guide to dark academia

[luxsocialite]

Ways to reset for the new year!

Hello everyone!

2022 is just around the corner (thank God) and I want all of us to have very fun, happy, healthy and productive year.

So here are 10 ways we can reset and refresh for the new year:

1. Plan your year:

Start with a fresh notebook, something cute that you would love to write in all the time, and a pen.

First: design your life. What do you want your life to look like in 5 years, 10 years? What material things do you have? How much money are you making? Where are you living? How do you spend your free time? What are your hobbies? Where are you vacationing?

This video is amazing at helping you get started!

Also included in this is vision boarding especially if your a visual person. Make a collage of pictures of things you want to happen, put it as your phone/computer bg or do it on paper and put it where you will constantly see it.

2. Get your sleep schedule together

I am tired! All the time and it’s because my sleep schedule is trash lol. Definitely having a bedtime routine and sleep schedule will help with my mood levels and emotions.

Start by not using your phone in your bed because then you connect staying awake on the phone with your bed and then you’ll never sleep. Also, limit screen time after a certain time. Blue lights really aren’t conducive for sleep.

Start a night time routine. Make a sleep playlist, spray lavender spray on your pillow. Make sleeping interesting

3. Declutter

Leave everything that you don’t want following you into the new year behind. This includes clothes you haven’t worn all year, people you no longer want to associate with, texts, emails and apps you can’t be bothered with, old make up and honestly just things that don’t bring you joy (I’m in my Marie Condo era).

4. Self reflect

Going off of point one. Really ask yourself what you want from life and how you are going to get there. Recognize your coping mechanism and toxic traits, what can help you become a better you.

Therapy is great for this. I am a proponent for everyone going to therapy and working out everything with a neutral third party.

5. Start investing … in yourself

Look, I’m not about to tell you to start putting your money in the stock market because Lord knows I know nothing about stocks. But we should at least be putting any kind of money away for an emergency fund even if its $5 a month.

If you can put money in a retirement fund, the earlier you can, the better.

And not just money you need to invest. Time, emotion, etc.

Is there a business you want to start? Girl, it’s time to invest.

Beauty treatments you want? Invest

Designer items? Car? House? Relationship? Career? Experiences? It’s time to start investing in yourself

6. Show gratitude

I think it’s important to focus on the positive way more than the negative. I give myself at least 5-10 minutes a day to focus on the negativity of the day before moving on and pushing it out of my head.

I also think it’s important to write down or at least think about what I’m grateful for/what made me happy everyday.

7. Socialize

Make some time for the important people in your life. I’m not the best at texting my friends all the time. I’m a very low maintenance friend, but I do try to reach out every once and a while and keep the connection alive. We are social creatures, we are made to connect with other people.

And not just your friends, try to connect with as many people as you can. Network, be nice, you never know how that person could help you or change your life later.

8. Stop comparing yourself to others

I know this day in age, it seems like everyone is “successful” but the truth is we do not know what is going on behind closed doors or what that person had to do to get to where they are. Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone’s timeline is different and it’s never too late.

Compare yourself to yourself. Ask yourself what you can do to become the best version of you and what you can do to have the life you want, not the life you see other people with.

9. Do more things you enjoy

If the year permits, I definitely want to travel more. Life is too short to not do things that will make me happy. I want to experience anything and everything I can, while I can still do it. That means making time and spending money on experiences.

10. Give yourself a break

Give yourself some grace. You are only human. You cannot do everything and you’re not a bad person for achieving everything in a certain timeline.

Be nice to yourself, say affirmations, build your confidence, get to know yourself, perhaps even date yourself …

And make sure you take care yourself, eat right, drink water, move your body. Don’t push yourself too hard

And remember to take a breath and live in the moment.

Happy new year!

[studyblr]

more posts like this on my instagram

[writtenupsidedown]

Dark Academia Seasons

🌷 Spring

Loose cotton shirts paired with sweater vests

Reading romantic poetry written in flowery language

Wandering through rose gardens and secluded parks

Eat: scones topped with jam and honey

Drink: lavender tea and rose water

☀️ Summer

Long, flowing skirts and billowing sleeves

Seeking shade under willow trees or inside bookstores

Light summer reading such as short stories, proverbs, or myths

Eat: charcuterie boards complete with meats, cheeses, and seasonal berries

Drink: water infused with fruit juices

🍁 Autumn

Sweaters with shirt collars poking out, knit stockings or long pants

Spending time relaxing in warm cafés or libraries

Reading gothic horror novels or poetry with darker themes

Eat: spiced baked goods made with pumpkin, cinnamon, or apple

Drink: warm cider and coffee

❄️ Winter

Blazers over sweaters for the cold days, scarves and hats knitted by someone special

Reading classic authors such as Dickens, Austen, or Dostoyevsky

Studying, working, or reading next to a roaring fire in the evening

Eat: candied fruits, spiced meats, and sweet or savory pies

Drink: mulled wine, peppermint tea, and homemade hot chocolate

[pettymaryshelley]

Dark academic media because it’s autumn

Films

• Harry Potter: boarding school, magic, cozy

• Dead Poet Society: boarding school, forlorn, rich

• Twilight: bitter, terrible, autumn-y (mock it loudly whilst watching to make it worth while)

• Good Will Hunting: deep, cerebral, engaging

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream: classic, dreamy

• The Spiderwick Chronicles: monsters, childhood

• The Black Cauldron: disney classic, creepy, fun

• Kill Your Darlings: Murder, university, morality

• Hocus Pocus: witchy, nostalgic, light-hearted

• Coraline: trippy, weird, childlike, buzzing

• The Corpse Bride: drab, gentle, strange

• Dorian Gray: rich, ben barnes, terrible mentors

• Sleepy Hollow: grim, ghostly, casually haunting

• Crimson Peak: creepy, strange, dim, opulent

Shows

• The Queen’s Gambit: intelligent, new, riveting

• Peaky Blinders: dark, illegal 1910s shenanigans

• Sherlock Holmes (BBC): cerebral, mystery, witty

• Gilmore Girls: nostalgic, private school, literature

• Criminal Minds: mystery, crime, casual viewing

• Sabrina the Teenage Witch: nostalgic, light, witchy

• Scooby Doo Where Are You?: cozy, mystery, kids

• The Haunting of Bly Manor: dark, creepy, engaging

Books and short stories

• The Secret History: university, murder, morality

• Jane Eyre: classic, ghostly, romanticism

• Frankenstein: classic, gothic, sci-fi, morality

• Dracula: classic, gothic, horror

• Stalking Jack the Ripper: gothic, horror, victorian

• Sherlock Holmes: classic, mystery, cozy

• Ninth House: horror, necromancy, morality

• The Yellow Wallpaper: psychologically haunting, short story, morality

• Murder on the Orient Express: classic, mystery, whodunit

• Harry Potter: cozy, magic, boarding school

• The Night Circus: whimsical, magic, romance

• A Deadly Education: boarding school, magic, horror

• Rebecca: psychological, morality, relationships

• Crime and Punishment: classic, heavy, morality

• War and Peace: classic, opulent, heavy

Podcasts

• Spirits (Multitude): drunk mythology

• The Bright Sessions: audio drama surrounding fictional therapy sessions with magically gifted individuals

• Critical Role: DnD with famous voice actors

• Welcome to Nightvale: paranormal small town audio drama told in the style of an evening radio show

• Crime Junkie: true crime

• TEDTalksDaily: short TEDTalks posted each day about a wide variety of topics

• Potterless: grown man reads the Harry Potter series for the first time

Songs

• Master & a Hound - Gregory Alan Isakov: soft, indie, bittersweet

• I Know Places - Lykke Li: heavy, indie, sad

• Since I Saw Vienna - Wilbur: soft, indie, sad

• Cherry Wine - Hozier: bittersweet, cozy, indie

• To Be Alone - Hozier: heavier, entrancing, indie

• Who Will Carry You - Adam Jones & K.S. Rhoads: hopeful, soft, sad

• Scotland - The Lumineers: self-sufficient, indie, bittersweet

• Falling Water - Peter Oren: heavy, sad, deep

• The Night We Met - Lord Huron: soft, kind, nostalgic

• Ms - alt-J: soft, surrounding, nostalgic, dreamlike

• Oh My Dear - The Head and the Heart: soft, lulling, gentle

• Blood Bank - Bon Iver: soft, bittersweet, snowy

• September Song - Agnes Obel: soft, instrumental

• Gnossienne no.4 - Erik Satie: spooky, instrumental

• Golden - Riley Baron: light, rich, juvenile

• Murder Song - AURORA: eloquent, upset, fairylike

• Ella - Myrkur: nordic, elemental, raw

• If I Had a Heart - Fever Ray: dark, roaming, sure

• Who’s With Us - Current Swell: sad, lonely, soft

• Sleep on the Floor - The Lumineers: textured, lazy

• Helvegen - Wardruna: nordic, echoing, thunderous

• Jenny of Oldstones - Ginny Di: old, soft, sweeping

• Nothing Arrived - Villagers: so, so sad…with honey

[chaoticaindica-deactivated20230]

DA Fashion But Make It Indian

Summer styles

Short cotton kurtis in "English colors". (light academia)

Pants in earth colors instead of skinny denim trousers.

Scarves and stoles of Georgette or Lenin.

Viscose flannels over short kurtis. (more of chaotic academia)

Khaadi clothes!!!

Light fabric saris tied up as skirts. (chaotic academia)

Fusion sets in dark tones or ethnic prints. Floral prints provide a more light academia look, if that's your jam.

Lungis styled as wrap skirts. (chaotic academia)

T-shirt style kurtis. (chaotic academia)

Saris styled as wrap dresses.

Palazzo pants in ethnic prints. (chaotic academia)

Dhoti pants in mundane palettes.

Long skirts in Kalamkari or Bandhani or Ajrak prints. (chaotic academia)

Winter styles

Shawls! Not Pashmina because they are crazy expensive, but Kullu, Naga or Kalamkari shawls or shawls that are family heirlooms.

Nehru jackets.

Unisex phirans.

Khos or Bakhus for men and Honjus for women. Although there are unisex Bakhus available as well. Pair these with woolen pants or palazzos. (chaotic academia)

Innaphis in dark red or brown tones.

Silk or velvet kotis is dark shades.

Gamthi jackets make up an excellent fall look.

Brocade overcoats in royal colours. (Indian royaltycore)

Benarsi Trench Coat. (Indian royaltycore)

Faux silk capes. (relatively affordable and really durable if handled with care)

Coats and blazers that are family heirlooms.

Oversized coats tied up with a shimmery string at waist. (chaotic academia)

Knit cardigans! light shades give off light academia vibes while dark and earth shades give off dark academia vibes.

Festive wear

Anarkali suits.

Sherwanis.

Kurta - pajamas in cotton.

Sarees.

Traditional dresses/prints that are exclusive to your state/city. (ex- Mekela Sador in Assam and Mundum Neriyathum in Kerala)

Dhoti - kurta in khadi.

Ghaghra - cholis.

Achkans.

Pattu Pavadai.

Jodhpuri suits.

Don't forget to wear the headgears or turbans unique to your state/city.

Have fun in adding more to the list!

[inmediasre-s-deactivated2022020]

dark academia / winter capsule wardrobe

tops

• a black turtleneck. preferably cotton or cashmere.

• a white collared shirt. silk, cotton or linen.

• a dressier top. something to wear with jeans when having poetry nights with your friends; i would still advise to go for black, but the style can be more extravagant – puff sleeves, maybe?

• a basic long-sleeved t-shirt. choose a dark, muted colour or go for black.

• an oversized knit. white, grey or black; wool is best at keeping you warm.

• basic knit. possibly black; doesn’t have to be boring in style – could be a wrap cardigan, a turtle or mock-neck, balloon-sleeved…

bottoms

• a pair of black straight-leg jeans. stick to 100% cotton.

• a pair of black or dark grey trousers. wool or cotton is good.

• a black skirt. mini or midi; wool is, again, great for winter, but anything will do.

dresses

• a long-sleeved little black dress. pick a style you like, be it frilly or clean cut.

• a dark knit dress. just try to stay away from acrylic & polyester, they won’t keep you warm.

underwear

• a few pairs of bras. go for neutral colours & comfort.

• enough underpants. black or baby pink lace is always nice; cotton is good.

• different types of socks. black & white, thick & thin; make sure your ankles are covered.

• black tights. they keep your legs warm when you wear a skirt or a dress.

jewellery

choose gold or silver, whichever suits you best, & stick to it.

• two dainty necklaces. you can wear them on their own of stacked together.

• a few rings. one bigger & more interesting, the rest more minimal to complement the more intriguing piece.

• a pair of everyday earrings & a more elegant pair. if you wear earrings; make sure both pairs fit your other jewellery.

accessories

• an over-the-shoulder leather bag. black or brown; it should fit your school papers & at least a few extra books.

• a small bag for special occasions. whatever style you like; it should go together with your little black dress & fit at least a lipstick & everything you might need at a party – a tiny bottle of vodka & a small notebook?

• a black or checkered (but dark in colour) umbrella. for those beautifully gloomy, rainy days.

• a leather belt. black or brown, depending on the colour of your bag & shoes.

• a scrunchie. black velvet or white satin.

shoes

• a pair of black or brown boots. either a chelsea boot or a dr. martens type shoe; these should be the same colour as your everyday bag.

• a menswear-inspired shoe. should match your bag; oxfords, brogues, derbys…

• occasion footwear. type depends on your style; could be heeled ankle boots, pumps, ankle-strap heels, loafers, ballerinas or even the same derby shoes from the previous point.

outerwear

• a long woollen coat. preferably black; could also be a checkered dark grey.

• a tweed jacket or checkered blazer. in grey or brown tones; could be worn under the oversized coat for added warmth.

• a pair of mittens. in a dark colour; maybe a friend or a lover knitted them for you?

• a big long scarf. matches the mittens; favour natural materials for warmth.

[thewritingkingdom]

Unique Eye Colors (for your characters)

@thewritingkingdom on Instagram

Heterochromia - eyes that are multiple colors (often an anomaly/condition/genetics)

Amber - golden yellow or coppery color without specks of gold, green, or brown.

Anisocoria - relates to an eye with unequal pupil (black part of eye) size

Silver Grey - most common in Northern and Eastern Europe

Red/Pink - caused by a condition that reduces the coloring (pigmentation) of the iris, which is the colored part of the eye, and the retina, often associated with albinism

Violet - contested as a myth, not developed at birth but rather after accidents, trama, etc.

[darkacademia101]

Credit: Found on @siwrites on instagram (reply if you know who the original poster of it is)

[samsstudygram]

how to get motivated

write out a list of what you need to do and when they need to be done by

prioritize. do the most important stuff, the stuff that’ll take the longest, and the stuff that needs to be soonest first

put on some good music for things like cleaning, organizing, and chores

if you have to do stuff for school like study or write a paper, prioritize that. 

but remember your health and well being comes before your education. 

if you have stuff you know you need to do, take a rain check for going out with friends. you can go out another time.

know why you need to do something. ex: i need to study so that i can do well in my class to get into a good college. i need to clean my room so that the space is calmer. i need to do the dishes because i need to to eat. i need to get up and go to class so that i can get the most out of my education. i promise, there is a positive in everything.

remember to eat. remember to drink water. remember to sleep.

be grateful for the things you need to do. ex: i’m grateful i have school to study for. i am grateful that i have a room to clean. i am grateful i have food to eat off of these dishes. i am grateful for having an 8am class because getting an education is an amazing opportunity.

when making a to-do list for the day/week, put in things for yourself like play with my dog, watch that new harry styles interview, get a starbucks, take a deep breath, drink water.

set time goals. if you don’t want to do something or you keep getting distracted, set timers. for example, if you have a chapter you need to read but it’s super boring, set a timer for 10 minutes and see how much you can do in that time. set a goal like “if i can read 5 pages in 10 minutes, i’ll go make my favorite tea”. challenging yourself will get you and keep yourself motivated.

know that it’s okay to take breaks. you need them. but keep them under 30 minutes so you don’t get sucked in. (here’s a list of study breaks for every situation)

don’t give up; everything is temporary. having trouble understanding your calculus homework? that’s fine. you’re not the only one. take a 5 minute break, stretch a bit, maybe grab a snack, then approach things differently. ask a friend for help, set up a tutoring session, watch youtube videos explaining the content in a different way.

remember that you can do anything that you put your mind to. you got this.

[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 stare 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.

[busy-bizzy-bee]

Tips on writing an essay from my history professor

1. If you approach writing as a mystical event where you sit down at a blank page and expect to be visited by divine inspiration, you’re fucked. Writing is not a talent, it is a skill. It is a muscle. If you don’t use it, it dies.

2. Be comfortable with writing absolute garbage. Get all your thoughts down: write shit. Then edit; devote 50% of your time or more to editing. This is when you write your thesis. This is when you decide where paragraphs are.

3. Know how to use a comma. If you use more than two in a sentence, it’s too many. You’re doing something wrong. In American writing, beauty is not in the length and complexity of a sentence. Beauty is in short sentences, with a variety of structures.

4. If you can cut a word, cut it. Ask yourself, do I really need all these words? Keep only what is necessary, leave room for the important stuff.

5. Avoid canned expressions. The phrase ‘a needle in a haystack’ was effective the first time it was used in an essay – it no longer is. It would be better to write the most boring sentence than to write a cliche metaphor that serves no purpose.

6. When you use the word “which” you should probably be using the word “that.” If you don’t know, assume it should be “that.”

7. Avoid obscure vocabulary or jargon. Obscure vocabulary displays nothing about your intelligence or academic success.

8. Read good writing with the intention of absorbing how those authors write successfully.

[dark-academia-tips]

dark academia study techniques

rewriting your notes, over and over and over again, not worrying about the neatness but paying close attention to each and every word

muttering every bit you know by heart under your breath as you walk down the streets

studying early in the morning, focusing on one sentence or chapter and pondering it through the day

researching things that you have questions about on your own, finding books on that subject and leafing through them

reciting your notes dramatically to your household companion or your stuffed animal

challenging yourself to think, speak, write and consume media only in your target language

eating certain snacks with different subjects and letting the smells trigger your memories

associating each subject to someone you know by sight only

romanticising bits that you have difficulty getting interested in

chanting your notes at night on a classical tune

[ravenlesslangblr]

9 points about language learning and how I’m learning 20+ of them

I’ve had a few requests to write about how I learn my languages. To different degrees, there’s currently 20+ of them and I don’t see myself stopping yet. The thing is, learning languages comes really easily to me and I want to share, maybe it will be helpful to somebody else.

First, I’d like to have a look at first versus second language acquisition. I’m a linguist and I’m super interested in Child Language Acquisition. That however, has a critical age of 14 (or so I was always told) and is then no longer possible and any language learned after that age will never progress as quickly or can’t be learned perfectly. Well. I disagree. The simple difference is - first language acquisition is how you acquired your first language(s) as a child. By imitating, finding patterns, etc. Second language acquisition is what you know from language courses. Vocabulary, irregular verb tables, endless exercises. Now that we got some of the terminology off the table, let me see how I actually learn languages: 1) I utilise elements of the first language acquisition rather than second language I’ve only studied vocab a couple times at school, when I put them into Quizlet or when someone forced me to. I’ll get back to it in another point. I don’t learn patterns. I know there is one and I let the input do its magic of slithering into my head. Again, more on that in point 2. You always get told you’ll learn a language better when you’re thrown into the country where they speak it.  And it’s so true because of the processes behind it. Because input and immersion are the keys and that’s how children learn, too.

2) I don’t cram languages. I process them.

Around langblrs, I keep seeing all the ‘crying over verb tables’, ‘trying to learn a 1000 words this week’ and the like. That may work for you, sure. But I’ve never done that. I did learn a few irregular verb patterns for German in class, but while I could recite them, it wasn’t helpful. In Irish, I sometimes still wonder which verb ‘An ndeachaigh tú?’ comes from. The thing is, you’re able to process language. You know this word is probably irregular. If you come across it and don’t know what the irregular form is, look it up. After you’ve looked it up for the tenth time, you’ll probably remember by then. Same with anything else. Don’t try to learn things by heart when it comes to languages. 3) Vocab?? Same rule applies here. I’ve only learned vocab at school and then a handful of times when I wasn’t too lazy to put it into Quizlet (which is fun and I learn something, but it’s more of a useful pastime than anything). When you read, just skip the words you don’t know and only really look them up if you can’t tell by context. NEVER translate vocabulary. I mean, sure, look up what it means, but don’t connect it to the word itself. Connect it to the meaning. Pictures work better. As for abstract words, imagine the concept. Just try not to bridge the meaning of the word with your native language. Languages in your brain are meant to be two separate units. Unless you’re working on a translation piece, they shouldn’t be ‘touching’. 4) I use example sentences for everything.

Grammar guides are useful but rather than learning all the rules at once, take it one step at a time and remember some example sentences and let them guide you through the grammar rule you need.

5) Input is everything. Output is hard, but you’re basically imitating input and utilizing patterns you know (or think you know). Let me give you an example. Let’s say I’m writing a piece on my daily routine, for example. I make use of the example sentences and try to tailor them to my own needs. Trial and error, if I make a mistake, it’s okay, if somebody points it out, I probably won’t make it next time. As I progress, I will gradually remove the mistake. Same goes to new words and new verbs. Use the input you’ve got. Does this verb sound like some other verb you’ve heard before? It’s might have a similar conjugation pattern. You can check it, you don’t have to.

6) Learning languages should NOT be stressful! I never stressed over learning a language. Sure, I’m frustrated that after a year and a half of learning Irish, I’m not 100% fluent, but I’ve never stressed over it. I’ve never cried over it. I’ve never cried over a language (I only cried after a French oral exam which I thought I failed). Don’t be hard on yourself and try learning through a method that’s not stressful. Watch videos for children. Read books for children. Write down cool things in your target language(s). 7) You’ve learned a language before. Why wouldn’t you be able to learn it now in a very similar way? This is basically me saying that I have little belief in the efficiency of pure second language acquisition. Maybe a few individuals can reach fluency by cramming a language, the thing is, I think that if we concentrate on processing instead of remembering, just like we did when we were children, we can reach better results in a shorter amount of time. Also, if this is your third or fourth language, compare to languages you already know. 8) I don’t start with basics. I start ‘somewhere’.

Delve into the language the second you’ve started. Are you overwhelmed? That’s fine! You’ll find your way around it. Start with word meanings, finding out what kind of sentences those are and then build your way around it. Don’t start saying ‘hello’ and ‘I’m from’. Those are cool, but usually, they are used in a different way when you actually go out and speak. You’ll get them along the way.

9) Don’t rely on instructions (only). Rely on yourself.

This is just my two cents. I’ve pieced this together trying to remember how I’ve learned what I’ve learned and comparing it to how others around me learned. Please, let me know if it makes any sense. I may edit this and post this again later if I have any more ideas. Feel free to contribute or to bombard me with questions. I’m happy to answer.

[luminous-studiess]

how to study with a mental illness!!!! aka a guide to simultaneously caring for yourself and your academics

(disclaimer: this is from purely personal experience and is not a substitute for seeking professional help. these are just personal tips as i was formally diagnosed with depression and anxiety in the third year of college, but had been showing symptoms even in high school. different methods help for different people, but i really hope some of these things can help a struggling student out, because one of the reasons i went on studyblr in the first place was that i felt really lost and anxious.)

1. done is better than none. sometimes an assignment you have to turn in would be objectively easy to complete, but it takes longer to do so because you’re afraid that the final product won’t be as good as you want it to be, or as good as a professor expects it to be. it’s hard to remove those expectations, but it is a little easier when you remember that getting some points (no matter how many they are) are better than getting a deduction for late submissions or not turning in the project at all. many people – including myself – suffer from perfectionism in university, but it is overall more important to complete something to the best of your own ability, and learn from the feedback on the project later on. more importantly, often, you’re doing better than you think you’re doing, so surprise yourself. you can do it. just start.  2.  keep careful track of your deadlines.  much of my undergrad anxiety came from the fact that i knew something was due, but couldn’t keep track of it, or didn’t want to confront it. it’s better to confront it because you have more time to do it slowly and thoroughly. as soon as you hear about an impending exam or paper deadline, keep track of it. personally, i use google calendar. from there, you can make smaller plans and break down your goals to make it more doable! 3. don’t be afraid to ask for help.  there used to be a huge stigma against mental illness, but thankfully, many educational institutions are much kinder and more considerate about it. if you really can’t meet a deadline or come to class, let your professor know. most professors are kind, reasonable people who genuinely care about you and your well-being. even one of my scariest professors granted extensions to a girl who was genuinely struggling with serious depression, and the college of law i’m in takes mental health very seriously to the point that they instruct faculty how to deal with such cases.  if you’re not able to talk to a professor, try to ask help from a classmate or a friend who can share notes or fill you in on how they accomplished a certain assignment. many people will be happy to help. you are not a burden, love. 4. be kinder to yourself.  mental illness is like any illness. it often keeps us from doing as well as we’d like to be because it’s a genuine and serious health problem. sometimes it helps to keep this in mind when we flub a report in class (as i did several tens of times in undergrad), get a bad score, say something ridiculous during recitation, or mess up a paper. it’s okay to do your best while you heal. you know you’re trying your best, and slow growth is still growth. 5. on that note, care for your other needs.  one of my happiest and most fulfilled semesters (even though it was my busiest) was when i had time to see a psychiatrist, run, pack lunches and fruit to school to eat healthy, and have a reasonable-ish sleep schedule. this was during my thesis semester. while i had to take an incomplete, and finish my thesis the next sem, because i was attending to my own needs, i felt like a living, breathing, learning, happy person. and i finished my thesis the next semester. it’s better to look after your own physical health and needs before your academics. 6. sometimes, it’s better to do nothing and rest. you deserve it.  part of the reason i’d been doing horribly in law school was that i didn’t sleep and it was making me mildly unbalanced and incredibly suicidal; not to mention the fact that i wasn’t really retaining any information or performing well. rest days are just as important as days when you study because rest IS productivity.  7. take your meds. see your psych or therapist if you have one. avail yourself of mental health services on campus if there are any. these genuinely saved my life at a time that i thought i was beyond saving. please go seek help if you can.  BONUS: MY STUDY SETUP ON A TERRIBLE MENTAL HEALTH DAY (like today) - i try to clear the space and clean up as much as possible. it makes me feel like i have things under control, and have my work things where i can see them. - i eat something healthy, like fruit, and get a lot of water. i keep a water jug on my desk because it clears my thoughts and helps me replenish the fluids lost from crying (1/2jk). it also really keeps up my strength for the study process. - i turn on a calming playlist, like a jazz or lofi or ghibli playlist. in another window, i turn on a rain sound video on a softer volume, and it helps center me. - it helps when you have a soft or calming scent to calm you down. i use a lavender room spray, and it makes me feel cozy and productive, but in undergrad, i used this tea-tree lavender mix and it smelled like sunny afternoons and guitar coffeshop playlists. it really is nice. - there are breathing exercises and gifs all over the internet. they help calm you down when things seem Too Much.  i really hope this helps, guys. don’t hesitate to message me if you’ve been having a hard time with school or life or anything. please, please care for yourselves. you can do it.  – sam

[eintsein]

Energy Management

A human-based organization method

click on images for better resolution; images also available here (link to google drive)

Other posts that may be of interest:

Getting stuff done: How to deal with a lack of motivation

Flexible time-blocking: A more breathable way to get things done

The ABCDE Method

[brynwrites]

Cheep and easy ways to find a basis for your plot.

When you have characters:

What does your character aspire to do or become? Making that aspiration really hard for them to reach.

What does your character love? Take it away from them and make them earn it back.

What does your character hate? Bind them too it and make them work to get rid of it.

When you have a world:

What is the most chaotic thing that can happen to this world’s politics? Find the character this chaos would effect the most and see what they do about it.

What is the most dangerous thing that can happen within this magic system? Figure out who would come to stop or reverse it and see what they do.

Who is the most damaging person in this world and what are they doing? Figure out who of those they hurt might rise up and defeat them.

When you have only spite:

What story do you absolutely hate the execution of? Take the very basic concept of its plot and build it into the story you wish it produced.

What plot structure do you enjoy but wish writers would be more original with? Take it and then throw a dozen spins on it.

** Remember to mix and match for more elaborate plot structures. Carry on this format with your own tricks to digging up basic plot structures!

[academes]

Study Tips Based on Your Hogwarts House

Just finished rewatching all 8 of the Harry Potter films last week… and I thought why not make my first graphic related to it? So, here’s study tips for each of the Hogwarts houses! I know some of these doesn’t apply to everyone, but I had really fun time making this :) Hope this helps!

[darkacademia101]

A lot of my followers enjoy the Wizarding World universe. This post will allow you to combine both of your interests (Dark Academia + Harry Potter) to incorporate fun into studying. You can use any of these tips regardless of your Hogwarts House.