[image description: a tweet by user @indigenousAI saying

but!

if you’ve been a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, you can enroll into the address confidentiality program (free of cost!) and be registered to vote as an absentee voter and your name and address will not be made available for the public

it is super easy to get enrolled - the application takes like 5 minutes, but it has to be with someone who is certified to do it (most likely an advocate! try going to a family justice center in your area or calling the Attorney Generals office in your area!!!!)

ALSO : 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Address_confidentiality_program

don’t buy it.

our younger brothers and sisters might eat a tide pod and get us blamed for it, but we have more in common with them than we ever had with boomers or gen x.

lots of people study best with sounds, while others may prefer white noise or just silence – it’s a trial and error of seeing what works best for you! this is an ultimate guide to study playlists and songs. you can find more study playlist posts / masterposts at my tag #study sounds (check it out here!)

what to know about studying with sounds

it’s super important that you know the pros and cons of studying with music, because it’s not right for everyone. music and studying research has shown that students who study listening to classical music tend to absorb more information, because classical music has the power to stimulate a student’s thinking. furthermore, studying with music can also keep a student awake by putting them into a rhythm that helps them to move through assignments and material.

however, some students may get distracted by the music and focus more on the sound than the assignment. while classical music and studying seem to be a nice combination, other sounds may not have the same effect. if you can’t focus when you study with music, it may not be the best option for you!

(source)

ideas for studying with sounds

you can use sounds while you study in a variety of different ways. some may work for you while others may not!

let your music determine your break times. if you enjoy making your own study playlists, make one that will last as long as the study period. if you intend to study for 40 minutes, make a 40 minute playlist so that when the music stops, you know it’s time for a break! (source)

use music to study for different subjects. for example, if you play one playlist every time you study for math, whenever you hear that playlist your brain will go into math mode. if you don’t use random music whenever you study, music can really help shape your studying routine.

blast during breaks. maybe it’s not necessary to study with music playing, but playing music during your break times is a great way to keep your energy up and refresh your mind from all that silence!! during your breaks you can grab a snack or stretch, and music will definitely set the mood.

sounds to study with

++natural

for those of you who work best with white noise, the sound of rain, coffee shop sounds, etc. a few great ones are:

coffitivity : recreates the sound of a cafe, there are three free options (morning murmur, lunctime lounge, and university undertones) as well as three options you’ll unlock if you purchase a premium for $9 a year.

noisli : awesome site that allows you to mix different sounds and create your perfect environment. a wide variety of nice sounds such as rain, wind, fire, cafe, and more.

rainymood : rain. lots of rain.

gentle rain : this is literally a 12 hour youtube video of soft rain white noise. on the video there’s links to other superlong rain youtube videos so you can check those out!

nature sounds : waterfalls, birds chirping.. if that’s what you like, this 8 hour youtube video is perfect for you (gosh, how do people have the patience to make these things!!)

calming seas : 11 hours of the sound of the nice calming sea. i really like this one :)

there are TONS of great playlists and such on youtube, i promise if you just search “calming sounds” you’ll find so many. again, it’s a matter of finding the sounds that work for you!

there are also tons of applications you can download on phones or ipads that have neat sounds. i like muji to relax (bonus points for muji) and natr (which has like.. 47 different nature sounds, if i’m counting correctly!).

++instrumental playlists

for those of you who prefer gorgeous instrumental tracks, i’ve got goodies for you too! 8tracks playlists galore. i know it looks like a lot to read through but i’ve added comments to each one just so you’ll know whether it’s what you’re looking for – instead of having to go through every single one.

work hard in silence, let success be your noise : this is a great playlist of 14 tracks, they’re all instrumental (majority piano) and there’s a good mix of different types of songs and tempos. the second track, comptine d'un autre été – l'après-midi is really high speed and energetic while song for sienna (solo piano version) is more gentle and soft. my favorite track on here is skinny love (piano) ohhhmygoodness.

the sky - the moon - the stars : this one’s more slow and relaxing (though waltz “swan lake” starts out with a bang and has more energy!) you’d totally be able to use it for nights where you’re having trouble sleeping as well. there are 8 tracks and like the first playlist, there’s a nice variety of sounds.

more coffee, please : this is a diverse mix of 11 tracks and i’m sure there’s something for everyone! this playlist starts off with black & yellow which is really high-energy and fun, great for if you want to jam while you study. take me to church is this beautiful but faster-moving violin and piano cover of take me to church by hozier. on the other hand, cristofori’s dream (live orchestral version) is really soft and slow. so this 8tracks list really has it all.

stillness of mind : really lovely playlist of 22 tracks that i think would be great for studying at night because it’s calming without making you super sleepy, while still having both fast and slow songs. talk about a balancing act! i like this one so much, especially at the ivy gate and love story.

for those times when even words are too much : 10 track playlist. a calming and quiet start with clair de lune. though that song’s more soft and sleepy, bach’s cello suite no.1 i-prelude will wake you right up, trust me! overall it’s a nice mix like the other playlists – not my personal favorite but it’s lovely so i’m i’m sure it’ll work for some of you! :)

the theory of everything : 17 gorgeous tracks. i. love. this. these aren’t classical piano songs or anything but they’re all so bright and beautiful!! warning though cassandra was a huge surprise to my ears because it got super loud. i love this playlist a lot though!!

mindscapes - music for writing : exactly what it sounds like! 12 really nice and calming tracks for writing. can’t say much about it honestly, i think it would be great background music for writing papers / essays. the creator of this playlist is a writer and you should check out her other playlists as well over here because there are playlists for action scenes, love stories, etc.

sense of wonder : this playlist of 8 tracks was actually created by a studyblr, @sleepy-study (who you should check out!) i think the playlist actually captures the name really well, it has this sense of wonderment to it – it’s calming and makes my head feel nice and light. great for if you’re feeling really stressed!

study for a minute : 9 tracks of classical music that are all super pretty and calming to listen to. i think this would be great for writing essays or reading! i listened to this while i was doing math homework and it didn’t work as well, but it’s up to you of course.

focus and study : a 15 track playlist that starts out beautifully with claire de lune, and continues on in instrumental glory!! i really love the second track, serenity spa. also, lots of people have said it’s worked for them in the comments, so i think this playlist could work for any subject!

notes for dreamers : 35 track playlist of gorgeous piano songs, “for peaceful studying, tea drinking, deep thinking, melancholic drifting and sleep reaching.” (i really loved their description) it’s a very lovely playlist and kind of makes me feel like i’m in a ballet, haha.

focus. : 34 lovely classical tracks to listen to for focus! i loooove this one for writing / english homework. le moulin (4th track) and new moon (The Meadow)  especially pretty! and even though i love it, the theme from schindler’s list always makes me sniffly. the creator of the playlist also said to combine with noisli, which i haven’t tried, but you can give that a shot!

cuddles and studies : 9 really soft and gentle tracks, the “cuddles” part of the title is definitely there!! a really nice playlist, but not completely instrumental. some such as skinny love (birdy / bon iver acoustic cover) and atlas:taste have vocal parts, so it may not be the best for writing papers / essays. play this when you need a musical hug while you study – whether you’re stressed out or you just got a bad grade!

mango juice & coconuts : this is a youtube playlist with 378 songs, so i haven’t listened to the whole thing, but it’s a mix of unique sounds so it may appeal to you. they are also not all instrumental. however, even if you don’t play this while you study, some of these songs would be great to play during a study break to get you feeling relaxed and help you refocus!

can’t focus : this instrumental playlist is quite bright and upbeat, and is great for studying in the afternoon and night especially if you’re feeling a little drowsy. although it’s one of the softer and less energetic ones, i really like to dust! it has such a nice and steady flow that really gets your brain in the zone.

unfinished sentences : calming piano playlist with 12 tracks. really lovely and soft, kind of makes me feel like i’m being hugged. also, how could i not love a piano cover of not about angels? it’s literal perfection and sounds like raindrops on a windowpane but prettier. loooove.

keep calm and study on : a lovely instrumental (piano and violin) playlist of 14 tracks. i find this one really calming as well, and i like the violin covers especially because in study playlists there’s usually a lot of piano. also, the playlist was made by fellow studyblr, @theverbivorestudies !!

arise : another great playlist of 12 tracks including works by ravel, saint saens, bach, schubert, and brahms. i love the description the creator wrote - “a lovely playlist to motivate one to explore the uncertain depths of one’s world.” really nice playlist for the morning to start out your day, especially track 2 (ravel - assez vif, tres rythme)!!

vellichor : over five and a half hours of instrumental music for reading, writing, studying, or wandering through libraries and bookstores. 69 track playlist of gorgeous classical music! not much i can say, but it’s really great and i think this would work for nights where it’s hard to sleep as well!

everything classic : exactly what it sounds like. classical music at its best!! 30 great songs – i will say that dancers on a string (reprise) creeped me out (anyone else have songs that scare them?). but otherwise, if you want classical… this is the way to go.

& all the sweet serenity of books : first of all, isn’t the name of this playlist gorgeous ?!?! yesyes it is. i looove this one (song of the heart is so pretty!!) and would definitely recommend for reading and writing. it’s just *single tear slides down cheek* so beautiful.

if you didn’t find what you were looking for, do not lose hope! there are so many corners of the internet to find study music. there are plenty of other 8tracks playlists (i’ve put in the tags study and instrumental, since that’s usually what i use to find my study music) and of course, there are many options on youtube (there are a lot of really long options for a lonnnng study session but some can get kind of boring so i would recommend a playlist instead!) 

5 Signs You’re Not Eating Enough Before a Workout

“Remember, food gives you energy,” Albert Matheny, M.S., R.D., C.S.C.S., cofounder of SoHo Strength Lab in New York City and advisor to Promix Nutrition, tells SELF. “Specifically, carbohydrates are what give you the energy you need for moderate- to high-intensity exercise. If you don’t have enough in your system, you won’t be able to output any significant amount of energy.”

If you’re not fueling properly, “Short term, you’ll feel crummy. Long term, you won’t make progress, you’ll get frustrated, and you’ll start to think exercise is full of false promises,” Rob Sulaver, C.S.C.S., C.S.N., founding trainer at Rumble Boxing and founder/CEO of Bandana Training, tells SELF.

Bottom line: Whether your goal is to build strength, increase endurance, or lose weight, you need to make sure you’re giving your body the fuel it needs. Here are the top signs you’re not eating enough before exercising. Plus, when and what you should eat.

Wrist curls are going to work out your forearms - This is a pretty tough muscle group to exercise, and wrist curls is one of the few ways to directly do so.

How YouTubers Capitalize On The Self-Care Movement

“Many of these videos follow a similar pattern: YouTuber reveals her hidden struggles with anxiety, or stress burnout, and suggests a routine to the viewer to combat this struggle in day-to-day life — with recommended products to purchase. Many gurus make their money off of YouTube through brand deals and collaborations, product placement, in-video advertisements, and affiliate links (e.g., YouTuber recommends a product, then places a link to the product in the video description box, and then makes money off of all the clicks).

It might be overly cynical to suggest that vloggers have simply found in the mental health advocacy phenomenon another avenue through which to peddle products. Perhaps young female media creators, formerly relegated to the domain of makeup and clothes, want to stretch the boundaries of what they can talk about online. And naturally they want to do this while still earning money and forming lucrative corporate partnerships. But regardless of intent, the lines have become blurred over what, exactly, the audience is to assume they are watching. Is this a commercial, a tutorial, an honest analysis of products, or simply a video diary of a girl talking to her fanbase?”

No no no no no

Sugar does not give you cancer or emphysema. Sugar does not negatively impact the health of the people around you. To compare cigarettes to sugar is a gross overstatement that has no basis in fact - These are apples and oranges. 

This whole story of “lab rats preferred sugar over cocaine” is a myth in the science world that’s been so twisted and distorted that it is no longer representative of its actual findings. I highly recommend reading this comic about Rat Park in order to better understand it. This research doesn’t simply come down to “Rats found sugar to be more addictive than cocaine,” it’s far more complex than that. 

Sugar has been shown to be addictive, yes. But so is caffeine. If we’re looking at behavior instead of the food itself, even “healthy” options can be addictive. Maintaining an addiction is not the best option, but it can remain part of a healthy, balanced diet for many people. For most, these is no reason to ever “detox” from sugar or completely cut it out. Such steps are only necessary in severe cases where a person’s doctor has deemed them at risk. 

Considering that your body literally needs sugar in order to function, images like this are nothing more than a scare tactic. The fact that sugar causes your body to produce insulin?  And can increase your fat storage? None of these things is inherently bad or scary! Your body is meant to behave that way! You need to do these things in order to live! To list “fat storage” as an effect that’s on par with cancer-causing cigarettes - I can’t even deal with that level of pettiness and hatefulness, it’s ridiculous. 

This was my evening yesterday. Trying out a new apparatus at the circus studio (Studio Flux Toronto)

& don’t compare your progress to others