moonstarstudies

[moonstarstudies]

Just a random reminder, if the idea came to your mind, then you are definitely capable of accomplishing it. Might seem a bit difficult to you but there’s always a way around it. Stop denying yourself exploration because of the outcome. The actual image won’t always be the best but in time you’ll get good at that new hobby, profession, skill. And you can add that to your growth. If there’s one thing I learned from art class is that letting people see your process/progress is worth more then just showing the class your polished finished product. I keep hearing people telling themselves they can’t do something without giving it a real try. So here’s my random reminder that you’re amazing and capable of so much

[moonstarstudies]

[moonstarstudies]

how to study with a mental illness!!!! aka a guide to simultaneously caring for yourself and your academics

(disclaimer: this is from purely personal experience and is not a substitute for seeking professional help. these are just personal tips as i was formally diagnosed with depression and anxiety in the third year of college, but had been showing symptoms even in high school. different methods help for different people, but i really hope some of these things can help a struggling student out, because one of the reasons i went on studyblr in the first place was that i felt really lost and anxious.)

1. done is better than none. sometimes an assignment you have to turn in would be objectively easy to complete, but it takes longer to do so because you’re afraid that the final product won’t be as good as you want it to be, or as good as a professor expects it to be. it’s hard to remove those expectations, but it is a little easier when you remember that getting some points (no matter how many they are) are better than getting a deduction for late submissions or not turning in the project at all. many people – including myself – suffer from perfectionism in university, but it is overall more important to complete something to the best of your own ability, and learn from the feedback on the project later on. more importantly, often, you’re doing better than you think you’re doing, so surprise yourself. you can do it. just start.  2.  keep careful track of your deadlines.  much of my undergrad anxiety came from the fact that i knew something was due, but couldn’t keep track of it, or didn’t want to confront it. it’s better to confront it because you have more time to do it slowly and thoroughly. as soon as you hear about an impending exam or paper deadline, keep track of it. personally, i use google calendar. from there, you can make smaller plans and break down your goals to make it more doable! 3. don’t be afraid to ask for help.  there used to be a huge stigma against mental illness, but thankfully, many educational institutions are much kinder and more considerate about it. if you really can’t meet a deadline or come to class, let your professor know. most professors are kind, reasonable people who genuinely care about you and your well-being. even one of my scariest professors granted extensions to a girl who was genuinely struggling with serious depression, and the college of law i’m in takes mental health very seriously to the point that they instruct faculty how to deal with such cases.  if you’re not able to talk to a professor, try to ask help from a classmate or a friend who can share notes or fill you in on how they accomplished a certain assignment. many people will be happy to help. you are not a burden, love. 4. be kinder to yourself.  mental illness is like any illness. it often keeps us from doing as well as we’d like to be because it’s a genuine and serious health problem. sometimes it helps to keep this in mind when we flub a report in class (as i did several tens of times in undergrad), get a bad score, say something ridiculous during recitation, or mess up a paper. it’s okay to do your best while you heal. you know you’re trying your best, and slow growth is still growth. 5. on that note, care for your other needs.  one of my happiest and most fulfilled semesters (even though it was my busiest) was when i had time to see a psychiatrist, run, pack lunches and fruit to school to eat healthy, and have a reasonable-ish sleep schedule. this was during my thesis semester. while i had to take an incomplete, and finish my thesis the next sem, because i was attending to my own needs, i felt like a living, breathing, learning, happy person. and i finished my thesis the next semester. it’s better to look after your own physical health and needs before your academics. 6. sometimes, it’s better to do nothing and rest. you deserve it.  part of the reason i’d been doing horribly in law school was that i didn’t sleep and it was making me mildly unbalanced and incredibly suicidal; not to mention the fact that i wasn’t really retaining any information or performing well. rest days are just as important as days when you study because rest IS productivity.  7. take your meds. see your psych or therapist if you have one. avail yourself of mental health services on campus if there are any. these genuinely saved my life at a time that i thought i was beyond saving. please go seek help if you can.  BONUS: MY STUDY SETUP ON A TERRIBLE MENTAL HEALTH DAY (like today) - i try to clear the space and clean up as much as possible. it makes me feel like i have things under control, and have my work things where i can see them. - i eat something healthy, like fruit, and get a lot of water. i keep a water jug on my desk because it clears my thoughts and helps me replenish the fluids lost from crying (1/2jk). it also really keeps up my strength for the study process. - i turn on a calming playlist, like a jazz or lofi or ghibli playlist. in another window, i turn on a rain sound video on a softer volume, and it helps center me. - it helps when you have a soft or calming scent to calm you down. i use a lavender room spray, and it makes me feel cozy and productive, but in undergrad, i used this tea-tree lavender mix and it smelled like sunny afternoons and guitar coffeshop playlists. it really is nice. - there are breathing exercises and gifs all over the internet. they help calm you down when things seem Too Much.  i really hope this helps, guys. don’t hesitate to message me if you’ve been having a hard time with school or life or anything. please, please care for yourselves. you can do it.  – sam

[moonstarstudies]

28.11.20 / i got the brontë sisters set not too long ago and i swear it brightens my day every time i see it on my shelf. i hope you’re all having a great weekend ♡

[moonstarstudies]

I have been staying in quarantine for three months and I’m getting back to the habit of procrastinating. Now I’m coming back to school and it’s hard to concentrate so above are my tips to get out of procrastination!

[moonstarstudies]

04.05.2020

a sunny morning: studying chinese history and thinking about the future, travel plans, potentially moving to a new city (will depend on my exams results which i will only get in august. everything is postponed and i feel like everything will have to be rushed…)

instagram: chrys.al.is

[moonstarstudies]

1 may 2020 || I conquered quantum physics with my dalgona coffee today. It was so strong, wow. Been also keeping my bujo on track and enjoying my new workspace and this adorable glass mug I got the other day!

[moonstarstudies]

i can’t even call this a ‘’romantic morning’’ after reading this article by A. O. Lovejoy

[moonstarstudies]

university is ALSO just *goes to bathroom* *stress cleans to avoid homework* *buys on sale bread* *peace sign in mirror while bawling your eyes out at 3am* *always has a cold* *glasses r fogged up* *granola bars* *falls asleep in class* *does laundry* *staples something* *takes an ibuprofen* *listens to the same song for 3 days straight* *no free seats at the library*  *checks phone to see how long until class ends but forgets to actually look at the time* *naps* *regrets nap* *microwaves something* *has crisis about major* *contemplates dropping out every other week* *buys toilet paper*

[moonstarstudies]

tips for when you are in a period of high stress

set priorities and reduce your overall activity

Whenever you’re facing more stress than usual, try to reduce your activities, set priorities, and focus on short-term goals. However, try to not avoid activity all together. This is difficult, because the way you think about tasks changes dramatically when you are stressed. Try your best to stop during times of high stress and ask yourself “What really needs to be done now? What can I let go until some other time?” 

Also, try to recognise that you only have a limited amount of energy - you can’t push yourself too hard - and remember to take time to rest and take care. Stress drains your energy more, so try to be mindful of that. 

spend extra time with decisions

Stress interferes with your ability to think. The greater the stress, the more likely it is that you will make poor decisions. Wherever possible, avoid making major decisions during times of stress. But, when a decision does have to be made, try to take more time with it, and talk to people about it who are objective - they may see problems or options you didn’t think off because of your reduced ability to do so while being stressed. 

plan ahead and take actions during times when stress is low

A lot of the time, you know when a period of stress is coming. When that is the case, try to take some time to plan ahead, make decisions, and take action in advance while you’re feeling better - this reduces the amount of thinking you’ll need to worry about during a period of high stress. Having a plan helps you to focus and prioritise tasks. 

For those times when a period of high stress may come suddenly, try to take some time out to relax and collect yourself, so you’re able to plan ahead and prioritise. This can be difficult, so it’s okay if you can’t. Just being mindful of how your body and mind can be affected by stress can help you through. 

some gentle reminders for if you are stressed

take a moment to breathe; close your eyes, put whatever you are doing down, and count slowly to ten

take a break if you’ve been working for a long time on something

write a list of what you need to do, and then slowly put the tasks into order of priority

take some time out of your day to relax and unwind to the best of your ability

try your best to not push yourself past your limits

reach out for help if you need to

you can do this

i believe in you

it’ll be okay

[moonstarstudies]

I love studying Japanese because my textbook is so cute (๑>◡<๑) + an old journal spread that matches 💘

[moonstarstudies]

push yourself to get up before the rest of the world - start with 7am, then 6am, then 5:30am. go to the nearest hill with a big coat and a scarf and watch the sun rise.

push yourself to fall asleep earlier - start with 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm. wake up in the morning feeling re-energized and comfortable.

get into the habit of cooking yourself a beautiful breakfast. fry tomatoes and mushrooms in real butter and garlic, fry an egg, slice up a fresh avocado and squirt way too much lemon on it. sit and eat it and do nothing else.

stretch. start by reaching for the sky as hard as you can, then trying to touch your toes. roll your head. stretch your fingers. stretch everything.

buy a 1L water bottle. start with pushing yourself to drink the whole thing in a day, then try drinking it twice.

buy a beautiful diary and a beautiful black pen. write down everything you do, including dinner dates, appointments, assignments, coffees, what you need to do that day. no detail is too small.

strip your bed of your sheets and empty your underwear draw into the washing machine. put a massive scoop of scented fabric softener in there and wash. make your bed in full.

organise your room. fold all your clothes (and bag what you don’t want), clean your mirror, your laptop, vacuum the floor. light a beautiful candle.

have a luxurious shower with your favourite music playing. wash your hair, scrub your body, brush your teeth. lather your whole body in moisturiser, get familiar with the part between your toes, your inner thighs, the back of your neck.

push yourself to go for a walk. take your headphones, go to the beach and walk. smile at strangers walking the other way and be surprised how many smile back. bring your dog and observe the dog’s behaviour. realise you can learn from your dog.

message old friends with personal jokes. reminisce. suggest a catch up soon, even if you don’t follow through. push yourself to follow through.

think long and hard about what interests you. crime? sex? boarding school? long-forgotten romance etiquette? find a book about it and read it. there is a book about literally everything.

become the person you would ideally fall in love with. let cars merge into your lane when driving. pay double for parking tickets and leave a second one in the machine. stick your tongue out at babies. compliment people on their cute clothes. challenge yourself to not ridicule anyone for a whole day. then two. then a week. walk with a straight posture. look people in the eye. ask people about their story. talk to acquaintances so they become friends.

lie in the sunshine. daydream about the life you would lead if failure wasn’t a thing. open your eyes. take small steps to make it happen for you.

[moonstarstudies]

Doodles in lab manuals

[moonstarstudies]

Just working on some writing a little bit aimlessly, thinking a lot about time, about edges, about art and form. Do you ever feel like a few things on your mind might be connected but can’t yet see how?

[moonstarstudies]

Summer classes are dope cause there are always prime window seats ⚡️

[moonstarstudies]

25.03.18

Another messy desk photo set. My wall mind maps are taking over my entire room now 😅

[moonstarstudies]