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for the remainder of our term, we will be taking online classes; however, unlike others, our professors refrained from requiring us to have synchronous online meetings, so many of the things i have to do, i have to do on my own time. with this, i have been using notion to plan, organize, and manage my time, and i thought it would be nice to share how i do so!!

hi! i’ve been wanting to make a post like this instead of the usual typed out text post wt a few pictures. i know i’m not the best at it, i’m not rly creative and i’m not skilled at making nice ppt presentations, but i’m trying to get better at it and this is my attempt in doing so !!! i rly hope this helps some of you !! it may look a bit complicated, but it’s honestly the most effective way to plan and schedule for me !! i hope you guys have a great day! :)

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Encourage Healthy Studying

-hermioneandelle

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a couple little things i've learned after years of being a student struggling with mental illness!

anything is better than nothing. reading one page, one paragraph, even one sentence, is better than reading none. maybe next week you can do two. maybe not. it's still better than nothing, i promise

making to-do lists and organizing your things is nice, and feels productive, but it's important to know when you're using them as a way to procrastinate

mindfulness is so important! go on a walk and pay attention to your surroundings. if you don't think you can go on a walk, just sit outside. even just open a window and observe what you hear, what you see, etc—even just a couple minutes of mindful observation is helpful.

this one doesn't help everyone, but if you just can't get up to do that one task and you're just lying there struggling to make yourself do it, count down from 5 and then get up at 1. then count down from 5 again and do the next step. and the next. splitting it up into tiny pieces helps, whether it's for an assignment or even just getting dressed.

bad mental health days happen. recovery is hard! that doesn't mean you're back where you started. if you stay in this mindset then you'll be stuck there—sometimes the bad days are just bad days.

i'll post more of these as i think of them but these are the things that are helping me right now + i thought they might help others !

i love you all & recovery is worth the effort even though it doesn't always seem that way :')

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a list of things every studyblr experiences

failure

stress

disappointing results

procrastination

problems finding a work, life and study balance

nervousness

not always great or consistent grades

varying degrees of mental health issues

situations out of our control

that ‘i’m not good enough’ feeling

anxiousness

lazy days

regret

tiredness

burning out 

low confidence

sickness

and many more

having a study blog does not mean that person is a perfect human with everything in life on track, in balance and with complete happiness. as a community, we need to remember not everything goes to plan and no-one should be expected or seen as perfect x

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holy moly i am so stinking proud of me!! i’m really out here living everyday for myself!! i’m speaking kindly to this body that wakes up everyday and gets ish done!! i know my worth!! i know my limits!! i know that this life is mine and i’m the one in control!!

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If you think this sounds oddly specific, it’s because it is. As a child, I wasn’t particularly good at any extracurriculars I picked up. The only thing I was really good at was school. I got really good grades and all my teachers loved me, but that created a problem I didn’t realize until I got to the end of secondary school.

All of my self worth was based solely on academic performance. After having to deal with some mental health issues I couldn’t keep up with my previous performance and that took at toll on me . So here’s a list of things that will make you feel accomplished and don’t have anything to do with studying.

1. Cooking: I noticed that cooking at least one meal a week gave me a sense of accomplishment. My go to recipe is pancakes, but you could play around in your kitchen until you find your favorite. If you’re not experienced in the kitchen, start slow and gradually upgrade the difficulty level. I usually make breakfast because I love breakfast food, but this can be made any time.

2. Reading: another very simple thing that made me feel good about myself was getting my tbr pile to shorten. I think all of us have at least one book that’s been gathering dust but we never got around to read it. Well, now it’s a great time to start. You don’t need to read the whole book in one day, just a few pages is fine. Before you realize, the book will be over and you’ll be on your way to the bookshop to hoard more books .

3. Picking Up A New Hobby: I used to dread the idea of picking up a new hobby only to give up two months in because I was too ashamed of being bad at it. After I grew up a little, I realized this is So Not True. I’ve done my fair share of things. Drama club, tap dance, gymnastics, ballet, chess, choir, painting, volleyball... and I sucked in all of them at first. And that’s okay! The only thing I regret doing is quitting because of how bad I thought I was. I recently joined a volleyball team after years of not training and we made 3rd place in our school competition. Most of the times when you think you’re terrible, it’s just your brain being mean. Trust me on this one. And remember: you’re not too old to do anything.

That’s it! If you have any questions about how I managed to leave my academic slump just send me an ask/message about it and don’t be afraid to try new things!

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Some good suggestions for anyone in need of a great lunch. 

Also, I don’t know how this is even a human sentence, but I have to agree with, uhm, MonkeyAssholeLips on this one - here is a good sandwich:

(But also: arugula can be pretty spicy, and is very rich in iron - God’s way to tell you it works best with fruits. Try thinly sliced oranges or strawberries with a drop of good balsamic vinegar.)

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Forget pulling all-nighters and chugging coffee until it’s practically coursing through your veins. You know what gets me hyped up? Earl Grey tea on slow sunny mornings after a good night’s sleep. Submitting an assignment early, knowing you’ve completed it to the best of your ability. Reading for pleasure. That feeling of limbless relaxation after a good workout. Unearthing all your buried interests and falling in love with them over and over again.

Repeat after me: success is not suffering. Success is nOT-

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the importance of self care

six reasons why you’re (going to be) okay

why being clean and organized brings you more success

you messed up, and that’s okay

don’t let frustration get to you

important things to remember

how to study while dealing with mental health issues

studying with depression

what to do when you loose all motivation

if you have anxiety, try breathing in sync with this

need a boost? some natural antidepressants

getting over a fear of studying

developing a growth mindset

small things to do that make your mind feel clearer

a guide to relaxing for people who probably need a break

how to catch up after taking a mental health day

what to do when you’re feeling overloaded with work

ways to avoid burnout at university

avoiding burnout

staying calm at school

what to do when your work seems like trash

when you study and still fail a test

failure, as a perfectionist

working hard is important, but

on studyblr and self care

what to do on a crappy day

how to improve your grades

things to do after a long study session

studying when on your period

stress affecting sleep?

tips for balancing sleep and education

how to fall asleep

sleep tips

how not to be a blanket buritto

get up early and enjoy the day

+ productivity masterpost

+ back to school masterpost

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Tumblr Resources to Get You Through the School Year!

Hi guys!! Thank you all so much for your support!!! Happy 250 (EDIT: I SPENT A DAY ON THIS AND NOW IM PAST 300) and hope you all have a great start to the month! The community is more welcoming with all of you - I haven’t faced negativity from anyone at all. None of these are my posts - but they’ve helped me out a lot. With that said - let’s get started:

For bujos/planners:

This is one of my side blogs, and has tons of inspiration for weekly and monthly spreads, as well as a few aesthetic ideas and how to start one. I update this constantly.

How to start a studyblr - Studyblrs with creative fields

Lighting (for photos)

Study spreads

Planning your month

Printables (the same as some used down there but in a different category):

Weekly printable

To - do printable

Cornell Notes printable

Back to school printables

Daily Planner  @theorganisedstudent

Weekly Planner II @theorganisedstudent

Essay Planner @theorganisedstudent

Assignment Planner @theorganisedstudent

Assignment Tracker

Novel Notes

Plot Diagrams

Correction Sheets

Grid & lined paper

Weekly schedule for studying

Printables masterpost

Exam printable & how to use it

2018 Calender set (by my QUEEN @emmastudies)

For students:

Exams & Studying:

Exam revision guide

How to beat different types of procrastination

How to deal with a crappy teacher (this has to do with studying ig)

Study tips!! (its a masterpost)

Exam Printable & How to Use it

Exam & Homework tips

Coping with hell i mean exams i mean hell

A cool studying outline to try

This is my favorite thing and it’s when to use certain remembering techniques

Correction Sheets

Memorization tips for different learners

Weekly study schedule

More sites to use in normal studying routines

How to study smarter and not harder

Study smarter II

Exam printable & how to use it

Self discipline 

Study methods

Hoe tips for school and studying

Studying masterpoint

Tips and tricks to studying

Study tip - so easy

How to stay organized to study

Note - Taking:

Lecture notes

How i set up flash cards (these are nice to study from but be determined to finish setting them up)

Nifty highlighting idea (this post is so old)

Highlighting idea that i actually use

How to take Cornell Notes

Cornell style notes printable (gridded)

Notebook paper (grid & lined)

Tips for pretty notes!!

How to take notes

Notes for different classes

Life, man & general school stuff:

Back - to -school guide

Things I learned as a college freshman

Get ORGANIZED

Textbooks are expensive so here’s some free ones…

Tips for working students that sound extra but may work for u ily don’t overwork urselves

Masterpost for motivation and stuff

Get ur life together again bc haha i stay organized for like a day anyway

School supplies that u should have just to stay minimal

Grad school tips

Organization masterpost

Productive afterschool routine

30 websites to kill boredom

Back to school masterpost

Get confident in presentations

Overcome procrastination

Succeeding in school masterpost

For bad days 

For bad days II

A GOOD MASTERPOST for getting ur life together 

General school tips 

Free online courses

GOOD POWERPOINT TIPS

Sites to learns stuff

More learning stuff sites

Dealing with a trashy class

Study resources masterpost

Summer Productivity

Summer life tips

PLEASE READ THIS THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT MASTERPOST 

Honest guide to college 

University tips

SCHOOL MINDSET

What to do on Sundays

Back to school masterpost

Useful things for going back to school

How to clean your house

Cute self care tips!

More self care tips

Plant care tips!

English:

A handy list of words to fit into ur essays

How to write an article like a journalist

Words to replace over-used words

ESSAY STRUCTURE IDEA this is in bold so u losers don’t miss this bc it’s not just for English u nerds

Get gucci while reading and be an active reader

Get gud reading them academic articles amigo

Words to replace “the author or whatever shows…” bc that is baby writing and i accidentally used that on an essay and i failed so

Novel notes

Plot Diagrams

Reading Lists

Literary techniques (what themes, personifications, metaphors are etc)

Discussing in English

How to top a literature class

Literature class masterpost

Strong/weak verbs

More essay tips!!

MLA format - a how to

ESSAY GRADER.

How to avoid essay cliches

Chemistry (I’m taking chem so i have a few resources aha)

Da terms on exam papers

Chemistry resources masterpost

Cute periodic tables

Study chapters

History/Social Studies

How to write a history paper

AP world history powerpoints masterpost

Math 

General tips

Resources

Understanding math masterpost

Test Prep

PSAT I

PSAT II

ACT tips!

100 words for the SATs (start studying early!!)

Thank you so much for the support! I couldn’t have done it without all of you. A simple reblog or like will help others see these tips, and will be very appreciated. I hope these links work - feel free to message me with questions and other links!! A possible part 2 might come out at the end of august, and one for languages!!!

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Flexible Time Blocking: A More Breathable Way to Get Things Done

I’ve met a lot of people who struggle with sticking to a schedule - myself included - so here’s one way you can get things done without restricting your spontaneity.

Linked: The ABCDE Method: Accomplish Tasks More Efficiently

Hope this helps!

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When someone asks you where you see yourself in 5 years and you’re like buddy .. im just trying to make it to Friday

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SOURCES + LINKS

Dr. Bradberry, Travis. (January 15, 2018). “How to make yourself work when you don’t want to.” Retrieved from: https://medium.com/the-mission/how-to-make-yourself-work-when-you-dont-want-to-f4f251a85514

MacLellan, Lila. (January 15, 2018). “How to stop procrastinating.” Retrieved from: https://work.qz.com/1159212/how-to-stop-procrastinating/

Sun, Michael. (February 17, 2014). “Psychological Skills: Changing your Emotions - An Intro to Cognitive Reappraisal.” Retrieved from: https://www.psychologyinaction.org/psychology-in-action-1/2014/02/17/psychological-skills-changing-your-emotions-an-intro-to-cognitive-reappraisal

My masterposts, infographics, printables, + more!

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If 👏 you 👏 are 👏 at 👏 uni/college 👏 register 👏 to 👏 vote👏 this 👏 is 👏 not 👏 a 👏 drill 👏

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awesome things to look forward to at college and university

strolling through the beautiful campuses

getting the opportunity to study what you want

being surrounded by inspiring academics with years or wisdom

speaking with these intellectuals as their equals and colleagues

meeting people from all different cultures and backgrounds

making friends with whoever you want

ditching the fakes and the bullies

relishing catch ups with special high school besties

intellectual discussions with people from all walks of life

commiserating together with everyone over the workload

flexible class timetables and days off

learning things that you’ll use everyday in your career

knowing that you’re investing in the future

having hundreds of clubs and societies to join

discovering that there’s someone in the same boat as you

experiencing dorm life and late night parties

experimenting with new styles

understanding what sort of citizen you want to become

being surrounded by people who are as passionate as you

learning to seek evidence and proof for all questions in life

motivating yourself by seeing your own hard-earned GPA/WAM

laughing with friends about the people who are still jerks even in uni

understanding things you’ve never thought you’d understand

learning concepts your way with your own study methods

studying in libraries that are several storeys high

utilising your bullet journal to its full potential to stay organised

joining the gym and reaching that level of fitness you’ve always aspired to

despite the hard work and long hours, there’s a lot to things to love! add things you love about uni and keep the comments positive! :)

Follow optomstudies for daily original posts and study masterposts! Links: all originals + langblr posts + 15-part college 101 series + web directory!

Update: Links fixed!

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See full response to anon’s ask here.  

For anon who asked;

hey can i ask your advice on feeling better after an awful exam? last week i had my hsc half yearlies and i had 5 exams all in one week and i have adhd so study is really hard for me and i did a lot of last minute stuff…and i’ll be lucky if i get 12% and i’m so worried about what my teacher’s going to say…and i’ll embarrass myself and i’ll go from top in the class to irredeemably bottom and it’s all over now but i feel so so awful, i can’t sleep at night bc of stress about it and i don’t know what to do 

“Effort will never betray you”

This quote gets circulated around a lot. With good reason. 

But you know what?

Sometimes effort will betray you.

So here’s some tips on what to do when that sonofabitch stabs you in the back.

(Aka learning to get up when you’ve been (metaphorically) kicked in the balls)

Immediately after the exam

Fight or Flight? 

Everyone responds differently to post-exam stress. Some people find it cathartic to discuss their asnwers immediately after the exam. Others don’t. If you fall within the latter group then don’t be afraid to hightail the fuck out of the exam room as soon as possible. There’s no need to exacerbate your stress levels. Take care of yourself.

What can you control? 

Be honest about what you can control after the exam. You can’t sit the exam again, you can’t rewind the clock two weeks and change your study habits. Whilst its natural to feel a sense of regret or dread over the questions you found challenging, realise that these feelings do not change what has happened. The decisive step is how you respond to these negative emotions. For example, try not to let your feelings about your performance in this exam affect your performance in your next exam. Whether it be ‘compartmentalisation’, ‘crying it out’ or ‘ignoring it’ - stick it in the “IOU” box of emotions to unpack later. All you can do now is to wait for your results.

Quick review 

While it’s still fresh in your mind, write down three positives of the exam, followed by three negatives. Did your study methods correlate to the areas examined? Were you nervous? Was time management an issue? How did you feel walking out of that exam? What song best describes the entire experience? This quickfire stream of consciousness review will serve as an honest reflection from which you can target and refine your exam preparation technique, both academically and emotionally. I also find writing things down a great way to ‘let go’ of those residual emotions from the exam.

Take a break

Chances are, you’ve been highly strung for the past few weeks (or heck, the all nighter you’ve pulled to study for the exam). Congratulate yourself - fuck yes you’ve completed an exam! Find an activity to break up the cycle of study-eat-rest-study. You’ll be back to that routine in a few hours. Let yourself breathe. Listen to that album, watch that movie, catch up with that friend you’ve been rescheduling for the past month, read that book. Mindlessly scroll tumblr, binge watch netflix - Reset and recuperate so that you’re ready for the next hurdle.

Comparing yourself to others

Its natural to judge your performance against everyone else in the exam, how much they wrote, what answers they got, how they solved a problem. Don’t give too much weight to what people say they’ve done. You don’t know what they wrote, and just because five people wrote the same response doesn’t mean that your response is incorrect. . In the end you can only control your own performance. Putting it bluntly, after the exam, it doesn’t matter what your peers wrote. Because it doesn’t change the fact that you can’t go back and change your answer. What’s done is done.

Upon receiving your results

Break it down

What were your strengths and weaknesses? What types of questions did you do well in? Is it a substantive or procedural problem?  (e.g. is it because you don’t understand the content, or is it because you can’t manage your study time/ write that quickly/ poor time management during the exam). Use this as a matrix to target your study method and review for your next exam

Ask for help

Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher or professor for advice. Even when you’ve done well - it doesn’t hurt to ask where those extra marks could have gone, or how you could further develop your response for future exams. Its always daunting to ask for advice when you’ve done poorly in an exam. But don’t forget, your teacher is paid to help you. Literally.

Special Consideration

If you feel as if your performance has been affected by a health issue, don’t be afraid to ask for a formal review of your marks or for special consideration (alteration of your marks) for your next exam. Check your high school/ university policies on this matter. Some will require formal documentation, and there may be a strict deadline you’ll need to adhere to. Asking for SC is nothing to be ashamed of. It doesn’t mean you are any less deserving of your results. Its simply a recognition that “hey, we need to level the playing field here.“ 

Some advice from people who are much more qualified than me:

A kinder, gentler philosophy of success

On being wrong

On getting up again

Getting stuck in the negatives (and how to get unstuck) 

Overcoming hopelessness 

The Power of Vulnerability

What next?  

On the necessity of failure 

Dealing with failure

Some advice from Oprah, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Julie Andrews  

Why you will fail to have a great career

Come here friend,  and let me whisper in your ear: I failed. 

Studying and Exams

Motivation by @areistotle

How to reduce exam stress by @studydesu

How to mentally prepare yourself for a test by @eruditicn

What to do the night before an exam by @beautifullearning

Focusing on a long term goal by @studybuzz

Preparing for a day of study by @gracelearns 

Annotating Texts by @delthenerd

Using onenote by @strive-for-da-best 

Study Apps by @katsdesk

Dealing with anxiety and mental illness

Resources for studying with a mental illness by @studybowie

How to study with a mental illness by @haleystudies

Dealing with Test Anxiety by @studybuzz

ADHD As A Difference In Cognition, Not A Disorder by Stephen Tonti 

Depression, the Secret We Share by Andrew Solomon

Living and Studying with anxiety by @hayley-studies

5 tips for an exam if you have test anxiety by @collegerefs

Overcoming Test Anxiety  by @staedtlers-and-stabilos

Study and mental health  by @getstudyblr

This answer by @studyrose 

Self Care, Sleep and General Health.

101 self care ideas when it gets all too much by @hbstudy

Balancing a healthy lifestyle with studying by @joolshallie

Tips for getting better rest by @overstudies

Sleep by @studygene

Calculate your bedtime 

How to succeed? Get more sleep by Arianna Huffington

Pzizz  

Relax Melodies (iPhone) (android) 

This list by @thecaseyfeed

A few things to help you feel better

See this list

A Song A Day 

Find something on the Nostalgia Machine  

Spotify playlists by @studyrelief

Motivational texts from @academla

Looking beyond: University Entry

Success is not a predetermined route.

Whilst it may feel like your future hinges on this one exam, remember your future isn’t some pre-determined linear equation. Your definition of success will change as you change. Your ambitions will change. Your gaols will change. And as long as you keep your mind open and you harbour a willingness to adapt, then there will always be a pathway for you to achieve your success. 

And for those who have no frickin’ clue what their ‘passions, dreams, ambitions’ are? Its ok. You don’t need some ‘overarching mission to save the world’ every morning. In the wise words of Tim Minchin:

“Americans on talent shows always talk about their dreams. Fine, if you have something that you’ve always dreamed of, like, in your heart, go for it! After all, it’s something to do with your time… chasing a dream. And if it’s a big enough one, it’ll take you most of your life to achieve, so by the time you get to it and are staring into the abyss of the meaninglessness of your achievement, you’ll be almost dead so it won’t matter. I never really had one of these big dreams. And so I advocate passionate dedication to the pursuit of short-term goals. Be micro-ambitious. Put your head down and work with pride on whatever is in front of you… you never know where you might end up. Just be aware that the next worthy pursuit will probably appear in your periphery. Which is why you should be careful of long-term dreams. If you focus too far in front of you, you won’t see the shiny thing out the corner of your eye. Right? Good. Advice. Metaphor. Look at me go.”

A few pointers:

The following section is sponsored by my opinions

Effort might betray you.

You can work hard at something and still not get the result you want. It’s all about expectation management. You might work hard and fall within the top 1% of your cohort. You can work hard and still fail.  

This is not to say that you shouldn’t try at all.

It’s merely a recognition that things don’t always go your way, you cannot control everything. The best thing you can do in that circumstance is to prepare for any contingencies.

You can control how you respond to that failure.

Sometimes it’s a question of studying effectively. The adage ‘study smart, not hard’ etc. Target your study to the syllabus, the material covered in the exam, the specific style of questions in the exam. Sometimes it may simply be exam technique. 

Other times its things beyond your control. Stress, nerves, blanking out - we’re only human.

In the end, what you learn from the process is just as important as the result. Conversely, the result may not always justify the means. 

On confidence and self worth

Its only natural to assume that your self worth is tied to your academic achievements. Up till now, you’ve spent the majority of your waking hours at school, under the pressure of constant assessments and scrutiny.

Keep in mind that one exam is only a reflection of your performance at one precise time, on one specific date, in one specific place. How you perform on 10am on Monday in exam hall A does not reflect your capacity nor ability for the other 364 days of your life. 

Find something which you can do for yourself. Something which you can fail in, without feeling terrible.This other thing doesn’t have to be another ‘hobby’ you’re amazing at. It doesn’t have to be something you’re good at. “Being the best” is not a pre requisite to “enjoying something”. 

A final note:

Its ok to be stressed. Its difficult to distinguish our achievements from our self worth. Its not as simple as ‘just getting over it’. Because its something you’ve invested time, emotion, sleep - and a whole heck of a lot more- on. Its something you’ve based your foreseeable future on. The pressure of a promised future, a ‘better future’, a future ‘that justifies all this suffering I’m dragging myself through’ is sometimes the greatest pressure we put ourselves under.

Its easy to underestimate the weight of our own expectations.

Whilst you cannot control every outcome, you can control your reaction to it. Choose to learn from your past mistakes, choose to forgive yourself, choose to accept your flaws. Try not to get lost in the maze of it all. Once again, in the words of good ol’ Tim Minchin,

You will soon be dead. Life will sometimes seem long and tough and, god, it’s tiring. And you will sometimes be happy and sometimes sad. And then you’ll be old. And then you’ll be dead.There is only one sensible thing to do with this empty existence, and that is: fill it. Not fillet. Fill. It.

And in my opinion (until I change it), life is best filled by learning as much as you can about as much as you can, taking pride in whatever you’re doing, having compassion, sharing ideas, running(!), being enthusiastic. And then there’s love, and travel, and wine, and sex, and art, and kids, and giving, and mountain climbing … but you know all that stuff already.

All the best,

fuckstudy

Masterposts can be found here. Feel free to request a topic here.

Please note: I have a penchant for long replies and a reputation for being very late.