effort > talent

How far along are you in your studies?

How far do you plan on pursuing academia?

What made you want to attend university?

What do you study?

What do you wish to accomplish by studying at university?

What do you want to do with your degree?

What’s your dream job?

Has university been what you expected it to be?

What’s the most important thing you have learned about yourself at university?

What surprised you the most about university?

What classes are you taking this/next semester?

What has been the most interesting class you’ve taken?

What has been your favourite class you’ve taken?

What is your favourite professor like?

If you have to write a thesis, what are you going to write it on?

What is your weird academic niche?

What’s your favourite thing about academia?

What’s your least favourite thing about academia?

Would you go to a different university if you had to choose again?

Would you choose a different subject if you had to choose again?

If you couldn’t study the subject you study now, what would you study?

What is your favourite course style?

Theoretical or practical?

Best book you’ve had to read for a course?

Worst book you’ve had to read for a course?

Favourite online resource?

The topic of the best essay you’ve written?

Would you ever consider getting a phd?

Who is doing the most interesting research in your field at the moment?

Do you have any minors?

What is subject you wish your university taught but doesn’t?

What is an area of your subject you wish your university taught but doesn’t?

The best advice anyone has ever given you about university?

Do you care about your grades?

Do you think you study enough?

How did your attitude towards studying and school change between high school and university?

What do you do to rewind?

Best tip for making friends at university?

Are you involved in any clubs/societies/extracurriculars?

Have you done or are you planning on doing any internships?

What is an interesting subject that you would never study yourself?

What has been your favourite thing about university so far?

What is your plan B career?

Do you ever regret your choice of subject or university?

Do you ever regret going to university?

How do you study?

What do you wish you’d done differently in your first year?

What things do you think you did right in your first year?

What are your thoughts on Academia?

How far along are you in your studies?

How far do you plan on pursuing academia?

What made you want to attend university?

What do you study?

What do you wish to accomplish by studying at university?

What do you want to do with your degree?

What’s your dream job?

Has university been what you expected it to be?

What’s the most important thing you have learned about yourself at university?

What surprised you the most about university?

What classes are you taking this/next semester?

What has been the most interesting class you’ve taken?

What has been your favourite class you’ve taken?

What is your favourite professor like?

If you have to write a thesis, what are you going to write it on?

What is your weird academic niche?

What’s your favourite thing about academia?

What’s your least favourite thing about academia?

Would you go to a different university if you had to choose again?

Would you choose a different subject if you had to choose again?

If you couldn’t study the subject you study now, what would you study?

What is your favourite course style?

Theoretical or practical?

Best book you’ve had to read for a course?

Worst book you’ve had to read for a course?

Favourite online resource?

The topic of the best essay you’ve written?

Would you ever consider getting a phd?

Who is doing the most interesting research in your field at the moment?

Do you have any minors?

What is subject you wish your university taught but doesn’t?

What is an area of your subject you wish your university taught but doesn’t?

The best advice anyone has ever given you about university?

Do you care about your grades?

Do you think you study enough?

How did your attitude towards studying and school change between high school and university?

What do you do to rewind?

Best tip for making friends at university?

Are you involved in any clubs/societies/extracurriculars?

Have you done or are you planning on doing any internships?

What is an interesting subject that you would never study yourself?

What has been your favourite thing about university so far?

What is your plan B career?

Do you ever regret your choice of subject or university?

Do you ever regret going to university?

How do you study?

What do you wish you’d done differently in your first year?

What things do you think you did right in your first year?

What are your thoughts on Academia?

So remember how I vowed to never take an 8AM again and then I did? Well I swore to myself never again. So I have a 9AM now haha. Living an hour away from campus idk why I do this to myself but hey gotta get that edumacation somehow.

Anyways, I have a lot of experience with this early morning thing, especially with depression and icy weather and rainy weather (all 3 make you wanna sleep in so much more) so here are some tips to make your mornings smoother, less chaotic, and maybe even more enjoyable!

Give yourself at least an hour in the mornings. Trust me. The more time you have the better it is. You won't feel stressed or rushed and you'll have time to wake up before driving

M U S I C. Seriously. This like makes mornings 1000x better. Put in some earbuds or blast that shit and have fun. Dance and jump and head bang while getting ready

Make or buy coffee the day before and put it in the fridge or something. Having coffee already made speeds up the routine and it's a nice little treat

Lay out your outfit the night before or at least plan it and know where everything is. Saves so much time even if you are the kind to just grab and go. I am like that. Just grab a shirt and pants and go. But laying it out the night before makes me feel accomplished and in the morning I'm like oh!

"I'll just get gas in the morning" is the worst lie. You'll hate yourself in the morning as that morning will be the one where you are running late and it is super chaotic. Get gas on your way home

Pack your bag for the next day WHEN YOU GET HOME. Don't wait. Mornings are groggy and not the best and you are bound to forget SOMETHING. So pack as soon as you can

Use an alarm you like. "But Lauren, if I like it I won't wake up!" It doesn't have to be peaceful. It can be straight bag pipes and screamo with a hurricane in the background. But if you like it, you'll be happier when waking up

If you know it's going to be cold in the morning, leave the fans off

Two words for you: overnight oats. Cheap, easy, and delicious. "But I don't like yogurt. I am lactose intolerant. I don't like Chia seeds. But..." thousands of recipes my dudes. Thousands. I hate yogurt and am lactose intolerant and hate most fruits. So I use oats, almond milk (vanilla flavored), vanilla extract, cinnamon, coco powder with some sugar mixed in, honey, and if I'm feeling really frisky, some flax seeds. Mix that baby up and stick it in the fridge and voila! A tasty and fast breakfast! You can even eat it on the go or blend it to make a smoothie!

If there's dew or ice, turn your car on like 10 minutes before you leave

Make a routine that keeps things steady and flowing towards the door. Dress, bathroom, breakfast, go

Coffee does not make a great breakfast

Put water next to your bed and drink it first thing in the morning

Hair and makeup can be done before class

Try to get to class half an hour early or more. This gives you time to review and prepare for class

If you have time, try some excercise! A jog, pushups, yoga, etc. It's a great way to get early morning serotonin and energy as well as feel better through the day

Take care of your animals before you eat to make sure you don't forget

If you bring lunch, pack it the night before

Set an alarm for bedtime and listen to it. When your bedtime alarm rings, put the phone or book down and sleep

If you wake up before your alarm, stay up if you have less than 30 minutes before it goes off

You can try burning incense in the mornings. Orange, lemon, and basically any citrus scent is known to improve your mood and help with energy

Consider buying a second phone charger that stays in your car so you don't have to worry about that

Simplify your skin care routine or modify it for the PM

Night showers are now your new beat friend

No you won't wake up extra early to finish that assignment. Just do it now

If you like hot coffee, prep the coffee maker the night before and set it to start when your alarm goes off especially if you sleep near the kitchen. You'll smell it

If you need to help calm your anxiety over your mornings, make a check list with everything to make sure you don't miss anything

Keep your keys in the same spot

If you have a dog, walk them before leaving or feed them when you get up. They catch onto patterns fast and will wake you up if you don't want to get up

what song makes you feel better?

what’s your feel-good movie?

what’s your favorite candle scent?

what flower would you like to be given?

who do you feel most you around?

say three nice things about yourself (three physical and three non-physical).

what color brings you peace?

tag someone (or multiple people) who make you feel good. 

what calms you down?

what’s something you’re excited for?

what’s your ideal date?

how are you?

what’s your comfort food?

favorite feel-good show?

for every emoji you get, tag someone and describe them in one word.

compliment the person who sent you this number.

fairy lights or LED lights?

do you still love stuffed animals?

most important thing in your life?

what do you want most in the world right now?

if you could tell your past self one thing, what would it be?

what would you say to your future self?

favorite piece of clothing?

what’s something you do to de-stress?

what’s the best personal gift someone could give you (playlist, homemade card, etc.)

what movie would you want to live in?

which character would you want to be?

hugs or hand-holding?

morning, afternoon or night?

Energy Management

A human-based organization method

click on images for better resolution; images also available here (link to google drive)

Other posts that may be of interest:

Getting stuff done: How to deal with a lack of motivation

Flexible time-blocking: A more breathable way to get things done

evening routine