poeticpomegranate

[poeticpomegranate]

𝔥𝔦𝔡𝔡𝔢𝔫 𝔠𝔦𝔱𝔶 𝔟𝔬𝔬𝔨𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔯𝔢𝔰

[poeticpomegranate]

Balancing academia and personal life ⪩⪨

This month has been one of burnout,- and after resting through classes and limiting my workload, I feel much better now,- almost like myself again. I have planned every day of my winter break, and my goal is to complete a large amount of school work so I can be ahead of pace, while also finding time for myself, family, and friends. I encourage you all to take this break, and USE IT as a break! But for those of us who put a lot of things off and finally have a moment to do so, be productive, but remember to rest!

Happy holidays, and have a restful and fruitful break <3

My Winter break plan:

Days of winter break:

December:

20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31

January:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Total rest days: 9

Total work days: 9

Completed days/tasks: ✓

December Agenda:

20 - Rest day, housework ✓

21 - Internship, housework, gift shopping ✓

22 - Gift wrapping, python unit 1 review, python unit 2

23 - Python unit 2, Python unit 3, Go to the bank

24 - Rest day, Christmas eve party 1 (5-9) Christmas eve party 2 (9-12)

25 - Rest day, Christmas celebration

26 - Biology unit 5

27 - Biology unit 5

28 - Rest day, partner quality time

29 - Rest day, partners birthday celebration

30 - English unit 6, English unit 7

English unit 8, Spanish I unit 3 post test, Spanish I unit 6, Spanish I unit 7, Spanish I unit 8

31 - Rest day, New years eve party (8-12)

January Agenda:

1 - Rest day, Housework, quick Biology and English review

2 - English unit 7, English unit 8

3 - Spanish I unit 8, Spanish I unit 9, Spanish I unit 10, Spanish I final exam

4 - Rest day, Grandmas birthday party

5 - World Geography unit 6, World Geography unit 7

Python unit 3

6 - Python unit 3

7 - Biology, English, World Geography, and Python review

[poeticpomegranate]

𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔣𝔦𝔫𝔞𝔩 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔢𝔱𝔠𝔥

[poeticpomegranate]

Sorry I've been away for a little while; I seem to have burnt myself out with restless nights, espresso days, and studying for so long I forget to eat. But winter break is here, and we are so back to posting consistently and being healthy !!

Stay tuned for planning and self care content (⁠~⁠￣⁠³⁠￣⁠)⁠~

[poeticpomegranate]

academic success.

[poeticpomegranate]

@lovesdaya

[poeticpomegranate]

Fyodor Dostoevsky, from a letter featured in "Letters of Fyodor Michailovitch Dostoevsky to his Family & Friends,"

[poeticpomegranate]

— Traci Brimhall, Dear Eros

[poeticpomegranate]

“you cannot find peace by avoiding life” - Virginia Woolf

[poeticpomegranate]

Sappho, trans Willis Barnhart

[poeticpomegranate]

[poeticpomegranate]

Thank you for the follow! Love ur blog

Ofc, and I love yours too !!

[poeticpomegranate]

improving your memory

having a good memory is like having a personal archive of valuable information at your fingertips. it enhances efficiency by allowing you to recall facts, dates, and tasks quickly, making daily life and work more productive.

good memory also aids in learning, helping you retain knowledge and skills, which makes acquiring new information easier. it plays a crucial role in problem-solving by enabling you to draw from past experiences to tackle current issues.

additionally, remembering details about people—such as their names, interests, and past conversations—helps build and maintain strong relationships. keeping your memory sharp also has health benefits, as studies have shown it can delay cognitive decline and reduce the risk of conditions like dementia.

essentially, a good memory is a mental toolbox that equips you to handle life's challenges more effectively and can even help you stay organized and on top of things. improving your memory can be achieved through a combination of lifestyle changes and mental exercises.

below are some strategies:

stay mentally active: keeping your brain engaged is crucial for maintaining cognitive function. activities like solving puzzles, reading books, playing chess, or even learning a new language or musical instrument can create new neural pathways and enhance mental agility. continuous learning and challenging your mind can prevent cognitive decline and improve overall brain function.

get enough sleep: during sleep, your brain processes and consolidates information from the day. deep sleep stages, particularly REM sleep, are essential for memory consolidation. aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to ensure your brain gets the rest it needs to function optimally. establishing a regular sleep routine and creating a restful sleep environment can also improve sleep quality.

eat a balanced diet: nutrition plays a significant role in brain health. foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, and those high in healthy fats, like nuts and avocados, can protect the brain from oxidative stress. omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are particularly beneficial for brain function. vitamins, especially vitamin E and B vitamins, are essential for maintaining cognitive health. staying hydrated is also important, as dehydration can affect cognitive abilities.

exercise regularly: physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, which can enhance memory and cognitive function. regular exercise promotes the growth of new brain cells and improves the connections between them. activities such as aerobic exercises, strength training, and even yoga can be beneficial. aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week to keep your brain healthy.

practice mindfulness and meditation: these techniques can help reduce stress, which is known to negatively impact memory. mindfulness and meditation encourage relaxation and focus, allowing your brain to function more efficiently. regular practice can increase grey matter in the brain, which is associated with improved memory and learning. incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine can help you stay present and retain information better.

stay organized: keeping your environment and tasks organized can significantly improve your ability to remember things. using tools like calendars, to-do lists, and notes can help you manage your time and responsibilities more effectively. breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps and setting reminders for important deadlines can also enhance your ability to remember and complete tasks.

limit sugar intake: high sugar consumption has been linked to cognitive decline and impaired memory function. excessive sugar intake can lead to inflammation and oxidative stress, which can damage brain cells. reducing your sugar intake and opting for healthier alternatives can help protect your brain and improve cognitive function over time.

stay socially active: engaging in social activities and maintaining relationships can stimulate your brain and keep it sharp. social interactions can provide mental stimulation and emotional support, both of which are important for brain health. joining clubs, volunteering, or simply spending time with friends and family can help improve your memory and overall cognitive function.

incorporating these strategies into your daily routine can help keep your brain healthy and improve your memory. consistency is key, so try to make these practices a regular part of your life.

i hope this post was helpful! 🫶nene

[poeticpomegranate]

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ How to study: A note-taking and analytical reading guide ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅

To preface,

One of the most important things to understand when it comes to learning, is the two styles of memory rehearsal.

Style 1: Elaborative Rehearsal

The act of understanding a concept so deeply it connects to your worldview, past experiences, and this piece of knowledge becomes yours.

Style 2: Maintained Rehearsal

Reviewing a piece of information to memorize a fact, but not the concept and the roots of the context.

+ It is important to think for yourself; form your own connections and learn because you want to learn, not just in hopes of getting good marks. Knowledge is beautiful and powerful, and should be utilized in the appropriate way.

Part 1: Reading non-fiction/informative based texts

Technique 1: "The Walden Method"

Step 1: Inspectional reading

Quickly (!!) read the entire chapter

Know exactly what happened

Know exactly what stood out to you

Know what to look for

+ Highlight things that stand out to you (in any way) and/or take small notes in the margins ("interesting!" "what" "love!")

(This forms the backbone of your understanding for this topic)

Step 2: Analytical reading

Gather a general understanding of the material

Create a concise map of your thoughts, and small details of the text

+ Intricate connections begin to take place because pieces of information now make sense with the general backbone you formed in the inspectional reading.

Step 3: Take notes in a flow-like fashion

Write down the backbone ideas/concepts

(What year did the French Revolution take place? What were its important influences? Who were important figures during this time?)

Elaborate on these backbone ideas/concepts to give you a visual representation of the connections you made with your backbone, and to see what still needs to be understood.

Part 2: Taking notes of non-fiction/informative based texts

Technique 2: "The Cal Newport Method" - (for non-technical subjects)

Base your notes around these three points in this order to make your notes as clear and concise as possible:

Q-question

E-evidence

A-answer

+ When/if you are in a lecture, scribble down everything your instructor says of importance, and then revise your notes immediately after.

+ You must group your evidence and conclusion pieces carefully, being sure to link the proper piece of evidence to the correct conclusion.

(EX:

Question: What are Emily's favorite colors?

Evidence #1: Her mother says she likes pink.

Evidence #2: Her father says she likes pink, and yellow.

Evidence #3: Her brother says she likes blue, but only when its December.

Conclusion: Emily's general favorite colors are pink and yellow, as well as blue only when it is December.

^^ It is important to include the bit about it being her favorite color only in December because it would be incorrect to say it is one of her general favorite colors.)

Technique 3: "The Cal Newport Method" - (for technical subjects)

Base your notes around these three points in this order to make your notes as clear and concise as possible:

P-problem

Q-question

A-answer

Step 1: Understand the large, basic concepts first

+ Do not drive head first into math problems or questions concerning the nervous system if you do not understand the large, basic concepts first.

Step 2: Note-taking

Write down practice problems/diagrams/equations, etc.

Write each step to solving/understanding this problem/diagram/equation, etc.

Annotate each step, explaining why this is so

For equations, write down a practice problem for each possible alternative outcome that can happen

(EX:

1. How to solve an algebraic equation.

2. How to solve an algebraic equation with a square root.

3. How to solve an algebraic equation with square roots, etc.

Technique 4: The Feynman Method

You do not fully understand a subject until you can explain it to a child, and reword it yourself without notes

Part 3: Studying non-fiction/informative based texts

Testing yourself with flashcards and quizzes

Forces you to actively retrieve knowledge, which updates, and reinforces memory

Allows you to actively gage what you already know

Making mistakes actually improves knowledge and memory

2. Use flashcards

When using flashcards, it is best to mix the deck with multiple subjects, interweaving the concepts you focus on in a single session, is more effective than practicing a single skill one at a time.

This further strengthens memory because it forces the brain to temporarily forget, then retrieve information.

You may also find connections across the topics, making it more significant to your brain.

3. Rest, review, rest, review

Spacing reviews across multiple days allows for rest, and retention between sessions.

+ Cramming is not effective because while you could remember information from the night previously, it will not stay ingrained in your long term memory, or even just as likely in your memory the next morning...

Part 3: On essay writing

The more complicated your essay is, the dumber it sounds.

When writing a research paper, refine the scope of your research and don't be afraid to narrow it.

When writing a research paper, create a pile of at least 20 academic papers on the same subject.

+ Sift through these papers with your scope in mind

+ This is the breeding ground for new ideas

Give yourself time to process information right after reading.

View the writing process as an exploration

This is a collection of information collected from these sources:

R. C. Walden - Youtube

Cal Newport - How to become a straight-A student: The unconventional strategies real college students use to score high while studying less

TED-Ed

[poeticpomegranate]

Original posts on study/journaling tips and more!

This is a masterlist with all my original posts linked to study tips, journaling, reading, and more. I will keep it updated in time, and I also included links to a few useful asks I have receved. I hope any of these might be helpful.

Study organization tips

What I do with bullet journal spreads I end up not using

Bullet journal weekly spreads ideas

5 simple daily habits that changed my life

music for studying reading and writing

Items I bought for university: worth it or not?

Tips on how to study history by an history student

How to read more

History exams tips by an history student

My writing journal

(Ask) how I annotate

(Ask) how I read non fiction books quickly

(Ask) how to remember names when studying history

Thesis writing tips from someone who is currently writing their thesis

My thesis notebook

(Ask) my process for writing a chapter of my thesis

(Ask) how I organize my bullet journal

(Ask) univeristy spreads in my bullet journal

(Ask) tips on reading and writing scientific articles

More thesis writing tips from someone who just finished writing their thesis

(Ask) on procrastination and planning tips for post gradute studying

(Ask) how I study

(Ask) tips on how to write the introduction of a research

(Ask) journaling tips

My reading routine

(Ask) tips on how to get out of a reading slump

10 books to get you out of a reading slump

(Ask) gift ideas for people who love journaling

Journaling 101: types of journals

Journaling 101: why you should journal

Journaling 101: journaling tips

Journaling 101: prompts and ideas

(Ask) easy Italian books for beginners

(Ask) how I learn languages + my language learning progress

How to get out of a reading slump

(Ask) how to use footnotes

(Ask) how I manage studying and time off to rest

[poeticpomegranate]

looking for active studyblr accounts to follow!

is there still a study community out there on tumblr? please interact with this post :-)

[poeticpomegranate]

How to get your life together: Student edition ᯓᡣ𐭩

Mindset

As cliche and redundant as it sounds, it's important to be positive, as well as realistic, about your academic life. Understand what you want to achieve, what you're capable of, how to effectively push yourself and how to rest. This is the recipe for success.

2. Goal setting

Bouncing off of the mindset step, focus on what it is your want to achieve in your academic life. Be very specific with these goals. Understand and set your yearly goals, quarterly goals, as well as monthly and weekly goals. This will help you plan your days and have a realistic sense of time in terms of how much work needs to be done in certain subjects, how much rest can be had, and how often breaks should be taken.

3. Discipline & self understanding

Understanding who you are as a person and how you learn, process, and retain information can help you effectively practice self discipline.

Questions to ask yourself:

+ What type of learning style do I have?

+ What time of day do I work best in?

+ What environments do I work best in?

+ Are digital or physical notes more comfortable and effective to me?

+ Have I established a pleasant relationship with my instructors and at least one peer in all of my classes?

+ What subjects am I strongest in?

+ Do I learn best in a group environment, one on one, or reviewing notes independently?

+ Am I easily distracted when studying? If so, by what, and can these things be easily prevented?

+ What are specific triggers (if any) that help me get "in the zone?"

+ When are my typical rest days, or times of the week/month/year that I like to rest (no work at all, or very light reviewing)?

4. Daily schedule

Now, create a schedule around your answers to the previous questions and make certain tasks "non-negotiable." (Whether this be "I must brush my teeth and shower after waking up," or "I must study from 6-10 every night," is your decision.) Be realistic with setting these non-negotiable tasks, but also believe in yourself, and try and push yourself a little out of your comfort zone. You know what you're capable of, and if you want to achieve something you feel you're just not ready for, practice,- and build up your stamina!

Things to always include in your daily schedule:

+ Wake up time

+ Getting ready/ commute time

+ At least two meal times

+ At least an hour of leisure time

+ At least seven hours of sleep a night

+ Do your homework the day it is assigned

+ Give yourself a daily reward

Things to always include in your montly schedule:

+ At least one date with friends or family

+At least one date with your significant other

+ At least one phone call with long distance loved ones

+ At least one study date a week with peers or friends

+ At least a certain time during a certain day of the week to completely unplug and rest

+ Read the syllabus and log every important deadline and exam

Other useful tips:

+ Keep your workspace tidy, inspiring and organized

+ Changing the scenery when you work can be a nice change of pace

+ Breaking big tasks down into smaller chunks can feel less overwhelming

+ Plan meals ahead or small snacks so you won't feel hungry/forget to eat

+ Use materials that are effective and fun for you

Studying time frames:

Study time - Break time

20 min - 5 min

30 min - 10 min

45 min - 15 min

1 hr - 20 min

1hr 30 min - 25 min

2 hr - 30-45 min

When should you study?

+ Never the night before

+ Exam - 1 week before

+ Test - 3 days before

+ Study first thing when you awake

+ Review complicated concepts before bed