I'll be writing a longer blog post about this later, but I've been thinking about studyspo. I see posts here (studyblr) and on Instagram (studygram), but they don't inspire me so much as stress me out. As a disabled and chronically ill student, my study habits will never be as aesthetically pleasing or well organised as those that tend to feature on studyspo. Assistive technology, ergonomic keyboards, wrist splints -- none of those tend to feature here or on Instagram. Beautifully handwritten notes don't make me want to study; they just make me feel sad that I can't do calligraphy any more. I'm sure it can be a wonderfully motivating community for some people, but for me, it feels inaccessible, like it favours able-bodied study methods.
So I'd like to start a new tag, for those of us who can't write intense calligraphic notes while sitting in a quirky cafe. For those who have to dictate or type; for those who can only work an hour at most before needing to take a break, a nap, or painkillers. For the anxious ones who can't micromanage their time because writing detailed plans just stresses them out.
If you're a disabled or chronically ill student, join me in the #studyspoonie tag. Let's make a studyspo community that's actually inspiring, instead of making us feel inadequate because we can't work in the same ways as able-bodied people. Post your aesthetically unpleasing assistive tech, your messy dyspraxic handwriting, your ergonomic pens. Instead of a place of humblebragging, let's make this a place of supporting each other. Because studying is hard. Chronic illness and pain and disability are hard. Combining the two can be nearly impossible.
Bring your mess, bring your bad days, bring your disorganisation. Bring the "it doesn't have to be good, it just has to be done" mindset, because sometimes that's all that gets you through.
(For the record, this is not intended as a condemnation of traditional studyblr. I'm sure it works great, for some people. But it makes me feel worse, so I'm going another way.)
