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Energy Management

A human-based organization method

click on images for better resolution; images also available here (link to google drive)

Other posts that may be of interest:

Getting stuff done: How to deal with a lack of motivation

Flexible time-blocking: A more breathable way to get things done

22/100 days of productivity (11/5/2020)

i know, I know, everybody and their mom is doing this buT I think I might have something new to add:

- have a consistent place to study, preferably quiet: this helps loads!! if you don’t have access to that, try earplugs or noise-cancelling earphones.

- listen to the right music for the task: if you’re doing repetitive stuff, put on your favourite jams to spice it up! if it’s something you have to concentrate on, listen to classical music or lo-fi, whichever you like. you can also try ambiental music with different themes. I find that silence unnerves me and makes me concentrate on the smallest things instead of what I’m actually supposed to concentrate on (link, link, link)

- silence is good too: you can absolutely take your headphones off or pause the music if you feel that it’s distracting you!

- have a drink and snack nearby: hydrate!! eat!!! those study sessions can hit hard, but having something to nibble on nearby will keep you healthy and cut the time spent getting up to go in the kitchen and prepare things.

bonus tip: if your water is finished, take a break and go refill it!! you’ve probably been sitting down for a few hours by now and you deserve it!!!

- have your study materials all laid out and have a battle plan: be specific

don’t say: study for chemistry this afternoon

say: study chemistry chapters 2-3 (14:30-16:30) or make flashcards for electronic configurations (15:30-16:30)

- time-blocking is THE BOMB, but don’t forget to be flexible: some assignments may take longer than you thought and that’s alright! just have a general plan to go by

- use the 5 minute rule: if you don’t want to do something, force yourself to do it for just 5 minutes. after you get the ball rolling, everything will get so much easier

- don’t overwork yourself: I know an all-nighter seems really tempting sometimes, but it’s you won’t be as productive and definitely will be tired next day. sleep, eat, maintain basic hygiene, open a window!!! all of these improve your mood and your productivity so much.

ap bio | 08142019 ✨

AUGUST. 4. 2019.

Hello, everyone, it’s been a while. Life has hit me in many ways, majority of it is just boring. Going to school, going to work, drowning in reality, living life as the best as I can be. This week is going to hectic for me, as you can see. My essays are due, procrastination is looming and I need to get ready for my fall semester that is about to hit me in about two weeks! I hope everything is going well. I will try to post and be online more!

31/07/19

[08/01/19]

0.93

happy august everyone! this was my last weekly spread of july and i’ve failed to do the one thing stated in large blue letters on this page whelp :’(

currently listening to:

ok so i go back to school v soon (august 7th to be exact) and here are some of my tips that i use to help prepare myself for going back to school.

start your routine. now. at least a week before your first day of school, get into your routine. get up when you’re supposed to and go to bed when you should (11 for me at the latest). as for the “school day,” busy yourself with reading, playing video games, working, the like. but try to get home when you would from school and kinda pretend like you’re back in school and “do homework” or workout or whatever you would do when you get home. starting that routine now will make it soooo much easier when the school year actually starts

figure out how much sleep you need to function and fix your sleep schedule. do i have to explain this one??? just don’t stay up until 2am the night before you’re first day of school because you’ll be screwed for the rest of the year :)

get your supplies. ok this one is a given. whether you’re paperless or not, get at least a folder to keep stray papers. i would also recommend having a separate folder just for lined paper bc you never know when you need it and idk about you but i hate ripping papers out of notebooks

get new clothes. you don’t necessarily ~have~ to do this one but it’s nice to have a semi-new wardrobe before you head back to school. when i wear something new, i feel more confident and i’m more excited for the day so it kinda makes me excited to go to school. 

pick out your outfits for the first week. this relates to getting new clothes. i like doing this (every week) because it’s one less thing i have to do/think about in the morning. plus it should make you excited for going to school because you get to wear your (hopefully) new clothes.

get your food!! i bring my lunch to school every day (yup, 180 days a year times 12) so before that first day rolls around, get some food for your lunch! whether that be a nice drink, some snacks, a fancy salad, or the like, just get it because it will also make you more excited for school

whiten your teeth. gotta have those nice pearly whites when school starts to show every how you glowed up over the summer

speaking of glowing up…skincare!!!! having clear skin makes everyone so much more confident so make that first day so much better by having clear skin. you won’t feel nearly as self-conscious and you’ll actually (maybe) enjoy the day. 

set out everything the night before. again, makes your mornings *that* much easier/better so you won’t be running late

have a positive attitude. yes it’s school and no one really likes going back to school but try to have a positive attitude about it. you’re one year closer to graduating, it’s a fresh start, you get to meet new friends, (hopefully) you’re taking classes you enjoy, and you’re getting back into a routine. yes school can be very stressful but hopefully, if you follow some of the tips above, it won’t be as stressful as it could be. 

best of luck everyone. i’m rooting for you :)

lazy study tips

1. use quizlet. quizlet is amazing because you can access your flashcards on your phone!! this way you can easily flip through them while waiting in line, watching tv, etc.

2. use the pomodoro technique. if you’re lazy like i am, sitting down for 6+ hours a day to study can be daunting. giving yourself multiple breaks throughout a study session will help to keep you going!

3. watch youtube videos. watching videos or listening to podcasts on the topic you’re studying could be a huge time saver and is a lot more interesting than flipping through a textbook. and you can easily do this in bed!! (i would not advise to do this instead of using a textbook all together just in case information is left out of the video)

4. try to build a steady study routine. block out a chunk of time in the middle of the day every day for studying. this way, you know that when the time is up, you have the rest of the day to relax!

5. get sleep. i’ve found that i’m at my laziest when i haven’t been sleeping much. avoid being sluggish throughout the day and get some rest! this will cut back on nap/rest time and increase productivity during the day.

6. consider the consequences of not studying. which will benefit you more in the long run- getting your work done now, or watching another episode?

7. reward yourself. give yourself a little treat (a piece of candy, etc.) after completing a set amount of work. this will keep you motivated to keep studying!

8. just start. the hardest part of studying is starting- force yourself to sit down and open up your notes.

Recent out of town trip with my best friends of 10 years. It was fun and I bought my journal with us.