#13 - Chop Life Chop Book

As a serious student, you have to read and read till your head starts bringing out smoke. If it means burning the night candle five days in a row, you'd do it. There's no doubt to it.

And when it comes to socializing with people, you'd be far behind because that's a distraction you won't condone. As for fashionable clothes, you'd turn it down. Besides, serious students don't have time for fashion.

You don't have time for all that. Serious students don't waste time on looking good rather they spend it on reading books.

Alright, if you made it this far, I'm glad. But the thing is, seriousness in the context above is overrated. And if you operate within this context, my friend, you're absolutely fucked. Truth is, you're missing out in other interesting aspects of life.

THE CHOP LIFE CHOP BOOK PRINCIPLE

If you chop book, slow down and chop life provided you won't go astray.

Jeez! I made that up. But who cares anyway. All I'm trying to point out is that...

Life in University is not all about book, book and book. There are other aspects you ought to explore. Without this exploration, you'll lack the exposure needed to understand life in a broader perspective. 

With this in mind, I suggest you adopt the chop life chop book principle.

So what does that mean anyway? Does it mean living recklessly and attending parties every now and then? Does it mean becoming a marlian who gives zero fucks about things of relevance such as studying?

Well, it doesn't mean all that. And if that's your perspective about it, then its flawed. Chop life, by this definition, means a different thing entirely.

Chop life, in this context, means enjoying your life to the fullest by doing the needful, which, of course, is studying hard and at the same time not missing out in the social aspects of your life

By using this principle, you create a balance that keeps you in tune with the affairs of life. It even equips you with part of the exposure needed in handling the affairs of life as it unfolds itself. 

And in turn, it relaxes your mind. Thus, preventing you from burn-out, frustration or dispiritedness that comes from prolonged hours of serious work. 

Click on this to read more about burnt-out.

I HAVE A CONFESSION 

When I was a freshman in college, I was a hardcore chop book student. I was bent on working hard to ace my scores without giving relevance to socializing with people. I stayed indoor almost all the time as a means of avoiding distractions.

Well, it was a tough call but it actually payed off. I aced the scores as I wanted. But then, deep inside, there was this exhaustion I felt. There was no balance between my academic life and my social life.

This imbalance made me a loner. And fuck! It wasn't funny. But that's the exact reason I'm writing this to you—so you won't end up making the same mistakes as I did.

Getting excellent grades? Yes I did. But using this style made me a lonely freak even though it was quite effective. But who wants loneliness in the name of effectiveness or getting excellent grades? I bet you don't.

So what if I tell you that you can get excellent grades and at the same time not miss out on your social life. That said, you can effectively chop life and the same time chop book.

HERE ARE THE RULES

The rules are quite simple and easy to follow. But it's not what you think: I'm not here to tell you what to do. I'm here to tell you to think through the rules. That is, all the talks you've received in the name of advice from all your loved ones that's made you see varsity as a place where you do nothing but book

However, I don't mean varsity is not a place where your prime focus should be on book. Because if you do think so or you think I'm trying to tell you not to focus on your books, you're getting this whole article wrong. 

This article is an insight on why you should create a balance in whatever you do during your stay in varsity. 

Now, before then, I was talking about thinking through the rules. Oh, I forgot to mention thinking through the rules requires breaking the rules. But before you get tensed up and all that scared about breaking the rules, please stay put. 

You'd break the rules but:

1. You'd sit down, analyze and tap from the wealth of advice you've received from all people on how to run your life in varsity
2. After tapping from those advice, you'd use it as a guide in forming what works for you instead of just adhering to what they told you, blindly
3.  You'd do a trial and error to test things out so as to know what suits you best before finalizing on how, when and what techniques to use to study.

By following this path, you get to create your own operating principles which suits you best instead of copying and pasting that of others. And that's fun because you'd be breaking rules, however, in a good way.

Truth is, what's works for Mr X might not necessarily work for Mr Y. We humans are individually unique. Even though we share certain characteristics with one another, there are certain features we uniquely have. 

Cognitive and physiological processes varies from person to person. So it doesn't makes sense to just incorporate what some else tells you without thinking through it.  

You're different. He is different. I am different. What you ought to do is sit, analyze and understand what you've been told critically. However, there are some certain dos and donts that are ethically binding. Those, I suggest you adhere strictly. 

Now, in order to create the balance you need to chop life and at the same time chop book, you ought to practice moderation in your affairs. And in order to do so, you should:

BE SERIOUS BUT DONT BE TOO SERIOUS

There's a saying that too much of everything is not good. When you over do something, you end up getting tired and uninterested in that activity you're doing. Learn to practice moderation. Don't be too hard on yourself. 

BE SOCIAL BUT DON'T BE TOO SOCIAL

Make friends, attend one or two functions. Perhaps a party or anything of such. But hey! I don't mean a bad one. 

Be free and open. Enjoy yourself to the fullest. However, don't over do it. Practise moderation. Remember, too much of everything is bad. 

Chop life, but don't forget to chop book. Your prime focus should be on your book. Any other thing that comes after that is not really your primary concern. Don't forget the principle...

     If you chop book, slow down and chop life provided you won't go astray.