Irene Studies

20 | Spain

[iirene-studies]

It is a recurring event: during this time of the year, I always think about what I will bring to campus with me. It changes each year, as I learn what I really use and what I don’t Because I enjoy making lists, this is, as I do each year:

My Backpack Essentials for 2020/21 (or Going to University During a Pandemic)

Well, first of all, calling it a backpack is not accurate. I change between a few bags depending on many details: what I am wearing, how many things do I need to bring with me, what the weather is like, etc. For this next “school” year, I have a few options:

A tote bag. This is probably the one I use the most because it’s quite light and easy to carry, but it can also hold a lot of things. However, they are not the greatest for rainy days, because there with so little protection, there is a big chance my things inside will get wet. I have two, both made out of canvas, in beige and black.

My Macbook briefcase, which I got two years ago on Amazon. It has enough space for my laptop and any documents I have to bring. Nevertheless, it cannot carry much apart from what I have already mentioned and my bottle of water, so lately I have been using it only on rainy days. 

A shopper bag, which I just recently got. It will be perfect for those days when I want to dress a little bit nicer or when it’s raining. Mine is reversible, so it can be used in beige nude or black. 

I also have a little bag to carry my lunch for those days that I have classes both in the morning and afternoon. I carry with me every single day my 750ml Contigo bottle of water which I got in Costco. It’s big enough that I don’t have to refill it during classes, I just bring it empty to campus and fill it there, so that I don’t have to worry about weight. 

As I have mentioned above, I also always bring my laptop with its case, since is where I type everything down: class notes, ideas, important information, etc. I also bring with me every day my wallet (with my driving license, card and some change) and my keys. I usually also carry around a small bag with some plasters, pills in case me or my friends need them, and feminine hygiene products.

This year, however, I do have to bring special things due to the current situation. I will keep them in a pouch so that I can always have them even when I change my bag in a rush. Some of the items I want to carry always with me are:

Hand sanitizer, which is basic for this time and age. I keep some in my car as well.

Disinfectant wipes, as my classes are used by many people and I don’t want to have to worry about where I put my laptop or my things. 

Soap, in a little refilled bottle. Sometimes there’s no soap in the dispensers at uni, so just carrying my own is easier. 

A handkerchief. This is the master item, as it can serve as a towel to dry my hands or to open doors or touch surfaces. 

Other things not related to the pandemic that I bring some days are snacks, for when I have many classes, and my AirPods, in case I need to spend time in the library or just to listen to music. 

I still have some time to think about anything else that I might need in this new reality. If you have suggestions or questions about what I am bringing, you can let me know here!

[iirene-studies]

Sooo excited about starting the new academic year!! I miss studying and taking notes and going to class :(

[iirene-studies]

According to where you are studying, there is a big chance starting now you will have Online Courses, which for most of us is a new experience. In my case, during the 2020/2021 school year my courses will have half of the classes Online and the other half In-Person. For this reason, I have thought a lot about how I will be

Organizing My 2020 Fall Semester

During the past two years, my laptop (a 2015 Macbook Air) has been the main device I use for University. This is not changing now, but I will be changing how I keep my files and the methods I use in class. Allow me to explain how:

I am lucky I am allowed to bring my laptop into class, so I have always used it to type whatever I need to retain, as handwriting is not as productive and fast for me. These are the programs, websites and others I use:

I will be using OneNote to keep all my notes I take from class. Until now, however, I used Microsoft Word. During these past few months I have discovered that many people use OneNote and I really enjoy how it allows me to create a different tab for each lesson and it is also easy to separate my courses without losing the synchronisation between devices. I might do a post about how I will do it in the future.

I like downloading all the documents the professors provide in the online platform. I keep those files, which are usually pdf’s, in my iCloud and Google Drive. Once a week I also backup any notes I have taken in class, which I will explain in another post.

Lately, I have started using Notion. I use it as an online planner where I can have all the information for all my classes, such as the professor’s information, the syllabus, my marks and what we do each week in class. It will allow me to be more organized and know where everything is. 

I also enjoy handwriting some things, as well as storing the printed materials my professors give in class. These are what I use to physically organize:

A thin ring binder. The most classic way of storing pieces of paper. I got mine off my local stationery store. I added some separators so that I can create a “folder” for each course and its theory and practice classes. I will not be bringing this binder with me to university, instead I will have a plastic folder where I can put everything that it’s given to me. This way, the papers I bring with me will not get ruined and at the same time I will not need to carry so much weight. 

A simple notebook that I use as a planner. I write there my to-do’s and everything related to university that does not have a place in my laptop. Again, I will not be taking it to In-Person classes, as I can type on my computer any important information (such as assignments or ideas) and later copy them to the notebook.

These are the products and programs I will be using this next semester. We are living weird times and each day we learn more about this new situation. If you have any suggestions about what should I also use or if you would like to ask me anything, you can let me know here.

[studyblroyalty]

we never talk about the painful side of studying in the studyblr community

the part that leaves you at your desk at midnight with a raging headache. the part that leaves you pulling your hair out while trying to finish a topic. the part that leaves your mind aching from having to cram as much material into it. the part that leaves your heart hurting from all the pressure you’re putting on yourself. 

learning is a joy, i love it and i know how blessed i am to receive all these opportunities at such a young age. but god damn i am so exhausted. 

[sabrinstudies]

this new color tumblr has going on is making me feel uneasy what is this……………. change 

[iirene-studies]

Omg I thought I was the only one that realized... It’s darker, isn’t it?

[an-elysian-metanoia]

As a studyblr community can we stop pretending that we never

procrastinate

turn things in late

copy homework

cheat

get stressed

memorize information simply to pass a test

hate a subject/topic

dislike school

don’t do homework if we know it won’t be checked

don’t read the textbook

skip on making notes

don’t pay attention in class

get bad grades

skip schoolwork to hangout with friends

put school second

find ways around doing the homework

look for answers online         

because you know what? we do. we’re not perfect, we mess up, we make mistakes. but that doesn’t make us any less of a person. you’re allowed to be imperfect. 

[iirene-studies]

Welcome back! (Or should I welcome myself after so many months being gone oops). In this post, I am going to try and explain:

How I organized myself so I could study over Christmas for my first-semester university exams.

First of all, this was the first time I had to do this so I probably did not do it the best way possible, but it definitely worked for me and, while I'm sure over the next few years I'll improve, can work for you as well.

The main tip me and anyone else can give you is study over the semester, don't think that you will have time in December and January because you won't, I assure you. Until you have the biggest memory ever, you need to revise since the first week and try to keep things fresh in your mind. That way, you will be able to recognize what you're learning but most especially, you will be able to solve any doubts you might have developed over the semester.

Doubts were one of the things that worried me most about studying over the holidays, I didn't know how to solve any doubts because, yeah, Google exists but at this level, there are things Google cannot answer that well. Luckily, my teachers had told us that we could email them if we had any big questions that we couldn't solve on our own. And that's exactly what I did both times I didn't know how to keep on. While one of them answered my mail the next day (December 28th, to be exact) the other one took a bit longer, like a week or so, but I still answered both of them as kindly as I could (Remember to wish a happy new year if you ever find yourself in this situation!).

Another thing that worried me but was good at the end was the fact that I didn't know how to manage my time. In Spain, we celebrate a few things over the Christmas holidays so... I ended up not being able to study for a few days but it ended up being okay because I made up for it other days and during the evening. I also usually wake up quite late (because I go to sleep late) but I managed to wake up every day before 9:30, which is not a common thing for me, but forced me to study on the mornings and that way I didn't feel bad when I went out with my family and friends.

I also found myself looking for different places to study, for example, I went to the library a few days but it didn't work for me... But definitely try it! I live at home but I have friends who live in shared flats that basically lived in the library during the holidays. See what works for you! I would also recommend a calm coffee shop, there's a good one close to where I live, so I met up a few mornings with a friend to have breakfast and study a bit. The environment is really nice and it definitely helped when I felt like I had spent days on my room.

[iirene-studies]

{Special thanks to the lovely @thils-studyblr for allowing me to modify her original image!}

Yes, you can probably survive with only a pen and a paper in your backpack for school. If that is what you choose, go ahead! But I do prefer to bring with me to class some other things that I will probably use or that could be really helpful in a variety of situations. This is the list of things I am planning to take with me everyday to University:

- Essentials: Things I carry everyday - 

My laptop (Macbook Air): I type *really* fast, so I choose to take my laptop with me for taking notes in classes I know the teacher doesn’t speak that fast or if it’s just easier for me to directly type in my notes (I prefer studying from printed notes from my laptop, since my handwriting is not that perfect).

A notebook: I will give a chance to @eintsein​‘s notebook method (you can find here) so I will only take one with me everyday. I will use this for classes I can’t keep up with the teacher while I type in my laptop, or if it’s easier to handwrite the notes.

A folder: Also an idea taken from eintsein, I will take one plastic folder with me so I can take with me papers I am given during the week, and also keep some sticky notes.

A pencil case: I don’t know how people live with only one pen. I’ll bring with me a blue & a black pen (I take my notes in blue, helps memorizing things) and a few highlighters and color pens. 

ID, a bit of money, house keys & transport cards: I take a bus and the subway to go to the campus, so the transport cards are essentials.

My health bag: I don’t usually need it, but I prefer to always bring with me some medical things for my health problems.

-  Important, but not *needed* -

My laptop charger & phone powerbank: If I am having a long day and I haven’t have the chance to fully charge my laptop at home, I will bring the charger with me just in case. I will also usually carry my powerbank since I prefer not to charge my phone during the night.

Femenine products: Few pads & tampons, not just for me but if someone else needs them. I also keep hand sanitizer in this pouch.

Lip balm & hand cream: I don’t usually have dry lips, but I know if I don’t bring this with me, my lips will peel. I also have dry skin so I bring some hand cream that I will use not just for my hands but if I have an itchy spot I will apply some of that.

Wateeer: I live in a really hot city so I try to bring a water bottle with me. I have a few reusable ones, so I will bring one according to the amount of weight I am already carrying.

- Extra: Things I carry if I only have my laptop bag -

My laptop bag has also space for other things, but since it doesn’t fit much I only use it if I have a short day of classes or if I don’t have much to bring for some reason (like if I am studying at the library).

My laptop: I type in most of my notes, so if I don’t want to bring them physically after printing, I can just check them on my laptop or if I need to do some research I prefer the bigger screen over my phone. I also bring my glasses if I am planning to use my laptop a lot.

A smaller notebook (or one of my subject notebooks if I am going to study on the library).

A pen, a highlighter & a pencil.

ID, a bit of money, house keys & transport cards

I am probably forgetting something but I will add it if I remember! If you’ve found this post helpful please let me know and if you have any other recommendations of things I should write about message me!

[academiceve]

Favorite Apps/Websites for University Students

I’ve shared my top 5 apps for university students previously; however, I thought that this blog post is long overdue! Since being a part of the study community on different social media platforms, I have experimented with various apps for university students and productivity, so here are some of my favorites!

Google Drive is my number 1 most recommended app for university students! Both my undergrad and post grad uni’s use Gmail as their mailing system; therefore, I use my school e-mail accounts on Google Drive. It’s wonderful because although it’s like the Microsoft Office suite, it is also so much more because you can access your files/documents on all of your devices, as well as collaborate on them with other people! For example, Google Drive is useful for group projects + presentations! You can use their templates and invite all of your group members to work on the presentation at the same time! Genius! It also makes group projects more bearable! In addition to using Google Drive for storing files and working on group projects, I also use their survey and calendar tools! I’ve been using Google Drive for 5 years now and it’s currently my preferred cloud storage system! I also like that you can organize your documents into files! It’s just wonderful! If you’re a university student, you should be using Google Drive! 

Trello is my other favorite. I discovered it via a YouTube video on productivity and I haven’t found a more useful digital to-do list app since! I used to use Wunderlist, but that quickly changed once I found Trello! What I love about this website/app is that you can once again access it on all of your devices and collaborate with people remotely (if you need to) and also because you can separate your tasks by creating different boards (similar to Pinterest)! For example, I have 3 boards, one for personal to-do lists that correspond to my bullet journal, one for university and one for all of my social media accounts/blogging (my blog, Instagram and YouTube). In those boards you can make lists for different things. For example, my personal board contains to-do, doing and done lists, while my university board has lists based on my courses (i.e. a list for social psychology, a list for cognitive psychology, etc.). I divided my social media board lists based on the different social media platforms I use, which is a great way for me to organize all of my content! It’s wonderful and I cannot recommend it enough! Also, there’s a YouTube channel called Simpletivity where they share useful videos on how you can maximize productivity by using Google Drive, Trello, etc.! I highly recommend you check them out for more app tips/tricks. 

Office Lens is an old favorite of mine. If you need to scan a document for a job application, etc. but you don’t have a printer with a scanner, don’t run to the library to use their old machines, just use your phone with this app! Yes, you can scan important documents with your phone, without leaving the comfort of your dorm room! It’s extremely useful and I use the free version and save my scanned documents as photos, which I then upload to Microsoft Word to convert them into pdf files! Voila!

F.lux is one of the first extensions I downloaded on my new macbook! It’s a software designed to make your life better, especially for your eyes! According to their website, computer screens look good during the day because they’re designed to look like the sun but late in the evening/at night you probably shouldn’t be looking at the sun. So f.lux fixes this by making the color of your computer’s display adapt to the time of day: warm at night and like sunlight during the day. It’s definitely helped me with eye strain and I highly recommend you download this! It’s free!

Tide is a free phone app that allows you to set timers to do work in pomodoro style! I was skeptical of the pomodoro technique at first; however, whenever I need to focus and do work, I put on Tide! It also helps to keep your phone free from distractions! I like the simple layout of the app and the sound effects you can choose from! I have you guys to thank for this recommendation because I was looking for a new productivity timer app and a lot of you recommend Tide! So thank you! I love it too!

Fliqlo is the extremely aesthetic flip clock screensaver that the study community loves! You can have it on your laptop too! Although it didn’t work well with my Dell laptop, I don’t have the same problem with my mac! 

I hope these recommendations help you to have a productive school year!  If you would like to read more from me, click HERE to see other blog posts! You can also follow my studygram HERE for some inspiration!

[iirene-studies]

18.07.23 || New stationery for back to school season!

As you are reading this, I’m on the train on the way to see my family. It’s going to be a crazy week full of adventures but I’ll try to make some time to write a few posts that I can queue for the rest of the week. Hopefully one of them will talk about what I bought last week (including the items on the photo).

Have a good week!!

[thilslangblr]

Introduction

Hi guys! I’m Thil!

I already have a studyblr (@thils-studyblr), however I’ve decided to make a langblr too to track my Spanish learning progress and share vocab lists and tips!

About me:

My name is Mathilde, although I prefer to go by Thil

I’m 17

I’m a college freshman

I’m from the Netherlands

I’m learning Spanish, and I am fluent in Dutch and English.

I also know some (very limited) French and German

My favourite subjects are Music, Maths, Social Studies and Psychology

My interests:

I play 3 instruments (drums, ukulele, and piano) and sing

I love video editing, and have a youtube channel on which I post videos about my favourite band

My favourite artists are Twenty One Pilots, Panic! At The Disco, BabyMetal, Arctic Monkeys, Green Day, Hayley Kiyoko, Billie Eilish, Troye Sivan, Lorde, Sakura Gakuin

I love reading!! I aim to read at least 2 hours everyday

I love gaming too. My favourite games are The Sims 4 and Undertale. I’ve recently been enjoying Fnaf Ultimate Custom Night too, and I got back into minecraft as a way to relax by building (don’t judge).

My inspirations:

Like I mentioned, I already run a studyblr, but these are the studyblr’s that have kept me motivated and inspired throughout the months I’ve had my studyblr.

@emmastudies @eintsein @academyc @studycris @heyeducateyourself @kellystudiess

And my studyblr friends/mutuals that I love and wanna shoutout

@studybudies @iirene-studies @rubyxstudies @studywithacapricorn @bujo-ie @aoademic @physicsstudyblr @naichastudies

[iirene-studies]

Omg thank you so much for the shoutout!! If you need any help with Spanish feel free to ask me, as it’s my first language ^.^ Good luck!!

[iirene-studies]

18.07.23 || New stationery for back to school season!

As you are reading this, I’m on the train on the way to see my family. It’s going to be a crazy week full of adventures but I’ll try to make some time to write a few posts that I can queue for the rest of the week. Hopefully one of them will talk about what I bought last week (including the items on the photo).

Have a good week!!

[exceli]

Following all studyblrs!!!!

Hey, just went through a huge unfollowing spree, since I found out that half of the people I followed, were inactive. :( So, if you an active studyblr, hit up the reblog button and I’ll follow you! Need to fill up my dash before the academic year starts! ha

[iirene-studies]

I’ve used the same packing list, which I have it on a old notebook I don’t use anymore, for a few holidays now and when I went to take it out today I decided it needed to be updated so I got into my computer and I organized it on a document. Once I had it printed, I realized it looked good so... I made it into a printable!!

This is my first ever printable that I am sharing with the world. There are two versions available:

With the basics typed out: Drive | Mediafire

Empty: Drive | Mediafire

Please have in mind the one already written out it’s based on my current needs (18 years old, female), but there are some empty spaces in case you want to add anything else.

Lastly, a big thank you to the lovely @emmastudies for getting me into the world of prints around a year ago & to all the amazing people that I currently use printables from!!

If you’ve found this post helpful please let me know and if you have any other recommendations of things I should write about message me!

[stuhhhdy]

following spree

yo if ur a new studyblr or if u wanna be noticed or whatever

i need inspiration to study again.

and im tired of seeing unrelated things so i will be doing an UNFOLLOWING SPREE to make room for new and budding blogs in my feed. reblog this post i’ll check u out and i might even hit u up for new studying techniques!

please be actually relatable. i’m so over people looking for popularity over content and blah blah blah just be a legit study blog 

thanks and maybe i’ll see u on my feed

[iirene-studies]

{Special thanks to the lovely @thils-studyblr for allowing me to modify her original image!}

Yes, you can probably survive with only a pen and a paper in your backpack for school. If that is what you choose, go ahead! But I do prefer to bring with me to class some other things that I will probably use or that could be really helpful in a variety of situations. This is the list of things I am planning to take with me everyday to University:

- Essentials: Things I carry everyday - 

My laptop (Macbook Air): I type *really* fast, so I choose to take my laptop with me for taking notes in classes I know the teacher doesn’t speak that fast or if it’s just easier for me to directly type in my notes (I prefer studying from printed notes from my laptop, since my handwriting is not that perfect).

A notebook: I will give a chance to @eintsein​‘s notebook method (you can find here) so I will only take one with me everyday. I will use this for classes I can’t keep up with the teacher while I type in my laptop, or if it’s easier to handwrite the notes.

A folder: Also an idea taken from eintsein, I will take one plastic folder with me so I can take with me papers I am given during the week, and also keep some sticky notes.

A pencil case: I don’t know how people live with only one pen. I’ll bring with me a blue & a black pen (I take my notes in blue, helps memorizing things) and a few highlighters and color pens. 

ID, a bit of money, house keys & transport cards: I take a bus and the subway to go to the campus, so the transport cards are essentials.

My health bag: I don’t usually need it, but I prefer to always bring with me some medical things for my health problems.

-  Important, but not *needed* -

My laptop charger & phone powerbank: If I am having a long day and I haven’t have the chance to fully charge my laptop at home, I will bring the charger with me just in case. I will also usually carry my powerbank since I prefer not to charge my phone during the night.

Femenine products: Few pads & tampons, not just for me but if someone else needs them. I also keep hand sanitizer in this pouch.

Lip balm & hand cream: I don’t usually have dry lips, but I know if I don’t bring this with me, my lips will peel. I also have dry skin so I bring some hand cream that I will use not just for my hands but if I have an itchy spot I will apply some of that.

Wateeer: I live in a really hot city so I try to bring a water bottle with me. I have a few reusable ones, so I will bring one according to the amount of weight I am already carrying.

- Extra: Things I carry if I only have my laptop bag -

My laptop bag has also space for other things, but since it doesn’t fit much I only use it if I have a short day of classes or if I don’t have much to bring for some reason (like if I am studying at the library).

My laptop: I type in most of my notes, so if I don’t want to bring them physically after printing, I can just check them on my laptop or if I need to do some research I prefer the bigger screen over my phone. I also bring my glasses if I am planning to use my laptop a lot.

A smaller notebook (or one of my subject notebooks if I am going to study on the library).

A pen, a highlighter & a pencil.

ID, a bit of money, house keys & transport cards

I am probably forgetting something but I will add it if I remember! If you’ve found this post helpful please let me know and if you have any other recommendations of things I should write about message me!

[iirene-studies]

Before starting my classes on September I want to make sure I am as organized as possible in order to not lose much time doing that when I start being really busy with University. Because of this I have been going through all my school files on my laptop and while I was working on that I realized I haven’t seen that many studyblr posts about organizing your files on your computer, so I decided to show you how I organize my school/university files.

First of all, what I see people use the most to save their documents for school it’s their computers/iPads. Please don’t do that!! If anything were to happen to the device (losing it, breaking the screen,…) it would mean you would not have access to your precious documents. For that matter, I tend to save my files on online “clouds”. 

I understand if you prefer to work on programs on your device. For a lot of people, it is necessary to use a program that they only have on their PCs or they just prefer it. In my case, I prefer using Numbers before Excel or any other program for that matter but I make sure every time I make any changes on a document I save it online. You can also save your files on a Pen Drive which would be useful if you needed them in a computer that you aren’t sure would have internet or you just don’t want to risk logging in.

In any other cases, I am going to lists down some cloud storages that could be useful for you:

Google Drive: Literally everyone has heard of this. Google’s cloud storage  that allows you to save any kind of file and modify a few of them. You can also download it into your computer (Windows only) and download it to your phone so you can have always your files with you. It’s the one I use and it has never given me any issues. You can also share the documents with other people, so making group projects gets 100x times easier with this. It gives you 15GB free. [☆☆☆☆☆/5]

Dropbox: The original cloud storage. A lot of people use it and are really happy with it. For me, it’s my back up account. Every few weeks I upload my most important documents there, in case anything bad could happen to my Google Drive files. For me one of the worst things about it it’s the storage, it only gives you 2GB free. [☆☆☆/5]

iCloud: For Apple users, the most easy to use. It does not have much storage but for 0,99€ you have 50GB. The most useful if you’re working with files from your different devices and you just need to move them from one to another.  [☆☆☆☆/5]

OneDrive: For Microsoft users, definitely the easiest. I have never personally used it, but I have friends who do. Like iCloud, it gives you very little free space but for 1.99$ you get 50GB.

Mega: Are you surprised to see this here? If you’re only heard of Mega when you are downloading things online, you haven’t seen one of the best things of it. It offers 50GB and it’s definitely my free when I need to share big files like videos. It has never given me any problem uploading big files (we’re talking a few GBs each) when other platforms have, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it to upload a few pdfs. [☆☆☆☆/5]

MediaFire: Like Mega, a lot of people have only heard of it when they are downloading stuff online. I have used it to share files with people I don’t want to give my email to (to those people, I use google drive). Also quite good for big files that other platforms give me issues with, but maybe not the best for your daily upload of a simple pdf. [☆☆☆☆/5]

Box: I used it for a while, but I dropped it because no one knew about it and sometimes it worked really slow on the uploads.  [☆☆/5]

I am probably forgetting something but I will add it if I remember! If you’ve found this post helpful please let me know and if you have any other recommendations of things I should write about message me!