how to be a whole new student this school year (A MASTERPOST)⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🎀📔
HOW TO BE BETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR ;
TAKE ADVANTAGE. take advantage of extra credit opportunities, make sure to advocate for urself and take advantage in any way that u can. by simply doing ur homework you'll have a much better grade in the overall class which gives u wiggle room to make a mistake. but if ur slacking off on ur homework, ignoring extra credit opportunities AND doing bad on tests then ur basically setting urself up for failure. and by doing the opposite then ur setting urself up for success.
something i've noticed (and im guilty of this too sometimes) is that i spend so much time making my notes aesthetically pleasing that i forget to actually go over them which defeats the whole purpose of notes. theres nothing wrong with having fun and creative adorable notes that spark joy and happiness but PLEASE actually use them, trust me you'll love them more…💬🎀
furthermore understand that getting good grades isn't as daunting and difficult as u may have imagined. just remember to always do ur homework, take advantage of extra credit, projects are an easy test grade, and get things done as fast as u possibly can.
FIND WAYS TO STAY MOTIVATED ;
the best way to stay motivated is through ROMANTICIZATION. when u learn to enjoy going to school, your going to be motivated to do well in school. because school is so IMPORTANT not only for ur education but also ur future. so take school seriously. and if u wanna become an academic weapon for the long term the best thing u can do is learn to make the best of, and enjoy it. some ways to romanticize school include ->
♡ create a school playlist that embodies the school vibes that u wanna have : i have lots of new jeans in my school playlist : i rly like the songs cookie, ditto and hurt for when im at school
♡ creating a study blog or study group to hold urself accountable in a fun and healthy way
♡ ur appearance : if u go to a school where u dont have to wear uniforms, i strongly recommend getting dressed and getting ready meticulously bcuz when u look good, u feel good, and therefore u perform well. if u do wear uniform, wear accessories or hairstyles that make u feel and look pretty. i wear leg warmers with my school uniform and my signature is hair clips and barrettes.
♡ read at school : i always walk around with a book bcuz i like to read a lot but if reading isnt ur thing, listen to a podcast about something that interests u (i rly like true crime)
♡ take pride in ur notes : invest in cute stationary! i swear, sometimes i dont feel like studying but since my stationary is super cute and pink i get motivated to study just by looking at it lol. invest in quality stationary that u love and make ur notes look pleasing to you, and also effective. effective + aesthetically pleasing.
♡ doing homework/studying in the library : or at least changing the scenery and location that u do ur homework from time to time. do yk how boring it is to do work in the same place every single day? give urself a break from the places u see all the time and spend time studying or doing homework outside of ur home. in a cafe or in the library, inside or outside, just change the scenery a bit
♡ start a video diary : i started a little video diary with my friends so that we can remember our school memories. i just think its rly cute and a great way to bond with ur friends, make memories, and romanticize school.
try and formulate a PASSION for learning as a way to cultivate the school romanticization attitude. be passionate to learn and be an academic weapon…💬🎀
CHANGE UP ROUTINES ;
in my next point i talk about the importance of routines but its also important to change little things about ur routine. dont go and change the whole structure of ur school routine but make sure to add little changes to spice things up and not keep urself like a hamster on a wheel. i find when i do this i just feel a lot better and its easier to romanticize.
MAKE A REGIMEN ;
make a pretty basic routine to stick to, to make sure that u balance school and personal life. having a routine can make falling into line and following through with tasks a lot easier. its easier to do things personally when u MICROMANAGE urself. at least from my own personal experience.
ABOUT STUDYING ;
every single day study (at least for a little bit) ofc this will vary depending on ur personal schedule but the goal is to do a little bit of studying everyday, and if that isnt possible, designating 3 days a week to a thorough studying session.
the way that i divide my time with a study session is 40 minutes of work time and 20 minutes of downtime. during the 40 minutes of work time u need to LOCK IN. lock in on whatever assignment needs to be complete or lock in on whatever material it is that ur studying. ofc this'll differ between all subjects but dont study all subjects in one night!! thats ambitious, but i find it'll just burn u out so stick to studying for 2-3 subjects max.
HOW TO STUDY WITHOUT BURNING URSELF OUT ;
♡ get off ur device. literally put the phone down. 9 times out of 10 the burn out that ur feeling is just the dopamine detox and laziness
arguably, the most important aspect to prevent burn out is ENERGY management. when ur burnt out u can literally feel ur energy tank on zero, so regardless of all the study techniques, however effective they may be, if u can't even muster up the energy to do them then they're useless…💬🎀
♡ get PRODUCTIVE rest. what is productive rest? scrolling endlessly on tiktok is NOT productive rest. productive rest is actually letting ur mind and body REST. like, taking a nap, indulging in self care, or whatever relaxes u.
STAY ORGANIZED ;
find a tool and stay ORGANIZED. i personally use notion. and on my school notion i create a space for me to write my own notes, a calendar to put important academic dates, resources like passwords and logins, and a to-do list where i can put down some of my assignments. keeping everything organized is so so important. its non digital as well, make sure to keep ur desktop space organized, ur supplies and physical notes organized also. the more organized the better.
SOME POSTS FOR RESOURCES ;
how to get good grades without excessive studying - by yours truly
ways to romanticize school - @4theitgirls
studying methods + tips - by yours truly
youtube channels to help u out this semester - @4theitgirls
creating a study schedule and routine - @prettieinpink
how to study like rory gilmore - @itgirldiary
my studying plans as an accounting major - @iluvprettygirls
citation resources - @workitgurl
how to get good grades without excessive studying - by me
Teaching resources on my Etsy (weekend sale, 30% off everything!)
Hello, my fellow educators!
I've made some classroom resources for you to use, all targeted to young learners or children aged 7-11. These could also be used in a home ed setting or as some extra learning over the summer.
Pirate Adventure Creative writing workbook - a pirate themed writing workbook with lots of creative writing activities following an adventure to find buried treasure.
EAL/ESL Young Learner worksheets - a set of five worksheets with two variants, with words or without to help learn basic vocab.
EAL/ESL Young Learner flashcards - a set of 20+ flashcards with basic school vocab to help learn basic words associated with school.
Story cards - a set of 45 cards with 5 different genres to help children generate stories from prompts.
Check out etsy shop 'Spilled Ink Workshop' for more writing, studying and teaching resources and make use of the weekend sale 18th July - 20th July
Im going into 5th year which is a whole new course, which means new books and when I was nerding our about my lovely new textbooks (I annoyed my mam so much asking her if she had gotten the Booklist yet because getting new school books is my favourite part of the summer holidays) and I noticed the codes in the back of the books.
If you go to the publishers websites, you can get the e-books for free along with PowerPoints and videos and quizzes on all of the topics. It is amazing!!! Many of these are interactive and certain books have videos with animations explaining processes (I love this feature in my geo book) but not only is this just generally amazing and super handy, it is incredible for if you have poor attendance at school because instead of missing out on the PowerPoints and having to see if anyone will give you yesterday's notes, the book hands them to you. My chronically ill ass is in love!!!
Image discription: photographs of online textbooks with PowerPoints, notes, interactive activities, self tests, chapter summaries, past exam papers, chapter based solutions, annotation features and many other resources
Do you have any tips for calming down from an anxiety attack/hypervigilance/dissociation while you're at school?
I’m not a professional, and I also didn’t have any (healthy) coping mechanisms for any of these things when I was in school, but I can try to share some tips. If anyone else wants to add their own, please go ahead!
First of all, I think it’s important to say that while many coping mechanisms can help with all three issues listed here, it can be really helpful to recognise whether you’re having an anxiety attack, are hypervigilant, or are dissociating in order to know what will help calm you down. It’s also important to try to figure out the root of the issue, so you can recognise what triggers your anxiety/hypervigilance/dissociation and potentially remove some of those stressors.
I also think it’s important to remember what helps someone else might not help you, and vice versa. So if you find a coping mechanism that helps with either of these issues (and that doesn’t hurt you), even if it’s not listed anywhere as a coping mechanism, you’re allowed to use it.
All that being said, here’s an incomplete list of things that can help while at school:
With anxiety attacks:
Breathing exercises, if you know how to do them correctly.
Doodling, or even just scratching the paper with a pen or pencil to release the feelings that may be piling up. (Do this only on material you won’t have to pass on to someone else at the end of the year).
Tapping your feet on the ground or your fingers on the desk rhythmically, focusing on the sounds they make or the textures you can feel when you do this.
Asking to leave the room if necessary (or just leaving without asking if it’s an emergency). If anyone asks, you can say you had a bathroom emergency. Remember you deserve to take as much time as you need to recover in a quiet and private space. No lesson is more important than your well-being.
Cold water. Splashing cold water on your face, your neck, your wrists, or holding cold water/ice in your mouth can help. And, of course, drinking cold water. It will send a message to the nervous system to calm down. You can also get this to help with breathing, as taking sips of water stops you from hyperventilating. If you can’t/don’t want to leave the room, you can carry a cold water bottle (maybe with ice in it so it lasts longer) to your lessons and press the bottle itself to your skin.
With hypervigilance:
Breathing exercises, again, if you know how to do them.
Diverting your attention. If you find yourself looking around everywhere or focusing on your surroundings, you can try carrying something around with you that's nice to feel/smell/look at (eg. a stim toy, a piece of jewellery, any objects that can fit inside your pencilcase) and focus on it instead. If necessary, you can try to describe all its characteristics.
Doodling can also help you keep your focus on what’s in front of you, instead of on your surroundings.
If you need a mental distraction, challenging yourself to think of 3 things that begin with each letter of the alphabet, (e.g. 3 animals that begin with each letter of the alphabet, then 3 countries, then 3 cities, then 3 foods...).
Repeating a mantra to yourself: 'I'm safe, it will pass, I can do this'.
Moving your body, especially if you feel paralysed or tense. It can be a big stretch to loosen your muscles or even just a toe wiggle.
With dissociation:
Tapping your feet on the ground or your fingers on the desk, again focusing on your body, on the rhythm and the textures you can feel. The goal here is to get back into your body; to become more aware of the here and now.
Progressively getting in touch with your body. Start by curling your toes and holding that for a few moments, then release. Then tense your calves for a few moments and release. Do that with each area/muscle group in your body in order (thighs, belly, chest, arms, neck) to help remind you that you are real, that you're connected to the world.
Moving your body. Stretching, wiggling your toes, rubbing your thighs, brushing your hair with your fingers, etc.
Cold water, again, to splash or press to your skin and help reconnect with your physical sensations.
Stim toys or objets that feel nice to the touch or have a strong smell, for the same reason.
Asking a friend for a hug, if you’re comfortable with it. Not only because it can help you reconnect with your body, but because physical contact can calm down our nerves and make us feel safe.
After you go through any of these things (anxiety attacks/hypervigilance/dissociation), drink water if you can. Not just because it’ll calm you down, but because your body has just worked hard and tired itself, and needs fuel. For the same reason, have a snack if you can; preferably something with carbs and protein, like a sandwich.
If any of these issues are getting in the way of your school life, please reach out to an adult you trust. You do not have to deal with any of these issues on your own, and you don’t have to just push through and expect yourself to have as much mental energy as your classmates. You deserve help and accomodations, and you deserve to be gentle and kind with yourself. Health comes before school.
college tips from a girl who struggled a shit ton through college
LOOOOONG post under the cut :)
If you are not planning on going to graduate school immediately out of undergrad or into academia, the classes that you took and the marks that you got in them literally don’t matter. What matters is that you graduate and get your f**king degree. This helped de-stress me a lot because I struggled a LOT in college. If you’re a motivated, goal-oriented person, go you!
Make sure to have at least SOME fun with your classes. Take something fun and interesting that’s outside of your major to get that well-rounded experience.
Take a studio art class while you are in college. You will never again have the opportunity to work in a nicer, more well stocked studio. College studios have more $$ than God in comparison to community ones.
SLEEP. I didn’t do enough of this in college and I regret it.
Get tight with your professors, so that they know who you are and so that you know that you can go to them for help. Your professor’s office hours and email inbox are your friends, trust me. When I was failing classes, knowing my professors well enough to feel comfortable setting up a conference with them to get help was instrumental. Literally was able to get myself multiple extensions for classes and projects that I was struggling with this way.
If you sign up for a class that you don’t need for your program and immediately anti-vibe with the professor, dropping it in exchange for something else might actually be a good plan. Nothing worse than spending a whole term unnecessarily with your academic nemesis.
Find good friends who you can study buddy/paper editing swap with. Me and my college besties, especially @fantastic-nonsense helped each other out so much with paper read-throughs and idea spit balling. This continues as resume workshopping.
Put all your class times in your phone calendar. That little reminder sound kept me on time to class.
Talk to people who are in the year above you in your program and find out what classes and professors are like before you sign up. This can help you avoid bad professors, and come prepared to classes. ratemyprofessor is there too, but actually meeting up with and talking to people is MUCH better.
If the class is not in your major, you may be able to get away with not buying all of the books or sharing books with a classmate, or buying the edition below the one on the syllabus. Make sure you know what the class is like before you do this though. For the class that I did this for, I knew in advance it was all multiple choice scantrons based on lectures.
eBay & thrift books are your friends in cheap book buying. Avoid buying books from the campus bookstore at all opportunities.
Your campus will probably also have a student run buy/sell/trade type FB page, which you might find useful for getting stuff you need, especially at the end of the year when all the seniors are moving out and need to dump their stuff off on underclassmen before moving. This is the place where you want to get your mini-fridge.
Make sure that you have a solid conversation with any new professor about any accommodations you might need in their class, especially if you’ve filed the paperwork for this. Even if you don’t have the official paperwork, using this time to build rapport can help you get accommodations from professors. A good professor wants you to pass their class.
If you had a student checking account in high school, it is likely that your bank expired your student account advantages when you graduated. Let them know you are still in school. Usually this means being able to avoid having to pay a fee if your balance in your account is low. If you bank with JCMCB I can tell you that this is 100% relevant. Don’t pay fees to megacorp bank if you don’t have to friends.
There are plenty of services out there that offer discounts for students. Investigate the ones that you already pay for and see if you can save some $$ this way.
GO TO CLASS. Even if you feel sad and depressed. Even if you are zoned out as fuck. Often it is better to get even 20% of the class lesson for the day, rather than having to figure out what the hell happened later.
Obviously don’t go if you’re actually sick. Make sure that you email your professor about any absences. Depending on the professor, an explanation of the absence might be helpful.
Have a good rapport with the other people in the classes that you’re in. This can only benefit you when it comes time for group projects, peer editing, group studying and getting caught up on shit you missed when you were sick. If you have contact info for at least 1-3 people in each class, you can be assured to be able to get the DL on anything you might miss.
Mendeley, rememberthemilk, Microsoft to do, coldturkeywriter and OneNote all rock and you should check them out.
Your college probably pays for you to get MS Office. If you do not already have MS office on your computer; take advantage of this. They may also offer other free to you software.
For relaxation while doing readings I cannot recommend the app myNoise and their desktop site enough. They are an infinite sound generator. There are rain sounds, water, white noise, cafe, etc. all of which are customizable.
I have compiled a great spreadsheet of cool and useful stuff on the internet that you might want to check out, which is here.
If you have unsubsidized student loans, (US federal) they do collect interest while you are in school. If you have the ability to make any payments at all while you’re in school, DO IT. Especially now since the interest is still frozen.The interest rates are a b*tch.
If you’re living in the dorms or sharing an apartment, make sure that you and your roommate(s) come up with a written agreement of terms about your living situation and respective boundaries, so that it is very clear to everyone what the expectations are. This can be especially helpful in a situation where you might need mediation for issues. I had some unfortunate roommate experiences that made me wish that I had been clearer about my boundaries with all of them.
Sidenote: if you meet someone who perpetually complains about how awful their roommate is, and seems to have roommate problems serious enough to report to an RA, BE CAREFUL. Unless you know them well, this person could be the real problem in the situation.
Learn to cook if you have not already. It is far less difficult and scary than you might think. Feel free to HMU if you want cooking tips. Also check out my community cookbook on Gdrive.
You can get most of the cleaning supplies that you might need for your apartment/dorm at dollar tree.
Bed risers are awesome and you should get them if you can’t loft or half-loft your bed. They add so much storage space to your crappy tiny living space.
Don’t lend more than $20 to anyone that you do not implicitly trust and deeply know. Do not offer paid services to people that you do not know without getting upfront payment.
If your school has a career prep center, take advantage of this. I did not and I regret it. Many of my college friends did and it got them internships and other cool stuff while we were in school. A good career prep center can help you improve your CV, edit cover letters and find internships.
Get a campus job if you can, especially one that is more paraprofessional level work, as this can only help your resume. The pay will probably suck though. Sorry to say.
Find a good space to study that is not your bedroom.
Invest in good noise cancelling headphones. These are great to wear while studying if you don’t do it in the library (I didn’t).
EAT. I also did not do so good with this, but when I was doing good with the eating thing, stuff was definitely better. That John Mulaney meme “do my friends hate me or do I just need to eat something and take a nap” is right and should say so.
Your college more than likely has a student health center. The health center can help you get up to date on vaccinations, check out minor injuries and help you find a local PCP/GP if you need it. They likely also offer a certain number of free therapy sessions per month/term. Use the free therapy. 11/10.
Getting to know people in the years above you is also a great way to get a real tour of the useful stuff on campus, and find out where the cheapest groceries, gas and fun activities are in town.
Use one web browser on your computer for all your school stuff and another one for all your personal/fun stuff. If possible or applicable to you, having different computers altogether for this rocks. I have a collection of old used laptops that I obtained for $500 or less on the internet.
Keep all of your syllabi and read them very carefully. A good professor will lay out a good outline of their course and all of their course expectations in their syllabus, as well as their contact info.
not 2 be a librarian on main, but your school library (and whatever public library you are a resident patron of) probably has some pretty banging resources for all kinds of stuff.
