MY Health Tips!!

STUDY ESSENTIALS →

here's a list of a few things i need for my study sessions

~ textbooks

~ notes

~ any other study material

~ a cup of coffee

~ lip balm

~ headphones/Spotify

~ study lamp

~ a chocolate bar or some kinda snack

~ pencils / pens

~ highlighters

~ tissues (for the tears)

~ flashcards + Post It's

~ a heater / air conditioning

~ a comfortable chair

~ water (!!)

~ essential oils

~ study guides

~ YouTube + Khan Academy + TED

~ hair ties

~ clock

~ meds

~ motivation.

my masterpost | my studygram | ask me anything 

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[transcript under the cut]

Other advice posts that may be of interest:

All About Procrastination

How To Study When You Really Don’t Want To

Common Study Mistakes

7 Strategies to Improve Concentration

How to make your notes aesthetic

7 Ways to Power Up Your Notetaking 

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Read More, Read Better

Many of us are looking for more ways to enjoy our time at home in these stressful circumstances. Some of us have turned to books. But how can we make sure we get the most out of them?

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a uni survival guide: tips from a phd

if there's one thing i know about, it's college. i've done it, i've taught it, i've lived and breathed it. these tips are for first years in particular, but honestly for everybody. i think it's so important for people to have balanced lives in these years -- academics are not everything. you know what didn't help me in the real world when i was afraid i wouldn't live through it? my fancy college note-taking format. you know what did help me? the friends i made there who i knew would get on a plane and fly across the country in a matter of hours if i told them i needed them.

academic

- figure out where class is held ahead of time: don't be that kid who's late on day one, i beg of you

- use the writing center: especially for basic grammatical editing, which a lot of professors don't have time to mark on papers

- speak up in class: talking through ideas helps you work through them, and asking questions about something you don't understand can open up great lines of conversation

- find a regular schedule that works for you and stick to it: my college schedule was morning free time, class, lunch, class, practice, homework. that consistency was a life-saver

- keep a planner: it's so important to have a central place to track deadlines, assignments, and engagements

- annotate your reading: when you're stressing about a paper topic, being able to go back to what you've highlighted and written in the margins is a life-saver

- color-code your coursework: i use the same color highlighter, pen, and notebook for any given class. it's super helpful

- if you can't focus while studying with friends, don't: i reserved group studying for days when i didn't have important work because i can't be in a room with other people without talking to them. if your school has one, the quiet floor of the library is your best friend

- treat yourself to a "fun" class: art was always my place to just sit back and chill, a way to end the night all zen in the darkroom instead of conjugating russian verbs in a fluorescent-lit cinderblock prison. for you, it could be gym, it could be pottery, it could be some random course about, like, the history of cooking or something -- explore!

- profs are people too: don't be too nervous around them. also, know that if you're struggling -- even b/c of something in your personal life -- you can admit it, and they'll almost always understand why you missed a deadline or bombed a test

- go to office hours: it's the only way to get to know professors in big courses, and it's so helpful for both your grades and learning how to navigate relationships with authority figures

social

- don't let academia keep you from your friends: it's a case-by-case basis, but sometimes it's okay to let the reading slide and spend time with friends. i graduated seven years ago and my college group text still talks every day. that's so much more important to me than the fact that i never finished brideshead revisited

- joining a club is one of the best ways to make friends: i played ultimate frisbee through college and it was the source of so many lasting relationships, as well as the way i met all my local friends when i was abroad

- say yes to things you don't know if you'll like: you'll surprise yourself. me? turns out i love drinking games. and theme parties. and skinny dipping. and rock climbing

- don't be that person who looks down on their peers for partying: honestly? that person kind of sucks. you don't have to party if you don't want to, but actually, a lot of those people are super nice and also good at school -- don't just write them off!

- show up for your friends: go to their games, their concerts, their art shows, their standup nights. show them that what matters to them matters to you, too

- set aside a night to do a group activity with others: whether your vibe is wednesday night trivia, a weekly "terrible movie" showing, or a get-high-and-watch-nature-documentaries-type thing, these are great ways to liven up the week and de-stress

- this is a great time to figure out who from high school really matters to you: you don't have to force relationships that were built mostly on convenience if there are friends at uni with whom you click more. people you became friends with purely based on the coincidence of where your parents lived do not have to be your forever friends. they can be! but they don't have to be

personal

- don't expect too much of yourself: a 4.0 is not the end-all, be-all. if your family or somebody tells you it is, tell them to call me, and i will personally talk some sense into them

- take advantage of university support services: mental health counseling, free yoga classes, multi-cultural societies, etc

- drink water: please, please don't get kidney stones in the middle of the semester, says the girl who got kidney stones in the middle of the semester

- let yourself take breaks: if you need to lie to a professor and say you're sick when really you're just feeling down and you need to sit in bed and watch a movie, that's totally valid

- don't freak about individual assignments: my students come to me freaking over a B+ and i tell them, honey, no job interviewer is ever going to ask you about your second paper from communications 101. i wish i'd known that

- go see speakers if there's someone interesting coming to campus: these talks are always cooler than you expect. i'll never get over the fact that i didn't go see anita hill when she came to my undergrad

- do your laundry on the same night every week: i can't explain why this is so helpful but it really is

- keep up on the news and the memes: read the school paper, the school blog, the memes page -- college politics and inside jokes are fun and convoluted and fascinating

- set the groundwork for long-term self-care: all of the above is really just to say -- university isn't just for learning about the french revolution, it's also about learning how to balance, how to handle failure, how to ask for help, how to make a salad that doesn't totally suck, etc

Karwaan (2018) dir. Akarsh Khurana

Main akela hi chala tha janib-e-manzil magar Log saath aate gaye aur karwaan banta gaya.

I started all alone towards my destiny But people came along and it became a caravan. – Majhrooh Sultanpuri

میں اکیلا ہی چلا تھا جانبِ منزل مگر لوگ ساتھ آتے گئے اور کارواں بنتا گیا

studying and anxiety

a guide on how to study when the thought of it makes you even more stressed

(disclaimer: i’m not a professional therapist or doctor, simply a student who has been dealing with severe anxiety since i was eleven years old. that being said, i don’t have much anxiety around schoolwork or testing, so my advice may not be the most helpful- take what i say with a grain of salt.)

while it has been a long time since i’ve felt anxious about studying, and therefore can’t provide much help with that, i do regularly have to study in situations where i am already anxious or in the middle of anxiety attack. these are some of the things i do to help myself calm down and focus.

calm down. if i’m near panic or feel too restless to sit still, i need to let my body and mind chill before i can even think about schoolwork. if i’m feeling really jittery, a quick walk outside or dancing it out to some high-energy pop music helps me settle down a bit. then i like to meditate, in order to get my focus and thoughts under control.

next, make the space you’ll be studying in comfortable and safe. what this means will depend on what you need during an anxiety attack. some people are comforted by familiar items and coziness, such as blankets, candles, and stuffed animals. when i’m stressed, i usually need a more clean and organized space, with everything put away in its place (or just out of sight) and only the things i need with me. things like tea, fidget toys, and familiar smells can help to ground you as well. if you’re not at home, libraries tend to be a good option, since they are quiet, relaxing, and often familiar spaces. if you’re stuck in school and the library isn’t an option, try an empty classroom or stairwell.

break everything down. when i’m stressed, my executive functioning goes haywire. in order to get anything done, i have to plan out my moves in very explicit detail. this is easiest for me to do on a computer document. first, i write down all of the assignments that i have to get done. then, i break each of them down into smaller and smaller tasks, until they are simple enough that each takes less than a minute and could be easily explained to a child. 

get to work! i usually start with the easiest task, so that i don’t get overwhelmed or start to doubt my abilities, since that would make me more stressed. for me, this is usually math, since puzzles with definite rules tend to calm me down when i’m anxious, and i’m more likely to get stuck on less structured work like english readings or art projects.

don’t forget to take breaks. especially if your brain is dealing with an excess of nerves, and stress, you will need to let it rest and recharge frequently. i like to set a timer where i work for twelve minutes, take a three minute break, and then repeat. if this feels too long or too short for you, feel free to adjust it to fit your needs.

most importantly, go to sleep. i know it’s tempting to stay up late studying or doing homework, especially if you haven’t finished all of your assignments yet, but there is nothing that will make your anxiety worse than sleep deprivation. take care of your body, first and foremost. it’s the only one you’re ever going to have.

one important thing that Must be understood about interpersonal relationships is that you have to stop interacting with people who love you like they’re one slip-up away from leaving you. you have to trust that the ppl you love mean what they say. you have to believe that when they say “this hurt my feelings,” that they’re also saying, “can you please love me this other way next time?” and you have to wrap your head around the fact that even if you don’t understand Why someone loves you, you can accept that that they do. true, honest, & open love does not function like hp in a video game !!!!!!

i am manifesting an extraordinary reality and deserve the abundance that is coming my way. i am divine. i exude confidence. i am aligned with my highest self. any opposing energy, i quickly release. i move from a place of love and gratitude and the universe is conspiring in my favor.

random life tips

hello everyone!! since I’m not a pro at studying (I just do my best) I thought I would share with you some of my go-to tips to have a better day/week/month/life 😊

wake up early!! this may seem typical but I used to sleep in a lot and when I started waking up earlier I noticed a big change.

clean your face daily! every morning and night clean your face and moisturize. just create a skincare routine and stick to it! also, use a day per week when you have time to relax and put some masks and exfoliate your face and body.

this may seem stupid but dress clothes you like and put on some makeup! but most important when you feel like this is not your day. when we’re feeling bad or a little sad we usually throw on some sweatpants & a sweatshirt and don’t use make up and even though it may seem stupid, if you push yourself to wear your favorite outfit or put a little bit of makeup you will see yourself looking better and this will make you feel better during the day (I promise)!!!

eat breakfast! brain food guys!!! this is the most important meal of the day. as a Spanish phrase used A LOT by my mom says “eat breakfast like a king, have lunch like a prince and have dinner like a poor man” (desayuna como un rey, come como un príncipe y cena como un mendigo).

make to-do lists: yeah, make to-do list for everything you need them! this will help you to do everything you must do without leaving any task (which would happen to me when I didn’t write out what I needed to do)

shower every night! okay if you prefer taking a shower in the morning is up to you but showering at night relaxes you and helps you sleep better

talk to people everyday (even if it’s your parents) you need to talk guys and tell someone how you feel and what happened during the day (those days I don’t talk to my friends/family I feel super sad and I don’t know why?)

listen to music that makes you feel alive!! I have this playlist where I put every song that makes me feel something. I think music is so powerful and can help you change your mood in a few secs

go out to nature! since I live in a city it feels super great when I get to spend some time out in the woods or the beach – go running, swim, take a walk or just sit, breath fresh air and enjoy!

dance, dance, danceeeeeee!!! hahah it doesn’t matter if your dance moves are worse than a potato but dance, jump and let go!

treat yourself with your favorite meal every now and then. I love eating so whenever I get to eat my favorite food it’s a happy day for me hahah :’-)

talk to your reflection in the mirror. tell yourself how great is your hair today, how glowy is your skin and how beautiful are you! do it every day, it’ll help 😊

sleep enough hours! when I don’t sleep a healthy amount of hours I feel super tired and I get angry super easily, so sleep well and wake up to a beautiful day!

journal and write daily or when you feel like you need to! write what you feel, what happened in that day, write your goals, quotes to summarize the day, the dreams you had last night… I don’t know! just let your mind go and write and/or doodle I promise this helps :-) 

well I hope this helped at least some of you!! thank you if you’ve read this!! xx