#september study prep

BACKPACKS- SEPTEMBER STUDY PREP PART ONE

 In my opinion, backpacks are one of the most overlooked things in the studyblr community. Now, that may be because I rarely see backpacks in photo posts, since they tend to be more functional than aesthetic, but anything can be aesthetic if you know how to photograph it. With that in mind, the first round of September Study Prep is backpacks, and remember to make a post about your backpack, tag it with “studylikeyoumeanit” and “September Study Prep,” and I will feature it on my blog!

Choosing a Backpack

 This is your base point. Think firstly about how much space you need, and how much weight you will be carrying on average. If you are only carrying, say, a laptop and a notebook with you, then I guess you could get a Kanken or similar. However, the thin straps and lack of support mean you’re still going to be susceptible to discomfort/pain with regular use, so I would still suggest getting a more ergonomic bag like a jansport. My current backpack is from Roxy, and has three main pockets, two side pockets, and a laptop sleeve. Below are the things you need to consider before buying a backpack:

How big is it? Can it realistically carry everything I will need in a day? This includes the number of pockets- I recommend at least two full-size ones, but whatever floats your boat and works for you

Is it reinforced enough so that I won’t hurt myself carrying heavy loads with it repeatedly?

Will it fit my laptop properly? (This becomes increasingly important in university, but is still worth considering even if you don’t normally use your laptop in classes)

Is it of a high enough quality that it won’t wear out frequently?

Is it partially or completely waterproof? (This sounds stupid but getting caught in the rain with all your notes is never good)

 Of course, you need to figure out whether or not it fits with your personal aesthetic if you feel that this is a consideration, but functionality should be your main consideration. There are no two ways about this. (Tomorrow I’m going to post a picture of my backpack, which I’ve had for three years without any major signs of wear and no back problems as of yet).

Filling a Backpack

ESSENTIALS

Laptop and charger

Folders/notebooks/textbooks/whatever you need to get through until you can repack your bag

Pencil Case/Pen Case/Whatever you like to call it (or at least the number of pens that you need)

Bullet journal/planner/whatever you use to avoid forgetting everything throughout the day (if you do this all digitally, that’s fine, but if you’re a pen and paper person, always have your planner with you!!)

Your phone, purse, keys, ID card, etc. if you don’t keep them in your pocket (basically don’t be daft and leave home without them)

REALLY USEFUL

Water bottle (get a nice robust one that won’t leak and can hold a decent amount of water)

Emergency sanitary items should you need

Plasters/Band-Aids

Painkillers

Headphones

NICE TO HAVE BUT NOT ESSENTIAL

Umbrella

Power bank and cable for your phone

Snacks

Sunscreen if it’s hot

Spare paper and a spare pen (never be caught short without one!)

YOUR TASK

 For this part of the study prep, make a post about your own backpack and your bare essentials (it can be a photo or a list or a video or whatever you want).

STUDY SPACE- SEPTEMBER STUDY PREP PART THREE

 This is the final part of the September Study Prep Challenge! Today, I’m going to be focusing on what makes an effective study space, so that you can perform at your most effective all year! Of all the parts of the challenge, I would consider this the most important, because although your tools for studying are important, the place where the actual studying gets done can make or break your grade.

Picking a Study Space

 As per the other posts in the challenge, here is a list of questions to consider when you are thinking about a study space:

How much physical space am I going to take up?

Do I work best around other people or on my own?

What kind of noise level allows me to work best?

Is it separate enough from where I sleep that I will still sleep well?

How surrounded am I by distractions?

Is it too close or too far from the space where I relax?

Can I keep my stuff there and make it a dedicated space for just my studying?

 I obviously can’t answer these questions for you, but I would personally recommend somewhere that you aren’t going to easily be distracted by other people, and you are held accountable for your noise level and messing about that you do when distracted. Although studying in a café can make for a great studyblr photo post, I would advise against making it your primary spot, mostly because you aren’t going to feel as guilty if you procrastinate because it isn’t a space made for studying anyway. It’s up to you, though: sometimes I do find that studying in a different space like a café helps to refresh my brain.

 Either way, this is a process of trial and error, and sometimes the results will change, but you always need to just keep a note of your productivity and try switching it up if something is really not working.

Setting Up your Study Space

ESSENTIAL THINGS TO DO/HAVE

Put the phone away. Put it on silent and put it away. You don’t need it. Use a laptop for research and turn your notifications onto silent on there as well.

Have enough physical desk space that you don’t get cramped

Keep a water bottle on your desk

Make snacks a part of your breaks, or incorporate snacks into your setup. Keep yourself fuelled (as well as taking breaks)

Make sure to have enough light (natural or lamps) and ventilation

Make sure it’s difficult to be distracted by the outside world. If you like studying in an environment where there is a little bit of noise, get a bluetooth speaker (so your phone isn’t part of this), and use Tabletop Audio or ASMR Rooms or ambient sound videos like rain and café sounds (or music without words), but don’t make it easy for you to get distracted when you’re not supposed to be taking a break

Have extra stationery like pens and notebooks to hand in case you run out

Have a clock on your desk so you don’t have to check your phone (if you don’t already have a watch)

NICE THINGS TO HAVE THAT AREN’T ESSENTIAL

If you watch John Fish on YouTube, you might recognise the idea of a humidifier (watch his video on productive dorm space here, and then watch all of his other videos because he’s wonderful)

Loose leaf decaf tea (which is therapeutic to make and you won’t go crazy on caffeine (which messes with your sleep and makes it harder to keep studying, although a caffeine in the morning is obviously fine

An egg timer or something similar, if you like studying with the pomodoro method (although I use my phone alarm and put my phone on the other side of the room because it forces me to get up and have a break)

A book stand like this one that will keep a book that you’re working on open and taking up a little less space

A corkboard or something similar with motivation on it (in quotes, goals, study/exam timetables, etc.)

A whiteboard (I use mine to keep track of things I need to do but also to draw out and explain ideas and concepts that I’m revising)

Your Task

Set a space up for the coming year that’s going to help you work at your best, and if you don’t have access to your chosen study space, plan what you’ll need to set it up, and if you have decided to work in a public space where you can’t keep your stuff, plan what essentials you will always need to have with you when you are studying there. If you can make a post, then definitely make a post (I love seeing how and where other people study)! If you do, then tag it with “studylikeyoumeanit” and “September Study Prep” and I will feature it on my blog!

(Part one is here and part two is here)

STATIONERY- SEPTEMBER STUDY PREP PART TWO

Unlike backpacks, as mentioned in part one to the September Study Prep Challenge, stationery is one of those things that you never really hear the end of in the studyblr community, so this is probably the easiest part of the three parts to the challenge. Remember to make a post (photo/video/text/etc.) showing your stationery setup for this academic year, tag it with “studylikeyoumeanit” and “September Study Prep,” and I will feature your post on my blog!!

Choosing Stationery

 Ok, so a lot of the stationery that studyblrs recommend is genuinely stuff that I love and use frequently, but before settling out to buy everything that you see recommended, it’s important to take some things into consideration:

Price

Practicality

What your essentials are, and if they are afforable enough to replace frequently (since they are your essentials)

For pens, if they are easy to write with an smooth in your hand (go for feel rather than aesthetic value)

Same goes for paper: don’t just pick something because it’s right for someone else (obviously)

What kind of stationery do you need?

ESSENTIALS

Pens with which you do the majority of your writing (so affordable ones which are really easy to write with)

Paper (Refill paper for folders/binders, and any notebooks that you use in your daily life)

Highlighters (I see a lot of mildliners in the studyblr tag, but I find them too expensive and they run out too fast for me)

Ruler

Calculator (if you study things that need it)

Pen/Pencil Case (obviously)

THE NICE THINGS

Spare notebooks

Brush pens

Felt tip pens/markers

Nice pens for writing and decorating (like fineliners or expensive gel pens)

Bulldog/Binder Clips

Sticky notes/Sticky tabs

Washi tape

Correction fluid/Correction tape

Your Task

 Post a picture/video/text post of your stationery setup for this year, tag it “studylikeyoumeanit” and “September Study Prep” and I will feature it on my blog!

(Part One is here)

September Study Prep- Stationery

30.08.2018 || Here are my essentials, which I’m going to split into two different sections:

1) Bullet Journal Essentials

Moleskine softcover A5 Notebook (Lined)- This was given to me as a present, and is my bullet journal for this academic year. I think maybe next year I’m going to go with dotted paper for aesthetic reasons, but this is just the right size (and I really love the soft cover)

Staedtler Multicolour Triplus Fineliners, 0.3mm- I almost exclusively use these for decorating my bullet journal, and they normally have the right accent colour for me to highlight important stuff over the month, more specifically what my budget is and if I exceed it

Staedtler Pigment Liner Fineliner, 4-pack- If I’m not using the above fineliners for my bullet journal, I’m using these, which I rely on like there’s no tomorrow.

Crayola Supertips Markers- These are the holy grail amongst bullet journallers for a reason. Enough said.

Yellow Post-It Notes- I use these for a month-long to do list (that I move every week), as well as for tracking my food spending meal by meal (I’m going to do a later post on all the things I do with Post-Its in my bullet journal later on)

2) General Stationery Essentials

MUJI Gel Pens, Black 0.38- I use these almost exclusively in my bullet journal, but I didn’t put them in that section because I also found them really useful when I’m practicing my Chinese characters and also if I want to make neat lines in my notes, etc.

Stabilo Pastel Highlighters- They’re not so intense on my page as regular highlighters, and are much cheaper and longer-lasting than Mildliners

Black Sharpie- I am never seen without one. You don’t realise how useful they are until you get one.

BIC Cristal Original 1.0mm- Cheap as chips and easy to buy in bulk and generally very smooth for writing

MUJI B5 Lined Notebook- My Lecture notebooks, as they are easy to transport, and the faint lines mean I can draw clear diagrams and arrows and things without it being too much on the page

WHSmith A4 Refill Pad, 400 Sheets- I can guarantee that every student in the UK has used these at least once. If you are planning to study in the UK, you’re going to get to know these very very well.

September Study Prep- Backpack

28.08.2018 || These are my essentials: I don’t go anywhere without them on days I need to work (plus laptop charger and headphones, but I couldn’t fit them in):

MUJI B5 lined notebook (this is my general notebook and I have others for lectures) (Also top tip buy these from the actual MUJI website for half the price you’d pay on Amazon)

Cool Gear Subzero Water Bottle

Roxy Backpack (sadly now out of production but Roxy still makes great backpacks)

Laptop (HP Pavilion in case you were curious) with charger

Textbooks

Folder

Keys

Purse with ID

Moleskine Notebook that I use as a bullet journal (Lined Blue Softcover- next one I buy will be the same with dotted paper)

Lihit Lab Pen Case in Yellow Green

AKG in-ear headphones

September Study Prep: Get Yourself into Gear for This Academic Year

 This academic year, I want to start a challenge for studyblrs, which basically revolves around getting into gear and getting organised for this year. It’s going to be a three-part challenge taking place over the course of the coming week, and will be broken down into the following categories:

Monday, 27th August: Backpacks (picking a backpack and the essentials that go in)

Wednesday, 29th August: Stationery (getting stationery together that will make for effective studying)

Friday, 31st August: Study Space (creating the best workspace to get stuff done)

 Now, I know that none of these dates are in September, but in September I’m going to be reblogging all of the posts you have made for the challenge, so that people can mutually inspire each other to study hard and smart this coming year, which, after all, is what the studyblr community is all about ♥

 With each challenge, I will be posting about what makes an effective setup for each, and then asking you to make a post of your own based on this. Basically take a photo of your setup, tag it with “September Study Prep” and “studylikeyoumeanit” and I will feature your post!

 This challenge is open to everyone, not just studyblrs :)