How Can Having a Pet Help you in Graduate School?

Meet Daisy (my first fur child)

And Meet Buddy (the newest addition to my family)

Best Friends

I never realized it until recently how much these two little animals influence me in all aspects of life and school. Especially Buddy,as he is still a baby (8 months old), he requires much more attention than Daisy who is 7 years old. Both owning a dog and being in Graduate school have one major thing in common, they are both a BIG responsibility and commitment that should be carefully thought out.

How have my dogs influenced my life during school:

 Motivation

·         Like clockwork every morning between 5:55 and 6:15 Buddy is up and ready to go. His alarm clock of choice is licking my face and sitting on me! I on the other hand would like to hit the snooze button on my alarm until 6:30 or stay in bed for a while lol. He gives me motivation to get out of bed and start my day off early. Sometimes I will work out, read a chapter of my book for class while eating breakfast, play outside with them, or simply relax before work or school. When the weather is nice this is even more of a motivation for me to exercise, do things outside, take the dogs for a walk, or play with them. They motivate me to get my work done so I can play with them or take a break instead of being stuck inside all day staring at a computer. Most of all, they keep me going and help increase my energy.

Stress Relief 

·         There is no greater feeling that snugging up next to my dogs. They know when I feel stressed and need comfort and are always there smiling at me and wagging their tails. They make the best study/homework buddies and will stay up with me through all hours of the night. As much as Buddy and his new found love for “marking his territory” in my house annoys me lol, I wouldn’t trade having him or daisy for the world. They simply make me happier! Not to mention I sleep 100% better at night having them in bed with me.

     Responsibility

·         I consider myself a very responsible person to begin with however, having two dogs forces me to not just think about myself. I need to make sure they have food, water, get taken out, plan trips accordingly, and so forth. This forces me to be very organized and manage my time more effectively. This is a very valuable skill in graduate school.

        Patience

·         Buddy’s new found behavior of marking his territory is really testing my patience these days. However, both of them have tested my patience on more than one occasion. When we first moved into our house Daisy used to go to the bathroom in our bedroom out of spite. When we first got Buddy, he hated his cage and would cry all night long. Not to mention go to the bathroom in it and wake up 4-5 times a night. They have both taught me to count to 10 and realize it’s okay, there are worse things that could be happening in life.

Owning a dog is not as easy as it sounds especially when you have two. Having any pet is a big responsibility in regards to time, money, and sacrifices that you may have to make. At the end of the day though, they will be a loyal best friend and someone who will love you not matter what each and every day. I am thankful to have my fur babies on this grad school journey with me <3

How have your pets helped you during your graduate school journey?

-Jessica 

Relax and Unwind

Whether you just finished your semester or graduated with your Bachelor’s degree it is time to relax and unwind. This weekend marks the official kick off to summer, and you should ENJOY every minute of free time! For those of you who just graduated, this will be the last summer you fully have to yourself for a while so make the most of it! For those of you who just finished your semester enjoy your few weeks off before summer classes begin, or if you don’t have summer classes, use your free time wisely to get ahead and relax. You just worked your tail off, lost hours of sleep, ate your stresses away, and most likely missed social outings, and spending quality time with family, friends, and significant others. It is time to make up for lost time and reconnect with your family, friends, significant others and most of all yourself. All work and no play can make a person go stir crazy. Our bodies and minds need a break. You want to go into your next semester refreshed, relaxed, and ready to go!

Some things you could do this summer to help yourself relax, feel better, and develop good habits for the fall!

·        Catch up on sleep and all of your favorite shows you may have missed during the school year.

·        Eat healthy (junk food is tempting but, think about how you feel after eating it all the time).

·        Treat yourself to dessert, a drink, and etc. (everything in moderation and you should never deprive yourself).

·        Go to the beach, pool, or wherever your relaxation spot may be and just “veg” and clear your mind. For me personally, that is the beach.

·        Take day trips with family/friends, go on a mini weekend getaway or week vacation if you can, and most of all enjoy your time.

·        Start/continue to exercise and get into a routine. It is beyond hard to start but, once you get into a routine you will start to feel better physically and emotionally.

o   Take a walk/jog on the beach, walk your dog, walk at night with friends.

o   Go to the gym.

o   Try yoga or meditation.

o   Ride your bike, scooter, etc.

o   Do laps in your pool or community pool.

o   Take a dance class or try a new exercise class.

o   Do workouts at home.

(Anything you do is better than nothing. Take 25-30 minutes of “me” time a day to focus on your own well-being. If you can’t commit to 5x a week then set a goal for 3x a week. Make a routine that will work for you).

Most of all enjoy the warm weather and do what makes you happy =)

-Jessica

A Big Congratulations!

         A big congratulations to our fellow Masters and Doctoral graduating Graduate Students, at Stockton University. Today is the day you have been waiting for, all of your hard work and dedication was worth it. Stephanie and I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors. Remember that no matter where you go in life, you will always have your Stockton Family! Cheers to this next chapter in your lives and Congratulations again!

Jessica & Stephanie