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sheepfilms
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izzy's playlists!
occasionally subtle

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@nd-studyblr-blog
Source
A Great Guide on How to Cite Social Media Using Both MLA and APA styles
You’ll probably find this useful at some point.
Man, where was this chart when I was in library school?
Reblogging because EVERYONE (ESPECIALLY COLLEGE STUDENTS) needs this in their life. -H
CITE ME AND OTHER TUMBLR USERS IF YOU USE US IN YOUR SCHOOL/ACADEMIA SHIT
I’M SO FORREAL
CITE. US.
serious do it
@collegiate-comorbidity
Masterpost Monday: Studying With a Lack of Motivation/Inititation
One of the hardest thing I’ve encountered is trying to study when you lack motivation or initiation. Whether it be due to a mental illness or simply procrastination, it can be very difficult to do what you need to do. Here are some tips for buckling down and getting things done. These are also helpful tips for things that aren’t even related to studying.
Be kind: lacking motivation or initiation does not mean you’re lazy or not trying hard enough. If it’s due to a mental illness, remind yourself that that is what it is and it is not your fault. Talk to yourself in a compassionate, encouraging, and helpful way. Don’t beat yourself up, think positively and focus on how you can improve your current situation.
Tell yourself why: remind yourself why you need to study, finish that project, etc. What are the reasons this assignment matters? How will you benefit from starting or finishing this assignment? How will other people benefit? Reminding yourself of the importance of something will make starting or finishing the assignment easier and more rewarding.
Start with the easiest: start with the easiest assignment first. This will provide a kind of snowball effect and make it easier to work. The sense of accomplishment from finishing one assignment will make starting the next more manageable. Sometimes when you think of the mountain of work you have to do it can be overwhelming. Start with the easiest assignment and go from there.
Make it smaller: break assignments into really small bite-size pieces. This goes along with the previous tip; if you have a big assignment, start by breaking it down into really tiny pieces.Think of one assignment you have to complete. What is the first step? Can you make that first step even smaller? Keep making it smaller until you are absolutely certain you can do it.
Just 5 minutes: if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, exhausted, etc. tell yourself you only have to study or work for 5 minutes. Do the assignment for 5 minutes and then you can quit if you still aren’t feeling it. Sometimes it just takes getting started to motivate yourself to finish.
Take breaks: break assignments into small, doable steps, and take frequent short breaks. This will help you stay focused and help fight becoming mentally tired. The pomodoro method is great for this. It’s much easier to finish an assignment if you have little breaks to look forward to.
Don’t wait to feel it: don’t wait to do an assignment until you feel motivated. Do it anyway; once you get started you may begin feeling motivated.
Give yourself credit: give yourself credit for the time and effort you do put in. It is easy to call yourself lazy, especially if your low motivation is caused by a mental illness, but you are actually working harder than you would if you were feeling motivated. Remember: it doesn’t matter how big the assignment was. It doesn’t matter how much you accomplished. It doesn’t matter how it turned out. It doesn’t matter how you feel about it. It doesn’t matter what other people think about it. If you put in any time or effort, give yourself credit.
Go outside: going outside for even 5 minutes can boost your mood and energy. It doesn’t take much to get the benefit. It works even better if you can be near trees or water!
Chunk the day: break up the day into small parts. Decide on the littlest amount of time you can spend on an assignment. It can be as big or small as you want. This is your “chunk” of manageable time. Decide what you will do with that chunk of time, and tell yourself “I only have to keep going for this chunk, then I can stop if I want to.” After the chunk ends you can rest, keep going, or do something else for the next chunk. Chunk your way through the whole day and you will be more productive and feel better!
Budget your energy: ask yourself how much energy you have “available” today. Don’t push yourself beyond your capacity because you will just get burned out and wind up in the same position you’re in now, instead only do what is reasonable for the amount of energy you have. No matter how little energy you have, always save some time for self-care: exercise, grooming, hobbies, relaxation, etc. Reduce negative thoughts and replace them with happy thoughts to boost energy and motivation! Repeat and persist: it is much better to do one small thing many times, than do one big thing once. Reward/congratulate yourself for every bit of effort no matter how small. Your brain will respond very well to this and you will have more energy, well-being, and self-confidence!
Build a routine: try to create a routine where you do similar assignments at the same time almost everyday. Having a routine makes it easier to get up and do the work automatically instead of relying on motivation/initiation.
Study groups: if you get word of a study group sign up! The best kinds are the ones that have a schedule that you are expected to be at, this makes it easier to get going. If you don’t know of any study groups, grab some friends and start one! Designate a time, place, and frequency to meet and make sure people stick to it!
Use a planner, calendar, to do list, etc: utilize these to make lists, establish a routine, and set goals. Having your assignments physically written down will help you stay focused on one task and actually crossing it off a to-do list will make it easier to begin a new assignment.
Post your goals: remind yourself why you’re studying. Put up signs, pictures, notes, etc. in your study space to keep your goals in sight. Whether they be long-term or short-term, reminding yourself of what you hope to achieve will help motivate yourself into studying so you can get your dream job or whatever your goal may be!
Get cheerleaders: sometimes getting started on an assignment by yourself can be too much. Try talking to trusted friends, family, teachers, etc. about your goals and how you’re struggling with finding motivation (you don’t need to be too specific on that last part!). It’s okay to ask for help. Support could be something as simple as a “you can do this!” text or phone call, a nice hug, or even just having someone sit in the same room while you do your work. Tackling big assignments alone can be daunting but developing a support system can make a world of difference!
Team up: try grouping up with other students in your classes or that have similar assignments. Even if you aren’t working on the same assignment just having someone working beside you can be all the motivation you need. Study groups are great for this! Surrounding yourself with others who are working hard will help inspire you to focus and get it done, other students also make for great resources! You never know who may have taken that class already and can offer a word of advice.
Just do it: use self-talk to get yourself started studying and to keep yourself going. Try writing down one of these phrases to display in your study area: “I am choosing to get started” “Just do it!” “Put one foot in front of the other” “I think I can, I think I can” “One step at a time” “It doesn’t have to be perfect” “Good enough is good enough” “I am focusing on starting, not on finishing” “It doesn’t matter how I feel now; I will get started and I may feel better later” “Start small” “What’s the smallest thing I can do right now? Do it!” or think of one of your own!
On Autism and College, revised.
Here is some advice on navigating college/university, by an Autistic (American) student, for a/Autistic students.
Register with disability services as soon as you make your decision to go to your school. If you don’t have a diagnosis, you may be able to talk to them and get tested/diagnosed and get accommodations. It depends on your school.
Make sure to research housing. You will want to know about food, the type of people who live there, location, and activities available. You want to be able to eat with your meal plan, get to class just fine, meet people there (or not, depending what you prefer), and if you want something to do there you should know what is available.
Spread out classes as much as possible. You will get to choose when you have your classes. Know your schedule and work with it. For example, next semester all of my classes are in the afternoon, which is good because I have a weird ass circadian rhythm and ended up being nocturnal for half of this semester.
Find out the minimum amount of classes you can take and start with that. Don’t overwhelm yourself. I’m taking twelve hours (the minimum for a full time student) next semester.
Make a schedule of when your work is due. You will likely (especially in math and sciences) have weekly homework due on a certain day. Know when that is and plan for it.
Try your best to not procrastinate. I’ve had far too many panic attacks and meltdowns from waiting too long to do work. You probably won’t have work assigned one day and due the next (it can happen, but I haven’t seen it), so plan your time.
Don’t overdo it with organizations/clubs. Friends are great, but don’t make extra commitments you can’t keep. I’m being treasurer of an organization I love because I’m needed and it’s not a huge commitment; I just have to turn in paperwork by deadlines, which I have no problem with.
Keep in touch with your advisor. If you need to drop a class or change your major, you will need their help. Know their email and use it.
It’s okay to stim. No one’s gonna notice you stimming in a lecture hall unless it’s loud. I twist a paracord bracelet and chew a necklace in lectures. Smaller classes are trickier, but people tend to not care if you’re fidgeting with a bracelet or something that doesn’t make noise or chewing on something. It’s okay.
Emails can be awkward, it’s okay. You’re not going to have the perfect email all the time. Most professors are fine with a very straight to the point email. Example asking for help from a professor:
Dear [name]: I am in your [time] [class name] class. I need help with [x]. Could we meet sometime to work through this? (If you have a problem with face to face interaction, you could say “Could you explain this to me via email?” They may ask you to meet with them anyway, just a warning.) Thank you, [your name]
Write down all office hours, whether or not you think you’ll need them. Professors want to help. It looks good for them when students do well. Mostly they sit bored in their office during hours. Even if you’re not struggling, it looks good for you when you come in and talk about the course with them during hours.
If you can’t handle your major, switch. Try to major in a longtime special interest if you have one that you could do that with. There are jobs in every field. I personally am switching from physics to psychology.
Clubs are good for finding friends. I’m in five(ish) queer organizations and have quite a lot of friends from them. Especially in larger schools, you can probably find other a/Autistic folk by pursuing interests and joining clubs devoted to them.
You likely won’t be judged for being a little “odd”. No one really bats an eye when they find people sleeping in public places here. At most, people might know you as “that person that does X thing”, but if you have the confidence to rock that, then you’ll be fine.
Don’t buy textbooks until class starts. You almost definitely won’t need them the first day of class and there’s no point in buying a $120 textbook you never actually use.
Keep all of your class syllabuses together. Just… try not to lose them, and if you do contact your professor. They might have assignment due dates for the whole year.
Use a planner. I use Habitica, an app that works kinda like an RPG. It helps me remember meds and work and all that jazz.
If you need one, take a gap year. School will still be there when you get back. It’s okay.
Feel free to message me with questions! I will be a sophomore at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign next semester!
Here's a bunch of articles about going through college with bipolar
http://ibpf.org/search/node/College
Because I needed it and some of you might too. Includes: -Diagnosed During College Is Not The End Of The World -Going to College with Bipolar Disorder -My freshman year of college… Can I have a redo please? - The Challenges of Treating Bipolar Disorder during the College Years
Edit: but wait there’s more! http://ibpf.org/blog/college-0
Study hacks
Wolfram Alpha by @literalmarveltrash
Educational youtube channels by @studystreak
Study hacks
Improving memory by @thestudiousstudent
Summary foldables by @studyign
Apps
Studying apps by @overachievings
Favourite study apps masterpost + more by @sammy-studies
Helpful apps by @gracelearns
…another “master post” of apps by @studygene
Helpful apps by @studypeaks
My productivity apps (for IOS) by @getstudyblr
Favourite studyblr smartphone apps (for android) by @linguisticallyunsound
Studying apps by @studyiingaway
Effective study
Studying better by @study-nsp
21 tips to become the most productive person you know by @studying-towards-success
Staying productive by @elkstudies
Guide to studying by @elkstudies
Time management
Guide to time management by @studyign
Time management by @studybuzz
20 quick tips for better time management by @kimberlystudies
Time management study hacks by @study-something-kid
How to prioritze your time by @studyingmeblr
Note taking
Note taking methods by @studyign
How I make revision notes by @raistudy
How to take lecture notes by @studyquirk
How I take notes by @tbhstudying
Upgrade your notes by @studylou
How I take notes by @academicmind
Study skills
How to set up an effective study routine by me
Mindful study space by @succulentstudy
How to make study guides by @strive-for-da-best
The pomodoro method by @etudiance
Focus
How to: stop procrastinating by me
Conquering procrastination by @studybudyblr
How to focus by @simply-study
Studying with a lack of motivation by @studysthesia
Staying productive by @elkstudies
How to focus: tips on improving your focus by @simply-study
Staying awake/focused in class by @mathbrain
Study tips
Some study tips by @quilavastudy
A stash of tiny study tips by @emiliaspencer
10 rules of good and bad studying by @mexicanmedstudent-life
How to catch up in your classes by @mocha-notes
6 things people don’t always tell you about studying by @behindonstudying
101 study tips by @study-early
Top 5 study tips by @studyign
10 best study habits by @moleskinestudies
Tests and exams
How to reduce exam stress by @studydesu
Exam tips by @studywithmaggie
How to study for an exam by @chemistrynerd2020
Common mistakes when studying for exams by @study-studymore-studyhard
Exam tips by @mimistudying
A complete exam study guide by @strive-for-da-best
Self care
Tips for bad days by @ptsdconfessions
Self care masterpost by @cortexstudy
Self care cheat sheet by @jwstudying
Study and mental health by @getstudyblr
Healthy eating for students by @raineydaystudies
22 “less difficult’ ways to practice self-care by @mapsfortheroad
How to study with a mental illness by @haleystudies
Printables
Study planner printable by me
Printable masterpost by @studiyng
Printables by @theorganisedstudent
Exam study pack by @ennui-for-me
Finals study plan by @colllegeruled
Daily planner printables by @katsdesk
Calendar printables by @thearialligraphyproject
Printables by @highschoolering
Other masterposts
Ultimate study masterpost by @iridescentstudy
Study Methods by @etudiance
Study tips by @study-something-kid
Complete study masterpost by @moleskinestudies
Massive masterpost of masterposts by @annie-tomy
Studying 101! by @studyingwithchlo
Please let me know if I have accidentally credited the wrong person or if a link isn’t working!
Happy studying :-)
Preparing for Exams
Do not study everything the night before. It is less tiring and stressful to study for an hour everyday for a week than 8 hours the night before the exam/test.
Read over your notes. Use a highlighter. Write major points on margins.
Do not memorize words. Understand them. Pay attention to the ideas you’re learning, don’t try to remember what the words look like. (If you know the concept, you’ll recognize it on the test no matter how it’s worded.)
When taking notes, don’t write them word for word. Use your own words. It will help you think.
Source
How to write an astonishing essay
When writing an essay, it may seem overwhelming to write a ton when you have no idea where to start. Here is a few tips to get you through the process. Prewriting: • Start with ideas and group them together. • Can not think of ideas? Use this website to take a main idea of your essay and it will give you words that go along with it • Skip the introduction until you know for certain what you are actually talking about. • Have a few ideas to write about (make sure they have evidence with them) • Show how all the ideas connect together by giving a brief preview to each in order to create a thesis Body Paragraphs: • Use TREE (Transition, Reason, Evidence, and Explain) to length your essay • Beginning sentence should look something like this: (Transition word such as First, next, then, or lastly), (insert the first idea to talk about). • Give a reason why this is important and then use CITED evidence • Give an explanation or two as to why this relates to the theme or idea of the paragraph • Then use CEE (Claim, Evidence, and Explain)to fill up the rest of the essay • It is the exact same as the REE part of TREE • Wash, rinse, and repeat as needed! Introduction: • Have a hook (quote, cool fact, or story) that relates to the topic to give the reader a reason to read the essay • Have a sentence that explains why it relates and then state thesis o See if your teacher prefers a single sentence thesis or a few sentenced out thesis Conclusion: • RESTATE thesis, do not just copy and paste. • Explain why everything proves your thesis • Summarize each paragraph • Have the ending sentence relate back to the hook with a joke or something interesting to do with the topic Editing: • Ask someone else to read the essay or put in Google Translate and listen to it for mistakes (Tip: If you can not get a real person to read or you are short on time use this website) • Do not use contractions in a formal essay (Tip: Find them easily by hitting Crtl+F then ‘ on your computer) • Show something that you learned from that class! • Spell check is your life saver • Do not forget all citations (Tip: Use this website for free MLA citations) Good luck!~
Hi! So, Anonymous asked me for advice to study with a mental illness. As someone who has and currently suffers with mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder, today I’m here to tell you all some tips on how you can study with such things!
Keep reading
Take care of yourself while you study
Dressed up with clothes in which you feel good. Whether you’re alone in your room or you’re in a crowded Starbucks, you have the right to feel good and beautiful in your clothes. (In my case, no matter where I study, I still wear my black yoga pants. Lululemon have beautiful pants but really expensive!! My favorite are from Walmart and they only cost me 12$)
Always keep a glass or a bottle of water nearby. Your body needs about two liters of water a day no matter what you do. It is not time to run out as you work hard. This will help you avoid uncomfortable headaches. You can also add fruits or herbs for a change. Now you can buy beautiful bottles with small compartments made on purpose for that. (This website offers really nice infuser bottles at different prices)
Eat often. You need to have a constant energy level so you should always have small snacks with you. Almonds, apples, granola bars. These are good snacks to combine. And you can drag them anywhere.
Make yourself a playlist that contains relaxing or stimulating songs that help you focus. You can also check the study playlist on Youtube, 8Tracks or Spotify. You can also check this website and you’ll instantly feel like you’re in a coffee shop.
Treat yourself with your favorite hot drink. In the morning I always make a great cup of warm coffee with a sip of almond milk. Then in the afternoon I recommend having a tea and at night an herbal tea. You should avoid having too much caffeine at night. One of my favourite hot drink is a golden milk. It’s so comforting and has a lot of benefits for your mind and body.
Do yourself a sleep schedule. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Your body will get used to it and will recover more easily. A sleep cycle is around 90 minutes, to have the maximum benefits, you should calculate around five to six cycles of sleep every night.
More post to come. Have a good day and take care of yourself little bees.
Different ways to study
A few of you have been asking about ways to revise (that’s not just making notes). Here’s a list of some different techniques you can use to revise/study:
Notes - making notes is the ‘standard’ way of studying - summarising information from textbooks/revision guides into your own words
Mind-maps - making these is a great way to organise ideas and link different ideas
Posters - big and colourful posters are a great way to summarise info as well as a more fun way of working
Teaching - teaching others (anyone who will listen to you will do) is a great way, as it will really show whether you really know the info by how well you can explain it to someone who knows nothing about it
Videos - watching videos can be a nice and easy way to revise, and are useful for visual and/or auditory learners
Podcasts - you can download and listen to podcasts when you are walking to school etc. which is a great way to get extra revision in, and they’re great for auditory learners
Flashcards - these can be useful for making really concise notes, as well as making Q&A or key word and definition cards - they are also really compact so you can take them with you
Group study - working with friends can help bounce ideas off each other, bringing up things you might not have thought about alone - you will all have different strengths that will help each other out
Past questions - doing past papers and looking at mark schemes will help your timings and application of knowledge/exam technique
Write (don’t type) - making notes on tablets/laptops is fine, but when it comes to writing practise essays always write because that’s what you will be doing in the exam (unless you use a laptop for some reason) so it’s best to practise for timings etc.
Further reading - reading articles and books around the subject areas will give you a broader idea of the concepts and a better overall understanding
Accents/voices - some people find using different accents or characters of voices helps them remember things (in the exam you can recall info because you remember you said it in an Australian accent for example)
Key word lists - making lists of words and definitions can be useful, as using key words in context in essays/questions is what gets you the higher marks
Post-it notes - writing key ideas on post-it notes and sticking them in places you go commonly (on the fridge, by the light switch, in your bedroom, on the TV etc)
Apps - there are loads of great apps that you can download to make notes and flashcards etc. as well as apps for generally increasing your productivity - see my studying apps post here
Songs/mnemonics - making funny little songs to remember processes can be really useful, as they really stick in your head
Charts/timelines - depending on the subject, making timelines and charts can be really useful as a different visual representation
101 Study Tips
Take advantage of that lower workload in between exam periods to make good notes, clean your house, get work experience and do the things then rather than when you’re busier
Use Highlighters instead of pens to save time. Or vice versa depending on you
Change the timing in the pomodoro technique to suit you rather than the other way round
Use a planner to organise your day
Work out what time of day you study best. You could get up and study in the morning if you’re that sort of person
Attend your tutor or form sessions. Even if you don’t do much in them, you can
Keep your planner small and carry it everywhere
Even better, put your planner on your phone
Don’t sulk if you fail, look back at why you failed and try to improve
If you get distracted by wanting to do something when you should be focusing, write it down. It gives you a checklist of things to do later
Do these things on the checklist in your study breaks
Answer questions without your teaching asking you to
Read about your subjects outside of your classes, especially in high school
Sit at the front of the class room
Don’t sit by yourself in class
Get an early nights sleep
Or at least use sleepytime to get a good time frame
On school days when you wake up, get up straight away, it stops you lazing about
Work hard from the start of the year. There isn’t a time to slack off
Try spaced repititon for learning key facts or a revision schedule
Have snacks and a drink during study sessions. Preferably water.
Summarise and make all your notes onto smaller bits of paper for revision, it helps you recognise what the important facts are
To avoid study stress, take breaks and avoid studying for more than two hours a day
It’s also good to have a day where you don’t study at all once a week
Don’t schedule too far in advance, you’ll just get busy in the meantime or change your methods
When you’re feeling too stressed to work properly but not studying stresses you out, do easier tasks like reviewing flashcards or watching videos on your course
Do as much of your work in school as possible
Prioritise your classes. Especially if you have loads
Make any big habit changes you’ve been thinking of at the start of a term or new year
Study a little before bed, you’ve probably seen that study that says you remember more just before bed
Only make flashcards of the things that you don’t get or are important, not everything
Use online sites like Brainscape, Memrise, Anki or Quizlet for flashcards between devices
Print off your powerpoint slides before a lesson
If you can’t do that, read ahead in the textbook
The syllabus is your guide, so use that as a framework for your revision notes
Your stress and nerves are normal, don’t worry
Aim to finish your revision a week before your exams, it makes you start earlier and finish earlier, you also can rest before your exam
When you pick your subjects, choose the subjects you love
Don’t drink alcohol when you’re studying or any type of drug while studying
Don’t listen to how much everyone is studying. A lot of people big it up or say they do none, usually both aren’t being truthful
Take messy notes in class and neaten them up later
Or take your notes online or on a computer
Have a folder to put your loose sheets and handouts in
Keep your to do list and schedule all in one place, whether that’s a book, app or phone
If you fall behind or are ill a lot, your classmates are your friends for a realistic description of what you’ve missed
When at school, know all the places you’d like to study in case one of them is busy
Don’t work in your bed if it makes you tired
Or work in your bed if all your seats are uncomfortable and it’s distracting
Don’t have too much coffee! And energy drinks are just terrible for you so maybe not have those either
You don’t have to be truthful to your actual opinion in essays, just go for what option has the most points
Listen to your teacher
Have your window open, the fresh air helps
Use practice papers and questions, they really help
Try to teach others as well or if you can’t, explain it in your own words to yourself
Combine more than one technique, so that the weaknesses of each method gets covered by another
Seriously just listen to your teachers
Check your emails every day
Set realistic goals and try not to be too harsh and unrealistic about the time you’ll spend achieving these as well
Use loud and annoying alarms to get you to do things
If you have to read, read out loud rather than in your head
Use a hair tie if you have long hair to keep it out of your face
Keep clean and get dressed for studying
Don’t waste your term making your notes pretty, if it helps, make sure the benefits outweigh the time it takes
Study when you can. Don’t study if you’re too exhausted to do so.
Keep your desk as clean as you can
Know your sources of motivation. Possibly find a way to put that in your study space.
Attend as many classes as possible and don’t skip
Keep yourself busy with stuff that isn’t studying
Reward yourself for your hard work
Before you go back to school, start to wake up earlier so you’re ready
Wear comfortable clothes to school
Or wear whatever makes you feel good, feeling bad can be pretty distracting
Always think about the next step early, whether thats getting work experience, choosing subjects, finding a job or picking a thesis
Always eat breakfast
And always eat lunch too! Especially at school
Do whatever is best for you. Don’t follow a studyblr trend, do what’s best for you.
Make your studying a habit. Do it nearly every day for a long time and it’ll begin to feel more like second nature
Get to know your teachers if you can
And don’t be afraid to ask them for help outside of a lesson, either by email or afterwards, it helps a lot
Look at the types of questions you often get wrong as well as the topics you keep missing out on
Keep a spare bit of food in your bag, I usually have some sesame snaps in my bag as a small snack so I don’t have to get up to get food
Make productive friends and people with similar goals to you
When revising, revise everything and then focus on your weak points
Don’t spend too long on tumblr, and if you are right now, then this is your reminder to log off!
Don’t panic when you don’t know all the answers in a test, do you really need 100%?
Break your studying into smaller bits and spread it out over time to avoid headaches, burnout and all the problems that come with it
Eat better. Get enough fruit and vegetables
Don’t forget about Protein, from meats, nuts, etc. it helps a lot
If you’re falling asleep in class, I usually drink water, pinch myself, take lots of notes and fidget to keep myself up
Regularly clear out your bag, because a lot of stuff builds up
If you’re a more artistic person, use drawings like visual notes, mindmaps, timelines and literal drawings to help you study
If you study with a friend, quiz each other
Study on public transport if you can, notes and flashcards on phones are good for this
Don’t neglect any of your subjects, make sure they all get some time spent on them
Also focus beyond your first exam, it’s easy to overprepare for the first test and then not be ready for the rest
When taking a test look through it quickly before hand
Remember you don’t have to take the test in order
Review your notes all the time, review helps the memory
If you want to pull an all-nighter see if you can do it in the morning or day instead, and don’t do it the night before anything important
Always look at the details, especially if you get a mark-scheme or guide for your assignments
Constantly be taking on new improvements and trying to improve your methods
University when you’re psychotic
I recently graduated from university after reading theatre and Jewish studies and I graduated with highest distinction (gpa 4.0). Being at university can be extremely difficult and extremely trying when you’re on the schizophrenia or psychosis spectra. Below is the advice that I have based on my experiences. Everyone’s university experience is different and everyone’s experiences with sz spectrum are different so not all of this may apply to you. I only started receiving treatment in the last year of university and only received diagnosis shortly after I graduated so a lot of my coping mechanisms are applicable if you are receiving treatment and if you are not receiving treatment. This might also be applicable if you’re at risk for developing schizophrenia or prone to psychosis.
- SLEEP. I know this is easier said than done. A lot of universities allow an obscene amount of homework to be assigned. Some classes let out very late at night. Some people have to work through their entire time at university and so have very little off time. However, I can tell you that one of the most important things you can get at university is sleep. Lack of sleep definitely exacerbated my symptoms, making my hallucinations, delusions, and dissociative episodes much worse. If you’ve a difficult schedule that doesn’t allow for a lot of sleep, practise self care to soothe your body and mind. If you can’t get a lot of sleep, try yoga and meditation. These are things you can also do with your friends and that will keep you motivated to keep going and keep caring for yourself. Do “spa days” at the weekend with your friends where you do face masques or simply chill and drink some tea together and play video games.
- GIVE. It’s been proven that community is extremely important for mentally ill and neurodivergent people. Sometimes we have a lot of self loathing but would never direct those feelings at another person. For me, advocating for other people makes it easier for me to take care of myself. At university I was involved in a social justice theatre troupe. With this troupe I was able to advocate for mentally ill people and other oppressed groups. It also gave me a community in which I could freely express myself and complain about micro aggressions with a group that would listen. Getting yourself involved in social justice, charity, or volunteer work is a great use of your time and passion and will help you understand yourself better.
- LIST MAKING. In my third year at university I suffered a minor concussion that gave me some temporary memory and focus problems. Additionally, because of my schizoaffective disorder, sometimes my memory can be scattered or I can lack the motivation to do what I need to do. List making (and more importantly, list crossing off) really helped me to remember what I needed to do each day and stay motivated. This is my advice for list making:
Make lists of things you do by default every day as well as things you need to do. For example, on my lists I would almost always have “walk to campus”, “take lunch”, “shower”, “remove nail varnish”, etc. When you have both things you normally do and things you need to do on the list it helps you create a better image of what the day will look like.
Cross off or tick boxes off of the items you do. Only do this when you have completed that item, not before. This is extremely rewarding for me. Some things you need to have multiple boxes for if there are multiple steps. For example, you might have a general item of “write English essay” but under that you would have “write outline”, “first draft”, “edit”, and “print”. You check off each item as you go and then when you get to the end you get to check off “write English essay”.
Include self care. This helps you prioritise your own health and normalise self care. If you include items like: “take tea” or “play skyrim for an hour” then you are more likely to do them and realise that in doing them you’ve actually accomplished something.
No guilt. When you’re unable to complete an activity, scratch it off your list and move it to tomorrow’s list. I wanted to make a fan mix one month and it probably took me several months to actually get to it. I included it on my list every day so that I’d remember it as something I want to do. When I finally had a spare moment, I made the fan mix and was finally able to cross it off the list. Not getting to something doesn’t mean failure, it just means not today.
Limit it. Don’t make your list overwhelm you. I use an index card that I turn on its side so it’s portrait and fill up that card. If it doesn’t fit on the card then it cannot fit in the day.
- GROUP STUDY AND GROUP CARE. In my last two years at uni I started doing something with a friend called “cubby time” where we would go to the library, take a desk in the stacks, and watch an episode of television whilst wrapped in a blanket and drinking tea. Sometimes we would bake things and eat them together. Cubby time was super rewarding and I cherish those memories. Additionally, studying with other people from a class as a group can be really helpful–choose you’re group with care, though. I usually work with whatever friend I have in a class and we make each other work. Sometimes if we’re working on a project, we’d choose related topics so we could research together (if something didn’t suit mine, it usually worked for hers, and vice versa). Working together helped me get work done and build my friendships.
- FIGHT BURNOUT. Trust me, burnout is real. By the time I finished university I was a total mess and completely burnt out. It took me months to recover. As someone who’s gone through it, I suggest doing everything you can whilst you’re at university to fight burnout. You need to exercise. You need to practise self care. You need to sleep. These things seem optional in the face of failing a class or missing an assignment but you won’t be able to do those things for long if you don’t take care of yourself. I really let myself go at university and it really bit me in the arse.
- TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY. This is very hard at university, so don’t feel like you have to be perfect or become a gym rat or anything. However, being in good physical health helps your mind work better. Exercising at least weekly if not daily can really have a positive impact on your mental health. I know that everyone says this, but it is very true. Exercise is really hard to do at university, especially when you’re studying and partying all the time. Make yourself exercise by signing up for a class at the gym with a friend. Having a friend do something new alongside you, like Yoga or lifting or Tai Chi, will encourage you to keep going. If you miss a class, don’t sweat it. You’re not at university to exercise, but exercising at university can definitely improve your experience there. And it doesn’t have to be high impact. Take your laptop to the gym or your iphone and watch Netflix whilst you walk on the treadmill for an hour. Facetime with your siblings whilst you sweat on the elliptical. Walk around the track for 20 minutes chatting with your best friend. Exercise doesn’t have to be intense and you don’t have to be good at it. You really don’t. You don’t owe anyone a perfect workout routine or a perfect gym fit body.
- DON’T OVERDO IT PARTYING. Somehow neurotypical people can go out every night, get trashed, and get through university. I honestly have no idea how they do it. For me, I have a lot of social awkwardness and discomfort at parties. I don’t drink a lot, because it can aggravate my psychotic symptoms. I would definitely recommend you moderate your alcohol consumption whilst at university. Drinking makes my symptoms so much worse and can leave me struggling for days afterwards to piece my life back together. Take it easy. Don’t go to every party. Keep track of yourself (or have a friend you trust keep track of you). Avoid drugs. Avoid large quantities of alcohol. [Note: if you are medicated, some antipsychotics make you more susceptible to the effects of alcohol and some antipsychotics can take all the fun out of alcohol {ABILIFY, in my experience}–if you don’t feel comfortable drinking, don’t do it. If your psychiatrist or doctor advises you not to drink, don’t do it. You don’t owe anyone an explanation or an excuse. Drinking is a choice and plenty of people choose not to drink who have no particular reason. I know that social pressure can make this hard. Know that you don’t owe anyone anything. You make your own decisions and your decisions are cool by default.]
- LET YOURSELF HAVE A BREAK. when you have gone out partying, allow yourself to heal the next day. One day after a friend’s party that involved lots of clubs I couldn’t speak for the next day because I was so keyed up. Allow yourself care after extreme situations or stressful situations. After a party, make yourself a pot of tea. Play video games alone for a couple of hours. Eat a salad. Watch television. Drink half a litre of water. After a stressful exam, eat a chocolate bar. Drink a froufrou coffee. Buy yourself some new undies. Meditate. Watch half a season of Parks and Rec with your flatmate/roommate. Spend an hour on the stationary cycles at the gym, or the elliptical machine pretending you’re in Pacific Rim. Do low impact cardio. Stress can seriously negatively impact you and taking care of stress is essential for taking care of yourself.
- DON’T PUSH YOURSELF FOR EVERYTHING. choose your battles. If you struggle with social skills, choose specific times to work on them. Remember, you don’t owe everyone yourself 100% of the time. You can choose where and how you’re comfortable socialising. You don’t owe anyone your time. I didn’t date in university. I really struggle with romantic interactions, in part because of my mental illness and in part because of traumatic experiences. You are not a freak and there is nothing wrong with you if this is the case. There are many people in their twenties who are single. There are many people who are still virgins in their twenties. They come from all sorts of backgrounds (not just conservative Christians) and have all sorts of reasons. There are many people who have lots of sex in their twenties. Neither of these options is inherently right or wrong. Your sexual choices for yourself are valid. Any of your reasons for social/sexual activity or lack of that activity are valid. You don’t have to challenge yourself constantly. If you know you struggle with that, you can say, I’ll work on that in therapy. Or I’ll work on that when I can. Don’t think because many of the people around you have successful social lives that everyone does. This also applies to classes. Take an easy class if you know you need a break. Do the bare minimum if you can’t bring yourself to do more. University is hard. Being away from home is hard. You can cut yourself some slack. You are already a success by being you.
- RECOVER. Having a psychotic episode at university can be terrifying and many of your peers might not understand what you’re going through. If you experience a psychotic episode or psychotic symptoms, allow yourself to recover. You don’t have to snap back to work. It took me a couple of semesters to realise that I could actually call in sick when I was so shaken I couldn’t move or convinced I would slip on the ice and get another concussion. If you only have sick absences, feign a cold at the clinic or say whatever allergies you have are acting up and get a piece of paper proving you were there–you don’t actually owe them the truth. You don’t have to go to that party when you’re feeling like you’re slipping out of your body and floating overhead at the grocery shop. You don’t owe anyone anything. During a migraine I had a drawn out episode where I believed and saw my hands to be covered in bruises (and I later fainted, it was an awful day) and kept trying to hide them from people. I couldn’t read and I struggled to converse. My notes were a disaster. It took me a while to realise what was going on. I needed to take care of myself afterwards and instead the next day I woke up very early and went into work for several hours. I needed a break and I didn’t give it to myself when I needed it and it caused my symptoms to be more drawn out and me to feel physically exhausted. Take care of yourself when you need it. You may not believe it, but you deserve it and it will actually positively effect your work. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health and just as valid an excuse.
- FIND A MENTOR. Talk to your professors. Try to talk to all of your professors. This will help you succeed in your coursework but also in your post-grad life. Additionally, if your professor knows you and you are having a particular bad day and can’t come to class, them knowing you will help them to give you the benefit of the doubt. There are many, MANY neurodivergent people in academia and you will find that you kind of end up gravitating to them unintentionally. My main mentor at university was autistic. You will find an adult who understands you and who you can trust.
- SEEK DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. this can be difficult at university. Also, this is not a jab at self dx. I believe self dx to be valid. I encourage you to get an official diagnosis because then you have more recourse if you need to miss a day or a week. This gives you paperwork and legal recourse at the university if you are discriminated against or if your professor does not give you adequate accommodation. I know it can be really hard to ask for help for yourself. Think of this as paving the way for other psychotic students that will come to the university. You will be making someone’s life a lot easier in the future. Note that many universities have psych clinics on campus where you can pay a significantly reduced rate if you’re a student there or below a certain income. This is where I sought treatment and received diagnosis. Some people feel more comfortable with an extremely qualified professional but I personally found it less intimidating to be working with someone who was approximately my peer. Note that also when you go to one of these clinics they can refer you to a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse for medication and you can also indicate whether you’d feel more comfortable with a psychology student of your own race, sex, or ethnicity (for example, if you’re a black woman and you don’t want to be working with a white man or woman, you can say you would prefer to be paired with a black woman and the university will do its best to pair you with someone of your preference).
- YOU DON’T HAVE TO SUFFER. If a professor or fellow student is ridiculing you or making your life hellish you do not have to endure this. Report them. Nothing may come of it, but more will come from it than if you did nothing. If you’re Jewish and someone makes an antisemitic jibe at you, report them. If you’re trans and a professor makes cissexist and transphobic statements to the class, report them. If a professor or GTA behaves in a way that is inappropriate to you, report them. You are making your campus a safer environment in so doing. I know it can be scary. I know it can feel like because you’re mentally ill that people won’t believe you or that everyone is against you. Bring a friend with you if you are nervous making a report or have your mentor help you. You don’t have to suffer and you don’t have to be in this alone.
- TREAT YOURSELF. This can be hard to learn when you’re at university but treating yourself doesn’t have to be something elaborate. For me, if I’ve had a really exhausting exam or something, I’ll treat myself to a froufrou coffee or an hour on tumblr at the library or a cheap film on campus. You work very hard. If you make a list, you’ll see just how much stuff is happening every day. Even if you don’t get everything done that you need, you are still working hard and deserve care.
Note: these are all things that worked for me, but everyone’s experience is different. I had a lot of problems in school and most of the lists I found on tumblr of advice were mostly for people with depression or anxiety. University can be really daunting when you’re psychotic, but it is doable. Feel free to add to this with your own pieces of advice and message me at any time if you need any specific advice. I believe in you.
School Shopping List: College Edition
When I was in high school, teachers were generally pretty clear about what students should buy for the rest of the year. It’s a little bit different in college, at least in my experience. It’s really up to each student to decide what they need for class. That can be really tricky if you don’t have a lot of college experience. For that reason, I’ve decided to compile a list of things I usually get together at the beginning of each semester/academic year.
Keep in mind that this can very a lot based on your major/school situation. For context, I’m a junior English/Philosophy major at a 4-year public university.
I split this list (which is very long, yikes) into two parts: stuff you most likely need to buy, and stuff you can set up for free.
Part 1: Stuff that Costs Money :(
I usually buy it all through Amazon, but you can also find these things at pretty much any store that sells office supplies.
Book bag. You’ll almost definitely need some kind of bag to carry your stuff around. I got a somewhat expensive one two years ago so that I could carry my laptop around, but it’s totally not necessary to spend a bunch of money on a book bag if you don’t want to/can’t. Any larger bag will do. You can find some pretty cheap book bags at places like Target, K-Mart, etc.
5-subject notebook, or whatever notebook/assortment of notebooks you prefer. I usually just buy one 5-subject notebook to use in the five classes I take every semester. That way, I can easily carry all my notes around with me. A lot of 5-subject notebooks also include pouches where I can keep my syllabi. Maybe you have more/less classes than me, or you just like to keep your notes separate. Go with whatever works for you!
Mini-notebook and/or planner. I know it probably seems like overkill to have a mini-notebook AND a planner, but I’m a very disorganized. I usually just jot down random reminders in the mini-notebook and then integrate them into my planner later if necessary. In my experience, the best planners show dates in both weekly and monthly format.
Folders. You probably don’t need folders if you buy one of the notebooks that have pouches, but I like to buy a folder for each class anyway. I usually don’t carry them with me. Instead, I keep things like graded papers/instruction sheets in there in case I need to refer back to them later.
Loose-leaf paper. This is mostly just because I hate tearing pieces of paper out of my notebook. I can’t stand it for some reason.
Pens. I like to get a pack of colored pens and a pack of boring black/blue pens. I like to take notes with the colored pens, because it makes studying a little more fun. Black/blue pens are necessary for pretty much everything else.
Pencils. Unless you don’t like writing with pens, you probably only need a couple no. 2 pencils for test taking or annotating things (if that’s the kind of thing you do in college.)
Pencil sharpener. If you carry around pencils, you might also want to carry around a cheap pencil sharpener. Pencil sharpeners are few and far between at my campus.
Pencil pouch. This definitely isn’t necessary if you have a bag to carry pens and pencils around in, but I’m the kind of person who loses an embarrassing amount of writing utensils in my own bag.
Post-it Notes. I’m one of those people who like to write little notes about books that I’m reading. I’ve found that writing things down on Post-it Notes is an easy way to figure out what part of the text you were referring to later.
Index cards. I don’t know what it is. I end up needed index cards at least once every semester. Sometimes teachers will let you use an index card on tests. Otherwise, flashcards can be fun if you’re a visual learner. If you don’t want to spend money on index cards, a lot of people tend to be willing to lend some out.
Portable water bottle. Buying a plastic water bottle might help you save some money, if you drink water constantly like I do.
Textbooks. A lot of people like to wait until after the first week of classes to buy their textbooks. That’s probably a good idea, but not having my textbooks before classes start gives me anxiety. No matter when you decide to do it, never buy your textbooks from the college bookstore, because they’ll be really expensive there. I would suggest using websites like bigwords or slugwords to compare prices, or at the very least, buying/renting them used from Amazon. If you don’t mind waiting until the semester starts, some of your books will probably be available for free at the school library.
Part 2: Free Stuff! :)
Reliable computer/internet access. This is probably going to be a necessity for you no matter what your major is. Having your own computer/laptop is ideal, but it’s really not a big deal if you can’t afford one. Most campuses have computers that are free for students to use. You can also check out public libraries.
Microsoft Office. Even if you do all your work in Google Docs, Microsoft Word might be a good thing to have access to. Powerpoint and Excel are likely to come in handy too. If you’ve never heard of OneNote, I suggest trying that to organize your notes to refer back to later. Wait, you don’t have Microsoft Office? Well, you’re in luck, because it’s free for students.
Flux and other Chrome Extensions. F.lux is a Chrome extension that changes the lighting of your computer based on the time of day. If you use Google Docs a lot, you might also want to check out Pupil Pref and Dark Reader. Love your eyes.
Digital folders for your classes. Every semester, I create a folder in my documents for each class. It’s not too hard to remember to save a file/document to its corresponding folder, and it makes things a LOT easier to find later, especially if you like to name your documents things like “hioshosdflksdj” like I do.
I hope this was (at least a little bit) helpful! Remember that these are just suggestions based on my own college experience. A lot of people can’t get all these items (or might not even want them), and that’s perfectly okay. In college, you have a lot of wiggle room to make things work.
Feel free to add on or suggest alternatives!
Mod Applications
Hello everyone! It’s almost Fall 2016! That means this blog will be fully functional soon!
I would like this blog to be a resource for all kinds of students. Compiling resources is great, but I think our followers might benefit even more from interacting directly with people who share their experiences. As of right now, I am the only mod. There are a lot of subjects and scenarios I can’t speak on personally. For that reason, I’ll be selecting a few mods before the semester starts.
Requirements:
currently a student, or plan to start school sometime in 2016
must be neurodivergent, preferably in 2+ ways
must have a Tumblr and be willing to provide the URL on the application (just for contact reasons; it won’t be shared or posted anywhere on the blog without your permission)
can be contacted relatively easy or quickly (by Tumblr, email, skype, etc)
if you are a minor, you must be comfortable interacting with adults
if you are an adult, you must interact appropriately with minors
must be willing to interact and cooperate with other mods as necessary
should follow the collegiate-comorbidity blog for possible updates
To apply, follow this link: https://rcmass2014.typeform.com/to/AkS4dw
P.S. the application includes several pictures of dogs for your viewing pleasure.
Reblog to spread the word!
[Edit 7/30/16: We’ve decided to adjust the requirements a bit! Now graduates (or people with a similarly strong connection to school) can apply too, even if they’re not currently students.]
Blog Overview
What is this blog?
This blog is just like any other studyblr, except we cater to the needs of neurodivergent and/or disabled students specifically. Since academic needs vary from person to person, we mostly try to compile diverse resources from Tumblr and other websites.
Examples:
masterposts with school-related tips and advice
positivity posts
reminders
links to outside resources
disorder/symptom specific tips
general tips
academic-related aesthetic posts
and a lot more!
We also have a couple mods who can share their personal experiences and respond to specific asks from our followers. If you are interested in becoming a mod, apply here: ttps://rcmass2014.typeform.com/to/AkS4dw
Hopefully, we can become a source of emotional support and community for neurodivergent/disabled/comorbid college students.
Who is this blog for?
This blog is primarily for college students with multiple neurodivergences (including self-diagnosis) and/or disabilities.. That will be the focus of our posts, and any mods we have in the future will most likely fit that criteria. Most of our resources will apply to high school as well, and we may have at least one high school mod in the future. I chose to focus on comorbidity because there are so few resources specifically for people like us, but all neurodivergent people are welcome here. We also welcome people questioning diagnoses, or people who are neurodivergent but do not identify with any labels.
Can other people follow or interact with posts?
Yes! Anyone is welcome to follow us and interact with our posts, even if you’re neurotypical, This kind of information may help you followers, so feel free to pass it along! Please understand, however, that some features of this blog are specifically for neurodivergent people and respect those boundaries.
Is that all?
That’s all for this post! This is just a general overview of our goals for this blog. We will be posting some more information in the future, so go ahead and follow us if you want to stay updated. If you have any other questions or concerns, you can contact me here or on my main blog (@metaphysicalbaby).