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Who was it who said 'Genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration'? They should have said 90% good time management. No point working hard if you aren't really focused on the tasks that need to be done and applying the right amount of time to those that matter. My challenge is doing the hard tasks rather than being distracted by concentrating on things I enjoy (it's still work, after all!). It's such a skill to have the discipline to work out what needs to be done and just get on with it. Don't think I've quite got it together yet.

I can't believe that one week of semester is gone already and before I know it, it will be Week 3.

Week 1 is almost over already. We had an awesome crowd at the first lunch. It was great to see some folk catching up after Flying Start and others meeting for the first time.

Week 2 we have our Info Panel on Tuesday 11th, 1pm in Rm G202 -that is in the Social Sciences South Wing courtyard. There will be some key members of staff who will give  a bit of an overview of some things you might need to think about at this time of year and you can ask questions. Anyone welcome -bring friends along, they don't have to be in UniSkills.

First year students at Flying Start orientation were challenged to design something from the university of the future. The winning concept, a stunningly simple design modelled with just a couple of balloons and some alfoil, aimed to solve parking problems and enable future FY students to have a parking permit. This won a resounding vote of support from the audience and the design team clearly have a great future of problem solving and providing technical solutions ahead of them.

Flying Start 2008 is happening right at the moment. Thursday was an action-packed day and I'll bet there will be some tired people when those hardy souls who elected to stay over at Currie Hall get themselves up this morning. Being a bit of a morning person, I've already packed my bag and headed back over to the office to check out a few things before we get underway for another day.

If you've been reading comments in the forum on procrastination, but don't really believe that you procrastinate, there's a neat little test that you can take on this American uni website just on procrastination: http://dennislearningcenter.osu.edu/dontdelay/

check it out and see how you rate.

We've had quite a few comments on our forum topic of procrastinating -it seems to strike a common chord with many. Check them out at through the link on the right hand side menu. Even the West Australian this morning was reporting a study of Curtin students about procrastination. About how cutting the time short to achieve a task can get the adrenaline pumping and be positive, but if you don't leave yourself enough time - then it's counter-productive, as you just get really stressed. It's working out that balance between enough time and running short that's tricky...

Semester 2 is well and truly underway with about 50 UniSkills students enjoying lunch on Tuesday. Most were familiar faces but we had some students who have just started. There were some anxious moments when the pizza delivery was a bit delayed but that just gave everyone an excuse to hang about and chat until the food arrived.

For some students, this week is the first week on campus. They are busy enrolling, going to orientation and generally being introduced to campus life.