fake it till you make it

- wake up early, like before 8 - make yourself tea/coffee and drink water - make your bed - if you feel unfocused and chaotic, write a list of “to-do”s for the day - put on some calming morning music - eat a good breakfast!!! - wash your face - do a little exercise (as little as doing 10 squats or running up and down the stairs twice)

things u should do at night

23.08.17 // 10.50 AM

I’m pretty sure this is a fake kanken bc it was less than 1/7 of what it usually sells for but it looks real down to the smallest detail so I’m just amazed tbh

I got this from a flea market - ladies’ market for those who are from hong kong! 

8.20.17 Yellow back to school weekly spread from earlier this month. I really enjoyed playing around with doodles inspired by @studywithinspo and AmandaRachLee’s bullet journal doodle idea videos and just generally having some brighter colors to cheer me up after an intense week of assignments. Also sorry for not posting as much! School and college applications are taking up all my time right now and I’m relying on a dwindling queue, so if you message, tag, or send me an ask I promise I’ve seen it and will reply soon ❤️

Hey guys. I’m glad to be finally posting my “mental breakdown survival guide”. As you know I struggle a lot with mental health, and so I have been through a lot of breakdowns. So many that I actually dropped out of university after 3 weeks in 2016 and had to take the whole year off. Because of this, I’ve made it my mission to help others with mental health issues as much as I can, so you don’t have to go through what I’ve been through.

Anyway, here is my guide. I tried to keep it general, and actually useful. If you have any questions or additions please feel free to add them.

1. Your attitude dictates your experience, so start finding things to get psyched about.

2. Stock up on healthy snacks in your house!!! You’ll be glad you did when the study-munchies roll around (and they always do).

3. Invest in a good planner. Especially if you take part in multiple extra-curriculars, I can’t stress how helpful it is having a place to check back on deadlines and big events.

4. Write down all your teachers’ names and emails as soon as you get them, so you’re not searching for them when you’re absent.

5. No one is having as much fun as their snapchat story makes it seem.

6. Don’t believe what your peers tell you about tests they take before you, study how much YOU need to.

7. Be nice to your math teacher. Partial credit on math problems might save your grade.

8. Don’t throw out syllabuses/first day handouts!!!! Theres a good chance they have information on the late policy and a gazillion other helpful things.

9. In fact, try to hold on to as many papers as you can for when finals inevitably attack.

10. No one knows you wore those jeans yesterday.

11. Be conscious of how you smell. Don’t be B.O. kid, but also try not to suffocate your lab partner with the scent of artificial fruit/flowers.

12. That cookie in the cafeteria is probably not worth 95 cents. Pack snacks from home to resist overpriced school treats.

13. If you’re carrying around a travel mug of coffee, people will usually leave you alone. 

14. Don’t spend more time planning your study schedule than actually studying. Just get your books out and do it.

15. Never underestimate the amount of motivation you can get from watching Legally Blonde (movie or musical). 

16. Try to attend at least one school sporting event per season, even if thats not really your scene. Some teachers even offer extra credit for going to big games!

17. Don’t be that kid that asks the teacher when you’re getting your tests back. They have like a gazillion to grade. You’ll get them when they’re done.

18. Have a pump-up playlist for the ride to school and the walk to your first class. Nothing feels more badass than walking through crowded hallways while listening to Halsey’s “New Americana”.

19. Set up a back-up study zone for when you need a change of pace.

20. Don’t put off creative projects because you think they’ll be less time consuming. There’s nothing worse than glitter gluing a scale model of the U.S. Senate at 3 AM because you thought it would be quick and easy.

21. That extra 10 minutes of sleep is not worth the risk of oversleeping completely. Get up, splash your face with some cold water, and get this show on the road.

22. Find a school inspiration, whether it be a really hardworking friend or a studyblr you follow. Check their progress whenever you need motivation.

23. If someone only ever talks to you when they need to copy the homework, they’re using. Don’t indulge them.

24. Doing your own work is so SO important. Plagiarism can destroy careers.

25. Creative outlets can be so refreshing, like a diary, a private tumblr, a sketchbook, whatever floats your boat.

how to stop biting your nails

how to stop worrying

how to stop procrastinating

how to stop putting yourself down

how to stop falling asleep late

how to stop smoking

how to stop binge drinking

how to stop mindlessly eating

how to stop skipping breakfast

how to stop obsessing over your weight

how to stop micromanaging

how to stop avoiding asking for help

how to stop compulsively hoarding

how to stop picking your scabs

how to stop speeding while driving

how to stop checking your phone all the time

how to stop swearing constantly

how to stop online shopping impulsively

how to stop cracking your knuckles

how to stop pulling your hair out

how to stop having bad table manners

how to stop drinking pop

how to stop cat napping the day away

how to stop being a pushover

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 

Okay before anything else, I would like to clarify that these tips help me. These are techniques that work for me. If they don’t work for you or they’re not your style, then don’t fret! (That doesn’t in any way imply that you can’t get your life together.) If you find that these tips aren’t for you, don’t force yourself to follow them! These are just gentle suggestions that you may or may not try out! I hope you guys enjoy!

What’s this post about?

Sometimes we just reach that point in our daily living where we’re so overwhelmed by almost everything that we don’t really know where to start or what to do. In this post, I just wanna give some suggestions that might help you sort out the things you need to do! There’ll also be some handy links at the end of the post!

1. Tie your hair and put on a new shirt.

You will feel much much much better after fixing up your hair and putting on something fresh. No, it won’t clear the skies or feed all of Africa, but it will set an “I can accomplish a lot” mood. You’ll be at your most productive state if you just feel good in general. And if not good, at least fresh. Wash your face, comb your hair, brush your teeth, drink water, etc. TAKE A SHOWER. Wash away the stress and scrub the burdens off your shoulder. You’ll feel really motivated to get down to work, believe me.

2. Clean your room.

Now that your freshening up has (hopefully) motivated you to get some stuff done, straighten up your room or study/work space. Your environment has a direct effect on your productivity according to several studies and articles like this one. If you work in an organized and clean area, your productivity levels will surely go up! Really take the time to go through your old belongings. Put everything in its proper place. Get rid of old clothes that you don’t wear anymore (honey, if you haven’t worn it in 6 months, you’re never gonna wear it). Make sure also that you maintain it (easier said than done, I know). Cleaning your room will also help you gradually get into a working mood, so it’ll be easier for you to start working on other tasks.

TIP: Play some fun and peppy music while you’re cleaning your room for an extra mood boost.

3. Write out everything in your mind.

Sit down and get comfy. Pull out any piece of paper, can be anything from an old receipt to your favorite stationery pad. Now write. Write down…

everything you have to do urgently, in the near future, in the far future. > e.g. finish an assignment, set up an appointment with the dentist, get into college/find a job

anything that’s bothering you or lingering in your mind > e.g. how your crush just followed you back on twitter, how scary it is to send an email to adults

things that you absolutely cannot forget > e.g. return that library book, friend’s bday is coming up soon (gotta get a gift!), there’s an important test coming up

thoughts, feelings, opinions, irrelevant things > e.g. school’s tiring you out, politics are driving you nuts, the stray cat on your road seems kinda hungry today

JUST WRITE THEM ALL. In my opinion, it’s better to have your thoughts all laid out visible on paper rather than having them swimming in and out of your mind. Once they’re on paper, you can let your mind rest a bit from holding in so much information. Don’t write your thoughts in any particular order. Just write your ideas as they pop into your head. It may seem unsystematic for some of you, but just wait until the next point!

4. Organize your mind.

Now get a clean sheet of paper and organize your thoughts—tasks, dates, ideas/opinions, misc.

Tasks: Hopefully you’ve heard of the Eisenhower Box. If not, do not fear, for I will explain it!

So make this nifty table on your new sheet of paper, and organize your tasks accordingly! But first, expand. If you have quite abstract tasks like “get into college” break these tasks into smaller tasks like “review for entrance exams” or “fill out application,” and then classify those tasks into the table.

after categorizing your tasks, make a to-do list! (There are many ways to make a to-do list. What I usually do is start with the easy/fun tasks first then list the more challenging/time-consuming ones last. However, this is up to you! Explore what works for you.)

Dates: Have you considered investing on those really big wall calendars? You should!! Get a big wall calendar and hang it up in your room so you can see it every morning and every night. Fill in the dates with appointments, test days, deadlines, birthdays, and anything else! Having a calendar will help you visualize how much time you have left before a certain event. If you can’t get a calendar, other alternatives include a planner, your phone calendar, and/or an online calendar (like Google calendar).

Ideas/Opinions: I’d recommend using a journal (traditional or digital) to keep a record of your thoughts! It’s very good to clear your mind of these if you wanna delegate more of your thinking powers on another task. You can also talk to other people! Maybe you’ve been really bothered by something happening in your life that you really wanna let out. Look for trustworthy companions that you can confide in. After a long hearty talk, you’ll be ready to conquer the day once again!

Misc: Anything else that hasn’t been covered in the previous categories can be written here. It’ll be for you to decide how to proceed with these notes.

Other Resources: Check out these other links/masterposts for more tips on how to get your life together! (highly recommended links are italicized)

Self/Life:

how to get your life back on track | @doitforbobby

how to keep a clean bedroom | @pr3duhtor​

uncluttering masterpost | @icademic

small ways to improve your life | @cwote

steps to a better life (mental) | @smoketexture

how to keep a positive mindset | @classicsstvdies

6 ways to destress | @stuydies

how to destress | @thegrangersapprentice

free mental health apps: ios (@recoverywarriorx), android (@goethes)

Study:

how to effectively manage time | @helicion

how to get straight As | @chemistri

have a productive day | @ingeniouslywitty 

time management | @gomedorgohome 

how to: survive stressful situation (college edition) | @classicsstvdies

how i keep organized and sane in highschool | @braintellect

how to handle having too much to do | @howtomusicmajor

ASK FOR HELP.

I recently got an interview for something I felt (and still feel) totally underqualified for I attributed 90% of my success to asking as many people as I could find for tips - whether it be writing a CV, asking if I could see their CV, asking them to look at my CV, how to apply, how to do well in interviews, etc. 

A junior of mine recently got into Berkeley. I noticed two things about his success: 

1. He worked hard

2. He ALWAYS asked for help - I wasn’t that close to him, but he would always ask me for tips about his assignments or to read over his stuff. 

In the end, successful people (however you define ‘success’) use their resources. They ask for help. 

*from someone that survived her own first year of university

university is SO different from high school; a brilliant student in high school can be just a mediocre university student, and this is simply how it is when people from all over the country come together in a class. 

so it is okay to stress, but only if afterwards you’re just trying your best! it doesn’t matter how much you already know (though it helps), but how willing you are to learn! so, really, if you want to be there, you can make it!

make sure you eat properly; after a while, your body will start feeling gross and it’ll eventually show in your capacity to do your work. go out, buy that extra meat, extra salads, extra fruits, at least every once in a while. it’s not luxury, it’s a need

go the extra mile. no matter how optional a task may be or how tongue-tied you feel on a particular day, put yourself out there. write that essay, do that projects, speak about your ideas. your teachers really appreciate it when they ask for interractions from students and they provide, and it’s nice to have your teacher know you by face and by actions. it might prove useful when they’re grading you during the finals as well.

go to all (most) of your classes, no matter how optional the attendace is or how little you understand on the moment. in the long run, it will matter, and it’s super helpful to complete all your materials with the extra knowledge you got from the class. and no one and nothing will truly replace a teacher’s explanation.

try to make friends with those around you; most are probably just as lost and lonely as you are and it’s good to have people around you who can motivate you when you’re done or with whom to simply share the struggles of getting an education. sure, not everyone will like you, but those that will, make sure they can stick.

get involved in all the extra programmes that you’re interested in! you’re young and a student once! these opportunities are mostly a once in your lifetime thing! get out there and try everything: go to that book club, get your ass for the cinephile gathering, sign up for exchange programs, help out your teachers with their projects, do volunteer work! whatever floats your boat, but just do it!

also keep your eyes wide open to catch all the interesting lectures happening in your school. check those posters, check those subjects, check those dates and go. most of the times, you’ll leave knowing much more and having something to think on.

do your reading and assignments ahead of time! you don’t want it to be 2 dayss before your first exam, and you still have to finish essays and books.

the library really is your best friend! either as a study place or alternative to spending all your money on the source materials for your homework.

tidy up at least once a week; as school materials will start pile up, it will be harder and harder to find anything and you’ll only just end up frustrated

no one knows you better than you do, so make sure to take only the amount of work you know you can do. it’s okay if you want to keep your first year as free as you can, so you have time to acommodate, and just as okay it is to try all the available classes if you can. 

keep your facebook name your real one so people can find you. make sure you’re in every possible group within the first week of university, so you know what’s going on. use said facebook groups to ask about teachers and classes, or find offers on used textbooks that are much cheaper than if you would have bought them yourself.

talk with the upperclassmen if you have questions, or simply for tips! really, it tickles our ego to have people actually interested in the experiences we have to share and most of us are more than happy to clear any misunderstandings or help you guys get a classroom right.

carry pills and proteine bars with you, especially if you spend a long time away from home! you never know when pain or hunger hits you, and it is better to be prepared than sorry. 

it became a running joke at this point, i know, but right during the exam period you’ll want to do everything you haven’t done ever. so make sure you nurture your hobbies as well as your studies, and hopefully your interests are not too time consuming or at least require frequent/long breaks.

literally no one cares about how you look; so wear that make-up and nice clothes if you feel up for it, but if you don’t, that’s fine as well.