sparksism

[sparksism]

i am a:

⚪️ man

⚪️ woman

🔘 person with adhd

and i am seeking:

⚪️ men

⚪️ women

🔘 meals that can be prepared in under 5 minutes

[sparksism]

So I'm gonna have a lot of unstructured time for the next few months before I start college. I'm gonna make a rountine her to follow so I dont keep being bored bc I don't have a job right now . and im so fucking bored.

Wake up, obvs. I'm gonna try to wake up earlier bc I need to, mabey atound like. 7 or 8.

I need more water so I'll drink some water right after I wake up.

Eat breakfast, mabey stretch , and get dressed, brush teeth, + do my makeup (or not and just do skin care). figure even though i don't go any where it'll eat up about 30/45 mins so I'm not sitting doing nothing. I shower at night during school but I'll shower in the morning now cause i want to. Go over schedule for the week.

After that I'm gonna sit down and draw. Preferably some where quiet, at a table. Im going to pretend its my job. And do it as long as I can. Pretend I have commissions even though I don't . or just have fun. Whatever I feel like that day. I'll take a break every 45 mins or so. If it gets stressful I'll just take a day to do nothing or something.

During my breaks I'll talk to friends, not solely do nothing on tumblr or whatever. Try to keep up with convos and such. Cam, alanis, rachel, all them. Drink water too bitch stay hydrated.

Lunch around noon ish. Idc what time, but i tend to forget to eat, so I might need an alarm.

I'll try to keep drawing for a while, until like 230 or 4. Depends on the day and whats going on.

After that I'll just chill out and talk to friends. And journa/ write sometime in the evening. Whether its creative/poetry, a rant, french learning, whatevs. I'm just going to try and do it.

I think night meds at 930 is the best time. I'll get in pajamas around 8, or after dinner. Whatever feels right. When we get back to the house in also gonna try to sleep in my bed every night, instead of wherever I am when I get tired enough. So I'll head up there around 10 or when my sister falls asleep.

[sparksism]

Emergency cleaning: Unfuck your whole house in the shortest time possible

So, your landlord/parents/home inspector/favorite movie star is dropping by, and your place is a disaster. You don’t have much time to clean it up. You’re in emergency mode. Let’s get started.

Don’t panic. Panic leads to fear, fear leads to procrastination, procrastination leads to the dark side. You can do this, but you have to stay calm.

Unlike maintenance cleaning, we’re not looking to completely unfuck one space at a time. Instead, we want to decrease the overall mess in stages, spread evenly across the whole area that we’re concerned about. If you think your home is at Level 10 filth, we want to bring the whole thing down to a Level 9, and then down from there. One really clean spot in an otherwise messy home is not going to be helpful here.

Get prepared. You’ll want to shut the computer down (or turn the modem off if you need your computer to play music). Trust me. Get your music going. Gather up trash bags, your vacuum and mop, some rags or paper towel, sponges, and other cleaning supplies. Use what you have on hand. Don’t get distracted running to the store and spending an hour browsing cleaning supplies. A multi-purpose cleaning concentrate or a jug of vinegar will be just fine.

Breaks are very important. Depending on your time constraints, work in 20/10s (20 minutes working, 10-minute break) or 45/15s. But take breaks because otherwise you’re marathoning, and marathon cleaning is no one’s friend. Keep hydrated, don’t forget to eat, and check in with yourself frequently to make sure you’re physically doing OK.

Make your bed. This will be your home base if you get overwhelmed or need somewhere clear to take a break.

Start with the garbage. Going from room to room, throw out anything that is obvious trash. Once you fill a bag, take it out. Repeat as many times as necessary.

Move on to dishes. Gather the dishes from all over your house and bring them to the kitchen. If you can, start them soaking in a sink of hot, soapy water or start loading the dishwasher. After the dishes are all in one place, spend one 20/10 getting started getting them under control.

Now it’s time for your flat surfaces. Countertops, tables, dresser tops, etc. Clear them off and wipe them down. Don’t get distracted in too much sorting and organizing. We’re in crisis mode here. There will be time to get in-depth once this is all done. The same applies to cabinets and closets. Unless you have reason to believe people will be opening closed doors, leave these alone for now.

Attack the floordrobe and shoe pile. Get your clothes either put away or in the hamper. Start a load of laundry if you need to, but keep in mind that laundry and dishes have three steps: wash, dry, and put it away, goddammit!

Get random stuff up off the floors. If something is trash-worthy, throw it away now rather than just move it around a bunch of times. Otherwise, put stuff where it belongs.

Take another 20/10 or 45/15 to catch up on more dishes, if needed.

Head into the bathroom. Pour some cleaner in the toilet bowl, fill the sink with hot water and cleaner, and either spray the tub and shower with cleaner, or fill the tub up with some hot water and add cleaner and let it soak. Put everything away that’s out and shouldn’t be, clean the mirror, counters, and toilet seat. Sweep or dry mop the floor. Wipe down the sink and tub/shower, and give the toilet bowl a scrub. Mop the floor.

Sweep and mop the kitchen floor.

Vacuum everything you can, and sweep everything you can’t.

Walk outside of your house (don’t lock yourself out, please). Walk back in and see what catches your eye first. Go and deal with that.

If you’re being inspected or your landlord is coming in for repairs, spend time on whatever area they’ll be focusing on.

Give the whole place one more once-over and pay attention to anything you’ve missed so far.

It’s an old trick, but if your place is a little funky-smelling, put a pan of water on the stove on low heat and add some citrus or cinnamon or vanilla. Don’t leave it unattended or forget about it.

Take a shower, put on something clean, and eat something.

You can do this. It’s overwhelming, yes, but it is not impossible. You just need to do it. You have a list. You have directions. You have a whole bunch of Internet strangers who have been there before and who are cheering you on. You can do this, but you need to get started.

Why are you still here? GO. START. NOW.

[sparksism]

To do list:

Pack art supplies

Either make the rag rug or throw away the cloth

Code acadamy

French

[sparksism]

I need to clean my damn room. And usually I won't but I'm posting this as an ,,, idk accountability thing ig? Even though this blog has no followers but that's ok.

I think I reblog w before and Afters of each thing on the list. Here goes

1. bring down dishes/ pick up trash

(😟 kinda embarrassing but I have tons of cups in my room rn. Luckily the Tash is mostly papers I'm not totally living in my gross haha).

2. Get my school stuff off my bed tf. (Again, kinda embarrassing, but since college is all online now I have a bunch of school stuff at the foot of my bed. Cause it's CoNVenIenT 😅). Stack it up nicely on my book shelf

3. Make bed, wash sheets

4. Organize/wipe down top of night stand, and dresser.

5. Organize makeup drawer

6. Organize my art bin, make it more convenient, mabey hang up art I'm proud of.

7. Closet. Jesus Christ my closet is just a pile of clothes, mostly my sister's, some mine. Also I need to actually fold the clothes in my dresser

8. Sweep, mop. Dust. Especially under bed

9. Wash that damn rug.

10. Shower and light a candle ig damn.

[sparksism]

today’s gentle delight: the reviews on this ikea bear

[sparksism]

my quick tips for working / studying from home

- get dressed and style your hair as if you’re going to school/work - even use the same perfume/ cologne as you normally do  (trick your mind into being motivated)

- plan things out - everything (plan out your week, day, meal, etc. you can make these as specific as you’d like. this will help you stay on top of your work as well as stay healthy, especially if you live alone.)

- make studying/ working the first thing you do each day - best if you can start in the morning (minimize the tendency to procrastinate)

- just start - don’t worry too much about perfecting or finishing anything yet (if you don’t start then there’s nothing for you to perfect or get done. and it will never get done)

- listen to old and simple (aka non-distracting) podcasts, Youtube videos, or café/ chattering white-noise, etc. simply leave them as background noise to create an illusion of being outside your room (bring the presence of people to you. my favorites lately have been slam poems from 2016, Mae Martin’s stages, and Awsten Knight’s crackhead podcasts)

- set timers, for both study sessions and breaks (so that you don’t overwork, burn out, or procrastinate. the Pomodoro technique works great here)

- take advantage of the comfort of your own home (light a candle, have crunchy snacks, play loud music, review notes out loud while pacing around, wrap yourself in a blanket burrito, study on your bed if you can focus there like me, etc. basically anything you can’t do in a classroom, office, or the library)

- if you miss your friends, call/ text/ facetime them, make a study group chat with them, etc. (that is what technology is for)

- choose recreational activities/ self-care for your breaks instead of going on social media (go on walks, make small art, play an instrument, stretch, take a nap, etc. I usually reach for my guitar, brainstorm writing ideas, or sketch very simple line art.)

- if you want to go on social media, do it during meal times - or the 15 minutes after your meals that you can’t work just yet (it also doesn’t make you feel like you’re wasting time)

- study in different rooms for a change of scenery (dining room, living room, the patio, etc. I have an armchair next to the window that I study in whenever I need some sunlight and don’t have to write anything down. however, if you need a designated place to focus on your work, you can also use these alternative spaces as designated “relax” or “creative” place for your breaks)

- use this as an opportunity to take care of yourself (get enough sleep, drink water, exercise, talk to your family, take your meds, be mindful of your mental health, etc.)

Feel free to add your tips. The current situation sure is unpleasant but it is unavoidable. All we can really do now is take care of ourselves, others, and try to make the best out of this.

Good luck to everyone and stay safe! My heart is with you all 💕

[sparksism]

[sparksism]

in the past, i had to prepare for several exams by self-studying for long hours at home, so over the years i’ve learned the best ways to adapt to this situation, which i now present in this little infographic. i hope it can ease some of the pressure! 💜

studygram

[sparksism]

[sparksism]

Some things it is A-OK to say to your doctor:

No

Wait

Stop 

(These are full sentences! You do not need to say any more) 

I am not comfortable. 

I am not comfortable, I would like… 

you to wait a moment.

another person in the room. 

everyone else out of the room. 

a doctor/nurse of my same gender to preform this test/procedure. 

the person who came with me to this appointment in the room. 

you to explain everything before you begin. 

you to tell me what you are doing as you go. 

to do this another day. 

I want to get a second opinion before we proceed.

I don’t understand, please repeat that. 

I don’t understand, please explain more simply. 

Please say that slower/spell that, I want to do some research myself.

I would like to talk to [someone in my life, ie my parents to SO] before making this decision. 

No, I do not need to talk to [anyone] before making this decision, I am confidant on my own and am ready to proceed. 

What are the side effects of this medication/procedure? What are the potential complications? 

Why are you recommending/prescribing this specific thing? 

What other treatment options are there? Why are you choosing this?

Would your treatment plan be different if I were a man/woman older/younger had kids, etc? Why are you choosing this one then?

IS there anything I should know about this treatment you have not yet told me?  

I understand you say not to, but If I choose to do X, against medical advice, what risks am I running? (ie taking recreational drugs while on medication)

How much will this cost? 

Are there any less expensive options/tests we can run first? 

Is there a generic of this medication you can prescribe instead?

I think you are not understanding me, I said…

You are not listening to me, please let me finish describing my symptoms. 

You are not understanding how much pain I am in, let me clarify… 

I do not think it is anxiety/depression/my weight/etc, what else could it potentially be? 

I think by assuming it is anxiety/depression/my weight/etc you are ignoring some symptoms. Please listen again and let’s discuss what else it could be. 

Please write in my chart that you are not testing for X and why not. 

I am in enough pain/this is detrimental enough to my life that non-treatment is not an option. If you can not treat this/figure out what is wrong, to whom can you refer me?

Please write (or help me write) a summary of what we did today so I don’t forget 

What are our next steps? 

If [what you are recommending] is ineffective, what would my next steps be? What other doctor should I talk to? 

What is the best way to contact you if I have additional questions or issues? 

Remember, a doctor is a person YOU pay because they know a lot about bodies in general, to help you figure out whats best for YOUR body. It is still your body, not theirs! They know about medicine but you are the expert in your body. Don’t let them act like they own you. Don’t leave if you’ve still got questions, don’t stay if you’re uncomfortable, and feel free to insist on ANY information you want. 

[sparksism]

[4-panel comic.  Panel 1: A mouse says “I really appreciate your support.” to an elephant. Panel 2: The mouse says “But when you tell me I’m doing great, and I still think I’m doing a bad job, I feel like I’m letting you down.” Panel 3: The elephant says “You’re not letting anyone down.” Panel 4: The elephant says “Sometimes it’s hard to believe in yourself even when others believe in you.”]

[sparksism]

[sparksism]

How to write a bomb ass personal statement

joolshallie :

I’ve had a few asks about how to write - as one of you put it - a bomb ass personal statement. I’m a bit reluctant to write this, seeing as I haven’t actually got an interview/offer yet! But I guess it might be helpful to those of you applying around now :)

HOW TO START

Bullet point what you want to include - I suggest listing out what you want to include. It’s a good idea to do this at the beginning, to make sure you don’t leave anything out; and it can help form the basic structure of your statement.

Do not start at the start - this is one of the most important things I learnt when writing mine. It is so hard to write that first sentence - so just leave it until the end, and begin writing with the actual content, something you’re more comfortable writing about.

When you do get down to writing that first sentence - do not start with a cheesy quote or the typical “I have always bee passionate about…” as these are things that can immediately put off an admissions tutor. Try and be original, or just simple: “I want to study X because…”

THE CONTENT

Just keep writing - don’t worry about the 4,000 character and 47 line limits. Literally just write, and keep going, even if you think what you’re writing is bad - just get all your ideas out there, and put down everything you would want to include. It’s so much easier to take things out rather than adding things in. My personal statement was around 8,000 characters at one point!`

Get the balance right - different unis want different things from personal statements, so check their websites to make sure you’re getting in what they want. You need to get the balance of intellectual curiosity/passion for the subject with your personal qualities and extra-curriculars. 

Back up everything with evidence - don’t just say you are great at working in a team, give examples that demonstrate that you have worked well in successful teams in the past.What to include?

WHAT TO INCLUDE

Why you want to study that particular course

Why you are the right person to study the course

Extra things you have done to show commitment or interest about the course - volunteering, subscriptions to journals, further reading etc.

Any relevant work experience

Any relevant awards you’ve won (e.g. maths challenge or physics olympiad) or responsibilities within the school (e.g. prefect or house captain)

Demonstrate desirable skills for your course - problem solving, teamwork, leadership etc.

WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE

Cliches - like “Ever since I was born I have wanted to study…”

Quotes - this is a personal statement, so don’t start quoting other people! Plus way too many people do this to make it original.

Jokes - it may be that the person reading your statement has a very different sense of humour than you do.

Really long sentences - you want your personal statement to be as easy as possible to read, and long confusing sentences won’t help that.

Repetition - it’s such a short document, you don’t have space for this. Plus it gets boring!

Names of unis - the unis you apply to have no idea where else you have applied, so don’t name any of them in your statement.

THE ENDING

Do not end on a cheesy quote or joke. Just sum up why you’d be a great candidate and reinforce what you have told them throughout the main body of the statement - that you’re fabulous!

Once you have finished a draft you can start trying to cut down on the word count. Maybe ask a teacher to look at your spelling/grammar, and you can always get your friends’ opinions too, on what should come out, and what should be kept in. Make sure you don’t let other people have too much influence - it has to be a personal statement!

[sparksism]

So ah, what is the chilliad?

the chilliad is a retelling of homer’s iliad, set in the american college fraternity system and told by freshman student homer to a set of police officers who are holding him for 24 hours after a fire at one of the fraternity houses. 

mostly it is the story of a group of real dumb twenty year olds seized by “that fatal american need to have a good time.”

[sparksism]

Things to do this June:

Create and use a skin regimen

Find your color concealer and foundation

Photography Challenge

Step up your Instagram feed Aesthetic

Learn how to do new things with your hair

Thrift shop for summer clothes

Redecorate your room with Summer vibes or just for a fresh start

Get candles and/or fairy lights for your room

Start a journal

Make a new playlist out of recommended songs from friends (and strangers if you’re brave)

Start putting sunscreen on every day(You’ll thank yourself later)

Make a list of movies you want to see and start making your way through them.

Make freezies or Ice Cream at home!

Bake cookies

Go out for ice cream

Start working out. (Swim, ride your bike, run, or do workout videos in the comfort of your home)

Make smoothies

Try intermittent fasting

Try to get a job at that place you’ve always loved.

Take a course (First Aid, Drivers Ed or even Scuba Diving)

Try to wake up early

Learn how to apply makeup

Learn new words

Pierce something

Try intermittent fasting

Save money

Get your nails done

Wax

Get your eyebrows professionally shaped

Buy or borrow a book and read the whole thing within a week

If you like reading, join a book club(Online or in person)

Take a class (Dance, Pottery, Art etc)

Try drawing or painting

Karaoke

Dress up and go to dinner

Have breakfast with friends

Dye your hair or get it cut

Sleep at a friend’s house

Watch movies on half-off days

Make the transition to eating clean foods

Try being Vegan for a few days

Try being vegetarian (see what you personally like doing)

Shoot your shot online, in person and make new friends. 

Start a bullet journal

Sort out your money issues and make sure that you don’t allow yourself to get into debt/more debt. Figure out how to improve your situation.

Try things before knocking them. (Don’t buy all your furniture/decor from Ikea, try online, garage sales, second hand stores etc. It’s cheaper. Don’t say no to museums, you might love them)

Make sure you have a doctor and dentist

Go for a check up

Do an allergy test if you’ve been meaning to lately. Take care of your health.

Start flossing

Get rid of clothes and stuff that you don’t use. Give it to those in need.

Buy someone homeless food or give them a care package. You’ll feel amazing after.

Get rid of toxic people in your life.

Plan your future. It’s bright.

[sparksism]

Things to do when things are shit and nobody can help right now

- Take a shower.

- Sing in the shower.

- Listen to your favorite Music.

- Listen to your favorite Movie’s Soundtrack.

- Look up fanart of your favorite characters.

- Actually watch your favorite Movie.

- Sing a Song.

- Find new songs.

- Watch a new Movie.

- Read a book.

- Write your Feelings down.

- Draw something nice.

- Hug a Person.

- Hug a Teddy.

- Water a Flower.

- Eat something delicious.

- Try a new food.

- Play a game.

- Go for a walk.

- Take a few Pictures.

- Visit a new Place.

- Make travel plans.

- Ask yourself what you need.

- Be kind to yourself.

- Forgive yourself.

- Try again tomorrow.

Mostly meant for myself to remember, but hopefully it helps you too! ♡