nomadstudies

[nomadstudies]

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.

[nomadstudies]

The Tinkerbell Effect refers to things that only exist because people believe in them- like taking a placebo pill and feeling better because you’ve convinced yourself it was real medicine. 

There’s also a Reverse Tinkerbell Effect, where the more you believe in something the more it’s bound to vanish - like being so convinced it’s safe to drive that cars actually become more dangerous because your illusion of safety causes you to drive with less caution. 

(Source, Source 2, Source 3)

[nomadstudies]

dont underestimate the power of kindness. strength is not being cold hearted and aloof, it’s being amicable in the face of bitterness or gentle with those who need to be loved. so please, if nothing else, be kind.

[nomadstudies]

This studyblr is ANTI all-nighter, ANTI overexertion, PRO mental wellness, PRO self care, PRO getting enough sleep

[nomadstudies]

How to feel good without a creme, mask or ... candles ?

1) Food.

Food is the best way to feel good. Food is the thing that help you when your creme can’t. Food is paradise. Food is good. Food is Bucky Barnes (sorry, I have to place it somewhere).

More seriously, this is more of a reminder than a actual tip for you. Eating at time is important, skipping meals to be more productive in not gonna help you, it might even be harmful not only for your health and for your study sessions. Did you try to be productive when you are hungry as hell ? Because I have and it didn’t felt so good and I even turn into dust at some point.

The best part of eating ? Eating.

Stop studying thirty minutes and eat something that doesn’t seem to gross, like strawberries (well that’s not a full meal but you get it)

Someone who can maybe help with her wonderful recipes.

2) Classic : TV or going outside (yes, this is basically for extrovert, introvert and ambivert)

Lock yourself into your room for…eighteen hours and binge watch all of the Marvel movies, or the Harry Potter saga, well anything that you like : TV shows, dramas, fanfictions, the last post of your favorite blogger, youtube…

How does this help ?

Well, let’s be honest : it always feels good to be on your own for a fews hours or for a whole day with your TV on (or computer) not talking to anyone and just feel all the pressure of school, social obligation, social media, parents, friends…get out of your shoulders, because you’re not a machine, you might need to recharge before going back to your life. So getting invested into characters, their life, their feelings, their relationships might help you to not burn out.

Obviously, you can always do the other way around : go outside, breathe a little, still talk no one because hell, why not ? Go to your favorite store, no need to buy anything, just go there and look at the things that you like, make a list of what you would’ve want for your birthday or Christmas, maybe you have a favorite book store ? A Library were you can stay and not study. You can also rediscover your city/town ! There is always hidden places that you didn’t see because you’re maybe used to overlook them. Read outside ? Don’t read outside ? Eat a bagel in a park ?

You can also go out with your friends, chat in a bar, a coffee shop, in a bench or just at your home. You can have lunch with them, binge watch a entire saga or tv show, go see their pet because you don’t have one, talk about stupid shit like…how Donald Trump look like a carrot or I don’t know. The only rule ? No one talk about school.

3) I still have to talk about self-care.

Physical :

Brush your teeth. I know that some of you don’t every single time because you might be in a rush or something but GET UP AND DO IT. It’s very much important for your health.

Bath/Shower.

Eat.

Exercise.

Don’t seat in the same position for hours, it hurt ( i know this by experience)

If you have glasses : put them on. I know that some of you might not do it so just in case, I put that here.

Mental :

Please, this is the most important part. You need the breaks, you need to stop at some point and listen to your brain because it’s kind of there to help you live a little bit longer. If you have depression : therapist. If you have anxiety : Sophrology is your guide to feel good as hell and not stressed at all. This shit is a miracle just like my dog.

4) THE PETS (yours or other people) (well just dogs because I have no experience with cats but I know they like cuddling too…and want to kill half of the planet and they’re illuminaties, I’m sure of it.)

What the heck, I don’t even need to argue here or prove a point. Just look at them and love them and cuddle them. They’re adorable and they’re gonna lick your nose because they’re sniffing you.

That’s for the dogs.

Like.

D O G S.

This is still me.

[nomadstudies]

remember the softest days. remember the songs humming on the radio while you were with your best friends. remember the compliments about your pretty eyes, the times you laughed while crying and the most loving hugs. remember the dogs that ran up to see you, the color of people’s eyes in the sunlight, the way you felt when you watched your favorite film for the first time. remember your best achievements and the way you grew from your saddest evenings. your life is much more beautiful than you perceived when you remember all of the good things.

[nomadstudies]

Something I found so so important in my days when I’m most productive is that I put away my phone and block distracting tabs on my laptop. I make a promise to myself at the start of the day to only use my device for work and when I’m not working, I’m not on my device. This lead me to creating more art during my study breaks and my days feel longer. I have more time to get things done and in the evening once I’ve finished all my work I can enjoy an episode or two on netflix guilt free and happy with how I spent my day.

[nomadstudies]

hi! this isn't really a question and more just a random tip. i don't really like journalling but i still do it because benefits. by keeping track of things that happened to you, you magically have a pretty long list of experiences that can be turned into college ap essays. when the time comes to apply, you can just go through your journal entries and find the perfect experience to write about rather than having to sift a jumble of half-forgotten experiences in your brain. so much easier.

thanks for the tip!! 

[nomadstudies]

A guide on the night before exams

1. Stop at 5pm. I like to stop learning at 5PM. This is because I know if I keep learning more than that, I will only be more stressed. Which is gonna lead to a loophole of mindless repetition, tears, and sleep deprivation.

2. Reward yourself. Why would you reward yourself in the middle of exams? Because you fucking need it. Treat yourself because you’ve worked hard. Take this time to relax. Watch some YouTube, listen to some music, read something you are interested in.

3. Remind yourself you are going to do great. I like Nike’s slogan of Believe you can and you are halfway there. This is true. According to a research by the University of North Carolina, when you experience positive emotions you will see more possibilities in your life. But how can you do this?

-Take a few minutes and meditate.

-Write it out.

This way it will feel more real. What did you learn? Why is it important? Are you confident? Believe in yourself! Your brain is a powerful organ and if you give it a chance, it will surprise you.

4. But none of this will actually work if you don’t sleep early. Give your brain a good night of rest. Let all those synapses strengthen! Diffuse mode of learning is a hidden valuable skill you need to do well in exams. Don’t take sleeping for granted!!!

Everyone on midterms… Good luck!!!

[nomadstudies]

i dropped off my resume at this place at 1:15 and got called for an interview at 1:45 holy dang

[nomadstudies]

Surviving School

Websites: 

Compare and Contrast - Finds similarities and differences for anything. 

Word Reference - Finding translations for multiple languages. DO NOT USE GOOGLE TRANSLATE. 

Easy Bib - Make bibliographies for free. 

Info Please - Great for research and facts. 

On This Day - Search any day and it will find events that happened on that day. This is good for History class. 

World Fact Book - See statistics, facts, and graphs about any country. 

Spell Checker - Checks your spelling and grammar and it gives you options on correcting your sentence. 

Learn French - Learn French for free with worksheets, videos and through Skype Calls. 

Vocabulary - Find vocabulary from books or type in your own words to get definitions. This is really useful for when you are reading a book and need a list of new vocabulary. 

Fact Checker - Checks if any research and facts you have are correct or incorrect.

Apps: 

Dragon Dictation - Speak into the microphone and the app turns what ever you are saying into text. This saves time instead of typing out long essays you could just say it out and let the app type. 

Periodic Table - Interactive periodic table where you can see information about each element 

Taking Notes:

OneNote - You can make lists, take notes, and even share your notes with anyone. You can have these notes on any advice. (Also an app) 

Popplet - Make a web diagram to put all your ideas on. 

Evernote - Take notes and have them on any device. (Also an app)

Jot - Allows you to take notes on the “New Tab” page. (Google Chrome Extension) 

Staying Focused: 

Blocking Distracting Websites - Blocks websites you put into the blacklist for a certain amount of time. You are allowed a certain amount of time on the blacklist websites and you get to choose the time to set. (Google Chrome Extension) 

Timer - This is a timer that stays in the corner of the web browser. This is really useful for allowing yourself a break and setting a timer for when your break should be finished. 

Calendars - This website lets you make free calendars and print them. 

Place a sticky note somewhere around your work area that says “Do Homework” or “Stay Focused” so when ever you see it you are reminded to do your work. 

Make a list before starting homework or an assignment. Write down what you want to get done, what you are focusing on and what you want to learn after doing the assignment. From experience, when you have a list where you prioritize your work it is easier to focus on it. 

Taking a Break: 

Watch a TED Talk. They’re educational and entertaining. Use the Topics page to find a talk about something you like. 

Take a walk outside to stretch out and to get some fresh air so your mind can focus later. 

Grab a snack. Try to eat something healthy and light, avoid anything with a lot of fat and oil. 

Draw or colour. If you aren’t very good at drawing then just scribble with a marker on a white board to do something relaxing before getting back to homework which can be stressful. 

Do not go on the internet to check your email or notifications because you may get caught up and not realize how much time you are spending on the internet. 

Do something you enjoy. This can be play an instrument, write, sing, dance, etc. 

Tips/Tricks for School: 

Join clubs that focus on things related to the classes you are taking. If your school offers science clubs join them because they could possibly make science class more fun and explain various topics you learned. 

Keep a water bottle with you at all times during the school day because you never know when you might feel tired or nervous. 

Listen to the daily announcements ! They usually talk about events coming up, what they are selling in the cafeteria, and about new clubs. 

Keep extra pencils, sweatpants, pads, gum and granola bars in your locker just in case something occurs. 

If you take public transit to school see if there are special offers for students. Most areas have some sort of discounted fare for students. 

Pick your outfits for the week so you are prepared in the morning for every day of the week. 

Take at least one fun class each year because that class allows you to relax and be in a positive environment. It also reduces your stress you may have from other classes. 

Talk to your teacher, guidance counselor, and adults in the school so they can help you out with school work and possibly be easier on you when it comes to marking. 

Please add more if you have any more tips/tricks!

[nomadstudies]

2018 Student Guide

With the start of 2018 well underway, I wanted to make a masterpost full of links on how to adjust your perspective with studying. Perhaps you want to become a better student overall, improve your focus or get into your dream college, there is always something we want to do better! Hopefully these tips will make 2018 your best academic year yet!

Organisation

2018 student planner

planner brand recommendations

planner vs bullet journal: pros and cons

how to set up a bullet journal

setting up a digital bullet journal

bullet journal spread ideas

bullet journal decoration hacks

bullet journal brand recommendations

whats in my bag

my favourite stationery

back to school basic supplies

how to improve your handwriting

handwriting font suggestions

balancing study and work

desk/workspace essentials

student finance tips

2018 monthly planner printables

Productivity

productivity and time management applications

how to remove distractions

types of procrastination and how to deal with them

google chrome new tab options for improved productivity

10 small ways to improve your productivity

applications to block websites

no distraction writing applications

100 days of productivity challenge

how to focus in class

how to stick to a schedule

how to stay alert

how to build self-discipline

how to organise for exams

my after school routine

how to reduce perfectionist ideas 

Motivation

what to do when you’ve tried everything

how to gain back motivation

motivational monday printables

how to stop avoiding studying

what to do when you feel exhausted before studying

how I stay motivated

tips on maintaining motivation

10 tips to increase your motivation for study

how to start a studyblr

how to utilise your studyblr for motivation

how to set up a studygram

dealing with competitive people

how to bounce back from ‘failure’

how to learn from a lower than expected grade

how to structure a weekly review

how to deal with a difficult class

things to do during holidays/study vacations

Studying

applications for students

how to take effective class or lecture notes

how to take notes from a textbook

how to prepare for exams

my note-taking method

my notebook system

how to write faster

how to study more effectively

how to summarise information

how I organise my binders

good habits to implement

how to study (my method)

how to revise from notes

how to organise a colour code

how to memorise information effectively

how to memorise quotes

how to use flashcards

how I reduce waffle and narration in essays

tips for essay writing

how to find out where you’re going wrong

how I prepare to study

different ways to study

how to study during the semester

how to annotate a book/novel/etc

how to get ahead in school

how to break up a large textbook

studying as a visual learner

how to practice and present a speech

mindmapping apps and extensions

how to deal with online classes

how to study a language

how to study maths

how to improve group assessments/projects

ipad study inspiration

Self Care

how to improve your sleep schedule

how to wake up earlier

how to study when sick

over-coming self doubt

dealing with stress

how to balance studying and anxiety

how to balance studying and depression

apps that help with depression

ways to reward your productivity

my favourite tv shows

my favourite podcasts

ways to use empty notebooks

how to be more sociable

tips for getting a job

advice for the first day

things (personal, academic, etc) to do every week

Printables

2018 monthly planner printables

2018 student printables (includes 2018 overview + calendar, daily + weekly + monthly planner, 30 habit tracker, class overview and timed worklog)

2018 GoodNotes monthly and weekly planner

weekly study schedule

weekly planner

weekend planner

daily planner

assessment planner

subject to do list planner

study session planner

exam revision printable pack (includes revision checklist, formulas + definitions sheet, essay + project planner, weekly schedule)

note-taking printables (includes dotted, grid, lined, cornell method)

organic chemistry printable

literary techniques and devices sheet

100 days of productivity tracker printable 

ultimate student organiser pack

study and revision pack

2018 student planner

2018 weekly planner

pomodoro tracker

grade and assessment planner pack

essay guide and planner pack

productivity planner

student reading journal printable

student finance planner

goal and habit planner

customisable weekly study planner

Other posts | Printables | Instagram | Youtube | Pinterest | Etsy Shop

[nomadstudies]

V A C C I N A T E

[nomadstudies]

shoutout to everyone making progress that no one recognized because you never let anyone see your darkest moments. i see you and i am so, so proud of every little step you’re making in the right direction.

[nomadstudies]

This is a summary of college only using two pictures; expensive as hell.

That’s my Sociology “book”. In fact what it is is a piece of paper with codes written on it to allow me to access an electronic version of a book. I was told by my professor that I could not buy any other paperback version, or use another code, so I was left with no option other than buying a piece of paper for over $200. Best part about all this is my professor wrote the books; there’s something hilariously sadistic about that. So I pretty much doled out $200 for a current edition of an online textbook that is no different than an older, paperback edition of the same book for $5; yeah, I checked. My mistake for listening to my professor.

This is why we download. 

 Alternatives to buying overpriced textbooks

Textbooknova 

Reddit

Bookboon 

Textbookrevolution 

GaTech Math Textbooks

Ebookee 

Freebookspot 

Free-ebooks

Getfreeebooks 

BookFinder

Oerconsortium 

Project Gutenberg

[nomadstudies]

essential cooking tips for uni students

hello! so after surviving cooking for myself in my first year at uni, I thought I’d share some wisdom with people who are about to start themselves! here are a few of my top tips - I hope they help! 

buy a steamer basket!!! you can get them for £3 from ikea and are an absolute dream for steaming vegetables/potatoes easily. just put an inch or so of boiling water at the bottom of a pan, pop in your basket filled with veggies (carrots, baby corn, broccoli, etc.), pop the lid on and wait a few minutes to get perfectly cooked (and not mushy) veg! 

freeze your bread! I love to buy pre-sliced seeded loaves of bread but I typically wouldn’t manage to eat a whole loaf before it turns mouldy. chuck your loaf in the freezer then simply defrost in the toaster (press the snowflake button)! 

go to your local supermarket in the evening!! if you’ve not got much in for tea, go to the shops on your way back from uni in the evening and have a look at the reduced stock! you can find some really great things that can last you a while (especially if you then freeze them); pre-prepared stir-fry kits, sliced bread, pittas, crumpets, salads, pre prepared fruit and ready meals are some of the stuff I see regularly for half the normal price!

don’t underestimate potatoes!! sweet potatoes and regular potatoes are such a good staple; jacket/baked potatoes and chips/wedges can be the base for practically any meal so make sure you always have a few lying around.

cook in large batches!! this is a lifesaver, especially in winter! I love to cook large batches (10+ portions) of bolognese, quorn chilli, and soups on a sunday afternoon, then I let it cool and portion it out into freezer bags. having a constant source of healthy and home-cooked meals ready and waiting in your freezer is amazing when you can’t be bothered to cook or don’t have much in!!

bulk buy!! if you see a really great offer in the supermarket for things like pasta, rice, toilet roll, hand soap, canned food, alcohol, etc. then take advantage! this can save you a lot of money and means you have stuff stored up for when you’re in your overdraft!

shop at a local greengrocers!!! seriously, this can save you SO much money (and reduce plastic packaging)! I love to buy potatoes, broccoli and apples from my local greengrocers as they’re way cheaper and nicer than the supermarket. they sometimes have really cheap berries too (depending on if they’re in season)! they often have cheap biscuits and nuts too so be sure to check your local one out!

do an online shop with your flatmates! this is a great way of getting cheaper supermarket prices and deals without the faff of actually getting out the house. if there’s a few of you doing it together the delivery charge is barely noticeable and the pure joy when the shopping arrives (especially when you forgot you ordered chocolate!!!) is honestly worth the tiny ordeal of waiting around for it. 

pre-prepare your meals!! for example, one evening I will cut up a tonne of veggies (courgette, sweet potato, onion, pepper, aubergine, broccoli, etc.), add some oil and seasoning, then put half in a zip lock bag (and put in the fridge) and then oven roast the other half. this supply lasts me several days and means I use the veggies before they go off! you can eat them hot or cold (after cooking) with cous cous, pasta, chicken, etc. 

make packed lunches!! I know this requires planning and effort but in the long run it’ll save you a lot of money and potentially be a lot healthier than buying a chicken + stuffing sandwich every day at uni!

buy frozen fruit! I love to buy frozen raspberries - they’re great on cereal, with yoghurt, and by themselves! they often work out to be a lot cheaper than fresh ones too!

make your own takeaway! takeaways are a necessary part of uni life but your waistline and bank account won’t thank you for them!! so instead, you could try to make your own with your flatmates! you can buy really nice frozen spring rolls from places like aldi and also some great curry and stir-fry kits too - give it a go!

eat vegetarian!! I’m not a veggie but I hardly ever buy meat at uni because I cannot afford good quality meat and I don’t like being pressured by use-by dates. instead, I love to buy vegetarian alternatives; quorn ‘chicken’ pieces, quorn mince, and sainsbury’s frozen veggie meatballs/burgers are some of my favourite staples!! give them a try - they can last forever in your freezer and don’t need to be defrosted beforehand!

don’t keep your snacks close to your desk!! one of the biggest mistakes I made was making one of my desk drawers into a snack drawer. I kept crisps, nuts, chocolate, biscuits, etc. in there which basically meant that I ate non-stop whenever I was working at my desk. instead try to put them as far away as possible!!!!! that way you’ll have to really really want something in order to get up and get it. 

[nomadstudies]

say it with me—

“someday i’m going to have the life i’ve always dreamed of and i won’t let self doubt stop me”