#smartspo

27th April 2026 ~ 17:42

monday, august 26th

last week, classes for the fall semester officially started! it's absolutely wild to me that i'm a 2nd year PhD student now... 1st year went by hella quick but it was such a fruitful year. i'm hoping my 2nd year is just as amazing and filled with learning.

this semester, i'm taking

clinical neuro

multiple linear regression (data science course)

biostats and bioinformatics

prodev seminar

the biostats class starts in october bc its a half session, online course so in reality, im only taking 2 real classes at a time.

pictured above

setting up an EEG system in our lab for my upcoming study

the loft at this amazing coffee spot in PHX

my typed up data checklist and protocol for my EEG study (i don't want to admit how long those took me to write)

- get dressed and style your hair as if you're going to school/work - even use the same perfume/ cologne as you normally do  (trick your mind into being motivated)

- plan things out - everything (plan out your week, day, meal, etc. you can make these as specific as you’d like. this will help you stay on top of your work as well as stay healthy, especially if you live alone.)

- make studying/ working the first thing you do each day - best if you can start in the morning (minimize the tendency to procrastinate)

- just start - don’t worry too much about perfecting or finishing anything yet (if you don’t start then there’s nothing for you to perfect or get done. and it will never get done)

- listen to old and simple (aka non-distracting) podcasts, Youtube videos, or café/ chattering white-noise, etc. simply leave them as background noise to create an illusion of being outside your room (bring the presence of people to you. my favorites lately have been slam poems from 2016, Mae Martin’s stages, and Awsten Knight’s crackhead podcasts)

- set timers, for both study sessions and breaks (so that you don't overwork, burn out, or procrastinate. the Pomodoro technique works great here)

- take advantage of the comfort of your own home (light a candle, have crunchy snacks, play loud music, review notes out loud while pacing around, wrap yourself in a blanket burrito, study on your bed if you can focus there like me, etc. basically anything you can't do in a classroom, office, or the library)

- if you miss your friends, call/ text/ facetime them, make a study group chat with them, etc. (that is what technology is for)

- choose recreational activities/ self-care for your breaks instead of going on social media (go on walks, make small art, play an instrument, stretch, take a nap, etc. I usually reach for my guitar, brainstorm writing ideas, or sketch very simple line art.)

- if you want to go on social media, do it during meal times - or the 15 minutes after your meals that you can’t work just yet (it also doesn't make you feel like you’re wasting time)

- study in different rooms for a change of scenery (dining room, living room, the patio, etc. I have an armchair next to the window that I study in whenever I need some sunlight and don’t have to write anything down. however, if you need a designated place to focus on your work, you can also use these alternative spaces as designated “relax” or “creative” place for your breaks)

- use this as an opportunity to take care of yourself (get enough sleep, drink water, exercise, talk to your family, take your meds, be mindful of your mental health, etc.)

Feel free to add your tips. The current situation sure is unpleasant but it is unavoidable. All we can really do now is take care of ourselves, others, and try to make the best out of this.

12/4/21 - 3:30 am || not pictured: strawberry applesauce! yum!

finals season is upon us and i am in real danger of failing all at least two of my courses. one of them is intro to study of literature which i am taking for credit so if i fail it will not be the end of the world but i would rather not. the other is my feminist and queer theory course. i have not turned in a single assignment for this class yet. each response paper is worth 15% of my grade and the spillers one was due weeks ago. as was my final paper proposal. i am intending to major in gender studies and taking another course with this professor next semester so this is actually really fucking bad. 

compilation of notes i've taken this week in preparation for an university entrance exam 📖 i'm not required to know that much chemistry, and considering it's not really my best science subject, i'm feeling confident ✨