Mindset – The Western Howl

April 2, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

With springtime just around the corner, ‘tis the season to start the term with a fresh mindset. A good mindset can be cultivated by many factors, including staying organized, sticking to a routine and having a designated spot for work.

Organize one’s space — Having an organized room is crucial for the start of a term. It is much easier to focus on classes and other important things if supplies are readily available. In my experience, having an organized space helps declutter my own mind. I become more focused and productive when my surroundings match that mindset. It can be very easy for an area to become disorganized, so one should try to take a little bit of time each day to make sure that everything is back in its correct place.

Create a routine — Make sure to know one’s class schedule in order to plan meals, study time and other events around it. I like to dedicate at least one hour a day outside of class to productivity, for things like checking emails, performing chores or doing that task that I’ve been putting off for a while. I also try to make time to be active, whether it’s going to the gym, doing yoga in the comfort of my room or going on a walk around campus. Don’t forget to carve out time for rest and relaxation. It’s important to remember that what works best for someone might not work for others. Taking a nap or relaxing in between classes might be a great idea for one person, but personally, naps make me unmotivated and groggy for the rest of the day. Figure out what works best for oneself, then try to stick with it for the whole term.

Find a good study spot — Beds are for sleeping, not studying. It may be tempting to write an essay or study for an exam from the comfort of one’s own bed, however, research shows that it may be harder to fall asleep if people do homework or scroll on their phone in bed. Studying outside is a great alternative, especially with the warmer weather of spring. My favorite outdoor spots are the Grove, the tables outside the Richard Woodcock Education Center and Main Street Park in Monmouth. When the weather isn’t ideal for an outdoor study session, Hamersly Library or one’s favorite cafe are great alternatives. If certain spots are only used for studying, one can trick their brain into being in a productive mood by simply going to that spot.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home »

Mental strength transforms you

Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor

To preface this article, I am a terrible role model to follow. I do way too many activities, have way too little time and rely far too heavily on the luck I’ve had making it this far. I am in the volleyball program at Western, which is incredible to be a part of. A large portion of that is because our weights performance coaches, Coach Jo and Coach Metzgar, do their job so well that the only thing we have to do is sleep, eat and show up. The hard part is being able to mentally show up day after day.

Everybody has heard the famous saying, “The mind gives up long before the body does.” Nobody knows that saying better than me and my team during our twice-a-week cardio sessions. I’ve had struggles with a busy schedule, as well as having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder which makes it difficult for me to focus and perform actions correctly. It manifests during weights, when I have to remember our barbell complex or during practice, when I forget — once again — to open up my angle during serve receive. Last quarter, I was putting in 32 hours of work in addition to working another job, schoolwork, volleyball and weights sessions.

It’s frustrating and mentally taxing. If you’re in a similar situation, you know exactly what I’m talking about. When life steps on you every day, refusing to stop and humbling you in ways you didn’t even know were possible, the mind has two choices: it can either collapse or it can grow some muscle to hold up all that weight.

I remember thinking to myself in mid-March, “Maybe I just wasn’t made for all this. Is this where my athleticism stops? Is this my limit?” Looking back on it, my brain and body needed a break, and I went home for spring break, to vent and reflect on what I’ve been feeling so far. What flashed through my mind was all of those times I thought I wouldn’t make it through cardio.

I decided that my new belief is — when something is wrong and my mind is tired, I’m going to fight for myself and believe in my potential. I made a few decisions to push myself forward. I took some weights off of the barbell in my brain. I started ADHD medication, I put my foot down at work — weekends only, so volleyball and school take precedence. I even reorganized my room and started opening my blinds so the sun could attempt to fix my circadian rhythm in the morning. Now, who knows whether the changes will be sustainable. However, I’ve already felt like I’ve successfully spotted my brain after it failed a lift. I took some weight off, and I worked my way back up again. Now, the weight moves easier, because I believe in my potential.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

The Western Howl

Home »

Watching anime can inspire, embolden and transform

Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor

Anime. Such a peculiar hill to die on. I think so too. I also think we all have some innate urge to share what is close to us, especially if it has a great impact on who we are as a person or changes the way we think.

Consumption of inspiring media, such as sports or shonen anime, can be of great benefit for personal growth. Many of my personal tales are centered around, and can partially be attributed to, beliefs and values I determined for myself while watching anime.

In my senior year of high school, I read Haikyuu — a manga about high school volleyball players. I decided I wanted to play professionally — like the main character. “He who climbs the ladder must begin at the bottom” — Ittetsu Takeda.

I played in community college for two years as the starting libero. I became an All-American. I was one of the top junior college liberos in the country — among other accolades. I flew to Nebraska to demonstrate in front of Division One coaches for a national conference. It was there that I met the Team USA Olympic Coach, Karch Kiraly. I walked up to him and told him, “I play at community college, I am going to transfer to university and then I am going pro.”

I didn’t have any commitments or any prospects at the time.

Regardless, he invited me to go to the national open program, so I flew to Colorado Springs to play with the top volleyball players in the nation. Then I flew to Connecticut to sign with Southern Connecticut State; only to be contacted by the coach shortly after canceling my recruitment.

I felt that I had failed. I had no options. I laid in bed for a week. I watched Naruto. “A hero is not the one who never falls. He is the one who gets up, again and again, never losing sight of his dreams” — Rock Lee. I got out of bed. I sent emails. I received emails back. I ended up here, at Western.

When I got here, I was overwhelmed with the intensity and difficulty of the program. I watched Demon Slayer. “If you are feeling disheartened, that you are somehow not enough, set your heart ablaze” — Kyojuro Rengoku.

Last Tuesday, I was asked to share my quote for the week. I chose this: “It is only those brave enough… those bold enough… to follow the difficult, demanding path of competition, who have the right to reap the wealth of experience and memories it can bring. For today, you happen to be the defeated. But what will you become tomorrow?” — Haikyuu.

Anime is not just for laughs, and it isn’t pure entertainment. It can constitute the way of life one chooses to take, as well as the decisions one makes. It certainly did for me.

Contact the author at howllifestyler@wou.edu

Fresh start

Mental strength transforms you

Watching anime can inspire, embolden and transform

Tools

Resources