i'm not throwing away my shot

- get dressed and style your hair as if you’re going to school/work - even use the same perfume/ cologne as you normally do  (trick your mind into being motivated)

- plan things out - everything (plan out your week, day, meal, etc. you can make these as specific as you’d like. this will help you stay on top of your work as well as stay healthy, especially if you live alone.)

- make studying/ working the first thing you do each day - best if you can start in the morning (minimize the tendency to procrastinate)

- just start - don’t worry too much about perfecting or finishing anything yet (if you don’t start then there’s nothing for you to perfect or get done. and it will never get done)

- listen to old and simple (aka non-distracting) podcasts, Youtube videos, or café/ chattering white-noise, etc. simply leave them as background noise to create an illusion of being outside your room (bring the presence of people to you. my favorites lately have been slam poems from 2016, Mae Martin’s stages, and Awsten Knight’s crackhead podcasts)

- set timers, for both study sessions and breaks (so that you don’t overwork, burn out, or procrastinate. the Pomodoro technique works great here)

- take advantage of the comfort of your own home (light a candle, have crunchy snacks, play loud music, review notes out loud while pacing around, wrap yourself in a blanket burrito, study on your bed if you can focus there like me, etc. basically anything you can’t do in a classroom, office, or the library)

- if you miss your friends, call/ text/ facetime them, make a study group chat with them, etc. (that is what technology is for)

- choose recreational activities/ self-care for your breaks instead of going on social media (go on walks, make small art, play an instrument, stretch, take a nap, etc. I usually reach for my guitar, brainstorm writing ideas, or sketch very simple line art.)

- if you want to go on social media, do it during meal times - or the 15 minutes after your meals that you can’t work just yet (it also doesn’t make you feel like you’re wasting time)

- study in different rooms for a change of scenery (dining room, living room, the patio, etc. I have an armchair next to the window that I study in whenever I need some sunlight and don’t have to write anything down. however, if you need a designated place to focus on your work, you can also use these alternative spaces as designated “relax” or “creative” place for your breaks)

- use this as an opportunity to take care of yourself (get enough sleep, drink water, exercise, talk to your family, take your meds, be mindful of your mental health, etc.)

Feel free to add your tips. The current situation sure is unpleasant but it is unavoidable. All we can really do now is take care of ourselves, others, and try to make the best out of this.

2.18.17 - spent a few hours studying at my fave coffee shop this afternoon! (and i actually felt really productive for once haha)

And remember it’s not limited to your area of study. It is perfectly legal for you to do a bit of research into the various textbooks that are most in demand, and those which are most expensive, and find out if you have free access to them. 

Of course it would be illegal for you to remove the DRM and upload it to libgen, despite the fact that it’s a tangible, effective way of extending solidarity and breaking down the absurd barriers that capitalism puts on knowledge. 

So yes, don’t be tempted by this particular illegal action, which costs you nothing, and is the right thing to do.

week two going strong! I never know what I want to post anymore because all my weekly spreads look pretty much exactly the same lol. ps- if you’re interested in why/how I use this weekly layout, you can read about it here! what’s your favorite way to plan?

now playing: 

stayaway- muna

During the Visit

go to the information session and campus tour. every school will have some form of these.  they can be really repetitive at times, but are a must if you want to get a good idea of how the application process works and what campus life is like.

department specific info sessions or tours are an option at some schools.  these can be super helpful, especially if you have more specific questions about a field of study.

walk into buildings.  the vast majority of the time you can do this even if they aren’t on the tour. (in fact, some schools will encourage you to.)  it can be super awkward, but it’s a create way to get a look at classrooms and ask questions about programs you’re interested in.  i ended up talking with and emailing a woman in the anthropology department at Yale!

get contact information from tour guides, interviewers, admissions faculty, etc. this is a great way to show you are interested and it comes in handy when you have additional questions or want to say thank you later on.  

take advantage of the million opportunities for asking questions.  here are some awesome questions for when you run out.  try to avoid asking about obvious things (things you could find on the school’s website.)

After the Visit

write thank you letters. it can feel a bit artificial and like you’re kissing up to people, but honestly it’s just a nice thing to do.  all of the letters i wrote were just nice, fairly formal emails and that’s probably enough.  

take notes on what you saw/liked/disliked, especially if you’re visiting multiple schools in a short period of time.

What if You Can’t Visit?

don’t stress about it!  schools are super understanding of financial and time limitations.