hiraethglow

[hiraethglow]

05.05.2025

I’m studying with my friends in the library today which is making me more productive. Today I’m focusing on Developmental biology.

To do:

Go through half of the development lectures

Make mind maps

Select modules for next year

Tidy everything

Reply to everyone oops

[hiraethglow]

02.05.2025

I had my mandarin speaking exam today. It didn't go great but I don't know if it was ok or not. I'm relieved it's over though. Tomorrow I will study cell signalling and cell structure. I need to print out past papers and make a plan on how many lectures to go through each day.

[hiraethglow]

01.05.2025

I have done one exam now - molecular biology. It didn't go very well but we shall see when the results come out. Tomorrow I have my mandarin speaking exam which I do not feel confident about. The plan is to spend all day practicing different scenarios in mandarin, memorising phrases to use and planning how to present my project.

to do:

revise all vocab

revise last 4 units

do speaking exam questions

memorise presenting project and memorise vocabulary from project

listen to example speaking exams

[hiraethglow]

50 posts!

[hiraethglow]

27.04.2025

it's 06:40 and I'm up already to study for my exam tomorrow. I've still got loads of content to cover and then I will attempt some exam questions and do some further reading.

[hiraethglow]

26.04.2025

good morning! today is the ultimate cramming day. I am fuelled by coffee and a burning academic drive that only appears 2 days before an exam.

to do:

finish learning molecular biology content

make mindmaps for as many questions as possible

12:03 - I've done 2 hours so far. I need to get through the content faster

20:37 - I've done 5.5 hours of studying. I had a 3 hour nap so I've got to make up for that

[hiraethglow]

12 Life Principles + 1 Bonus Reminder

Bonus: Be careful who you listen to.

Phone Discipline Only pick up your phone with a specific purpose — not just to scroll.

Conscious Spending Don’t buy anything you don’t truly need.

Caffeine Rule Limit yourself to one caffeinated drink per day, and have it within four hours of waking up.

Meal Routine Eat three proper meals each day.

Alcohol Boundaries One alcoholic drink per week — maximum.

Daily Mobility Do 5–10 minutes of stretching or mobility exercises every day.

Regular Exercise Move your body 3–5 times per week, 20–30 minutes per session.

Weekly Date Go on a meaningful ‘date’ once a week — solo, with a partner, or with loved ones.

Nonfiction Knowledge Read one nonfiction book every month.

Victory Journal End your day by writing down your wins — no matter how small.

Scheduled Self-Care Add important self-care into your phone calendar. Don’t leave it to chance.

Daily Reminder Check Look at your personal list of core reminders first thing every morning.

[hiraethglow]

24.04.2025

I didn't record my study time yesterday but I did some mandarin oral practice. definitely should have done molecular biology but it is what is so that's what I'm going to be doing all day today. I will only let myself sleep once I have achieved my study goals for today!

today:

finish molecular biology basics

make 5 molecular biology mindmaps

plan for tomorrow's mock oral exam

buy food

laundry

at least 8 hours of studying

screent time <1 hour

[hiraethglow]

22.04.2025

yesterday I didn't study nearly enough. partly because I went to bed early and watched too many videos, and also I spent too much time getting ready to go running. I think I'm using running as an escape and literally running away from my problems lol. well my ankle feels funny now so I guess the universe is telling me to stop running so often.

so today my focuses are:

screen time less than 2 hours ❌ - just over 2 hours

at least 5 hours of studying ❌

finish basic preparation for the mandarin oral exam

finish the basics of molecular biology ❌

plan tomorrow ID card collection

no running but maybe a walk or a light evening gym session

18:40 - had a way too long break after my mandarin lesson. didn't manage to cover every topic for my oral exam so I'll continue on Thursday. now onto molecular biology!

screen time - 2h 6m

study time - 4h 40m

[hiraethglow]

21.04.2025

11:30 - I did some food shopping this morning and now I'm ready to start studying. Yesterday I said that I was going to do more molecular biology but I have a mock mandarin oral exam soon so I will focus on that. I will report my study time and screen time at the end of the day!

screen time: 2h 38m

study time: 3h

[hiraethglow]

STUDY SYSTEM : DAILY STUDY ROUTINE ( EXAM EDITION)

hii looves so this blog is all abt how to optimizing your day for peak academic performance. This four-part daily system is the exact routine used during exam season especially finals to consistently achieve top grades with minimal stress. While the routine may appear complex at first glance it is built upon simple, intuitive principles rooted in human biology and psychology. It is not only practical but highly effective when followed consistently. You’ll learn to structure your day around ur natural energy cycles, use tools to boost focus, and incorporate essential periods of rest and release to maintain motivation and productivity.

SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING UR ENERGY RHYTHM

The routine is built around the concept of the circadian rhythm, your body’s natural energy cycle throughout the day. On a standard day for example :

Energy peaks shortly after waking typically around 6:00 AM.

Energy dips mid-afternoon often around 2:30 or 3:00 PM.

A secondary energy peak occurs in the evening approximately around 7:00 PM.

Energy tapers off as bedtime approaches.

This predictable fluctuation is key to optimizing your study schedule. The two energy peaks will be your core study sessions, while the dip will be used as a rest period, and the late-night wind-down becomes your release period or bedtime .

SECTION 2: THE MORNING STUDY SESSION (STUDY SESSION #1)

◜⁠✧ Start Within One Hour of Waking Up

Your goal is to begin studying as soon as possible after waking, ideally within the first hour. Use the high energy of the morning to tackle your most challenging subjects.do ur morning routine quick as possible don't do intense workout or stuff like this cuz u will waste ur energy so always have a specific morning routine for days like these ! And u can workout go to the gym or whatever at the rest period !

Pre-Study Essentials:

1. Set Your Daily Goals (5 minutes)

Before starting, sit with a notebook or your computer and write down what you intend to accomplish. Be specific. Define exact tasks e.g. which past papers you’ll solve, which topics to review so u will be more organized during the day

2. Activate Focus with Three Optional Tools:

Caffeine — coffee, yerba mate, or tea to boost dopamine and adrenaline.

Cold Showers — a physiological wake-up that increases alertness (personally I don't do that lmao but if u can that's good !)

Focus Warm-up (1–2 minutes) — pick a point in your environment and concentrate on it intensely. This warms up your cognitive focus system before you start.

◜⁠✧Deep Work Sprint Format

Commit to a 2–4 hour study block.

Use timed work intervals: e.g., 25–30 minutes of focused work followed by 5-minute breaks.

Use a visual timer to create urgency and focus. This serves as a “deadline generator,” helping you push harder and maintain hope by offering visible progress.

─ ⊹key principle: work Like a warrior

Study in focused sprints. The more intense your focus, the less time you’ll need to study. The idea is depth over duration not 12 hours of mediocre attention, but 2–4 hours of deep concentration.

SECTION 3: MIDDAY REST PERIOD

Timing: After First Study Block Ends (~Early Afternoon)

At this point in the day, your energy naturally dips. It’s essential to give yourself permission to rest. This period is not for distractions like Netflix, YouTube, or social media.

◜⁠✧ Approved Activities:

Exercise or light sports

Socializing with friends/family

Taking a walk, especially outdoors

Napping (ideal: 20 minutes)

The goal here is active recovery choose activities that contrast focused work. Avoid anything with dopamine stimulation that mimics your “vices” or release behaviors.so this break allows your mind to reset, preventing burnout and increasing productivity in the next session.

SECTION 4: EVENING STUDY SESSION (STUDY SESSION #2)

Timing: During the Second Energy Peak (~6:00–8:00 PM)

Return for your second battle. This session is similar in structure to the morning study session, but with a few differences:

◜⁠✧ Change Your Environment:

Consider studying in a different location e.g., library, a new room, or another productive setting. (Personally I move from my desk to the guest room cuz it's far from family chaotic activities ifykyk )

This provides novelty and reduces boredom, which helps counteract distractions that are more likely to arise in the evening.

◜⁠✧ Eliminate Distractions:

If possible, leave your phone behind take that shit in another room

Create a space where your brain associates the environment with productivity.

◜⁠✧ Study Format:

Continue using timed sprints.

Session length: 2 to 3 hours, depending on your focus reserves.

The goal is to extract one final productive effort from your remaining focus reserves for the day.

SECTION 5: NIGHTLY RELEASE PERIOD

Timing: 1–2 Hours Before Bed

This period is crucial and often overlooked. It functions as your psychological release valve a scheduled time for indulging in your “vices” or desires.

◜⁠✧ why it matter

Without a controlled release period, distractions tend to creep in throughout the day. When you tell yourself you’ll “resist” TikTok or YouTube for three straight weeks during exams, it almost always backfires. You end up scattering distractions across the day, killing momentum and u will feel like shit

◜⁠✧ so solution:

Contain those activities to this specific window. Give yourself full permission to indulge whether it's gaming, scrolling, or Netflix. The only rule: Only do it at night.

◜⁠✧ psychological benefit:

You’ll find it easier to say “no” to distractions earlier in the day when you know you can give in later. It reduces the mental burden of constant suppression.

Caution:

This is not a prescription to develop new addictions or deepen existing ones. If you don’t feel the need for this release, skip it . But if you’re honest with yourself about your impulses, this structure helps you keep them in check.

◜⁠✧ ADAPTATION AND FLEXIBILITY

✧ Everyone has a unique biology. Some wake up at 5:00 AM, others at noon.

✧ Adjust the energy curve and study blocks to match your personal circadian rhythm.

✧ This is a template, not a strict prescription. Principles stay constant, execution varies.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🗝️ Two deep-focus sessions aligned with your body’s energy peaks yield greater results than dragging your mind across a 12-hour marathon.

🗝️ Midday rest and nightly release are components of a sustainable routine.

🗝️ Use tools like caffeine, timers, environment changes, and goal setting to maintain momentum and focus.

🗝️ Structure breeds freedom. When your day is mapped with intention, your brain is free to focus trust me with this one

✧ This daily routine is not about rigid hours or perfection. It’s about aligning your habits with your biology and respecting your mental bandwidth. When implemented consistently, this system transforms exam season from a stressful grind into an enjoyable and productive challenge.Now take what you've learned and design your daily routine with intention ✧

@bloomzone

[hiraethglow]

im back

this is so embarrassing... I forgot about this account and frankly I don't know how I've procrastinated so much.

I will document how I will receive a miracle and pass these exams. my first exam is next Monday. my last exam is on the 28th of May. so this next month will feel like pure pain but I have faith that I can do this somehow.

Come with me to watch a study miracle unfold!!!

I vow to keep my phone screen time to under 1 hour a day. this means that if I'm not sleeping, eating, doing chores or excercising, I have to study. My phone will only be used for communitcation

14:43 - I've been using chatgpt 😬 to go over concepts for my molecular biology module. Today I aim to go over the basics of every topic so tomorrow I can learn the details for as many topics as I can.

22:38 - I went on a 5k run which I've been doing most days. They are so good for mental health and I like seeing my improvement. I procrastinated this afternoon so I'm going to study more and then make my plan for tomorrow.

[hiraethglow]

what apps are the best for recording study time? I currently use Flora but it's quite buggy.

[hiraethglow]

I’ve been slacking off and my exams are so soon!!!!! So now I’m going to post every day to keep myself accountable, including what I studied and how long.

Today

Return parcel

Apply for trips

Study pharmacology

Send mandarin homework

2 hours mandarin speaking and listening practice

Plan tomorrow

Laundry

[hiraethglow]

today

finish cell project writeup

finish data analysis

make powerpoint

start mandarin final project

i'm going running today to keep me sane and also i've become a bit competitive by following people on Strava

also i got elected to be next year's social media manager for my uni's life sciences magazine! it will be my first time in a committee role

[hiraethglow]

today

finish data analysis

get to 1000 words of lab report

do mandarin homework

sort out student elections

[hiraethglow]

it’s sunny today! i want to get into reading so i read The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath on the train.

today

finish podcast research

sort out calendar and deadlines

do data analysis on R

plan tomorrow