rough draft to my professor to look over. By Wednesday, i would have the final draft and ready to graded.

I am planning on joining clubs such as community service since i have so much free time in my schedule and I plan on finding a job for this semester. With fritter finder, i can see what times are available so i can fit what i can do for non-school work.

So now that i think of it, I ALWAYS have time to do something during the week, i just got to fritter my time right !