studyingcaesar-blog

[studyingcaesar-blog]

Some lovely notes on some basic grammar~

I always find it’s more exciting to study the basics when you make them look so pretty!

[studyingcaesar-blog]

any good low spoon meal ideas???

my fave low spoon meals:

green pesto pasta (jar of sauce + cooked pasta)

tortellini (+ sauce thats normally next to it in the supermarket) 

frozen foods, e.g. potato waffles, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, quorn products

pizza

pasta + any kind of sauce that comes in a jar

microwave rice + vegetables 

microwave soup (the fresh/refrigerated ones tends to be tastier and more nutritional than the canned ones)(plus bread = filling)

pasta bakes: cook pasta, add jar of sauce, cook in oven for 45 mins (plus an optional extras e.g. cheese, veg, chicken etc). extra portions can be frozen and reheated v easily

instant pasta packets, like the bachelors cheese + broccoli which is my fave. its dry and you just dump it in a pan + add milk and water and butter and keep stirring until its cooked

instant noodles if u like those

fancy toasties: i like cheese and broccoli + can be bulked up a bit with salad or fries or baked beans or something

good ol reliable beans on toast

honestly im not too sure off the top of my head but i could try and make a low-spoon pinboard if thats useful. hope this helped somewhat

[studyingcaesar-blog]

study snacks for cramming and all-nighters

first of all, the important thing here is that you actually eat. your body is being deprived of rest, and it’s going to need more fuel than usual to keep going. as tempting as it is to eat an entire party sized bag of m&ms in one study session, you’re going to need protein so that your brain and body can function properly

nuts: one of the easiest options out there. plenty of protein, good for you, and effortless to eat. grab a big bowl of them and keep it next to you while studying so you can grab a handful every few minutes

berries or sliced fruit: look, just eating fruits and veggies will make you feel healthy and put together. they have tons of nutrients and taste great. just be careful to not stain your notes with juice!

raw veggies: if you want to go for maximum healthiness, try chopping up a red pepper or cucumber, or getting a bowl of baby carrots or cherry tomatoes. they’re crunchy, satisfying, and taste surprisingly good

eggs: you can make them a thousand different ways, and it takes less than ten minutes to cook and eat them. great source of protein and perfect to scarf down during a study break

if you want something less healthy that still has some nutritional value

peanut butter and nutella: my go-to when i’m in need of something substantial to eat but i just want chocolate. mix about 1/3 of a jar of peanut butter and 1/3 of a jar of nutella in a bowl until they’re evenly blended, and eat the mixture by the spoonful (maybe add in strawberries if you’re feeling healthy)

hot chocolate: hey, at least the milk has a bit of protein in it. needing more protein is a totally valid reason to drink seven cups in one night, but please brush your teeth afterwards

milk and cookies: again, milk. and solid food. be careful to not get drops of milk on your papers! (black tea with milk and sugar is great with cookies too)

and realistically, sometimes you just need to eat crap

ice cream: just dump an entire pint into a bowl, bring it into your room, and eat the whole thing. it’ll make you marginally happier about doing homework

ice cream bars: like ice cream, but they make you feel a little bit more like you’ve got your shit together. same goes for popsicles, and you can buy a ton of them for pretty cheap

hard candies and lollipops: justified by the fact that you’re not looking away from your work every few seconds to get another bite, and sour flavors can keep you awake and feeling lively

chips and salsa: if you’re going to be up all night studying, you might as well make it feel like a bit of a party. bonus points if you make your own fresh salsa

microwave popcorn: heaven on earth, to be honest. it is incredibly salty though, so definitely be sure to have a glass of water or two on hand

have fun snacking, and be careful to not get food all over your notes!!

[studyingcaesar-blog]

the first big bunch of pages in my new bullet-journal! (minus all the un-shown daily pages and uni lists) 📚🖋 but this is my key, future log and most of my (soon to be) recurring spreads, including monthly and weekly overview + habit trackers. (using the A6 squared paper leuchtturm1917 + pilot frixion pen!)

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my cozy room in the middle of manhattan pt. 3, summer in the city

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Productive Things That Aren’t Studying

washing the dishes

making your bed

tidying your book/dvd shelf/shelves

cleaning the cupboard/wardrobe

reading

sleeping

writing a blog

planning your month/week/day

replying to messages or asks

responding to emails

sorting through letters/mail

clearing your email inbox

organising stationery

clean your sinks

clean your toilets

pet your pet

sort through old clothes

give to charity

go on a walk

go on a run

clean down any surfaces

work out

meal prep

get rid of empty shampoo bottles from the shower

clean out old food from the cupboard/fridge

empty out your school bag

call your parent

unfriend/unfollow people you no longer interact with

watch a TEDTalk

empty the bins/trash

clean the mirrors in your house

hug your pet

wash some clothes

buy any birthday cards/presents that you need to

reply to any old texts

make a tumblr post on productive things that aren’t studying

[studyingcaesar-blog]

2017 declutter and cleaning list:

- delete apps, pics and songs u dont need on ur phone anymore - do the same thing to ur computer - go through your closet, ask yourself: “does this still fit”, and “would i want this if i were to see it in the store”, if the answer is no, throw it away, or better yet, donate them - fold all ur clothes again and organise them by type (loose tops, tight tops, skirts, jeans, etc.) - delete unnecessary emails and messages - throw away expired makeup that ur still using (im so guilty of this, fuck) - get rid of the receipts in ur wallet and reorganise ur cash in value order - throw away the empty snack bar packets that are sitting at the bottom of ur handbag - meditate, get that stress out of your head - wash all ur makeup brushes and make sure theres no bit of makeup left on them - disinfect ur makeup w rubbing alcohol, spray it on the packaging and wipe them down too - get rid of all the scrap papers and any other junk on ur desk and in your drawers, im sure u wont need that A+ maths test u got in 5th grade - organise your chargers and diy your own charger station to store them - keep a small bin near your desk so u wont just leave trash on it - cut off toxic people, u dont need that kind negativity in ur life. its bad for ur skin - spray some windex on ur mirror and window and wipe that shit clean  - change ur bedsheets and pillow cases, open the windows, vacuum ur room and spray some air freshener

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How I tackle notes. Yeah I know this page is filled with tons of random things but I seriously just let my brain loose and this is what happened. 

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heres my new planner!! (sorry for the poor lighting) ive started using an a6 leuchtturm1917 with squared pages + i love it feel free to ask any questions!!

[studyingcaesar-blog]

When you guys have visited potential apartments, what kind of questions did you ask besides the basics like what rent and utilities include?

[studyingcaesar-blog]

Public speaking is very few people’s favorite thing. It can be so terrifying to get up in front of a whole class and present your project, so here are a few tips on nailing your next speech and feeling a little less nervous while you’re at it.

i. preparing your speech

Start with a topic that you care about, and be sure that:

It’s not too general that you don’t have enough time to cover it (like ‘the history of the US’ for a five minute speech) or too specific that you will run out of material.

Some people talk faster when they are nervous, some people slow down. Find out which you are and plan accordingly.

Make several drafts, and send them to your teacher if you can.

Create your visual aids (PowerPoint, handouts, etc) before your final draft, so you can make changes as necessary.

Don’t put too much text on your slides, other wise your audience (and maybe you) will get distracted by trying to read them.

Stick to using slides for quick facts, statistics, and pictures.

Don’t use the sound effects options they have for changing slides, it will just be a distraction.

For a speech you’re just giving once, you probably won’t have the timing down enough to use automatic changes.

Don’t put too much information on one slide. Just the point you’re on, and maybe the next, will be enough to fill it if your font is as large as it should be. 

Make sure you have your slides saved in at least two places (typically a flash drive and your email) so that if you can’t access one you have a back up.

Think about what questions people might have about your topic, and be prepared to answer them. Also brush up on any opposing views if the exist so that you can address those, both in the speech and in questions.

ii. making your flashcards 

Write bigger and clearer than you think you need.

I find it a bit difficult to read when I get nervous, especially when I’m just glancing down quickly. Write in print, and stick to just one or two points per card so that you can write largely.

Don’t write whole sentences, just key words.

If you have too much information you’ll be tempted to read it all off. Instead, just write down a word or two that will remind you of your point if you get off track.

Number your flashcards, and consider putting them on a ring. 

That way, if you drop your cards on the way up you won’t start out flustered.

Remember to put when to change the slide so you don’t forget and end up behind, or leaving it on the same slide the whole time. 

Color code your cards so that you can see what’s happening at a glance.

I typically use blue for stats/things I need to quote directly, grey for slide changes, and pink for points to emphasize. 

All speeches should end with you asking for questions, so be sure to add that into your last card. 

iii. practicing

Always practice out loud, even if you feel silly. 

It’s important to hear and feel yourself saying the speech to get comfortable performing it.

Time yourself practicing your rough draft a few times, so you know if you need to make it longer or shorter. 

Practice with your visual aids a few times

Practice it all the way through if you can; if you mess up, brush it off and keep going.

Film yourself practicing, so you can see if there’s anything you’re not noticing that you need to adjust.

Practice everyday, even if it’s just for a few minutes some days.

The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel.

iv. getting ready to speak

On the day of your speech, be sure to eat a good breakfast/lunch so you don’t get light headed.

Dress in an outfit that makes you feel confident and isn’t distracting: no busy patterns, large logos, or short hemlines that you would be tugging at the whole time. 

Double check that you have everything you need before you leave – cards, slides, and any handouts you may need.

This TED Talk has some great tips on faking confidence. I highly recommend watching it, but if you don’t have the time one of the take aways is that certain poses can trick your brain into feeling confident. She actually suggests going into a bathroom stall and standing in a “Superman” sorta pose for a minute or so. You’ll feel really silly, but strangely it helps. 

While you’re in there, adjust your hair/check your teeth so you’re not worried about that when you get up there. 

If you get to choose when you speak, think strategically: will going first and getting it out of the way make you feel better? Or would you rather wait and see a few people speak first?

I really don’t suggest waiting until the very last slot, but I like to go second or third to have the best of both worlds.

When you get to class, lay out everything you need and glance over your notes one more time. Then take a deep breath. You’ve got this.

v. the speech

When you get up to speak, take your time laying out everything you need and setting up your slides. 

After you’ve gotten the slides on, test the remote to see how sensitive it is. Just flipping to the first slide and back to the intro will help you feel less flustered if it’s more sensitive than you think and jumps around.

Take a deep breath and get started. If you mess up, no will know but you. Just keep going and act confident.

Glance back for just a second when changing slides to make sure you’re on the right one.

Make eye contact! The biggest mistake I see people make is to look down or above everyone’s head. Make eye contact with everyone more or less equally so it doesn’t look like you’re staring people down (but, if there’s someone that’s extra smiley/encouraging don’t be afraid to come back to them when you get nervous).

If you feel yourself starting to get nervous or starting to talk too fast/slow, it’s okay to take a second to take a deep breath and center yourself. Don’t be afraid of a couple seconds of silence if you need them.

If the podium helps you feel less nervous, use it. If moving around helps you loosen up, that works too! 

If you get off track, you are likely only one that even noticed that you messed up, so just take a deep breath, take a look at your notes, and get back on track the best you can (”going back to the second point,” or “but before we get to that,”).

If you’ve noticed that something’s wrong that needs to be addressed (like you’re on the wrong slide, or you misspoke and gave an incorrect fact) you can say something simple like “Sorry, I misspoke, it’s actually 1 in 3 Americans, not 1 in 4″ or try to make a joke if the subject lends to it and move onto your next point.

No matter what happens, it’s all good. Try to to panic and say things like “sorry, guys, I’m just so nervous” because that’s basically the only thing that will tip them off that you are. 

Above all, just try to relax and remember that you’re doing a good job. No one but you can tell how nervous you are or will know if you mess up. 

[studyingcaesar-blog]

Exams are coming round again, which for many of us means studying late and fighting to stay awake! Here are some tips to help keep your eyes open while you’re working.

Turn on bright lights. By making your body think that it’s still daytime, you’ll be altering your circadian rhythm and be able to stay up longer.

Chew gum! It’ll make you more alert, according to Psychology Today, and the chewing action keeps your mouth busy.

Eat healthy snacks. Avoid carbohydrates and stick to proteins, which keep you more awake, and there’s also the added bonus of the chewing action to keep you occupied.

Stand up or improve your posture. It’s physically impossible for humans to fall asleep while standing up, since you have to keep adjusting your position. If that’s too much, then even sitting up straight in your chair can help.

Take exercise breaks. Elevating your heart rate, and increasing blood flow will help you stay awake while you’re working.

Switch topics! When you’re sleepy, you’ll burn out much faster on individual topics. Switching it up keeps you interested and alert.

Keep yourself cold. Warmth makes you sleepy, so open windows, get rid of blankets, and don’t study in bed.

Listen to uptempo music. Avoid ambient or monotonous music and keep yourself awake with something upbeat and invigorating.

Turn off the computer unless necessary, and if it is, then avoid eye strain! Dim the screen and give your eyes a break every fifteen minutes to avoid overexerting them.

Take timed naps. It’ll help you stay more alert, and can also help to decrease some stress.

Drink water. Not only does it keep you hydrated, but it’ll force you to get up and take a walk every now and again when you need the toilet.

Good luck! Be sensible with how late you stay up, and avoid pulling all-nighters if at all possible. Try and start studying ahead of time so you don’t need to use these tips, but in case you do, I hope they help you out!

[studyingcaesar-blog]

Meals and Snacks for Spoonies

We all know how the cycle works. We feel depressed, so we don’t eat. Or we eat crap. This makes us feel like crap, which makes us feel even more depressed, which makes us eat even more crap or keep an even more unhealthy meal schedule. And so the cycle continues.

Here’s a few food and meal hacks for spoonies that I’ve found have helped me eat regularly and keep my body happy on days when I can barely get out of bed, be it because of depression or anxiety or chronic pain - no yoga, no expensive produce, no nutritious meals that take three days’ worth of effort. Taking energy level and budget into account, let’s get into it.

energy levels are based on my personal experience with my disorders. energy levels required will vary for everyone.

Fruits and vegetables that stay fresh for a while and require no peeling/chopping/hassle Energy level: low Choosing fruits and vegetables that will both keep longer and take minimal effort is a great way to try and stay healthy while in a bad state. The following are also pretty cheap. No cooking necessary, either. I recommend skipping dishing them entirely and just eating from the package - no cleanup that way. ✿ cherry tomatoes ✿ seedless grapes ✿ apples ✿ carrots (baby or full) ✿ broccoli (pre-cut) ✿ snap peas ✿ pears And if you have the budget, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, and plums are good, too.

Anything canned Energy level: medium Foods that usually take a while to make or are sold at higher costs elsewhere are easy to find in the canned food isle. ✿ soup (“chunky” soups have lots of meats and vegetables to nourish you too) ✿ fruits and vegetables (look for minimal sugar content; don’t have to microwave) ✿ pastas ✿ beans (don’t have to microwave) And anything else in the canned food isle that catches your eye.

Nuts Energy level: low Nuts are a great way to get some of those important nutrients without having to splurge on or have to cook meats. They’re also easy to keep at your bedside for executive dysfunction. ✿ peanuts (cheapest) ✿ cashews (best for people that aren’t fans of nuts in general - soft, not a strong flavor) ✿ almonds (very vitamin-rich) ✿ mixed nut packages And any other nuts that you enjoy. Look for lightly-salted nuts so you don’t get too much salt in your system. If you’re not a fan of nuts, get cinnamon-and-sugar dusted nuts. Keep a bag or jar of nuts in your bedroom or at your bedside for difficult days so you don’t resort to binge-eating or skip eating entirely.

Frozen food and microwave-meals Energy level: medium I’m sure you know the drill here. Microwave meals don’t need to be transferred nto another dish required as with canned foods. They also offers a wider variety of meals, often more balanced, than canned foods do. Frozen foods have a lot of the same traits as canned foods: stay fresh for a really long time, require minimal effort, but usually have to be dished. ✿ frozen waffles ✿ frozen breakfast sandwiches (easy access to eggs and meat) ✿ no need to list off microwaveable meals here - pick out whatever suits your tastes and your budget. Try not to aim for the nacho cheese corn dogs or double trouble burgers here.

** Meal supplement shakes ** Energy level: low These guys save my life sometimes. On my most horrible days, I reach for them. They’re literally meals in a bottle that you can either sip over the span of a few hours if your tummy isn’t feeling right or you can chug in a couple of minutes if you need a quick meal. Downside: they’re not on the cheap side and don’t stay fresh as long as my other options do. I think they’re totally worth it, though. ✿ my therapist recommended Ensure™ to me. I swear by them. Tastes like real chocolate milk. ✿ stroll down the meal supplements isle and pick out whatever looks most appealing to you. Tip: pour it into a wine glass to feel fancy if you need a morale pick-me-up.

Packaged snacks Energy level: low Stay good in the cabinet for months. I keep a pack of crackers by my bed all the time in case I find myself bed-ridden. ✿ cheese sticks ✿ granola bars ✿ fruit snacks ✿ individually-packaged lunch meat ✿ yogurt cups ✿ fruit cups ✿ packs of crackers ✿ any other packaged snacks you find appealing. Try to steer clear of individually-packaged ice creams or cookies if you struggle with binge eating. Go for a tub of ice cream or package of cookies instead for better habits and a lower cost.

Foods you can make in advance and eat for a few days Energy level: very high You shouldn’t live exclusively off of these foods for days, but they make great meals if you have a high-energy day and can make a batch. ✿ rice (storage: let cool, wrap tightly in cling wrap, keep in fridge.) ✿ pasta (boil some water, chuck the noodles in, store it. Storage: let it cool, put it in a bowl/container, cover, refrigerate.) ✿ couscous

Easy-access starches Energy level: medium Stay fresh for a while, pretty cheap if you don’t buy a fancy brand. ✿ loaves of bread (not sandwich bread, I’m talking those big loaves) ✿ bagels ✿ cereal (sugary or pure granola - you do you)

By the way, thank you all for your support lately! I hope I’m not being overbearing by repeating how greatful I am over and over again, but I’ve never really had encouraging people in my life before. It means a lot.

[studyingcaesar-blog]

April 🌼 week 16

[studyingcaesar-blog]

heres my new planner!! (sorry for the poor lighting) ive started using an a6 leuchtturm1917 with squared pages + i love it feel free to ask any questions!!

[studyingcaesar-blog]

Spent yesterday morning setting up this wonderfully wonderfully spooky little bullet journal inspired by @baby-gloom. Can’t wait to start using it properly, and to set up some more notebooks!

photo 1 / photo 2

[studyingcaesar-blog]

Because I love History, I thought I should make a list of websites featuring awesome historical facts and resources. Will be updated.

The Map as History - A collection of animated historical maps which serves as timelines

Old Maps Online - A collection of old maps

99 Incredible Youtube Channels For History Buffs - A masterpost of videos which includes General History, Art History, Music History, Cultural History, Aviation History, U.S History, World History, Black History, and War History.

Voices of History - Listen to some of history’s most famous speeches and broadcast.

35 Greatest Speeches in History - 35 of the Best Orations and Orators

Worldology - A website for interactive maps which gives you an overview about civilizations, empires, nations, events, and people.

10 Heroic Last Stands from Military History - A Listverse article

10 Real-Life Female Spies Who Deserved Their Own Movie Franchise - Badass Women in History

Rome’s Pivotal Emperors - Some of the best Roman Emperors

History’s Greatest - History’s greatest people, places, and events.

HistoryNet - History features, photos, and articles taken from various magazines.

Timelines of History -  A collection of timelines from the Big Bang to modern events.

Secret and Spies - Read about the codes, code breakers, and spies in British history.

SwordHistory - Read all about different kinds of swords and armors, from Celtic swords to Egyptian swords and even Ninja swords. 

Top 100 Speeches of the 20th Century - Read, listen, and download the most famous speeches in history.