Learning is Beautiful

I'm Mary, a sleepy fourth-year neuroscience major at UCSC trying her best :~) Main blog (where I follow from): litostris

[studynostalgic]

hey!! I already have a bujo for over two years and am also a student so I developed some things to make bullet journaling as easy & productive as possible as a student. I hope I can help some of you!

PROS:

looks nice, you can post pics of it

(creative) freedom, you can structure / design it like you want

a place for your creativity

you have space for study plans, to do lists, essay planning

increase your productivity

it’s fun

CONS:

can take a lot of time & work

your not always motivated to do all your spreads yourself

get discouraged because it doesn’t look like you want it to

not really made for planning in the long term

you can get more focused on the ∼aesthetic∼ rather than the productivity of your bujo

so think about it: is a bujo really smth for you? don’t feel pressured to have one just because of the studyblr aesthetic! do what’s best for you and if that’s a planner than that’s fine!!

SET UP

yearly overview

this is the most important thing to keep me organised. basically I just make a calendar where I write down all dates for my exams, deadlines, holidays etc.

grade tracker

you can search for a printable or just make a table yourself. I write down the subject, date, type and my grade. this is super helpful at the end of the year when you want to know your final grade. a friend even noticed a mistake our teacher made (the teacher wrote down the wrong grade) so don’t forget to track your grades!

timetable

explains itself I think? I mark this page with a post-it so I find it quickly when I want to know what period I have next.

goals for the school year

it’s important to set goals and keep them in mind. but be realistic! for example I know I won’t get straight a’s but I try to keep my average above a b. some examples for goals: have x grade in x subject, do my homework the day I get it, start studying x days before sthe exam, wear what I want to school etc.

weekly spreads

I tried different methods for how to write down my homework and assignments. what works best for me is to just include them in my daily to do list & appointments. for example when I get math home work I just write down M: p.45/3 and when I did that homework I just tick it off. this way I don’t have to do some complicated layout and also see which homework I still need to do.

TIPS:

don’t focus too much on the aesthetic

find out what works for you, I like to plan out my spreads on sundays, other people just go with the flow

write everything down! even if you don’t have strength to make it aesthetic simply just write it down

try to be consistent with your bujo otherwise it doesn’t help much

have fun!!

OTHER IDEAS FOR PAGES THAT HELP WITH SCHOOL:

study plan

what you need to study for an exam / test

deadlines

essay planning

motivational quotes / motivation to study

ideas for outfits

supplies shopping list

[lawblrworld]

Little ways to relax during exam periods

I know studying can seem really really stressful, especially during exam periods when you have like 2-3 exams/ tests every week for almost a month. Although you don’t have time to go to the spa or go for weekends away (if you ‘have time’ then you’re not putting in your best effort/ time management) there are little ways you can relax in short periods of time, even while you are studying.

1. Make a cup of tea:

A cup of steaming tea can really fix everything. I often have a cup of tea during every long study break I take. I also make myself a cup overtime I am stuck on a case and am struggling really badly with technical legalese used by the judge. Making a cup of tea allows me to step away, do something productive yet mindless for a couple of minutes, and then re-approach the text with fresh eyes and a soothing vibe. I like to drink Chai, Ceylon or Rooibos. Try avoid making more than 2 cups of coffee a day as it contains way more caffeine than tea.

2. Breathe properly:

Often when you’re stressed you tend to take shallower, shorter breaths. Firstly, this means you’re not taking in as much oxygen as you ideally should, and deprivation of oxygen literally makes your brain and your muscles tired. Secondly, your body associates rapid, shallow breathing with an adrenaline response released during moments of panic, so breathing ‘badly’ may actually lead to more anxiety. Try breathing in for 8 counts, holding in for 4 and breathing out for 6. This will feed your body with adequate oxygen and you’ll feel waaaay more relaxed.

3. short bursts of physical activity:

I often find that I don’t have time to do long workouts during exam periods because the time it takes to drive to the gym, exercise, shower, drive back and then get into the study zone amounts to like 2 hours. Instead, I opt for short intervals of exercise. I play fetch and soccer with my dogs on the lawn, or take them for walks around the block. If I’m really anxious and need to release tension I do a short 10 minute ab or leg workout (There are millions on Youtube for free, and most don’t require any equipment). This helps your blood flow so that your body feels more awake and it also releases all of those ‘feel good’ hormones that you’d normally get from a longer workout. Plus, you’re reaching your fitness goals as well!

4. Buzzfeed quizzes:

I know Buzzfeed quizzes are really random and strange sometimes (’Pick your favourite clothes & we’ll tell you what potato you are’), but it’s good to do something mindless and non-goal oriented. The quizzes are really quick, colourful and actually kind of fun, and you can do a couple in your short study breaks to take your mind off of the work. It’s better than watching Netflix or playing video games, where you really have to focus and memorise things (which may be memorised instead of all the stuff you just studied)

5. Clean your cupboards:

Cleaning out your clothing and other cupboards is a really rewarding feeling, and it’s productive as well. I always do this during exam time in my study break. I opt to do one shelf per break, and I always find old things I never wear/ use anymore that I can donate, or even sell on Craigslist/ Gumtree to make some extra cash. By the end of a couple of days you’ll have your studying down and a clean cupboard that doesn’t stress you out when you’re trying to find that pair of jeans.

[tiny-personal-university-thing]

The Night Before Your Exam

Hello, hi there. Recently I made a post about what to do the day of your exam and it’s still getting notes which is amazing. Thank you all. So now, please enjoy these realistic tips for the night before your exam that do not involve perfum, gum, or cramming. Please don’t cram.

Get a good night’s sleep. I know that for many of us this is a major challenge because we deal with insomnia or anxiety disorders that keep us awake. Try taking a warm bath in Epsom salts. Stay in the tub until you break a sweat. Pick your salts wisely because some of them are more energizing (i.e lavender salts are more energizing I have found).

If you are having trouble sleeping because of tension in your neck/back, try to relieve the tension by rolling out your muscles on the floor, or conciously tensing them up for about 10-20 seconds before slowing releasing. The Epsom salt bath really helps with any sort of tension. I have chronic nerve pain from a car accident and it’s one of the few things that help me that is more holistic.

Don’t shy away from melatonin. It works wonders and you won’t feel “hung over” in the morning like you may with Z-Quil. They have melatonin gummies too!

Try lowering your body temperature. Sleep naked. It’s life changing. If you can’t sleep naked (because you live in a dorm) still do your best to keep it cool. Our bodies get tired when their temps are lower.

Additionally, do not cram for any exam. The night before your exam is not the time to be learning any new material. We are way past that. Gently refresh the material that you already know; however, do focus on items you may struggle with. Remember, althetes don’t go crazy hard the day before a game - treat your brain the same way; no heavy lifting.

You may take this time to rewrite your notes. It’s a simple act that can definitely help you to remember.

Try teaching the material to someone else, or if no one else is available - stand in the mirror and give your own personal TedTalk on the subject. Hey, if it works for Sims, right? Remember that if you can teach the material, you know it. Reiterating in your own words is so helpful.

This should go without saying, but eat a good dinner.

Use the “Match,” “Test,” and “Spell” functions on Quizlet. Very helpful.

Have I said do not cram yet?

Lay out your clothes for the morning. The fewer decisions the better.

You’re going to want to wake up with enough time to review your study materials a couple more times, get ready for the day, and leave for the exam early (so that you have time to review when you get there and to ensure you are on time!) So set your alarm in advance.

Make sure that you set out your blue book, calculator, etc. so that you are prepared for the exam tomorrow and you aren’t sprinting across campus to find somewhere that sells blue books.

Triple check that alarm.

Try to limit your use of electronics 30 minutes before you need to fall asleep. I know that isn’t always reasonable though. Just make sure your phone is plugged in so that it is well charged and ON when you need that alarm to go off.

Drink some water.

Don’t drink any coffee or other caffeinated beverage/over induldge in nicotine/or take your *prescription!!!* adderall after 8 PM. Really for the Adderall don’t take it after like 5:30. You will be up all night long, my friend.

Okay last time: do not cram for any exam. That’s like over extertion for your brain and it will take you time to recover. If you continuously pull all nighters to cram you will crash and burn eventually. So just start early on your study plan. You can make time for it, I promise.

Happy studying, realistic students!

[marias-studyblr]

study less study smart

I decided to share my notes taken from this amazing 1 hour Youtube lecture by Marty Lobdell. i really liked him and his tips, i think they are super effective and cover a lot of situations! i highly recommend it!!!!! wow

but here are the tips and examples Marty mentions, so if you don’t have the time to go through the full hour, you can just scroll down. hope this helps somebody!

Break your study time in chunks with breaks

most students lose focus at 25 minutes

it’s a mistake to keep going once you do, since you won’t actually learn anything and you’ll hate every minute of it

so when you start losing focus take a 5 minute break

do something nice like talking to someone or listening to music

it’s something you practice so with time you’ll be able to work for more time without losing focus

in the end of the study session have a big reward you look forward to

Create a study area

environment highly affects the way you act. Bedrooms are for sleeping, kitchens for eating: you’ll feel sleepy in your bedroom and hungry in the kitchen. So if you have a study area, it’ll be easier to start studying and staying focused.

study in a specific room like an office or school library if you can

if you have to study in your bedroom use a specific object you only use for studying: a lamp/desk. Make it a no-distraction, away from your bed, blank walls area.

 The more active the learning, the better

80% active learning 20% passive

ask yourself: is it a concept or a fact?

learning a concept: understand/grasp/know it

put it into your own words

really think about the meaning of it

relate it with something you already know

teach somebody else. Recapitulate what you’ve learned. Talk out loud even if you don’t have anyone to teach - talk alone. Or at anyone that listens.

learning a fact: memorize it

use mnemonics

Acronyms (e.g. colours of the rainbow RoyGBiv – red orange yellow green blue indigo violet)

 Coined sayings - anything popular or sayings you’ve heard since you were a child.

Interacting images – work even better if they’re weird. Creative associations make you never forget specific details. (e.g. 1 gram of fat has 9 calories: picture a fat cat – each cat has 9 lives)

any time 2 things are highly similar but not the same you will get maximal interference!! USE mnemonics!! (e.g. afferent vs efferent neurons: SAME - Sensory Afferent Motor Efferent)

Be a part of  study groups

others can help you in ways you never thought before

Recognizing VS remembering

never confuse the two

while reviewing a chapter you may recognize concepts but not actually know them

and when you get to the test you won’t be able to remember any of it

so quiz yourself without looking at it

or stop in a page of your notes/textbook and ask yourself what is the concept immediately after and before it

Get your REM Sleep 

get ~8 hours so you don’t undo your studying

this is how your brain stores permanent memories

without it you’re ability to remember seriously decreases

most people don’t even begin to take the advice but it’s simple: sleep better. Do better.

There’s 162 hours in a week. There is time.

reflect on what you are doing with your time and what activities you have to prioritize to succed as a student

Taking notes is vital.

right after the class take 5 minutes to expand everything you’ve jotted down, give it depth.

NOT hours later. You won’t remember half the things you wrote down.

Ask your questions to class mates and teachers.

teachers want you to succeed and it’s more than ok to ask your question in the teacher’s office or in the next class

How to use a textbook: SQ3R technique

Survey Question Read Recite Review

Survey: skim through the entire chapter in a couple of minutes.

Raise questions: e.g. what is osmosis? What is this graphic about? What is a prototype?

it causes you to look for answers and you’ll find the information better once you actually study it after. If you intend to find something you learn it better.

Start studying for tests early.

don’t undo yourself. You should only be reviewing the days before the test. don’t leave it till the last minute!

(don’t just scroll through this!!!! really think about these methods and how you can actually implement them so you can benefit from them!!! these actually work but only if you put them into practice boo good luck!)

[optomstudies]

bullet journal ideas masterpost

Over 250+ spread ideas!🎊

hoping your dreams are fulfilled, your grades are awesome and your skin is glowing in 2018!

my tips for bullet journalling

Year in Review

highlights / reflection

achievements this year

lessons learnt / growth as a person

things you want to improve on

advice you’ve received / given

best music/movies/tv shows/etc of the past year

friends made during this past year

commonplace journal pages

things you’ve discovered during the past year

useful tips during the past year

odd facts and trivia during the past year

topics to explore during the past year

questions to ask during the past year

New Year, New You

calendar / future log / yearly or monthly logs

things to look forward to this year

upcoming books/music/movies/tv shows being released this year

maslow’s hierarchy of needs self-reflection spread

goals / new year’s resolutions + steps to put it into action

skills you want to learn this year e.g. coding

habits you want to break / habits you want to pick up

diary: day-to-day happenings

budgets: monthly/yearly budgets

inspiration spread for new projects

level 10 life: rate areas (academic, personal, mental, physical, spiritual, social, financial) of your life out of 10, and write down goals to improve that rating!

monthly overviews (e.g. progress on goals)

assignment due dates calendar

18 things to do by the end of 2018

Special Pages for Special Friends

business cards from networking events

gift ideas for your friends/family/significant other

birthday / anniversary calendar

emergency contacts / phone numbers of important people

friendship journal:

memories / moments they were there for you

how you met

moments you want to share in the future

their mbti/hogwarts house

their best qualities

Trackers/Logs/______ of the Day

gratitude journal - # things you’re grateful for every day

habit trackers

motivational quotes

news headlines / this day in history

daily affirmations

currently reading / watching / listening to / feeling / eating / wanting etc.

time usage (read: wastage) tracker

k-drama or tv show episode tracker (always forget what ep I’m up to :S)

expenses tracker / tax deductibles

dream diary (tracker, plot(?), lucid or not, dream meanings)

new album or song releases

photo diary / sketch diary

weather

follower milestones

social media post tracker

household duties/chores tracker

grades tracker

year in pixels

TIL (today I learned)

civics

appointments: dentist, optometrist, doctor, therapist, etc.

bills: car / internet / rent etc

tax: income statements and work expenses receipts

membership/licence renewals

health

weight tracker

resting heart rate tracker (gives general idea of cardio fitness)

water intake tracker sleep log / time to bed / time awake / total hours slept

exercise log: number of reps / steps / minutes

mood trackers

period tracker

Various Creative Spread Ideas

day-to-day / life planning spreads

skincare routines

perfect/ideal morning routine 

self-care reminders

exercise routines

wishlist

bucket list

firsts: kiss, date, house, vacation, car, concert, etc.

DIYs to attempt

savings jar (doodle it!)

yearly / monthly recurring tasks

usernames/passwords (hints only for security!) 

5 or 10 year plans

dream job

dream house

planning for moving houses

dream wedding / planning

date ideas

make a worse case scenarios primer

summary tutorials for your reference e.g. step-by-step tax returns

academic

studyblr ideas

topics I need to revise

finals study timetable/plan

aspirations: what you want to be and why / how to get there

class timetable

assignment ideas

project schedules / team meeting dates

professors’ emails/office hours

assessment results

anti-procrastination page

motivations to study

skills you want to learn or are useful e.g. coding

formulas page

courses you want to take and their pre-reqs

college comparisons

back to school shopping list

textbook list with prices

language learning

vocabulary lists

grammar structures

media (books/tv shows/movies) to consume in that language

self-reflection / personality traits

best and worst characteristics

what to be mindful of / what you need to work on

mbti types you’re most compatible with 

fears and how you want to overcome them

letters to your future self (include hopes and dreams)

letters to your past self (include achievements and things to be proud of!)

inspirational people

stress management tips

charities to donate to and why you support them

volunteering activities

fun, cute, and aesthetic spread ideas

things worth staying alive for / getting out of bed for

a spread with all the things you were worried about which turned out fine

message page from your friends to you

“i can’t live without ______”

creative crafts spread: tips / equipment / tutorials

aesthetic colour moodboards

happy / comforting / relaxing / funny things spread 

seasons (summer/autumn/winter/spring) spread

rainy day spread

holidays spreads: christmas / easter / halloween / thanksgiving

idioms and proverbs from all different cultures

flowers spread: fav flowers, meanings, bouquet/arrangements, press ‘em!

crystals spread: fav gemstones (doodle ‘em), meanings

succulents spread: fav succulents, terrarium layout ideas

coffee/tea spread: paint with coffee / fav blends / best cafes

what’s in my bag (doodle it!)

outfit ideas / polyvore style collections

magazine clippings

shower thoughts / hypothetical ideas spread

draw my life spread / personal timeline

favourite characters e.g. gudetama, kumamon, etc. (doodle ‘em!)

interesting words list (ephemeral, mellifluous, serendipity, scintillating etc)

ideal date ideas

wedding anniversary ideas (like 1st is paper, 25th silver, 30th pearl, 40th ruby, 50th gold, 60th diamond)

baby animals spread (duckies, puppies, bunnies!!)

#just bullet journal things

bujo spread layouts and devices to try out (e.g. chronodex, parallel time ladder) 

key/legend (keep it simple!)

colour palettes/swatches

washi tape / pens / markers swatches

banners / fonts

doodles

ticket stubs / receipts

stickers / stamps

cutouts of info brochures

pressed flowers

calligraphy / brush lettering / handwriting practice

favourite stationery

activities

_______ that you want to do* / have done* (kind of bucket list) *watch, read, listen to, try, taste, cook, play etc. 

books

movies

tv shows

music

hobbies

arts/crafts e.g. paper quilling

sports e.g. archery

how to play / equipment / etc.

video games

foods

activities

board games

books / movies / tv shows

summary / review

favourite characters

meaningful moments / moments that made you laugh / cry

(for the media critic) artful moments:

best descriptive passages

best cinematography

best action scenes

best use of soundtracks

(basically moments that make it deserving of awards)

music

album reviews

favourite songs

playlists for every mood and all seasons

meaningful lyrics

songs you shazamed

favourite genres and exemplar songs

kpop

reasons why i love my bias / bias wrecker / group

letter to your bias

comeback concepts / favourite outfits

visual/picture tutorials for makeup styles

calendar of your favs’ schedules during comeback season

in-jokes/memes

awards / achievements / records broken / milestones

translated lyrics

kpop songs vocab lists

upcoming releases

on this day

art

pics of your favourite artworks/artists + write about it

art styles you want to emulate

explain techniques for different media e.g. watercolour wet-on-wet

doodle ideas

astrology

natal chart readings/aspects/placements

solar return reading for the incoming year / transits

synastry / compatibility chart readings

constellation/star charts

symbol reference page for planets, zodiac signs, aspects

food

recipes

meal plans

shopping lists

interesting foods: (doodle ‘em!) taste / texture / smell (e.g. truffles, caviar)

cafes/restaurants you want to go to + their specialty dish (photo)

cocktails you want to mix/taste (doodle ‘em!)

media

interesting articles + moral/ethical issues it prompted you to think about

controversial topics on the news and for/against arguments/your thoughts

on this day in history

fav websites / blogs

jokes / puns / pickup lines

favourite poems / quotes / short stories

kinaesthetic

burn book - write things that make you angry/sad and rip the page out

wreck it journal - e.g. colour, scribble, stickers all over this page

travel

places to visit

travel itinerary

cultural parables

useful phrases in the language and their meaning

travel memories spread: things you did / places you went / selfies

postcard collection

packing list

friendly and not-so-friendly people that you met in foreign lands

writing

short story ideas

plot brainstorming spreads

journal prompts

drabbles

character designs

foreign words which can’t be directly translated into english

Follow optomstudies for daily original posts and study masterposts!  Links: all originals + langblr posts + 15-part college 101 series + web directory!

[marybstudies]

While you’re on a study break:

Paint your nails. Doesn’t matter if you’re good at it or not. It’s a quiet, calming, easy activity that takes up the perfect amount of time for a break and still requires some amount of focus. Put on a Youtube video or Netflix while you do it.

Watch a John Oliver video. If you don’t know him, he’s a comedian and host of Last Week Tonight on HBO. His pieces are hilarious, informative, and all around 15-20 minutes. 

Change the sheets on your bed. Changing your sheets often is good for your skin, still technically productive, and who doesn’t love snuggling up in a fresh bed after a long day? 

While you’re at it, clean your space. It’ll get you on your feet and again, still technically being productive. 

Make yourself something to drink. I hate to be that blogger™ but  Stay hydrated, loves! No energy drinks, if you need something more exciting. We are adults in this household, we get our caffeine like adults. Always go tea or coffee. 

Take a nap. There are legends that if you drink a coffee before you take a nap, the caffeine will wake you up naturally a little bit later and you’ll feel super energized. That sounds fake but idk knock yourselves out. 

Put on an RIP Vine compilation and dissociate for a bit. I’m not kidding.

Take a shower. Or just stand there under the hot water a bit. You’ll feel like a new being. 

Know that you are a boss

Seriously 

You got this and I believe in you 

[intellectys]

Here’s some weapons for your essay writing arsenal!

Hemingway Editor Calmly Writer  The Most Dangerous Writing App Purdue O.W.L. One Look Thesaurus JSTOR Google Scholar

Reply with your favourite or other great websites I didn’t include!

[biocaffeinated]

Studying for world history this fine afternoon!! :-) Both of my finals are tomorrow (this & biochem aaaa) and I’m so ready to be done with this quarter!

[sudjjfkflflfkahabsbdi-deactivat]

They are going to pass all of their finals

[socialistwaluigi-deactivated202]

who?

[sudjjfkflflfkahabsbdi-deactivat]

the student reading this ❤️

[zaynschickens]

I mean thanks for the support but idk…

[sudjjfkflflfkahabsbdi-deactivat]

[positivepaige]

Things You Can Do While Studying, a lil icon chart made by yours truly, @paigehahs

[samsstudygram]

types of study breaks for every situation

if you realize you’ve been studying for hours: grab a snack to refuel your body and watch a sitcom to refuel your brain. then back to the books.

if you’re feeling stressed out: take some deep breaths, text your friends, maybe stair at a wall for a few minutes. gather yourself.

if you can’t seem to focus: get moving and get outside. take out the garbage, check your mail box, maybe walk your dog. just get moving and get fresh air. it’ll help bring you back.

if there’s something else going on in your life and you can’t get it off your mind: write down what’s going through your head, sort of like a diary entry. it’ll help you work things out.

if you’re just mentally and physically exhausted: set a timer for 25-30 minutes and take a nap. any longer and you’ll hit REM and you’ll wake up feeling just as tired. once you wake up, get some caffeine in you.

if the material is boring as hell: find another way to study. see if there’s a crash course video online about it or draw out what you’re trying to learn in diagrams and pictures to make it fun.

if people around you won’t shut up: listen to some music. soundtrack and classical music is always good because they won’t absorb you as much as music with lyrics. white noise (like ocean waves, rain sounds, etc.) also works.

if you only half understand a concept: call/message a friend who’s not in the class and try to teach the material to them. this will help you mentally work through the material and will help you remember it as well.

[hoursofreading]

I. So you've just graduated from college / gotten a great internship / gotten your resume in good shape and practiced interviewing, and yo...

[deeplylearning]

I assumed this was going to be a kind of, “Suck it up, you really do suck!” type of article. But it wasn’t. It’s more about realizing that you’re not necessarily going to be great when you first start out, and how to navigate that.

Worth a read.

[howtomusicmajor]

How to Handle Having TOO MUCH To Do

So let’s say you’re in the same boat I am (this is a running theme, have you noticed?) and you’ve just got, like, SO MUCH STUFF that HAS to get done YESTERDAY or you will DIE (or fail/get fired/mope). Everything needs to be done yesterday, you’re sick, and for whatever reason you are focusing on the least important stuff first. What to do!

Take a deep breath, because this is a boot camp in prioritization.

Make a 3 by 4 grid. Make it pretty big. The line above your top row goes like this: Due YESTERDAY - due TOMORROW - due LATER. Along the side, write: Takes 5 min - Takes 30 min - Takes hours - Takes DAYS.

Divide ALL your tasks into one of these squares, based on how much work you still have to do. A thank you note for a present you received two weeks ago? That takes 5 minutes and was due YESTERDAY. Put it in that square. A five page paper that’s due tomorrow? That takes an hour/hours, place it appropriately. Tomorrow’s speech you just need to rehearse? Half an hour, due TOMORROW. Do the same for ALL of your tasks

Your priority goes like this:

5 minutes due YESTERDAY

5 minutes due TOMORROW

Half-hour due YESTERDAY

Half-hour due TOMORROW

Hours due YESTERDAY

Hours due TOMORROW

5 minutes due LATER

Half-hour due LATER

Hours due LATER

DAYS due YESTERDAY

DAYS due TOMORROW

DAYS due LATER

At this point you just go down the list in each section. If something feels especially urgent, for whatever reason - a certain professor is hounding you, you’re especially worried about that speech, whatever - you can bump that up to the top of the entire list. However, going through the list like this is what I find most efficient.

Some people do like to save the 5 minute tasks for kind of a break between longer-running tasks. If that’s what you want to try, go for it! You’re the one studying here.

So that’s how to prioritize. Now, how to actually do shit? That’s where the 20/10 method comes in. It’s simple: do stuff like a stuff-doing FIEND for 20 minutes, then take a ten minute break and do whatever you want. Repeat ad infinitum. It’s how I’ve gotten through my to do list, concussed and everything.

You’ve got this. Get a drink and start - we can do our stuff together!

[allydsgn]

WOAH THIS SOUNDS HELPFUL. I’M GOING TO TRY THIS IMMEDIATELY. Also, I made a chart for myself, but if anyone else wants it for reference (or if this is wrong and I misread you can tell me) here it is:

[ceruleanpages]

how to procrastinate productively

here’s a list of things i do when i don’t want to work on schoolwork! working on projects/tasks just for fun makes you feel like you’re being productive, because you are. these are just a bunch of alternatives to mindlessly scrolling that make you feel like you’re doing something!

watch crashcourse on youtube. their videos are educational while still being entertaining, and they even have a whole series about studying and productivity! my favorite are the mythology ones. 

play around on duolingo. they’re one of the most user-friendly language-learning websites, and you don’t have to take it super seriously. the games and stuff are actually fun and you feel like you’re accomplishing something!

learn to code! it’s a useful skill in web design and also pretty fun to just mess around with. 

draw! even if you don’t think you’re good! drawing is fun, and you don’t need to feel pressure to improve, it’s something you can just enjoy. i like to draw while watching sycra’s videos on youtube, mainly because they’re long and chill and he’s a really good artist. 

read short story collections. there’s something so satisfying about reading a short story because you can feel it all at once. right now i’m reading dubliners by james joyce and collections of Lovecraft and Ray Bradbury. 

dream about one day owning an orchard. 

[what-even-is-thiss]

Yesterday my dad told me something that I think maybe more people need to hear.

You’re allowed to just do things for fun.

He told me that in this modern society, especially the United States, we seem to have this attitude that we shouldn’t do something unless we’re aiming to be the best at it. If we can’t sing like Beyonce or Frank Sinatra or something there’s no point to singing. If we can’t make the next big breakthrough there’s no point in looking into mechanics and engineering.

But, he tells me, it took him a long time to figure out that life doesn’t have to be a race. If you want to take up the piano when you’re a teenager or later you’re not going to master it. You’re not going to be able to play to huge concert halls, but that also shouldn’t stop you. You can study a language out of curiosity and then drop the ball if you want. You can just get okay at something or even be terrible at it. You can drop it for days or years and then pick it up again and it doesn’t have to be a shameful thing.

I’m really glad he told me that because today I opened my sketchpad for the first time in months and just started drawing. And it looks terrible. But I don’t care. I don’t have the talent or patience or spacial awareness to get anywhere near good at drawing, but it’s fun. It helps me focus my mind and nobody has to see it.

And because of what he told me, I’m thinking maybe someday soon I will take up the bass guitar. And I won’t worry about how well I do, or how fast I learn, or that I haven’t played an instrument since sixth grade, or that I don’t have that much time to practice. I’m just gonna enjoy the experience. Maybe I’ll try swing dancing again and take a class because I’m not the best dancer but damn if it isn’t fun.

Yeah, you don’t have to be good at things. It’s not a requirement. Maybe that seems obvious but it had never occurred to me before. You’re allowed to just enjoy what you’re doing. For me, that feels like a life changing revelation. I don’t have to be good at something to like it. I don’t have to put 100% effort into everything I do. It’s kind of amazing.

[nurseyxbitty]

i love this post and i love you

[undesiredstudy-blog]

so it’s mock season

and, if you like me, you’re freaking the heck out

so here’s my top tips to help you get through this hell

revise ya noob

honestly, even if you’ve left it the night before, you still have time to revise. any revision is revision after all.

forget the unimportant

you’ve got a messy room? don’t tidy it*. got a bujo or planner? let the weeks be messy or not as pretty. things can wait.

* of course if you can’t work with a messy room then tidy it but you get me gist.

imagine the thing you’ll do one the exams are over

sounds weird but when I think of all the things I’ll be able to do it motivates me to work more. make the end more sweet. treat yourself when it’s done.

drink!! your!! goddamn!! water!!

it’s good for the brain, keeps you awake, and makes your skin looking fresh. it’s the good stuff. force yourself to take it if you forget about it. I make myself drink after each question I attempt or every page I read

change up your scenery

this doesn’t necessarily mean leaving the house. you could alternate between your desk, bed and floor. anything to stop it becoming super monotonous.

leave social media behind

don’t feel shame in taking longer to reply to messages. your friends will understand and are probably going through the same thing.

honestly, your appearance doesn’t matter

too stressed to do your makeup or chose a cute outfit? it’s okay it happens to the best of us. no one cares. the scruffy look’s great.

don’t feel bad

whether it’s the feeling of not doing enough, putting on weight, not being as social, it’s okay. you’re doing the best you can. you got this babe.

there’s my tips.

just remember you can do it.

add more if you want!!

[night-studying]

A Guide to Writing Your Resume

I recently took a very helpful youth professional development course and learned some great things I’d love to share with everyone. This post will be especially helpful for first time resume writers, but there might be something in it for everyone. 

1. What is a Resume? 

A resume is a brief summary of your abilities, experience, and skills. It’s essentially a personal advertisement for your professional career, an opportunity to convince the employer that you are worth interviewing. 

The average employer will only take about 15-20 seconds to read your resume.

It’s important that your resume is neat so the reader can find important information quickly. 

Limit the resume to one page. 

Standard font size is 11-12, but you can play with the font or margins to fit everything. 

2. Headings 

Start with your personal information at the top of the first page (name, address, phone number, and email address). 

Keep the header centered and your name on top in BIG LETTERS.

3. Education 

If you are still in school or have little professional experience, this will likely be the first section in your resume. 

Document your education and graduation year.

Include the location (city, state), but do not include the school address. 

If you attend a school with a College Preparatory Curriculum, you may list that as a bullet underneath. If you are taking Honors or AP classes (or an international equivalent), feel free to list that as well. 

4. Professional Experience 

List your work experience in reverse chronological order - start with your most recent experience, and work backwards. 

Include the employer name, city, state, and position title for each. Again, no addresses.

Record your dates of employment consistently, using a format like June 2016 - August 2015, or 6/15 - 8/15. Staying consistent will make your resume professional. 

Place current jobs in the present tense, past jobs in the past tense. 

Write short phrases, not full sentences (”performed experiments”, not “I performed experiments”). Start each description with an action word that describes your skills, responsibilities, or accomplishments. 

Make sure you are specific about your responsibilities and don’t undersell yourself!

5. Skills 

Most commonly listed skills are computer programs and softwares you are comfortable with, and languages you are fluent/proficient in. 

Be honest! If you say you’re fluent in Spanish and you’re not, but your employer hires you for your Spanish abilities…. someone isn’t going to be pleased. 

List skills that are relevant to your job - patience might be a good skill for working with children, while organized might be more suitable for an office setting. 

6. Honors & Awards/Extracurriculars

List any honors or awards you have earned, including a brief explanation if the nature of the award is unclear. 

List any activities that you have been involved in, making sure to include years of participation (again, be consistent with formatting). These can be in-school or outside-of-school activities.

7. General & Miscellaneous

Some safe fonts: Times New Roman, Garamond, Calibri, or Book Antiqua.

Make sure your email is professional! This has been repeated to death but it’s so, so, so important. 

Likewise, if you list your personal cellphone number, make sure your voicemail message is appropriate. When in doubt, just revert back to the standard voicemail greeting. 

I hope this was helpful for anyone just starting out with their resume. Please share this for those who need it. Best of luck! 

- Ellie