Schedules: either you master it in the best possible way or you have no idea what you’re doing at all. Like at all. Completely lost. Time management can be a scary thing, for sure, and you’re completely normal if you feel that way. But the only way you can conquer your fear of managing your days is with practice. Here’s what I did on my way to the top of the hill called Mt. Time Management.
1. Know yourself. What? Really? The answer’s yes. You gotta know how much work you can get done in one hour. How much material and information can you understand in one hour? How many practice worksheets can you finish in one hour? How long can you sit down and just read and study? You gotta know what method works best for you in order to begin your journey in managing your timetable.
2. Prioritize. You’re given assignments to work on or tests to study for. Know when they’re due and how long you need to get them done. I write them on my little desk calendar so I know how much time I have. Little post-it notes work best for me, but if agenda is your thing, you do you!
3. Don’t wait until the last minute. I know you might think you need that last minute adrenaline rush and pressure to finish your papers and projects, but don’t give in to the temptation. Doing bit by bit of your project throughout the two weeks you’re given is much more effective and it saves a lot of your time. When you get an idea, write it down and do it immediately. And when it’s time to submit, all you have to do is edit and probably add some minor details in and voila! You’re ready to drop that mic.
4. Don’t forget to de-stress! Continue reading that book that you’ve been putting off. Go out for a nice stroll around the park. Watch a relaxing movie. Put on a face mask. Brew yourself a nice cup of tea. Don’t overexert yourself because you deserve a break (and don’t feel guilty about it).
5. It’s better to wait than to be late. This applies for almost everything, really. Come early to class and who knows you might get some tips and insights from your professor. Get to the bus stop early (for those of you fellow bus-taking peeps) and who knows if the bus comes early. Arrive to work early and help your co-workers with anything. You never know if you can make somebody’s day by being punctual!
6. Plan! Yes, plan. I plan my days in my head, but if you need a visual, writing it down is always good. From when to wash my hair, to how much time I need to get my make up done and what time I go to bed, planning helps you set limits when you’re going astray. If I plan on going to bed at 12 AM, and I’m still surfing on Youtube by that time, I’m going to stick to my plan and shut my laptop down and go to bed. Also, discipline yourself and actually stick to your plan.
That’s pretty much it from me. I do all these things and I can assure you, it helps a lot. I always try to submit my papers at least 2 days early, I arrive at least 30 minutes before class starts, and I’m there at least 15 minutes before my shift at work starts. Please do let me know if these help!
i decided to compile a few playlists you can listen to while studying, reviewing, or just chilling while reading a nice book. these are my personal preferences and they are here to serve as more options for you if you are looking for a playlist!
note: all these playlists are on spotify.
Spotify’s Jazz Vibes playlist - this one has hours of modern jazz songs with chill beats and i turn to this when i want a bit more peace but still want some nice beats.
my k-indie playlist - they say if you want songs with lyrics as background, it’s better for them to have lyrics that you don’t understand aka in another language. i don’t speak korean hence why this is another playlist i love as a study accompaniment.
my rainy days playlist - this one is perfect for those gloomy days where you just wanna curl up with a good book and a cup of tea. it’s filled with jazz and acoustic to help you get in the mood.
i have 3 playlists for now, but i’ll be sure to add more when i find (or make) a new one!
Before I get to it, I would just like to say to everyone who is studying outside their home countries (and cities, yes they count too) that you all are badasses who deserve the world because of all the things you’ve been through and are going to get through.
Studying away from home and family is not without challenge, but that’s what makes life interesting, right? Hard times are stressful, but they’re a part of life, more so when you’re not in familiar surroundings and people.
1. Surround yourself with your native community. This is important! That’s why I made it the top of my list. Nothing feels like home than talking in your native language with your fellow native people. Talk about how you grew up, the mouth-watering food you ate, and all the weird and nostalgic traditions you used to do back home. I swear this will make you feel much better and less alone in a foreign country miles away from home.
2. Buy secondhand books. Just trynna survive that broke college student life, am I right folks? Yep, getting your hands on secondhand books will have your wallet and bank account thanking you over and over. I cannot tell you how much money secondhand books have saved me.
3. Time management will save your life. This might sound scary but it really is true. Being smart with your time is not easy, but with enough practice you can master it! (Also here’s my post about time management.)
4. Make friends from different backgrounds. Making friends is not easy, and might be scary for some people, more so making friends from different cultures. Don’t worry, once you get past the introduction stage, it gets much more interesting as you can exchange fun stories and weird experiences from your home countries! It is actually surprising how much we are actually alike in so many little ways even when we live on the opposite sides of the world.
5. Stay connected! Staying connected with people back home is very important. Especially now that it only takes a few taps on your phone to call or facetime, it shouldn’t be an excuse that you have no time to talk to your family and friends. They are your support system who helped you be who you are today, show them some love and appreciation! <3
Those are my tips and tricks, if you will, to survive studying in a place far, far away from where you came. Remind yourself that you will make it through and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel sooner than you might think!
you ever have that one teacher whose powerpoint slides are all jumbled up and unorganized that you have to organize them yourself in order to properly understand the topic?
Studying can take a lot of motivation and concentration. In fact, you need those two to be able to absorb all the information from your countless texts and powerpoints. But more often than not, those two are nowhere to be found when you actually need to cram those pages for that exam that’s worth a gazillion percent of your final grade. So here’s some stuff that might actually help if you’re trynna stay awake and alive to study and review.
1. Have a desk lamp. I know I mentioned this in my previous post, but seriously. Get the brightest desk lamp you can find and light it up when you’re studying. Some expert sciencey people say that you fall asleep easier when it’s dark, so better make your study space as bright as the sun (but not literally).
2. Chew a gum. While snacking might not be a good idea, chewing some mint gum however, can help your eyes stay open and read those passages in your book. I used this trick a couple of times and I suggest you get the strongest mint gum you can find, because that thing just wakes up your whole body.
3. Light a scented candle. This might be my favorite one yet. A scented candle can lift your mood and relaxes your brain for a bit. Stress can be dangerous when you’re studying as it can decrease your brain’s capacity to absorb information, so de-stressing your brain with scented candle is always a good idea.
4. Have some background music. For this one, it depends on your preference whether or not you can concentrate better with music or without, so it comes back to you. Personally, I need music literally for everything so I love having some jazz playing in the background while I study. If jazz is not up your alley, you can listen to something with lyrics that you’re familiar with. But if music makes you even sleepier, I don’t think it’s a good idea to have some when you’re trying to stay awake.
5. Get a change of scenery. Go study in that library you love, or your favorite coffee shop, go downstairs to the living room couches, or study outside in the sun when the weather is nice. Your study space can get stuffy and your brain might associate it with stress, and it’s always the best way to approach learning in a positive way.
6. Don’t study on your bed. Just don’t. Never the best idea.
7. Take quick breaks/ naps. By quick I mean like 10- to 30-minute breaks/ naps. You have no idea how refreshing a 15-minute nap can be. If you haven’t mastered the art of power napping and afraid you’ll end up full-on sleeping, take a break instead. Wash your face, play that game, go on tumblr, watch some youtube videos. Just don’t go overtime and end up not continuing.
I know it’s hard when all you want is to go outside and enjoy the sun (since it’s finally summer here in Canada), but your semester’s ending soon enough. Enjoy it as much as you can and don’t complain! It’s important to stay positive and grateful.
