STUDYBLR

use a planner / bullet journal: it will make you more productive to write things down

have a journal: a five year journal, an art journal, a sappy write down all your feelings journal, a dream journal, really anything that you think will help you. reading through old journals is honestly one of the best things you can do

do yoga or meditation: i’m a generally stressed person, as i’m sure most juniors in high school are, and doing yoga makes me so relaxed. everyone should try it!

keep up with basic tasks: cleaning your room, brushing your teeth, showering, making your bed, drinking water, smiling. it sounds simple and easy, but when school and life gets stressful it’s import for your health to keep up with these basic tasks

read: books, graphic novels, poetry, fanfiction, self help books, read whatever makes you happy. reading 1) is good to destress, and 2) builds your vocabulary, improves your focus, your grammar, and has a bunch of other make you a good student benfits

save money: I feel like this is something that is undervalued for high school students. most people our age don’t need to worry about money, or really have a concept of it, but it is important to build a healthy relationship with money while you’re young. Set small goals like putting $20 in a savings account each month ($240 in a year!). Set larger goals like saving 50% of all the money you receive, whether that be from a paycheck, as gifts, allowance, or however else you get money. Set goals like putting X amount into a savings account this year (like 200,1000, whatever you think will be doable, but personally i like the monthly ones more) saving money now will help you be a slightly less broke college student/ young adult one day. also i highly highly suggest looking into getting a job- it was honestly the best thing i’ve done this year. (masterpost)

have at least one technology free day: everyone is so wrapped up in technology and it is important tot take a break, both for your physical health and mind.

sleeeeeeeep: everyone can use a little more sleep. i suggest trying to wake up and go to sleep around the same time everyday (with some exceptions like you can break the routine sometimes and it’s okay). it makes you feel good!!! and then you’ll be less tired in the morning

I’ve been receiving tonnes of questions on Note - Taking recently, so I’d thought I make a post. Plus, I had fun making these graphics.

There are three different methods that I prefer when it comes to note taking:

Notes written During the Lecture

I highly recommend taking notes during the lecture.

I also use abbreviations for quicker and more efficient note taking. Some examples of abbreviation that I use are:

w/ - With

w/o - Without

e.g. - For example

Notes written After the Lecture

As for notes written after the lecture, I tend to seek the help of Google Spreadsheets or Microsoft Excel. This way I am able to organise information learnt. I do this by dividing the information provided into two columns, one for keywords or questions and the other for definitions and answers. 

*Note: This method was adapted from the note taking method I’ve used during college. 

Rewritten Notes

I also rewrite my notes. My rewritten notes are arranged based on the order they appear in the syllabus unless there are pieces of information that are related to more than one topic.

I use a black pen or pencil for my written notes, as well as coloured pens and highlighters to highlight the key words and terminologies for emphasise.

Before writing them down, I tend to visualise the layout - alternating between words and pictures/diagram. This definitely helps me with remembering for exams. All I have to do is imagine that I’m looking at that page and I can remember where everything is.

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Please click on the images for a much clearer view. 

I hope everyone had a lovely Tuesday! Here is a picture of my old AP Biology notes from my freshman year, I really like this clean aesthetic. 

throwback to summer school at georgetown university, d.c.

12:36 a.m.

I’m having really bad test anxiety. Tomorrow’s exam is a make it or break it test for me! Mainly because my school’s Insurance Law exams involve mathematical computations (vs other schools who just teach the theories) and… I’m. honestly. just. super. bad. at. math.

i got a good amount of work done (could have studied a bit more but i don’t have to worry so much bc my tests on thurs)

goal setting is a way to easily change aspects of your life, but lots of people don’t use it to its full potential (think new years resolutions). without further ado here is.. how to set good ass goals

make a list of things you want to accomplish. anything- be  as realistic or ambitious as possible. be broad!

for example: i want to; get in shape, spend less time on electronics, save money, read more, and get my license

order your list from most to least rewarding. in otherwords, accomplishing those at the top will make you happier than accomplishing those at the end. or just what you want the most to what you want the least.

for example: i want to; get my license, save money, get in shape, read more, and spend less time on electronics

look at your top item and write 3 ideas of how to reach that goal this month. sounds easy right? kinda, i have some criteria for u to follow.

each action must be smart (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time bound - month)

for example: i want to get my license. to do this i need to practice more, well that’s not smart!

smart!- practice twice a week for 2 hours this month, make flashcards for driving rules and study once a week for 30 minutes, and schedule my license test for late july

write these actions somewhere visible lets be real, ur gonna forget about them if you aren’t constantly reminded so put it in front of ur face!

personally, i have sticky notes above my desk with my goals. also a monthly calendar on my wall where i write out what/when i did something to reach a goal. (i cross out days i do yoga or workout)

check back in with yourself in a month- set a calendar reminder!

on the sticky note, whiteboard, notebook page that you wrote your actions check off the ones you achieved and cross off the ones you didn’t

also! annotate! write how much u did, if u were excited to, if u dreaded it, if it went well or badly, anything relevant.

now its time to.. do it all again for the next month!

now some important notes this will all take time and practice. no worries if u don’t achieve any of your actions at first! lower the bar! say you’ll exercise just once a week, after all once is better than none and you’ll be so proud to have accomplished that in a month. 

also! be minimal in your goal setting. focus on a couple goals at a time, i feel like 3 big picture goals is pretty solid.

study instrumentals: for those of us that have trouble focusing to music- strictly instrumentals to listen to during your studies. piano and string compositions along with a few movie scores. great for reading, taking notes, (as tested by me), falling asleep or easing your anxiety.

(listen here.)

golborne road- nick laird-clowes // spiegel im spiegel- arvo pärt // to the architect- mychael danna // breathturn- hammock // midsummer field- u137 // watching the storm- u137 // starlights- tracey chattaway // petrichor- keaton henson // instumental ii- noah and the whale // instrumental i- noah and the whale // postcards from far away- coldplay // time- hans zimmer… (full trackless under the cut)

saturday, 5/18/19 || studygram

just finished a week of exams 😪 we’ve got another week to go, and i’m already burnt out. but there’s only a few more exams (like 5?) and 3 of them are just the MCQ papers so the week should be less stressful than the previous.

i didn’t get much done today because i’m so tired, i barely got a wink of sleep last night. was up late cramming, & woke up early for it too. 11/10 DON’T recommend. it was a content-heavy paper too, since it was geography. should’ve studied over the past month consistently, in hindsight.

05.30.19 • [88/100 days of productivity]

05.30.19 • [88/100 days of productivity]

05.20.19 • [80/100 days of productivity]

accomplished so much today!