#general tips

RIGHT ANYWAY, semi-functioning again. Here's some generic tips for Americans (and beyond) in these trying times.

Limit Your Social Media News Consumption

Seriously, you need to set specific times to be aware of what's going on, and then you need to put down your phone. Many of the things that are happening are beyond your control. Doomscrolling is paralyzing. Do not fall into despair loops. This helps no one and it especially does not help you.

Make a channel in your Discord group for dumping things in and leave it to that. Find ways to plug into your local community - talk to your local library, check your local subreddit, pay attention to local events. But you also must give yourself a break from all of the above for your own mental health.

Pick a set time at night and put down your phone. Don't scroll through it before bed, don't start scrolling the second you get up. Form firm habits that allow you to rest and take care of yourself. It's important to be aware of what's happening, but it does not require your constant attention.

Do Things For Yourself

In addition to making art, it's important to find ways to keep yourself grounded. Take a class you're interested in. Go to that book club. See if there's a local group into that hobby you want to start. Need to brush up on your technical skills? See if there's some online classes that you can take (and get a certificate for!).

Don't over-commit (I say, having signed up for three different activities this year), but it is vital to take time to do things for yourself to stay grounded. Having other things to focus on is going to help. I'm taking a strength-building exercise class and German lessons, and having to focus on squats and gendered nouns for certain hours of the day has been so helpful in keeping me going. Give it a try.

(You don't have to try German, just to be clear. I just think it's a neat language.)

You Do Not Have to Constantly Rearrange Your Priorities

I donate monthly to my local animal shelter. That's still going to be an important thing to do. I reblog things I don't have the funds to contribute to myself. That's still useful to do. I'm still going to pay for my patreon subscriptions, because I am supporting people I like and want to succeed.

There are some things you can do. If you are in a position to cancel Amazon Prime, you should probably do that. But some people can't, because they don't have a more reliable way to get certain necessities, and that's fine. If you're in a position to close your Meta accounts, that seems like a good call. However, while I've currently got mine locked down, I need my Instagram for professional reasons, and it's my only point of contact for certain people. I hate it, but I've made the decision to keep using it. There's no morally perfect options out there.

Think Local and Connect with Community

You cannot do anything about most of the terrible things happening. You can, however, make connections to the people around you and find ways to support yourself and others. You can find places to volunteer. You can participate in your local political groups and keep up-to-date on protests and political action. You can keep pressure on your local politicians with phone-calling and letter campaigns. Making connections to others will help you find ways to feel useful and help, even if it doesn't feel like you can.

Most importantly, though, MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE. If you're a vulnerable minority in a deep red state or desperately need to keep your head down at your job, you need to make decisions that are best for you. You cannot help others if you yourself are also drowning, and that is okay.

There are still some small things everyone can do. Boycotts of certain products and companies (shout-out to all of Canada, keep it up and I hope for nothing but the best for y'all) is something you can do that doesn't put you at risk. Stay connected to like-minded friends. Stock up on masks and get your vaccines. Have an emergency-prepared plan in cases of natural disasters (always a good plan).

Since most of my panic attacks happen at night, building and maintaining a strong night routine is one of the most important aspects of my healing journey.

My routine starts two hours before my set bedtime, which is 10 pm. I have to wake up everyday at 5 am, so in theory that gives me seven hours of sleep.

I make a point to make some time, everyday, to do something distracting and relaxing that will help me unwind a little and get in the mood for sleeping. My go-to activity is reading, and to make sure what I'm reading does not contain triggering or anxiety-inducing content, I usually pick children's books, or books that I have already read ♥ This is only a personal preference though, this tip works with whatever activity is safe and distracting for you.

I read until 9 pm, and then hop into the shower. To me, showering is sensory heaven. The hot water on my skin and face soothes my muscles and feels like a long warm hug. I am the type of person who craves physical affection and dreads it at the same time.. Anyways.. The scent of soap and shampoo are relaxing, as well. My favorite scents are rose, apple and mint :) This moment is a huge help on making me feel physically soothed, it's like my reward for managing to make it through the day hehe.

After showering, I apply some perfume on my wrists. Even when I am not going anywhere, I love putting on perfume, as a little treat for my nose~ The one I currently use was gifted to me almost a year ago, and despite using it everyday I still haven't run out of it.. It is rose scented too of course.

After body care comes teeth care, which is a bit more complicated because my gums and teeth are very sensitive and tend to hurt easily while being brushed. I have to use a pharmacy-bought toothpaste in order of it to be painless. If you have some sensory issues when it comes to brushing your teeth, I do recommend sharing your concerns with a pharmacist, it was a life changer for me ♥

Before going to bed, I pack my bag for the morning. If I wait until the morning to do it, I know I will be too groggy to do it properly and end up forgetting a few things, so I make sure to do it before sleeping. My essentials are usually a notebook and a pen, some highlighters, lunch money, and whatever textbook is required for class.

And my routine ends here. If I have some energy left, I will continue my reading, if I am too tired, I will go straight under the blankets.

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I recently read How to Win at College by Cal Newport, and it has super helpful tips for college, so I thought I would share the complete list of chapters/tips.  I recommend this for anyone in college or going to college!  I will bold my favorites :)

Don’t do all your reading

Create a Sunday ritual

Drop classes every semester

Start long-term projects the day they are assigned

Make your bed

Apply to ten scholarships a year

Build study systems

Befriend a professor

Become a club president

Read a newspaper every day

Do one thing better than anyone else you know

Avoid daily to-do lists

Learn to give up

Never nap

Sign up for something your first week

Always be working on a “Grand Project”

Take art history and astronomy

Blow the curve once a term

Ask one question at every lecture

Jump into research as soon as possible

Pay your dues

Study in fifty-minute chunks

Schedule your free time

Dress nicely for class

Decorate your room

Start studying two weeks in advance

Write outside of class

Eat alone twice a day

Find an escape

Take hard courses early on

Don’t study in your room

Don’t study in groups

Join an honors program

Do schoolwork every day

Attend guest lectures

Exercise five days a week

Stay in touch

Tack on an extra major or minor

Meet often with your advisor

Don’t get a normal job

Use three days to write a paper

Don’t undersleep, don’t oversleep

Relax before exams

Make friends your #1 priority

Don’t binge drink

Ignore your classmates’ grades

Seek out phenomenal achievers

Learn to listen

Never pull an all-nighter

Laugh every day

Use high-quality notebooks

Keep a work-progress journal

Seek out fun

Inflate your ambition

Get involved in your major department

Care about your grades, ignore your GPA

Always go to class

Set arbitrary deadlines

Eat healthy

Volunteer quietly

Write as if going for a Pulitzer

Attend political rallies

Maximize your summers

Choose goals, explore routes

Don’t take breaks between classes

Don’t network

Publish Op-Eds

Use a filing cabinet

Find a secret study space

Study with the Quiz-and-Recall Method

Empty your in-box

Relax before sleep

Start fast, end slow

Spend a semester studying abroad

“Don’t have no regrets”

When trying to belt, it is so, so important to do it healthily. Singing with a healthy belt starts as soon as you begin your technique. It takes years to build up your vocal strength to get to a very strong belt. Here are some tips to help you:

Build your vocal strength: vocal strength comes from singing and practicing vocal technique. If you sing wrong, it can be very damaging to your voice and greatly weakens it. By practicing proper vocal techniques, you can ease strain and build up your strength.

Throat and mouth positioning: Keep your tongue down and your soft palate up. When a singer belts a note, their throat opens up to the point of you being able to see their tonsils because their soft palate is raised and their tongue is down. You can practice this technique through frequent vocal exercising.

Have a singer’s posture: Stand with your feet hip distance apart (don’t lock your knees), keep your shoulders back and down, and have good posture. Pretend that there’s a string coming from the very top of your head that’s pulling you up. Never lift your chin up because that restricts your vocal chords, instead, keep your chin down and centered.

Use support: In incorrect vocal technique, singers feel pressure at their throat and/or back of their neck. In correct vocal technique, singers support their belt from their diaphragm in their chest/stomach area, which takes the pressure off of the throat and neck.

Get a voice teacher: This post might be a little hard to understand because explaining a feeling in your throat is particularly hard, especially if the person explaining it isn’t physically there to demonstrate. This is where a voice teacher comes in. I do NOT recommend attempting to belt on your own. I understand getting a vocal coach can be hard and expensive, but if you’re planning on doing any profession involving singing, it is well worth the money. My vocal coach, who I’ve had for 5 years, has completely transformed my voice. I used to only sing in a weak head voice and now I am a power belter that can sustain a note for a very long time because of her. Vocal coaches is worth it and they know how to train you to have healthy technique.

Vocal exercises:

Balloon: Step 1: Lay on the floor on your back and put your feet up on a bench, couch or chair. Your knees should be bent to 90 degrees. Put a balloon in your mouth, holding it straight with your right hand. Your left arm should be flat on the ground next to you. 

Step 2: Take a big breath in through your nose and blow out through your mouth into the balloon. Keep blowing out until you have absolutely no air left in your lungs. When you have nothing left, pause. Wait 5 seconds before you breathe in.

Step 3: When you breathe in, put your tongue on the roof of your mouth and breathe in through your nose. Breathe in as much air as you can, then blow it out forcefully into the balloon until you have absolutely no air left in your lungs, then pause.

Step 4: Keep repeating this cycle until the balloon is full. Then let the air out of the balloon and try again. Blow the balloon up five times.

Books: Step 1: Lay down on a flat surface and place books on your stomach area (where your diaphragm is). Make sure you are completely flat. Your arms should either be out or at your side.

Hi there! Thank you very much for your kind words.Here are some things I keep in mind when I’m going through an art funk.

1. Keep a list of art ideas you’d like to visit. I totally get that. For me personally, the lack of inspiration can come from having too many possibilities available and it gets so overwhelming I just don’t do anything at all. I want to draw A, but also B, C, …. X, Y, and Z… so what do I draw?! And then it’s time for bed and I didn’t end up doing anything.

Pick one specific thing at random, and focus on that. I keep a folder full of blank files with the idea as the title name, and currently I have about 400 ideas that I want to get to at some point. Pull up a random number generator and let it pick a file for you. And force yourself to commit. If it’s an idea you wanted to draw anyway, this should be relatively easy!

Once you get an idea, as you work, most likely it will inspire new ideas that you may want to visit at some point. You’ll never run out of ideas, that’s for sure!

2. If you’re drawing for yourself, wait it out. Discipline is important but there’s also a point where it’s all in vain.  Think of your art-making mood like a wave; notice when you do and don’t feel like doing art. Ride the wave when you’re feeling that mood, and rest when you’re not. If you can afford to rest, then do it.

3. Experiment with different mediums if any are available to you. I think when you experiment like this you’re less concerned if it looks good or not, and more just about playing  and having fun. Even if the medium isn’t your cup of tea I guarantee some part of it will have an effect on your main style/methodology. For example I’ve been into traditional painting recently and it has changed the way I do digital art; likewise, my digital methods affect the way I paint on a physical canvas.

Similarly, if I’m feeling artistically blocked, I’ll just switch to a different medium. I’ve been really interested in traditional painting lately, for example. When you switch mediums you force yourself to think and approach things differently, and that might be just what you need!

4. Allow yourself to fail. Going off #3 and experimentation, I’ve found a lot of stagnation comes from feeling like the standards are set too high. You can’t improve on an empty canvas. Keep drawing, even if it sucks, because it will be documentation of your journey forward.

5. Look at specific inspirations on Twitter, Pinterest, books, etc. Again, like #1, stick to something really particular. Who are your favorite contemporary and historical artists? What are your favorite art movements or historical eras? How does it relate to your own work, and how do you take inspiration from it? E.g. I like medieval stained glass, art deco fashion illustration, and vintage greeting cards. It inspires me to add ornamentation and jewel-like coloring to my work.

6. Do photo studies. It can be photos from the web, or even better yet your own photos. If you’re inexperienced with backgrounds, focus on realism first, and spend 30 minutes to 2 hours per study, possibly more if you’re new to it. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, experimenting with different styles and colors can be fun as well. I do a lot of studies so I’ve gotten bored with just copying with I see, so it’s fun to transform it into something more impressionistic and exaggerated in color.

7. Do anatomy studies. I do about 30-40 minutes every morning of figure drawing practice. Sometimes I do classical gesture figure drawing, other times I use choreographed dynamic poses from movies/games/etc. The more confident you are in your character drawing skills, the more possibilities that will feel open to you.

This is a go-to of mine when I just don’t have much left in the tanks or the wallet.  It’s warm and filling and tasty while being so easy, and I honestly will eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Ends up being a low to medium glycemic index with the right kind of rice, and chickpeas are just all kinds of wonderful for us.

Ingredients

Cooked rice (see notes below*)

One can drained and rinsed no-salt-added chickpeas/garbanzo beans

One can diced no-salt-added tomatoes

Add-ins (as desired and optional, I often don’t have any, see suggestions below**)

Equipment

Two tupperware containers/lids

Bowl

Fork

Small colander for rinsing chickpeas (optional if you are able to rinse them in the can)

Microwave

Rice cooker or other means of cooking rice

Instructions

1. Mix your chickpeas and tomatoes together in one tupperware

2. Store your cooked rice in the other tupperware

3. When hungry, mix your rice and chickpea/tomato combo together in a bowl

4. Microwave for 1 - 2 minutes

5. Add any add-ins/toppings desired

6. Enjoy your warm filling meal!

*Rice

I almost always have cooked rice in the fridge, and while many rices do not keep and reheat well, I have discovered that Basmati rice actually keeps and reheats really well (for Americans, check out a local Asian mart for this as you can buy in 10lb+ bulk and it will cost MUCH less than at an American grocery store). I rinse it before cooking as well which I think might help, and add vegetable oil and salt in when cooking, and then while the rice is still hot after cooking put it directly into my tupperware and cover and refrigerate.  When I finish one batch, I start the next one in my rice cooker.  Basmati rice is also a medium on the glycemic index, from 56 to 69.  

**Add-ins

Imagination is the limit!  Some ideas:

 - Black pepper

 - Hot sauce

 - Spice mixes (like a garlic blend)

 - Another kind of bean

 - Cheese

 - Crumbled tofu