Kiana Khansmith
noise dept.
d e v o n
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if i look back, i am lost
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we're not kids anymore.
trying on a metaphor
Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
taylor price
DEAR READER
⁂
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
Origami Around
JVL
will byers stan first human second
occasionally subtle
Andulka
★
Cosmic Funnies
seen from Philippines
seen from Switzerland
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from India
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Canada
seen from Kenya
seen from Spain
seen from United States
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@studyspace-and-notes
You were given the great opportunity to get an education. To study. To grow. To finally earn that fucking degree. So actually sit down and study. I know there is still a long road ahead of you, but in the end, it will be worth it. I promise.
Positive Weekly Aesthetics
Monday: New week, new motivation, a pile of finished homework and a nicely organised pencil case. A clean, fresh bullet journal spread and empty to-do lists. Your outfit is ready for you when you wake up, prepared the night before.
Tuesday: Getting into the rhythm, your favourite tunes and morning runs. Your journal starts to fill up, cute drawings decorating the pages. The world seems slow, the week long as it has just started; yet it is chaotic at the same time.
Wednesday: Hump day. Early morning coffee and messy lecture notes, sticky notes with reminders and to-do lists, scribbling on white boards and collapsing in bed with blankets and a good book after a long day, the distant sound of rain hitting your windows.
Thursday: Grabbing brunch with friends and laughing at old memories, green smoothies and almond croissants. Friendly curious talks with your teachers and professors. Working on an assignment due weeks away and watching a movie by the fireplace.
Friday: Looking forward to the weekend, early morning study and typed notes. Going through colourful flashcards at a local cafe, friendly smiles and latte art. Going out at night and loud music blasting through your ears, walking home with friends under the cool air and peaceful stars.
Saturday: Green tea and cold water, warm showers and sleeping in. Readings and PowerPoints, looking out into the busy streets from your beautiful desk. Getting dressed up, sharp eyeliner wings and meeting with friends, engaging conversations during dinner and later crawling into the warmth and comfort of your bed.
Sunday: Lazy mornings and making pancakes in your pyjamas, finishing homework and getting a head start on next week’s readings. Dancing freely as you clean and organise and being comfortable in your own skin. Watching your favourite TV show at night and going to bed early and ready for next week.
just a selection of printables i rlly like the look of; ofc not an exhaustive list !
+ these may be lacking in certain sections because i haven’t actively looked for / needed those things yet / i couldn’t choose between certain types eg. to do lists so they’re all here just in case i wanna find them later (*hides*)
+ edit: tumblr likes to mess with me but if u open the links in a new tab it’s less glitchy
01; paper / notetaking / just?!
cute lined paper ; @setldwn // to do list vibes? i just adore the style shh
semi-cornell notes ; @studygene
[chemistry vibes] organic chem rx notes ; @colllegeruled
printing on post its template
brain dump with quadrants
02; keeping track
polygot starter kit ; @ennui-for-me // the 100 hrs: potential alternative for don’t break the chain?
productivity tracker ; @hexaneandheels // *sweats* i’ll probably use this to see times when i’m being more productive so i can set them out for studying!
adorbs pomodoro tracker ; @cmpsbls // the small versions are just ^0^
no spend challenge ; @burymewithmyplanner / for preparation for the future!
[also revision related] overcome the curve of forgetting ; @the-brightest-witch-studies
habit tracker ; @studyvet
03; exam / revision related fun times
the most glorious exam pack ; @ennui-for-me // this is everything okay a**
correction sheets ; @ennui-for-me // !!!!
04; planning stuff galore (all so beaut ahhh)
beautiful daily to do ; @arystudies
aesthetic as heck to do lists + colour alt. ; @studeying
weekly to do lists ! ; @studeying
so neat : one step at a time / weekly ; @vestiblr
printable library - majority free ; @daydesigner // you have to give ur email but for what you get ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
+ all my masterposts here
How I Format and Use Flashcards
1. Less is More: no need for a paragraph to define a term, choose the simplest and most efficient one. Also, don’t include common sense things or things you know by heart, you’ll waste time and space by writing them down.
2. Sketch it Out: Sketches can be helpful in allowing you to visualize the term/concept.
3. Say it Out Loud: When reviewing through the cards, try and say the definition out loud. It will require you to think about it more, and it also helps with memorization. If I try and define a term in my head I usually speed through it and leave something out.
4. Write them as you go: Don’t sit down right before finals and try and write down every term/definition from the course. It takes forever and you will kill your hand. As you finish a chapter in the course finish that set of flashcards. You will thank yourself later.
5. Repetition: I go through my flashcards before a test maybe a thousand times (exaggeration but very close). Remember to focus on the harder ones, you’ll most likely remember the easier ones during the test.
Here is my method:
Round 1: Go through every single card. Don’t set any aside. I usually don’t know a majority of the terms at this point, I most likely just finished writing them down.
Round 2: Go through every card again, this time setting aside ones I didn’t know or had trouble with.
Round 3: Go through the harder ones I missed.
Round 4: Add the harder ones back in with the original and shuffle.
Round 5: Go through them all and repeat the process until pleased!
I think Staying Focused is one of the most difficult things about studying, especially when you need to study for a long time, for big exams, etc. Here’s some ways I’ve found helpful and seen other people use.
Set a Goal
This was one for the first techniques I used and it still helps me to this day. Setting a big or goal of what you want to achieve, long time or short time.
Setting Bigger Goals Setting a big, long-term goal, like getting into college or achieving a really good result on something that you struggle with. For these kind of goals you need to plan out how exactly you’re going to achieve what you want. To do this, it’s best to set yourself smaller goals, which will lead up to you achieving the bigger goal.
Setting Smaller Goals You need to make smaller goals easy to reach. These could be like going up a grade, getting a certain grade on an assignment, spending a certain amount of time studying.You need to make sure these goals have a good mix of attainable and challenging. This way they’ll benefit you by keeping you motivated.
Rewards. Achieving big goals is usually a reward in but to keep you motivated you may need rewards to do keep trying to yourself wanting to achieve your goals. Set yourself up some little goals along the way. Perhaps buying something, going to see a movie, watching tv, etc. There’s numerous amounts.
Use an App
Apps are so helpful, here are some of my favourites:
Pomodoro This app is so amazing for helping to stay focused. It’s a timer with breaks after each time slot with a break after 4 Rounds. It also has a goal of what you want to achieve that day. It helps because although you may b looking forward to getting a break, you’ll also be working. It also has a ticking noise which can aid you to keep focused or you can turn it off it annoys you.
Focus Timer If you find yourself always picking up your phone, this app is perfect because it keeps you off your phone while timing your study. It also lets you keep a chart so you can track how much you study.
30/30 This is app is a To-Do List and Timer all in one and is super useful to help you if you want to specifically time what you have to do. It works really well with a lot of alerts to keep you working.
Focus Now This app is the free version of Forest, which I’ve seen a lot of people use in the community. It keeps you off of your phone because if you exit off you’ll kill the plant that grows while you’re not on your phone.
Listen to Music
This is not for everyone but it can work well for a lot of people! Try out different genres and stick to ones without lyrics as these are generally the best for keeping you focused.
Classical Music - popular choice with studyblrs
Instrumentals - another popular choice, very focusing and soothing
Video Game Soundtracks - these are literally made for keeping you focused so these are great!!
Instrumental Movie Soundtracks - some of these are also made to keep you focused and drawn in. (The Theory of Everything one is so good!!)
Electric Sounds - works well if you dislike classical!
Natural Noises - keeps your mind from getting distracted by blocking out silence
Coffee Shop Noise - proven to help you be more creative and keep focused
Some good masterposts with lists for study sounds:
Melodic Studying
Study Sounds
Study Music
Study Order
Study order is something we usually forget about but it’s actually super important!
Do a quick/creative or subject that you like first. It will get you focused and in the mood to start with.
Move into a difficult subject or one you find hard to focus during. You’ll still be focused and motivated from the first task but not tired or bored.
Finish on an easy or quick task. It’ll leave you feeling satisfied with the work you completed and even though you’ll be tired/less focused from previous tasks you’ll be able to do it efficiently if it’s and easy topic for you!
Have Something that Reminds You to Study
Very often we get sidetracked by something else which can break our focus. Instead have something that will constantly remind you to study or why you’re studying.
An Cheerful Alert on your Phone. It may sound cheesy but it can help you keep your phone down and get your work done.
A Inspirational Quote/Picture that reminds your why or what you’re studying for. It’ll keep you motivated as well as focused.
A To-List. Placed in a visible spot so you can keep in mind what you have done and what you still have to do.
A Bullet Journal. It works well for keeping you focused on your study as it’s an analog system and you’ll have to force yourself to mark the work as completed/uncompleted therefore keeping you more motivated and focused on the work you have to do!
A Planner - works well for informing you of what you have to study, if you would prefer more structure than a bullet journal ,a planner will work well for organising your days. @passionplanner has free planner printables, if you’d prefer not to invest in a planner fully yet!
*Other Posts
Guide to Studying
Guide to Mind-Maps
Getting Involved in Studyblr
Subject Resource List
Staying Healthy While Studying
Note-Taking
Organisation Masterpost
Study Tips
Anti-Procrastination Masterpost
Motivation Masterpost
Back to School Necessities
How to Get an Internship
How to Take Notes From a Textbook +More
Instagram: elkstudies Snapchat: elkstudies
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!
This is a matter very close to my heart. I have bipolar I disorder and ADHD as a result of bipolar. There aren’t many big posts about studying with mental illnesses so I figured I would compile a huge list of tips and posts! I’m going to be making a video about this very soon. I hope for all of you struggling that this can help or at least remind you that mental health is more important than school sometimes. Take care of yourself in any way you can. lets get started…
Studying with Mental Illness
Take things slowly. Don’t be afraid to take a week doing one assignment. Making sure that you can focus on assignments can be draining so breaking them down day by day can truly help you. Make a task list with each portion of an assignment mapped out so that you can see exactly what you need to do. I know that i get overwhelmed very easily and seeing smaller things is less daunting then having a list full of HUGE things like research papers and midterms. Seeing it as “write paragraph one” or “review unit one vocab” makes everything less scary.
Nothing has to be pretty. Notes don’t, papers don’t have to be perfect, study guides don’t need to be colorful and cute. What really matters is getting things done. My mom always tells me “even an F is better than a zero” which is so true. Turning things in late is not shameful because you are still turning it in. You still did it and that is something to be proud of.
Study somewhere other than your room or your house. Make sure there are people there. Surrounding yourself with others will allow you to feel less isolated and sometimes more motivated to do things. You can’t take naps when you’re at a Panera or Starbucks either. People can be motivating, they can remind you that you are not alone, they can hold you accountable for what you have to do. Get out of your bed where you can sit and stare at the wall and go to a coffee shop or the library where other people are doing work. This always helps me get on track.
Study in short bursts. Don’t wear yourself out with work. Find out when your concentration peaks and go with that. I usually work the best around 2pm so I have to make sure that I have eaten and showered before then so that I can capture that time to focus on my studies.
Don’t beat yourself up. Studying just takes a lot more effort other days when depression hits you the worst. There might be days when you can barely get yourself out of bed but know that you do have the ability to succeed and that depression just has to suck sometimes.
Get yourself out of bed. Shower. Change your clothes. Read a single page. Look at only one thing you have to do so you aren’t overwhelmed. That is something to be proud of and know that I am proud of what you did!
Study in a routine style. Let yourself have a routine that you can fall into. Try pomodoros or study games, Create a routine that you can stick to
If you don’t feel like doing anything… work for 5 minutes. You may feel more motivated or up, or you will at least be able to say that you have done something.
HYDRATE. I’m really awful at drinking a lot of water, but it helps so much with both anxiety and depression. Water keeps you moving and awake. SO drink that H2O guys
Helpful Links
Staying Sane on Campus
Tips to stay mentally and emotionally healthy while you study
How to school when mentally Ill
A student’s guide to coping with PTSD
Study and Mental Health
Back to School with Mental Illness
Depression
Studying with Depression
Depression study tips
Studying through Depression
6 Tips To Get Motivated When You’re Feeling Depressed
Five Ways To Deal With Depression During Exams
Anxiety
Anxiety in Grad school
Dealing with Stress and Anxiety
Studying with Anxiety
Get Ready for School If You Suffer From Anxiety
Living & Studying with Anxiety
Tips on studying with Anxiety
Exams & Anxiety
ADHD
How to succeed with ADHD
10 Study tips for ADHD students
ADHD Studyblr masterpost
Apps for ADHD Students
I couldn’t find any resources about OCD, BPD, PTSD (found one jk), or bipolar for that fact so keep on the lookout for any additions to this post if I find anything more! If all else fails, just google things. That always helps me. Message me personally if you have any questions about my struggles or need some specific advice! I love you all so much and I am so proud of you!! xx Haley
UPDATE: I’ve added quite a few new links!!!
We all know studying for a subject you love is easy, but studying for a subject you hate? That’s the hard part. Personally, i abhor chemistry, so here are some methods i’ve used to tackle this! Hope it helps!
FIND OUT WHY YOU HATE IT
Does it bore you?
Are you bad at it?
Do you hate the teacher?
Got a bad grade for it once?
IF IT BORES YOU….
Make a reward system
Spice up your notes:
how to illustrate your notes (by notastudyblryet)
notetaking methods (by studyign)
Study with a group of friends
Flashcards pt. 1 (post by etudiance) & Flashcards pt. 2 (post by illolita)
Do online quizzes or make your own!
IF YOU’RE BAD AT IT….
Find out why!
Are you focusing the wrong things?
Problems with time management
Unable to memorise? (post by brain-exercise)
Using the wrong method?
Speak to your teacher about it
Form a study group!
Make a study guide (post by etudiantt)
Youtube channels to ace your exams by mai-studies
Essential websites!!
IF YOU HATE THE TEACHER…
how to do well in a class taught by a crappy teacher by coffeeandstationery
Consult other teachers!!!
Independent studying :^)
Study group!!!
IF YOU GOT A BAD GRADE FOR IT ONCE….
Its not the end of the world
Keep working hard bc hard work ALWAYS pays off
Believe in yourself!!
One grade does not define you
Speak to your teachers on how you can improve!
Switch up your study styles and methods!
AND IF ALL ELSE FAILS… Channel your hate for the subject into motivation and work your ass off!!!!!
+ MY MASTERPOSTS how to literature bullet journal vs. diary planner
+ HELPFUL POSTS
+ MY POSTS
+ WORD ART
Effective Study Routine for Intense Classes
Hello lovelies!
This year I’m taking AP Biology, and it’s really intense. I’ve recently found a really great study routine for this class, and I thought that I would share this with you all! This can work with any class that is intense for you. You can modify this however you want – this is just what I personally like to do.
1) Revise all your notes.
By all, I literally mean all. For example, for AP Bio, I have my traditional notes that I take from presentations and the textbook, but my teacher also gives us POGILs and reading guides. Basically, whatever form of notes you have, anything that your teacher gives out that you think will help, revise them. This can be very tedious, but it’s a great start to a study session because you’re refreshing your memory.
2) Review with the textbook.
Every class is different, but most textbooks have mini reviews at the end of certain sections or the whole chapter. Read through these – like the notes, they’ll refresh your memory, but they specifically highlight the main points so you’re not overwhelmed after going through all those notes. If there’s a mini quiz, take it! Testing yourself is extremely important.
3) Go to another source.
If this is for an AP class, go to an exam prep book! I find that my AP Bio prep book (I use Princeton Review, but I recently bought Barron’s because my teacher recommended it) is extremely helpful because it really simplifies things. If you’re just starting out a chapter and have no idea what’s going on, prep books are a great place to start. YouTube videos are really good as well! I really like Bozeman Science and Khan Academy.
4) If needed, memorize the vocabulary!
Flashcards, foldables…there are multiple ways to memorize vocab. Factor this into every study session for the best results. For my last AP Bio test, I made foldables and would memorize a page of vocabulary a day. The next day, I would review the vocab I had previously memorized before to make sure I still knew it, and then I’d start a new page. It turned out to be really effective! Even if you don’t have to necessarily memorize vocab, I personally find that memorizing vocab for AP Bio actually helps me understand it a lot better. Since I’m repeating something over and over, eventually, it begins to make sense.
5) Take a practice test.
This is probably the most important step in the routine. Go online and google a practice test, and I guarantee that you will find something. Granted, some practice tests are really horrible, but there are decent ones out there! If you do this at the end of every study session, you’ll see how much you’ve learned, what you need to review, and you can see progression!
I hope this helps! Good luck, loves! Remember, you can do anything you set your mind to! :)
Aka AP BIOLOGY
3/100 day of productivity
organized my calendar
AP Biology Macromolecules intro, and carbs
Started ch.12 Princeton Review APUSH
put away all of my clothes
cleaned my bathroom
drank 32 ounces of water
Today featured very rough macromolecules notes, my favorite mug, baked grapefruit, and a quality sunset.
I love relearning things I should already know
I have been seeing a lot of posts and questions about how it’s hard to keep up with the “studyblr aesthetics” and I’m *slightly* disappointed that being a studyblr has become synonymous to owning expensive stationery and having impeccable organization skill. As a broke college student, I understand the concerns of many studyblrs who cannot keep up with the mainstream contents that showcase such things. Let’s be honest, studyblring can hurt your bank account. So I have come up with some alternatives + tips & tricks that can give you the same aesthetic feelings and function without breaking the bank:
Disclaimer: This post, by no means, is meant to depreciate the use of common “studyblr aesthetic” items. I will admit that even I use the “mainstream” items sometimes. Once in a while, it’s okay to give into the craving of buying all these nice stationery for the sake of self-happiness. Please also note, some of this may be biased and is solely reflected on my opinions; you are free to discuss your standpoint.
Stationery
Muji Notebooks: Need cute notebooks that look really nice and aesthetics like those Muji notebooks? Buy a composition notebook and cover up the marble print with scrapbook paper or washi tape (just leave the black binding alone for a complete look). Trust me, it will not only look cute and unique, but your going to love using it. Spiral notebooks are just as great to decorate!
Five Star : Okay, Five Star notebooks are not all that; you can get the same effect with a generic notebook with a nice solid-colored poly cover. I have never had to use the full capacity of a 5-subject Five Star notebook from first to last page (unless you’re taking notes for all your classes in one notebook - but still, it’s not worth that $14).
Mildliners: I admit, those Mildliner highlighters are gorgeous to look at on those notes. But…Crayola markers (especially the tropical/pastel ones) can do the same thing and give the same clean look on your notes. Tap into your inner child (don’t worry, they’re washable)!
Staedtler/Stabilo/Copic Markers: You don’t really need 20 different colors to color-code your notes. Three different shades of greens and blues is not needed. Instead, Papermate flair pens are a good alternative, same colors, more ink, less money. Sharpie Pens are also a good alternative if you want nice thin strokes.
Muji pens: I admit; writing with the 0.38mm Muji pen is like euphoria because it makes your notes look so pretty. Pilot Juice: same 0.38mm/0.5mm gel pen, and it comes in colors (and much cheaper)! It even has a clip thingie!
Kipling 100 case: Let’s be honest, what are you going to do lugging around enough pens to supply the entire lecture hall? You do not need that many pens (unless you chronically loose all your pens). A simple minimalist pencil case or a medium size makeup bag can serve the same capabilities of holding all your utensils.
Organization
Get a small succulent plant for your desk. It brightens up your desk space and makes it look more pleasing to the eye.
Tea light candles + succulent plant + coffee mug (throw in your notes for extra effects) make the absolute trio of deskspo.
Pin-boards are great for putting up syllabi, class schedules, and calendars. Don’t like poking holes on your paper? Hang binder clips on push pins.
Woah! There are so many nice people on Tumblr that post free printables. Maybe you can use one of those calendars to stay on track with everything?
Use post-it notes for reminders, deadlines, and inspirational quotes. Black sharpie usually makes things stand out nicely on the post-it note.
Redecorate boxes (e.g. shoe boxes) with wrapping paper for some cute organization space/bins.
Clipboards. These magical boards with a spring clip can keep all your loose-leaf papers in one place and still look nice, instead of a chaotic mess. Plus, that back support when you want to write notes on your bed/lap.
You can customize your binders/file folders with washi tape.
Use Mason jars as stationary holders! The washi tape-covered metal can pencil jars are cute as well!
Binder clips. Mini staplers. File holders.
Yes white desks are perfect for getting the perfect picture of your notes. But, wooden desks are just as classy. Black desks makes things stand out nicely too.
Don’t clutter your desk. You just need your bare essentials to study.
Textbooks & Tech-y stuff
Paperback is cheaper than hardcover. This goes for textbooks, novels and books in general.
Ebooks are cheaper than paperback. Sometimes they’re even free online. You just have to know how to google for it.
Buy used books. Can’t buy? Rent it!
Here’s a guide to buying textbooks
If you gotta buy tech stuff, see if you can buy them with a student discount.
Wait for back-to-school sales or tax-free holidays or Black Friday to buy stuff, especially tech-y stuff.
Always consider university program specifications before buying an OS versus Windows.
Apps, Extensions, Etc.
VSCOcam app. Yes, we do filter our pictures to make it look 100X better. Natural light also makes the picture look really nice, so sit next to the window or something.
Note taking on your laptop? Google Docs, Microsoft OneNote and Evernote are free note taking websites that allow you to sync your notes across several platforms.
Pomodoro with Flat Tomato (free on iOS)
FocusNow is an alternative to Forest on iOS.
Lanes is a to-do app, week planner and pomodoro timer extension
Momentum is a Google Chrome extension that is a personal dashboard for to-do list, motivation, etc.
Minimal New Tab Clock is a minimal clock extension (light and dark theme) for new tabs on Google Chrome
See more here and here
Actual good first-time college student advice:
Wear jeans/pants that “breathe” and bring a sweater, even if it’s scorching hot out, until you know which building blasts the AC to 60 degrees F and which feels like a sauna
Backpacks with thick straps are your friend! Messenger bags are cool and all but if you’re commuting with a lot of stuff, symmetrically styled backpacks are better for your back
You are your own person and you can walk out whenever you need to or want to, so long as you’re not disrupting the class. Meaning you can go to the bathroom without permission, take a breather if you’re anxious, answer an important phone call, etc.
If you don’t like the class on the first day, if you can- DROP THAT CLASS AND TAKE ANOTHER ONE! It’ll only get worse from there!
If you can, take a class outside your major; it’s a good break from your expected studies.
You are in charge of your schedule. Your adviser and guidance counselor is there to ‘advise and guide’ but if you don’t like certain classes and you can substitute for others, that’s your choice.
Consequently, if you are changing anything drastic in your plan, talk with your adviser and instructors.
Pay attention to your credit hours and grades. Never leave this to the last week of school, you will be sorry and stressed beyond belief!
Unless it’s a lab book or otherwise specified, go to the class for a week or so before buying an expensive textbook. Some classes, while having it on their required list, do not actually use the textbook a whole lot and you might find some of it scanned online. Rent if you can or buy used online (schools actually don’t give discounts). Use your best judgement on what you think you need.
Tell the people who go up to you selling or advertising things you are not interested in that you are in a rush to class and don’t have time to listen to them. It’s less rude and they’ll leave you alone.
The smaller the class, the better it is to have some sort of acquaintanceship with a couple classmates. They might save your ass if you are absent one day or need to study. And talking with them makes the time go by faster without it being so insufferable.
You don’t need to join a club or sport, but internships are cool and useful!
If you can afford it, take a day off once or twice each semester if you’re too exhausted. Just be aware of what you missed and if it was worth missing!
Your health is the most important, this goes for mental health too!! Note: College-age/upper teens is when mental disorders like depression and anxiety are most commonly diagnosed. Most schools have therapy services, especially during exam time. Look into it if you need to!
Communicate with your professor if you are having trouble with something. Anything.
Eat and stay hydrated. Bring a water bottle and snack to class.
All-nighters will happen but never go over 36 hours without sleep.
It’s going to be hard and there will be times you might think about giving up. This WILL happen. You just have to make sure what you’re doing isn’t making you absolutely miserable and/or there is something rewarding and positive to look forward to at the end!
I did none of this and it bit me in the ass every time so this is EXCELLENT ADVICE.
ADDITIONAL ADVICE
Don’t let a mental health day turn into a mental health week because you will be so screwed.
Pay attention to the syllabus and do not lose it. A lot of professors put all of the assignment due dates in there and ONLY in there.
If your school has blackboard or moodle etc. CHECK IT. a lot of professors will only post certain info there and not talk about it in class
Check your student email account weekly. A lot of it will be unimportant junk but sometimes it’s the only way professors will communicate.
Check your student email multiple times DAILY.
THANK YOU. I’m so glad i have resources like this queued up in my ‘college’ tag bc honestly i was so stressed before
Advice from someone who really fucked up their freshman year:
READINGS ARE NOT OPTIONAL.
I REPEAT. READINGS. ARE. NOT. OPTIONAL.
Put them in your schedule, read BEFORE class. And summarise it. For bonus points, come up with some questions about the text and go introduce yourself to your professor either after class or during office hours, and ask them about it. This will make them much more likely to remember you in a positive light (and possibly bump your grade up if you hit a hard patch.)
Your library will have a copy of your textbook. If you cannot afford to rent it, you can go to the library and borrow it from the front desk for a few hours whenever you need it. It is there for you, okay?
SO DO YOUR READINGS.
2/100 days of productivity
wrote out all of my assignments and due dates
came up with, and wrote down a study schedule
AP psych - Chapter 5 progress
1/100 days of productivity
got motivated to start school back up tommorrow
went window shopping to get out of the house
walked my dog for 40 minutes
got a job
checked my email
So I went and got my new glasses, and I was talking to the really cool optometrist there and we were talking about how new year's resolutions and yearly rituals like that are stupid. But she said that a friend of hers made a one word resolution: finish. And I just think that that’s perfect, just finish. I actually went home that same day and went on a MAJOR cleaning spree, and I actually finished cleaning every single inch of my room, instead of like just putting my clothes away and making my bed, I did everything. So if you’re having trouble right now just make finish your one word resolution, and stick to it.
