Studyblr

listen, the studyblr community can be a wonderful place - but there’s this emphasis on absolute perfection that really doesn’t help a lot of students dealing with other issues on top of their studies. here are five unconventional study tips that might not fit the studyblr aesthetic but have helped me get straight as whilst learning to live with mental health and family problems too!

1. don’t study whilst commuting

i walk to school, so posts about studying on the bus just aren’t helpful - i don’t have the option to do that! even if i’m taking the train somewhere, the last thing on my mind is studying. i’m thinking about my bed and how early it is and whether or not my coffee is cool enough to drink without burning myself yet. not all of us can start working the second we’re awake, and that’s okay!

instead: record your lessons and listen to them as you travel!

even if you’re not paying attention, you’ll remember more than you think! this is especially useful for languages - i recorded myself reading a few essays and listened to them as i walked, which made noticing grammatical errors so much easier!

2. don’t rewrite all your notes

i love the studyblr aesthetic as much as anyone, but i honestly don’t have the time to write out pages and pages of notes in the hope of gaining a few followers. of course it’s nice to have pretty-looking notes, but when you have a huge list of tasks to do, it can become a way of procrastinating work that’s actually needed for a grade.

instead: organise your class notes!

check the material you’ll study before the lesson! if you’re into the brush lettering aesthetic, write out or print titles off ahead of class so you can stick them on your page without having to waste valuable lesson time drawing them. plus, knowing what you’re going to study before you actually come to it means you can prepare a list of questions to ask the teacher and improve your understanding of the subject! this way, you’ll have organised, clear notes from the beginning, so you won’t have to copy anything out at home.

3. don’t buy expensive stationery

i know everyone seems to have those tombow brush pens and leuchtturm journals. as someone who can’t afford them, trust me when i say i get how it feels. but spending money on expensive products (especially ones you don’t know how to use) is just counterproductive - your grades won’t magically go up if you start shopping at muji.

instead: try budget alternatives!

would you buy a £90 contour kit if you’d never used foundation before? the same goes for stationery! substitute for cheaper products from your local stationery stores whilst you get a feel for what’s helpful for you, not what anyone else has. for example, i tried so many types of pens before realising that my writing’s nicest with gel pens, so now i let myself get more expensive ones - but i didn’t waste more than £5 figuring this out because i’m #cheap. this list of popular studyblr dupes is constantly being added to if you really need to try something, but stressing about your stationery is not going to help you in the slightest.

4. don’t worry too much about being organised

look, we’d all like to be organised, but i’m an adult who’s lived with depression since i was thirteen, and i know it’s not always possible to have that pinterest-ready study den. sometimes your homework will be done on a bed that’s not been made in weeks of it’s going to be done at all, and that’s okay.

instead: do what you can.

had a bad day? stick on some guns n roses and do the work later. too exhausted to function? just finish that last maths problem and go to bed. it’s okay to not have a picture perfect lifestyle - most of the people who post those photos don’t have it either. just do what you have to do to get through the week.

5. don’t ignore your mental health

there’s such a weird culture of perfectionism here and it’s so damaging! of course no one has to post about their personal lives on their studyblrs - but please don’t let that lead you to believe it’s not important. this mentality of “everything is fine and i must be perfect” isn’t healthy.

instead: talk about how you feel!

it doesn’t have to be on your studyblr, but if you’re feeling suffocated by pressure to achieve, or you think you’re depressed, or you’re just going through a tough time and need to vent, talk to someone! bottling things up is not a healthy way to live life - believe me, i’ve tried it. it doesn’t work. there are so many impressionable young people here and we need to stop acting like our studies are all we can ever be.

Practice what you preach: stop making super long posts about the fact that having super fancy and expensive stationery is unnecessary / useless but meanwhile ALL your oc is ft muji gel pens, leuchtturm bujos and tombow brush pens. SHOW people instead. Post a few non-studyblr-aesthetic pics once in a while.

Motivation < Self Discipline: yes watching successful girls like Elle Woods and Hermione Granger is slightly inspirational but lbr neither of them are going to do your work for you. Hoping for that burst of motivation all the time is useless. It’s not always gonna come when you want it to. That’s why you need self discipline. Even when you’re feeling lazy, your self discipline will get you up and running because you are disciplined enough to know what needs to be done and when.

For the sake of your studyblr: stop rewriting your notes to look like artwork just so you can take a pretty picture of it, if it doesn’t help you. Study in a way that suits you. There are tons of masterposts about techniques and strategies for different learning types. There are also tons of quizzes online to help you determine which one you are if you don’t know.

What’s really important: this amazing community is here to encourage you to keep learning. It’s a place to find great resources; meet kind, helpful people; learn new tips and tricks for studying; etc. It is not only about aesthetics. Use your studyblr to the fullest. Ask for help, give advice, make friends!!! At the end of the day this is about your education. No amount of notes on a really cute post will magically give you an A on the history test you didn’t really study for.

1/1/18

happy new year! i hope your year started off right, and if not, that’s also okay!

i started a studygram — @// study.encouragemnt — where i’m hoping i’ll be more active than on here. so if you want to, follow me there! also if you also have a studygram, leave your username or comment something so i can follow you as well!!

​New year, new better you. For real this time. (I. Murgelas)

For 2016 and for the years to come 

Ever wonder what your life would be like if you lived up to your full potential? Would your body be healthier? Your skin clearer? Bank account bigger? I think about these things all the time, and, judging my a previous post, you guys do to. Below is a chart designed to help all of us live up to our full potential. I’ve broken it down into time frames to help keep you from getting overwhelmed. Write the chart down and hang it someplace where you can see it all the time. I will be starting this challenge tomorrow, 9/8. I’ll check in with you guys every Sunday to track my progress. I have specific goals in mind for myself, and you guys should make some too! I really want to know how you guys are doing. Tag your progress posts with #sbfpc so I can track it and take a look. Let’s get to it!

EVERY MORNING

Stretch. First thing. Really give your body enough time to wake up. Touch your toes. Roll out your shoulders. Do not hit snooze!

Do your full skincare routine. I have mine detailed here, but do whatever works for you and your complexion. Be gentle and consistent. 

Brush your teeth and floss. I used to be a big floss-skipper too, but you’d be amazed at how dig of a difference it makes. Rinse with a whitening mouthwash. I use one by Crest, and I notice a major difference in my teeth’s overall whiteness in just a few days.

Give yourself enough time to get ready. Whether you’re a wash-and-go kind of girl, or someone who spends an hour doing a full contouring routine before class (and either one is fine!), make sure you aren’t rushing. If you need to wake up a few minutes earlier than normal, so be it. Rushing sets an awful, stressed-out tone for the rest of the day. Allow yourself to be relaxed before taking on the day.

Eat something. I’m not going to say eat a big breakfast, because some people (myself included) just can’t eat in the morning. But you should eat, or at least bring a little something with you to work or school. If you can’t eat a full breakfast, grab a fruit! You won’t be as hungry come lunch time, making you less likely to gorge yourself.

Shower. You can do this at night, in the morning, whatever. Again, this is something you should allow some time for. I don’t wash my hair every day, but I do condition it every day (from the ears down). Scrub yourself with a delicious-smelling body wash. If you shave, make yourself as smooth as a dolphin, dude. If you don’t, then don’t and don’t ever ever ever let anyone make you feel bad or weird about it. When you get out of the shower, wrap yourself in a fluffy towel and totally slather your sexy self with lotion. Top to bottom. Do it as soon as you can post-shower so it can really sink in. 

Put leave-in condition throughout your damp hair and comb it through.

Put on an outfit that makes you feel good! So important!

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Take a look at your daily to-do list. Knock out the most pressing stuff first. Take pride when you cross things off your list.

Make your bed! Oh my god, make your bed. Do it. Do it. Do it. 

EVERY AFTERNOON 

Follow the “touch it once” approach. This is a truly life-changing thing. When a task is in front of you, no matter how big or small, just do it right then and there. How many times have you gotten a work email or homework assignment and thought, “Eh, I’ll do it later”? And then later never comes? Once something pops up, do it once. Squash it and be done. Cross things off your list and feel like a badass.

Try to go for a walk at lunch. Even one little lap around the block or campus will reenergize you like nobody’s business. 

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Be present. This is so hard for me too, but you have to make a major effort to be present in whatever you’re doing. Be engaged and plugged-in and just exist in the moment. Give 100 percent.

Be friendly to friends and strangers. A smile goes a long way.

Eat something. Eat what you packed for lunch (see below) and take a break from working while you do it. You need “you time”!

EVERY EVENING

Take your makeup off as soon as you’re in for the night. Wash your face with your full routine and let your skin have a break. 

Workout. You can also do this in the morning. Whatever works for you. Make a great playlist and go hard af. Get your cardio in. Get your strength training in. Earn every freaking sweat bead forming on your forehead. Earn your shower!

Knock out your homework. Life is infinitely better you don’t have anything hanging over your head. Half the time, the energy and emotion you spent dreading/putting off your work is ten times worse than the work itself.

Make a list of what needs to be done tomorrow. It’ll set you up for success the next day, and you won’t forget anything!

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Lay out your clothes for tomorrow. This will save you SO MUCH TIME in the morning omg I can’t even tell you how important this is.

Eat something great. And once you’ve decided to be done eating for the night, be done. Brush your teeth so you can’t eat again.

After brushing, do a whitening treatment. Whether it’s classic baking soda, a Crest white strip, or a laser. Do something. And floss! Retainers in too, ladies 0:)

Relax! Take a few hours to do what YOU want to do. Scroll through Tumblr, binge on some Netflix, FaceTime gossip with your friends, anything. Do whatever makes you happiest. 

Shut the electronics off an hour before you want to go to bed. Put your phone on sleep mode. If you stare at the screen, it will keep you awake and alert and you won’t be able to fall asleep. A good night’s sleep is crucial for weightless and general happiness lol

Do a quick sweep of your room and see if there’s anything you can put away real quick. A clean space is a happy space.

Crawl into your bed (aren’t you happy you took the time to make it?!) and read a book by lamplight for a while. When you start to feel sleepy, go to sleep. Don’t push it. You kicked ass today and you deserve rest. 

EVERY WEEKEND

Do something with your friends. It just has to be one thing. Even if you’re just hanging out at the coffee shop, spending time with your squad will make you a better, happier person.

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Do something just for you. Set your laptop up in the bathroom and watch a Netflix marathon while you take a bubble bath. Buy an old school bottle of Mr. Bubbles ($3 at Target!) and really just soak. Relax. Light a candle.

Do something creative. You can read a book, write, blog, draw, code, anything. It just has to be something that speaks to your passion.

Track your progress. Just do this once a week so it doesn’t become all-consuming. And remember that non-scale victories are just as important as shedding pounds.

Take the time to be grateful. Tell your friend how much you admire her taste in music. Mention to your mom how much you love her cooking and how happy you are that she takes care of you. Thank your teaching after an especially interesting lecture. When you do something awesome, take a moment to admire yourself. Be grateful for even the little things.

Analysing historical documents, whether it be for an assignment, test, or exam, is more a skill than a natural talent which you can develop by use of several techniques and strategies. With practice, source analysis can become easy and can be a way of gaining those crucial marks in history class!

What is a source? A source, or document, is essentially information about the past that can provide support for a claim or argument, or may even contradict it. They can supply factual detail, beliefs, and opinions, both intentionally, and unwittingly. For this reason, no source should be taken at face value, and hence we find the necessity for source analysis.  

The Five W’s Who would have thought something we learnt when we were but wee little tots, learning how to write narratives and those dreaded ‘what you did over the weekend’ expositions would prove so helpful? Who, what, when, where, and why? These interrogative questions are critical in finding information regarding the source in question, and are useful in understanding the essence of it. 

Who made the source? Who is the intended audience?

What is the source? What is the nature of the source? What is the content? 

When was the source made?

Where was the source made?

Why was the source made?

These primary questions give you a base knowledge of the source and allow you to ask more extensive questions, such as is it primary or secondary? Is it biased? Was it private or public? 

OPVL A lesser known strategy, OPVL (origin, purpose, value, limitation), allows you to bypass the primary questions posed by the Five W’s and directly address more complex questions, though it works on the same principle. It also serves as an effective structure when writing about a source.

What are the origins of the source? Who wrote it? Where? When? What is it?

What is the purpose of the source? Why was it created? Whose perspective is it from? Does it seek to persuade the reader? Inform? Condemn?

How is the source valuable? Does it give you relevant information? What can we learn about the time period? Does it represent a particular side in a conflict?

What are the limitations of the source?* How typical is this particular account? What is intentionally not addressed? Does it inaccurately portray the time period?  

*bias is not necessarily a limiting factor of a source, but more on that later.

These are only a few questions you might pose when analysing a source. If I were to write them all down, this would probably never be posted!

How do I go about analysing a source? Analysing a source can become a highly methodical process, and one where you might even slip into auto-pilot when answering questions about it. I generally follow the same method when analysing a source, no matter the type or question.

Read the question and understand what it is asking. If you struggle with this, I have a post, Understanding the question, that may help (shameless self promotion).

Underline key words in the question, so you understand the instructions and exactly what you need to know is made clear. If you’re asked to compare and contrast two sources, for example, this will ensure you both compare and contrast the sources, rather than just compare, or just contrast. Doing so can lose you big marks!

Read the source through once for a general understanding. If it’s a non-written source (cartoon, photograph, etc.), glance over the image and pick out the overall ideas it demonstrates. Don’t worry about words you don’t know too much. So long as you have a good general understanding, that should suffice. Make sure you read any relevant captions there might be! These can be essential in your understanding of the source!!

Reread and annotate the source, highlighting, underlining, or circling parts that will provide information for the Five W’s, OPVL, or whatever strategy you are using to understand the source. Write down your ideas and understandings next to the source so you don’t forget them.

Reread the question with the source in mind and go about answering the question.

Reread the question and your answer, ensuring you’ve addressed all the parts of the question.

What about bias? Earlier, I wrote that bias is not necessarily a limitation, which can be confusing. Surely a biased source is a limited one? A creator’s bias does not devalue a source, rather it reveals a great deal of information about them, and the opinions and attitudes circulating at the time. So long as you are able to make a conscious effort to separate bias from fact, a biased source can be highly valuable in providing information about the source creator and the spirit of the times. There will, at times, be a source whose bias impedes understanding and coherence, and perhaps in these cases, it is a limiting factor. 

While bias could be considered the answer to all your questions regarding a source, simply writing, ‘the source is biased’, will likely make your history teacher cringe; you must elaborate! Who is it biased towards? What is left out? How does this impact your understanding of the source?

Hey guys! Soooo school’s started again (meh) and I know that staying on top of extracurriculars and assignments can be a struggle, so I bring you…a planning masterpost! This is how I personally plan my life (maybe a little obsessively), but anyway, I hope it’s helpful to you guys! 

1. Planner

So I use my school’s planner during the year, rather than a bullet journal, and if you’re a super busy student like me, then I suggest getting a ready-made planner bc bullet journals are a lot of work and sometimes you can’t maintain them throughout the school year. So I basically write my daily homework in the planner’s spreads under the period/class number and that’s how I keep track of daily assignments. For weekends, I use sticky notes and stick them in my planner, bc the space for the weekends aren’t as big as weekdays. Also, I use the calendar overview at the beginning of each month’s spread to keep track of monthly events and things like that. 

2. Cell Phone

I also use my phone to organize and plan my life. Mainly, I use the calendar to remind me of the date, time, and place for my extracurriculars/events.

3. Bullet Journal

I use my bullet journal to keep track of long-term spreads. I use it for lists such as things to buy, or ideas, or goals, etc, etc. I keep all my bullet journal spreads organized using an index, and it really helps to find what pages I’ve written each list on, because I’ve already labeled each page with what I’m going to write on it.