[liones-s]

view from the reading nook, Hart House, University of Toronto

[eintsein]

An Overview of Note-Taking Styles

Note-taking is one of the most essential skills a student should master. It allows you to record and review information to be used in the future. But what’s the best way to do so? Here’s an overview of note-taking styles that can help you maximize your learning!

[staringatcandles]

when you fuck up, you have to actually say "i really fucked this up & it's on me" in order to be better. there's no room for projecting or acting like a victim. no room for excuses or acting like you don't care. you have to actually grow the fuck up & take responsibility for every consequence. there's no growth without accountability.

[happyhemostudies]

Hey y’all! Here’s my first attempt at an infographic. Eventually I’ll learn how to make it better (especially in regards to sizing lmao) but I thought I’d try it out. This is how I personally like to block out my time on google calendar so I know when I need to work and when I can relax. I don’t love scheduling out every single minute of everyday so I include a lot of blank space. To change the colors for each type of task you can make a separate calendar for each task like I do (though it’s more time-consuming and I wouldn’t recommend unless you use it for work and classes like I do in-person) or you can just assign colors to each class/ type of task too! I hope you like it. :) Happy studying!

[mrdarcystudies]

aka a 5 tip guide to self-studying while in quarantine

hello, friends! i know quarantine has been hard on us students especially, so i wanted to make a little guide on how i’m surprisingly doing okay with keeping up on my work / turning in assignments on time in college.

 make a to do list

making a list is your first step to success. i know, personally, that if i don’t make a list on what needs to be done, nothing will get done lol. seeing my goals laid out on a physical sheet of paper makes me more motivated to do it. so, for example, if i know i have a literary theory forum posting due that day, i will mark it down. just mark down every goal you want to do, big or small 

i don’t actually do everything at once

even though we now have our goals laid out, i don’t make myself sit at the kitchen table or my desk doing homework for 6+ hours at a time. i make sure i take breaks and eat lots of snacks (hehe). i found out the hard way that if i don’t spread out my workload, i will overwhelm myself like 15 minutes into my homework so… don’t be like me. LOL

use the pomodoro technique

if you don’t know that the technique is, it’s where you break up your work load into 25 minute intervals. in between the intervals, you take a short break. i found that this works like a charm and i often do it when studying my mandarin. i take the little breaks to stretch, eat a snack, or text my friends.

listen to instrumentals or watch study with me videos on youtube

i don’t know about you guys, but part of the reason that i loved being on my university’s campus so much was that i could do work with friends. seeing them motivated in return motivated me. so, as a substitute, i’ve recently fallen into the hole of watching study with me videos on youtube. i love watching the youtubers concentrate. it just inspires me, idk. maybe it’ll inspire you too! 

another thing i do is listen to instrumentals, especially video game songs. here’s a link to a playlist i made and that i heavily listen to while doing my literature homework!

treat it like a regular school day

wake up on time to shower, get yourself dressed to the best, etc. treat it like you’re going outside. if you look good, you feel good, thus you’re going to work well. get into a routine and don’t mess up your sleep schedule! self care is just as important / even more important than school and grades.

make sure you go to bed at a regular time too

ALSO don’t be like me and don’t drink 7 iced coffees a day. drink water, please, i beg. i literally shake if i don’t get coffee.

that’s it! these are all of my tips on how to study like me, lol! i hope your self-studying is going amazingly and if you ever need to vent about your struggles (let’s face it we all will have ups and downs with this online business) feel free to message me! i’m here to give a shoulder to lean on.

[thetinypsychologist]

GOOD STUDYING VS BAD STUDYING

GOOD STUDYING

Use recall. When you look at a passage and try to study it,  look away and recall the main ideas. Try recalling concepts when you are walking to class or in a different room from where you originally learned it. An ability to recall—to generate the ideas from inside yourself—is one of the key indicators of good learning.

Test yourself. On everything. All the time. Flashcards are your best friend. Use quizlet if you don’t want to hand-make flashcards. Get somebody to test you on your notes.

Space your repetition. Spread out your learning in any subject a little every day, just like an athlete. Don’t sit and study one subject for 2 hours, do half an hour every day.

Take breaks. It is common to be unable to solve problems or figure out concepts in math or science the first time you encounter them. This is why a little study every day is much better than a lot of studying all at once. When you get frustrated, take a break so that another part of your mind can take over and work in the background. You need breaks in order for your brain to retain the information. Try the Pomodoro method if you have trouble timing breaks!

Use simple analogies. Whenever you are struggling with a concept, think to yourself, How can I explain this so that a ten-year-old could understand it? Using an analogy really helps. Say it out loud, like you’re teaching it, whether it’s to an imaginary class or your sister who couldn’t care less.  The additional effort of teaching out loud allows you to more deeply encode.

Focus. Turn off your phone / iPad / any distractions and clear your desk of everything you do not need. Use apps like Forest if you can’t stay off them!

Do the hardest thing earliest in the day, when you’re wide awake and less likely to push it aside.

BAD STUDYING

Avoid these techniques—they can waste your time even while they fool you into thinking you’re learning!

Passive rereading—sitting passively and running your eyes back over a page. This is a waste of time, frankly, and doesn’t do anything to help information pass into your brain without recall.

Over-highlighting. Colouring a passage of text in highlighter isn’t helpful at all. It’s good for flagging up key points to trigger concepts and information, but make sure what you highlight goes in.

Waiting until the last minute to study. DON’T CRAM!!!

Doing what you know. This isn’t studying! This is like learning how to juggle but only throwing one ball. 

Neglecting the textbook. Would you dive into a pool before you knew how to swim? The textbook is your swimming instructor—it guides you toward the answers. 

Not asking your teachers for help. They are used to lost students coming in for guidance—it’s their job to help you. 

Not getting enough sleep. Your brain practices and repeats whatever you put in mind before you go to sleep, as well as retaining information and repairing itself. Prolonged fatigue allows toxins to build up in the brain that disrupts the neural connections you need to think quickly and well. 

[intellectys]

Here’s some weapons for your essay writing arsenal!

Hemingway Editor Calmly Writer  The Most Dangerous Writing App Purdue O.W.L. One Look Thesaurus JSTOR Google Scholar

Reply with your favourite or other great websites I didn’t include!

[wellexecuted]

these deadlines have me tempted to try the most dangerous writing app,,,, 

[gloupblog]

I think the key to long term happiness is actually to acknowledge something is upsetting you, something has hurt you or made you angry. But after acknowledging it, you need to make the conscious decision to let it go. Breathe, give yourself 10 minutes to think about how to deal with the situation, then forget about it. Why waste your energy? Why waste an otherwise good day on one annoyance? I feel like nothing is ever as bad as it initially seems. You need to move past that initial negativity and find a way to be happy again. Find a friend who never fails to make you laugh, focus on the good shit and keep living your best life x

[nikasholistic]

The mess inside equals the mess outside. Always remember that. You have to take care of your internal condition, you have to take care of your thoughts and emotions. Your inner world always creates your outer world. There’s no exception. A negative mind will lead to an unpleasant reality. A positive mind, filled with gratitude, joy, and happiness, will create for you heaven on earth.

[eintsein]

How to Deal with Study Burnout

As students in this day and age, it’s quite common for us to juggle rigorous academic responsibilities and overwhelming extracurricular activities. As a result, we might feel burnt out. But what exactly is burnout? 

Burnout is when you feel physically and mentally exhausted as a result of constantly lacking the energy required to fulfill the demands of your studying.

Burnout can be broken down into three parts:

Exhaustion is what causes you to feel tired all the time and unable to concentrate. You could also get sick or have trouble sleeping.

Cynicism or depersonalization is when you feel disconnected from those around you, e.g. your friends and family.

Inefficacy is a decrease in productivity, efficiency, or quality of your work.

How do you know if you have burnout?

Symptoms may vary, but they include:

Being unable to absorb new information

Intellectual exhaustion

Decreasing academic performance and productivity

Feeling like you need to prove yourself

Making yourself work even more, even though you’re exhausted or being unwilling to study further

Neglecting your needs

Long term fatigue

Showing disinterest in things you normally enjoy, e.g. hobbies or friends

Denying that something’s wrong with you (may manifest in the form of aggression)

Avoiding social interaction

Feeling empty and depressed

What can I do to fix it?

Here are some short term solutions for dealing with burnout.

1. Take a power nap Power naps are life changing. They help you recharge your energy and get you ready to start working again. They also improve learning, memory, creativity, alertness, and mood. I would recommend napping for 30 minutes at most, because anything more will lead to a longer sleep session.

Optional: drink coffee before your nap - something that takes a short while to consume like a shot of espresso - so that you’ll feel alert and revitalized afterwards!

2. Take a shower A cold one will wake you up, but a warm one will calm you down. I suggest starting with warm water, then ending with cold water.

3. Exercise Whether it’s playing soccer or doing yoga, the important thing is to get moving! Exercise releases endorphins or happy hormones that help you combat stress.

4. Run a quick errand This will help take your mind off things while also getting something done! You’ll also end up walking, which is technically a form of exercise.

5. Call or visit a friend Sometimes what we’re lacking is social interaction, and hanging out with a friend definitely helps. Whether it’s providing you with a distraction or giving emotional support, your friends are always there to help you. Plus, science has shown that being with friends reduces your cortisol (stress hormone) levels.

6. Eat a snack Preferably a healthy one. Eat something with proteins, vitamins, and fibers to boost your mood. Here’s a list of mood boosting foods.

7. Surf the web This requires A TON of discipline, but it’s definitely a game changer. Surfing the web is one of the most relaxing things you could do. I personally look for a good laugh during my study breaks, so I’d watch a comedy or scroll through memes to get those happy hormones up and running.

8. Do an activity you find interesting, e.g. a hobby We all need happiness in our lives, and our hobbies are perhaps the best way to find that joy. You could sit down with a page turning adventure, or go outside and shoot hoops, or listen to a podcast, or even bullet journal, as long as you’re having a good time.

9. Listen to music Music is one of the ways we gain energy, so I always make time for it during the day. However, you should choose the right music, because not all the music you love is going to make you feel energized. For me, it’s pop punk with hard hitting beats, thundering guitars, and really upbeat, enthusiastic vocals. Some of you might be energized by mellow music with dreamy vocals that make you feel like you’re floating in the clouds. If you choose the wrong music, you might just end up feeling sluggish and drained.

10. Get some fresh air Your brain needs 20% of the oxygen in your body. Fresh air brings more oxygen to your brain so that you can think more clearly, feel less tired, and concentrate more easily.

How do I make sure I don’t get it in the future?

Avoiding study burnout in the long term has a lot to do with our study habits - as well as our daily habits. We need to make sure that our bodies and minds receive the things they need, and that we aren’t overworking them.

1. Study a little at a time Break up your notes into smaller, more easily digestible pieces and learn a little at a time. This way, you’re not overwhelming your brain, and you have time to let that new knowledge settle in.

2. Time management Having a good study schedule is crucial in preventing burnout. You don’t want to force yourself to work at your slow hours. Aside from that, you definitely shouldn’t leave things until the last minute, and sticking to a schdule will help you pace yourself. Here’s a post I wrote on How to Make an Efficient Revision Schedule and How to Beat Procrastination.

3. Get enough rest I cannot stress enough that sleep is so important for you. It improves your cognitive functioning and also enhances your mood, making it less likely that you’ll get burnt out. Make sure to take power naps, too, if you feel like you need them. 

You also really shouldn’t pull all-nighters. Sleep is also involved in cementing memories in your brain, so if you study a little before you sleep, you’re bound to remember more than if you studied a chapter during an all nighter.

Having trouble sleeping? Here’s a post I made about my night routine and how to get better sleep.

4. Cycle your study environments Your body and mind are bound to get tired from being in the same location for prolonged periods of time. The best way to fix that is to study in different places: at your desk, your backyard, the dining table, a cafe, a friend’s house, the library, etc.You should find a frequency that works for you. I like to switch it up every 2-3 days; some people change locations every week.

5. Eat well As I’ve mentioned before, healthy foods with protein, vitamins, and fiber greatly improve your mood and your physical health. Proper nutrition will give your brain the power it needs to push through. Also make sure not to skip meals; honestly you’ll just end up feeling terrible afterwards.

6. Take frequent breaks Let’s face it, we’re human, we’re bound to get tired from studying for a long time. Taking breaks enables our brains to digest the information we just learned in a pace that works for it. Breaks also help us focus on something other than studying, so that when we do get back to it, we’ll be ready to digest even more information.

7. Set realistic study goals You’re gonna memorize all 500 pages of your biology textbook in one day? Good luck with that. Some of you might be compulsive studiers, but this kind of habit isn’t very good for your brain or your physical health. Studies have shown that excess studying can lead to lower productivity, fatigue, and - you guessed it - burnout. In the end, this will result in lower academic performance, perhaps even in the long run. So instead of trying to study so much in one sitting or one day, break up your material into chunks.

8. Maintain your social life Wherever you lie on the introvert-extrovert spectrum, everyone needs social interaction once in a while. It keeps you sane and healthy. Go out with your friends, have a sleepover, or maybe even a study date.

9. Start the day right What we do in the morning can significantly affect our mood for the rest of the day. Sometimes we don’t even feel like getting up in the morning, or doing anything that day. One thing you should do is create a morning routine you enjoy to jumpstart your day. Here are 8 Morning Habits for Productivity.

10. Think positive When we’re feeling burnt out, it’s hard to not think negatively about everything. In reality, that just makes our condition worse. So think positively! Start small, like congratulating yourself for getting out of bed today, and then work your way up to bigger accomplishments, like finishing 2 chapters of your textbook.

11. Keep a stress diary This is kind of a new concept for me, but it’s really great. How it works is that each day, you would write down all the things that made you stressed and how they made you stressed. This will help you identify the things you’re doing that’s causing your burnout, e.g.

Too long study hours? take regular breaks

Too much time in the same place? cycle your study environment

Not eating properly? set aside time to eat healthy meals at least 2 times a day

Not doing the things you love? schedule in time for that, e.g. during your long breaks

Not getting enough human interaction? make a study group

Too much negative thinking? adopt a positive mindset (you can always start small)

Not getting enough sleep? fix your sleep schedule

And that’s all I have for you guys this time. Hope these tips will help you manage your stress and study burnout whenever you have them. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to drop an ask!

P.S. if any of you want to see the images in this post in better quality, click here (link to google drive)

[thetinypsychologist]

MOTIVATION VS SELF-DISCIPLINE

I see a lot of people talking about the need for motivation to study or get their work done but motivation isn’t always what you need - what do you do on the days you have no motivation? This is why we need self-discipline.

MOTIVATION VS SELF DISCIPLINE

Motivation - a willingness to do something

Self-Discipline - making yourself do things you know you should do when you don’t want to

So if motivation is ‘why we should do something’ - self-discipline is more ‘what to do next’.

HOW TO BE SELF-DISCIPLINED

Set yourself a routine and stick to it

Never have a zero day - try and study every single day - even if you feel absolutely awful - 10 minutes is better than nothing!! Do flashcards from your bed or watch youtube ted talks if you can’t physically study.

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. Start things slow and in steps.

Set yourself smaller deadlines for your goals like monthly and weekly deadlines - e.g. if you are doing a project, due 27th June, set personal deadlines, like have the introduction written by the 8th, have your literature review written by the 15th, have project complete by the 25th.

Know your limits. Self-discipline isn’t doing as much as you can until you break - it’s about having control, knowing what you can realistically manage and getting that done.

Give yourself rewards! I love to have something to look forward to as I get work done! This means mixing motivation and self-discipline. I tell myself after this lecture I can have an animal crossing break or check some messages etc.

Remove distractions from your study space! Personally, if my phone is out and I notice a notification…I’m gonna check it. It’s human nature! So to combat this, I use apps like Forest that force me to stay within the app while I study. If I know I might get hungry during a study session I’ll keep a little snack by my desk so I don’t have to get up and somehow find something else to distract me.

Just do it isn’t that easy. I find to get myself in a ‘work boss’ mood I need to feel good about myself so I put on a nice outfit and maybe some eyeliner and hype myself up so I know I can do my tasks and get stuff done! It feels so much better than lazing in my pyjamas trying to study.

[joey-studies-deactivated2020123]

Credits: averstu.com ; keAsha

[unepetitecreature]

“A year from now you will wish you had started today.”

— Karen Lamb (via quotemadness)

[emmastudies]

Hello I am a huge fan of your work it is great. Can i ask you some study related tips? If yes, plz can you suggest how do we motivate ourselves while studying? Like,for example, when we have a huge syllabus for the finals, we got to study but somehow cant.. Due to boredom or lack of motivation...

Hey! Here are a few things that might help :-)

a bit of straight talking/tough love

10 small ways to improve your productivity

10 tips to increase your motivation for study

productivity and time management applications

how to remove distractions

types of procrastination and how to deal with them

how to study more effectively

good habits to implement

how to stick to a schedule

how to structure a weekly review

free organisation printables

But look, you have to think realistically. You can’t and never will be motivated 100% of the time. It doesn’t happen that way. If we relied on motivation, we’d be productive for a very limited time. Try to think in terms of action creates motivation, rather than motivation creating action. Start working on a small part, perhaps just looking over one part of syllabus and picking out the key things yo uwant to cover. Of course it is daunting. Seeing everything laid out like a complex treasure map that you’re never going to get through. But slowly working at it is better than leaving it until a point of no return. Once you start doing something, try to figure a way to keep going. Perhaps track your progress each day - journal what you’ve done, how you feel. Watch the time stack up that you’ve worked. The key is to make that time productive. If you work for 3 hours and feel you’ve got nothing done because in reality, you’ve played on your phone, been online shopping, sifted through 10 tasks rather than focusing on one, you’re going to feel it’s a waste and push yourself further into this idea “it isn’t working”, “I’m wasting my time”. Try to set up a small schedule - 20 minutes working, then a 5 minute break. On those breaks, avoid doing something that you may find distracting. This doesn’t mean you can never go on Reddit again during a break but in those initial moments, try to avoid it. Go for a walk around the house instead. Get a drink. Tidy up your desk and get back to work! You’ll start building momentum when you feel like your time is going somewhere. It is always hard but working towards a balance between studying and fun is what you need! You need to improve that time you spend studying so you can enjoy your life beyond that and not have this guilty feeling! xx

[decaffs]

Being burnt out means you’re probably feeling exhausted, unmotivated, unfocused and just generally “blegh” - an absolute nightmare when you’re trying to stay on track with school and studying. I’ve suffered from academic burn out a lot but it’s now something I know how to cope with, I’ve compiled my best tips and tricks for dealing with a burn out and how to ease yourself back into your studying!

Keep reading

[leannstudies]

time management tips !!

i’ve been getting a lot better with my time management skills. my assignments are done in advance, way earlier than due, or at least on time, and my sleep schedule has been BLESSED with 8 hours so here are a few things i have done to improve this aspect of student life.

* i take 5 classes, play a sport, and have plenty of time to hang out with friends/ watch netflix and youtube. 

do work in advance. i’ve said this in previous posts, but it’s really helpful. ask your teachers if there are any homework/textbook notes you can do in advance or big projects to start planning for. in your free time, do some of it because it’ll pay off when the time comes. it’ll be one less thing to worry about on a busy day.

start working as soon as you get home. ok, maybe take a little break when you get home because it’s been a long school day. i limit myself to a maximum of an hour to eat and shower. after that, it’s right to work. you know how difficult it is to start work after relaxing for 3 hours talking to friends or binge-watching a show. you’re going to keep talking or watching or whatever else distracts you.

make an after school routine/schedule or to-do list. base it on your daily work load and the specific assignments you have that day. i personally prefer making a schedule with times because a to-do list gives you more time freedom which may not be the most efficient. here is an example of my schedule during basketball season (since it’s a busier time) : 

practice ~ 2:30 - 4:00

get home/shower/eat ~ 4:00 - 5:00

math ~ 5:00 - 5:40

biology (vocab/facts) ~ 5:40 - 6:10

biology notes ~ 6:10 - 7:00

history textbook reading/notes ~ 7:00 - 7:40

english annotations ~ 7:40 - 8:30

english reading explanation ~ 8:30 - 8:50

study/review (relax if none) ~ 8:50 - 9:40

get ready for bed // wind down ~ 9:40 - 10:30

sleep by 10:50 for eight hours ( i usually wake up around 6:50)

use your time wisely. you’re probably thinking, well, duh… this is a time management post, but i’m talking about those extra 15 minutes towards the end of class when your teacher stops lecturing. most of the class will run wild and talk or go on their phones. spend it doing some notes or outlining a project. i always take pictures of my textbooks in case i have free time in a different period because none of my classes are strict about phones. another thing i do is work on homework in class. sometimes, it’s not the best idea, but my biology teacher gives us time to do so. i usually get the concepts in math so i’ll do homework while my teacher is lecturing (not a great habit, i know).

know yourself. know your habits and distractions. know what works for you and what doesn’t. you might have noticed that in my schedule (tip 3) i don’t have any breaks between my assignments. i know i’ll hop on my bed and go on my phone longer than the break would allow. breaks just also generally break my rhythm of productivity. after 10 minutes of doing nothing, i have to get settled back into my efficient mindset which is just a waste of time for me. i also just prefer having a larger chunk of time to chill after all my work. pretty much, do what works for you because everyone is different.

do not overwork yourself. it’s not efficient to work when you’re out of energy. it’s a waste of time and nothing is done with your best effort. take a little bit of time to rest and recollect. then, start working again.

order your assignments accordingly. should you do the hardest or easiest assignments first ? do you prefer doing it period by period ? everyone has different preferences so try out different orders and see what works best for you. i personally order it by amount of time the assignments will take and do the quickest first.

[allcutified]

180318 // Ever asked yourself “Where has the day gone?”. Time is a matter of perception and we sometimes feel like just not getting the hang of time management. Here are some tips on how to get back control of your time in your daily life - or at least win back like a few hours.

Here are my other advice post an self development, mental health, self care etc.