There are few things that can tear a fangirl away from her OTPs and schedule of shows, but getting good grades is definitely one of them. When faced with the choice of being a loyal fangirl or being a good student, here are a few things that can keep you in the green of both radars!
Keep a schedule of shows
I use Air Dates for this. They let you color code your shows, so they’re easy to spot
Make an organized folder in your browser
Keep all the links for your shows in here! I organize everything by day, then by show. This helps me stay on track and make sure I know what day it is if I pull an all-nighter.
Schedule your downloads/streams
If the links are available before the official showtime, open them in another window separate from your school work. If you have a DVR or TiVO system, even better!
Make note of the library hours
Set some time aside to get your work done! Know when the library (or other study areas) open and close throughout the day, and set some time aside to sit down and hit the books.
Know your caffeine limit
I know my catchphrase is “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” but it’s important to know your caffeine limits. Coffee is great when you’re studying for finals, but nothing beats a good night’s sleep. Know how much caffeine you can have before it makes you loopy — the withdrawal headaches are not fun!
Never forget your fandom family
If you’re having a tough time at school or just finding it hard to handle a certain plot twist, your fandom family is there to help you! Chances are there will be a few people your age or older who know exactly what you’re going through. Let them help you.
Do not be afraid to ask for help
Asking for what you need is not a sign of weakness. Ollie had to figure it out, Barry had to figure it out, even Prue Halliwell had to figure it out. It’s not a bad thing, and you may make a friend or two in the process!
These are just some of my personal pointers, but everyone has their own way of staying on top of their studies while remaining an active part of fandom life. Whether you decide to wait and binge it all on Netflix or stream/record it week after week, fandoms never die. The key is learning what works for you and how you can balance to get the best of both worlds.
This is your neighborhood fangirl signing off.
May the odds be ever in your favor.
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