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 - ̗̀ masterposts   ̖́-     

how to stay motivated throughout the school year

spicing things up

how to handle a bad grade

ideas for rewarding yourself

kpop journal

burnout - a guide for students

bujo for students

my after school routine

new year, new me?

how i study

german media

taking notes in class

how to wear what you want to school

autumn study tips

self care journal

birkenbihl method

summer guide

printables

study breaks

my favorite apps

study music

good habits

self-discipline

how to drink more water

what to do while on the bus

some advice

that time of the month

self care

 - ̗̀ asks   ̖́-

how to study + motivation

tips for new studyblrs + ways to prep for senior year

how to stay motivated after school when u have homework

back to school tips in german

german slang

I have some spicy goals for tomorrow.

some easy to follow tips on how to organize your digital life for a stress-free experience while trying your best at school! ✨📖

other posts: 

advice on choosing your major

self-studying in three steps

being productive at home

How I Went From Academic Probation to the Dean’s List in One Semester

Introduction

So if you haven’t read it and want to understand the full story, I recommend reading this post right here (x) Long story short, while yes, I did have very poor physical and mental health that contributed to my academic probation, I also could have been more organized and overall a better student, and maybe I would have not had the best grades - but still maintained “good standing.” My first two semesters were rough. Then I took two semesters off. When I came back this semester, I was determined to succeed and essentially, I learned how to be the best college student I could be. Albeit, this was also after I regained control over my health. Nonetheless, let’s get into it!

I took some time off from school 

First of all, what helped me the most was taking two semesters off. I won’t lie to any of you. I took this time to see pain management doctors, receive treatment for my 6 bulged discs that contributed to my chronic pain, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and re-learned how to live my life, I got my anxiety disorder under control, and I worked 40+ hours a week serving and bartending to become more financially independent - which helped my anxiety. During this time I also learned to be honest with my support system (advisors, close friends, and family), which also contributed to my success this semester.

I forced myself to use a planner religiously (for about a month) until it became an unbreakable habit

I forced myself to use a planner religiously (about a month) until it became an unbreakable habit. Planners are the biggest tool when becoming more organized. During syllabus week, I took my dad’s advice and wrote down every due date, even if it was TBA. This allowed me to be “ahead of the curve.” I am not taken by surprise by any assignments now. 

Using my planner, I create artificial due dates for myself that are a day or two before the actual, posted due date. This ensures that my assignments are turned in early, or if something goes wrong in submitting them (if online) then I can make my professor/instructor aware of the issue beforehand so that something can be done. Write: “Have X turned in by today!” 

Do your best to also not only stay “on top of” assignments, but also ahead of them. It is better to work ahead and have nothing to do (or due) for the remainder of the week than to be overwhelmed by copious amounts of work and studying.

I took pride in my work

I took pride in my work/notes, and set out to create work/notes that would impress peers (if they saw my work) or impress my professor upon grading my assignments. I specifically set out to “wow” people with what I was creating. This lead me to the studyblr community specifically with my notes.

I emailed my professors literally all the time

I emailed my professors consistently. Even if I had a question that could have waited until the next class - I emailed my professors. They were able to learn my names, and my grades are awesome because of it.

I participated in class 

I participated in class. Not only do I sit in the front of the class because I can’t see (ya girl isn’t good about wearing her glasses) but I also do this because professors “teach to the T” This basically means that professors teach mostly to students who sit in the front row, and students that sit down the aisles. So imagine a classroom, and imagine which desks would make a T-shape. That’s where you want to sit. I also make sure to contribute to class discussions. When you sit up front, you are less inclined to be on your phone or doing miscellaneous things on your laptop. Your eyes will be drawn to your professor, you will feel more compelled to answer their questions, and you will pay better attention. With this being said, I was always the student that had to sit in front because I can’t see, but I was also always the teacher’s pet.

I purchased cool/cute study supplies that made me want to study

Buy materials that make you want to take notes with them. I really like Five Star notebooks. I also really like taking notes with Crayola SuperTips. Create notes that are easy for you to review later. 

Which brings me to my next tip: actually review those notes later. 

Tried and true study apps like Quizlet saved my semester

I utilize study-apps like Quizlet. I know that there are many out there; however, I prefer the tried and true method of good ole Quizlet.

Pay your advisor a visit. They do not judge you!

I make appointments to see my advisors regularly. Advisors can help you if anything begins to go awry. I also made an appointment with the same advisors, so that I didn’t have to re-explain my situation. They never judged me. They can provide you with materials and resources for any issue you’re having. I am always blown away every time I meet with my advisors because they know their jobs so well. 

I sat my butt down and did my work

I didn’t exactly “time block” study time because that doesn’t really work for me. However, when I had time after work or whenever - I sat down at my desk and made time for assignments. I highly recommend the Pomodoro Technique. You set a timer for 15-25 minutes, focus on your work during that time, and then take a 5-10 minute break before continuing. Usually, you will find that you either just want to go ahead and finish up or that you definitely needed a break. 

I created a study space that I love. It is really miscellaneous and not at all what you see on the majority of studyblrs, but it works for me. I love my desk! 

Buy some expos and a white board in addition to using your planner

I use a white board in addition to my planner to write down upcoming dates for the next week/entire month. I use a different color for each class as well as miscellaneous things I need to get done. When I have completed something, I just erase it. 

Treat yo self

I congratulated myself for little victories. 96 on a test? Ice cream for you tonight, babes. 

Figure yourself out as a scholar

I learned how and where I studied best. My two spots are in the library or at my desk in my room. I also seem to study best with someone else around me, like when my boyfriend is playing his video games - that is the perfect time for me to study. Do you study best with zero distractions, or do you like to work with some music on? Do you like background noise from the TV or completely silent? Are you a night owl or a morning bird? Figure out those things first. You can’t force yourself to study at a time when it doesn’t work for you. For example, I am a night owl so I know that evening - night is the best time for me to get to work. 

I learned what ritual worked best for me. Having a cup of coffee while I do my make up, and then ensuring that I was out at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus was scheduled to come, and making sure that I got on the bus that came no later than 30 minutes before my class. Know your routine. What routine works for you? 

The obvious

Go to class. Easiest one. Attendance policies can be brutal. Get to know yours. Sometimes professors also say things in class that gives those who attended the upper hand in some way. 

I started this studyblr! Knowing I wanted to create content here kept me driven to take notes when I didn’t always want to. 

I was honest with myself 

I was honest with myself for my short comings. AP classes in high school were beneficial in many ways, but they really taught me how to underachieve my way to success. I hardly ever studied for anything and bs’ed so many essays, but it worked and I got really good grades. That doesn’t really work in college. 

Non-curriculum based 

I learned to say no. 

I learned to cut people who did not fully support me out of my life. 

I cleaned my apartment and room every weekend. It’s much easier to study when everything is clean.

I made time to go to the grocery store every week. It’s much easier to learn and function when you are well fed. 

I did my best to get some sleep. Your brain needs rest to function its best.

I know it hurts, but check those grades frequently. It isn’t like a credit score, it won’t lower every time you check it

I checked all of my grades at least once a week. I know it can be anxiety-inducing, but you have to know where you are in your classes, especially when April rolls around and you might realize you need to put in a little more work.

I became a point whore

I became a point whore. I took advantage of every extra credit opportunity. Every single one. 

The golden rule

I made up a golden rule: Do not cram for any exam. To do this, I always started studying once my professor mentioned the test OUTSIDE of the syllabus. If you have dropped the ball and the test is a week out - create a study plan. 

Believe in yourself

Lastly, I believed in myself. You cannot do this if you do not believe that you can.

Remember that you can do anything you set your mind to. Start shouldering the burden now by forging good habits. Be honest with yourself. Lastly - dreams don’t work unless you do. I had a lot going on with my health that lead to my grades being terri - yeah they were terrible. But I still was honest about my shortcomings. 

Happy studying, realistic students!

Spring Cleaning

Since I was unable to go on a spring break trip with most of my closest friends, I have been spending my spring break doing a massive overhaul cleaning. Although this is personally tailored to me, I thought I’d share my schedule for the week and what I have been doing to clean everything.

Saturday/Sunday:

thoroughly clean my bathroom

Monday:

wash my undergarments and organize them within their drawer

wash half my clothes and sort them by color and style within my closet

wash my bedsheets

declutter my bedside table

put new photos on the walls and take down old ones

Tuesday:

wash the other half of my clothes and organize them in my closet

go through my clothes and donate the ones I do not want or need

declutter the rest of my closet

clean out my dresser and declutter it

reorganize and declutter my bookshelves

clean the baseboards, windows, bookshelves, and all over the surfaces

Wednesday: 

clean out my phone and tablet of old apps, old photos, etc.

clean out my computer

clean out and reorganize and declutter from under my bed

clean out the inside of the drawers and the cabinets in my bathroom

clean the baseboards and door of my bathroom

Thursday: 

place the decorations around my room (deskpads, artist figures, etc.)

decide on new systems of planning, organization, or storage

remove any old furniture or unwanted items

When any big project, I recommend you take it in steps. Start by making a list of areas, and then within those areas sets of items, and within that, what you want to change. Then find or make a playlist full of bops, and make sure to reward yourself after a long period of hard work. Having your living space neat and clean will be so worth it.

Previous #Wellness Wednesday post: 10 Things I Make Time For

Cleaning Routine

I’m a creature of schedule. If I don’t follow a schedule, I’m pretty aimless. It also forces me to be accountable and to have some standard of discipline, which, when it comes to cleaning, I really need haha. No one likes to scrub down their toilet. Here’s the schedule I’m trying to stick to!

Daily (a 10 minute clean):

make my bed: Make this part of your morning routine, as it honestly makes your bedroom look so much cleaner.

tidy up, put things away: Try to do this at night before you go to sleep, so that when you wake up in the morning, your room is already clean. It will motivate you just a little bit more to be productive.

fold any clothes and make sure they’re put away: My dudes, when I get ready each morning, I am a total hurricane.My closet gets the worst of it, but it’s super ugly to have clothes everywhere, so personally I really have to stay on top of this.

Weekly (an hour clean on Saturday):

clean my bathroom (Saturday): I always clean my bathroom on Saturday so Sunday (which is my rest day) can be free of clutter-induced stress. Because I clean it frequently, it’s a pretty quick clean.

wash my bath towels (or however frequently you need to wash them)

Bi-weekly:

wash my clothes: There’s nothing more annoying than not being able to wear your favorite Harry Potter shirt because it’s 

disinfect surfaces: Like your desk, your shelves, your windows, even your doors — these things build up dirt too!

Monthly

declutter: Every month I find I accumulate an awful lot of junk, and every month I try to pare down my possessions.

wash my bed sheets: Really important!

Previous #Wellness Wednesdays post: New Goals, New Semester, New You

DO: Plan thoroughly. Use a project planner such as this one to map out exactly what you need and your partners need to do in order to complete your project, who’s going to do each task and how much time it’s all going to take. Planning is essential in order to stay on track, as well as avoiding any confusions like someone not completing something because they thought some else was going to do it.

DON’T: Have a bad attitude. I know it’s frustrating when you’re paired up with lazy people or people you don’t like, but approaching the project with a bad attitude won’t help. So suck it up and be positive and nice with your fellow members. It’ll make working together so much easier.

DO: Divide work according to strengths. I’m sure most if not all of your partners will have a special skill set that will be a great contribution to your project. If someone has great writing skills, let them proofread everything before you send it in. If someone else is good at graphic design, make sure that they design your slides (if applicable). Whatever it might be, find out about everyone’s strengths and let them shine.

DON’T: Use your teacher’s due date. By this, I mean that you should plan to finish a couple of days before your project’s due. Why? Because life happens. Some people might be busy with other classes, have an emergency or just slack off. By aiming to finish a couple of days before the due date, you can ensure the completion and quality of your projects.

DO: Check in with your group mates often. Communication is key! Talk to ensure often to ensure that everyone is on track and know the status of the individual parts of the project. You’ll also figure out if anyone’s struggling and will then be able to help them. Also, a few compliments here and there like: “This paragraph is really well written” and “I love the fonts and colors you used. Nice eye” will make your partners happy and improve their confidence. You’ll work better with happy partners and good partnership will improve the quality of your project.

DON’T: Be afraid to disagree with others. You don’t want to be insulting or over dominate your group, but if you disagree with how something is being done or know a better way to do it, speak up. Your grade shouldn’t suffer because of a simple mistake.

DO: Use online collaborative tools. As much as I love Word and Powerpoint, Google Docs and Google Slides are some of the best tools for group work. You can all work on something at the same time as well as see who did what and at what time.

Life Tip for Cleaning with Depression

If you struggle with depression, you can probably relate with the struggle of not having the motivation to clean the space you’re living in, while at the same time the untidiness of that space continues to make you feel worse the more you live in it.

Here’s what you do before you decide to clean: 

Go to your comfy space, whether that be in bed or the couch, wherever, and get a pen and a piece of paper and literally write out, in to-do list form, very simple and specific tasks that need to be done to tidy up your space.

Ex:

- take all dishes out of bedroom and put in sink

- throw away empty water bottles

- organize bookshelf

- clear off tv stand

- declutter beside table

Be sure to mark off each task as you complete it. Even though it may seem like small tasks individually, this will give you a sense of accomplishment that will grow as you mark off more and more items from the list. Every little task you can will yourself to complete will make your space cleaner, and in my experience having a cleaner space tends to lessen symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Remember! No matter how little the task may seem to someone else, you have the right to feel accomplished! Depression can be extremely hard to deal with, and if anyone who is reading this is struggling with it, I want you to know that I’m here for you! <3

Please let me know if you try this, and if it helped you at all!