#study setup

[dearlyjess]

rainy november mornings spent reading and working on the thesis ☁️☕️

[veralernt]

Im in the thesis phase where i just need to push through but keep my mind at bay - anxiety is through the roof these days 🥲

[meowingbackatcats]

27 april 2025

okay so i cleaned my desk cuz it’s been an absolute mess since a few weeks and putting things back genuinely makes me feel less anxious 🙏🏾 so yay

woke up to construction noises again and terrible cramps :( so yeah but anyways

i made last week revision plan where i’ll be doing pyq’s along with revising the syllabus- obviously not covering the entire syllabus for revision now but just the super super important parts of it so yay

i’ll be revising the entirety of physics today - 11+12- mainly formulas and the well known problems so yay, i’ll do the pyq’s once i finish revising

6 days for neet is surreal. goodluck to all of you <3

have a nice day my loves 🌸

💌

[caramelcuppaccino]

dear @judysdiary asked me about my desk setup a while ago. even though i’m late, i thought i’d share it like this :] once again sorry for replying this late and thank you lots for such an interesting question!<33 if you’re curious about something, you can ask me anytime!!

[outsassing-nero]

moments from my usual journaling session :)

listening to: twin tribes, perdidos

more on my ig: a.rchive98 and YouTube: journalingtapes

[virtuosicstudyblr]

Apparently it’s fall season for my pictures as well. Why are they coming down the wall? 🍂🍁 If you know any good and rent friendly wall sticky tape, please let me know! || 31.10.2023 Lux

[expiationist]

[alilystudies]

New year, new study setup!

[dayofaestheticorsubculture]

Studyblr

Studyblr is a portmanteau of “study” and “Tumblr,” referring to a subcommunity on the microblogging and social networking platform Tumblr that centers around academic motivation, study aesthetics, productivity, and educational self-improvement. It is part of a larger trend of internet-based productivity and self-betterment communities that use social media to share resources, inspiration, and personal progress. The Studyblr movement rose to prominence in the mid-2010s, particularly among high school and college students, and has since evolved into a broader cultural and pedagogical phenomenon. Unlike traditional educational tools or support systems, Studyblr is grassroots and peer-led, combining elements of digital journaling, lifestyle blogging, and academic coaching.

The Studyblr community emerged organically from Tumblr’s broader user base in the early 2010s. It was initially inspired by the pre-existing aesthetic blogging culture of Tumblr, which was characterized by curated visual content, moodboards, personal diaries, and thematic tagging. As users began sharing photos of their study spaces, handwritten notes, planners, and school routines, a distinct identity coalesced around the tag “#studyblr.”

This emergence coincided with growing global interest in academic competitiveness, mental wellness, and productivity among digital-native students. While the community had no official founding date or centralized leadership, key influencers—users who consistently posted high-quality, original content—helped shape its ethos. Over time, Studyblr expanded beyond static images to include long-form reflections on study strategies, mental health, goal-setting, and the lived experiences of students navigating academic systems.

Studyblr is perhaps best known for its distinctive visual and textual aesthetics. Content typically revolves around carefully arranged photos of notebooks, stationery, desks, laptops, and textbooks. These images often feature natural lighting, pastel color palettes, and neat handwriting in cursive or block letters. The emphasis on presentation serves both motivational and aspirational functions: it reflects the user’s effort and self-discipline, while also creating an idealized image of productive student life.

Beyond visuals, Studyblr content is deeply text-driven. Posts often include personal essays, daily study logs, motivational affirmations, study tips, productivity challenges, book reviews, and planning systems. Many users integrate bullet journaling and time management methodologies such as the Pomodoro Technique, Eisenhower Matrix, or Getting Things Done (GTD) framework into their content. The aestheticized academic life depicted in Studyblr is often aspirational, yet it can also contain candid reflections on academic burnout, impostor syndrome, and the pressure to perform.

Studyblr functions as a decentralized, informal learning network. Users share and exchange knowledge across disciplines, offering peer support, explanations, and curated resources. Unlike formal education systems that follow rigid curricula, Studyblr promotes autodidacticism—self-directed learning based on personal interest and need. It is common to find comprehensive guides written by users on how to study specific subjects, prepare for standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, or A-Levels, or learn foreign languages.

These peer-led instructional materials often emphasize metacognitive strategies, such as spaced repetition, active recall, mind mapping, and Cornell note-taking. Studyblr can thus be viewed as a space for educational praxis, where learners not only consume knowledge but also critically reflect on how to learn. In this sense, it parallels and intersects with the Open Educational Resources (OER) movement, albeit in a more informal and socially curated manner.

Studyblr supports a complex and multifaceted set of identities. Users often present themselves as diligent, growth-oriented individuals who are striving to improve their academic lives. However, the community is also interwoven with issues of self-image, performance, and socio-cultural pressures. Many Studyblr participants are women and girls, and there is a strong feminized aesthetic to the community, including a focus on journaling, pastel tones, and emotional self-care.

Despite its empowering potential, Studyblr has been critiqued for perpetuating perfectionism and romanticizing productivity. The aesthetic emphasis can lead to a performative culture where the appearance of studying becomes as important as the actual work done. This dynamic mirrors broader critiques of social media platforms where curated self-presentation can mask internal struggles and contribute to anxiety or imposter syndrome.

Studyblr also functions as a digital safe space for marginalized students, including LGBTQ+ individuals, neurodivergent learners, and those with mental health challenges. The community often provides emotional support, practical advice, and solidarity across identity lines, creating an inclusive environment that is often lacking in traditional academic institutions.

Tumblr’s platform design—featuring reblogs, tags, and anonymous messaging—facilitates the decentralized and viral nature of Studyblr content. The use of tags like #studyspo (study inspiration), #productivity, and #studentlife allows for rapid content discovery and thematic categorization. Reblogging allows users to build upon others’ posts, adding commentary or visual remixing, thus fostering a participatory culture.

Many Studyblr users extend their presence across platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and, more recently, TikTok. These migrations have contributed to the cross-pollination of related communities like Studygram (on Instagram), Studytwt (on Twitter), and StudyTube (on YouTube). Each of these platforms introduces distinct norms and media affordances, but they share common themes of academic productivity, peer support, and aesthetic curation.

While not formally recognized by most academic institutions, Studyblr can have measurable educational benefits. Its emphasis on goal-setting, reflective practice, and resource sharing encourages students to engage more deeply with their learning. It can enhance intrinsic motivation and help students develop executive functioning skills such as planning, prioritization, and time management.

However, critics argue that Studyblr may reinforce elitist or exclusionary narratives. The idealized images often feature expensive stationery, minimalist furniture, and uninterrupted time—luxuries not all students can afford. Furthermore, the emphasis on constant productivity may inadvertently glamorize overwork and contribute to toxic hustle culture.

There is also a tendency toward Eurocentric and Anglophone academic norms, which may marginalize students in non-Western contexts. While some Studyblr users challenge these biases by posting in other languages or highlighting alternative educational systems, the dominant aesthetic and rhetorical style remains rooted in Western liberal education ideals.

A distinctive feature of Studyblr is its intersection with mental health discourse. Many users openly discuss their struggles with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other psychological challenges. This openness creates a dual narrative: one of ambition and productivity, and another of vulnerability and resilience. It also reflects broader generational shifts in attitudes toward mental health, particularly among Gen Z and late Millennials.

Self-care routines, therapy experiences, and coping strategies are frequently discussed alongside study schedules and exam prep. This integration of mental wellness and academic performance represents a holistic approach to student life that stands in contrast to traditional educational discourses that often neglect emotional labor. However, this discourse is not without tension—there is an ongoing debate within the community about whether the focus on aesthetics and high achievement can undercut genuine mental health advocacy.

Studyblr is more than a niche interest group—it represents a convergence of education, technology, identity, and aesthetics in the digital age. As of the mid-2020s, while Tumblr’s overall user base has declined from its peak, the Studyblr ethos continues to influence newer platforms and educational content creation. The cultural DNA of Studyblr can be seen in online productivity communities, Notion dashboards, digital journaling apps, and even remote learning pedagogies that emphasize autonomy and engagement.

Its legacy lies in reshaping how students view learning—not merely as a path to grades or degrees, but as a personal, expressive, and communal act. Studyblr illustrates how digital communities can serve as sites of both empowerment and critique, offering new possibilities for how we understand motivation, knowledge, and the lived experience of education in a connected world.

[romanticize-until-you-drop]

Studyblr Community Question 1!

Picture 1: My set up at home - nothing fancy, just a rack for laptop so I don’t hurt my neck and a mechanical keyboard off Amazon.

Picture 2: My study spot at the school library! I try to study outside of my house as much as possible since I feel more productive, and the school library is a great place. Good wifi, nice natural light, if only it closed later though…

[venetianwindow]

20231004. 【📖】

Some recent workspaces, at home and out and about. Reading, drawing, thinking.

☞ studygram

[dearlyjess]

making some real progress on the thesis this cloudy morning☁️

[veralernt]

I can’t wait to be done, but there’s still so much to do!

Pictured: a nice sunset I saw yesterday (I was outside, yay!) and my desk space, cluttered with notes, SNACKS, and thoughts 💭

[pumpkinnspicelatte]

wednesday || november 27th 🫐

finally got around to studying for my biology exam. i have so many things to do (especially for next week) and zero motivation. but we move on, hopefully the pressure will finally get to me soon. happy mid week!!

🎧: take my hand - 5 seconds of summer

[magpiecollectingknowledge]

So much dissertation research this week I feel like I’m gonna start talking about ancient Judaism in my sleep. Thank god I love my topic or I would have gone mad by now.

I’m obsessed with how my notes look in the first photo - courtesy of my beloved tablet. Defo a worthwhile get for me!

I hope you’re all well. Semester starts back up again next week so look forward to some more study content!

[outsassing-nero]

13.02.24// came back from a four day long trip to paris on sunday!! i visited so many museums and my legs definitely feel that... petit palais had a really amazing exhibition about french modernity - definitely a highlight of this trip!

also, i managed to take my work laptop with me, so i saved up my days off for upcoming months :D

work is still really busy, but i've managed to pre-plan some classes for the upcoming week, wrap up projects at work, and even go through a book i needed for my phd :) now off to other phd-related tasks now!

more adventures on my insta: isitreallyalicja