I’ve been using BaaS for my final two terms of university. Last term I did two things: I made a Beeminder + Toggl goal that tracked my time (making sure that I spent at least 40 hours each week on school) and I checked in with @manasvinik several times each week. At no point last term did I ever think “Yeah, I have a bunch of work due next week… but today it’s fine to just watch Netflix.” Having someone check in about my goals and knowing that if I did slack off I’d have to actually tell someone that made a huge difference every day last term.
By the time finals came around, I was stressed because it was a crazy ton of work, but I was also at peace with whatever the outcome was on my final grades since I knew for a fact that I had consistently put in my best effort, and whatever grades I got would reflect that. And they definitely did: the lowest grade I got was a B- and I got really high praise on several assignments. I highly recommend BaaS to other students. I really wish I’d been able to start this sooner in my education because the constant accountability feels like a really important piece that is missing from university overall.
Another awesome part for me was having the accountability and encouragement to take time for things I normally would not prioritize. Maybe a month after starting BaaS, I started having stress-related heart issues and my doctor said I really had to learn to calm down. So I asked @manasvinik if coloring was something she could hold me accountable for, and she did!! Being able to mentally change that task from “Ugh, I’m supposed to do this stupid thing for my health” to “I said I’d color for fifteen minutes today and send a picture” made such a big difference. After a few weeks I was at a point where I’d start feeling stressed and immediately reach for that coloring book. Similarly, I also spent a lot more time than usual socializing with friends and walking my dog, which were both huge contributors to my overall well-being which normally would’ve been at the bottom of my priority list.
Next up: Starting my final term of university off on the right foot from day one, and as I figure out the right next steps after graduation, @manasvinik and I have an agreement on what things need to happen before I start any grad school applications, since I want to be really sure that if I do go that route it’s the right decision and not just the easiest one.
I really can’t recommend BaaS highly enough for students.