what do you wish for?
Color Me Curious

oozey mess

@theartofmadeline
No title available
RMH
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
ojovivo

Product Placement
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open

if i look back, i am lost
untitled
Fai_Ryy
occasionally subtle
Claire Keane
No title available
EXPECTATIONS
d e v o n
Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Stonewall Inn
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
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seen from United States
seen from Brazil
seen from United States

seen from United Kingdom
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@monyhastostudy
what do you wish for?
2018 Printables
These printables are free! But I do take a lot of time making them, so please consider donating to my Paypal (default set at $2). Thank you!
I’m so excited to share these with you all! I feel like these really fit my personal style and I hope you all find them just as useful as I hope they are.
Available are: 2018 calendars, daily meal planners, daily planners, habit trackers, monthly overviews, week at a glance, weekly meal planners, weekly timetables, a weekly planner, and yearly overviews
Size: 8.5x11in (US letter)
File Format: Available in JPEG and PDF
Download here!
My Printables (Tag) | My Downloadables (Tag) (none as of 12/11/17) | Have a request? | I track #candydsgn (used to be scholarc)
disclaimer: none of these printables are made by me, all credit go to the owners! :)
scheduling
daily
daily
daily
daily
daily
daily
daily
daily
daily
daily/weekly
weekly
weekly
weekly
weekly
weekly
weekly
weekly
monthly
monthly
monthly
monthly
calendars
2016 calendar
2016 calendar
2016 calendar
2016 at a glance
study planning
exam study pack
exam study pack
pomodoro planner
study organizer
5 day study plan
study planner
review planner
review planner
note taking
note outlines
note outline
note outline
note outline
note outline
cornell outlines
graph paper
lined paper
definitions
assignments
essay planner
assignment planner
assignment planner
homework tracker
assignment tracker
lifestyle
monthly budget
budgeting
budgeting
finance
grade tracker
mood tracker
form good habits
birthdays/anniversaries
setting goals
goal planner
weekly goals
goal flow chart
to do lists
to do list
to do list
to do list
to do list
to do list
to do list
to do list
to do list
packs
planner pack
printables + stickers
exam study pack
another exam pack
my posts
starting the semester off right
the pomodoro method
spanish resources
french resources
studying while ill
bullet journaling
world history
stress
sleep
more
hey guys!!!
so this entire past month has been extremely, extremely stressful for me because i had so many exams and i only realised how hideously unprepared i was for them on the day before the exam, which was really really awful. so in the middle of september i created a studyblr to keep myself motivated + get some helpful tips from the studyblr community on how to go abt studying for tests. the results proved to be super helpful and ive resolved to keep running this blog for as long as i can, because it really helps me stay motivated and i’ve already learned so many things from the community, despite the fact that i’ve only been here for around a month.
but anyways, i decided to create this masterpost in order to help others stay motivated + keep studying not only well but also properly i.e. not necessarily studying for exams but life in general, if that makes sense.
~ staying motivated + focused
coffitivity
download the forest app
chrome site blocker
self control app
try the pomodoro technique
pomodoro printable
getting back on track
guide to staying motivated
an excellent post full of great advice
lots of great advice from an a levels student
masterpost full of motivational quotes
how to avoid procrastinating
100 reasons to study
how to study like a harvard student
motivational movies/shows
types of learners [what method of learning works for u]
motivation for harvard students [and basically all other students]
~ staying organized
5 habits of organized students
set up a bullet journal [1][2][3]
keeping school notes organized
use dropbox to store important files
masterpost on organizing schoolwork
a super awesome n helpful video tutorial
how to organize ur desk
how to study space
study space guide
study space tips and guidance
guide to study guides
atracker - track ur time and stop procrastinating [mobile app]
minimalist organization
masterpost on time management
time management tips
how to be productive
how to use a planner
effective planning system
~ note-taking
notability [ios app - best note-taking app imo]
note taking overview
cornell method
summary foldables
fastest way to take notes
simple, creative note-taking
how to make ur notes look pretty [infographic]
how to make ur notes look pretty [video]
taking notes from textbooks
taking notes during lectures
for: maths [1]
for: history
how to make mind maps
great supplies and stationery u could use to keep notes pretty and organized
what is visual note-taking?
how to: visual note-taking
what are sketchnotes?
how to: sketchnotes
masterpost on note taking methods
~ research techniques
how to google effectively
use google scholar as an alternative to google
one of the best websites for research [esp. while doing science projects at the last minute…i would know]
alternative to wikipedia
find books in nearby libraries
openlibrary [ebook library]
online journal search engine [find scientific publications]
~ essay writing
guide to writing a great essay
HUGE general writing masterpost [including essays]
a huuuge essay writing masterpost
how to write a university-level essay
how to connect ur points and ideas: transition words
editing checklist
advice: college application essays
improve ur vocabulary
check the readibility of ur essay
website which grades ur papers and essays
~ free online resources & courses
openculture
mit opencourseware
the open university
coursera
khanacademy
codecademy [how to code]
memrise
study geography
online calculator
maths masterpost
amazing maths + general knowledge site [u must check this out!!!]
maths cheat sheets
mathway [solves any maths equation]
website that balances chemical reactions for u
study guides for many subjects
windows apps [not all study-related, but useful anyways]
more phone apps for productivity
list of great apps every student must have
crash course: psychology
crash course: world history + world history 2
crash course: anatomy and physiology
crash course: astronomy
crash course: big history
crash course: chemistry
crash course: biology
crash course: literature
crash course: us history
crash course: economics
crash course: us government and politics
crash course: intellectual property
crash course: ecology
free ebooks [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
masterpost of free ebooks
~ languages
memrise
duolingo [20+ languages - very fun and interactive]
lang-8
thesaurus
reverse dictionary [1]
learning vocabulary
how to learn any language
HUUUUUGE language masterpost [so many languages and resources]
literature masterpost [for english - reading something other than textbooks is important yo]
english literature for college students [masterpost]
english literature: sparknotes
english literature: cliffnotes
english literature: shmoop
english literature: crash course
english literature: novel guide
no fear shakespeare
self-studying languages
spanish: advice
spanish: getting started
spanish: vocab
spanish: grammar and spelling checker
french: advice
french: getting started
french: vocab
french: grammar and spelling checker
french: masterpost of amazing resources
japanese: getting started
korean: masterpost of amazing resources
~ survival tips + advice
how to study for ANY subject
10 mistakes when studying
101 study tips
studying for a test
general study tips
how to study
how to survive high school
how to survive college
college survival masterpost
things to avoid doing
college: applying for scholarships
giving presentations
improve ur handwriting
resume cheat sheet
productive + relaxing afterschool routine
productive study breaks
emergency life hack: send last minute assignments after the last minute without getting into too much trouble
~ mental/physical health
the thoughts room
the dawn room
the quiet place
it will be okay
international suicide hotlines
iphone feature [to use in case of emergency]
emergency chat [mobile app]
sleeping tips [1]
dealing w insomnia
bedtime calculator [1]
stress management
how to reduce stress
staying calm during exams
grief masterpost
list of happy things
motivation for when ur not feeling so good
~ stress reliefs
clear ur mind
healthy study snacks
mug cake masterpost
smoothie masterpost
salads masterpost
more study snacks to boost brain activity
creepy sites
taylor swift tumblr replies
draw cool neon things
musical sea creature
watch a cool dream
watch any tv show/movie
just shower thoughts
poptropica [so underrated, my favourite game site, it’s for kids but it’s so entertaining and so much fun]
plant personality quiz
cookie clicker
make cool colourful silk
make virtual sand art
fake tweet generator
fake text generator
listen to calming sounds
huge masterpost full of fun stuff
~ music
ghibli music
coffee shop blues
classical music masterpost
masterpost of studying music
classical vocal music masterpost
cute nostalgic piano music playlist
my favourite instrumental playlist of all time
my studying/instrumental playlist collection on 8tracks
i think that includes most of the best resources i could find!!! feel free to message me in case 1) any of the links are broken, 2) u want me to add on to something, 3) u have a suggestion for a masterpost [i would love that so go ahead and ask if u do] or if u just wanna talk! also, feel free to reblog and add ur own comments/resources. hope this helped!!
- mli
I got my heart broken and I survived, I failed 3 courses in university and graduated, I got rejected in the very first job I applied for and got promoted yesterday, I went through hard times with my family but then two years later, we laughed our hearts out over lunch, The closest friends disappointed me several times but I made new friends and loved them with all my heart. I did it once, I can do it again.
I NEEDED THIS SO BADLY
This. This everyday. I need this everyday.
Yes, I really needed this. Thank you for sharing you experience :)
December Printables and Wallpapers
Here are links to all my December based content (all are Monday and Sunday start)
2017 monthly printables [three designs, four colours]
Christmas town desktop wallpapers [four colours]
Christmas town phone wallpapers [four colours]
Christmas city desktop wallpapers [two colours]
Christmas city phone wallpapers [two colours]
Christmas pattern desktop wallpapers [four designs]
Christmas pattern phones wallpapers [four designs]
Christmas wreaths desktop wallpapers [four designs]
Christmas wreaths phone wallpapers [four designs]
Christmas knitted pattern desktop wallpapers [three designs]
Christmas knitted pattern phone wallpapers [three designs]
Hanukkah desktop wallpapers [two designs]
Hanukkah phone wallpapers [two designs]
Marble and coloured desktop wallpapers [six colours]
Marble and coloured phone wallpapers [six colours]
Tropical leaf desktop wallpapers [four colours]
Tropical leaf phone wallpapers [four colours]
Floral desktop wallpapers [three designs]
Floral phone wallpapers [three designs]
Dotted desktop wallpaper [three colours]
Dotted phone wallpaper [three colours]
Black minimalist desktop wallpaper
White minimalist desktop wallpaper
Black and white minimalist phone wallpapers
*newly released!* 2018 student planner printable pack!!!
Hope you like them! I’d love to see them in use, so please share and tag me in any pictures on Tumblr or Instagram (@emmastudiess). If you have me on Snapchat (@emmastudies) send me a picture too! :-)
Also, if you want to check out my YouTube and Etsy store (get 10% off any purchase using ‘student10’ discount code!) x
Hello!
I’m finally back.
A lot of bad things happened with me this year and as a result I couldn't be around Tumblr. But now things are more stable and I can be back. I've learned and changed a lot with my experiences. I really missed you. It's awesome to interact, to post things and to be inspired by all of you!
Can’t wait to post a lot of original content, I’m full of ideas now!
Stay tuned, see you all soon 😘
I will be posting more portuguese content, yay!
Olá!
Finalmente estou de volta.
Então, muita coisa ruim aconteceu comigo esse ano, o que me afastou do Tumblr. Agora as coisas estão estáveis e posso voltar. Aprendi bastante com minhas experiências, mudei bastante. Senti falta de postar aqui, interagir e participar dessa comunidade maravilhosa!
Pretendo postar bastante, nem só de reblog viverá este Tumblr! Hahahaha
Postarei mais em português, sinto falta de muita coisa em nossa língua.
it is so sad to see people complaining about train delays when it is because of a fatality - someone lost their life and you’re taking to twitter to bitch about the wait
What happened?
Here’s some weapons for your essay writing arsenal!
Hemingway Editor Calmly Writer The Most Dangerous Writing App Purdue O.W.L. One Look Thesaurus JSTOR Google Scholar
Reply with your favourite or other great websites I didn’t include!
Inspirational Quotes
Everyone needs extra inspiration/motivation every once in a while. Therefore, I have compiled a list of some of my favourite inspirational Harry Potter quotes (quotes are from the books and films).
“Working hard is important. But there is something that matters even more, believing in yourself”
“Books! And cleverness! There are more important things! - Friendship! And Bravery!”
“When in doubt, go to the library”
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities”
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live”
“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends”
“Ah, music,” he said wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here”
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on Earth should that mean that it is not real?”
“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic”
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the the light”
“In dreams, we enter a world that’s entirely our own”
“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be”
“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are”
“Well, [bad] times like that bring out the best in some people and the worst in others’
“The ones who love us never really leave us, you can always find them in here”
“What’s life without a little risk?”
“We’re all human, aren’t we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving”
“You sort of start thinking anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve”
“Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect”
“No good sitting worrying about it. What’s coming will come, and we’ll meet it when it does”
I hope these quotes inspire you too!
I was really struggling this week. Working way too hard, skipping breaks and meals, not staying hydrated, not showering, not taking my meds. it was bad. even at the busiest times, self-care is so so important. if I needed help, then I’m probably not the only one. all of these lil ideas are small and relatively easy and I highly doing something nice for yourself, even if it’s not on the list. hope you all have a wonderful day/week/year.
(my personal favourites in bold)
drink some cold water
wash your hands and face with cool water
make some tea
get a blanket and snuggle it around you
snuggle an animal/stuffed animal
buy your favorite candy from the gas station
close your eyes and listen to your fav song on repeat for 10 mins
put on some throwback jams (high school musical, mamma mia, 90s, u do u) and dance around ur room in ur undies
make a calming playlist
call a friend/relative just to say hi and hear someone else’s voice
rewatch cute/funny/happy clips from ur fav tv show/band/movie on youtube
put on a skirt and twirl (yes boys/agenders/trans u can do this too)
scribble really hard with black pen on a blank page and scream
look at the sky/moon/sunset/sunrise/stars
write
watch kitten/puppy/small animal live streams on youtube
go outside, even if its just by ur front door, and take some deep breaths
eat something - fruit, veggies are best
change ur contacts/clean ur glasses if you wear those
change your underwear
if u can’t get urself to shower, wash off w a damp washcloth/baby wipe
put on a cute/comfy outfit that makes you feel good about urself
dont put eye makeup on so you can rub your eyes & they wont feel heavy
stretch, do some yoga or meditate
get a breathing/meditation app and use it (headspace is gr8)
take a nap
go to bed before 11 pm
brush your teeth
turn off bright harsh lights and use smaller, warmer lamps
unplug. give your eyes/brain a break from screens for a half hour
get one of those pet/family apps/games and care for someone else for a change
find cool people on tumblr and send them anonymous compliments (that you actually think are true - spread love)
find a quote, write it/print it nicely and stick it on ur wall
watch a new movie
boil some cinnamon sticks/vanilla bean for 5 mins so ur house smells pretty. if in ur room, use essential oil drops or candles
make your bed
vacuum
wipe down ur desk w some disinfectant
clean something - a backpack, small area, fluff ur pillow, put away one shirt
do your makeup all pretty and nice just because/dress up just because
research into your dream job/vacation/city/whatever
open up pages/canva/photshop/etc and make something just for fun
build a fort and crawl under it
find an easy diy and do it/ be proud of ur creative genius
make a list of things that make you happy. stick it somewhere you’ll see it all the time
print a picture of someone/thing that’s pissing u off and throw things at it (tape it to a dart board if u have one)
reread a book that makes you happy
clip your nails, clean the dirt from under them
send some good old fashioned snail mail to someone u like just for fun
take some selfies if you’re feelin it (see #40)
fuzzy socks. enough said.
make yourself a fancy meal/cocktail/coffee/tea latte/drink/whatevs
open ur window or put on a fan/air purifier. get some air circulating
draw, even if u think u suck.
reach out to kids help phone (canada) or a suicide hotline if you need to talk to someone about more serious matters. you deserve help and care and support. (message me if you need resources)
donate to a local animal shelter (if u have the means obviously)
go for a walk/run/bike ride
put on a face mask
take a bubble path
shave ur legs and moisturize
moisturize
bake some cookies
go on spotify/youtube and find some new music you love
make a really fun upbeat playlist for next time u get the aux cord
scroll through some wholesome or funny meme accounts. whatever you’re in the mood for.
take some cool pictures of whatever you want
change up your room in any small ( or big) way that you can
teach urself a new skill on youtube (simple like a hair style, or complicated like an instrument, whatever u want)
sign up to volunteer at a library/homeless shelter/soup kitchen/retirement home/daycare center/etc. help those who need it. be giving.
put on sad music and cry. let ur mascara run. be dramatic. let it out.
put rock music on and stomp and scream throw (soft) things. let it out.
teach urself the words to a fast rap song thats cool right now so you can impress ur friends/classmates/family
print off some kid colouring pages and dont stay inside the lines
brush your hair, take it out of a ponytail if its been like that for a while, or put it up if its down and in ur way
diy a hair mask (coconut oil) and do that
exfoliate ur whole body and feel like a whole new person
clear out ur phone/laptop. delete old messages, numbers of people u dont like/hang out with, get rid of photos of shitty friends, apps u dont use, etc
find cards against humanity online (or if u have it use the cards) and play with urself - make funny matches just because
empty a drawer (or multiple) and fold ur stuff neatly
do something that will make u sweat (gym, dance, clean) then take a nice shower
take a second to listen to ur body. unclench muscles that are clenched, fix ur poster, massage/stretch tight areas
move to a different area of the house for a little while. clear ur head.
go out, anywhere. window shop, go to a coffee shop/library and work. people watch if ur broke.
update your planner
make Pinterest board/real life vision of things that make you happy for when in this situation again
find a youtuber you like and watch their videos
lie on the floor, listen to music and do nothing for a while
give yourself a pep talk in the mirror and then stand like superman for a few mins. sounds silly but it works. its called powerposing. look it up.
repeating this bc important: hydrate!!!
start a new tv show
order something online so u have something to look forward to
go sit with a family member and keep them company. u dont have to talk to them.
the app ‘trump dump’ will make u feel better about the current us political situation
read happy news: find stories of students doing something cool, women kicking ass, men being amazing, whatever. bonus points if this inspires u
sort your garbage from recycling and help the environment
smile at people you see just because. smiling is good and nice.
look at old pictures of u and ur fav people
go through old yearbooks and take a second to appreciate how far you’ve come
go to a park and watch kids play. remember what it’s like to be young. realize you are still young. go on the swings and go as high as u can
play in a sandbox just because u still can
xo soph
Tips to help become a semi-functioning adult
How to Save Money
How to set up a budget (and stick to it)
Saving Money – How to cut out unnecessary spending
College:
Topics to talk about in your college application essays
Interviewing:
What women should wear to a job interview
What men should wear to a job interview
How to best prepare for your job interview
Interview Tips: Questions to Ask Interviewers
Interview Etiquette – the post-interview thank you email
How to Network:
How to survive small talk
Resume vs LinkedIn profile tips
Getting a job:
How to write a good resume
How to write a cover letter that stands out
How to Follow Up on a job application
6 Tips to help you get ahead in your job
Eating Healthy:
Complete Nutrition: ideas for healthy snacks
Getting by Without Friends
1. Don’t see it as personal. We all have time when we feel lonely and alone.
2. Learn to enjoy your own company. See it as a time to reflect on your life, and really think through what you want for yourself.
3. Find different things you can do, and enjoy, by yourself. Also, developing new interests will stop you feeling bored.
4. Spend time looking after a pet or animal. Pets are consistent, loyal and reliable. They’ll never hurt your feelings, and they’re good company.
5. Talk to other people that you meet casually (at the checkout, in a queue, or when you’re ordering some food). You’re likely to find you get a warm response – and that will remind you that you’re actually OK!
6. Don’t let this bad experience undermine your confidence. Keep reaching out to others, and one day things will change - and you’ll find other people who like to be with you.
I’ve had this idea for a while, and I finally made it! If you have any more extensions that you use, feel free to add them to this post!
Momentum
Night Mode Pro
Readism
Honey
Palette Creator
Whatfont
Chrome IG Story
How I Use OneNote for University
Hey, all! I thought I’d share how I use OneNote, for any students who might want to use it for school organization. I have used this since the beginning of my university career and have found a method that works for me, after nearly three years.
I provide templates for what I use as .one files that can be imported into OneNote, and you’re free to use & modify them however you wish.
Semester Calendar Template: Download
Customized Syllabus Template: Download
Cornell Outline Template: Download + Outline inspired by How to Use Cornell Cornell Note-Taking Method on OneNote by @strive-for-da-best
As a student with learning disabilities, I found that using a computer, rather than writing everything out, is the best method for me to learn. I type up notes in class so as to not worry about keeping up with a professor, handwriting, or neatness. OneNote is my favourite note-taking application for this, because it’s essentially an upgraded version of Word that’s free and syncs automatically across devices. When my computer crashed, I was still able to access my notes online.
OneNote isn’t all typing. You can use it on a tablet or use a drawing tablet, in my case, to handwrite notes for a more natural feel. A very efficient way of taking notes is to import the lectures slides in OneNote and to write directly on them. I found that very useful in math-heavy courses, such as statistics and chemistry. The equation tool, while nifty, isn’t efficient.
By no means whatsoever is this the only way to use OneNote! In fact, I’d recommend you find a way that works for you, because while this may be highly organized, it takes a bit of set-up time and is tailored specifically to my needs. You can use my example as inspiration, but play around with it! The beauty of OneNote is that it can be used in a variety of different ways.
Download OneNote for Windows | Download OneNote for Mac
To be honest, I’m not the type of person to follow a strict schedule and have their entire day together. However, scheduling has allowed me to maximize my time and have more productive revision sessions. Aside from compelling you to actually start studying, scheduling takes into account your ability to retain information and sustain focus. Because they organize your revision according to your needs, studying becomes less threatening and less draining, ultimately making your study sessions more enjoyable.
What should I study first?
The first step might seem obvious, but it is also one that’s often overlooked: list down all the subjects you need to study and what exactly you’ll need to do for each of them. Are you simply going to revise the theory, practice from past papers, or both? At this point, you should probably have notes, flashcards, or other study materials ready to be revised, but if not, make sure that you schedule some time to write them. By identifying the specific tasks you have to accomplish, you’ll have a rough idea of how much load you’ll have.
The next thing you want to do is sort the subjects in order of priority, such as
Weakest to strongest
“Heavier” subjects first, i.e. those that require long hours of rigorous practice, revision, and memorization; or
According to your exam schedule.
Tackling your weakest subjects first would be the better option if there are topics you don’t fully understand yet. Because you have to spend time developing your understanding of the topics, your study sessions won’t comprise pure revision. This is perfectly fine; you should always make sure you’ve studied the topics before you revise them. The difference between studying and revising—although some people use the two interchangeably—is that revising serves to train your memory and ability to do the actual examination, while studying means obtaining knowledge about a particular subject.
If you’re sure you understand all the material on which you’ll be tested, you could opt for revising heavier subjects first. For example, I chose to revise Chemistry first because I need to memorize a lot of reactions. Earlier revision for chemistry also allows me to apply the technique of spaced repetition to enhance my memory. This also leaves me with plenty of time to do past papers to test my memory and knowledge.
How long should I spend revising?
Now you know what and how you need to revise, but how long do you need, exactly, to complete each of your tasks? The best way to do this is to try it out! If it’s not too late, have a ‘trial hour’, where you revise any subject/topic for an hour and see how much you can get done. This way, you can allocate suitable lengths of time to revise each topic in all the subjects you’re taking. For example, in a trial hour for physics, I managed to finish nuclear physics in 30 minutes, and 2/3 chapters of electricity. This means that longer topics like electricity would take me around 45 minutes, while shorter ones like nuclear physics would take me 30 minutes.
Time-blocking this way is great for when you’re under a time constraint, but if you still have a lot of time before your exams, I recommend allocating ‘study sessions’ in general (i.e. not for specific subjects/topics), which will be covered later.
You’ll also want to consider how long it normally takes you to do past papers if you plan on doing any. Maybe you’ve done past papers before and you’ve always finished ahead of time. I usually take 45 minutes to 1 hour to finish my Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics paper, even though their allocated times are longer than that. I usually spend the rest of the time to mark the papers and analyze my mistakes. I believe it’s better to allocate time according to your speed in order to maximize your time, instead of using the actual time of the examination.
Ok, but when should I do these things?
The first thing you should consider is how your body’s energy levels change throughout the day, then you’ll be able to decide when to concentrate your most rigorous study. For example, I study best at around 9 – 11 am and 4 – 7 pm, during which I revise heavier subjects like Physics and Chemistry. On the other hand, my brain slows down at 1 – 3 pm, and during this period, I choose to practice Math or English, subjects that I believe I can still practice at a leisurely pace.
Next, think about your concentration habits. How long can you sustain focus before nothing gets into your head anymore? Before you feel drowsy and drained? This will determine how long you should study before you take a break. A lot of people use the Pomodoro method of studying for 25 minutes then taking a 5-minute break.
However, sometimes I just can’t stop studying or revising, and I would prefer to wrap up what I’m currently doing before taking a break and moving onto my next task. In other words, I prefer to divide my study content, as opposed to dividing my time. Luckily, revising a single topic usually takes me 40 minutes, after which I can take a 5-minute break.
Other people prefer to take more regular breaks, so that they may regain energy before continuing their revision. If you retain information better this way, then please do take regular breaks.
Should I study one subject the entire day or alternate every hour?
Again, this is entirely up to you. Sometimes people get tired of continuously studying a single subject, and their study sessions end up unproductive if they do so. If you feel the need for variety, then alternating would be best. But if you’re like me and have very high studying inertia, studying one subject the entire day would be better.
The same applies to studying theory and doing practice questions. Some people prefer to study some topics then do topical past papers, with the topics divided throughout the week. I prefer to revise all the topics in a day or two, then complete actual past papers the rest of the week.
What if I don’t stick to my schedule?
If you’re a P type (mbti) like me, you probably won’t. One of the most common problems I face is that when I’m supposed to be studying one subject, I feel like studying another. Well, let me tell you that this is alright, but to maximize your day, make sure that each activity has a flexible block. Alright, this is going to be a pain to explain, but I’ll try:
Let’s say you’re supposed to revise 5 chapters of physics today. 3 of these topics take 40 minutes to revise, and the other 2 take 15 minutes. You also want to take 5-minute breaks in between each chapter. This totals up to 170 minutes, or 2 hours and 50 minutes. I admit it’s pretty difficult to reschedule 2 hours and 50 minutes if nothing else on your schedule takes x hours and 10 minutes. The answer is simple: schedule a break. You’ll then have a whole number which is a lot easier to reschedule.
The second problem that could arise is that you fall behind. This is why you should always schedule a fallback hour or two at the end of the day in case your revision took longer than expected. I’ve also scheduled a fallback day in the past when I was studying for my IGCSEs, just because there was so much material to cover and I was reluctant that I could accomplish so much in so little time (a week).
If you don’t end up using your fallback hour/day to catch up, you could always use it for non-academic activities.
Recap/TLDR:
Know what you need to do for each subject
Prioritize your subjects
Allocate suitable lengths of time for each revision activity
Schedule study sessions according to your body’s energy levels
Your concentration habits should determine the length of each study session/block
Your study inertia or need for variety should determine the subjects you study in a day
Ensure that each activity has a flexible block by scheduling breaks
Set aside a couple hours or an entire day to catch up in case you fall behind schedule
Now that you know how to schedule your revision, here’s a printable to help you out! It’s a simple, weekly planner with time slots, and an example of how to use it is shown in the photo below. I put 16 empty time slots because everyone has different active hours (e.g. mine is 7 am to 9 pm, others’ might be earlier or later), which makes this planner more flexible. Feel free to use it for other activities, too (aside from studying).
Download it here in my studyblr drive
Don’t forget to tag me (#eintsein) when you use it. Hope this post helps and best of luck in your studies!
How to deal with procrastination
One of the biggest problems for students is procrastination! It takes different forms for everyone but ultimately it stops us all at some point. Since there are several reasons for procrastinating, I’ve put together the five main types and a few ideas on how to deal with it.
You’ve got poor work/productivity habits. You leave things until the last minute since you “work better under pressure”. You probably think you’ll do something after you’ve finished something else, and then never do. You get distracted whenever you’re trying to study and will sit waiting to feel motivated but it never comes. For this I’d suggest:
create a productivity inspiring workspace - find somewhere that you can set up a study space, whether it is an actual office or just a desk. Organise everything that you will need. I have a selection of pens and my few notebooks on the top so I can easily access them. Remove anything that might cause you to be distracted and doesn’t need to be in your immediate reach. If you’re got space, put up some motivational pictures. This could be my motivational printables, some quotes or your own pictures. Plants are also proven to boost productivity, so might be worth putting a small one nearby!
create an action list rather than to-dos - write down a few manageable tasks that you need to do and be specific on the steps you should take. Writing the actions they require will help you see what you should be doing to complete something, instead of just the overall task. If you’re able to break it down, you can take actionable steps rather than mentally having to think of each point.
focus on 20-30 minute periods - generally, we lose focus after a while so taking regular breaks can help give you chance to relax and refocus. Apps like Forest allow you to set a timer and will give you off your phone at the same time. Obviously, if you’re being productive, don’t suddenly cut that off because it is “time for a break”. Here are some other free alternatives.
remove distractions as best you can - I’m always distracted by social media so I will use Forest on my phone or time-lapse myself so I can’t use my phone. With my MacBook, I have two accounts. One for university and one for everything else. I am not logged into any social media on my uni account so I can’t just check it for a minute then end up wasting 20 minutes :’-)
find an accountability partner - pick someone who you can rely on to check on you regularly and see how your tasks are coming along. You can send them your to-do list and then every few hours you can update them with your progress. You won’t want to let them down. Alternatively, you can study with a friend! Tumblr/Instagram is basically my partner!
use the two-minute rule - if something takes less than two minutes, do it. Don’t make an excuse, just do it. Tasks that are longer you can either delegate or defer. Here is a simple visualisation of what I mean.
record your progress - doing a simple “don’t break the chain” in your planner is a great way to see how productive you’re being and therefore get you more motivated to keep it up! The ‘100 days of productivity’ challenge might be worth doing!
You’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Everything seems to be mounting up and nothing seems doable. You don’t know where or how to start. For this I’d suggest:
ask for help - if you’re feeling like this, it is likely you need some help in some form or another. See if a family member, friend, classmate or teacher (or Google) can help or give you a starting point. Emailing your teacher is a great option if you’re a little nervous about speaking to them in person. Plus you won’t forget what they told you because you’ll have a response.
remind yourself that getting started is the first step - you don’t need to finish a task in a matter of minutes. Start doing something small. Maybe organise what you need, highlight the important bits of your assessment, or draft an essay plan. The secret to getting ahead is getting started!
divide and conquer - figure out what is the overall task that you need to do and split it into manageable parts. For instance, with an essay, the aim is to write it! Divide it into planning out what you want to write, any references you need, summarising a final draft and then writing each paragraph. By dividing bigger tasks into actionable parts you can reduce the obstacles and get through each part in a more timely manner.
reward yourself - create a system to celebrate completing a selection of tasks. By rewarding your progress you’ll build an incentive to work and reinforce productivity (great for your self-discipline!).
learn to forgive yourself - if you have an off day, that is okay! When the stress of your education is getting too much, it is necessary to have time out. Remember to come back to it later and try again.
don’t over schedule - if you’re feeling pressure from the amount of work and then the added pressure of trying to stick to a time limit, you’re just going to go crazy. Set yourself flexible times to get something done instead of being heavily structured. Give yourself time for a break and the ability to change tasks.
stick with one task - it can be so tempting to multitask but try not to. Try to keep the focus on the what you’re doing until it is done. If you struggle with that, you could write down anything useful that you randomly think about for another task, use a break-time to think about that other task or alternate between subjects/tasks every few hours.
You’re a perfectionist. You either don’t want to start something out of fear you won’t get it right or you can get stuck on the small details. There is a pressure to achieve the unachievable. For this I’d suggest:
focus on getting started, instead of finishing - it is easy to get overwhelmed thinking about what something is supposed to be like finished if you’re a perfectionist. Take things one step at a time. It’s also useful to remember the sooner you start, the more time you’ll have to perfect it at the end!
make drafts - if you’re overwhelmed, take half an hour to map out your plan of attack. Drafts can take many forms: summaries, scaffolds/outlines, essay plans, post-it notes, etc. I find it much easier to get on with work if I have a bit of a plan.
remember that your perfectionist tendencies aren’t actually improving your work or productivity but hindering you - you’re continually setting yourself unrealistic objects and (like me) probably feel let down by yourself if you don’t reach them. Be realistic and focus on getting it done!
accept mistakes - you’ve written something wrong, don’t panic! Cross it out with a single line and move on. Things happen and you have to accept it. You can’t rip up the page every time you do something wrong, even if it is so tempting.
put things in perspective - is what you’re beating yourself up about right now going to mean anything in a week, a month, a year? Be honest if it isn’t, is it really worth putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.
praise yourself through the process - try not to criticise yourself but recognise your progress.
don’t compare yourself - this is very hard not to do but remember we are all different. Just because “you’re not as good” or don’t understand something as easily as others, it doesn’t mean you’re any less! Everyone was a beginner once and we all learn at different paces. Work to your strengths!
You want to do something else. You find whatever you’re doing boring. You want it to be over with but don’t want to get started. The ultimate catch 22, right? For this I’d suggest:
remember that putting it off isn’t going to make it go away - if you leave it too long you’ll end up getting more stressed about it. Best to get it over with.
make a plan from the get-go - once you know something is coming up (e.g. a test, an assessment, etc) make notes on it! That could be questions, annotations, potential topics, citations, etc. By making the effort to spend time reading through, you’ll save your future self some stress. Especially if it’s a topic you have forgotten. That way your notes act as a reminder so you can get started.
set a finish time with a reward - tell yourself that if you finish something by a certain time and then you can do something else. Use your self-discipline to not go back on this. Set a realistic time and try to get it complete before. If you can think that you’re doing something fun once it is completed, you’ll be more motivated to get it done.
make a structure - for note-taking, it can be overwhelming looking at a textbook and thinking what you’re going to write out. Make a note-taking layout/colour code that works for you and that subject. Mine is here - it just gives me an idea of how I’d lay everything instead of going in with no action plan.
try to make it fun - this could be using YouTube to learn or starting a study group. Use different methods for memorising information such as flashcards, mindmaps or study guides (like question/answer).
make the effort to refocus - if you’re finding something boring and you’re unfocused, walk away for 5 minutes, get a drink and come back. If you’re really struggling, change topics for a while. Find a point where you can finish and start doing something else that is productive.
listen to some music - generally, music without lyrics are best for focusing. Spotify has a great playlist for studying called ‘focus’. However, I find my regular music good for getting me a little more motivated and awake. I also like writing essays to music because I weirdly sort of type in the same rhythm. Funny study hack I’ve found that works for me haha!
write your thoughts down - Another thing I’ve been trying is externalising my thoughts. If I get distracted by something or have a “gosh, I need to remember that” moment, I will write it down. By getting it out my brain and onto a bit of paper, I no longer have to think about it and can continue.
You have no motivation. Often we feel that motivation is the only thing you need to get on with something, but this isn’t totally true. You need a mix of motivation and discipline. As the saying goes: “motivation may get you started, but discipline keeps you going”. To build your motivation, I’d suggest:
have a mass organise - usually when I’m feeling unmotivated, I’ll clear out my desk and sort out my computer. This involves throwing out stationery that doesn’t work or scrap paper. I usually make piles of spare stationery and will re-organise my desk drawers. For my computer, I will pull out all my files to my desktop then start working through them. I’ll delete duplicates, rename files properly, and put them in the right place.
find some new stationery - weirdly buying stationery is one of those things that instantly makes you want to be productive. Head to the shops and spend a little something on a new pen, highlighter or notebook!
film yourself - studying generally doesn’t give us any instant gratification which can make it feel like a drag. By filming yourself working you can get a little video at the end which shows your progress. I love watching time-lapses of myself because you see all the work you did super quickly. It also means I’m not touching my phone!
set yourself some goals - write down a few things you want to achieve, in the short or long term. Put it somewhere that you’ll be reminded about it! By externalising your goals, you’re more likely to make the effort to achieve it.
check/make a studygram and studyblr - this is one of most motivating this I’ve done. Having social media dedicated to studying has helped not only improve my work ethic but my whole attitude towards education. Getting involved in the community is a great motivator. Here is a post on how to set up a studyblr.
I hope this post gives you just a few ideas on how to tackle procrastination! If you’ve got any tips you’d like to share, please message me! x
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You have no idea how much I needed this.
I’m so pleased that it could help!☺️💗