50 Points: Balancing Work & Play

An article with 50 points on balancing work and play (Ben Jones, MIT) holds some great advice for students, even though I don’t agree with all fifty points.

7 Points I Agree With:

42. “Wash your sheets more than once a year. Trust me on this one.”

A strong correlation exists between the number of washes and the number of people sleeping in them.

11. “Don’t date someone your roommate has been in a relationship with.”

Or anyone you want to stay friends with.

7. “…do something fun and irresponsible when you should be studying.”

I still fondly recall how my network point was cut over RooiHub, but I have never reflected on an Environmental Engineering exam. And I wrote it twice.

10. “Go on dates. Don’t feel like every date has to turn into a relationship.”

Amen, Shofarians.

15. “All-nighters are entirely overrated.”

You can only study for 4 hours a day anyway. If you don’t drink for two weeks, 6 hours. But you’ll go insane if you keep at it.

32. “Take lots of pictures.”

43. “If none of your friends want to hang out with you and your girlfriend or boyfriend, pay attention. They usually know better than you do.”

3 Points I Disagree With:

31. “Don’t always lead. It’s good to follow sometimes.”

Bullshit. Always lead.

33. “Your health and safety are more important than anything.”

Jagermeister?

21. “Welcome failure into your lives. It’s how we grow…”

Homeless people have failure covered. Instead, welcome success and winning into your life.

(“paraphrased excerpts” from 50 Things by Ben Jones, 23 Aug ’06)