always-something-to-learn

[always-something-to-learn]

How to Get Going When You Just Want to Stay In Bed and Be Nothing

Some days hit you like a ton of bricks, and for those who already struggle, those days can be even harder. Hopefully, these little tips can give you a boost in your darkest moments.

1. Open a window, let some light and fresh air in. You might not want it now, but it will help you feel better in the long run.

2. Take a shower. Sometimes, this can be more difficult than we expect, but that’s okay. Just letting the water hit your back, or washing your face can make you feel more refreshed.

3. Work on a hobby that gets you going. Unfortunately, as good as it feels in the moment, lying in bed and watching netflix while the work you have piles up will only make you feel worse. Now, maybe you can’t tackle your assignments right now, but sitting up and drawing your favourite character or watering your plants while blasting some music will get you in a better mindset.

4. Change your music. Sometimes we need to listen to a sad ass song and just get all our emotions out, but once that’s done and dusted, don’t dwell. Listen to some up-beat music (if I may, I recommend our Pick Me Up Playlist by You) and try to keep your environment from matching your mood.

5. Get a healthy snack and drink some water. Never underestimate the power of good nutrition. If you can’t handle the thought of a full meal, some fruit will suffice for now. But remember what you eat fuels your body, so if you can bring yourself to fitting in a remotely well-balanced meal, you’ll be all the better off.

6. Make a list, pick one, simple task, and get it done. Maybe you have laundry to do and it’s piling up. Maybe you have to wash down the kitchen counter. Maybe you have a worksheet for school. Maybe it’s just making the list. Whatever you need to get done, write it down, and rather than letting that overwhelm you, pick one thing from that list to tick off. Slowly but surely, you will be able to tackle the bigger things.

7. Go for a walk. Getting some fresh air and simple exercise will refresh you without tiring you out. Bring some water, or maybe make it a trip to get some of your favourite snacks and a smoothie from Jamba Juice. If you’re struggling to get up and out, having something nice to look forward too can motivate you. 

8. Think of why you’re feeling this way, and then let it go. More often than not, there is a reason you’re struggling to get up and out. Understanding the root of this feeling can help you move past it, tackle it, or keep it from holding you back.

I know this is pretty standard advice, but I think we all need that little reminder every now and again.

[always-something-to-learn]

lately i’ve been thinking a lot of doing things in the face of a recent failure. it’s hard to pick yourself up and many times i’ve found myself in an anxious cocoon of blankets thinking about doing the thing instead of actually doing it. i think it helps to just start. it isn’t easy, but sometimes the thing gets a little easier the more you chip away at it.  (case in point: doing my massive constitutional law review outlines after i failed the first exam. it hurts but you just have to do it. sometimes it gets better, sometimes it won’t. but you won’t know until you try again.)

[always-something-to-learn]

student self-care: but not necessarily the feel-good kind edition

1. what have you been procrastinating on? afraid to do? make a list. put it on your google calendar. be very honest with yourself. put every single task you have to do, schedule it, block out your calendar if you have to. it’ll help you in the long run even if it’s scary at first.  2. sort the loose papers settled at the bottom of your backpack. don’t risk losing precious class notes or syllabi or readings. use folders to classify them by subject. label them clearly. sort them by chronological order and label what class and what part of the syllabus they’re from. you’ll thank me during exam season. 3. evaluate your finances. have a way of keeping track of them. personally, i tend to spend a lot on food and coffee when i’m stressed. make a budget and stick to it.  4. if you’re struggling in a certain subject, make some time for it. i know it’s painful and easier to procrastinate, but make time. set a certain quota of pages to read. email your professor for help and consult if you have to. 

5. eating healthy isn’t necessarily eating delicious. i know everyone posts their croissants and lattes and cakes (guilty) but eat that salad, eat your vegetables, eat a balanced diet. it’s brain food and it’ll sustain you and help you focus better. 6. take the time to really care for yourself. make it a routine. take daily walks, count the glasses of water you have, make sure to shower regularly. do your laundry and clean your room. take your medication regularly, schedule doctor’s appointments if you need to. your health is much more important than school, and your wellbeing will help your performance. 7. sleep is good. regular sleep is good and necessary. but know when you have to sacrifice a little sleep to get things some very hard things done. then sleep after.  self-care isn’t always pretty. sometimes it’s about being disciplined and confronting what you’re afraid of. but it will make things easier and lighter for you in the long run. just one day at a time. 

[always-something-to-learn]

Productivity masterpost

Hi, this is a masterpost of the-diary-of-a-failure and its posts related to productivity!  The posts people loved the most are highlighted, but I recommend you check out the ones, which didn’t get much love, too. Enjoy:

🍁 Hustle

Stay productive through the day

Setting goals (2019 edition)

Personal 2019 goals

Breaking down goals to actions

Get the best out of your time

Have a productive school/Summer break

🍁 Productive lifestyle

Make your mornings easier

Wake up early

Tips for better sleep

Spend less time on your phone

Keep your space organised

Be more organised

Declutter tips

Scheduling and organsing time

Things I always carry around

Digital declutter

Strive for perfection or half-ass it?

🍁 Routines

Weekly reset routine

Creating a routine

Monthly routine

After-school routine

🍁 Staying on top of your game 

Prioritise in times of stress

Bullet journal ideas

Getting back on track after being sick

Turn lazy into productive

🍁 Rest is important

Break ideas

Don’t overwork yourself

Taking breaks in chaos

Do what you feel like doing

🍁 Other masterposts

Studies related masterpost

Lifestyle and health masterpost

Art masterpost

Miscellaneous posts masterpost

[always-something-to-learn]

begin again as many times as you need

[always-something-to-learn]

How to study when you are tired

Get up: make the firm decision that you are going to study and move towards you desk.

Get tea: or coffee. The preference of beverage is up to you. You just need to believe that it will help, even if its only for a little bit. 

Set goals: if you are very exhausted setting mini goals like studying for an hour will be much more motivating.

Get going: once you hit your stride, you will start to feel less exhausted. The key is too push through and put tiredness at the back of your head.  

[always-something-to-learn]

weird how they call it “the british museum” yet practically none of the items on display are british or have any justifiable reason to be in britain

[always-something-to-learn]

I’ve been receiving tonnes of questions on Note - Taking recently, so I’d thought I make a post. Plus, I had fun making these graphics.

There are three different methods that I prefer when it comes to note taking:

Notes written During the Lecture

I highly recommend taking notes during the lecture.

I also use abbreviations for quicker and more efficient note taking. Some examples of abbreviation that I use are:

w/ - With

w/o - Without

e.g. - For example

Notes written After the Lecture

As for notes written after the lecture, I tend to seek the help of Google Spreadsheets or Microsoft Excel. This way I am able to organise information learnt. I do this by dividing the information provided into two columns, one for keywords or questions and the other for definitions and answers. 

*Note: This method was adapted from the note taking method I’ve used during college. 

Rewritten Notes

I also rewrite my notes. My rewritten notes are arranged based on the order they appear in the syllabus unless there are pieces of information that are related to more than one topic.

I use a black pen or pencil for my written notes, as well as coloured pens and highlighters to highlight the key words and terminologies for emphasise.

Before writing them down, I tend to visualise the layout - alternating between words and pictures/diagram. This definitely helps me with remembering for exams. All I have to do is imagine that I’m looking at that page and I can remember where everything is.

______________________________________________________________________

Please click on the images for a much clearer view. 

Well, that’s all from me! I hope that you found this information helpful. And, don’t hesitate to ask me questions if you’re confused about this method of note-taking, or any other problems you might have. For more information of how to survive university, follow this page. And, for more medical school chronicles, follow me on IG. Follow my studygram/medgram for more content. 

[always-something-to-learn]

a list of small study tips

these are small things you can add to your day to be 10% more productive with the estimated time it’ll take! these are things i do (or try to do) most days. they’re small enough to feel manageable, and i for sure don’t use all of them but i find that when i use at least 2-3 in a day i feel a lot better about the material.

retype notes in google docs (10-15 min/1 hour lecture)

Utilize pomodoro technique for at least one subject (25 min work/5 min break. total 30 min)

Look over notes before class (5 min)

Look over notes after class (5 min)

Make notecard summary after class (i find this one especially useful for calculus!) (10 min/notecard)

Explain short concept to a friend (10 min max)

write down to-do list of tasks (5 min)

Go over concepts in your head on your walk to class (absolute FAVORITE because of my daily calculus quizzes within the first 10 minutes of class) (as long as your walk is!)

i hope these are helpful, i need to learn more small tips myself too 😊

[always-something-to-learn]

Here are some Anatomy tips for all of you working in/towards hands-on healthcare. I hope they’re useful x

[always-something-to-learn]

types of study breaks for every situation

if you realize you’ve been studying for hours: grab a snack to refuel your body and watch a sitcom to refuel your brain. then back to the books.

if you’re feeling stressed out: take some deep breaths, text your friends, maybe stare at a wall for a few minutes. gather yourself.

if you can’t seem to focus: get moving and get outside. take out the garbage, check your mail box, maybe walk your dog. just get moving and get fresh air. it’ll help bring you back.

if there’s something else going on in your life and you can’t get it off your mind: write down what’s going through your head, sort of like a diary entry. it’ll help you work things out.

if you’re just mentally and physically exhausted: set a timer for 25-30 minutes and take a nap. any longer and you’ll hit REM and you’ll wake up feeling just as tired. once you wake up, get some caffeine in you.

if the material is boring as hell: find another way to study. see if there’s a crash course video online about it or draw out what you’re trying to learn in diagrams and pictures to make it fun.

if people around you won’t shut up: listen to some music. soundtrack and classical music is always good because they won’t absorb you as much as music with lyrics. white noise (like ocean waves, rain sounds, etc.) also works.

if you only half understand a concept: call/message a friend who’s not in the class and try to teach the material to them. this will help you mentally work through the material and will help you remember it as well.

[always-something-to-learn]

[always-something-to-learn]

Causes of limb swelling, illustrated differential diagnoses from my “Medical Mentalism” series. The full illustrated articles live on my site Artibiotics: https://artibiotics.com/

[always-something-to-learn]

I want to cry but i have things to do

[always-something-to-learn]

spending Christmas alone in my college apartment. Studying MCAT biology by all my plants and window! :)

[always-something-to-learn]

How to be a “Bad Ass” at University

Find things to be excited about because your attitude will dictate your experience.

Plan a nice outfit for the first day of school. It doesn’t have to be very fancy, just something you will feel good wearing. The way you dress can improve your confidence. 

Get a planner. It’s helpful to have a book dedicated to school work and extracurriculars so that you stay on top of your game.

Write down your instructors/professors/teachers names, e-mails and office hours ASAP. You never know when you will need to contact them.  

Please be nice to your instructors/professors/teachers. Reach out and connect with them so that you have a professional relationship with them, as you never know when you will need extra credit or a recommendation letter.

Once you receive all of your syllabi, write all of your assignments/deadlines down in your planner/bullet journal/calendar. 

Start studying and put effort into doing work on day one. You will thank yourself during finals week.

Don’t listen to your peers about what was on the test/exam if they get to take them before you. Do your own thing.

Don’t focus on how many hours your peers spend studying. Everyone completes work and studies at their own pace, there is no hour limit that you need to achieve to receive that A+. 

Don’t procrastinate a study session by planning what you’re going to study. A simple to-do list will work fine. 

Attend talks, conferences, events on campus to fully immerse yourself in university life. Sometimes professors are willing to give extra credit for attending talks/conferences (as long as it is related to their class).

Have a song that gives you hype. Whether you’re waiting for a big presentation or you’re nervous on the first day of school. I always listen to “Sorry” by Beyonce. 

Please do your own work and don’t plagiarise as it can ruin academic careers.

Please don’t share your work with other students in case they might plagiarise from you. Even if you think they’re your friend, it’s better to not share your work. 

Reflect and remember how lucky you are to be getting an education. School isn’t a punishment, its an opportunity for you to create a kick-ass foundation for the rest of your life.

Save your coin and make your morning coffee/tea at home. Invest in a travel to-go cup, I always use my Starbucks one. 

People will leave you alone when you have your earphones in. 

Have a couple of spots for studying on campus, where you can sit down and focus to do work in between lectures. I would have a couple of favourite spots in my uni’s library were I could study free from distractions. 

Don’t compare yourself to other students. We’re all on our own paths; therefore, the most important person you need to focus on is you! 

Visit my blog or follow me on Instagram from time to time for some study inspiration. You can contact me via my inbox on Tumblr or Instagram DM’s. 

This was as fun to make as my College Truths list from a couple of years ago, so I hope you enjoy it! Please remember that this is just my personal opinion and that you can adapt these to your school/lifestyle. 

[always-something-to-learn]

Taking the first ever hybrid accounting class at my college means the schedule is super accelerated and i already have a midterm to study for. I’m in good shape though (for now).