Wanna hear a secret? I'm so over sophomore slumping that I've developed ways to slack productively. I've developed a weekly system that allows me to get my work done while re-acclimating to the buckledown.

My behavior over the past weekend was unlike any other. I spent hours on my gal pals' couch eating gross food and watching grosser movies. I spontaneously woke up at 7 a.m. and took the natural course of action of dive-bombing all my friends to wake up and play with me. I danced until my heels sliced into my feet, laughed until my throat was raw and more or less had the best weekend ever.

The best part? I got all my work done. Last year, my floormates and I were slaves to the Sunday afternoon homework and Jimmy John's binge. But I refuse to let another weekend kick my butt.

No longer will I be a slave to the afternoon wake up. I refuse to sit down and let the slump take me over. It's time to fight back, and here are my weapons of choice: Rounds. My friend adopted this term to describe my routine trek to see friends around VWK. "Did you just come from upstairs?" he'll ask. I'll mutter a sheepish "yeah" before parking on his couch to discuss my daily dilemma. But by the time I finish my circuit, I know I have to haul it if I want to get to bed at a decent hour.

Noodles at noon: It all started one day when I was eating Ramen around 3 p.m. and was struck by the thought, "I wish it was 12 so I could say I was eating noodles at noon." This bonehead comment sparked a tradition.  

After waking up on Saturday mornings/afternoons we do a munchies-run and park on some luxurious four-inch memory foam to watch trashy movies all day. Once we've vegetated enough, I'm ready to put in a few solid hours of homework before planning the duration of the evening.

Sunday Nug-day: Ah, Sunday, homework day. Hangovers are abundant, focus is nowhere to be found, but eventually it's time to git 'er done. When I need a boost in the afternoon to perk up, I usually go the route of three orders of Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets and two large fries. Not necessarily artery friendly, but it's a quick study break that's easier on the wallet than ordering in.

Shake it up: Ok, I actually did pull that all-nighter. I recently procrastinated so badly on a project that I left the College Park Center as my professor was arriving for the day. Fearing accidentally sleeping through a morning class, I decided to go for a run outside as the sun came up. Maybe it was all the spray glue inhalation, but it was the COOLEST thing ever. I started the day in a fantastic mood.

If there's anything I've learned as the semester picks up, you have to make time for yourself. Fitting in a few fun rituals during the week can make the daily grind much more bearable. Until then, only 10 more weeks until the end of the semester.