discipline > motivation

"It does not matter where you go and what you study; what matters most is what you share with yourself and the world."

[studyspear]

lol abandoning this blog msg me for my new studyblr

[findx]

What are your detailed tips for getting into a top tier school?? Or at least being a competitive applicant?? Like Harvard, MIT, etc. thanks! (:

Hey!

First off, I want to make clear that I’m only a high school senior who has only gotten into one top school so far. So hopefully I’ll be more qualified to answer this question after I see what happens with the Ivy League and Stanford.

I’d like to emphasize that there is no formula. You’re not guaranteed in at a top-tier if you take x number of AP/IB classes, get y number of community service hours, and score z on the SAT/ACT. There’s not one extracurricular activity that will get you accepted.

But I’ve thought about this question for some time, and I think it boils down to: in general, you have to be really good at something.

This can be art or a sport or math or science or writing or a musical instrument or community service or something else. But no matter what it is, you have to generally succeed at it on a national level. (State may also be good, depending on which state you live in. I live in Oregon, which isn’t very competitive, so something like getting into the top ten at the state math tournament doesn’t mean much, but in a place like California or Texas it could be a big deal.)

I know three girls from my city who went to Stanford. For reference, they were all wealthy Chinese-Americans who did not have legacy. 

One had won dozens of science fair awards (was one of three people in the world to qualify for ISEF four times in a row, had a planet named after her, was an Intel STS finalist, was a two-time Google Science Fair finalist and top fifteen in her category, did RSI, etc.). I knew her from elementary school and still remember the days when I watched her, as a fifth-grader, work on her science fair board. Even back then, eight years ago, the topic was so complicated it made my head spin.

Another was a recruited athlete. She was ranked one of the top rowers in the country (I’ve heard she was fourth, but I’m not sure how reliable this information is). Back in middle school, she would wake up at four a.m. in the morning every day to train, and, as her mother would tell us, she would sob because it was so difficult. In high school, at practice, they would wear shorts and T-shirts and no shoes in freezing weather, because less weight on the boat = faster speed. 

The last was from my school, and she’d gone to the Robotics World Championships multiple times. She and her friends had been on the team together since at least middle school, and they were easily the most successful robotics team my high school had ever seen. Besides from that, she was an AIME qualifier and top 150 in the nation for Chemistry Olympiad, and she’d won first nationally for Constitution Team. 

As for me, who got into MIT–well, I wrote my first “book” (pieces of paper folded in half and stapled together) when I was four and I never put the pencil down, so to speak. I wrote daily even when my parents wouldn’t allow me to, even when they took away my laptop, when they forced me to work outside so they could keep an eye on me and make sure I wasn’t writing again. In middle school I snuck onto my laptop at three a.m. so I could post new chapters on the Internet. Once, in eighth grade, my parents took away all my books because they were “distracting me from my studies”. My sophomore year, when I submitted to writing contests for the first time, my parents told me I was awful and I shouldn’t try. All those years, their disapproval hurt, but I kept working long after most kids would’ve believed their parents and quit, and now I’m arguably successful at a national level. 

Bottom line, you don’t get to top-tiers without working your butt off. 

What’s more, all of those I described above had started an extracurricular activity back in middle school. To achieve at the level they had, they needed years of discipline and hard work. 

I could tell you “tricks” like “take extra AP classes online” or “don’t join clubs because you think they’ll look good on your application” but there’s no replacement for sheer excellence.

[studykouffee]

hELLO homework pEOPLE it’s kou & back with something that will hopefully drag myself out of the pits (!!) i have hit rock bottom and there is literally no going back, i mean it. from hereon all i’m planning to do is sprint to o’s; but i, someone who has to be given a pep talk every ten seconds to do work, intend to show some of y’all how i climb out of bed every morning.  (´∇｀)

(lil disclaimer: everyone is motivated by something different.)

i. i don’t. (i’m jk, laugh) for every single painful study session i have, i slam quotes on the wall in front of me and stare it. they’re not even decorated or whatever, they’re just quotes, but if they echo throughout my session it’s good. here are a few really amazing quotes designed by gr88 people:

i by @studysleep || ii by @scholarly || iii by @studylou || iv by @helpfulstudy || v by @educatier || vi by @acdemic || vii by @obsidianstudy || vii by @dangostudy || viii by @ofminervas || ix by @hermionegoals || x by @the-brightest-witch-studies || xi by @cmpsbls || a shit ton more

ii. random posts by wonderful people (pep talks in a way): 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 10 

iii. so i know different things motivate different people. for some, the somehow better future is a huge motivator, and i relate to that. here are some blogs that may motivate you (entirely dependent on preference)

for those who LOVE architecture: interior ||  houses yoo || colossal || covers || asdfghjkl amaze || 

inspired by art: cc mag || disney || overall || animation || patterns ||  all  || pixiv || punziella || typo || ghibli || 

by graphics/ software: pixel || html || anime ish || coolio || pt 2 ||

fashion: overall || haute couture || couture || make up || pt 2 || pt 3

photography: landscape || colours || landscape pT 2 || nATURE 

LMAO AND OFC FOOD: daMN AMAZING (sorry i cant find more pro ones sigh)

 iv. motivational/ inspiring movies and books: 

BIRI GYARU || Three Idiots || Dead Poets Society || bH6 (idk it really inspired me) || tomorrowland || The Secret Life of Walter Mitty || Big Magic || Rising Strong || Tuesdays with Morrie || Jonathan Livingston Seagull || The Last Lecture || Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone || Everything Leads To You by Nina La Cour (all w/o links are books)

v. a few super organised/inspiring bullet journals i’ve seen: i by @studywithmaggie || ii by @ashleystudies || iii by @studypetals || iv by @thearialligraphyproject || v by @studypenguin || vi by @studenting || vii by @theoverstuffedpencilcase || viii by @studytildawn || ix by @studybuzz || x by @studie-s || xi by @studyowls || xii by @tbhstudying || so many i cant possibly include them all aaaa

vi. ofc i think we’re all motivated by cute stationery so: 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 10 || 11 || 12 || 13

vii. (another disclaimer: everyone in this community inspires. stated here are merely examples)  nOTES: i by @mochi-studies || ii by @studyshu || iii by @studyblr-for-days || iv by @etudiestudie || v by @studysthetics || vi by @studyrelief || vii by @studeity || viii by @eintsein || ix by @smoinerd || x by @somestudy

ix. alsoo idk bout y’all, but thinking about where i could go with my friends/family after my exams motivates me, so here are websites you could check out places to go, and maybe jot them in a travel journal 

1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 

x. here’s a list of songs that some people have contributed to as well: (generic; there’s english, there may be korean, chinese… it’s a youtube list so just pick and choose <3)

LIST

xi. aND finally, when you’re done motivated (dont take too long ya *awkward laughter*) go and check out these masterposts on getting started :’)

i by @areistotle || ii by @studyign || iii by @fuckstudy || iv by @obsidianstudy || v by @studyplants|| vi by @study-ings || vii by @acdemic || viii by @mildlincrs || ix by @ashleigh-studies || x by @intellectus

hehe so thats about it! happy studying i love y’all  (*ˊૢᵕˋૢ*) - kou

[academla]

In the wise words of ABBA, “money money money, must be funny in the rich man’s world.” Unfortunately most students are hardly part of the rich man’s world, so here I’ve compiled a list of tips regarding how I personally manage to save and budget my money!

general tips

ask yourself: do you really, really need this, right now? my parents make so much fun of me because i will spend half an hour in a store and end up not buying anything, but this is a really important and effective way to prevent purchases that you could justify, but don’t actually need. i LOVE christmas shopping and gift shopping, but i have to limit myself to one gift per person. do they really need a second gift? even if it seems cute and perfect? no. you want a second or third vest, but do you need it? you have a washing machine and you can wear that vest more than one time before washing it.

keep money in perspective. if you see something that you think is a good price, check yourself by measuring it against a practical essential. for example, you could get that $20 top, OR you could get 9 toothbrushes for the same amount of money. (that’s kind of a lame analogy, but you get what i mean)

do not spend unnecessary money just because it’s a sale! make sure to still ask yourself if you need it. even if it’s a great sale, remember that it’s still money that you’re spending. spend it wisely! it’s better for your purse if you spend nothing because you don’t absolutely need something than if you spend even a little bit on something you don’t need.

BUDGET/TRACK YOUR SPENDINGS. (see below)

budgeting

download money-saving apps. I keep track of my spendings by keeping a binder full of all my receipts, taped to paper and inserted chronologically. And I use spending tracker by MH Riley Ltd (free on the app store), which allows you to log expenses and income, set budgets, and create categories. You can see pie charts for a breakdown of how much you spend on each category as well! I’ve used it for a couple months now and it’s been really useful because I can also see how much I spend in a big spending month (December) vs a normal month. I honestly spend a lot less money than I feel like I do - so it helps me stress a little bit less about money - and when I know that I log every purchase, it helps me save more and be more conscious of what I’m spending (similar to the effect that paying with cash instead of card has).

budget before each month/semester/season. You’ll have a general plan of what’s going to happen in that time frame (trips, classes, weather) and can plan expenses accordingly - estimate how much you’ll spend on whatever you’re planning to do. Leave yourself a cushion (I usually overestimate by a lot on purpose haha) and allow for food/leisure/shopping expenses. It can also help to work backwards, starting with a baseline amount of money you want to spend and either dividing it up by week/month (spend x amount of money per week), or breaking up the sum into categories as previously mentioned.

shopping tips

sign up for rewards at pharmacies. i am a hardcore CVS customer and saver, and i’m not sure about other pharmacies (from my experience, they aren’t nearly as good when you need to save). one time i saved 52% on my purchase! they’re great with giving you extrabucks and with a card, you can often take advantage of a LOT of deals.

clip coupons to your heart’s content! seriously. coupon clipping is nothing to be ashamed of. i am that person that shows up to the counter with a stack of coupons #noshame.

settle for non-brand name products (sometimes). this isn’t a foolproof rule; there are some items where the less expensive version is actually bad compared to the more expensive brand names, but usually the cheap brand of food is okay/tolerable too, and can be significantly less expensive, and if you go with the generic brands, the savings stack up. 

shop online. look out for in-store deals. old navy is my all time FAVORITE to online shop. they have excellent deals, esp around the holidays. stores have sales relatively frequently; if they don’t have any sales going on (other than their sale rack, which is always a good place to check first), go back again later.

go straight to the sale section. this is pretty obvious.

look at unit prices. the best deal is really based on the unit price. i get that sometimes you just want the least expensive item, but if it’s something like a baking essential and you want to get the best quantity for the price, check the unit price first.

if you are small enough, check the kid’s section. kid’s clothes and shoes are generally less expensive. an adult small is usually equivalent to a girl’s L or XL, and a boy’s M or L. an adult size 6 shoe is usually a girl’s size 3. they make some wicked cute sweaters and t shirts and shoes for kids, and you can save up to 50%! especially on small things like flip flops, plain t shirts, etc.

tell stores when your birthday is if they ask! i know a few stores do ask for your birthday (vera bradley is the one that jumps to mind first), and if they do, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT! i got a legitimate coupon from vera bradley for the month of november out of it and was able to get a wallet at a great discount!

‘checks and balances’: college student style

shop with cash. when you pay with cash and not a card, you see how much you’re spending. i get paid in cash when i babysit, and that’s usually my spending money for the week. if i’m out of cash and i’m going shopping, i’ll withdraw like $40-60. when i have the physical money in my hand it’s easier to reality check and budget than if i swipe a card, even if i have a number in my head already.

take your time. okay, this isn’t always an option, but impulse buys are what often get people - those little things at the line in forever 21, or the candies by the cash registers at k mart. take time to deliberate over whatever it is that you’re buying.

saving on practicalities

rent textbooks. i know there are a lot of websites out there where you can supposedly download books. i haven’t looked at any of them (here’s a masterpost by @blogresources that includes a section about free textbooks), but i know i prefer having a physical book. you can rent most textbooks (i can’t make guarantees, but from what i’ve seen/heard) on amazon for a fraction of the price, and they will give it to you for the entire semester. for example, i need a textbook, and i could buy it for $143 or rent it for $22.

don’t buy fancy stationery. use that as a major splurge, but honestly, you can get by just fine with $1 notebooks from the pharmacy and pens and pencils that will do the job. i have found plenty of pens that cost less than $3 that i love.

carpool / bike / walk / take PT when possible. it depends where you live; i know that sg has an amazing PT system. it takes longer to get places, but costs like $3 from one side of the island to the other. if you live in boston and places are available via the T, take advantage of that, and so on with all the cities out there. if you can reasonably bike to somewhere, do it. walking is always best. but don’t let yourself get hypothermia! if it’s cold, take a taxi or car. gas prices stack up big time, and it doesn’t really make sense to have a car in college anyway! 

don’t eat out. don’t go to starbucks. these are small things that chew up a LOT of money each month. i limit myself to eating out once every 1-2 months, and set a $10 limit when i do so. starbucks/dunkin donuts = splurge. bring water/drinks and snacks with you, especially if you know that you’re going out and will likely get hungry!

disclaimers

REMEMBER TO TREAT YOURSELF SOMETIMES. set a budget each month and if you come out under the budget, it’s okay to treat yourself! don’t use up all the deficit if you can, but treat yourself to something nice that you don’t explicitly need but that you’ll use.

make allowances for social events! if you are hanging out with a friend, going to the movies, going out to eat, etc, be mindful of your money but don’t turn down an invitation just because you don’t want to spend the money. going to a movie once every 1-2 months is okay! you can find someplace inexpensive to eat, or agree to eat before going and just get ice cream (less expensive) after.

moderation is key. this all sounds really restrictive, but do remember that moderation is okay here. you shouldn’t sacrifice your comfort and health just to save some money. everything will be okay in the end, and stressing about money isn’t good for anyone.

please message me if you have any other specific questions!

[studie-s]

hey guys!! i just want to show you these amazing motivational wallpapers that I stumbled upon bc I’m pretty sure you’re gonna love it too 💕 

SOURCE: these wallpapers were designed by wearekemy.com (keal + emmy), a husband and wife team that designs and make amazing typography. 

LINKS: 

the wallpapers shown above (for phones • computers) 

more wallpapers by them

(everything that they made is stunning)more freebies by them

SOCIAL MEDIA: website • instagram • twitter • pinterest

PS: i am not affliated with them. i just really liked their wallpapers and i think you guys would too ( ^ω^ )

[dragon-pulse]

Home is a faraway place

[theacademiczine]

The Academic Zine: Issue 3

The Academic

Well, it’s here.

[limestyle]

“Your life begins to change the day you take responsibility for it.” 
― Steve Maraboli

[studykouffee]

SUMMER PLAYLIST『listen here』

still slightly early but the heat wave’s gonna come crashin’, everyone’s saying so. to be honest just a random playlist that sounds like it came out of an eighties radio (this isn’t an insult ahem) while you’re at home trying to speak into the fan in clothes rolled up for maximum exposure. 

[educatiion]

P E N C I L  C A S E  T O U R by educatiion

– Pen Case. I really enjoy this case and have found it’s small enough to easily fit in my backpack with my other supplies but large enough to fit my essentials. – Zebra Mildliners. A lot of people on studyblr have these and they’re definitely not necessary but they are pretty if you enjoy highlighting and color-coding. Currently I don’t have anywhere else to put them so they all stay in my case. – Hand Lotion.  – Notecards. I love love love flashcards so I always keep a small stack of blank ones with me for studying. – Pencils. Not too sure where I got these but my sister didn’t want them (since they have no erasers) so she gave them to me because I don’t typically use pencils. I mostly keep these around for tests and quizzes. – Ball-Point Pen. My most-used piece of stationary. I love writing with ball-points and these ones, by Pentel, are my absolute favorites. – Gel Pen. I keep this white gel pen with me for little corrections when I don’t want to use Wite-Out (since it creates that thick bumpy layer). – Felt-Tip Pen. A black Staedler triplus fineliner that I keep just in case. I don’t really like using these as much as ball-points though. – Ruler. This is actually the broken half of a ruler that used to sort of flip out. It’s nice and compact though! – Wite-Out Pen. I don’t really like liquid Wite-Out so I’m trying this out right now. It’s fairly decent.

[littleant-studies]

[04.24.16] [033/100]

the spread for the next week. the layout last week worked well for me so I used it again.

[mujistudies]

Hello lovelies! ( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/  

Today’s masterpost would be about picking a college major! ( which is something i’m quite avoiding as well lmao). It’s not an easy task, and sometimes it would take a lot of reflection and careful consideration. However, it could be a fun way to discover yourself at the same time! Hopefully, I wish my advice will help you in this crossroad of your life.

Here’s some steps to guide you ( WARNING: this is going to be a long post)

i. Know your passions and interests

Maybe you’re a tech wiz who wishes to become the next Mark Zuckerberg. Maybe you’re a die hard activist for women’s rights. Maybe you aspire to make films like Wes Anderson. Maybe you love the periodic table so much that you’ve memorized all 118 elements. It is most likely that your interests would play the biggest role in choosing a major. When there’s a plethora of courses offered nowadays, if you know what you truly want and what you’re deeply passionate about, it would help a lot. 

If you have the knack for making money and setting up online stores in Etsy or Instagram, maybe you’d love Business. In no time, you could be a billionaire or a CEO of your own corporation. Some courses related to business would be:

Accounting

Finance

Marketing

Entrepreneurship

Management

Economics

If biology was a piece of cake for you and you are curious about the many wonders of the universe, you’re a natural fit for the Sciences.  Whether you enter the world of medicine as a doctor or an engineer, who knows if you can find the cure for cancer or build award-winning structures? Some courses related to science would be:

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Engineering

Information Technology

Computer Science

Maths

If you’ve got hundreds of sketchbooks filled to the brim or you’ve imagined yourself performing in Broadway, the Arts is your soulmate.  You’re a creative soul blessed with a beautiful mind. You can’t wait for everyone to read your New York Times best-selling novel or applaud your spectacular masterpiece. Some courses related to arts would be:

Fine Arts

Creative Writing

Music

Theater Arts

Graphic Design

Architecture

If you’re a history trivia master and politics is your cup of tea, then the Social Sciences is for you. Through the social sciences, you could become tomorrow’s leaders and law makers. Some courses related to social sciences would be:

Law

Psychology

Sociology

Development Studies

Political Science

Criminology

History

Education

If you’re fluent in 10 languages and you love immersing yourself in different cultures,the Humanities is where to go.Through the humanities, you can become a diplomat or a well-known philosopher. Some courses related to humanities would be: 

Literature

Foreign Languages

Philosophy

Theology

Asian Studies

If you’re the editor-in-chief of your school’s newsletter or you aspire to become a Youtube vlogger, Communication is your best friend. You’ve got a talent for connecting with people. Through Communication,you can bag an Oscar for your film. Some courses related to communication would be:

Film

Journalism

Advertising

Mass Communication

ii.  Ask someone

You could talk with your parents, friends, mentor, counselor or anyone you trust. They could narrate their own experiences and help you widen your perspective. But don’t  let them dictate your choices, they’re only there to give you an edge or guidance in your decision-making. In the end, you’re the one in control of your life, not them.

iii. Research,research, research

The Internet is such a treasure trove these days. It would be very useful if you could check out websites of the universities you plan on entering.  Some offer virtual classes. You could explore hundreds of blogs and forums that will inform you on the major you’re interested in. There are sites as well that give out your possible career opportunities, what skills you must possess and the perfect college for that course.

Here are some resources! 

Big Future

My Majors

Find Your Calling

Gustavus

The Complete University Guide

LUC’s What’s My Major Quiz

The Common Application

Sokanu

iv. Other methods

 Elimination Method

I once went to the guidance office and got some university brochures. I read about their course offerings and encircled what I liked  most, and crossed out those I’m not interested in. This could be helpful if you’ve got a dream university in mind. Also, it would give you an idea of what specific type of course you’d like

Career Proximity Method

Maybe you’ve got a dream career instead. Research on what possible courses that could lead you that job. Learn How To Become is an awesome site for that!

Internship Method

You could take a workshop or internship that would be related to the major you’re interested. I once took up an internship as an operations manager so I know what’s in store for me if I took a Business course. As I have said, it’s a good opportunity to widen your perspective and learn more.

v. Last Reminders

 Never pick a major that you dislike or forced to take

You would be dedicating yourself to study that course for more than 10 hours a day, and for four more years or so. Also,  if  you’re not passionate about the course you take,it would be detrimental to your studies and future.

Never pick a course just for prestige 

A lot of people choose a course only to achieve success in the future. Although it isn’t bad to aim high and become ambitious, don’t forget that you’re in college to have fun and LEARN as well. Choose a course that you love. And if you would dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to it,it will become rewarding one day.

Here are quotes from the movie, 3 Idiots, that inspired me so much (GUYS YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS MOVIE LEGIT)

“Never study to be successful, study for self efficiency. Don’t run behind success. Follow behind excellence, success will come all way behind you.”

”Today my respect for that idiot shot up. Most of us went to college just for a degree. No degree meant no plum job, no pretty wife, no credit card, no social status. But none of this mattered to him, he was in college for the joy of learning, he never cared if he was first or last.“

”Whatever you enjoy doing, make that your profession. Then work won’t seem to be work, but a game.“

( source )

Don’t worry, there’s always a backup

If you didn’t like the major you picked, you could transfer. If you have two courses you like, there’s two solutions for that. You could either have double majors or “ major minor”. I heard in other universities that you could make up your own course as well.

And that’s it! 

Thank you @studynest for this lovely suggestion.

If you  need help in choosing a major or you have a suggestion for a post I can make,  shoot me a message and I’d be delighted to assist you  ♥

| my other masterposts + advice |

korean langauge resources

japanese language resources

study apps + extensions

advice for new studyblrs

[neko-studies]

Hello everybody! Since I go back to school in a week, I’ll be sharing the things I wish I knew before I stepped into college and before getting into that applying-for-college phase. I hope you enjoy reading this and for those incoming college freshmen, I hope this helps you and gives you an idea on what you should be preparing for, based on my experience. :) (I’m an incoming sophomore if you’re wondering)

Well, here we go:

It’s ok when you’re not accepted in a “well-known” university (or any university) When I was still applying for college, I had this mindset where I need to get into a great and  famous university. So I applied to one of the top universities in my country and I didn’t get in. I felt really bad. Every time I think about it, I just cry. Why? I was afraid of what people will think of me. I thought people will think poorly of me because they just have high expectations for me. But that changed. I remember what my 4th year high school adviser told us, “It’s not the school, it’s the person.” My teacher meant that it’s not the school that will pursue your dreams or decide what your future will be, help you, yes, but to pursue, it’s you. I now study at a much smaller university and I’m glad I’m enjoying it there. Not being accepted in a university isn’t the end of the world. There are many others that are willing to accept you. So ignore what other people say. What’s important is your happiness. Remember, it’s not the school, it’s you.

Do not take your minor subjects for granted (or any subject/class) It doesn’t matter what subject that is, you gotta study hard for it. I almost failed this minor subject I had during prelims (like the first part of the semester, then we have midterms and finals). I mostly concentrated on my major subjects and paid too little attention to my minor ones. Almost failing that class was a wake up call for me.  So even if that’s a minor, even if you hate that class or your professor sucks, just study. Get that A.

Wherever you go, there will always be immature people I’m not gonna go into much detail on this but there will always, always, always be people who are so immature and annoying and irritating and- ok I’ll stop.  Just ignore them and don’t let them get into your nerves.

It’s ok to be alone I thought being alone around campus would make me look like a weirdo but I spent so many times alone and nobody paid attention to me. So it’s ok to eat lunch or study at the library alone. No one will notice. And I think it’s nice to be alone once in awhile.    

Save money as much as you can You will need that for something important like school supplies, something for a project, food for your dorm (if you dorm) or maybe for an emergency. Try to avoid buying random things that you won’t need or food that’s way too expensive (Like this one time, my friends and I were at this cafe near school and I bought this frappe that’s too expensive for a frappe but I bought it anyway and it wasn’t worth it. *insert crying emoji*). A great way to save at least a few dollars (or whatever currency you have xD) is to bring your own water, make packed lunch or eat at your dorm or house.  

If a friend makes you unhappy, doesn’t respect you or is rude, stop being friends with them. Leave them (or if you have courage, talk to them) I thought I would be happy being friends with this person (not gonna reveal who they are). But as time passed by, their true colors started to show. I spent so many months with this person who makes me feel so irritated, treat me like a kid and sometimes tease me with this one little mistake I made over and over again. I tried to be positive and understanding with their personality but the feeling never came. I decided I had enough of people treating me like a welcome mat that you could just walk over. I forced myself to be more close with my other friends and now I’m much more happy. Don’t force yourself to be in a toxic relationship. It’s not healthy. It’s much better to be alone and happy than having someone treat you like sh*t.

Don’t skip meals I thought skipping meals was ok especially if it involves school work, like grabbing a snack and you’re good to go. NO. That’s bad. Really, really bad! I used to have this class scheduled where my eating time should be, and since it was my last class, I would go home right away and not eat at school (I don’t dorm btw). When I get home, I would just grab a snack and start studying. I kept on doing this until my mom noticed my weight. She said I lost a lot of weight. So I was really thin. Well not really thin just thinner than I usually was. I had no idea I lost weight because I didn’t feel it at all. I let my body get used to not eating lunch. Please do not forget to take care of yourself. You gotta eat. Even if you need to do something during break, eat something that could fill your tummy like a sandwich.

Use a planner or a bullet journal system Back then when I was still in high school, I had a habit of writing my assignments in a piece of paper or even remember them all in my head. I did succeed. But that thing doesn’t apply to college. It’s not a good habit guys. Don’t be like me. If you do that, you gotta stop. Having a planner or a bullet journal will help you keep your life organized. You can also download and print planner pages. (check out my printables tag)

There will be times where stress and anxiety will take over you  Nobody warned me about this. Well,they warned me that college was stressful but I didn’t expect it to be THAT stressful to the point where I just want to lie down and cry until someone will take me away from this horrible place! *makes exaggerated crying noises*  If you think high school is stressful, then you gotta prepare yourself for college because it is damn stressful and anxiety will make it worse. And when that time comes, I know you’ll get through it, because I did.

Your gut feeling is usually right Always follow your gut instinct. Especially when you feel a negative vibe, you gotta follow that. I didn’t follow mine before and the outcome was not nice. I swear guys, if you feel undecided, like if your friends ask you to come with them to do something, trust your guts.   

I hope that wasn’t boring. Haha. If you need to ask me something don’t hesitate to send me a message!

If you’re in college, tell me one thing you wished you knew before your first year.

Good luck everyone! :D 

[studylou]

“It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this.”

Hi, everyone! If you’re like me and you love a good game soundtrack or a great playlist of all sorts of game music, this is the masterpost for you. I’m one of those people who studies better with some music in the background, and what better way of making a study session more enjoyable than by listening to the soundtrack of your favourite game?

Why listen to music while you study?

Multiple studies have proven that certain students who listen to music while they study perform better academically. Unfortunately, it’s not for everyone, so you should really figure out if this is the right method for you before commiting yourself to it! The main arguement for studying with music is that research has proved that listening to classical music in particular helps the brain absorb more information and also helps stimulate one’s thinking! 

On the other hand, some people tend to lose all concentration when there’s any music or noise in the background, which leads to procrastination and lower productivity. In short, if you can’t concentrate on the task at hand and get distracted easily, this isn’t the best method for you! 

Playlists

I started actively looking for playlists with game music about two years ago and instantly fell in love. There are so many good playlists of various lengths and genres that are accessable on platforms like spotify, 8tracks, youtube, etc. All of the playlists include the tracklist in the description below them! 

Note: I won’t be adding any playlists from 8tracks because they only work in the US and Canada. 

i. General

Game music for studying: Some of you might have already heard of these videos before. They’re roughly an hour and a half long and include some of the more calming tracks from a lot of different games. All the names of the tracks are listed in the description below, which is super handy if you want to find out which game it’s from! I thought I’d put in the playlist of all of them so you can just press play and enjoy!

Video game music! 2.0: Probably the longest playlist you’ll find anywhere. a n y w h e r e. 223 hours of amazingness that you’ll never regret! 

ii. Calming/ relaxing

5 hours of atmospheric game music: This is one of my personal favourites. It’s very long so you don’t have to worry about looking for another playlist when this one finishes. 

Relaxing video game music: Another gem! Once again with all the tracks in the description. This one’s great for shorter study sessions since it’s only and hour long.

More relaxing  video game music: If the previous playlist was too short for you, check out this 3 hour one! I used this one a lot last year! 

Calming Nintendo music: A super great playlist for all you Nintendo fans! It includes some really nice tracks from the Legend of Zelda series, if you’re into those soundtracks!

Jesper Kyd playlist: Ever since I first played Assassin’s Creed 2, I’ve loved Jesper Kyd’s work. This is quite a long playlist including some of his best tracks from various games. My favourites are towards the end!

Relaxing Legend of Zelda music: You had to see this one coming. The LoZ series has some of the best soundtracks to study to (, in my opinion,) and some of the prettiest and most calming tracks. I highly recommend this 42 minute playlist for those times when you just don’t feel like working.

2 hours of sleepy video game music: This is also a little series of playlists. There are 4 of these videos in total, which adds up to 8 hours of sweet, sweet music. 

iii. Epic/ badass

Epic video game music: For all of you who need a little badass music in the background! 2.5 hours of epic and awe inspiring music to really get some work done! 

Focus - video game music: Spotify has some really great playlists, so I thought I’d include a few! This playlist is a little more epic and loud, but if that’s the mindset you really need to push through, this would be great for you. It’s an amazing 11 hours long so you’ll never run out.

Orchestral video game music: Another epic playlist, including the occasional lullaby. This is a 7 hour long playlist, so a little shorter than the previous one, but by no means less epic and badass!

Soundtracks

Compared to the playlists, soundtracks tend to be a mix of epic and calming music. Most games have their perilous moments and their I’m-so-relieved-I-managed-to-beat-that-boss-with-only-one-heart-left moments. The world of video games is vast, so I’ve selected a few of my favourite soundtracks to share with you instead of listing all of the ones I can find.

Legend of Zelda - Skyward Sword: One of my favourite all time games! The soundtrack is long too, so you don’t have to worry about looking for a new one afterwards. 

Legend of Zelda - Ocarina of Time: This game is widely believed to have the best soundtrack in video game history. All I can say is so sit down, gather your work and to just enjoy.

Final Fantasy VI: This 1994 gem has an avarage playtime of 65-70 hours. The game has such a good storyline and the soundtrack is a little old school with a lot of non-orchestral tracks. I’d still recommend this to everyone who likes an older style of video game.

Suikoden Tierkreis: I have memories of me just going to the overworld map so I could listen to the music. It’s that good. 

Bioshock Infinite: I’ve only ever played the first in the series, but I watched a walkthrough of this particular game and I loved it so much! The music is slightly creepy and loud sometimes but it’s a really great soundtrack overall.

The Last of Us: Another game I’ve never actually played, but the walkthrough was amazing. The soundtrack is very atmospheric and doesn’t have a lot of loud parts, so it’s generally calm. 

Assassin’s creed 2: My all-time favourite game ever. As you know from before, I think Jesper Kyd is amazing, so putting these two elements together makes a truly great game. The soundtrack is actually quite well known because a few of it’s most popular tracks are featured a lot in other playlists. E.g. Dreams in Venice and The Madam. 

The Elder Scrolls V - Skyrim: I’ve listened to this one a few times and I think it’s really good! It starts off quite strong but it has a lot of calmer songs too.

Fable 2: The Fable series is well-known for being short, so the soundtrack is also on the shorter side. I know the dialogue in the game almost by heart and I can guarantee you that there’s a lot of atmospheric music in this soundtrack. 

Fragile: This one was recommended to me by a friend on tumblr years ago. It has really sweet songs and has a lot of piano centered tracks. 

Now get to work!

I hope I’ve helped you find the perfect game music to accompany you while you study! If you have any recommendations, feel free to send me a message! I’m always up to discovering new playlists/ soundtracks.

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X Lou

[luluchic]

DON’T BURN YOURSELVES OUT, KIDS.

[catsnoozing]

hey guys! this is my first ever how-to post please bear with me

HOW TO STUDY MATH in three steps: 

1. Understand the Concept

Memorizing the formula is nothing if you don’t understand the concept, especially in applied maths. Ask your teacher/professor all the whys, and hows. How did it come to be, How you can apply it in real life, etc. You’re lucky if your teacher/professor always explains the concepts in complex AND in layman’s term. If not, ask them to explain it in a much simpler way so you can grasp the concept. Please, please, if you’re shy or just plain afraid of the professor, think about the tuition you or the taxes of people pay for, maybe it will make you make the best of it. If it still won’t work, just ask a friend. :))) Math is wonderful if you truly understand the concept. Otherwise, you’ll just be annoyed while solving problems.

2. Practice, Practice, Practice

Want to memorize a formula? Practice. Answer mock exercises, exercises in your textbook(if any), old exams from friends, or exercise sheets you can get from the internet. At some point, you might forget the formula if you only memorize it. If you keep practicing, you won’t have to memorize the formula at all because your brain will just get used to it and believe me, when you face that exam paper, your brain will just automatically spit out formulas. Remember your favorite song four years ago? You might think you have already forgotten the lyrics(because duhh??! it was four years ago!) but nah. Try listening to it one more time and the lyrics will just come to you because you kept repeating it then(you did, oh the good old days). 

3. Preach

This works for me best on analytic proofs. When you just have to prove, you need to go back from the start and tell the almighty story of how the heck did that thing come to be. You need to practice your skills on making a good algorithm. When I’m in the house and in a math state(i.e. solving problems, exercises, assignments), I say the steps I’m gonna do out loud like I’m teaching(First, blah blah. Second blah blah. …..) so when I’m in public places or in a classroom, my brain just fires instructions, silently talking to myself. Please don’t mumble, they might think you’re nuts or you might disturb your seatmates.

We can’t avoid math forever, can we? Better make the best of it by understanding. I swear it just gets better when you start to understand the concept. I hope I imparted some knowledge to you. :)))

[universi-tea]

Having the right study space can be the difference between putting your work off until the last minute and actually wanting to work. Here are some tips on how to create your perfect study space, no desk required. 

pick a spot

 If you already have a desk, then this may already be done for you. If not, look around for somewhere that has good lighting (natural is a bonus!) and is in an area that’s not too busy or loud. It doesn’t have to be big – it could be a corner, or even your bed. 

pick a desk 

Now that you’ve found a spot, you need either a desk or some sort of other surface to work on. My favorites: (ordered from most expensive to least)

Desks: Lots of storage (Ikea) ⋙ Bamboo (ikea) ⋙ Glass (walmart)

Lap Desks: Comfortable  ⋙ Compact

find some storage

Color-coordinated organizers (pencil cups, paper trays, etc)

Drawer organizers

Pencil cup (set of three) - design one and two

Hanging folders

Storage box

Basket

Cork boxes (set of four)

decorate your space

Cork board

Chalkboard decal

Calendar printables (free)

Quote printables & more (free)

Even more quote printables (make your own too!)

Floral prints

City prints

Tons more prints

Hang pictures, notes, and your own artwork!

Plants (real or fake)

Your favorite books

String lights

Banners/pendents

Postcards or letters from friends

inspo - my favorite spaces

chalkboard by @katherinehenson

calendars and cactus by @mymidnightlatte

pink prints by @limestyle

fresh flowers by @eviepeeveylemonsqueezy

prints and pictures by @studyyoustud

storage goals by @secretdiaryofamedstudent

plants plants plants by @hanniestudies

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