March Special

MARCH

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SPECIAL

C O M M U N I C AT I O N C O U N C I L MOODY MAGAZINE AZINE C O M M U N I C AT I O N C O U N C I L MOODY MA Y MAGAZINE C O M M U N I C AT I O N C O U N C I L MOO

HELEN HULSEY

Layout Designer

Contributors Moody Magazine’s Monthly Specials are produced by members of the Magazine Committee, a subsidiary of the Moody College of Communication’s Communication Council at the University of Texas at Austin.

Special thanks to Nickoli Benkert, Julia Whitehorn, and the Moody Writing Center for proofing.

JULIA CUDDY Writer

ALEX ROEDER Designer

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CONTENTS 3

March Madness: Study Spot Edition

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The March Slump

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Playlist of the Month

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MARCH MADNESS Study Spot Edition PCL 5th Floor PCL 6th Floor PCL 6th Floor EER EER EER ECE EER Speedway Tables Speedway Tables South Mall Speedway Tables Union 1st Floor

Union Study Rooms

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Union Study Rooms

As any seasoned studier knows, environment is an essential element of productivity. With midterms looming, it’s imperative to have a solid study spot on campus, but with so many options available it might be hard to find. Luckily, we’ve done the work for you with a March Madness style study spot bracket.

We weighed the many factors of each location carefully, from overall

vibes to air quality to the likelihood of encountering Sister Cindy. After hours of intense intellectual debate, we reached a consensus on the most highly coveted spot on campus.

Although our opinions are based, feel free to decide for yourself amongst the plethora of study spots available to students on campus.

Study on!

WCP (formerly SAC) WCP FAC WCP SLS

Student Leadership Suite Dealey Courtyard

Tower Library Architecture Library Tower Library Tower Library Tower Library Gregory Gym Littlefield Littlefield

Winner: The Tower Library 4

THE MARCH SL U

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Written by Julia Cuddy Illustrated by Alex Roeder

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Here is how we can do more than just survive this month.

The season of secret Santas and secret admirers is now behind us, but we are not yet seeing the spring flowers bloom or embracing the sweet smell of summer in the air. March feels a bit like the “Wednesday of the semester,” leading many of us to feel stuck or “slumped” as we work through midterms and midday breakdowns.

Here is how we can do more than just survive this month and march right through to sweet, sweet spring together.

The hustle of midterm exams and big projects can be daunting and often mentally challenging to tackle each day.

Changing up your environment might be easier said than done, but it can have a huge impact on clearing the inevitable brain fog that rolls in on tired days. With online classes in full swing for many UT students, it is easy to stay stagnant at the computer for hours on end. One way to change up your routine is to find a new spot around campus or venture to a nearby coffee shop to be in the company of others typing away and feed off their motivation and focused energy. Split up the big chunks of time spent studying with small breaks filled with things that make you feel good, such as making a delicious snack, solving the impossible Wordle of the day, or calling a family

member. Instead of treating these tasks as rewards for doing your work, intentionally alternate between the things you have to do and things you like to do.

Incentives are great but can feel robotic at times, so shifting your mindset this way can get you out of the restless, repetitive cycle.

With TikTok trends flooding our feeds telling us exactly how productive our lives as college students should look, it is difficult to feel like we are doing enough. There is always more work to be done, more side hustles to start, and more internships to apply to. But that is the issue: —There is no end in sight. You must listen to yourself before strangers online or peers in your class dictate how you prioritize your life. Do not just “push through” because other people tell you to do so. Burnout is real, and it is crucial that you listen to yourself and evaluate your needs. Pushing through a full day of classes, studying, work and social time might just sound like another day as a college student, but none of those things are more important than your health. Get your most important things done for the day and then re-evaluate how you are feeling. Can you keep going and check one more box off your list? Or do you need some quiet time, maybe a walk, or some time with friends? Check in with yourself realistically before pushing through another chaotic day until you crawl into bed and do the same thing again tomorrow.

March is a busy month that lacks personality, so it is our job to make it our own and try to enjoy it. Pushing through is overrated, so reclaim your March by taking it day by day and finding the balance between little joys and little wins.

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Moody Magazine’s

PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH Curated by: Julia Cuddy Ivana Darancou Helen Hulsey Alyssa Lindblom Daniella Nassar Alex Roeder Barrett Senn Sarah Xu

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The air’s getting warmer - windows down kind of warm. Spring Break looms on the horizon.

Moody Magazine’s March Playlist is guaranteed to put a little extra bounce in your step on the way to class, with upbeat tunes from the likes of COIN, Stevie Wonder, and Father John Misty.

Stay tuned for our next monthly playlist by following our Spotify account, Moody Magazine.

SCAN TO LISTEN!

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