studitiious-old-blog

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Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.

Thomas A. Edison (via studytwice)

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1 / 100 days of productivity

april 1st 2017

one more week until easter holidays, and subsequently one month until my half yearly exams. better starting sooner than later! 

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i wrote this HOW TO BE HAPPY HAPPIER guide for Design*Sponge because i had a shitty few weeks earlier this month and i needed some of my own advice to get out of it

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me normally: the curtains were blue because it was his favourite colour

me in English Major Mode: the curtains were blue because blue symbolizes his sadness and the author specifies the curtains because he is fearful of going outside. however, his agoraphobia is only a mask for his unconscious desire to fuck his mom and kill his dad as per the "oedipus complex" (freud 420). furthermore, the blue curtains are a materialist commodity; he has curtains because he feels objectified by bourgeoisie society, and the curtains are there to protect him from hegel's dialectic. he is a slave to society, and,

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Tomorrow is going to be another boring day. I hope I’m gonna survive it.

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I’m not like emo nihilist I’m more like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy nihilist like “life is meaningless and the universe does not care about you and it’s full of casual and callous destruction might as well have a party while I still can then”

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quick protip: if someone is crying or freaking out over something minor, eg wifi not connecting, can’t find their hat, people talking too loud, do NOT tell them how small or petty the problem is to make it better. they know. they would probably love to calm down. you are doing the furthest possible thing from helping. people don’t have to earn expressions of feelings.

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I thought the Bermuda Triangle was going to be a bigger problem in my life when I was younger

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studyblr awards

hey hey hey! jo (@obsidianstudy) here!! so i’ve got a little studyblr awards thingy for you guys in celebration of me hitting a lot of milestones recently, hehe!! (ﾉ´ з `)ノ<3

categories

sweetheart (nicest blogger)

happiness (most aesthetic blog)

amazing (best original content)

otherworldly (coolest theme)

intricate (awesomest url)

neat-o (best notes)

stunning (best planner/journal/etc)

reference (best masterposts)

bby (baby studyblrs)

rules

must be following me !!

must reblog this post! (likes are nice, but not necessary)

if your studyblr is a side blog, mention your main in the tags!

if you have less than 1k followers, you can join the baby studyblrs category, just mention it in the tags!

awards + prizes 

a masterpost of your choice

a graphic made of your choice (according to your specifications)

an aesthetic / moodboard / blog rate thing???

my absolute adoration and eternal friendship!!

a spot on my awards page / promo page

a calligraphy/typography thing dedicated to you (can say anything you want, color, etc.)

anything else i can offer, basically tbh

this ends march 31, 2017! thanks for joining, guys, and i hope you all have fun!  (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡

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19 / 01 / 2017

Long time no post! Now that I’ve starting senior school, and my final exams are coming up, I thought that I should probably start posting again, as the studyblr community does wonders to get me motivated! 

These are just a few low qual pics of some notes I was taking for ‘Of Mice and Men’. I actually found these printables on Tumblr, and they're so helpful!

Another thing that I’ve started this year is using a binder based system of taking notes (instead of using exercise books). It’s been working out so well for me, so I may do a masterpost on it, as before I developed my own organisation methods reg. the binder, I scoured Tumblr and there was literally nothing!

Hope you’re all having a wonderful day! ✨

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Unfollow me if you wish, but this blog will NEVER support Trump and instead supports the LGBT community, racial minorities, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, Muslims, Jewish people, and anyone else who is afraid now. I am with you, and this will always be a safe space for you.

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identity ask.........oh shit

if someone wanted to really understand you, what would they read, watch, and listen to?

have you ever found a writer who thinks just like you? if so, who?

list your fandoms and one character from each that you identify with.

do you like your name?  is there another name you think would fit you better?

do you think of yourself as a human being or a human doing? do you identify yourself by the things you do?

are you religious/spiritual?

do you care about your ethnicity?

what musical artists have you most felt connected to over your lifetime?

are you an artist?

do you have a creed?

describe your ideal day.

dog person or cat person?

inside or outdoors?

are you a musician?

five most influential books over your lifetime.

if you’d grown up in a different environment, do you think you’d have turned out the same?

would you say your tumblr is a fair representation of the “real you”?

what’s your patronus?

which Harry Potter house would you be in? or are you a muggle?

would you rather be in Middle Earth, Narnia, Hogwarts, or somewhere else?

do you love easily?

list the top five things you spend the most time doing, in order.

how often would you want to see your family every year?

have you ever felt like you had a “mind-meld” with someone?

could you live as a hermit?

how would you describe your gender/sexuality?

do you feel like your outside appearance is a fair representation of the “real you”?

on a scale from 1 to 10, how hard is it for someone to get under your skin?

three songs that you connect with right now.

pick one of your favorite quotes.

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Things Top Students Do

1. They don’t always do all of their homework.

In college, homework assignments generally make up 5-20% of your grade, but can be the biggest time-suck for most students. Yes, working problems is one of the best ways to turn new concepts into working knowledge, but a large majority of those problems that take you hours and hours to work through, you’ll never see on an exam.

2. They never “read through” the textbook.

Per time spent, reading the textbook is one of the least effective methods for learning new material. Top students use the examples and practice problems, but otherwise use Google, lecture notes, and old exams for study materials.

3. They Google EVERYTHING.

It’s like an automatic reaction. New concept = go to Google for a quick explanation. Don’t think just because your professor gives you a textbook and some examples on the blackboard that you’re limited to that information. You have a massive free search engine at your fingertips, so make use of it.

4. They test themselves frequently.

Testing yourself strengthens your brain’s connections to new material, and gives you immediate and clear feedback on whether you know something or not. Bottom line, repeated self-testing significantly improves long-term retention of new material. 

5. They study in short bursts, not long marathons.

Studying in short bursts tends to help you focus intensely because you know there is at least a short break coming.

This also fits in nicely with our Ultradian Rhythm, the natural activity/rest cycle of our bodies, which makes studying continuously for multiple hours on end counterproductive.

6. They reverse-engineer solved problems.

It’s one thing to follow and memorize a set of steps to solve a calculus problem. It’s an entirely different thing to understand what a derivative is, be able to take derivates of complex functions, know when to use the chain rule vs. the product rule, etc. The problem with simply following the steps the professor provided, or the textbook outlines, is that you’re only achieving a surface-level knowledge of the problem. Top students, instead,take solved problems and work backwards, from solution to question, asking “why.”

Why did this get this value? Why did they simplify this expression? Why did they use that type of derivative rule?

By following this process, you begin to understand the interconnections of the concept, and how to directly apply that to a problem. This “working knowledge” of a concept is key to performing well on exams, especially on problems that you haven’t seen before.

7. They don’t own a highlighter.

Highlighting anything = unengaged reading. If you want to note something that stands out, underline and write a corresponding note to go along with it. Or better yet, write yourself a note summarizing the item in your own words.

8. They sleep–a lot.

The daily routines of top performers, in any field, are characterized by periods of intense work (4-6 hours per day) followed by significant quantities of high-quality sleep (9 hours per night). You see this trend in top violin prodigies and chess champions, as well as elite athletes. The idea is to alternate periods of intense work with rest, so that you create tons of new connections in your nervous system, and then allow adequate time to assimilate those gains.

9. They engage themselves by asking questions.

What happens if I tell you, “Thomas Jefferson almost single-handedly drafted the Delcaration of Independence in 1776.”?

You might say “Hmm.. that’s interesting”, try to remember it for later, maybe even write down a note or two.

But what if I ask you, “Who was Thomas Jefferson?” What changes?

You start searching your memory, sifting through images of old guys, founding fathers, thinking about the Declaration of Independence. You come up with your own narrative, and then realize that you have gaps.

When was he around again? And why was he so important?

You’ll probably find yourself going to Google to fill in the gaps. Through that process your learning will be much more deeply seated in your brain than anything your history teacher ever told you about him. That’s the power of asking questions.

10. They make the best out of lecture.

Yes, your professor sucks. Yes, lectures are boring. Yes, it’s either too fast so you can’t keep up and miss all the important stuff, or it’s way too slow and you start zoning out because you already understand everything.

The best students look at this this way: I’m going to be there no matter what, so what’s the best use of my time while I’m in the classroom? Ask questions, bring the textbook and look stuff up, focus on the important practice problems to copy down in your notes, try to anticipate what the professor is going to say, make note of anything they put emphasis on as a potential exam topic. All of these things make the time you have to spend in lecture more productive and engaging. And that’s less time you have to spend studying later on.

11. They over-learn.

School is hard enough, with the amount of studying and homework you have to do. And on top of all of that Facebooking you have to get done? It might seem ridiculous to suggest learning more than you have to.

What!? Are you insane!?

But this is precisely what top students do. And paradoxically, they end up spending less time trying to understand how to do homework problems, andless time studying for exams because of it. Because when you “over-learn” past what’s presented in class, you build a better framework for the subject.

Think of trying to remember some details about Abraham Lincoln’s life. You try to remember the dates of the Civil War, or what he said in the Emancipation Proclamation. You study the same facts over and over and over again… but it’s just boring, and you quickly forget. But what if you knew his whole life’s story? About how Lincoln suffered from bouts of depression, and his relationship with his wife suffered? You start to learn that the dude was human, and you start to relate to the things he did and the struggles he went through. Now you’ve constructed a story in your head. And studies show that humans learn best through stories. So yes, it’s more information, but your brain knows what to do with it now that all those random facts are linked together. More learning, but less rote memorization and struggling to remember random facts.

12. They immediately study their exam mistakes.

Most students get their exam grade back, flip through to see if the professor made any mistakes they can argue about, and then promptly shove it into their notebook, never to be seen again until the mad scramble at the end of the semester to study for the final.

Instead, top students ignore what they got right, and use their mistakes as an indicator of what to improve on.

13. They’re busy with work and side projects.

Yes, to do well in a course, you need to focus and put in the hours. But like many geniuses throughout history have shown, involvement in a diverse set of subjects, activities, and skill sets keeps you active, and provides you with a rich and diverse set of mental models to pull from.

Also, as they say, “If you need to get something done, give it to the busy person.” If you stay active in multiple areas, you don’t have time to procrastinate, and are forced to be efficient with your study time. This generally translates into quicker learning and better performance throughout the semester.

14. They use lecture as a detective mission.

Though completely unaware of this fact, your professor has tells. Yes, like in poker. Tells during lecture will hint at particular types of concepts and problems that will be emphasized on the midterm or final exam. The best students pay attention to topics professors spend a seemingly inordinate amount of time on and make note. Chances are you’ll see something related on the final.

15. They don’t wait for motivation to strike.

Motivation comes and goes, but studying for a degree requires persistence and consistency. Just like Olympic athletes train even on their worst days, the best students figure out how to get their coursework done when it’s the last thing they want to do.

16. They practice under test conditions. The old adage “practice makes perfect” isn’t totally true. Deliberate practice under the right conditions, with the correct mindset, is more like it. Instead of reading through all of the lecture notes and redoing old homework problems, top students make themselves practice exams, and rehearse their exam performance, under time pressure and in similar conditions (no notes, uncomfortable chair, quiet room, etc.) to what they’ll see on test day.

17. They use old exams.

Professors aren’t the most inventive folk. Along with coming up with lecture material and departmental responsibilities, they’re also primarily concerned with research. So typically midterms and final exams more or less look alike for similar courses year-to-year and even across universities. Because of this, old exams are a gold mine of opportunity for figuring out what problems you should be able to solve and study from.

18. They make their own study guides.

The best students don’t simply use the study guide the teacher provides, they create their own.

Creating the study guide is half the battle, requiring you to go through your notes, consolidate them, and organize them in a way that you understand–all valuable study activities. You’ll also be able to use your equations sheet much more effectively on the exam itself (if allowed) because you know exactly where everything is.

19. They actually write on paper.

Writing out notes on a laptop is efficient. Too efficient. Because it’s so easy to quickly type out exactly what the professor is saying, you don’t have to do the work of trying to figure out how to consolidate the information into your own shorthand. Some also believe that the act of writing helps retain more information.

20. They use the 80/20 rule.

Yes, some students who get good grades do every reading assignment, finish every practice problem, and attend every study session they can get their hands on. But these students are missing the point. There will always be an endless amount of information you could learn given the time and effort, but having the ability to discern what is worth learning will truly set you apart.

Top students identify the 20% of concepts they need to learn deeply, in order to determine 80% of their final grade. They focus intently on those few things, and simply ignore the rest. This is a formula for high performance, without hours and hours of busywork. And it translates seamlessly into the real world too.

21. They don’t complain.

Complaining simply has no place in the smart student’s repertoire. If something sucks, change it or ignore it, but don’t waste your time, energy, and mental state talking about it. Got a crappy professor? Either switch class sections or focus on teaching yourself. Horrible textbook? Find alternate resources (Google is free in case you hadn’t heard).

22. They learn by doing.

Any technical subject can only truly be internalized through use. Just like learning a new language, learning to be fluent in algebra or calculus requires active application of rules and formulas. Top students know there is a big difference between knowledge, and applied knowledge.

23. They take personal responsibility for learning the material.

The best students understand that they, and only they are truly responsible for their own education. So waiting to be spoon-fed by your professor and doing the homework assignments will never be enough. Despite your school’s best intentions, they’ll never be as committed to your academic success as you can be.

24. Following what they love

Those students you admire are passionate about what they are learning. They have the drive to develop their learning further based on their love of what they are discovering. This may not always be the case and is often unavoidable but if you follow what interests you and cultivate a curiosity of this area, your motivation to learn will thrive.

Not every student is the same and many top students don’t follow the status quo. The best way to create good habits for students is to try a variety of techniques and figure out what works for you.

25. Question your teachers Thinking outside the box is a cliche but certainly a reality for students.  They question everything–especially test questions they get wrong.  This attitude is important because it shows a general inquisitiveness that is essential in learning.  As any parent of small children knows, questions are a way to gain knowledge.  Teachers can’t be offended when a student asks a difficult question and parents should encourage this behavior.  

26. They know the best way to study.

It is important to know the best way to study for yourself. Do you need pictures? Sounds? Study better in quiet or noisy environments? Figure out what works best for you so that you can make the most out of your study time.

27. They play hard.

We all know that a balanced lifestyle is the best way to stay mentally and physically healthy! Top students don’t spend all day in the library grafting (contrary to what you might think!) Rather, they take the time to put their studies aside and do something which is fun and exciting!

 Source : 1 2 3 4

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you got this

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self help tips

make your bed - even if you don’t think you can get out of bed you can still feel productive + clean

have a bottle of water by you - work on sipping it throughout the day and eventually you’ll get better at drinking the right amount and staying hydrated! if you’re still having troubles you could always have fruit squash rather than water

eat yoghurt - yoghurt is a great snack that requires no effort! its tasty and usually pretty healthy

baby wipes - these are a life saver for when showering isn’t an option, just wipe down your pits + bits (as my mum says) and around your face to feel refreshed

sticky notes - placing little reminders around your space is a good way to stay organised and positive. put them somewhere you’ll see them, or create a small place specifically for reminders and kind words. plus, it gives you a great excuse to go stationery shopping!

have a chilled drink - cold drinks are great for waking up and preparing yourself for the day, or rejuvenating yourself after a tough day

have a hot drink -  hot drinks like tea or hot chocolate are really good at relaxing you after feeling anxious or if you’re trying to get to sleep; they also make you feel warm + fuzzy when in the colder months. its also fun to try lots of different types of tea and pick a favourite too!! i wouldn’t recommend drinking coffee as it has lots of caffeine and can be bad for you if you drink a lot

make playlists - playlists are fun to make and fun to listen to. make playlists for every season, make playlists that remind you of a certain person or make playlists of songs you want a friend to listen to. make playlists for when falling asleep is too difficult, for when everything is too loud, or for when you’re excited. the possibilities are endless

try bullet journaling - a bullet journal is a quick and easy way to organise your thoughts and stuff you have to do. just google it!

write lists - lists are a great way to stop stressing about something coming up. if youre going shopping write a list of what to buy, alternatively if youre going to an event write a list of what you want to do and times

these are a few of the things that help me, if you have any more tips let me know!!

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10 beautiful Italian words

1. scrosciare (vb.): the action of rain pouring down heavily or of waves hitting rocks and cliffs

2.  meriggiare (vb.): to rest at noon, more likely in a shady spot outdoors

3. lapidoso (adj.): full of stones, said of roads or of the bottom of a river.

4. innaffiare (vb.): to water something, especially a garden, a plant, a flower, etc

5. cruore (n.): it literally means “flowing blood”

6. nottivago (n.): of a person who wanders at night; night-roamer

7. terrifico (adj.): of something or someone that terrifies, that provokes terror

8. ansare (vb.): to hardly breathe, to be out of breath

9. nequizia (n.): wickedness, evilness, iniquity or evil action

10. morituro (adj.): of someone who is next or destined to die

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12.03.16 -

Saturday morning essay cranking, feat. french press coffee and a cozy fireplace