#sorry this isn't that funny but yt keeps recommending this video to me and i think of damian every time lmao

[arimakanas]

robin "fans" when they leave damian out of fan content for seemingly no reason -

[pentragons]

i hope this question isn't too personal but you seem like a very organized and balanced person and i wanted to ask you how you stay so focused in your studies instead of getting distracted to make something (unless you're studying design?) or by social media? i tend to get distracted super easily and want to do other things that i love or get distracted by sm and am really seeking advice. anyways hope your exams go well and your road trip is wonderful

Oh, anon, that is such a sweet question to ask, I feel really flattered!! But I am so sorry to hear you are struggling!! Please remember that whatever peoples lives may look like on the internet is not what their real life might be like, so please don’t put any pressure on yourself because of how others appear online! First of all: I am not studying design - I am studying for a teachers degree, which takes about 7 years in Germany at the highest level possible (which I am doing) :) I also work two jobs I really enjoy, one of them is at Uni as an assistant to a professor! So Photoshop is purely a hobby to me. But I think it’s funny you are calling me balanced and organized when both are traits I have struggled with (and still do!) a lot myself. A few years ago, around the time I did my A levels, I started to realize that something wasn’t right and that I wasn’t feeling well. At all. I passed my A levels (with very bad grades), went abroad (felt very lonely and sad most of the time), started university (barely able to wake up in the morning to go there) - all while being unable to do the bare minimum. I was struggling so hard, I was constantly sad, unfocused, unorganized and angry. I found out a few months later that I was struggling with severe depression and that I basically had to learn a lot about myself before I could be productive. Or even function. But to me personally, there are some things I learned that help me now. And becoming a teacher (and an adult tbh :D) requires you to be organized and to have an idea of what you are doing, so if I wanted to be good at what I am doing, I had to find ways of being as organized as I can be without losing myself in stress and anxiety. Here goes:

Try to fit small things like scrolling social media, Tumblr, watching YT, playing games on your phone, … into your schedule. I allow myself to do all of that - but it needs to fit somewhere into all the things I actually have to do. Use distractions as consciously as possible. I read on my daily train ride to Uni, check my phone in the 10 minutes I arrive early before class or scroll through social media after I’m done at Uni as a break. I try not to do it INSTEAD of something else, but rather before I do something, after I’m finished doing something or if I need a break. It’s almost like a reward and that’s a pretty cool thing if you ask me :) 

Try to force yourself to be productive by staying at uni/school to study. If I really need to do something, I go to my universities library, sit down in a row full of people and just get to work because honestly? I always feel like I would expose myself I started watching YouTube videos when everyone around me is working. In truth, no one cares but it is so motivating to see everyone around you (seemingly) working and studying! It also puts pressure on you to get your shit done because as I said, you don’t want to be the only lazy one!!

BUT always remember: you do NOT have to feel bad for the things you love, they are not a waste of your time!! If you enjoy making stuff in Photoshop? Go for it! A hobby, no matter what it might be or what others may think of it, is never ever a waste of time. You are doing something purely for yourself and that’s beautiful, you should always keep doing it. Don’t create false pressure by seeing the fault in something you enjoy. It’s rather how you do it, especially when, that matters. I use Photoshop to express my creativity, but I only try to open it when I actually have a good idea instead of aimlessly trying things. That way, I don’t spend too much time using it and when I do, most of the time it’s really rewarding because I actually end up with a finished edit :) It’s also completely different from everything else I am doing, so I love it as an escape I need, to feel happy and relaxed. 

Try to get to know yourself and how you work, it makes studying and working as effective as can be. Try out different methods of studying, different settings, find how you take notes, etc. I realized that I study best by attending all lectures, writing my own notes and then putting them on flashcards as early as possible. And you know what? It saves me a lot of time to read, to photoshop, to do whatever. Because I figured myself out and know how my brain works best. We often create unnecessary stress by trying to be productive but actually not having any idea on what works best for us. It takes some time (and some bad grades because I had nooo idea what I was doing) but YOU know how to handle yourself best. 

Do not feel bad if you were unable to do something because you were focusing on yourself. I realized that whenever I force myself to do something although I feel like crap, it only ends up making everything worse. Take time off if you need to, your mental health comes first! Sometimes I skip Uni and just spend my day in Photoshop or buried in a book. It may be a „waste of time“ to others but I am sure as hell not going to waste my wellbeing on falsely created standards. Everyone likes to lazy around and just have some time to themselves. Allow yourself to scroll social media for a whole day - you’ll realize quickly enough that you are ready to be productive again (๑￫‿￩๑)

I try to manage my priorities instead of my time. Instead of putting myself under time pressure, I always organize the things I need to do on a to-do list. I bought a very useful planner in which I do daily/weekly to-do lists. On Sundays, I try to think of anything I’ll need to do the upcoming week. During the week, I’ll add more things to the list. I always try to start early with whatever it is I have to do - for example, if I know I need to hand in something on a certain date, I start 2 weeks prior so I can do it at my own pace. That way, I can easily shift around my priorities according to how I feel/how lazy I am/spontaneous plans/etc. without having a bad conscience. And the best part? Crossing things off your list. SO SATISFYING. 

I don’t do this myself, but honestly, if nothing is helping use apps or websites that block your access to sites such as Instagram, tumblr or whatever else is taking your focus away. This is a really helpful list of apps and sites to use!

I highly recommend listening to Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen before anything you need to get done. Need to study? Listen to it. Walking into an exam? Listen to it. Just need to be productive and focus? Listen to it. Made me feel invincible and capable so many times! :D I am sorry this got so long, I am not sure if any of this is useful as it is what works for me. If none of it is helpful please remember that as I said, it’s a lot about getting to know yourself and finding out what works for you. Don’t feel frustrated if it takes some time to figure yourself out, working on yourself is something you can always be proud of! And always remember: no matter how put-together, organized and balanced people appear - most of the time, they are just procrastinating as much, are just as much a ball of anxiety as everyone and are trying to get their shit together like everybody else - myself 100000% included! If I can do it (which I question a lot!), you can as well!!! ᕙ( * •̀ ᗜ •́ * )ᕗ I believe you are a wonderful and kind person, so please don’t put too much pressure on yourself!! ❤(๑❛ω❛๑)ว  Everything will turn out beautifully, I promise you.