#romanticized school

[thefruityaquarius]

no one:

me: only refers to uni as ✨acadamia ✨ to make it more romanticized and therefore less hell

[godsprincess444]

make it til senior year ig ‧₊♡‧₊

[4theitgirls]

the vibe for the last fall semester of undergrad

[friendlyneighborhoodshark]

"How to Life" Masterlist

Cleaning and Tidying

Make your bed in the morning. It takes seconds, and it's worth it.

Reset to zero each morning.

Use the UFYH 20/10 system for clearing your shit.

Have a 'drop-zone' box where you dump anything and everything. At the beginning/end of the day, clear it out and put that shit away.

Automate your chores. Have a cleaning schedule and assign 15mins daily to do whatever cleaning tasks are set for that day. Set a timer and do it once the timer is up, finish the task you're on and leave it for the day.

Fold your clothes straight out of the tumble dryer (if you use one), whilst they're still warm. This minimises creases and eliminates the need for ironing.

Clean your footwear regularly and you'll feel like a champ.

Organisation and Productivity

Learn from Eisenhower's Importance/Urgency matrix.

Try out the two-minute rule and the Pomodoro technique.

Use. A. Planner. (Or Google Calendar, if that's more your thing.)

Try bullet journalling.

Keep a notebook/journal/commonplace book to dump your brain contents in on the regular.

Set morning alarms at two-minute intervals rather than five, and stick your alarm on the other side of the room. It's brutal, but it works.

Set three main goals each day, with one of them being your #1 priority. Don't overload your to-do list or you'll hit overload paralysis and procrastinate.

If you're in a slump, however, don't be afraid to put things like "shower" on your to do list - that may be a big enough goal in itself, and that's okay.

Have a physical inbox - a tray, a folder, whatever. If you get a piece of paper, stick it in there and sort through it at the end of the week.

Consider utilising the GTD System, or a variation of it.

Try timeboxing.

Have a morning routine, and guard that quiet time ferociously.

Have a folder for all your important documents and letters, organised by topic (e.g. medical, bank, university, work, identification). At the front of this folder, have a sheet of paper with all the key information written on it, such as your GP's details, your passport details, driving licence details, bank account number, insurance number(s), and so on.

Schedule working time and down time alike, in the balance that works for you.

Money

Have. A. God. Damn. Budget.

Use a money tracker like toshl, mint, or splitwise. Enter all expenses asap! (You will forget, otherwise.)

Have a 'money date' each week, where you sort through your finances from the past seven days and then add it to a spreadsheet. This will help you identify your spending patterns and whether your budget is actually working or not.

Pack your own frickin' lunch like a grown-up and stop buying so many takeaway coffees. Keep snacks in your bag.

Food and Cooking

Know how to cook the basics: a starch, a protein, a vegetable, and a sauce.

Simple, one-pot meals ("a grain, a green, and a bean") are a godsend.

Batch cook and freeze. Make your own 'microwave meals'.

Buy dried goods to save money - rice and beans are a pittance.

Consider Meatless Mondays; it's healthier, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly.

Learn which fruits and vegetables are cheapest at your store, and build a standard weekly menu around those. (Also remember that frozen vegetables are cheap and healthy.)

Learn seasoning combinations. Different seasoning, even with the exact same ingredients, can make a dish seem completely new.

Misc

Have a stock email-writing format.

Want to start running, but find it boring? Try Zombies, Run!.

Keep a goddamn first aid kit and learn how to use it.

Update your CV regularly.

Keep a selection of stamps and standard envelopes for unexpected posting needs. (It happens more regularly than you would think!)

[nenelonomh]

how to take better notes during fast-paced lectures

taking better notes during fast-paced lectures can be challenging, but here are some tips to help you keep up:

abbreviations and symbols: create a personal shorthand system. for example, use “w/” for “with,” “b/c” for “because,” and arrows (→) to show relationships. this can significantly speed up your note-taking.

focus on main ideas: listen for key points and concepts rather than trying to transcribe everything. lecturers often emphasize important information through repetition, changes in tone, or visual aids. pay attention to these cues.

structured methods:

cornell method: divide your page into three sections: a narrow left column for cues, a wider right column for notes, and a bottom section for a summary. during the lecture, jot down main points in the right column. after the lecture, add cues and a summary.

outline method: use headings and subheadings to organize information hierarchically. this helps in understanding the relationship between topics.

mind mapping: create a visual representation of the lecture content. start with a central idea and branch out with related concepts. this method is particularly useful for visual learners.

leave space: if you miss something, leave a gap and move on. you can fill in the details later, either from the textbook, recordings, or discussions with classmates.

record the lecture: if your lecturer allows it, recording can be a lifesaver. you can listen to the lecture again to fill in any gaps in your notes. just make sure to review the recording soon after the lecture while the material is still fresh in your mind.

review and revise: go over your notes as soon as possible after the lecture. this helps reinforce the material and allows you to clarify any points you didn’t fully understand. consider rewriting or typing up your notes to organize them better.

active listening: engage with the lecture by asking questions and participating in discussions. this not only helps you understand the material better but also makes it easier to remember.

use technology: apps like evernote, onenote, or notability can help you organize and search your notes efficiently. some apps even allow you to record audio and sync it with your notes.

do you have any specific challenges with note-taking? let me know in the comments.

❤️ nene

image source: pinterest

[hephaestusshield]

[goodgamefarmers]

I can’t wait for autumn!

PSA: These pictures do not belong to me!

[honeytonedhottie]

my back to school list⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🎀📔

fluffy pink pens

gel pens in different colors (preferably lots of shades of pink)

pink binder

2-3 notebooks (all pink ofc)

labels for the notebooks

stickers to decorate the labels

post it notes

an ipad

[geritsel]

William Gilbert Foster - Whispering Eve, watercolor, 1897.

[iwntlvforever]

nobody is girls girl in my life

[memoriesndew]

why self-care matters

self-care can be mental, physical, spiritual and emotional. for me, self-care are mainly things I love to do that kinda makes me feel whole

what is self-care? self-care refers to any activity or practice that individuals engage in deliberately to maintain, enhance, or restore their physical, mental, or emotional health. It involves recognizing personal needs and taking action to meet them in a way that promotes overall well-being.

why self-care matters? self-care matters because it plays a crucial role in maintaining both mental and physical well-being. more on this:

mental health: self-care helps reduce stress and anxiety. taking time to care for yourself allows your mind to rest, recharge, and manage daily challenges more efficiently

physical health: proper self-care includes things like exercise, sleep, and a balanced diet, which are essential for keeping the body strong, reducing the risk of illness, and improving energy levels. oh how I love exercising and moving my body it makes me feel so good and strong.

emotional well-being: it promotes emotional health by providing time to process feelings, and enhance self-compassion.

productivity: taking care of yourself prevents burnout and boosts your ability to focus, work efficiently, and maintain motivation.

relationships: when you're balanced and healthy, you’re better equipped to engage meaningfully with others. self-care improves communication.

self-awareness and growth: It encourages reflection and personal growth. when you consistently check in with yourself, you become more aware of your needs, strengths, and areas for improvement.

by prioritizing self-care, you ensure that you are able to thrive in both your personal and professional life.

my favourite forms of self-care: everything showers, skincare, lotion skin, cozy pyjamas, long walks, naps, pilates, working out, reading fanfics, routines, lazy days and more 💌 dew

[4theitgirls]

how to stay organized in school

keep a planner

use a paper planner, notion, notes app, whatever you prefer to write down deadlines, exam dates, etc.

don’t procrastinate

do what you need to do early on. get it done and cross it off your list so that you don’t have to worry about it later and you won’t have a ton of assignments to do last minute.

organize by color

you may do this by separating classes by color and using highlighters/post it notes/colored pens, etc. to separate topics within each class

be realistic with your to-do lists

don’t try to pile on too much in one day. do your best to evenly distribute your tasks throughout the week.

break up large tasks

don’t try to get all of your bigger and time consuming tasks done at one time. distribute them apart from each other. also, you may split your large tasks into smaller tasks to make them seem less intimidating and more doable.

make your own study guides

study guides are helpful and will not always just be given to you, so use the resources you have to build your own for each topic, exam, etc.

[friendlyneighborhoodshark]

HOW TO ACTIVATE YOUR HAPPINESS CHEMICALS

Dopamine (pleasure + reward)

Sleep

Go outside

Be creative

Complete a task

Doing something new

Celebrate the small wins

Serotonin (the mood stabilizer)

Running

Meditating

Practice yoga

Walk in nature

Relax in the sun

Oxytocin (the love hormone)

Hug someone

Play with a cat/dog

Random acts of kindness

Give someone a compliment

Quality time with friends and family

Endorphins (the pain relief/distresser)

Laughing

Essential oils

Take a hot bath

Watch a comedy

Eating dark chocolate

[nenelonomh]

why is it important to calm your mind?

calming your mind is important for several reasons.

it helps reduce stress, which can improve your overall well-being. for example, practicing meditation or yoga can lower stress levels and enhance your emotional health.

a calm mind also improves focus, allowing you to concentrate better and be more productive, much like how reading a good book can help you escape and relax.

additionally, it enhances emotional health by helping you manage your emotions more effectively, leading to better mental health. for instance, journaling your thoughts and feelings can clear your mind and provide emotional clarity.

with a clear and calm mind, you can make more thoughtful and rational decisions, similar to how taking a walk in nature can help you think more clearly. calming your mind also improves sleep quality, which is essential for overall health.

engaging in activities like listening to calming music or taking a warm bath can promote better sleep. a relaxed mind is more open to new ideas and creative thinking, much like how drawing or painting can spark creativity.

finally, chronic stress can lead to various health issues, so calming your mind can have positive effects on your physical health as well. taking time to calm your mind can lead to a happier, healthier, and more balanced life.

❤️ nene

[creekbed-burial]

Do You Ever Really Leave Your Hometown?

[caruccio]

And it was like she took a permanent marker and wrote her name across my chest and its ink sunk deep, down into the muscle that moves my blood and although I would tell myself I could forget her if she were to go away, I knew that was a lie. That's the thing with names. Someone walks into your life and from that moment forward, they own it.