#readmancy

I just kind of need to write, if that makes sense. Just like I can’t pass a day without listening to music, if I pass a day without writing, it just stresses me out. It’s not easy staying focused, lately I’ve been struggling with motivation/inspiration myself. But I guess the key is finding a balance, because if you force yourself too much, you’ll just get blocked, and if you wait for inspiration, you’ll never actually write. So my advice is, look for a balance!

oh thank u!!!! 

its been more than 24 hours since i last slept (but im trying to fix my sleep schedule so im still awake)

i just submitted my last paper for the semester this morning (it was american lit and it made me want to cry) 

Now, I don’t know if these work on everyone, but they sure as heck work on me!

• Make your notes pretty--the prettier they are, the more you’d be incentivized to look at them! 

• You can put little jokes and puns as shortcuts to remember things! You can also add little jokes to make your notes easier to understand. You’re not writing this for future generations to read, you’re writing this for you. Don’t be afraid to write it in a way that makes it fun for you!

• Don’t be discouraged when you make mistakes! What I usually do is I try doing it again on a sticky note and I just glue it on the part where I made my mistake. It usually looks a lil’ artsy too hehe

• Don’t be afraid to be extra. You think lowkey bullet journaling in your notes will make you want to look at them more? Go ahead and do it! You wanna tape little twigs on the page so that it looks artsy? Who’s stopping you? Go wild. 

hello! i’m not the best at making pretty notes but i do try to make sure my notes are neat and easy to read. one thing that you can do is stick to a style that you’re comfortable with and is easy to replicate. if you make fancy notes all the time, it might get hard to keep up with and take more time for you to make them. i usually stick to 2 pens: one thicker for headers and one thinner for general text. i use 2 highlighters at most and keep the colors to a minimum just because i think too many colors make it look messy. remember that you don’t need to hold yourself up to the stereotypical studyblr notes standard because its nonsense and it is more important to make notes that are best suited to you and not just for aesthetics.

on keeping motivated, i try to take occasional breaks. i always try to encourage people to study to the best of their ability and not just to the most they can study. it is not about the hours you put in but how productive you are during the hours that you are studying. don’t feel too guilty taking too many breaks: sometimes studying in shorts bursts works better than straight out studying for hours on end. 

make sure your desk is clean or at least has a conducive space for you to work. having a neat space also declutters your mind when you study and keep you motivated to continue. (you could take a break in between studying and clean your desk!) 

to be better at studying means you have to learn more about yourself. figure out a studying schedule that works best for you; everyone works differently so experiment a little and find what fits you best! however, one thing i want to add is that we all should remember to be proactive. i’m not saying to always “raise your hand and ask questions in class” (i’m an introvert and sometimes i get nervous and have doubts on whether my question is a stupid one or not) what i’m saying is for you to take charge of your own learning. if you believe you need to read up the lecture slides before class, do it. if you think you need more practice, search up past year papers. 

remember that it is okay to not understand what you are learning. it is always a step in the right direction to admit that you are struggling, and then move to seek help for it. i deal a lot with pluralistic ignorance, which is me thinking i’m the only one not understanding the content when actually a lot of my classmates do not either. i understand that it might be difficult to get a hold of your teachers/professors, so find a study buddy! talk to your friends about the classes and clarify what you don’t understand. when you can voice out your concerns, it not only helps your learning but also helps you be less stressed about it!

it looks so good!!!!1 dang dang diggity

*silent screammm*  thank youuu ; A ;