hi everyone! since the holidays are over for most of us, i thought i’d make an inspirational and motivational masterpost all about notes! upgrading your notes by changing the layout, adding doodles, banners, using sticky notes, changing your handwriting etc. motivates me personally to study!
handwriting
how to write in cursive
some fonts to try out
how to improve your handwriting
note taking systems
study methods summed up
stationery to make it all happen
sticker printables to jazz it up
notes
how to take lecture notes
how to annotate books
taking notes from a textbook - studyign
note taking system - theorganisedstudent
note taking system - emmastudies
another note taking system - academicmind
another note taking system - wonderfullifee
the 2 notebook method
note taking with highlighters and post its
pretty timelines
note taking printables
plot summary with sticky notes
20 uses of sticky notes
colour code your notes
method with columns
the cornell note taking system
the cornell note taking system using onenote
in class notes
another in class note taking format
what are sketchnotes?
online whiteboard
flashcards
how to make flashcards
another how to make flashcards
an example
another example (with sticky notes)
and another example (biology)
8 ways to improve your flashcards
make and test flashcards online
alternative to flashcards - studyign
print onto flashcards
mindmaps
how to mindmap (1)
how to mindmap (2)
some examples
apps
notability
banners
simple banner
more banners
it’s a banner party over here
banners (shown how to draw in gifs)
illustrate your notes
how to illustrate your notes - reviseordie
sketchnote tips (banners, lettering, doodles)
more sketchnote tips
even more sketchnote tips
how to make your notes pretty - theorganisedstudent
how to make your notes pretty - studyspoinspo
how to make your notes pretty - booksflowersandtea
what is visual note taking?
a visual alphabet
note taking printables
dot grid
note outline printables
lined cornell method printable
grid cornell method printable
hope you all had a good rest and are ready for a new year of studying!
xoxo lou
– from someone who is not a morning person
brush your teeth first thing in the morning. I find that the minty flavor makes me a bit more alert (gum also works- i chew it when I find myself falling asleep in class)
make ur bed- Really make it. What I mean by this is don’t just throw ur blankets over ur bed so that they cover it. Realign the blankets so that they’re centered (mine always try sliding off the bed to the right and the back) and make them all smooth and nice-looking. If u have lots of pillows, arrange them nicely, standing up. Aside from just making it so that u have to put a little more effort in to get back under ur cozy covers, I find that putting physical effort into making my bed helps wake me up cuz I’m like,, doing stuff that requires work.
wash ur face. Not only is ur face cleaner, but splashing water onto yourself is bound to make you more awake! It works especially well for me b/c my face routine takes a good 5-10 mins and i’m alternating between the warm water and the colder cleansers+moisturizers.
stretch! this is honestly The Most effective way for me to wake up in the morning. I usually stretch my arms above my head, then down to my feet, get in a few lunges, and downward dogs, and hold each of these poses for 10 seconds. It doesn’t need to be a half hour yoga routine; mine takes two minutes.
open blinds/curtains at night. why at night you ask? well, if you’re one of those lucky people that doesn’t have to wake up until after sunrise, then you have the luxury to let the sun wake you up! Having natural light wake you up is so much nicer than an alarm (tho u may still need an alarm) and it wakes you up better, too. I’ve found that even if I open the blinds right after I wake up, I’m still more groggy+tired than if I kept the blinds open over night to let the light in before/as I awoke.
other things:
for the love of sleep please put ur phone across the room or even out of the room when you go to bed. Also put it on do not disturb or airplane mode. even if having to actually get up and walk to your alarm doesn’t wake you up (it doesn’t for me), putting it across the room is better for when you’re going to sleep bc then you’re forcing yourself to set it down and leave it at a certain time, rather than being tempted by it being right by ur head on ur night stand.
If you have an iPhone, the alarm makes noise for like 20 mins before it goes silent. Do with this info what you will, but for me that means I set my alarm 20 minutes before I want to get up because I Know that even with the ugliest alarm I won’t get out of bed until the panic that i might go back to sleep after my alarm turns itself off kicks in.
anyway some of these tips are a bit different than some others I’ve seen so I hope they helped!
Nicole Miller Spring 2019
since my last masterpost on mind maps was successful i thought i’d make a masterpost about general studying! this way i get to share with you guys what i’ve found out over the years with my personal experience!
the space you choose to study is really important! it can be in your bedroom, another place in ur house, library, cafe, a park, etc
it should be somewhere u can focus + concentrate without distractions
have more than one place to pick from in case u ever need to change a little or can’t use one
lighting is really important. good natural lighting is always best; try to find a place where the light comes from your left if you’re a righty or from the right if you’re a lefty – you’ll thank me when ur writing and u can see everything perfectly
if ur in ur room, figure out whether having motivational quotes/pics on your walls help u or distract u – for me, i like to have a couple but not many, and mostly motivational quotes + sticky notes with the stuff i need to get done
keep it organised! u can use drawers to keep ur suplies so that they aren’t all laying around when ur studying if u don’t need them
lay out everything u need when ur about to start studying so that u don’t have to get up to get this or that all the time
it’s great to try out many different ones!
you’ll always have a couple u prefer but don’t be afraid to experiment
masterpost by @heystudy
masterpost by @etudiance
flashcards are awesome for memorizing + testing yourself! here are some tips for making them by @tbhstudying
here’s a great alternative for flashcards by @studyign!
mind maps are great for linking information + understanding + condensing. here’s a link to my masterpost!
rewriting notes is an awesome way to revise!
when u rewrite ur notes, u can color code them + add lil drawings + diagrams, make them more visual overall
great masterpost on visual/aesthetically pleasing notes by @areistotle
if they’re available, always try to find old exams and take them to practice! u can take them under exam conditions or not, whatever helps u the most
first of all, u need to figure out whether u work better with or without background music, because it may end up distacting u
if u don’t want music but still need background noise, u can listen to white noise or ambient noise!
classical music is awesome; studies have shown that it benefits the brain, sleep patterns + stress levels
u can listen from playlists on 8tracks, spotify or youtube vids [i prefer 8tracks]
check out my #music tag for great playlists + masterposts!!
you’ve probably heard of it all over the studyblr community and that’s because it’s awesome
here’s a link to the official site!
it’s great for helping u focus; i work better like this because i couldn’t study for an hour straight if my life depended on it, + i still get everything done!
however, don’t adapt yourself to the times it sets for u but the other way around – if you’re working and the 25 minutes are done but u still feel like u can continue, you’re motivated and focused, go on!
don’t know what to do in those breaks? here’s the list for u!
i use forest to time myself! it’s great cause it also keeps u from checking ur phone. focusnow is a free alternative for ios
start revising early, even if u know u can cram and get good results. i used to do the last thing and even though i got really good grades i was always super stressed the day before and it made studying suck even more
avoid checking social media while studying, even tumblr for “motivation”, because you’ll inevitably get sucked into it
form a study group or find a study buddy because they’ll help u focus, u can explain to each other when u don’t understand something, etc
know everything u need to get done and prioritize
make ur notes pretty only if u have the time + it helps u
if u don’t have the time to make ur notes pretty but are a visual learner, grab a highlighter and colour code them – e.g. green for terms, yellow for definitions, pink for dates/people
figure out whether u work best in the morning, afternoon or evening. try not to study at night unless necessary + get good rest bc it helps ur brain work better
studyblr-ing 101
apps for ur life
how to mind map
i hope you found this masterpost helpful!! if u have any questions or request for a masterpost, send me a message!
sofi xx
Bwahahaa, it’s my favorite time of year! I’ve been watching a bunch of old horror and sci-fi classics, so here you are… The Bride! <3
Hope you all are having a good Halloween season so far :)
If you’d like, feel free to check out my society6 shop!
society6.com/audreybenjaminsen
There’s plenty of goodies that will fulfill your Halloween needs- and I would appreciate the support greatly! (Plus free shipping today!)
<3
Audrey Benjaminsen 2015
Hi dear Lumen,
Do you have any tips on how to study more effectively and/ or memorize better because it would help a lot. Thank you🤍 Have a great day/evening!
Hi darling,
As you may know, I am a maestra at organizing, creating systems, and simplifying things in order to maximize efficiency - and that applies for studying as well. 📚
I often emphasize the importance of self-knowledge and working with instead of against yourself. In this case, that translates as working with your abilities instead of forcing yourself to learn in a dry, outdated, uniform manner that doesn't align with you, just because school, college, or your family says so.
Are you a visual learner (through the eyes)? Then write down your lessons in a concise, aesthetic manner, this will help you memorize easier. Add diagrams, illustrations, or even just sketches related to the lesson, as it further helps with memorizing.
Are you an auditive learner (by listening and speaking)? Then read your lessons out loud. Record yourself if it helps, play it back until you can recite it back. Ask friends to help with rehearsing for extra support.
Are you a haptic learner (by touch and feeling)? - This one's more tricky, but you can employ some activity while studying, such as braiding, tapping your fingers or feet, gesturing, etc.
There are theories of other types of learning, as mentioned here and here. If the above 3 don't apply to you, do a quick research to see what resonates with you more, in order to find a more efficient technique. It can make all the difference in your study routine.
Do you study better in the evening/at night? When it’s quiet and nobody is disturbing you and your schedule is clear? You may be a night owl and it’s your natural circadian rhythm to have higher brain activity and energy towards the evening/night - if so, take advantage of it.
Do you study better in the morning? Because you feel fresh and focused? You’re likely an early bird, so arrange your study schedule to follow this rhythm accordingly, you'll be much more productive.
If you have a chaotic schedule that doesn't allow much flexibility for the above, simply work with your available schedule to the best of your ability. Move household chores and other errands around so that your peak efficiency timeframe can be used for the bulk of your studying.
Do rewards help in completing a task? If yes, try something useful like taking a sip of water after reading 3 paragraphs, or that you can watch your favorite show after finishing studying, or going to the museum, or whatever it is that makes you excited at the moment!
Do you have a short attention span? Don’t worry about it, just divide your studying in brief intervals of 30-60 min, with a small break inbetween to keep your concentration sharp. If you start to get distracted, remember why you’re doing this (your academic goals, whatever they are), and if that doesn’t work, maybe you just need some fresh air or a cup of tea to start fresh.
If you have issues staying on track, you can ask a friend or family member to hold you accountable by checking up on you.
Don’t forget to make studying enjoyable as possible: use colorful stationary, set up a nice desk that fills you with pleasure or excitement when you see it (ie. plants, lighting, pretty decor, books organized in a satisfying way, etc), a fluffy pillow against your back, the list goes on. Get creative! This is your space.
Another way to make studying enjoyable is thinking out of the box. If you prefer a more streamlined, digital system, use an app that makes the process of studying more enjoyable - whether it’s something as basic as the native Notes app on macOS, Word docs, or a professional tool like Ulysses where you can organize everything to your heart’s content.
Visual inspiration and moodboards: you can also browse through Pinterest boards for inspiration or even follow Tumblr studyblr-ers to make studying as a process more aesthetic and appealing. There is a truth that the imagery we expose ourselves to inspires our actions; when you have your dashboard filled with pretty desks and notebooks and tidy handwriting from bookblr and studyblr content, it can boost your motivation. (Just be mindful not to fall into the trap of unhealthy perfectionism, or associating your self-worth with productivity - neither of those things will help you in any way, and will only cause anxiety, low productivity and self-worth issues.)
If you fall off track, don't be hard on yourself. It happens to the best of us. If you really want to finish what you started, just do what you can, take it one step at a time, and remember that you only fail if you stop trying. Give yourself space to do your best (even if that is 5% on some days, it's still good enough), and improve along the way. You can do this! 👏🏻👏🏽👏🏿
Hope this helps. Good luck and have a productive day/evening ahead to all ambitious ladies! 💞 ☕️
-Lumen
I was going through some old papers from freshman year and I was thinking about what I was doing wrong when I didn’t achieve the grades I wanted, even though I got As in my classes. What things could I have done better to get a 100 instead of a 96? I don’t ask myself this so much as to be a perfectionist (even though I am one). I ask myself these questions because: 1) I must not have had a completely solid understanding of the material if I couldn’t get a 100 on it. 2) Maybe my less-than-stellar test-taking skills got in the way. 3) I’m a tutor, so I want to be sure I understand everything thoroughly enough to help others with the material.
I may add to this later, so you can always check out the original post here. As always, feel free to comment or message me if you want to add something to this list!
General:
Don’t simply read over your notes to study. It doesn’t work. You might pick up pieces here and there or even memorize certain things verbatim, but reading something 20 times is very inefficient. Your brain learns by making connections, so if you’re only straight reading the material you’re not making extra connections. You’re much better off going through your notes to make your own questions and quizzing yourself on them, marking down connections as you read (either in the margin or by literally connecting them in the text with a pen), or creating a study sheet (whether in text format or a mind map).
Don’t simply highlight, either. While there is a proper way to highlight, most people I see using a highlighter are doing it wrong. If you’re the person who highlights 90% of the paragraph, I’m talking about you. Okay, so highlighting is physically more active than glancing over your notes 20 times, but it’s about equally as effective if you’re highlighting everything. I recommend instead highlighting (or marking with eraseable pencil) things you want to go back to later. But, again, highlighting and reading alone is not useful. Go back to your highlighted parts to reread something that was hard to understand the first time, a topic you want to revisit to make a review sheet, etc. Whatever you use it for, make sure the purpose is to quickly find information later, not simply so you can read those things again. Try making a study sheet, in your own words, based off of your highlighting.
Don’t forget to write things down. And I don’t mean just in your planner when you have homework or papers due. This isn’t so much about getting absolutely everything down in terms of notes, either, I have a separate post regarding that. But in class you should always write down questions you have and the answer. If you don’t get a chance to ask during class, ask ASAP whether it’s directly to your teacher or asking a classmate. If it’s that important, do some research on it, too. Also, make sure you write down information on due dates or paper topics. You probably already do that, but I would recommend having a piece of paper with you every day where you can write anything important down like dates and to-dos to organize all in one shot. If you simply write down “paper due” in a block in your planner before rushing to the next you may not see that reminder until close to the due date. I like to take all of the information on the piece of paper (which also has my day planned out and a to-do list) right when I get up in the morning so I’m prepared for the day and don’t forget anything.
What I Did Wrong:
Don’t take it easy at the start of the semester. To be perfectly honest, I’ve pretty much always done that, but my freshman year of college it wasn’t a huge deal since I pretty much already took those classes. Sophomore year, however, everything was new, so memorization and understanding didn’t come quite as easily. The harder your classes are, the more essential this is, especially if you actually want to sleep during finals week. The best thing you can do is start doing work before the semester even starts if you have a syllabus handy, or even just looking through your books to see what’s ahead. While everyone else is doing fun things the night of that first day, make sure you get some work done first before you have your fun. This sets the tone for the rest of the semester and gets you into the habit of working. Don’t let yourself get behind! It’s easier to stay ahead than it is to struggle catching up.
Don’t leave your notes to rot after class. Meaning, do something with them right after class! … or at least ASAP. Mark them up, edit them, rework them, copy or type them (if your handwriting sucks like me), or, best of all, write a short summary. Take the several pages of notes you have and condense them into one or two paragraphs. Don’t worry about the details, just make sure you’re hitting on the key points. As a bonus, you can type up some questions based off of your notes to save for later studying (details are allowed here). Everything will be fresh, making this a much easier process than if you did it right before the test. At the end of the week, make a summary of your summaries and quiz yourself on the questions you made. You’ll probably want to use those questions again, so try to reword them or even combine them into bigger questions that cover many topics. That way you’re being active with the material and will actually understand what you’re answering as opposed to parroting.
Don’t make study sheets by copying off of something else. Yes, I made this mistake. I wasn’t copying initially, but rather, using a review book as a reference to make study sheets. However, the more I was pressed for time the less I started putting things into my own words. Now, this wasn’t a big deal in terms of legality, since I kept them to myself, but it didn’t turn out to be all that helpful in the end. If you want to make study sheets, you could either take concepts you’ve been learning and put them together in different ways or make a summary in your own words. I recommend both, but whatever you do, make sure you’re actually creating something new or else you’re not going to remember it. For example, in organic chemistry I took the reactions and grouped them in different ways (by subtstrate, reactants, products, etc.) as a reference while studying. The act of sorting and looking through the reactions in order to make the sheets helped me remember them, then I had the sheets to look at while doing practice to help me memorize them further.
Don’t save the bulk of lab work for after the lab and don’t wait to write your report. By this I’m referring to the post-lab report. Spend the extra time while prepping your pre-lab materials to start your report! You’re expected to know the theory behind your labs before you perform them, so writing the introduction to your report should not be a problem. If it is, then you’ll be glad you took the time to understand the lab before you tried actually doing it. By doing this you may also find that you have questions that can be answered by the professor before you get confused in the middle of a procedure. Also make sure you have data tables prepared (not just in your notebook, but in the report file to fill in after) and anything else you’ll need to take down data. Once the lab is finished do the report immediately. Everything you did will be fresh and you’ll be glad you finished it well ahead of the deadline. At this point you can show your lab to your professor and get any corrections fixed so you’re ashooin’ for an A!
Don’t try to write a paper in one shot. I understand if you feel like your papers flow better if you do it all in one shot, but at least make sure you plan it out thoroughly ahead of time before you actually write it all out. But even then, you will likely benefit from splitting your paper into chunks to tackle one day at a time. If you have a research paper that’s double-digit pages then you’ll be forced to do that anyway, but be sure you’re splitting up the work for small papers, as well. It may not seem like a big deal to do a short paper in one day, but if you end up having other assignments or tests due around the same time it might up your stress if you’re crunched for time trying to finish that “insignificant” paper while juggling a few other assignments as well as some test prep.
Advice Suggested By Others:
Don’t listen to distracting music while studying. To some degree, the types of music that are considered “distracting” vary when it comes to the subject you’re studying and personal preference. However, the general rule of thumb is that you avoid any sort of music with lyrics if you’re studying a subject that involves language. Art, math, and certain sciences are an exception if you’re working with pictures or numbers, since language usually doesn’t interfere with those things in the brain. But if you’re reading anything, even if it’s worded directions to a math or science problem, lyrics will probably be distracting. Some people suggest that listening to new music with lyrics is okay because you won’t be tempted to sing along with something you don’t know while others get distracted by hearing any type of language. Again, it’s truly up to you, but genres such as classical, jazz, and nature sounds are usually recommended. Heck, if you’re a musician and get distracted by any type of music, silence or brown noise may be the better option for you. (Suggested by aslongasitsfiction)
Don’t study in bed. Scientific studies have shown that doing anything in your bed that isn’t sleep or sex-related affects your ability to fall asleep in your bed. When your brain primarily associates your bed with sleep, it’s much easier to fall asleep. But having trouble sleeping in your bed isn’t the only part of the problem. While studying in your bed is really comfy, you’re also more likely to fall asleep if the association with sleep is strong enough. It’s generally recommended that you don’t even study in the same room as your bed, but as college students this may not be possible if you want to use your desk. So if you don’t want to make the trek out to a more secluded study space, at least try to make sure your desk doesn’t have your bed in view. Because let’s be honest, if you’re exhausted, simply seeing your bed might be enough to make you nod off. (Suggested by rare-footage and ane-mia)
Don’t go on tumblr. Okay, this may seem obvious, but sometimes a reminder is all you need to get off your computer! I suppose it’s better that you’re looking up information to help you study, but I think we both know what the better choice would be. (Suggested by oneofakindgizibe)
Don’t study in a place you can’t focus just because your friends are there. Us humans are social animals. We like being around other people. But this can cause you problems if you’re trying to study. Unless you’re in a productive study group, make sure you separate study time and social time. You’re probably more likely to gravitate towards fun, social things over studying, so make sure studying is a priority and you get it done before seeing your friends. If you have a roommate or two, then your dorm room is probably not the right place to study. Find a few of your focus hotspots and go there for your study time. (Suggested by fitspoforever)
Don’t forget the little things you know you’ll need. This includes but is not limited to things such as chargers, books, snacks, and water. You don’t want to be in-the-zone and all of the sudden realize you need to run back to your dorm room to get a book. And then 10 minutes later realize you’re hungry and need to run to the cafeteria. If you don’t already have certain things that are always in your bag, simply keep a list of things you generally need to bring with you, leave it as a reminder on your desk, and check it over before you hit the library. (Suggested by fitspoforever)
Don’t take naps while studying without setting an alarm. Or even better, avoid naps all together. If you’re like me, 15-minute naps usually turn into 2-hour events. But regardless, if you need to get some extra sleep, get the extra sleep. It’s better to take a nap when you know you need it as opposed to falling asleep on your desk unexpectedly when you have a paper you need to get done for the next day. 15-20 minutes the recommended time for a short nap, but if you need something more robust, try for 90 minutes or use sleepyti.me to figure out the right time to wake up. (Suggested by fitspoforever)
Don’t wear uncomfortable clothes. I personally find that “dressing for success” works really well for going to lectures and virtually everything else, but terribly if you’re hitting the library for a long study session. You’ll probably wanna look cute if you’re heading somewhere public, but just make sure you’re comfortable. Yoga pants are fine for the occasion! (Suggested by fitspoforever)
If you’re anything like me, mornings are pretty much the worst part of your school day. In fact, mornings used to be the most anxious part of my day. I’d stay in bed past my alarm, rush to get ready, eat “breakfast” in 5 mins, and drive to school with what I call, “Morning Traffic Anxiety” (you know the feeling). But a few years ago, I came to the conclusion that although my anxiety would never truly go away, I did have the power to make my mornings feel a little more like “me time”. Here are my tips on how to start off your day in the best way possible.
I don’t care how confident you think you are; You need alarms. That’s right- alarmS- plural. This isn’t just to wake you the hell up; I’ve learned that setting several alarms is the best way for you to keep track of how much time you’ve spent doing something. And, if you’re anything like me and know you like to stay in bed past your alarm, set your first alarm even earlier. For example, my first alarm for “waking up” is 5:30, the alarm for actually physically getting up from bed is 6:00, out of the bathroom by 6:30, downstairs by 6:45… you get the picture. Not only are alarms for waking up, but they’re also for timing yourself. My alarms are set in 15-30 min. increments away from each other, but do whatever floats your boat.
Commit to your sleeping/waking up schedule. I love sleeping-in on weekends as much as the next girl; but please don’t torture yourself by over-sleeping. You’ll just regret it by the time it’s monday morning. Stay (somewhat) consistent and your body will thank you for it.
Listen to music while you get ready. This is one of the best and mose effective tips I’ve ever come up for myself, self-care wise. If I’m feeling particularly anxious, I’ll put on a peaceful, calming playlist to get ready to. If I want to wake up more energetic and am getting ready for a busier day, I’ll play more fun and upbeat songs. Whatever music you choose, I promise it’ll change your mood. (If you need some morning music recs, you can find my playlists here!)
Plan out your Tomorrow Outfit. I know, I sound like your mom. But trust me, it really does help and it saves you so much time! If you don’t want to physically put out your outfits, at least have an idea in your head for the next morning.
Please. For the love of God. Eat breakfast. Even just a little bit. I never understood how some of my friends and classmates could, dare I say, SKIP breakfast and survive class. This concept leaves me in awe. I personally feel like I’m going to collapse if I don’t eat breakfast. Please eat; even if it’s just a little bit! Find the time to actually make a good breakfast, or even pre-make a good breakfast the night before. Bagels, toast, and oatmeal are great quick and wholesome-enough breakfast choices. Also, remember that your morning is YOU time- take this time to enjoy your favorite coffee/tea without rushing! It feels good, trust me.
As you can see, a lot of working on bettering your mornings is about time. Speaking from experience, I can confidently say that rushing is not fun. I hate being late, and being in a hurry just makes my anxious mornings even worse. The best tip I could ever give is to find a morning routine that works for you, practice it, and stick with it. Just like any other struggle, making your mornings more enjoyable just takes commitment; but it’s 100% do-able!
1. Get up early.
I know, it’s easier said than done. But it is going to be hard for the first 15-20 minutes, maybe even the first hour, but make yourself some coffee, and get the fuck out of that bed.
2. Do 3 useful things right after you get up.
This doesn’t have to be ‘cram one lesson’ or ‘take 500 pages of notes’. No. Brush your teeth, make yourself something nice to drink, comb your hair. Wash your face. Literally whatever you find useful, do it. It may take 10 minutes, but you will feel instantly better when you see you’ve done something.
3. Organize your study space.
I don’t mean organize all your highlighters by color. I mean arrange everything so it is within your reach. That means when you sit down to finally study, there won’t be any need for you to get up and get something.
4. Take breaks.
It’s easy to start scrolling through instagram, or facebook when you sit by a 200 page book. Trust me on this. But set an alarm when you plan on taking a break. Make the break your instagram time, or facebook time, or just chill time. Whatever you do, organize your time so you don’t leave anything out.
5. Divide your shit.
So you have a 300 page chapter to read. Or a 30 page paper to write. Divide it into smaller parts. For example, I will read through the first 30 pages and then take a break. Repeat. Or, I will write 3 pages and then relax. Repeat. Literally whatever shit you have, divide it into smaller chunks and then just tackle the chunks.
6. Don’t listen to music with lyrics.
There are a ton of ‘study music’ or ‘motivational music’ playlists on Youtube. Blast that. That way, you won’t find yourself mouthing the perfect lyrics to Shape of you, and not knowing shit about what you’ve been reading. I’ve been there one too many times and it’s just wasting time.
7. Don’t feel bad about not responding to texts, or not hanging out with friends.
There is time to study and time to play. No between. By all means you should go out and have fun. But your work time can only be your work time. That text can wait, that coffee date can wait. During the break you will have more than enough time to catch up. And your friends should understand that, after all, this is important to you so it should be for them too.
8. Drink water! ! !
This is the most used tip, but trust me, you get tired much quicker if you’re not hydrated. Get a nice ass bottle of water and fill that shit up. Everytime you finish a paragraph take a sip. (At least!)
9. Don’t worry too much.
I’ve lost countless hours by panicking and trying to reason with myself why I should just quit. And let me tell you, it’s very easy to get stuck in that vicious circle. But when you begin to worry, take a deep breath, drink some water and just do. Read that sentence. Write the opening line to your paper. Underline that unknown word. Just do. It will not go in vain. No effort is ever useless.
10. Relax.
You are not the first one to have trouble with this. You are not the only one struggling with this material. But you can do it. It is possible. In 10 years you won’t remember that godawful task or chapter. But you will remember taking shit into your hands. And that feeling when you accomplish your goal is going to be worth all the while.
That’s about it, worked for me. Just be real with yourself. Good luck and may the odds be ever in you favor!
As students in this day and age, it’s quite common for us to juggle rigorous academic responsibilities and overwhelming extracurricular activities. As a result, we might feel burnt out. But what exactly is burnout?
Burnout is when you feel physically and mentally exhausted as a result of constantly lacking the energy required to fulfill the demands of your studying.
Burnout can be broken down into three parts:
Exhaustion is what causes you to feel tired all the time and unable to concentrate. You could also get sick or have trouble sleeping.
Cynicism or depersonalization is when you feel disconnected from those around you, e.g. your friends and family.
Inefficacy is a decrease in productivity, efficiency, or quality of your work.
Symptoms may vary, but they include:
Being unable to absorb new information
Intellectual exhaustion
Decreasing academic performance and productivity
Feeling like you need to prove yourself
Making yourself work even more, even though you’re exhausted or being unwilling to study further
Neglecting your needs
Long term fatigue
Showing disinterest in things you normally enjoy, e.g. hobbies or friends
Denying that something’s wrong with you (may manifest in the form of aggression)
Avoiding social interaction
Feeling empty and depressed
Here are some short term solutions for dealing with burnout.
1. Take a power nap Power naps are life changing. They help you recharge your energy and get you ready to start working again. They also improve learning, memory, creativity, alertness, and mood. I would recommend napping for 30 minutes at most, because anything more will lead to a longer sleep session.
Optional: drink coffee before your nap - something that takes a short while to consume like a shot of espresso - so that you’ll feel alert and revitalized afterwards!
2. Take a shower A cold one will wake you up, but a warm one will calm you down. I suggest starting with warm water, then ending with cold water.
3. Exercise Whether it’s playing soccer or doing yoga, the important thing is to get moving! Exercise releases endorphins or happy hormones that help you combat stress.
4. Run a quick errand This will help take your mind off things while also getting something done! You’ll also end up walking, which is technically a form of exercise.
5. Call or visit a friend Sometimes what we’re lacking is social interaction, and hanging out with a friend definitely helps. Whether it’s providing you with a distraction or giving emotional support, your friends are always there to help you. Plus, science has shown that being with friends reduces your cortisol (stress hormone) levels.
6. Eat a snack Preferably a healthy one. Eat something with proteins, vitamins, and fibers to boost your mood. Here’s a list of mood boosting foods.
7. Surf the web This requires A TON of discipline, but it’s definitely a game changer. Surfing the web is one of the most relaxing things you could do. I personally look for a good laugh during my study breaks, so I’d watch a comedy or scroll through memes to get those happy hormones up and running.
8. Do an activity you find interesting, e.g. a hobby We all need happiness in our lives, and our hobbies are perhaps the best way to find that joy. You could sit down with a page turning adventure, or go outside and shoot hoops, or listen to a podcast, or even bullet journal, as long as you’re having a good time.
9. Listen to music Music is one of the ways we gain energy, so I always make time for it during the day. However, you should choose the right music, because not all the music you love is going to make you feel energized. For me, it’s pop punk with hard hitting beats, thundering guitars, and really upbeat, enthusiastic vocals. Some of you might be energized by mellow music with dreamy vocals that make you feel like you’re floating in the clouds. If you choose the wrong music, you might just end up feeling sluggish and drained.
10. Get some fresh air Your brain needs 20% of the oxygen in your body. Fresh air brings more oxygen to your brain so that you can think more clearly, feel less tired, and concentrate more easily.
Avoiding study burnout in the long term has a lot to do with our study habits - as well as our daily habits. We need to make sure that our bodies and minds receive the things they need, and that we aren’t overworking them.
1. Study a little at a time Break up your notes into smaller, more easily digestible pieces and learn a little at a time. This way, you’re not overwhelming your brain, and you have time to let that new knowledge settle in.
2. Time management Having a good study schedule is crucial in preventing burnout. You don’t want to force yourself to work at your slow hours. Aside from that, you definitely shouldn’t leave things until the last minute, and sticking to a schdule will help you pace yourself. Here’s a post I wrote on How to Make an Efficient Revision Schedule and How to Beat Procrastination.
3. Get enough rest I cannot stress enough that sleep is so important for you. It improves your cognitive functioning and also enhances your mood, making it less likely that you’ll get burnt out. Make sure to take power naps, too, if you feel like you need them.
You also really shouldn’t pull all-nighters. Sleep is also involved in cementing memories in your brain, so if you study a little before you sleep, you’re bound to remember more than if you studied a chapter during an all nighter.
Having trouble sleeping? Here’s a post I made about my night routine and how to get better sleep.
4. Cycle your study environments Your body and mind are bound to get tired from being in the same location for prolonged periods of time. The best way to fix that is to study in different places: at your desk, your backyard, the dining table, a cafe, a friend’s house, the library, etc.You should find a frequency that works for you. I like to switch it up every 2-3 days; some people change locations every week.
5. Eat well As I’ve mentioned before, healthy foods with protein, vitamins, and fiber greatly improve your mood and your physical health. Proper nutrition will give your brain the power it needs to push through. Also make sure not to skip meals; honestly you’ll just end up feeling terrible afterwards.
6. Take frequent breaks Let’s face it, we’re human, we’re bound to get tired from studying for a long time. Taking breaks enables our brains to digest the information we just learned in a pace that works for it. Breaks also help us focus on something other than studying, so that when we do get back to it, we’ll be ready to digest even more information.
7. Set realistic study goals You’re gonna memorize all 500 pages of your biology textbook in one day? Good luck with that. Some of you might be compulsive studiers, but this kind of habit isn’t very good for your brain or your physical health. Studies have shown that excess studying can lead to lower productivity, fatigue, and - you guessed it - burnout. In the end, this will result in lower academic performance, perhaps even in the long run. So instead of trying to study so much in one sitting or one day, break up your material into chunks.
8. Maintain your social life Wherever you lie on the introvert-extrovert spectrum, everyone needs social interaction once in a while. It keeps you sane and healthy. Go out with your friends, have a sleepover, or maybe even a study date.
9. Start the day right What we do in the morning can significantly affect our mood for the rest of the day. Sometimes we don’t even feel like getting up in the morning, or doing anything that day. One thing you should do is create a morning routine you enjoy to jumpstart your day. Here are 8 Morning Habits for Productivity.
10. Think positive When we’re feeling burnt out, it’s hard to not think negatively about everything. In reality, that just makes our condition worse. So think positively! Start small, like congratulating yourself for getting out of bed today, and then work your way up to bigger accomplishments, like finishing 2 chapters of your textbook.
11. Keep a stress diary This is kind of a new concept for me, but it’s really great. How it works is that each day, you would write down all the things that made you stressed and how they made you stressed. This will help you identify the things you’re doing that’s causing your burnout, e.g.
Too long study hours? take regular breaks
Too much time in the same place? cycle your study environment
Not eating properly? set aside time to eat healthy meals at least 2 times a day
Not doing the things you love? schedule in time for that, e.g. during your long breaks
Not getting enough human interaction? make a study group
Too much negative thinking? adopt a positive mindset (you can always start small)
Not getting enough sleep? fix your sleep schedule
And that’s all I have for you guys this time. Hope these tips will help you manage your stress and study burnout whenever you have them. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to drop an ask!
P.S. if any of you want to see the images in this post in better quality, click here (link to google drive)
95 posts