buy new/pretty stationery; i love buying new pens and notebooks so much that i’ll easily get through re-writing notes i had been putting off
create a few study playlists; since instrumental/classical music helps improve brain functioning, have a selection of ones you like, but also add in the odd soft lyrical song. take a break every time a song with lyrics comes on and work during the instrumentals. it should be in a 5:1 ratio (instrumental:lyrical) that way you will work for 20-30 minutes with a 5 min break
make your study space smell good; light a candle, or a smell that you enjoy, try to use the same scent every time to trigger memory recollection. mint and vanilla are my favs!
write down how much time you spend studying for a test and then the grade you got; then you can figure out how time you really need to spend to get a good grade. this will help you use your time more effectively
read over your notes before you sleep; this allows for neuron to be killed and myelin pathways to be made! which means learning and understanding, yay!
get done up; you don’t always need to study in comfy clothes, putting on makeup and a nice outfit can put you into a ‘let’s get shit done’ mood
make you notes pretty; it’s more visually interesting to study and can me more fun to write and make, which helps you learn while you write them!
i really hope this can help some of you and that you enjoy these tips! don’t be afraid to ask me any questions!
Instagram: kitsuneki_
the inherent cultism of wealthy new england towns in autumn
If you’re not a morning person, you know the struggle. It’s not just about waking up, it’s about actually getting yourself to do stuff in the morning. While I usually recommend you adapt to your body’s own schedule, as you’ll work much better, school, work or other activities may not allow you to do so. Therefore, here’s a guide on how to get shit done in the morning.
Prepare whatever study materials you’re going to use that day. Open your notes and make sure you know where you should start (i personally lay a pen on the exact paragraph).
Put a bottle of water and some tea (with caffeine) or coffee on your desk so that you don’t have to go get it next morning.
If you’re usually cold in the mornings, get yourself a blanket. I promise you mine has made me more productive than all the coffee I’ve ever had.
Write a to-do list for next day. Then distribute those tasks in a schedule (you can either use a printable or just scribble it on some piece of paper). Take into account you’ll need time for breakfast and personal hygiene.
Other than that, don’t leave anything else on your desk, as it may be distracting.
Make an effort to go to bed at least an hour earlier. It makes a huge difference when you wake up
if you struggle to wake up, try the following:
Ask someone to wake you up (a parent, a roommate).
Put your phone accross the room and inside a glass to amplify the sound.
If your phone has an option for voice alarm, use it. Make it something really motivating or, even better, really annoying.
Combine all of the above for foolproof results.
Chug your liquids! - The very first thing you should do after your feet touch the floor is drink some water and drink something caffeinated (yes, in that order) (caffeine because it will kick in by the time you’re done with breakfast and water because caffeine can be dehydrating + water will also jumpstart your body).
Put on some fluffy socks - okay maybe this is just a personal thing but I’m personally much less likely to go back to bed once i have some socks on.
Smol workout - do something that will send blood to your brain. It can literally be ten jumping jacks.
Breakfast? Not yet - you’ve gotten up, you want food, understandable. BUT remember that book/notebook you put on your table last night? Well, get to work on it for 15-30 minutes. You may be sleepy and not able to comprehend much of what you’re doing, but the important thing is that once you come back from having breakfast, you will already have started, which is the most difficult part.
Avoid anything with a shit-ton of sugar - it will give you a sugar crash in about an hour and all you’ll want to do is go back to bed. (Personal rec is overnight oats with some fruit on top - delicious, fast af and super filling and energizing).
A big breakfast can make you sleepy. Instead, make it a little bit smaller and have some healthy snacks (like hummus) throughout the morning. Look at them as your reward for studying.
Stay off the internet. During breakfast, I find that social media (especially youtube) tend to put me off working afterwards, as they give me something more insteresting to do. Therefore I reccommend you either find something else to do (write your to do list, read a book) or limit your Internet time to 5-10 minutes.
Remember that you control your mindset. If after doing all of this you still don’t feel like studying, it’s perfectly okay to stare at your desk for five minutes and have an argument with yourself about how much you do want to study. Seems stupid but trust me, it works most of the time.
Other masterposts
How To Stop Procrastinating
Random College Tips
Skincare 101
Memorization Tips
Tips For New Studyblrs
Use Studyblr to Become Productive
tomorrow is december, which means i’ve succesfully wasted almost an entire year again
jo: fountain pens, seemingly permanent ink stains, pulling 3 all-nighters in a row because you just had the perfect idea for your essay, messy bun with at least 3 pencils sticking out
meg: pomodoro method, color-coded notes, sitting in the front of the class, study groups at the café, carefully coded study plan
amy: doodling in the margins, passing funny notes in class, studying outside, going over flash cards with friends, refusing to compromise for second best
beth: classical music study playlist, renting a private study room, making your own tea, making study guides before every test, baking snacks for the teacher
laurie: studying with friends and doing more talking than studying, getting distracted looking out the window, 40-minute long "study breaks"
William Shakespeare — Macbeth
Here are some reminders to myself. Hopefully, they are also helpful to some freshmen or anyone who’s curious:
1. University is not school.
You can’t shilly-shally around, take your sweet time and expect to just roll with it. Trust me, you will be in for a rude awakening. Find a goddamn studying method early in and stick with it. Flashcards and quizlets, whatever works for you. The deadlines and exams will draw closer faster than you think they will.
2. Your profs are not decoration.
Ask. Questions. Seriously. And go to office hours if you have any particular problem to resolve. Make use of that time. A lot of them will actually be thankful anyone is showing up. Against popular belief, professors indeed do make a mental note of a lot of their students. Don’t be one of those 20 people standing infront of their office for the first time a week before the exam.
3. Get as much work as possible done until noon.
It’s 12 and you have already studied for three and a half hours? Amazing. Look, I know, I am not a morning person either. But at least try it out. Get your sleep schedule in check. It will feel so much better than to procrastinate until evening and then you HAVE to do it anyway.
4. If you can explain it, you have understood it.
Done studying? Bet you’re not. Try explaining yourself the material loudly like teaching it to a clueless person. Or get yourself a study buddy and explain your subjects to each other. It’s even better if you don’t have the same majors. If you are able to explain the topic and have the other person understand it, you actually know the topic. If not, you now know where the shoe pinches. It’s also great practice!
5. You may feel a bit lonely at first.
Okay, I don’t want to scare anyone. I did find a lot of friends. Especially at first, everyone is your friend. Because everyone is scared of missing the boat and feeling left out. There will be so many people around you. Still – or maybe that’s the reason – you will probably feel a bit lonely at first. I want to tell you that this is normal. It’s because everyone is still a stranger to you and maybe you’ve just moved out! Maybe you are far away from home for the very first time. I’ve struggled with this. That’s fine! Everything will be fine. You will feel at home eventually.
I hope everyone is doing well. Take care! :)
Orange County
i’ve been saying this to myself this morning and i’m going to say it to you in case you need to hear it: you are not here to be physically attractive. that is not your purpose. you are here to learn new things and be kind to people and listen to your favorite music and pet cute dogs and read big books and drink good coffee. you are here to see beauty in the world and create it when you can’t find any. you are not here to impress people with how you look.
✨feel free to share the vibes!!✨
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