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[fabulaes]

All the terminology relating to tech and the Internet is English, and one of the endearing features of the French public broadcasting in Canada is that every time they use an English neologism they have to immediately perform a ritual penance where they apologize and grope for a French translation, whether sanctioned or improvised, and so this comes up all the time in that context.

Often this is sort of dry but when the English word is already stupid it has a lot of comic potential. I've previously heard "doomscrolling" translated as défilement morbide, which is already great -- you must understand that the speakers grab at these terms like drowning sailors grasping for floating debris -- but today I heard it translated as défilement funeste, which is just impossibly charming

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[fabulaes]

the no bullshit guide to getting your shit together: for the lazy student

Let’s be honest: time management and organization? They’re really hard. Sure, at first you might feel like you’ve gotten the hang of them, that you’re in control of your life. But how often have you fallen off the wagon? Procrastinated on one thing and the next moment, you’re behind in all your classes? I know that sometimes laziness feels like a part of who you are, but honestly, fuck that. Do you really want to give up your success for the disinterest of a moment?

If your answer is no (it better be no, or you really need to get your priorities straight), let’s get to it. 

STEP ONE: BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

“This class doesn’t even matter.” “I don’t care about my grades.” “I can finish this the day before.” Sound familiar? You might feel great now, but when you’re staring down at your report card later, it’ll feel like you just got punched. 

This is a cliche, but the greatest obstacle to your success is yourself - especially the lies you tell yourself! Sit yourself down and be honest about what you need to improve on. Be as blunt as you can, but for god’s sake, don’t throw yourself a pity party! There’s no use agonizing over what you can’t change. Instead, set realistic, achievable goals, and make a game plan. Struggling with math? Go to extra help. Behind in all your classes? Stay in for a couple nights and actually work. 

STEP TWO: STOP WITH THE FANCY SHIT

Now you know what your goals are, but maybe you want some inspiration, so you log on to tumblr and are instantly bombarded by all these beautiful, well lit shots of the most gorgeous bullet journals, planners, and notes. Impressive, right? Well, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret: they’re all useless! A simple phone planner works just as well, if not better, than a fancy agenda, because you’ll always have it on you, it’s not a hassle to carry around, and you don’t feel obligated to make it look pretty. 

Riddle me this, where are you going to find all this extra motivation to keep prettying up your bullet journal? To write all your notes in perfect, colour coded printing? There aren’t many times in life where taking the easy was out will actually benefit you, so take advantage! Stop wasting your time; get a phone planner and write your notes in your natural goddamn handwriting. 

STEP THREE: CLEAN YOUR ROOM

Yep, your entire room - not just your study space! This one can be put on the back burner for a bit if you’re on a really pressing deadline, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I’m notoriously messy, and if I don’t watch myself, I’d find myself in dirty-laundry-and-old-notes hell. A little bit of organized chaos is fine, I even encourage it! But try working when your desk is covered in mounds of paper and you have nowhere to put your laptop – it’s just not conducive to success. 

Keeping your entire room clean is a way to stave off stress, frustration, and even embarrassment, because nobody wants to show potential roommates how much of a mess they are. 

STEP FOUR: ACTUALLY WORK

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: “actually work? Who does this girl think she is?” I’d probably think the same thing, except I’ve learned the valuable lesson of sucking it the hell up, and you will too. When you get home from work, grab a snack and work. When you have a free period, figure out what’s due and work. Stop reasoning yourself out of work: you’re not going to finish this later, and that will be on the test. There’s really not much to say about this one, because it’s the step that requires the most raw effort, and you’re really only going to find that within yourself. Tell yourself what’s at stake, and realize that, by setting the standard for your mediocrity now, you’re potentially trapping yourself in a cycle that will last for years. 

STEP FIVE: CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK

Maybe you’ve been on top of your shit for a day, a week, or even a month, and that’s really great. But then… you fail. You miss a deadline or you bomb a test. So what do you do now? Do you allow yourself to fall back into your old habits? Fuck no! Everyone fails, even that studyblr with those perfect bullet journal photos and a perpetually clean study space. I’m going to tell you something that’ll sound really strange: you should value your failures, especially if you worked hard to avoid them. What?! Be HAPPY about failing when I actually TRIED? Yeah, you heard me right. If you don’t know how to handle failure, then when you inevitably experience it, your reaction will be much worse. 

Failing hurts, and boy, I know how embarrassing it can be. But learning how to deal with failure, and especially how to keep trying after it happens, is an invaluable lesson. 

STEP SIX: TREAT. YO. SELF.

Disclaimer: I’m not suggesting you treat yourself after the most basic of tasks, because please. Treat yourself when you know you goddamn well deserve it. Remember that “all work and no play makes jack a dull boy.” If all you do is study and do your homework, then, pardon my french, your life sucks. If you don’t have friends, play a video game! Eat an entire jumbo chocolate bar! Indulge in whatever the fuck you want, you deserve it. I’m someone that has trouble prioritizing future benefits over immediate gratification, so by allowing myself little pleasures, I save myself from crashing and burning. 

Hope these tips helped, but remember to take them with a grain of salt - you’re you and I’m me, and different things work for different people. Good luck!

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[fabulaes]

it’s really interesting how we consume things on the internet. i get it’s because there’s so much stuff, we have short attention spans etc. but we really do just see posts, videos etc. as something to be consumed and then forgotten about, i think. sure, some things stick in our minds, but we really don’t linger long in any one place. how many times do we go back to a post or a video? hardly ever. it’s something i’ve been thinking about bc in the studyblr community there are wonderful people who make posts with lots of tips & advice and to be honest? i usually either just reblog or scroll on, but i hardly ever read it. i think tumblr is the best place for getting people to read long chunks of text, but still it makes me tired to have to read something more than a few lines long. which is very upsetting to me. because i want to read those posts, i want to reflect on the things i consume online, i want to actively process it. otherwise i’m stuck with all of the superficial, meaningless content which serves me absolutely no purpose. i’ve noticed that the content creators online who i keep following are all people who make (to me, at least) meaningful, in-depth content. because that is what ultimately fulfills me and lets me grow as a person. those are the things that affect me the most positively outside of the internet.

not to say that we should or can stop with all of the short form content, and i’m not really sure what my point is, but i just don’t feel there’s a discussion about how the internet serves us and affects us and how we could change the negative aspects. idk, i just don’t feel there’s that much discussion revolving around our behaviour/view on the internet in general, at least not in the nooks of the interwebs that i frequent. (if you know of any articles etc. please tell me! i’d be glad to have a look)

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Instrument for determining the duration of the moonlight, 1533

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if you don’t remember, it will be something that never happened.

[fabulaes]

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” - Antoine De Saint-Exupéry, Le Petit Prince 🌒

Today’s office was my favourite Coffee House and did some research about the museum I’m doing my Placement Year for, I couldn’t enjoy myself more! Books, a Soy Latte and a comfortable reading corner ☕️

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22.08.20 / here’s another spread from the classic lit journal i’ve started for those who wanted to see more pages + my cat emo-ing like he’s in a music video. happy weekend ♡

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last days of winter break aesthetics: trying to read as much as possible, empty journal pages, coffees cooling down while you are reading, unmade beds, stressing about new semester, still being excited about going back to school ☕️

[fabulaes]

honestly productivity happens when you start taking care of yourself. i admit that i’d been struggling with some food problems while i had class (stress eating unhealthy things, then feeling terrible). but now i eat a healthy amount while eating WELL and clean(ish) by making my own food, and i’ve reached a fitness goal! i feel stronger and more focused, and it allows me to study efficiently. take care of yourselves please, and hit me up if you want to talk about trying to be healthier because i’d be happy to help.

— sam 🍉

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a bunch of scribbles 

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❝Tuesday, 22th December 2020 - 10.37 am❞

I’ve finished “a darker shade of magic“ for the second time and now I‘m going to read part two “a gathering of shadows“ for the second time.

I just love this series so much!📖

[fabulaes]

I have been staying in quarantine for three months and I’m getting back to the habit of procrastinating. Now I’m coming back to school and it’s hard to concentrate so above are my tips to get out of procrastination!

[fabulaes]

Attention Management: How to Take Control and Live Intentionally

We live in an age of information, and it’s becoming even more difficult to be in control of our attention. Every second, it seems like there’s something new to be consumed, something new to pay attention to. Because of this, it’s important to take control of our attention and more intentional about how we spend our time, and we can do so by practicing attention management.

Keep reading below for a transcription + some other posts you might be interested in:

Energy Management

Flexible Time Blocking

The Mandatory Midday Break

A Small Guide to Journaling

Staying Focused while Studying

Hope this helps!

Keep reading

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[fabulaes]

17.01.21// cozy desk space. Lots of work to do now that classes have started. While working from home is not ideal, I do love my desk space 🌿☕️

IG: flatneedledistillery