Tips & Tricks ^^

I'm great at coming up with new ideas of what I should do with time... and then half those ideas fall through the cracks as time goes on! I am starting a little blog to see if I'm any good at it, and also to check and see if I enjoy it. :) My topics are going to follow this trend; Mon - Relationships, Tue - Mindfulness, Wed - Career Progression, Thurs - Study Skills, Fri - Activities & Reviews

[allymarshall92]

Study Skills #3

What to do the day of the exam (& the few days before)

1 week before Take a practice test in a time-pressured environment, if you can. Save one exam paper for the very end - and do it under the same time-pressure you will have on the day. Time yourself like you would in an exam. No notes, no cheating! Pretend like it is the real deal. Correct your answers after to see how you did, and see what areas you are still weak at. You have a week left - there is still time if you don’t do too well.

The evening before Rest up - do a few hours revision but don’t cram everything in. Look at some of the key items. Prep your bag - pens, pencils, pencil perror, eraser, rulers, calculators (honestly, I always bring two just in case - and once my friend forgot his at a maths exam, so he was damn happy he was friends with me that day!), paper, some key notes, any notes you are allowed in the exam. I also bring water and a chocolate bar. Go to bed nice and early and set a million alarms!!

On the day preparation Plan your route - I always had my dad drive me in (I was too nervous I’d crash on the way!) or I’d get a taxi if he wasn’t able (which I would book in advance!). You might not be as nervous as I was about public transport, but in any case make sure to plan your route and give yourself plenty of time. Most examiners won’t let you in after a certain time has passed. Get there early. Breathe - The calmer you can make yourself the better. Have you ever played Crash Bandicoot? Have you noticed as soon as you mess up once, you then start messing up a million more times?! Maybe not, but it’s a common one. If you panic, you will make mistakes. So, Breathe. :) Chocolate & Water - I read before that having a chocolate bar a small time before an exam can help boost your memory. It’s probably b*ll*x, but I still always brought one. You don’t want to get hungry in the exam - so in general eat well that day, and have a little nibble before you go in. Bring water too, but be mindful not to drink too much (you don’t want to have to use the bathroom and use up time!)

Actual exam tips/techniques on the day - Time yourself. You should know in advance what your paper will look like and how the marking scheme works. Have a watch on you and know how long you should spend on each question. (E.G. 3 questions in an exam - One is worth 50 marks, the other two are 25 each. So you should spend 50% of your time on the 50 mark question --> 2 hour exam, spend 1 hour on the 50 mark, 30 minutes each on each of the 25 marks). If you reach your time limit, MOVE ON. Don’t fall into the trap of spending too long on a question. This is so important and brings me to my next point. - Answer EVERYTHING. Unless there is an optional question (Pick 1 of 2 questions to do), answer every question. In other words, answer 100% of your exam. Even if you know absolutely nothing, stick something down. You might get marks and every mark counts! - READ THE QUESTION!!!! Then read it again. Questions are often designed to trick you. Read every single word. For example, “Write down the advantages and disadvantages of technology in the modern day world”. DO NOT write a blurb of how great technology is. Write bullet points of advantages AND disadvantages. You will lose half the marks otherwise. - If you can, make use of bullet points. They are quick & easy to read - so will save you time and the examiner will like it! - Link. Something I learned in history class in secondary school (high school) that I used in every exam afterwards. Link your answer to the question so the examiner knows you know what you are talking about. It can be as simple as writing a quick sentence at the end of your paragraph. “How did Eamonn DeValera build a stepping stone to taking apart the 1921 Treaty?” “**Big paragraph.** This is a key way that Eamonn DeValera dismantled the Treaty”. Always, always link. - If you have time, have a read-over your work at the end. Don’t sit there and do nothing, because you could remember something as you go - or notice something silly you did. I’ve saved myself on more than one occasion by reading over! I once noticed I wrote in a comprehensive maths exam that 2+2 was MINUS FOUR??! Don’t ask me how or why, but that would have been embarrassing to leave behind?! (Obviously, this was a tiny part to the question, but still!).

If I think of any more, I’ll add them in. Do your best and pour the effort in, you got this. :) 

[allymarshall92]

Experiment complete

I tried out blogging, and alas I don’t think right now is a suitable time for me. However, I notice that my study skill posts are particularly popular - so I will leave yous all with a final Study Skills post to polish it off - What to do the day of the exam. 

It was a nice experiment. :)

[this-flight-tonight]

[allymarshall92]

Super happy I got the chance to see Britney Spears last week <3 :)

[allymarshall92]

Activities #2

Last week

I attended the Tattoo Convention in Dublin Convention Centre & I saw Britney Spears live in 3arena. I didn't spend long at the Tattoo Convention (& I didn't get any tattoos!) so I will review the Britney concert!

Main points on Britney concert

- It was a really FUN show, some people complain she lip sings --> I personally don't mind, I go to concerts to be entertained and to see the artists I love - Pitbull was a great supporting act - She started on time --> rare for most concerts - She sang a lot of her greatest hits and really got the crowd going - There was a part where she brought a random guy on stage, tied him up in bondage clothes, made him crawl across the stage & pretended to whip him... definitely an interesting display!! - Britney and her dancers came in to the stage that was in the middle of the crowd several times, allowing for lots of close up looks & fabulous pictures! - The 3arena is a good area for gigs - easy to see the stage & it's usually easy enough to get home from.

Tips for gigs that I've learnt this year

- If you are standing, wear a string top. You will sweat, a lot. - Also please don’t bother with much makeup or a nice hairstyle… like I said, you will sweat a lot… - Charge your phone before you go. - Bring as little as possible -> for Britney I had a small purse with my debit card, ID & a fiver in one pocket, and my phone in the other. I tied a light cardigan around my waist to cover the pockets too so they wouldn’t be easy to rob! - Do your homework – listen to the songs before you go... unless you are happy to just bop along politely… - Don’t drink too much (you will have to go to the bathroom!!). - PLAN YOUR JOURNEY HOME!!! At Ed Sheeran me and my friend Hannah walked from Pheonix Park to Connolly station (over a 2 hour walk) trying to get a taxi… and we just got one completely by chance (someone had ordered it but the taxi man couldn’t get in touch with them so he just decided to pick us up instead…). - Book the next day off work. - Wear good shoes, in case of long walk home or people standing on your feet… - Get off your phone and enjoy the show.  :)

Events on in Dublin

The Pope is coming to visit this weekend! Major road closures are taking place too so plan your journeys this weekend guys...

The Snapper is still on in the Gate Theatre (I heard from a colleague that it's deadly too! :) )

GirlCrew --> look it up, it's fab --> is hosting it's monthly Book Club on Sunday

Let It Be Celebration of the Beatles music is on in the Gaiety Theatre

Have a great weekend guys, my nieces are visiting us this week from England - so no idea what I'll be up to for the week! ^^ Stay tuned!

[studydiaryofamedstudent]

[allymarshall92]

<3

[allymarshall92]

Study skills #2

So you have gone to your lectures (hopefully :P) and have a big pile of notes on your desk. How do you start actually learning this stuff?!

1. Sort your notes

My number one tip on this is simply don't spend too long on it. Major traps for procrastination and time-wasting is on highlighting or tabbing too much. Knock your notes in to a folder with dividers, and make sure what you need is easy to find. Remember, pretty notes are great - but that's not what is going to help you to pass your exams.

2. Do as many practice questions as you can

Ask your lecturer what resources are available for practice questions. Sometimes the course book can be helpful, but more often than not it isn't the best resource. Past exam papers are usually the best thing you can use. Sometimes the teacher will give more questions in class, especially if the course has changed or is new & no exam papers are available. (Another very good reason to attend the lectures - see study skills #1).

You might be able to identify a pattern in exam papers, which can help you focus your attention on certain areas. However, don't fall in to the trap of ignoring a topic - if it has never come up, it is likely to appear in any random year, plus examiners can be divils and just completely throw off their pattern. Never rely on the pattern. Do prioritise what is likely to come up, but cover everything at least a little.

Don't look at the answers before you try the question yourself, you won't remember anything from looking at a solution. Attempt the questions first, make your mistakes and correct yourself - this will help you identify where you are weak/strong, what needs more revision, and as a bonus when you make a mistake you will remember better the next time that question pops up. "Ah... I've fallen for this trap before..!"

Also, bonus tip - if you have a written exam, practice by writing - not typing. (Or vice versa). A friend of mine practiced all of her questions on excel/word, and then feared having to actually write for a 4.5 hour exam. The more you practice, the faster you will get at writing/typing - so practice in tune with whatever way your exam is structured (written/computerised).

3. Learn the theory

Even in a full maths and statistics course, there was a lot of theory. One lecturer told us the course was basically; 30% math problems you can learn the methods for, 30% theorems you learn off by heart, 40% using those theorems you learned off to solve trickier questions. It was structured in a way that if you learned off your theorems, and did your homework - you'd probably pass (up to 60%). Then if you understood what you were learning off and could apply it to other questions, you would get high scores.

I will give you this one piece of advice that I have heard in countless classes - Learn the bl**dy theory. In any course. It's easy marks. No tricks or complications - just regurgitate what you learned off by heart, and get yourself a higher grade.

The best way I find to learn things off by heart is repetition. If you want to remember something, it is best to write it down several times, and/or say it out loud so you can hear it. You are more likely to remember something you hear or write down, instead of something you read. You can read a paragraph 40 times but could still forget bits and bobs. Try this: Read, Write, Cover, Say. --> Read what you have to learn, Write it out a couple of times to learn it, Cover up what you wrote, and then try to Say it out loud. If you are like me, you'll talk to yourself while you study (a little odd maybe, but it works :P). If you find that too awkward or are in a library/somewhere you can't talk - cover and write out again what you learned instead of saying it out loud. No cheating!

4. Switch it up

If you are getting bored, make sure to switch it up. Study more than one topic in a day, and if you find whatever way you have been revising isn't working at all - try something else. Don't keep flipping methods out of panic, but do feel free to play around and see what works best for you. If you hit a wall, go another direction - walk around the wall instead of trying desperately to climb over it.

I'll point out hear as well that you should take plenty of breaks. The recommendation is about 5-10 minutes every hour, but in practice for me this was a little difficult. (I got distracted by things like Bob's Burgers...). So see what suits you. I use to do about 2-3 hours and then take a nice long hour for a break. Then I'd start studying again. I had full days of study leave though, so you will need to tailor your own breaks with your own free-time. 

Next week - I'll chat about stress relief, support and motivation to keep studying. :)

[capstoneresumes-blog]

[allymarshall92]

Progression often means changes you are uncomfortable with - be open minded and step out of that comfort zone to really become successful

[allymarshall92]

Career Progression #1

Before you start progressing, you have to get a job. My first post on career progression starts right at the beginning - getting an interview, i.e. making your C.V. stand out and the good/bad points of using a recruiter.

C.V. - bullet points to take on board

- No typos! Get a friend to proof read your C.V. - No picture of yourself, it promotes hiring based on looks which companies shouldn't be doing (unless you are a model or something, obviously!) - Contact details on one line at top (e.g. small font, instead of "address:" have "a:") - Total C.V. should be 1 or 2 pages long --> keep it short & to the point, employers have a mountain to get through & if it is too long will likely throw it in the bin - Use bullet points (especially for description of previous jobs, make it easy for the employer to see your skills and relevant experience) - Use tables if you can (e.g. I have a table of my key clients I audited, showing their name, company turnover, and key audit areas) - Only put in relevant information --> especially with education and work experience - Have something interesting in your interests section (which should be short) that stands out  - e.g. I have circus/hula-hoop performance, which they always ask about at interviews - Ask a recruiter for a sample C.V. relative to your industry

LinkedIn

The job I have currently, I heard about through a recruiter that added me on LinkedIn - he sorted the interviews for me too and helped me with negotiating salary when I received my offer. The recruiter I used works in Robert Walters, who I personally would recommend.

LinkedIn is great for networking, so make an effort to update yours - and connect with the recruiters/employers that add you. Treat it the same way you would your C.V., but with less detail - a decent snapshot. Be careful that your LinkedIn matches what it says on your C.V. (dates/experience/current role/etc.) - employers do look at your profile and will be weary if there are differences.

Mine is here if you want to take a look for some guidance: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonmarshall92/

Recruiters

Pros: - Help you with your C.V. - Find relevant jobs available for you, so no researching or applying online - Many companies will only hire through recruiters, opens more doors - Often know the employer, so can tell you what they are like and about the company atmosphere - Usually meet you for coffee/lunch to talk through what you are looking for

Cons: - They ring you a lot, be prepared to drop a few if they are getting too much - Some can be dodgy (see what to watch out for below) Most recruiters are genuine, but after dealing with a few I would advise to look out for the following: - Make sure they get paid a once off fee, not from your wages - Ask if you are contracted to them or the company --> if it is to them, they will possibly get another fee after your probation period which the company might not agree to so won't keep you on (this happened to a friend of mine) - They should not send your C.V. to multiple companies without telling you where or why - Personally, if they forget my name/current role/things I specifically said to avoid, I drop them --> I once met up with a recruiter who forgot where I was working, had no new roles for me, and then said he was looking for internal auditor roles for me (which I specifically said I wasn't interested in). Waste of time.

Conclusion

Put effort in to your C.V. and LinkedIn profile. Employers go through hundreds and will throw many in the bin to get through the big pile! I personally would recommend using recruiters, who you can find (although usually they find you) through LinkedIn - but do be wary. If something doesn't feel right, respectfully tell them you are no longer interested and want them to stop searching for you. There are plenty of others that are genuine and will make your job search so much easier.

Good luck, next week I'll talk about interview tips! :)

[relatablepoetryandquotes]

via @extramadness

[allymarshall92]

Quote for today, highlights what my post says - live in the present. <3 :)

[allymarshall92]

Mindfulness #1

Let me start by saying, this isn't a topic I know a lot about. I am only starting my journey learning about mindful living. However, I am only now coming out of a long depression and a hard couple of years that were full of anxieties. Don't get me wrong, I'm a very lucky person and am happy most of the time - but I was stuck in a bad environment and my mental health suffered a lot. My external life is now much nicer, so once I settled in to a better environment I decided to work more on myself internally. Which is where reading about mindful living has helped me.

So what is mindfulness?

“So, here are the basics of mindfulness: what, who, when, where, how, and why. Mindfulness is a special kind of attention characterized by attitudes of openness, curiosity, and acceptance. We notice our thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and sense perceptions as we're having them in the present moment.” - Psychology today

What does that mean? How does can it help me?

Mindful living is teaching me to live in the present. I noticed something recently. Anxiety is creativity. For me, at least, it's imagination. I imagine the worst, and come up with some impressive stories when I do it! If I could harness that imagination and put it towards something productive, I'd create something amazing! If I am anxious, it means I am living in the past or the future, because I am worried something will or won't happen - either because of what's happened before, or because my imagination is just that wild! I'm dedicating this post to this one concept: Living in the present - and in order to convey how this is so useful in practice - I am going to give you my most recent example.

My example of living in the past, present, and future

Yesterday, I worried about some test results I got from my doctor. They aren't the worst, I'm okay right now, but I have to return for more tests next year because "hopefully" I'll be cleared up. No matter how low a chance there is of me getting worse, my mind was always going to worry that the worst would happen. This is natural, it's scary a.f. to hear your doctor say "hopefully you'll get better without treatment". However, this is an example of me living in the future. As well as this, I was feeling anxious and tense in work. I had a difficult time in a previous job, and that old pain seeps in at times. I still act in certain ways now because of how people treated me then. This is dangerous with any relationship, it can stop you from opening yourself up to real connections (e.g. work/friendship/romantic/family). It takes me a considerable amount of effort just to get up and talk to people or ask a question, because in an old job so many people expressed they didn't like me. This is an example of living in the past.

So there I was, in my office, and nothing in that moment of time was wrong. Same goes for today - I have nice people in my work, and my health is currently fine. Yet, I was so upset. Suddenly I was thinking "I don't even want to go to Britney Spears tonight (I had tickets!), I just want to go home and cuddle my nieces, go to bed and cry. This is so hard!".

It took a lot for me to pull myself together. I actually wrote most of this blog yesterday, to focus my thoughts. It took a good 10-15 minutes for me to splash down all my negative feelings and gain some perspective. Once I had, I was able to work more efficiently for the rest of the day. I came to this conclusion: "1) Next year, I'll have to get another unpleasant test done, I'll be sore all day and I'll be nervous about the results. Today, I know nothing has developed, and that it might just go away. If it does develop, I'll be sad that day. I have a reason to be cautious, but today I am alright. 2) Where I am working now, not a single bad word has been said to me. If that day comes, I'll be upset that day. But now, there is no reason to be upset. Today, in the present, I have a nice job with nice people." This is my example of pulling yourself back in to the present.

So, you know what? I went to Britney Spears - and I had an amazing time. Plus, I have a boyfriend sweet enough to not only drop & collect me, he also surprised me and made my lunch for me for work the next day!

Conclusion

Instead of worrying about the future, or being scared that the past will repeat itself, I should have been psyched to see Britney and grateful to Jeff for being such a great boyfriend. It took effort to see that though, which might sound strange but it's true. If my mind is wandering back and forth, I now write everything down (maybe dropping a few tears on the paper!) and literally think "woaaaah come back in here Ally, is anything bad actually happening today? No? What about the good stuff?!". It's only when I "get rid" of the bad, that I can look at and appreciate the good.

It takes work to pull yourself back to the present, but I promise you will have good days much more often if you start practicing. :)

[allthingsshabbyandbeautiful-dea]

[allymarshall92]

A quote to match up with my post today. <3

[allymarshall92]

Relationships #1

The last few months I have been reading up a lot about relationships; for example - advice for making/keeping friends, how to handle jealousy, tips for building networks in work. I have been buying magazines, reading other people's blogs, watching videos online, and asking people I know their opinions. What I have learned works (or doesn't work) for me, I plan to share on Mondays here on my blog.

I'm going to start off with what I have discovered affects a lot of people in their adult lives. Lack of friendships.

The issue

I have heard from a number of people that they find it incredibly difficult to meet new friends after college, and that they barely see their current mates because of life's busy schedule not leaving much free time for anyone (work, studies, relationships, kids, etc.). How many times have you asked someone to meet up for a coffee, only to dread it on the day yourself because you are wrecked from work - and then you receive a text from them cancelling last minute because they have to work late themselves?!

What I have found helps

Meeting new friends or keeping old ones, either way there are a few things I have found that helps build solid friendships.

1. Keep your plans - There has been two particular occasions where a friend has become angry with me in the past because I cancelled one too many times. At the time I was working full time and studying, so I was a divil for cancelling last minute (work late/too tired/need to study/stressed/etc...). After my exams, I made a deal with myself to simply just stick to the plans I make. So, I usually only make plans that are easy for me to keep. For example, I don't plan to meet 5 friends in a week because I am usually tired after work - I'll plan one evening dinner and save the other friends for the weekend or the following week. I don't feel guilty saying no, it's better to say no to someone and reschedule for when I won't be likely to cancel. Now, I have found that other people cancel a lot too, so how do we try to avoid this one - or at least not get totally p*****d off about it?

2. Be understanding - Your friends have their own lives and they are going to cancel, that doesn't mean they don't want to see you. Have a bit of a backup plan if you are worried about someone. I have a flakey friend, and when we make plans I always say something to myself like "well, if she cancels, I'll pop by supervalu and get a delicious dinner to cook at home!". Have something to look forward to either way, just in case. The important thing is to try and notice when someone is genuinely a very busy person and needs you to be understanding, or if someone just "isn't that into you" (it happens to us all!). If someone doesn't seem interested, I don't write them off straight away. I "put them in the cooler" (advice from Mammy Marshall!). I won't suggest plans for a while or contact them, and I'll see if they come back to me. If not, my attention can be focused on people who want to spend time with me.

3. Common interests - This is the easiest thing to keep a friendship alive in my opinion. If you work together, like the same exercise or TV shows, are both on a healthy buzz, etc.. you will have a reason to see each-other on a regular basis. Plus, you will have something to talk about every time you meet up. Find the common interests among your own friends to spark a reason to meet up. Join a new dance class or martial arts, whatever you are in to, and find people that enjoy the same things you do.

4. Making new friends - The easiest way is honestly just to leave your house. Go to parties when you are invited & talk to everyone there, go to events in your area or in the city centre, participate in a new activity (art class/new evening course/sports team, whatever!). The more you step outdoors, the more chance you will meet someone and make a connection.

5. Try not to be overbearing - This is a tough one for many people, especially when they are lonely. It's tempting to fall in to a trap of texting a 100 people saying "do you want to do something Saturday?!!" in the hopes of finding some kind of spark. I've also found a lot of people look for friendships almost as a type of therapy - and lay out their life story/problems 10 minutes in to the conversation. While I don't mind this personally, it can be a lot to take in for many people. It can scare them off. Try not to overbear your friends too much, everyone has their own problems too and can only take on so much from each relationship they are in (family/work/friendship/romantic/etc). Of course you should lean on your close friends when you need help, but do reel it in a little and remember it's good to talk about positive things too - and to ask them how they are doing.

Conclusion

The way to make friends or keep up with the ones you have, in my opinion, is to put in the effort yourself and really work at being a good person that others can rely upon. This doesn't always work, sometimes people are just flakey or very busy - or they aren't as excited about the friendship as you are. It also takes some time, it's a long-term investment, but is worth it when you feel a connection with a few genuine people.

Take your time, get up and go outside - to events, parties, classes, or whatever tickles your fancy, listen and be understanding of those you are friends with, and remember to have fun and enjoy your time together!

Good luck, I hope this helps someone!

[nbctv]

We’ve got that Friday feeling!

[allymarshall92]

In theme with my post today! :)

[allymarshall92]

Activities #1

These will be structured between a review of an activity I did the week before, plans for the week ahead, and other events around Dublin (where I live!) for other people to explore should they so wish.

Last week activity: Cinema outing - The Darkest Minds

Myself and Jeff (my boyfriend, he will be featured regularly! ..."my name is njeeeeff..." ;) ) went to a premier for The Darkest Minds last week in the Odeon Point Village.

Plot: All children have either mysteriously died or gained powers (either super intelligence, telekinesis, creation and control of electricity, mind control, or fire powers). Those who survive and gain powers are put in camps, and are colour co-ordinated depending on which of these they obtained (respectively green, blue, yellow, orange, and red). We are told orange and red are considered threats, and are killed immediately. Our star is an orange, Ruby, but manipulates the doctor's mind to believe she is green. She remains in the camp for several years under cover. So as not to spoil the movie, the only other thing I will say is Ruby has a tough time throughout the film but does find some friends along the way, but it is clear that a rebellion is coming against the government.

Actors/Actresses: Amandla Stenberg, Harris Dickinson, Miya Cech, Skylan Brooks, Patrick Gibson, Mandy Moore

Director & Producers: Jennifer Yuh Nelson & Shawn Levy/Dan Levine

Ratings: The Darkest Minds has done poorly on ratings. Rotten Tomatoes has given it just 19%, and entertainment.ie only 2/5 stars. The general consensus is that the plot has been done too may times before (think "The Hunger Games" or "The Maze Runner") - that the plot lacks originality and depth.

Personal opinion: I agree with these ratings, but my own personal opinion is that the movie would be loved by teenagers - and that it is an enjoyable watch. I found a website that had "reviews from the kids" and every one had high praise, and I thought myself after watching it "I would have LOVED that 10 years ago, would have defo been obsessed..!".

Cinema itself: The Odeon in Point Village is a gorgeous cinema. It is a little out of the way and there isn't too much nearby, so location isn't great. They have a limitless offer across their Dublin Odeon cinemas for €21.99 a month. The seats are really comfortable and have plenty of space - and they regularly have premiers of movies you can go to. The parking is only €2 if you get your ticket stamped at the cinema, and there are plenty of spaces. Bonus points: The nachos are amazing, nom nom nom!

Conclusion: If you don't mind leaving your brain at the door and not digging in to the plot holes, you will enjoy this movie. It's funny, has some cool superpower scenes, and the acting is really good. If you are or know a teenager, you or they will probably love it - it's aimed towards that age group. If you are sick of these kinds of dramas (kids have powers, government takes advantage, kids rebel against government, chosen one has hard time..) then this one isn't for you!

Plans for the week ahead

This weekend I will be going to the Science Gallery in Trinity with Jeff, and might pop in to the Tattoo Convention in the Convention Centre. Monday night I am super excited to be attending Britney Spears in the 3arena! Tune in next week for a review.

Other events in Dublin

- Pope visiting in the Phoenix Park (25th Aug) (Not for me personally, but each to their own!)

- Wicked (Playing in the Bord Gais until September)

- The Snapper (Playing in Gate Theatre until September)

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

[allymarshall92]

Study Skills #1

A bit of background first.

I'm 26 and have finally finished with college! I could always go back, but for the foreseeable future I have no exams, and since I have been studying for the last 6 years I'll be taking a break before any more!

I studied an undergraduate degree in maths & statistics for 3 years, and then went on to work full-time as an auditor whilst also completing Chartered accountant professional exams for another 3.5 years. In both degrees, I got top marks. ("First class honours" in my undergrad, "Decile 1" in accounting").

A number of factors added in to me doing so well. For one thing, I could never have done it without support of my family and friends - plus my cat and dog cuddling me helped with stress!! Seriously though, those top marks didn't come naturally! So I plan to share a few tips and tricks over the next few weeks in the hopes of making your study journey a bit easier. (That is, assuming anyone reads this. :) ) I know it's hard, and it's easy to get demotivated. I made every mistake under the sun while I was studying, especially when it came to stress management, so here's hoping I can help someone else skip that part and just get to the good stuff. ^^

Lesson one: Go to the lectures!!

When I started working as an auditor, one of my seniors told me "Go to the lectures. Just have your notes organised and ready for study leave. You won't have time to actually study, because you will be working full time and you will be exhausted - but if you go to the lectures and know what to study/where to start, that's half the battle". This was some of the best advice I have ever received.

Now, what she failed to mention, was that the lectures were either 3 hours long in the evening after work, or 6 hours long at the weekend (sometimes there would be one on Saturday and Sunday too, yikes!). There were a million reasons not to go. Notes were available online, lectures were pre-recorded so I could watch them on my laptop at home, I was wrecked from work, I wanted to see my friends, I woke up at 7am on a Sunday and honestly just couldn't face the thoughts of a 6 hour tax lecture.... You name it! I was constantly dreading the thoughts of going to the lectures.

BUT.

When I did go, I could see the benefits.

1) I wouldn't have to play catch up some other time later on (because it's way more difficult to motivate yourself to go and watch a 6 hour lecture online.. "Oh look a cute cat video! I'll just take a quick 5 minute break...").

2) My notes were printed for each class and scribbled on as the professor explained everything - so all I had to do was stick them in a folder to look at later on. Other times when I didn't attend, I would end up spending hours printing notes of several classes - and then probably wouldn't use them since I had no idea what was in them.

3) I remembered the information better come exam time. You are more likely to remember something you heard rather than something you read. "What was that term again? Ohh he said it was something funny... what day was that? It was the day Dawn dropped all of her pens/highlighters because the table was slanted... Oh! Oh! I got it! Venture capitalist!!". Seriously, you will be so surprised what you remember in an exam.

4) I could ask questions. Some of my lecturers in both my undergrad and in chartered accountants knew me really well, and asking them for help was the best thing I ever did for my exams. Once, a professor rang me for 40 minutes to explain the final year exam structure for accounting, and how best to study for it. I built my whole routine around what he advised me to do. I had 3 months off work for study leave, and if I hadn't taken his advice I honestly don't know where I would have even started.

The biggest con of going to lectures is you miss out on other fun activities - so do make sure to take a break if you need one. Don't be too hard on yourself. ^^ More on stress management later on. Stay tuned!

I promise, going to your lectures will benefit you so much in the long run. :)

[relatablepoetryandquotes]

via @defineyourgrind

[allymarshall92]

Thursday: Study Skills #1

Stay tuned for my first blog post about study skills. I decided to kick off with a relevant quote!

[allymarshall92]

Category setting

I wrote down in my journal what I know a lot about, to see what would be best for me to write in my blog!

I realised I have five categories that I feel I could write a fair amount about, and there are 5 days in a work week - so my plan is now to make this a "Week blog"

The five categories are: Relationships, Mindfulness, Career progression, Study skills, and Activities (which for me, will be movie and events/places in Ireland reviews).

Activities is basically what I would recommend to do on a weekend. Which is why I'll be writing this one on Fridays!

Mondays - Relationships

Tuesdays - Mindfulness

Wednesdays - Career progression

Thursdays - Study skills

Fridays - Activities

Therefore, today I start with study skills since it is a Thursday!

I have structured my plan this way because I feel like it suits my mind set for the week: at the start I am still thinking about the weekend, I'm happy and appreciative after seeing the people I love. Towards the middle of the week, I'm elbow deep in work - of course I aim to be productive in work for the entire week, but Wednesday/Thursday is when the weekend is quite out of sight! Friday is the best time to start getting excited for Saturday and Sunday!

Next post is the beginning of my category attempt: Study skills #1