ninety-9thstoreyhigh

Joey's Studyblr SG// University // Marketing Ask/Mail ♥ My posts here ♥

[dynamicsymmetry]

Good stuff.

[eerian-sadow]

This. This is good fiction writing advice. I really appreciate how it was formatted as “this is a common problem, here is a solution to try in your own work” and not “oh god, don’t do that!” without any extra help. And I extra appreciated the “don’t rely on adverbs” bit, because they do have their place but they aren’t the only way actions can be emphasized.

[emmastudies]

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

Other posts | Student Printables Etsy Shop | Free Printables | Instagram | Youtube | Pinterest | Twitter 

[jwstudying]

SCHOOL CHEAT SHEET 2

back to school masterlist

tips for exams

ultimate back to school tips

tips for the new school year

4 legal ways to get free textbooks

essential productivity apps

actual first time college advice | tips for lectures | how to take lecture notes

study breaks | studying hacks

bet your teachers never taught you this

how to take organised notes

text book tips

tips to make school life easier

how to do cover letters

studying a foreign language tips

dyslexia friendly fonts

writing about royal characters

language learning sites

tips for effective studying

travel cheap

23 editing tips

useful apps for students

words to describe someone’s voice

Joss Whedon’s writing tips | writing references

50 things to ask your character before you start writing

stop using google.com to search information

life hacks for school

how to write an essay

8 basics of creative writing | fantasy guide | songs for creating stuff

for crime writers

dear writers

a high school teacher’s list of 100 wisest words

confused what to underline, italicize and when to use quotation marks?

feeling anxious for school?

make pretty banners | another one | and another one | one more | okay last one i promise

how to study like a harvard student

how to do pretty lettering | how to make your notes pretty | handwriting and note taking | colour code notes | how to maintain good notes | take digital notes

using one note to take notes | another one

how to get shit done

things i wish people had told me when i was a freshman

handwriting reference

in class notes reference

20 things I found out about studying last year | things to do remember when studying

revising for maths

abbreviations for note taking | 2

12 things i learnt during 12 years of school

transition words

how to study from textbooks

how to make history timelines

what to do if you fail a class

backpack essentials

studying 101: how to stay focused, motivated, and on track.

secret study tips | top tips for studying in college

ultimate studyblr guide

hey, school’s hard

other cheat sheets

[surviveschool]

WHAT TO PACK

packing list by @mathmaticat

things i actually used by @productivecoffee

first aid kit by @wannabeavet

12 things nobody told you to pack for college by @happyjo 

packing list by @introvertstudyism​

things no one tells you to bring to college by @allieswonderland​

definite must haves by @collegerefs​

FIRST DAY

how to college by @danistudies-ir​

things i noticed my first day of college by @arasstudyblr​

picking courses by @the-physics-detective​

STUDYING

things i’ve learned while taking my 1st semester final exams by @studycris​

how to get straight a’s by @bookbearstudies​

study tips straight from my professor by @just-refuse-to-be-stopped​

how i study @ college by @shhhstudy​

tracking college courses in your bullet journal by @the-nerd-bird​

OFFICE HOURS

dear college students by @oldshrewsburyian​

office hours post by @historicalaesthete​

COLLEGE LIVING

working in college by @pawprintedpages

some uni tips for shy people (like me) by @goro-goro-studies

gbm/club season by @alevatross​

living off campus by @honeststudying​

TEXTBOOKS

where to buy college textbooks by @studybuddydotcom

how to save on textbooks by @sandersstudies

sites where you can get free textbooks by @thearialligraphyproject

how i only spent $34 to purchase $1000+ worth of school supplies for college by @dinktea-studymore

CHOOSING A MAJOR

in response to criticism that an english degree is useless by @warmhealer

choosing a major by @collegerefs

GENERAL TIPS FOR SUCCESS

some random uni tips by @goro-goro-studies​

mistakes college freshmen make by @bioluminescent-studier​

what i’ve learned from two semesters of university by @transcendstudy​

five tips by @paperdrop​

5 tips for first year by @highlighterhaven​

questions every college freshman should ask themselves by @studynadia​

a honest university guide by @prodessostudies​

tips for college by @anotherstudyblr17​

college tips by @physicallymath​

advice from a stressed, coffe-addict college student part i by @cafune-s​

things i’ve learned in college (so far) by @trying-to-become-a-good-student​

shitty advice of a college student by @stillstudies​

successful university tips by @candidlyjessica​

a guide to getting your life together by @the-sapphic-desk​

uni tips by @rubythescientist​

college tips from a real live college student by @socsciblr​

things i wish i’d known in my first year of university by @succulentstudy​

things i wish i had known before starting by @andmekb​

what i learned my first semester in college by @studygrl​

OTHER MASTERPOSTS

how to survive in college by @lilypotterr​

college survival masterlist by @college-campuses​

MISC.

double degree by @fuckstudy​

how to prepare for a new semester by @blissfulstudies​

what to expect from your uni experience by @honeststudying​

high school vs college by @collegerefs​

[coffeesforstudiers]

Some TED talks that will change your life.

How to make stress your friend by Katie McGonial (14.5 minutes) 

“Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.”

8 secrets of success by Richard St.John (3.5 minutes)

Why do people succeed? Is it because they’re smart? Or are they just lucky? Neither. Analyst Richard St. John condenses years of interviews into an unmissable 3-minute slideshow on the real secrets of success.

A simple way to break a bad habit by Judson Brewer (9.5 minutes)

Can we break bad habits by being more curious about them? Psychiatrist Judson Brewer studies the relationship between mindfulness and addiction — from smoking to overeating to all those other things we do even though we know they’re bad for us. Learn more about the mechanism of habit development and discover a simple but profound tactic that might help you beat your next urge to smoke, snack or check a text while driving.

Don’t regret regret by Kathryn Schulz (17 minutes)

We’re taught to try to live life without regret. But why? Using her own tattoo as an example, Kathryn Schulz makes a powerful and moving case for embracing our regrets.

How to make hard choices by Ruth Chang (14.5 minutes)

Here’s a talk that could literally change your life. Which career should I pursue? Should I break up — or get married?! Where should I live? Big decisions like these can be agonizingly difficult. But that’s because we think about them the wrong way, says philosopher Ruth Chang. She offers a powerful new framework for shaping who we truly are.

The danger of silence by Clint Smith (4 minutes) 

We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying that we rarely pay attention to the things they don’t,“ says poet and teacher Clint Smith. A short, powerful piece from the heart, about finding the courage to speak up against ignorance and injustice.

How to speak so that people want to listen by Julian Treasure (10 minutes)

Have you ever felt like you’re talking, but nobody is listening? Here’s Julian Treasure to help. In this useful talk, the sound expert demonstrates the how-to’s of powerful speaking — from some handy vocal exercises to tips on how to speak with empathy. A talk that might help the world sound more beautiful.

Your body language shapes who you are by Amy Cuddy (21 minutes)

Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.

The happy secret to better work by Shawn Anchor (12 minutes) 

We believe we should work hard in order to be happy, but could we be thinking about things backwards? In this fast-moving and very funny talk, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that, actually, happiness inspires us to be more productive.

A call to men by Tony Porter (11 minutes) [TW: graphic desc. of rape] 

At TEDWomen, Tony Porter makes a call to men everywhere: Don’t “act like a man.” Telling powerful stories from his own life, he shows how this mentality, drummed into so many men and boys, can lead men to disrespect, mistreat and abuse women and each other. His solution: Break free of the “man box.”

[scholasticbabe]

If you’re on the verge of adulthood and you feel like you have no idea what ‘adulting’ is, you might want to check out some of these books. Here’s a list of some daunting “grown up” books that range from self help to finance:

Rich dad poor dad- I had to start with a personal finance book because lets face it, us millennials have no idea where to start with personal finances. This book was written quiet a while ago but its still relevant and  easy to read. I read this book when I was 15 and I still re-read it every year to freshen up. It does a great job of introducing you to the relationship you’ll want to have with your money

The life changing magic of tidying up- One of my all time favorites! (it pleases my inner Monica Geller) if you want to go into adulthood having a healthy relationship with the objects you buy, this is the one for you. Marie Kondo has a wealth of knowledge on efficient cleaning/ tidying methods that actually make a huge difference in helping you maintain a clear mind and a happy living space. 

The 48 laws of power- ‘nuff said. Learning how powerful people work doesn’t necessarily mean you have to employ these tactics, but it’s important to recognize them when they’re being used on you.

Girl Boss- This one is popular for a reason; if you wanna know to grow a business with little capital on the internet, this is your go to. A great read, regardless if you wanna go into business or not.

5 Love languages- Another popular one. This book will help you understand communication in relationships (not just romantic ones). You can never go wrong with learning how to effectively communicate your love to the people most important to you.

Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life- A book about female sexuality; A super insightful read regardless if you’re sexually active or not.

Freakonomics- Literally one of the most interesting books ever created. If you’re an econ geek like me or just wanna know the hidden economics of how the world works, this will be a good read for you. This is one of those books that you can never unread.

How to win friends and influence people- Similar to the 48 laws of power but with its own twist. This teaches you how to navigate the tricky world of making fiends or networking.

The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer- A sciency approach to health and wellness. A perfect read to get informed about your health.

Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ- Emotional health is just as important physical health. You’re never too young to tend to your emotional well being and this book is just the place to start.

Ok, so that’s my round up of ‘grown up’ books. I hope you enjoyed and that this helped you to realize that books about life and self improvement are not just for adults. You can prepare for the life you want, you don’t have to wait for it.

[emmastudies]

2018 January Downloads and Printables

Happy new year to all of my amazing followers! To kick the year off right, here are links to all my downloadable content. Hope you like them!

Printables

2018 yearly overview + monthly breakdown (also includes daily + weekly + monthly planner, 30 habit tracker, class overview and timed worklog)

2018 monthly printables [3 designs, 6 colours]

2018 student planner printable pack

Downloads for Desktop/Tablet (all Monday and Sunday start)

New Year motivational desktop wallpapers [4 designs]

Serif minimalist desktop wallpapers [black or white]

Sans serif minimalist desktop wallpapers [black or white]

New Year fireworks desktop wallpapers [4 designs]

Winter clothes and tea desktop wallpapers [3 colours]

Winter themed desktop wallpapers (snowflakes and forests) [3 designs]

Winter town desktop wallpapers [2 designs, 4 colours]

Confetti desktop wallpapers (stars and hearts) [2 designs]

Floral desktop wallpapers [3 designs]

Marble and pastel coloured desktop wallpapers [6 colours]

Tropical leaf desktop wallpapers [4 colours]

Downloads for Mobile Phone (all Monday and Sunday start)

New Year motivational phone wallpapers [4 designs]

Serif minimalist phone wallpapers [black or white]

Sans serif minimalist phone wallpapers [black or white]

New Year fireworks phone wallpapers [4 designs]

Winter clothes and tea phone wallpapers [3 colours]

Winter themed phone wallpapers (snowflakes and forests) [3 designs]

Winter town phone wallpapers [2 designs, 4 colours]

Confetti phone wallpapers (stars and hearts) [2 designs]

Floral phone wallpapers [3 designs]

Marble and pastel coloured phone wallpapers [6 colours]

Tropical leaf phone wallpapers [4 colours]

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) and would prefer to send a private picture, please do! :-)

Also, if you want to check out my YouTube, Pinterest, and Etsy printable store (get 10% off any purchase using ‘student10’ discount code!) x

[ninety-9thstoreyhigh]

07052017// Even after 3 years in university, I still struggle with the idea of studying.

[marias-studyblr]

self discipline tips

here are tips I discovered very recently:

something is better than nothing. 5 minutes of work are better than zero. Just because you missed something on your schedule doesn’t mean you can’t still work on it, even for 5 minutes. Grow and build on this.

second drafts / reviews can be done after.

Don’t think you are going to do your very best work on the first try. Take the weight of perfectionism off your shoulders.

don’t think about doing it. just do it as fast as you can.

build on your productivity, not your failures.

If you come from a past of procrastinating and now feel motivated to change and discipline yourself, do NOT try to do everything at once.

if you have a set of different goals to accomplish, begin with the most important one. Wait until the rotine of working for that one settles in (you feel productive and comfortable-ish), and then begin with the next. Repeat.

this way you’ll be building your way up and not juggling everything at the same time, hoping everything works out.

be patient with yourself, you’ll get there!

set smaller deadlines for your goals

have monthly and weekly-ish deadlines

e.g. if you are doing a project, due 22nd Feb, set personal deadlines, like have Introduction written by 2nd Feb, have Methods written by 10th Feb, have project complete by 18th Feb.

take them as seriously as you possibly can, don’t miss out on yourself.

write realistic daily tasks and don’t stop until you finish them. after them you can do whatever you want

on writing realistic daily tasks, the secret is knowing you can only do so much in one day, but trusting you can accomplish everything in the course of any period of time (a week, or 2 weeks or a month, etc.) because you will combine the work from all these different days.

it’s very tempting to write down all the tasks you need to accomplish in one day to just get over with it, but the real deal is you won’t accomplish half of them. You’ll feel very unproductive then, wich leads to demotivation.

spread daily tasks in the time necessary.

have a consistent sleep schedule.

if your mind isn’t ready everything will fall apart.

have one rest day per week where you plan nothing, do whatever you want except studying. this can be harder than you expect!

(don’t forget these are effective only if you actually put them into practice! good luck babes!!)

[vanellatea]

december 09, 2016 1:36 pm

hey guys! sorry I’ve been a little (jk super) forgetful with the challenge!! finals are killing me, but I think I’ll be able to come out of the semester alive. (or as a redead zombie but that is yet to be determined) I’ll still try to post my progress in finals hell as I am able ^^

[aescademic]

keep going!

[academicmind]

Ask an Academic: A Series on Getting Your Shit Together

Let me just say before I start: I suffer from chronic procrastination. The fact that this post took me a week to write underlines that. As a student, I can’t afford to procrastinate; if I procrastinate, I either fail or don’t get the extent of the education provided to me. In the last few years I have finally found a somewhat manageable game plan to help me maintain a decent level of productivity. Here are a few of the things I’ve learned to help me stay productive in college and in life: Realize what causes you to procrastinate Most people think procrastination to be a side effect of laziness or poor time management. In reality, procrastination is often a strategy used to counteract low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, fear of loss and failure, perfectionism, etc. I have terrible academic self-esteem being so ‘old’ and an undergrad, so I get anxious about  studying because I feel unintelligent, so I procrastinate. If you fInd the root of your procrastination you’ll have a better grasp on how to fix the problem! 

Shorten your to-do list  One of the main side effects of procrastination is overestimating the time it takes to accomplish a task. For me it always goes like this: “oh man I just watched Netflix for three hours; I don’t have time to study. I’ll wait until tomorrow when I have the whole day”. Many time management techniques require a diligent hour-by-hour planning system, which can be very overwhelming in itself, especially when your procrastination is fueled by anxiety, like mine. Research has found that the most efficient to-do list has only three items on it. Take time to focus on one task at a time without a time constraint, you’ll find you get it done quite faster than you expected.

TAKE BREAKS AND REWARD YOURSELF This is very important! It might be common sense but a lot of people don’t do this, especially when they have a bajillion things due in two days. Listen,  I live that “EVERYTHING IS EXHAUSTING ALL THE TIME” life. Frequent breaks and a rewarding system when I check things off my list really helps. The Pomodoro technique is awesome and life changing for chronic procrastinators like me. Learn it. Live it. Love it.

“Touch it once” rule I have this terrible habit of finding things that I need to do or read, and immediately saving it to Pocket or putting it in a pile to do later. The “touch it once” rule actually helps me do things at that moment instead of adding it to the seemingly never-ending list of things to do. The principle behind “touch it once” is simple: when you come across a task, touch it once, for a couple minutes. If you still don’t want to do it after two minutes, put it away for a later time that day. I find that once I start something, I am more apt to finish said thing. This system has definitely helped me gain momentum to not only start tasks, but finish them in a timely manner. Self-Regulate  Self-regulation is the ability to act in your long-term best interest, consistent with your deepest values (Violation of one’s deepest values causes guilt, shame, and anxiety). A study on procrastination in college students found that there was a significant correlation with lack of self-regulation and procrastination/depression. Practicing small steps towards self-regulation is important, so putting one foot in front of the other will truly make all the difference. Timothy Pychyl Ph.D. is a psychology professor who focuses on procrastination and says that “showing up is half the battle”. Set intention and make the motions despite how you are feeling, and you’ll get things done and get rid of your procrastination habits. Eventually. 

I am aware that these steps seem to be repetitive to some and they might not work for everyone. However, I’ve found that most productivity lists that focus on a billion different steps are very overwhelming, so a more streamlined system really helps me. I will leave you with one last piece of advice: Sacrifice and forgive yourself. We are not perfect creatures, we will slip and fall sometimes (case in point: me taking a week to write this). Procrastination is completely normal; take responsibility for your actions, brush yourself off, and keep going! You might need to sacrifice a weekend or a fun night out with friends, but if you follow these steps I PROMISE YOU you will get whatever you need to do done without it being a rushed mess at the end. You can do it! Good luck!

[mindelevator]

How to Set Goals and Achieve Them

Read my post here: http://studentstoolbox.com/set-goals/

1. Ask Yourself These Questions

While there are people who are very clear with their goals and know exactly what they want in life, many are lost and are not sure about what they want to achieve even though they want to be a better person.

That happens to me all the time.

By the end of the year or summer, I would always get so excited because I feel like it is time to make good changes. I grab my notebook, my pens, and I am all ready to write down all my new year’s resolutions and goals.

Then, I realize I don’t even know where to begin with.

Throughout the years, I have figured out a way to not let this confusion stops me from setting goals and achieving more.

And what I do is very simple. I try to ask yourself specific questions to find out what I would like to achieve in life.

The question “what are your life goals?” is big, and sometimes taunting. But, when you break it down into smaller bits, you would realize that it is not that difficult to understand yourself and your goals.

These are some questions you can ask yourself:

What are the most important things in your life?

What kind of person do you want to be?

Who are some of the most important people to you?

What do you want to contribute to the people around you, and the society?

What makes your life meaningful?

If you have only got 6 months left in your life, how would you spend it?

What achievements do you want to make?

Answering these questions would allow you to find your goals, decisions, mode of thinking, your way of life, and your dreams. These can then help you to formulate your long-term and short-term goals.

Click here for my entire post, and here for the free goal setting checklist!

- Sabrina | StudentsToolbox.com (from strive-for-da-best on Tumblr)

[studentsfavapps-deactivated2019]

‘Classroom’: 2016 Masterpost

Get your day off the the best possible start:

⏰ Mimicker Alarm (An app which gives you a task to get you out of bed)

Stay organised in class, take notes and create presentations:

✅ Qool (Organise your ideas and attach files)

💬 Sway (A great alternative to PowerPoint for presenting coursework)

📅 Calendar (A review of 3 different calendar apps)

✍ The advantages of taking notes by hand (Example 1 |  Example 2 | Example 3 | Tips for making writing prettier)

Add all you’ve learned to your CV:

📃 I Need a Résumé (A website that helps you create a CV/résumé)

Subject-Specific

Music

🎼 MuseScore (Allows you to write your own music)

🎧 Audacity (Allows you to record and edit audio)

Computing

🎞 Pixar in a Box (A partnership between Pixar and Khan Academy covering the process behind making an animated movie)

🌐 Resources for those interested in web design and coding

[emmastudies]

Popular apps perfect for students

Staying on top of all your to-dos, errands, tasks and due dates can get complicated but luckily there is an app for everything! If you’re looking for app to wake you up in a morning, manage your priorities or soothe your anxiety, you’ve come to the right place. Here is a list of all the top apps that students are using:

Organisation

Wunderlist

Planner Pro

24me

Remember The Milk

Google Calendar

Pocket Schedule - Class Schedule, Homework Planner

AwesomeNote2 - All in One Organiser

AnyList

The Homework App - Your Class Assignment & Timetable Schedule Planner

My Study Life

Calendars by Readdle - Event and Task Manager

Class Timetable

Countdown+

Due - Reminders, Countdown Timers

Do! - The Best of Simple To Do Lists

Workflow: Powerful Automation Made Simple

Glass Planner

Productivity

RescueTime

Streaks

Forest

ToDoIst

Tide - Stay focused, be peaceful

Focus Keeper

Habitica

Productive habits and daily goal tracker

Plant Nanny

HabitBull (recommend by @ravn-studies)

BrainFocus (recommend by @ravn-studies)

Toggle Time Tracker (recommend by @ravn-studies)

Note taking

Microsoft OneNote

Evernote

Quizlet

Notability

Byword

Flashcards+

Goodnotes

Outline

Boximize - Structured notetaking, personal database, form builder, manager and organiser

INKredible (recommend by @lottestudiesphysics)

RefME - Referencing Made Easy

Sleeping

Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock

Sleep Genius

Rain Rain

Pillow: The sleep cycle alarm clock for sleep tracking

Sleepytime Sleep Scheduler

Mental health and self care

Headspace

Stop, Breathe & Think: Meditation and Mindfulness

Pacifica - Anxiety, Stress, & Depression relief

Centered

Buddhify

Calm: Meditation techniques for stress reduction

Moodnotes - Thought Journal/Mood Diary

Colorfy

7 Cups Anxiety, Stress & Depression Chat & Therapy

Companion 

Health and fitness

Sweat with Kayla - Fitness & Bikini Body Workouts

Yoga Work Out

Freeletics

7-minutes workout

Waterlogged - Drink More Water, Daily Water Intake Tracker and Hydration Reminders

Sworkit (recommend by @leviosa-studies)

Finance

UNiDAYS

Pocketbook Personal Finance Expense Tracker

Splitwise - Split bills and expenses the easy way

Pocket Expense - Personal Finance Assistant

Daily Budget Original Pro - Saving Is Fun!

Mvelopes

PocketGuard

Mint

The Coupons App

Groupon

Hope this helps! x

[dailystudygrind]

3:40 PM | My setup while I study prenatal development

[graciouslyliving-deactivated201]

study-with-coffee if you don’t mind…what brand is your tablet? ^^

[studyfulltime]

23•12 I tend to be so hard on myself and self criticism hasn’t worked so well for me thus far. Today I’m trying kindness and staying in bed✎no guilt or fear. I suggest those of you who need to do so, take a break….Be Kind to you🌾