STEM Studyblr

● seize time opportunities. If I have 15 minutes until your next class, I sit down and do homework in the hallway. If I have a long commute, I’ll do flashcards. This works because you most likely won’t have anything else to do anyways, so it’s easier to get your work done.

● start something. When I get a lab report assignment, the first thing I do is pull up the directions and at least start the cover page and pull up some research links. It takes 5 minutes but it gets the ball rolling and makes it more likely that you’ll finish what you started.

● auto-mode. When I procrastinating, it’s usually because I’m too busy thinking about what I’m going to do. Instead, I like to pretend I’m in “auto-mode” and just get started as fast as I can. auto-mode means shutting out distracting thoughts or pleas to watch one more funny cat video and forcing your hands to open your textbook. Works every time.

● personally, creating time schedules don’t work for me because if I fall out of time, the whole schedule falls apart and I usually give up. Instead I use time games. I’ll tell myself something like “work as hard as you can until 11:00 sharp and if you finish, you can have a break”. This is great for developing self discipline because it’s in the moment so you can be more realistic and flexible.

● i don’t like writing down earlier due dates in my planner because it’s confusing so instead, it’s good to have some sort of mental rule. for example, my mental rule is to finish everything at least two days before the due date. following through with that will keep you on track.

● do a little bit every day. If you have a big project, chip at it within a week rather than stressing out 2 days before it’s due. the same goes for studying for an exam. if you review lecture notes and attend office hours after class + work on flashcards throughout the week, then do a final review at the end, you’ll be well prepared and won’t need to cram. It’s a good habit and you won’t get stressed. Two birds with one stone.

● use mornings too. I’m not really an early bird, but using mornings to get some work / chores done is great because it gives you a productive start to the day, which makes you feel proud of yourself for knocking out half of your tasks in the a.m. 

a. Lay out your lecture notes / worksheets on the table the night before and open your work tabs on your computer so they’ll be the first thing you see when you turn on your computer.

b. Put your computer far away from your work space and go to sleep.

c. When you wake up, the first thing that you’ll see is your ‘paper’ work, so get it done first. then start on your ‘screen’ work (you’ll be less likely to get distracted if you do your ‘paper’ work first). when you open your laptop the first thing you’ll see are the work tabs you opened the night before. Your job is to go on auto-mode and get started.

Dos and don'ts on designing for accessibility

Karwai Pun, GOV.UK:

The dos and don’ts of designing for accessibility are general guidelines, best design practices for making services accessible in government. Currently, there are six different posters in the series that cater to users from these areas: low vision, D/deaf and hard of hearing, dyslexia, motor disabilities, users on the autistic spectrum and users of screen readers.

[…] Another aim of the posters is that they’re meant to be general guidance as opposed to being overly prescriptive. Using bright contrast was advised for some (such as those with low vision) although some users on the autistic spectrum would prefer differently. Where advice seems contradictory, it’s always worth testing your designs with users to find the right balance, making compromises that best suit the users’ needs.

Designing for users on the autistic spectrum

Do

use simple colours

write in plain English

use simple sentences and bullets

make buttons descriptive - for example, Attach files

build simple and consistent layouts

Don’t

use bright contrasting colours

use figures of speech and idioms

create a wall of text

make buttons vague and unpredictable - for example, Click here

build complex and cluttered layouts

Designing for users of screen readers

Do

describe images and provide transcripts for video

follow a linear, logical layout

structure content using HTML5

build for keyboard use only

write descriptive links and heading - for example, Contact us

Don’t

only show information in an image or video

spread content all over a page

rely on text size and placement for structure

force mouse or screen use

write uninformative links and heading - for example, Click here

Designing for users with low vision

Do

use good contrasts and a readable font size

publish all information on web pages (HTML)

use a combination of colour, shapes and text

follow a linear, logical layout -and ensure text flows and is visible when text is magnified to 200%

put buttons and notifications in context

Don’t

use low colour contrasts and small font size

bury information in downloads

only use colour to convey meaning

spread content all over a page -and force user to scroll horizontally when text is magnified to 200%

separate actions from their context

Designing for users with physical or motor disabilities

Do

make large clickable actions

give form fields space

design for keyboard or speech only use

design with mobile and touch screen in mind

provide shortcuts

Don’t

demand precision

bunch interactions together

make dynamic content that requires a lot of mouse movement

have short time out windows

tire users with lots of typing and scrolling

Designing for users who are D/deaf or hard of hearing

Do

write in plain English

use subtitles or provide transcripts for video

use a linear, logical layout

break up content with sub-headings, images and videos

let users ask for their preferred communication support when booking appointments

Don’t

use complicated words or figures of speech

put content in audio or video only

make complex layouts and menus

make users read long blocks of content

don’t make telephone the only means of contact for users

Designing for users with dyslexiaDo

use images and diagrams to support text

align text to the left and keep a consistent layout

consider producing materials in other formats (for example, audio and video)

keep content short, clear and simple

let users change the contrast between background and text

Don’t

use large blocks of heavy text

underline words, use italics or write capitals

force users to remember things from previous pages - give reminders and prompts

rely on accurate spelling - use autocorrect or provide suggestions

put too much information in one place

12.01.2019 | day 12 of 100 days of productivity

Ok I realize I’m posting this the next morning, I’ll make another post today too. So I was actually quite productive today. The only thing I didn’t do that I wanted too was a yoga flow (esp because I didn’t go to the gym), but i was honestly exhausted. I went to school, bought a textbook, read my textbook, studied, and went out to a cool steakhouse. I love how my spread turned out this week!

08/01/19

Feeling exhausted this morning so I’ve had some time off work, a smoothie bowl and planning in bed, and some Netflix. Back to work this afternoon ☁️

aka why tf am i procrastinating on The Thing (more like a flowchart, actually)

lots of people who have executive function difficulties worry about whether they’re procrastinating on a task out of laziness/simply wanting to be a jerk or mental struggles. this checklist might help you figure out which it is at any given time! (hint: it’s almost never laziness or being a jerk.) (obligatory disclaimer: this is just what works for me! something different might work better for you.)

1) do I honestly intend to start the task despite my lack of success?

yes: it’s a Brain Problem. next question

no: it’s shitty to say one thing & do another. better be honest with myself & anyone expecting me to do the task.

2) am I fed, watered, well-rested, medicated properly, etc?

yes: next question

no: guess what? this is the real next task

3) does the idea of starting the task make me feel scared or anxious?

yes: Anxiety Brain. identify what’s scaring me first.

no: next question

4) do I know how to start the task?

yes: next question

no: ADHD Brain. time to make an order of operations list.

5) do I have everything I need to start the task?

yes: next question

no: ADHD Brain lying to me about the steps again, dangit. first task is ‘gather the materials’.

6) why am i having a hard time switching from my current task to this new task?

i’m having fun doing what i’m doing: it’s okay to have fun doing a thing! if task is time-sensitive, go to next question.

i have to finish doing what i’m doing: might be ADHD brain. can I actually finish the current task or will I get trapped in a cycle? does this task really need to be finished?

the next task will be boring/boring-er than the current task: ADHD brain. re-think the next task. what would make it exciting? what am I looking forward to?

I might not have enough time to complete the task: ADHD brain wants to finish everything it starts. (if task is time-sensitive, go to next question)

i just want to make the person who asked me to do it angry: sounds like anxiety brain trying to punish itself, because I know I’ll be miserable if someone is angry at me. why do i think I deserve punishment?

no, I seriously want to piss them off: okay, i’m being a shithead

7) have I already procrastinated so badly that I now cannot finish the task in time?

yes: ADHD brain is probably caught in a guilt-perfection cycle. since I can’t have the task done on time, i don’t even want to start.

reality check: having part of a thing done is almost always better than none of a thing done. if I can get an extension, having part of it done will help me keep from stalling out until the extension deadline. i’ll feel better if I at least try to finish it.

no, there’s still a chance to finish on time: ADHD brain thinks that I have all the time in the world, but the truth is I don’t. 

reality check: if i’m having fun doing what I’m doing, I can keep doing it, but I should probably set a timer & ask someone to check on me to make sure I start doing the task later today.

8) I’ve completed the checklist and still don’t know what’s wrong!

probably wasn’t honest enough with myself. take one more look.

if I’m still mystified, ask a friend to help me talk it out.

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Perfectionism leaves you paralyzed, waiting for the perfect conditions so you know it’s safe to act. Unfortunately, if you’re waiting for the perfect conditions, you may wait for the rest of your life.