Misplaced Lens Cap
Keni
Monterey Bay Aquarium
TVSTRANGERTHINGS
Not today Justin
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todays bird
izzy's playlists!
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
Stranger Things
@theartofmadeline
ellievsbear
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Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
Kaledo Art
NASA
Game of Thrones Daily
roma★
Show & Tell
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@effortwillneverbetrayyou
Look man. Growing up in the early-2000's Hollister-era Aeropostale-era barely-post-heroin-chic-era was all, deeply, rotten and no good. But I'm glad I'm not 12 right now in this tiktok-infested clean-girl-rampant whatever-the-fucking-hell is going on right now because oh my god. oh my god...
self discipline tips
here are tips I discovered very recently:
something is better than nothing. 5 minutes of work are better than zero. Just because you missed something on your schedule doesn’t mean you can’t still work on it, even for 5 minutes. Grow and build on this.
second drafts / reviews can be done after.
Don’t think you are going to do your very best work on the first try. Take the weight of perfectionism off your shoulders.
don’t think about doing it. just do it as fast as you can.
build on your productivity, not your failures.
If you come from a past of procrastinating and now feel motivated to change and discipline yourself, do NOT try to do everything at once.
if you have a set of different goals to accomplish, begin with the most important one. Wait until the rotine of working for that one settles in (you feel productive and comfortable-ish), and then begin with the next. Repeat.
this way you’ll be building your way up and not juggling everything at the same time, hoping everything works out.
be patient with yourself, you’ll get there!
set smaller deadlines for your goals
have monthly and weekly-ish deadlines
e.g. if you are doing a project, due 22nd Feb, set personal deadlines, like have Introduction written by 2nd Feb, have Methods written by 10th Feb, have project complete by 18th Feb.
take them as seriously as you possibly can, don’t miss out on yourself.
write realistic daily tasks and don’t stop until you finish them. after them you can do whatever you want
on writing realistic daily tasks, the secret is knowing you can only do so much in one day, but trusting you can accomplish everything in the course of any period of time (a week, or 2 weeks or a month, etc.) because you will combine the work from all these different days.
it’s very tempting to write down all the tasks you need to accomplish in one day to just get over with it, but the real deal is you won’t accomplish half of them. You’ll feel very unproductive then, wich leads to demotivation.
spread daily tasks in the time necessary.
have a consistent sleep schedule.
if your mind isn’t ready everything will fall apart.
have one rest day per week where you plan nothing, do whatever you want except studying. this can be harder than you expect!
(don’t forget these are effective only if you actually put them into practice! good luck babes!!)
my masterlist of 'how to life’ tips
Cleaning & Tidying
Make your bed in the morning. It takes seconds, and it’s worth it.
Reset to zero each morning.
Use the UFYH 20/10 system for clearing your shit.
Get a reed diffuser and stick it on your windowsill.
Have a ‘drop-zone’ box where you dump anything and everything. At the beginning/end of the day, clear it out and put that shit away.
Roll your clothes, don’t fold them - or fold them vertically.
Automate your chores. Have a cleaning schedule and assign 15mins daily to do whatever cleaning tasks are set for that day. Set a timer and do it - once the timer is up, finish the task you’re on and leave it for the day.
Fold your clothes straight out of the tumble dryer (if you use one), whilst they’re still warm. This minimises creases and eliminates the need for ironing.
Clean your footwear regularly and you’ll feel like a champ.
Organisation & Productivity
Learn from Eisenhower’s Importance/Urgency matrix.
Try out the two-minute rule and the Pomodoro technique.
Use. A. Planner. (Or Google Calendar, if that’s more your thing.)
Try bullet journalling.
Keep a notebook/journal/commonplace book to dump your brain contents in on the regular.
Set morning alarms at two-minute intervals rather than five, and stick your alarm on the other side of the room. It’s brutal, but it works.
Set three main goals each day, with one of them being your #1 priority. Don’t overload your to-do list or you’ll hit overload paralysis and procrastinate.
If you’re in a slump, however, don’t be afraid to put things like “shower” on your to do list - that may be a big enough goal in itself, and that’s okay.
Have a physical inbox - a tray, a folder, whatever. If you get a piece of paper, stick it in there and sort through it at the end of the week.
Consider utilising the GTD System, or a variation of it.
Try timeboxing.
Have a morning routine, and guard that quiet time ferociously.
Save interesting-looking shit to instapaper. Have a set time where you read through the stuff you saved to instapaper and save the shit that you like from instapaper to evernote (or bookmark it properly).
During your working hours, put on your footwear, even if you’re sat on your bed. (Why?)
Have a folder for all your important documents and letters, organised by topic (e.g. medical, bank, university, work, identification). At the front of this folder, have a sheet of paper with all the key information written on it, such as your GP’s details, your passport details, driving licence details, bank account number, insurance number(s), and so on.
Try using StayFocusd and RescueTime (or similar apps/extensions). (I promise, you’ll find that you’re not as busy as you think you are.)
Schedule working time and down time alike, in the balance that works for you.
Money
Have. A. God. Damn. Budget.
Use a money tracker like toshl, mint, or splitwise. Enter all expenses asap! (You will forget, otherwise.)
Have a ‘money date’ each week, where you sort through your finances from the past seven days and then add it to a spreadsheet. This will help you identify your spending patterns and whether your budget is actually working or not.
Pack your own frickin’ lunch like a grown-up and stop buying so many takeaway coffees. Keep snacks in your bag.
Go to your bank and take out £100 in £1 coins (or w/e your currency is). That shit will come in useful for all kinds of things and you’ll never be short on change for the bus or the laundry.
Food & Cooking
Know how to cook the basics: a starch, a protein, a vegetable, and a sauce.
Simple, one-pot meals (“a grain, a green, and a bean”) are a godsend.
Dried porcini mushrooms make a fantastic stock to cook with.
Batch cook and freeze. Make your own ‘microwave meals’.
Buy dried goods to save money - rice and beans are a pittance. (Remember to soak dried beans first, though!)
Consider Meatless Mondays; it’s healthier, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly.
Learn which fruits and vegetables are cheapest at your store, and build a standard weekly menu around those. (Also remember that frozen vegetables are cheap and healthy.)
Learn seasoning combinations. Different seasoning, even with the exact same ingredients, can make a dish seem completely new.
Don’t buy shit for a one-off recipe, especially if you won’t use it all. If you really want to try out a recipe, see if a friend would be interested in making it with you, then pool for the expenses.
Make your own goddamned pasta sauce. Jamie Oliver has a decent recipe here, but the beauty of tomato sauce is that you can totally wing it and adapt the fuck out of it.
Misc
Have a stock email-writing format.
Want to start running, but find it boring? Try Zombies, Run!.
Keep a goddamn first aid kit and learn how to use it.
Know your OTC pain relief.
Update your CV regularly.
Keep a selection of stamps and standard envelopes for unexpected posting needs. (It happens more regularly than you would think!)
Some final words of advice:
Organisation is not a goal in itself, it is a tool. Don’t get caught up in the illusion of productivity and get distracted from the actual task at hand.
Routines and habits will help you. Trust in them.
You have the potential to be an organised and productive person, just as much as anybody else. It just takes practice.
HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER
In these two pictures, I show you how to format a cover letter, what questions you need to answer, and an example of a cover letter that got me hired to an on-campus job right off the bat before I even interviewed for the job.
If you follow these tips, you will be way ahead of your competition!
Keep reading
The Full Potential Challenge
Ever wonder what your life would be like if you lived up to your full potential? Would your body be healthier? Your skin clearer? Bank account bigger? I think about these things all the time, and, judging my a previous post, you guys do to. Below is a chart designed to help all of us live up to our full potential. I’ve broken it down into time frames to help keep you from getting overwhelmed. Write the chart down and hang it someplace where you can see it all the time. I will be starting this challenge tomorrow, 9/8. I’ll check in with you guys every Sunday to track my progress. I have specific goals in mind for myself, and you guys should make some too! I really want to know how you guys are doing. Tag your progress posts with #sbfpc so I can track it and take a look. Let’s get to it!
EVERY MORNING
Stretch. First thing. Really give your body enough time to wake up. Touch your toes. Roll out your shoulders. Do not hit snooze!
Do your full skincare routine. I have mine detailed here, but do whatever works for you and your complexion. Be gentle and consistent.
Brush your teeth and floss. I used to be a big floss-skipper too, but you’d be amazed at how dig of a difference it makes. Rinse with a whitening mouthwash. I use one by Crest, and I notice a major difference in my teeth’s overall whiteness in just a few days.
Give yourself enough time to get ready. Whether you’re a wash-and-go kind of girl, or someone who spends an hour doing a full contouring routine before class (and either one is fine!), make sure you aren’t rushing. If you need to wake up a few minutes earlier than normal, so be it. Rushing sets an awful, stressed-out tone for the rest of the day. Allow yourself to be relaxed before taking on the day.
Eat something. I’m not going to say eat a big breakfast, because some people (myself included) just can’t eat in the morning. But you should eat, or at least bring a little something with you to work or school. If you can’t eat a full breakfast, grab a fruit! You won’t be as hungry come lunch time, making you less likely to gorge yourself.
Shower. You can do this at night, in the morning, whatever. Again, this is something you should allow some time for. I don’t wash my hair every day, but I do condition it every day (from the ears down). Scrub yourself with a delicious-smelling body wash. If you shave, make yourself as smooth as a dolphin, dude. If you don’t, then don’t and don’t ever ever ever let anyone make you feel bad or weird about it. When you get out of the shower, wrap yourself in a fluffy towel and totally slather your sexy self with lotion. Top to bottom. Do it as soon as you can post-shower so it can really sink in.
Put leave-in condition throughout your damp hair and comb it through.
Put on an outfit that makes you feel good! So important!
Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!
Take a look at your daily to-do list. Knock out the most pressing stuff first. Take pride when you cross things off your list.
Make your bed! Oh my god, make your bed. Do it. Do it. Do it.
EVERY AFTERNOON
Follow the “touch it once” approach. This is a truly life-changing thing. When a task is in front of you, no matter how big or small, just do it right then and there. How many times have you gotten a work email or homework assignment and thought, “Eh, I’ll do it later”? And then later never comes? Once something pops up, do it once. Squash it and be done. Cross things off your list and feel like a badass.
Try to go for a walk at lunch. Even one little lap around the block or campus will reenergize you like nobody’s business.
Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!
Be present. This is so hard for me too, but you have to make a major effort to be present in whatever you’re doing. Be engaged and plugged-in and just exist in the moment. Give 100 percent.
Be friendly to friends and strangers. A smile goes a long way.
Eat something. Eat what you packed for lunch (see below) and take a break from working while you do it. You need “you time”!
EVERY EVENING
Take your makeup off as soon as you’re in for the night. Wash your face with your full routine and let your skin have a break.
Workout. You can also do this in the morning. Whatever works for you. Make a great playlist and go hard af. Get your cardio in. Get your strength training in. Earn every freaking sweat bead forming on your forehead. Earn your shower!
Knock out your homework. Life is infinitely better you don’t have anything hanging over your head. Half the time, the energy and emotion you spent dreading/putting off your work is ten times worse than the work itself.
Make a list of what needs to be done tomorrow. It’ll set you up for success the next day, and you won’t forget anything!
Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!
Lay out your clothes for tomorrow. This will save you SO MUCH TIME in the morning omg I can’t even tell you how important this is.
Eat something great. And once you’ve decided to be done eating for the night, be done. Brush your teeth so you can’t eat again.
After brushing, do a whitening treatment. Whether it’s classic baking soda, a Crest white strip, or a laser. Do something. And floss! Retainers in too, ladies 0:)
Relax! Take a few hours to do what YOU want to do. Scroll through Tumblr, binge on some Netflix, FaceTime gossip with your friends, anything. Do whatever makes you happiest.
Shut the electronics off an hour before you want to go to bed. Put your phone on sleep mode. If you stare at the screen, it will keep you awake and alert and you won’t be able to fall asleep. A good night’s sleep is crucial for weightless and general happiness lol
Do a quick sweep of your room and see if there’s anything you can put away real quick. A clean space is a happy space.
Crawl into your bed (aren’t you happy you took the time to make it?!) and read a book by lamplight for a while. When you start to feel sleepy, go to sleep. Don’t push it. You kicked ass today and you deserve rest.
EVERY WEEKEND
Do something with your friends. It just has to be one thing. Even if you’re just hanging out at the coffee shop, spending time with your squad will make you a better, happier person.
Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!
Do something just for you. Set your laptop up in the bathroom and watch a Netflix marathon while you take a bubble bath. Buy an old school bottle of Mr. Bubbles ($3 at Target!) and really just soak. Relax. Light a candle.
Do something creative. You can read a book, write, blog, draw, code, anything. It just has to be something that speaks to your passion.
Track your progress. Just do this once a week so it doesn’t become all-consuming. And remember that non-scale victories are just as important as shedding pounds.
Take the time to be grateful. Tell your friend how much you admire her taste in music. Mention to your mom how much you love her cooking and how happy you are that she takes care of you. Thank your teaching after an especially interesting lecture. When you do something awesome, take a moment to admire yourself. Be grateful for even the little things.
Anything I missed? Reblog + add yours! Don’t forget to tag your progress!
starting this Monday!
I’ll just reblog and fav cause I need to read this in the morning!
I’m gonna give it a try this Monday 😍
Back to school guide!
Organisation
how to set up a bullet journal
setting up a digital bullet journal
mossery co planner review
planner brand recommendations
bullet journal spread ideas
bullet journal decoration hacks
whats in my bag
my favourite stationery
back to school basic supplies
how to improve your handwriting
balancing study and work
2017 monthly planner printables
2018 monthly planner printables
Productivity
productivity and time management applications
how to remove distractions
types of procrastination and how to deal with them
google chrome new tab options for improved productivity
10 small ways to improve your productivity
applications to block websites
no distraction writing applications
100 days of productivity challenge
how to focus in class
how to stick to a schedule
how to stay alert
how to build self-discipline
how to organise for exams
Motivation
what to do when you’ve tried everything
how to gain back motivation
motivational monday printables
how to stop avoiding studying
what to do when you feel exhausted before studying
how I stay motivated
tips on maintaining motivation
how to start a studyblr
how to set up a studygram
dealing with competitive people
how to bounce back from ‘failure’
Studying
applications for students
how to take effective class or lecture notes
how to take notes from a textbook
studying printable pack
my note-taking method
my notebook system
how to write faster
how I organise my binders
good habits to implement
how to study (my method)
how to organise a colour code
how to memorise information effectively
how to memorise quotes
how to use flashcards
how I reduce waffle and narration in essays
tips for essay writing
how to find out where you’re going wrong
how I prepare to study
different ways to study
how to annotate a book/novel/etc
how to get ahead in school
studying as a visual learner
how to practice and present a speech
mindmapping apps and extensions
how to deal with online classes
how to study a language
apps to write without distraction
Self Care
how to improve your sleep schedule
how to study when sick
over-coming self doubt
dealing with stress
how to balance studying and anxiety
how to balance studying and depression
apps that help with depression
ways to reward your productivity
my favourite tv shows
ways to use empty notebooks
how to be more sociable
Printables
weekly study schedule
note-taking printables (dotted, grid, lined, cornell method)
exam revision printable pack (revision checklist, formulas + definitions sheet, essay + project planner, weekly schedule)
week at a glance
organic chemistry printable
100 days of productivity tracker
literary techniques
my Etsy shop (lots more printables! use ‘student10′ for 10% off any purchase)
things i wish i’d known in my first year of university
I’m reaching the end of my time at university and it’s got me all sentimental. and regretful. There are a number of things that I had learned during my time at university that I wish I’d known during first year.
Read everything. The only valid excuse for not reading everything on the reading list is that you didn’t have time, not that you found it boring, or that it wasn’t useful. Because there’s nothing scarier than trying to write an essay on something you studied a month ago, and you have no notes on the topic.
Revise constantly. I wish I’d revisited everything I did a week after I did it, just as a recap. I tended to focus on what I was doing in the moment because it felt the most important thing at the time. Well, during exams, everything is equal. And it’s so frustrating not quite being able to remember something. So, revise. Even just for ten minutes.
Don’t spend all of your money on impulse. I’ve bought so much rubbish that I really don’t need. And if I’d saved that money, I could have gone on holiday. Save every last penny you can.
Eat well. I just said that you should save all the money you can, but I think that food is one exception to that rule. Try and save money where you can, obviously, but don’t go for days and days without fresh vegetables because you’re saving money for a holiday. Your mind, as well as your body, needs food.
Go and talk to professors in their student hours. I used to find this so awkward. To be honest, I still do. But if you’re going sending them an email and asking for clarification on a topic, consider maybe popping into their office when it’s open to students. And tell them if you’re struggling! If you don’t let them know, then they can’t help you.
Take hot drinks with you, to your lectures or to the library. Don’t spend all your money in the library cafe. Bring a flask of tea, and loads of study snacks in a packed lunch box. Trust me on this.
Make time to meet up with friends you haven’t seen in ages. Don’t wait for them to ask you. I make sure to socialise with my friends at least twice a week. And by socialise, I don’t mean getting blind drunk and going clubbing. Sit down and have lunch together. Chat. Get to know each other properly. Friendships formed over alcohol never last as long as friendships formed through actual conversation.
Do stuff that the university puts on for students. Join societies. Get involved. One of the best nights I ever had at university was a masquerade ball that my college put on. And for some reason, I’ve never done anything like that since then? And I don’t understand why! University is for making memories, and I don’t really have many!
Travel around your university town. If you’re university is on a campus, don’t let your life revolve around that one place. If you’ve travelled away from home to go to university, then make it worth your while! See the sights, be a tourist, get on a bus and go to a random town and buy ice cream.
Experiment. This is the time. Dye your hair blue, join a weird and random society and take up a hobby you’d never dreamed of. If you want to try drugs, make sure it’s a safe environment and do your research before hand. If you don’t want to do that kind of thing, then don’t judge other people for doing so.
Give yourself a day off per week. When you’re at university and you’ve got loads of work, it’s tempting to just work constantly - or at least, to work every day, if not all the time. But it’s so much better for your mental state to take a day off to just relax.
Keep up with your chores. When you’re stressed about an assignment, you don’t want to be also stressed about that pile of washing up accumulating by the sink. Keep your room tidy too - clear space, clear mind.
Be kind to everyone. You’re going to meet a lot of people at university, some you’re going to hit it off with immediately. But there will be some who really rub you up the wrong way. Don’t worry about it, it’s completely fine to not like someone. But don’t be mean to them. This isn’t high school, you’re all here to learn and there’s just no need to make them feel bad about themselves. It’s just petty and childish.
Think about the future. I know that you’re completely wrapped up in your university life right now, but you’re going to have to venture out into the real world at some point. Do things that might help your future career: volunteer, get a job, join a sports club, make connections. University isn’t, sadly, forever.
There you have it! The advice that I would have given myself in the first year of university. Whether you’re just about to start university, or whether you’re just about to leave, I hope this is useful to you.
A Small Guide to Journaling by Eintsein
Something you may or may not know about be is that I journal. However, only recently have I gotten the hang of it and stayed loyal to the habit of journaling. Here are some tips and tricks on how you can journal successfully. Hope you like it :)
Right now, I’m sifting through 50+ applications for a new entry-level position. Here’s some advice from the person who will actually be looking at your CV/resume and cover letter:
‘You must include a cover letter’ does not mean ‘write a single line about why you want this position’. If you can’t be bothered to write at least one actual paragraphs about why you want this job, I can’t be bothered to read your CV.
Don’t bother including a list of your interests if all you can think of is ‘socialising with friends’ and ‘listening to music’. Everyone likes those things. Unless you can explain why the stuff you do enriches you as a person and a candidate (e.g. playing an instrument or a sport shows dedication and discipline) then I honestly don’t care how you spend your time. I won’t be looking at your CV thinking ‘huh, they haven’t included their interests, they must have none’, I’m just looking for what you have included.
Even if you apply online, I can see the filename you used for your CV. Filenames that don’t include YOUR name are annoying. Filenames like ‘CV - media’ tell me that you’ve got several CVs you send off depending on the kind of job advertised and that you probably didn’t tailor it for this position. ‘[Full name] CV’ is best.
USE. A. PDF. All the meta information, including how long you worked on it, when you created it, times, etc, is right there in a Word doc. PDFs are far more professional looking and clean and mean that I can’t make any (unconscious or not) decisions about you based on information about the file.
I don’t care what the duties in your previous unrelated jobs were unless you can tell me why they’re useful to this job. If you worked in a shop, and you’re applying for an office job which involves talking to lots of people, don’t give me a list of stuff you did, write a sentence about how much you enjoyed working in a team to help everyone you interacted with and did your best to make them leave the shop with a smile. I want to know what makes you happy in a job, because I want you to be happy within the job I’m advertising.
Does the application pack say who you’ll be reporting to? Can you find their name on the company website? Address your application to them. It’s super easy and shows that you give enough of a shit to google something. 95% of people don’t do this.
Tell me who you are. Tell me what makes you want to get up in the morning and go to work and feel fulfilled. Tell me what you’re looking for, not just what you think I’m looking for.
I will skim your CV. If you have a bunch of bullet points, make every one of them count. Make the first one the best one. If it’s not interesting to you, it’s probably not interesting to me. I’m overworked and tired. Make my job easy.
“I work well in a team or individually” okay cool, you and everyone else. If the job means you’ll be part of a big team, talk about how much you love teamwork and how collaborating with people is the best way to solve problems. If the job requires lots of independence, talk about how you are great at taking direction and running with it, and how you have the confidence to follow your own ideas and seek out the insight of others when necessary. I am profoundly uninterested in cookie-cutter statements. I want to know how you actually work, not how a teacher once told you you should work.
For an entry-level role, tell me how you’re looking forward to growing and developing and learning as much as you can. I will hire genuine enthusiasm and drive over cherry-picked skills any day. You can teach someone to use Excel, but you can’t teach someone to give a shit. It makes a real difference.
This is my advice for small, independent orgs like charities, etc. We usually don’t go through agencies, and the person reading through the applications is usually the person who will manage you, so it helps if you can give them a real sense of who you are and how you’ll grab hold of that entry level position and give it all you’ve got. This stuff might not apply to big companies with actual HR departments - it’s up to you to figure out the culture and what they’re looking for and mirror it. Do they use buzzwords? Use the same buzzwords! Do they write in a friendly, informal way? Do the same! And remember, 95% of job hunting (beyond who you know and flat-out nepotism, ugh) is luck. If you keep getting rejected, it’s not because you suck. You might just need a different approach, or it might just take the right pair of eyes landing on your CV.
And if you get rejected, it’s worthwhile asking why. You’ve already been rejected, the worst has already happened, there’s really nothing bad that can come out of you asking them for some constructive feedback (politely, informally, “if it isn’t too much trouble”). Pretty much all of us have been hopeless jobseekers at one point or another. We know it’s shitty and hard and soul-crushing. Friendliness goes a long way. Even if it’s just one line like “your cover letter wasn’t inspiring" at least you know where to start.
And seriously, if you have any friends that do any kind of hiring or have any involvement with that side of things, ask them to look at your CV with a big red pen and brutal honesty. I do this all the time, and the most important thing I do is making it so their CV doesn’t read exactly like that of every other person who took the same ‘how-to-get-a-job’ class in school. If your CV has a paragraph that starts with something like ‘I am a highly motivated and punctual individual who–’ then oh my god I AM ALREADY ASLEEP.
PSA for everyone writing term research papers right now
Mendeley is the greatest program ever
I want to weep with joy every time I use it
Just click a button when you pull up an article and it will automatically save it to your library
And cite it for you
And you can use it on your mobile devices
And it’s free
Just download it and you won’t have so many urges to kill everyone in sight while writing a research paper
Thank you so much!
Guys, I cannot stress how amazing this program is.
You can use it to highlight, write notes, mark up, etc. What I do is I highlight all the important jazz, use the comments to write notes on the document, and on the side bar, I write an annotated bib for it for future me. It save everything you write on it forever for you and you can put the articles in folders and organize it.
But that’s not the best part, the best part is that you can access your articles ANYWHERE. Literally anywhere. Forgot your laptop and at a public library? No worries! You can go to the Mendeley website and ACCESS ALL YOUR ARTICLES WITH YOUR NOTES ONLINE. You don’t even have to download the program to access it! It is a life saver and I suggest everyone in academia use it!
“He’s constantly drawing you in. And you’re constantly stepping too close. And you know it’s not good–that there is no good–that there’s absolutely nothing that can ever come of it. But you do it anyway. And then…Well. Then you burn”
—Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
OH MY GOD whyyyy did no one tell me you’re supposed to send thank-yous after interviews?? Why would I do that???
“Thank you for this incredibly stressful 30 minutes that I have had to re-structure my entire day around and which will give me anxiety poos for the next 24 hours.”
I HATE ETIQUETTE IT’S THE MOST IMPOSSIBLE THING FOR ME TO LEARN WITHOUT SOMEONE DIRECTLY TELLING ME THIS SHIT
NO ONE TOLD YOU???? WTF! I HAVE FAILED YOU. Also: Dear ______: Thank you so much for the opportunity to sit down with you (&________) to discuss the [insert job position]. I am grateful to be considered for the position. I think I will be a great fit at [company name], especially given my experience in __________. [insert possible reference to something you talked about, something that excited you.] I look forward to hearing from you [and if you are feeling super confident: and working together in the future]. Sincerely, @mellivorinae
THIS IS A LIFESAVING TEMPLATE
YOU ARE WELCOME
My brother got a really great paid internship one summer. The guy who hired him said the deciding factor was the professional thank you letter my brother sent after the interview.
should it be an email? or like a physical letter?
email, you want to send it within a few hours at max after the interview if you can so it’s fresh in their mind who you are.
Confirmed! I interviewed for a job right after arriving in NY. The interview went incredibly well, and I went home and immediately wrote a thank you letter and put it in the mail. I had a super good feeling about this interview.
I didn’t get the job.
However, a few weeks later, I was called in to interview with another editor in the same company, and I did get that job. I found out later from the initial editor (the one who didn’t hire me) that he had planned to offer me the job, but since I didn’t follow up with a thank you letter, he assumed I didn’t really want it. He offered the job to another contender–but when he got my letter in the mail shortly after the offer had already been made, he went to HR and gave me a glowing recommendation. It was based on that recommendation that I got called in for the second interview.
So: send an email thank you immediately (same day!) after the interview. If you’re feeling extra, go ahead and send a written one too. OR go immediately to a coffee shop, write the letter, and return to the office and give it to the secretary.
Either way, those letters are important.
Pro tip: If you really want HR to develop a personal interest in your application, publicly thank them on linkedin. Just make a short post telling your network about how X recruiter really went above and beyond to make you feel welcome, or about how be accommodating and professional they were, or whatever. Make sure to use the mention feature so they’ll get a notification and see it.
Flattery will get you everywhere… and public flattery that might make its way back to their manager, doubly so.
Obligatory plug for one of FreePrintable.net’s sites: ThankYouLetter.ws. They have a whole section with interview thank you letter templates, and a page with specific tips for interview thank you letters. (There are also tons of other letter templates if you browse around a bit.)
Also like for cover letters I always closed with “thank you for the opportunity, and I look forward to hearing from your company, should my skills fit the needs of this position.” Which got me employed less than a year after law school in the field of my choice
it me back w another installment! giving up meat is one of the best ways to lower ur carbon footprint (sources 1 2 3), but it is incredibly intimidating to do so, so here’s a masterpost of vegan recipes! all quick and w great reviews, most are flexible, and are great meal prep ideas, perfect for students!
- ̗̀ breakfasts/snacks/desserts ̖́-
5 min the husband protein smoothie
5 min almond chai green smoothie
5 min matcha chia pudding
5 min chocolate breakfast parfait (g)
10 min no-bake chewy granola bars
10 min paleo chocolate pudding
10 min no-bake apple cinnamon cookies (g)
10 min no-bake cookie dough (g)
10 min banana beet berry smoothie bowl (g)
10 min strawberry-infused breakfast cereal (g)
10 min green pea & kale spread (g)
15 min french toast
15 min chocolate chia seed pudding
15 min mermaid smoothie bowl
15 min chickpea omelette
15 min no-bake chocolate banana tart (g)
15 min fluffy pancakes (g)
15 min sweet potato apple hash (g)
20 min chunky monkey quinoa cookies
20 min donuts w chocolate glaze
20 min no-bake lemon tarts (g)
20 min jumbo chickpea pancake (g)
30 min chocolate chip cookies
30 min fudgy double chocolate beet muffins
30 min fudgy brownies
30 min dark chocolate cheesecake
40 min lemon poppy seed scones
40 min strawberries and cream cupcakes
45 min banana bread
55 min berry bars
55 min citrus upside-down muffins (g)
- ̗̀ meals ̖́-
10 min “blt” sandwich
10 min bean & aubergine casserole (g)
15 min almond butter noodles
20 min avocado pasta
20 min dan dan noodles
20 min pineapple fried rice
20 min teriyaki noodle stir fry
20 min chipotle roasted couscous
20 min bolognese (g)
20 min spanish brown rice (g)
20 min spicy chickpea veggie burgers (g)
25 min alfredo pasta
25 min cold peanut noodle salad
25 min carbonara w creamy cashew cheese
25 min caprese panini
30 min bibimbap w crispy rice
30 min italian orzo spinach soup
30 min summer sushi bowl
30 min jambalaya
30 min mediterranean sweet potatoes (g)
30 min grilled burritos (g)
30 min coconut curry (g)
30 min orange cauliflower (g)
30 min green chili mac n cheese (g)
35 min tofu banh mi
35 min burrito stuffed peppers (g)
40 min buddha bowl (g)
40 min cheesy chili baked fries (g)
40 min creamy mushroom risotto (g)
60 min cauliflower cheese sauce stuffed potato
60 min poutine (g)
60 min moroccan lentil-stuffed eggplant (g)
- ̗̀ just a few vegan food blogs ̖́-
minimalist baker !!!
the stingy vegan !!! (highly recommend if money is a concern)
hot for food !!
wallflower kitchen !!
tess begg (for vegan ‘what i eat in a day’ vids!)
oh she glows !
the healthy maven
vegan heaven
- ̗̀ +more ̖́-
carbs are filling and not expensive!
eat wholegrain to be fuller for longer.
u don’t have to go 100% vegan! eat vegan meals! start w cutting out beef and mutton, then pork, then seafood, etc. go pescatarian! go vegetarian!
(foods w largest carbon footprint per kg)
minimise food wastage!!
make sure u only cook / take what u can eat. if ur eating out and have leftovers, see if u can pack it to go (saving money & ur next meal is already settled, what could be any better?).
don’t throw away leftovers, u can make a whole other meal w them (stir fry, as a side dish, fried rice, as a quick afternoon snack / supper).
shop local products! so much greenhouse gases are emitted just for transporting food across countries.
it’s crazy how much impact our food has on the environment (just look at how much goes into a single burger). but whether ur reasons for trying more vegan recipes is for the environment, for ur health, or just for exposure to more varieties of food, i hope this post will help and maybe inspire u to try out more foods and recipes!
wow this post has been a long time coming. after many months, finally here is part 2! this is dedicated to saving paper, since us as students need to use so much paper, so here are some things we can take note of to try to help where we can!
use both sides of the paper!
and if u don’t, USE AS SCRAP PAPER !!
i like to keep a folder of scrap paper around
scrap paper = paper that still have at least half a page without anything on it
u can use this to do rough workings, jot down ideas, sketches, rough drafts, lists, brainstorming, etc.
shred used paper to use as packaging
to cushion stuff when u put them into boxes
recycle!
esp newspapers, textbooks, etc. where it’s just a huge chunk of paper
have a paper recycling bin in ur room! that way, u only have to clear the bin when it’s full, which means u go down to the recycling bin once a month or every few months for me! barely takes time out of ur day
sell / donate!
if u have magazines, books, textbooks, workbooks, all lying around, don’t just burn them or throw them all away
u can make some quick $$ if u sell these to ur juniors or put it up online!
or u can donate them to the salvation army or the local drive near u or to the old age centre!
if ur printing for ur eyes only
print at least 2 pages on one! (set the print settings on 2 pages per sheet!)
reduce the font size, line spacing, and margin sizes to reduce pages printed
use the print range feature
do u rly need to print all pages?
only select pages to u absolutely need
when printing powerpoint slides
print handouts instead of slides (6 slides per page!)
u can find this on the print settings page!
USE THINNER PAPER!!
when buying paper, keep a look out for the gms or g/m2 (grams per square meter)
thinner paper does not change the performance and can save u some $$
most printers work well with 70 and 80 gsm
just for reference, 70gsm uses and costs 15% more than 60gsm while 100gsm uses and costs 20% more than 80gsm
buy recycled paper and notebooks
a ton of paper made from recycled paper saves 4,100 kilowatt hours of energy, 7000 gallons of water, 60 pounds of air emissions, and 3 cubic yards of landfill space
recycled notebooks from staples, barnes and noble
who said u needed to compromise on design? ciak, ecojot, calepino
e-books
be it on ibooks or kindle
ur saving so much more money as opposed to buying the paperback too!
if u rly rly enjoy a book, u may allow urself to buy the paperback, but most times we only read one book once
ONLINE NEWS / MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS !!
these daily or monthly subscriptions can rly add up
subscribing online saves money AND space, and makes reading a lot easier and more convenient
donate to tree planting organisations and charities!
(all of these have been checked for at least 3 stars on charity navigator)
trees for the future (international), earth day canopy project (international), national forest foundation, forest trends
happy holidays everybody! hope this has been helpful, and i hope u will adopt some of these for 2018, remember we all share this earth, and we all have a v important part to play in taking care of our planet.
here is a link to part 1, and a link to all my study tips, including my latest one on how i increased my productivity threefold.
idk if yall remember but i asked if yall want me to start this lil series a long time ago but i’ve finally gotten onto it!! u’d be surprised to find out how many of this can save u lots of $$ too and i still have a lot of posts to come so look out for them ٩◔‿◔۶
get urself a water bottle
i was shocked to find out sm people don’t have bottles of their own??
reduces waste
save $$ by never buying plastic bottles bc u can just refill it
also get urself a tumbler
so u can use ur own at cafes and starbucks
such a good investment u buy a $10 cup && save 10₵ everytime
if u drink 4 coffees a week that’s $20 saved a year
take the public transport / bike / walk
esp if u have time after school and when ur not in a rush
extremely therapeutic and is a great stress relief
u can rent bikes now which is rly cool
draw ur curtains
apparently 10% of energy can be saved on heating when u let sunlight in
saving money too how cool
turn ur thermostat down by 1°C
or up if u use air conditioning
apparently u can save up to $60 a year
or just turn it down by 5 degrees and hibernate in ur hoodie + a thick ass blanket bc it’s rly comfy and u should try it
shop w reusable shopping bags
or just bring a huge bag u can dump stuff into
some places deduct a few cents if u don’t use plastic bags isn’t that gr10
reuse plastic bags
don’t throw them out bros
u can line ur bins w them
if u need a change of clothes throw them in a plastic bag before u throw it in ur bag
after u gym or smt throw ur sweaty clothes in a plastic bag so it doesn’t stench up ur bag
and check if the plastic bags are recyclable before u recycle them!!
buy refills instead of new pens
let’s be real ur gonna buy the same pen
so just get refills instead it’s sm cheaper + u get 10 in a box
just google “(pen name) refill” it’s rly easy
some shops sell refills at the counter u can go ask
(@ sg and msia fam,, popular bookshop does)
STOP BUYING NEW PENCILS
literally just get ONE mechanical pencil
and get urself some pencil lead
idk why every back to school haul has like 5 pencils
yo pencil lead refill is a thing my brothers
and a box costs less than a pencil and lasts for more than a year
is this not a thing??
eat meatless some days
did u kno giving up beef will reduce ur carbon footprint more than if u give up ur car
but lol still gotta live that cheeseburger and kbbq life from time to time
so just cut out the meat like 1 or 2 days a week
and no mutton and beef and pork and turkey if u can help it
save and recycle paper pls !!11!1
use both sides!
recycle don’t trash!
buy recycled paper and notebooks!
that is all kiddos if u have more ways to save the earth pls inbox me here!! and check out my other study tips too:
on types of learners // my top tips // on exam prep // on sleep // on e-devices // on chinese resources // on notes
3 Study Methods You Should Use More Often
This was originally for an article writing assignment, but I thought “why not write something I can also post on my blog?” so here are three study methods that I haven’t seen a lot of in the studyblr community but are definitely worth mentioning.
The Leitner System
Flash cards have remained one of the most popular ways to study. Some people use them to memorize vocabulary, remember answers to specific questions, or even associate dates with events. Although the use of flash cards is convenient, their effectiveness has been reduced due to most people’s habits of prioritizing each card equally and therefore spending too much time memorizing the information on them.
The Leitner System, created by a German popularizer of science named Sebastian Leitner, is a more efficient method of studying that implements the concept of spaced repetition. All the cards start off in one pile. You would first scan through these cards, then test yourself. Each card you answer correctly goes to a second pile, while those you answer incorrectly should be revised then placed at the bottom of the pile. When you review the cards in the second pile and get them correct, they will be promoted to a third pile. An incorrect card will always get demoted to the first pile, even if they had previously been promoted to the last pile.
The reason why this method is so effective is that you end up reviewing the first pile of cards more frequently—the cards you don’t know very well. Some people choose to review their Stack 1 cards every day, Stack 2 cards every other day, Stack 3 cards once every three days, and so on.
Once all your cards have been promoted to the highest box, study them thoroughly and then start over. The continuous revision trains your speed so that you may reach fluency, which allows you to recall the information faster.
Timed Memorization
The name tells it all: you memorize a certain text within a time limit, normally around five to ten minutes depending on your fluency and memorization abilities. When the timer starts, you begin memorizing. When time is up, you flip to the next page, even if you haven’t finished the previous page yet. Continue until you’ve gone through all your material.
Timed memorization helps you to discipline yourself because your brain thinks that there’s no time for messing around; you have to do this here and now. Make sure to repeat the things you missed and revise everything frequently. This method is actually one of the most effective for cramming as it gives a better coverage than if you spend a whole half hour memorizing one subtopic.
The Memory Palace or Mind Palace
Sound familiar? In BBC’s Sherlock, the ‘highly functioning sociopath’ uses this method to remember vital information and facts. A mind palace is a systematic arrangement of information, each detail corresponding to a specific object in a familiar place. To ensure that you really remember everything, the objects have to appear shocking and conspicuous.
Here’s an example: if I wanted to memorize “crimson, 11, delight, petrichor (the smell after rain)”, aside from imagining Amy Pond or the Doctor saying it, I would first choose a place, let’s say my school. I’d imagine myself walking up to the front gate and seeing that the entire building has been painted the color of blood—crimson. The building would then rise as though it were lifted from the earth and crumble into rubble, controlled by Eleven, the character from Stranger Things. Now, since I can’t really picture delight specifically, I’d probably end up visualizing a colossal sign that simply reads “delight” posted in front of my school. As for petrichor, I’d imagine curves rising out of the puddles on the asphalt after a rainy night, a visual representation of the smell of the rain. Of course, these visualizations have been created to suit my memory. (I wouldn’t know if you watched Stranger Things.)
I used this method when memorizing case studies for geography, although I chose to visualize fictional places from television series and cartoons. Some people do opt to create artificial places, but these often become blurry and are easily forgotten.
As with any study method, repetition is vital to storing the information in your long-term memory. Visit your “palace” as often as you can. Soon enough, you’ll remember the data as well as you remember the place associated with the data.
So there you have it, three lesser known methods of studying that have proven to be immensely efficient. Now, there is no “correct” way to study, but there are methods that can ease your learning process.
10 Rules of Good and Bad Studying
10 Rules of Good Studying
Use recall. After you read a page, look away and recall the main ideas. Highlight very little, and never highlight anything you haven’t put in your mind first by recalling. Try recalling main ideas when you are walking to class or in a different room from where you originally learned it. An ability to recall—to generate the ideas from inside yourself—is one of the key indicators of good learning.
Test yourself. On everything. All the time. Flash cards are your friend.
Chunk your problems. Chunking is understanding and practicing with a problem solution so that it can all come to mind in a flash. After you solve a problem, rehearse it. Make sure you can solve it cold—every step. Pretend it’s a song and learn to play it over and over again in your mind, so the information combines into one smooth chunk you can pull up whenever you want.
Space your repetition. Spread out your learning in any subject a little every day, just like an athlete. Your brain is like a muscle—it can handle only a limited amount of exercise on one subject at a time.
Alternate different problem-solving techniques during your practice. Never practice too long at any one session using only one problem-solving technique—after a while, you are just mimicking what you did on the previous problem. Mix it up and work on different types of problems. This teaches you both how and when to use a technique. (Books generally are not set up this way, so you’ll need to do this on your own.) After every assignment and test, go over your errors, make sure you understand why you made them, and then rework your solutions. To study most effectively, handwrite (don’t type) a problem on one side of a flash card and the solution on the other. (Handwriting builds stronger neural structures in memory than typing.) You might also photograph the card if you want to load it into a study app on your smartphone. Quiz yourself randomly on different types of problems. Another way to do this is to randomly flip through your book, pick out a problem, and see whether you can solve it cold.
Take breaks. It is common to be unable to solve problems or figure out concepts in math or science the first time you encounter them. This is why a little study every day is much better than a lot of studying all at once. When you get frustrated with a math or science problem, take a break so that another part of your mind can take over and work in the background.
Use explanatory questioning and simple analogies. Whenever you are struggling with a concept, think to yourself, How can I explain this so that a ten-year-old could understand it? Using an analogy really helps, like saying that the flow of electricity is like the flow of water. Don’t just think your explanation—say it out loud or put it in writing. The additional effort of speaking and writing allows you to more deeply encode (that is, convert into neural memory structures) what you are learning.
Focus. Turn off all interrupting beeps and alarms on your phone and computer, and then turn on a timer for twenty-five minutes. Focus intently for those twenty-five minutes and try to work as diligently as you can. After the timer goes off, give yourself a small, fun reward. A few of these sessions in a day can really move your studies forward. Try to set up times and places where studying—not glancing at your computer or phone—is just something you naturally do.
Eat your frogs first. Do the hardest thing earliest in the day, when you are fresh.
Make a mental contrast. Imagine where you’ve come from and contrast that with the dream of where your studies will take you. Post a picture or words in your workspace to remind you of your dream. Look at that when you find your motivation lagging. This work will pay off both for you and those you love!
10 Rules of Bad Studying
Avoid these techniques—they can waste your time even while they fool you into thinking you’re learning!
Passive rereading—sitting passively and running your eyes back over a page. Unless you can prove that the material is moving into your brain by recalling the main ideas without looking at the page, rereading is a waste of time.
Letting highlights overwhelm you. Highlighting your text can fool your mind into thinking you are putting something in your brain, when all you’re really doing is moving your hand. A little highlighting here and there is okay—sometimes it can be helpful in flagging important points. But if you are using highlighting as a memory tool, make sure that what you mark is also going into your brain.
Merely glancing at a problem’s solution and thinking you know how to do it. This is one of the worst errors students make while studying. You need to be able to solve a problem step-by-step, without looking at the solution.
Waiting until the last minute to study. Would you cram at the last minute if you were practicing for a track meet? Your brain is like a muscle—it can handle only a limited amount of exercise on one subject at a time.
Repeatedly solving problems of the same type that you already know how to solve. If you just sit around solving similar problems during your practice, you’re not actually preparing for a test—it’s like preparing for a big basketball game by just practicing your dribbling.
Letting study sessions with friends turn into chat sessions. Checking your problem solving with friends, and quizzing one another on what you know, can make learning more enjoyable, expose flaws in your thinking, and deepen your learning. But if your joint study sessions turn to fun before the work is done, you’re wasting your time and should find another study group.
Neglecting to read the textbook before you start working problems. Would you dive into a pool before you knew how to swim? The textbook is your swimming instructor—it guides you toward the answers. You will flounder and waste your time if you don’t bother to read it. Before you begin to read, however, take a quick glance over the chapter or section to get a sense of what it’s about.
Not checking with your instructors or classmates to clear up points of confusion. Professors are used to lost students coming in for guidance—it’s our job to help you. The students we worry about are the ones who don’t come in. Don’t be one of those students.
Thinking you can learn deeply when you are being constantly distracted. Every tiny pull toward an instant message or conversation means you have less brain power to devote to learning. Every tug of interrupted attention pulls out tiny neural roots before they can grow.
Not getting enough sleep. Your brain pieces together problem-solving techniques when you sleep, and it also practices and repeats whatever you put in mind before you go to sleep. Prolonged fatigue allows toxins to build up in the brain that disrupt the neural connections you need to think quickly and well. If you don’t get a good sleep before a test, NOTHING ELSE YOU HAVE DONE WILL MATTER.
Source: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn/home/welcome
