College Study Tips - Blog Posts

Pharmacology is going to kill me. I have an exam on Thursday that I know I'm not going to do the greatest on since I've just been very unmotivated the last 2 weeks. Now that I'm feeling good again I'm kicking myself for not trying harder 😭 how am I going to memorize all these drugs?!

So, I might be switching from my current bachelors degree at my university to pursuing an associate at the local community college for medical assisting. And I'm terrified.

I will be losing significant financial aid in the coming fall semester, which is definitely a driving factor in my decision to possibly switch over, as community college is much cheaper here. I'll be able to reapply to my university afterward to continue my bachelors degree in nutrition, so there's that too.

I guess I just nervous about making such a big switch. I've never been the best with phlebotomy stuff, which I'll need both clinical and in class experience with as I pursue the associate for medical assisting.

Any words of encouragement, or advice from people who've made a similar ish type of switch? I'm super nervous, nothing has been set in stone or done yet, but I'd love to hear from people who've done anything similar.

Thank you <3

TODO ASAP

research internship/volunteer opportunities relevant to my field of study

research possible scholarship and financial aid opportunities for summer classes

research colleges for my future masters program + decide what to pursue my masters in

narrow down my class search and focus for my education as it continues

If anyone has any advice or tips for everything I have to accomplish listed here, I am all ears as I am kind of lost on what to do and know I need to take my education more seriously.

Daily Check-Ins

Hello lovelies!

Quick question for everyone. I have been debating doing my daily check ins like I used to. I feel as tho it will keep me more accountable (alongside my lovely accountability buddies), and help me realize that I've done a lot of things in a day and have things to feel proud of. What do you guys think? Should I start that back up?

Accountability Buddy Search!

I am currently on the search for an accountability buddy! Someone I can use to keep me on track with my academic goals, life admin goals, language study goals, and whatever specific things I'd want to accomplish! I also would love to help someone else stay accountable with their academic/language/life admin goals!

editing to add: I AM LOOKING FOR AN ACCOUNTAVILITY BUDDY AGAIN! Communication via discord and I will be updating my goals!

Here are some of my goals:

regularly studying spanish/Japanese

sticking to my routines consistently

maintaining a healthy, productive balance in life

regularly meeting my personal goals (reading, joirnaling, working out, etc)

Here are some things about me:

I am a 22 year old female

I am a senior n university, but 3rd year of studying my major

My major is Human Nutrition/Dietetics, and I am also minoring in Psychology and Exercise Science

I want to begin regularly studying Japanese and Spanish, and maybe Korean too

I want to begin reading, journaling, and sticking to consistent skincare and workour routines as well as keep academically inclined.

My Preferences in Accountability Buddy:

Female, 19-24 years of age (no minors or males, please.)

preferably in college/university, but it also doesn't matter if you independently study languages

also has some academic/productive oriented goals, or just goals that you'd like to be kept accountable on

has a not super personal way of contact for the accountability check ins (GroupMe, Discord, and eventually maybe a way to video call once we get more comfortable with each other, but of course, safety first! and tumblr inbox works too, but I feel discord or groupme might be a little easier long term)

hopefully willing to stay accountability buddies for a decent amount of time (for the next 4 weeks at minimum)

willing to lay out or goals, accountability check in schedule, and open to communication with respect to each of our time zones/schedules/commitments, etc

conversationaly fluent/fluent in English or English first language at the least. It's the only language I currently speak so it would be easier to work with someone that speaks the same language

If anyone is interested in having/being an accountability buddy, please send me an ask or message me! Please be respectful of my preferences tho, I really do want to be safe with something like this because with the internet, you never know. I look forward to possibly meeting/working with/becoming acquaintances with you guys!!

ps. please don't be put off by the aesthetics of my blog, I can assure you all, I am a typical, 21 year old college student who works an on campus job, struggles with sleep and caffiene, and is constantly staying on top of my grades and classes while also worrying if I'm doing enough to keep my GPA at a good spot. this blogs aesthetics are purely for fun and artistic expression. If I wasn't such an aesthetic-loving person, I'd post my own study type photos but I'd feel so less-than if I posted like, a non cohesive plethora of photos I take. I'm not good at taking photos

favorite stationery items?

I thought of something fun to do on my blog that would keep me entertained for a while!

everyone and anyone can reboot this and/or comment with your favorite stationery items, whether you use them for school, bulletin journaling, or work!

I’ll start!

Zebra mildliners <3

Kokuyo campu binders and notebooks, grid paper tho as I’ve shifted away from using ruled/lined paper

Muji gel pens 0.5 (not the biggest fan of the 0.38 size)

Most gel pens in general

Brush pens! I’ve used zebra, tombow, etc

zebra milk gel pens (I think that’s what they’re called? They write so nice and the colors are so cute)

stabilo boss highlighters (pastel)

that’s all I can think of right now. But I am an avid stationery lover and collector. The bigger I can grow my collection the better!

so let me know what some of your guys favorite stationery items are! Ohhh and maybe mention your favorite websites and/or apps for buying stationery! I love kawaii pen shop and stationery pal!

til later, lovelies 🩷

In Need of Motivation 🎀

can anyone recommend some good studyspo YouTubers or just any studyspo content, study motivation advice and tips for right now?

I have homework and studying I need to work on but can’t find the motivation to move from my bed to my desk.

I might try a Study to Success video, or an old video from Studyquill.

also, I’m curious, what keeps you guys going to get some work done when you don’t feel like doing it? What sparks your productivity?

🩷

small break from my normal challenge posts to ask a question and get some feedback!

I’m going to start posting some language learning stuff and hopefully some study type content as well now that finals are coming up and during the following break I want to dive back into my language studies to keep my brain full of knowledge.

Can anyone recommend some resources and advice/tips?

I’m looking for (Mexican) Spanish learning resources, Japanese learning resources, and advice and tips on motivation to keep going with the language learning, some productivity and discipline tips, and just any advice and motivation you guys have in general? Even if it’s not language related and just school and study related, I would be so happy to hear from all of you guys!

I look forward to posting some more normal everyday content along side the study school and language stuff along with my challenge updates! I feel like I haven’t been keeping up with the normal content I want to post so I’m really looking forward to doing more of that now!

anywho, thanks in advance for the resources, advice, and tips! I appreciate all of you, lovelies 🩷🤍

Daily Check-in Septmeber 14th, 2023 🎀

This was a good day. Busy, absolutely, but good nonetheless. Had a meeting with my 1st dietetics mentor, and she was absolutely the sweetest and sent me an email after our meeting about the projects she wants me to work on currently, as her mentee. Cannot wait to meet my 2nd mentor next week! Also, I got asked to go into work, so I pulled a 6.5-hour shift when I didn't need to, but I need money so it's worth it.

🩷 What I Ate Today -

Breakfast - tuna w mayo and crackers

Lunch - iced coffee, chicken parm, noodles, one garlic bread, some asparagus

Dinner - chik fil a sandwich, medium fries, polynesian sauce

Extra - 3 more coffees in addition to the one I had at lunch

I am overconsuming caffiene so much right now, but I have been understandably so tired, so it's definitely helping me get through my days and weeks right now. I also genuinely enjoy the taste of the coffee I make, so that's always fun. I did just but a matcha set online, so hopefully, I can learn to make my own matcha and cut back on coffee for a bit.

🩷 Personal Achievements -

Attended RD meeting

Had my therapy appointment

Planned out part of my upcoming week/weekend

Studied Japanese for ~15 min

I did not accomplish almost anything school related, but that's okay because I'll have the time to do it all this weekend after work both days.

🩷 Todo for Today -

take Fitness For Health and Sport lecture notes

call embroidery place about dropping off my cooking class's chef coat

Video call with my boyfriend

Complete my Sample nutrition log assignment + submit it (if I have the time)

Study Japanese 10+ minutes

Because of how busy my schedule has been, I've been studying Japanese daily about 10 to 15 minutes a day. I'm starting to remember the hiragana characters pretty well so I've started jotting down vocabulary in a mini notebook.

🩷 Song of the Day - Social Path by Stray Kids, LiSa

This song is on repeat right now. I've always loved both their music and now that they've collabed, I'm on cloud 9. They're voices all sound so good in this song.

That's all for now! Will not be updating the 15th due to working the night shift at my job but will update for the 15th and 16th on Saturday night!

Til next time, lovelies 🩷

Language Learning Goals 🎀

because I’m just starting out trying to re learn and familiarize myself with the Japanese language again, it was hard for me to think of current goals I might want to achieve, and what time frame I’d want to achieve them in. I think I will begin posting a monthly goals list because as I learn more of the language, my goals are definitely going to change. Right now I have my long term goals for Japanese and then some short term daily/monthly goals!

🌸 Long Term Japanese Goals -

conversational fluency - I want to be able to have comprehensible conversations with native Japanese speakers, and be able to understand what they say and also be able to speak the language myself

understand Japanese media - I want to be able to listen to music and watch Japanese YouTubers and Anime without subtitles

understand spoken/written Japanese - again, I want to be able to know what other people are saying in this beautiful language and also be able to read it to some extent.

My main goals long term are to travel to different parts of Japan in the coming future so being able to speak, understand, and read japanese are my biggest concerns but I’d also like to have that knowledge of writing the characters and knowing proper stroke order too, just for fun and education!

🌸 Daily Japanese Learning Goals -

Use one type of media as a passive learning tool (music, tv shows, YouTube, anime)

Study Flashcards 2-3 times (currently using my hiragana Flashcards I made on Anki)

Minimum of 2 Duolingo lessons

Practice writing the characters in an app (again, currently re learning hiragana)

1 other app lesson used as a supplemental learning tool (renshuu, Bunpo, LingoDeer, drops, etc)

My daily goals are a bit broad as this is typically what I want to do on a day to day basis for about a month of two, and then I will incorporate using textbooks, workbooks, notebooks, and really dive into the self studying and learning more structurally.

🌸 Monthly Japanese Goals (September) -

Memorize hiragana characters

Begin learning basic vocabulary (~30 vocabulary words by end of month)

Begin studying katakana characters (make Flashcards, use apps, etc)

Practicing speaking and pronunciation skills (shadow speak: use YouTube and some tv shows)

Practice realistic listening skills (YouTube videos, tv shows, anime)

Purchase Genki I and Genki II workbook and textbook + Answer Key and chart bundle

Kept a minimum of a 7 - 10 day streak on Duolingo

Joined Japanese club at my university

These are my current goals for the month of September! As the weeks continue, i will assess my progress and build new monthly goals depending on my current progress levels. I’m really excited to be doing this and sharing this journey with everyone. The biggest thing about why I made this blog the way I did was to keep myself accountable for my goals and that is exactly what I plan on doing; reaching my goals!

I so deeply appreciate the encouragement and support you all show me on a consistent basis! It means so much to have this community to keep me accountable and just help keep me on track with my goals but also remind me to be kind to myself! You guys are absolutely amazing <3

Im gonna post a combined daily update for today and yesterday later tonight!

Til next time, lovelies 🩷🤍

***also, wanted to mention, none of the pictures I use are my own!!! I get them from Pinterest but I use them in my posts to keep me motivated to make my space and aesthetic in real life as similar as possible!

Daily Check-in September 10, 2023 🎀

I am so tired!!! This weekend has worn me out. I worked almost 9 hours on Friday, 13 hours on Saturday, and about 6 hours today, and I'm scheduled for another 9 hours at my job tomorrow. I'm so happy that I'm getting money for the things I need to buy but I'm so tired now.

Anywho, onto today's breakdown:

🩷 What I Ate Today:

Brunch - Two cheese breadsticks and half a slice of pepperoni pizza w 8oz of Dr pepper

After Work - One bowl of spicy Ramen w some fiesta blend cheese mixed in

Dinner - One home grilled cheeseburger and some baked French fries w ketchup and a can of Dr pepper

Extra - Three cups of coffee and a lot of water

It's not my best, but I'm tired, and I needed the energy. Hopefully, I can have something healthy tomorrow, like a smoothie or something for breakfast.

🩷 Personal Goals Achieved Today -

Did two loads of laundry (did not put away yet)

Showered and washed hair after work

Took out my trash (bedroom and bathroom)

Washed pillowcases and put back on my pillows

Planned out the upcoming week

Planned tomorrow mornings workout!!

I am planning on easing back into working out now that my back feels better. I'm trying to focus on some easier workouts that won't make it easy to re injure myself. I'm so excited to get back into my routine for the morning!

🩷 Productive Academic Accomplishments -

took and passed my PSYC Ch 3 Quiz

Passed the first 6/16 modules for a training certificate for my PSYC class

Almost completed my PSYC Chapter 3 Notes

Planned out homework for the week

🩷 Song of the Day - Workin Hard by Fujii Kaze

I was recommended to check this song out by a fellow blog, and it was the best decision I made, I absolutely love this song!! I would tag them, but I'm so sleepy that I don't wanna tag the wrong one!

I feel like today was definitely a good day to go easy on myself, work and productivity wise. I didn't want to stress myself out and I was successful, I think. Still trying to get my nutrition in order but it will all come together in time. I'm here for the journey to my best self, not some end goal. I never want to stop improving myself or learning.

I'm falling asleep as I type this, but I will be posting about my Japanese language goals tomorrow so stay tuned!

Til next time, lovelies 🩷

Current Japanese Study Routine + Resources 🎀

As you all may know, I am currently self studying Japanese and Spanish, though I am putting Spanish on the back burner for now so I can focus more on Japanese as that is where my passion lies at the moment. Lucky for me, there is a Japanese language and culture club on my university campus that I am (hopefully) going to join next week or the week after, given how busy my schedule ends up being. I thought I’d make a little post about my current routine that I use to study and what resources I am currently using and am planning on purchasing to use in order to build my proficiency in this beautiful language!

Current Resources 🩷

Apps - I am currently playing around with several apps to see which ones work for me, so here is all the apps I currently have downloaded to my iPad/phone

Duolingo - this has been a go to for all language I’ve ever tried to learn, it’s useful for me as a basic introduction to vocabulary, sentence structure, some grammar, and I just like how it involves typing, speaking, listening, and reading.

Drops - this one is just a fun little 5 minutes gamified way to learn vocabulary for me, it’s definitely a go to on my lazier language learning days

Bunpo - I like this for learning the kana but I didn’t realize it costs money to use fully so I am debating purchasing a subscription to the paid version

Write Japanese - this one I’m using to learn the correct stroke order for the kana and I like it for the most part

Renshuu - I just signed in to use this one last night and it looks interesting. I’ve seen it recommended by several blogs and even when google searching language learning and watching YouTube videos so I’m excited to try it out!

NHK for School - I saw someone recommend this on their blog and I remember using the website version in the past so I know this will be helpful when it comes to reading

Jisho - this is a dictionary app that I’ve seen recommended on so many platforms and I’m always open to a good dictionary!

Japanese - this one was recommended on a blog post and it allows you to add vocabulary and interesting phrases so I thought it’d be useful once I start on learning sentence structure and grammar

Italki - this one is the one I’m most excited to use. It connects you to people who speak and teach your target language for a set timed lesson, and it does cost money but you pay by lesson, not on a subscription basis. So if you do one lesson the first week and then another lesson in three weeks or something, you only pay for those two lessons. I’m really looking forward to trying this one out in the future once I get more comfortable with speaking.

Anki - a flash card app I am using to currently learn hiragana and will soon use for katakana and eventually kanji and phrases. I was gonna use Quizlet but I ended up liking this one better for my current needs.

LingoDeer, Memrise, Babbel, HiNative, HelloTalk, Hey Japan, Busuu, Kanji, Kana, Sensei - apps that I have and have not tried yet. I really like the ones I’ve already tried so I’m not sure if I’m going to use these ones soon but if I get bored of current apps than I at least have alternatives to turn to to continue learning

Textbooks/Workbooks/Materials - I currently own two workbooks but will include the resource I am planning on buying, as well as any stationery material I am also using!

Japanese for Busy People I - This was the workbook we had for the Japanese class I took at my university while in high school. My dad ended up buying it for me if I promised not to take Japanese classes once I went to college. (My parents don’t believe it is useful to know and they are helping pay for my education so I didn’t have a choice.) I haven’t started reusing it yet but once I am comfortable with the kana then I will resume using it.

Let’s Learn Katakana - this is a katakana writing book my older brother bought for me (he is supportive of everything I have an interest in even if he doesn’t understand it himself) and it is really useful for learning and practicing writing katakana. However I am still focusing on relearning hiragana so I will return to this workbook after I solidify my hiragana knowledge.

Genki I and Genki II textbook/workbook + answer key bundle - I am planning to buy this off of Amazon as I have heard from most people who are learning Japanese on their own that this set is really useful for self studying so of course I am going to invest in it once I get paid next week.

I am also looking for a hiragana, katakana, and kanji writing workbook to practice those skills.

Free Online Resources -

YouTube!

Anime!

Music

Manga

Anything free I can find online when google searching resources

Stationary Supplies -

Kokuyo Campus Smart Ring Binder in pink

Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens in black

Index cards

Pilot g-2 fashion pens

Zebra mild liner highlighter/markers

Papermate Mechanical Pencils

Mini notebook to carry around for vocabulary

My iPad + Apple Pencil + Goodnotes 5

My Chromebook

A lot of resources but I am trying to stick with this for the long term. A few years ago, I self studied Japanese everyday for about 2 years and gained a good understanding but fell off from studying Japanese when I went to university.

My Current Study Routine* 🎀

*when I have more than 30 minutes to study, if I only have 30 minutes or less I just mess around on my language apps

I currently do not use any workbooks or textbooks as I am trying to re familiarize myself with the language. Here’s my current study routine!

Practice Anki flashcards 3 times or until I get 85-90% correct

Practice hiragana writing in Write Japanese app (~10min)

Duolingo lessons for 10 minutes

1 Japanese language Drops lesson

Use Renshuu until I get bored (~10-15min)

Watch an episode of anime as a reward (Japanese audio with English subtitles)

I will switch this up to a more structured way of studying once I start using my textbooks and workbooks, but for now this relaxed style of learning is working for me time wise and attention wise (ADHD brain right here).

I also listen to Japanese music throughout the day and try to recall hiragana characters correctly in my head when I have the time. I also sneak in some practice when at work on my apps and whatnot. I mentioned in my last daily check in some of my favorite Japanese artists, and I also love Japanese versions of K-pop songs too! I’m currently watching Bungou Stray Dogs on crunchyroll right now, and I’m open to any recommendations for what to watch next!

If anyone has any language learning tips or resources they’d want to share, feel free to comment! It would be greatly appreciated!

Til next time my lovelies 🩷🤍

Daily Check-in September 7th, 2023 🎀

Today was...not the most productive day for me if I'm being honest. When I'm using my Ipad to video call my boyfriend, I can't take notes like I want to, so I end up feeling like I'm behind on my homework. I'm genuinely thinking about buying a second Ipad to keep my personal life and academic life separate. I have a 2nd Ipad, but it's with my boyfriend, 1000+ miles away. My university sells one online for 300$ USD so I might buy it when I get paid next week.

🩷 What I Ate Today -

Breakfast - leftover burritos with taco bell Diablo sauce

Lunch - spicy ramen with shredded fiesta blend cheese

Dinner - McDonald's

Snacks - one mint choco chip yasso bar, two cups of coffee with creamer

Not my healthiest eating day but I have been incredibly stressed so I turned to easy, greasy comfort food though all its done is upset my stomach. Tomorrow will be better.

🩷 Personal Habits/Goals I Achieved -

nightly skincare routine

studied Japanese for 10ish minutes

took out my bedroom trash

made a workout plan for the week

made a goal setting plan for working out

got in touch with one of my two assigned registered dietitian mentors

got my three week grown acrylics soaked off professionally

I'm hoping to implement the workout routine tomorrow, but I want to take it slow ish because I'm still recovering from a back injury and whiplash from last week so fingers crossed I don't irritate the injury! Also, I'm super excited to be a dietitian mentee. The one dietitian I'm in contact with currently is absolutely the sweetest!

🩷 Academic Achievements -

finished my Fitness For Health and Sport module 3 notes

posted my discussion post and one classmate response for the same course

completed and passed the module quiz for the same class

completed and passed my Food Fundamentals Chapter 5 Quiz

planned for the next few upcoming days

My job has me scheduled for ~35 hours Friday thru Monday, so I am going to be so tired this weekend, but I need the money because I have rent to pay, I want to buy a Genki 1 & 2 Textbook and Workbook + Answer key & hiragana/sentence chart (and some other resources), I want some more stationary, and I need to buy more groceries soon. I am also planning to buy another Ipad, and add some language app subscriptions to my arsenal of language resources for my lazy days.

🩷 Song of the Day - TT Japanese vr by Twice

I love that there are so many Japanese versions of kpop songs that I absolutely love, so this way I can passively listen to the language while enjoying music! There's also a ton of J-pop songs I'm currently in love with. Some of my favorite j-pop artists are liSa, Kenshi Yonezu, YOASOBI, Fuji Kaze, Suda Masaki, Ado, etc.

I did not workout today, I did not do morning skincare, and I did not make my bed. I am planning on getting back on track tomorrow. I appreciate this platform and my followers who help me want to stay on track. I appreciate all 300+ of you <3

Til next time, lovelies 🩷

Update To My Posts/Blog & Daily Check Ins 🎀

So, when I first started this blog about two months ago, I had planned on using it as a way to stay accountable towards things like weight loss and my health journey. That was in the summer, when I had the time to solely focus on that as my top priority. Now, with school having started, my weeks, even my days are so much busier now. I am currently working over 30+ hours a week at my job, taking on 17 credit hours at my university, joining a club on campus, and am now under the mentorship of two separate registered dietician’s all while self studying two languages, keeping up with a self care routine, socializing with friends, doing homework outside of class time, and beginning a workout routine again as I recover from a semi serious back injury.

All that being said, I would really like to incorporate a little bit from every aspect of my life into this tumblr blog. I am still keeping my pink, girly, kpop aesthetic, because I absolutely adore it, but I am going to add on some different topics of interest into my daily check ins. I will continue with the what I eat in a day, habits I accomplished, any workouts or movement I did, and a song of the day, but I will also add in productive/school goals I achieved (such as how long I studied, how much schoolwork I finished, language learning stuff, etc), and just overall stuff about my daily life as a semi high achieving university student!

I will be posting a check in for today later tonight! It will include what I ate, what I did personal wise, school/productive stuff I did, a song of the day, and just an overall update on what I did today! I just need to get my format of how I want to write out everything figured out.

Til next time lovelies! 🩷🤍