Latest Posts by decadentheartflower - Page 7
It’s not “uncool” to be smart and prepared and passionate and dedicated. Ignore people who say otherwise.
“You tell me i am not like most girls and learn to kiss me with your eyes closed something about the phrase—something about how i have to be unlike the women i call sisters in order to be wanted makes me want to spit your tongue out like i am supposed to be proud you picked me as if i should be relieved you think i am better than them”
Some TED talks that will change your life.
How to make stress your friend by Katie McGonial (14.5 minutes)
“Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.”
8 secrets of success by Richard St.John (3.5 minutes)
Why do people succeed? Is it because they’re smart? Or are they just lucky? Neither. Analyst Richard St. John condenses years of interviews into an unmissable 3-minute slideshow on the real secrets of success.
A simple way to break a bad habit by Judson Brewer (9.5 minutes)
Can we break bad habits by being more curious about them? Psychiatrist Judson Brewer studies the relationship between mindfulness and addiction — from smoking to overeating to all those other things we do even though we know they’re bad for us. Learn more about the mechanism of habit development and discover a simple but profound tactic that might help you beat your next urge to smoke, snack or check a text while driving.
Don’t regret regret by Kathryn Schulz (17 minutes)
We’re taught to try to live life without regret. But why? Using her own tattoo as an example, Kathryn Schulz makes a powerful and moving case for embracing our regrets.
How to make hard choices by Ruth Chang (14.5 minutes)
Here’s a talk that could literally change your life. Which career should I pursue? Should I break up — or get married?! Where should I live? Big decisions like these can be agonizingly difficult. But that’s because we think about them the wrong way, says philosopher Ruth Chang. She offers a powerful new framework for shaping who we truly are.
The danger of silence by Clint Smith (4 minutes)
We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying that we rarely pay attention to the things they don’t,“ says poet and teacher Clint Smith. A short, powerful piece from the heart, about finding the courage to speak up against ignorance and injustice.
How to speak so that people want to listen by Julian Treasure (10 minutes)
Have you ever felt like you’re talking, but nobody is listening? Here’s Julian Treasure to help. In this useful talk, the sound expert demonstrates the how-to’s of powerful speaking — from some handy vocal exercises to tips on how to speak with empathy. A talk that might help the world sound more beautiful.
Your body language shapes who you are by Amy Cuddy (21 minutes)
Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.
The happy secret to better work by Shawn Achor (12 minutes)
We believe we should work hard in order to be happy, but could we be thinking about things backwards? In this fast-moving and very funny talk, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that, actually, happiness inspires us to be more productive.
A call to men by Tony Porter (11 minutes) [TW: graphic desc. of rape]
At TEDWomen, Tony Porter makes a call to men everywhere: Don’t “act like a man.” Telling powerful stories from his own life, he shows how this mentality, drummed into so many men and boys, can lead men to disrespect, mistreat and abuse women and each other. His solution: Break free of the “man box.”
Natalie Portman
hi, here’s a messy desk featuring my cat who suddenly came up on it, made himself comfortable and decided to sleep there on the page i need without a care in the world. see why i love him?
Do you know some good movies that give you that cosy feeling and make you want to go study? Like Harry Potter for example
Firstly, I am so sorry for the lateness of this post. I really had to do some thinking when considering which movies are my “study inspiration.” So here are a few:
“Dear White People” dir. Justin Simien. (I like this one because as a person of colour, I identify with most of the character. This movie has a great message and is also set at a fictitious Ivy league school. It is one of those movies set in university that actually show people doing university things, like going to class and studying).
“Gilmore Girls” Season 4. (I am a big fan of Gilmore Girls especially this season because this is when Rory sets off to Yale. It is nice seeing that there is a a plit as well as a well read, motivated protagonist who is attending Yale. After waiting Rory do her thing, it always gets me ready to start my work).
“The Dead Poet’s Society” dir. Peter Wier (This one is a classic and set at a prestigious boarding school. Need I say more?)
“Goats” dir. Christopher Neil (This movie follows Ellis, a super smart 14-15 year old who moves away from home to go to boarding school. There is also some family drama that keeps things interesting).
“How to Get Away with Murder” (I am a big fan of law television shows, and watching law students do there thing really inspire me to get on my studying in hopes that I may end up going to law school some day).
“The Newsroom” (This is one of my favourite shows. It is set in a newsroom where everybody is bustling around working non-stop to get the news out there. I also really like how it uses real current events as the news that they are broadcasting).
“Liberal Arts” dir. Josh Radnor ( Although this movie does feature a “manic pixie dream girl type” (some may argue) it is great. It is about a man who goes back to his university and kinda re-lives his glory days in a sense. Just watch it, it is great and gets me think about how lucky I am to be learning so much. This almost always gets me studying).
“House of Cards” (I love this show because of the excellent writing and political badassary).
“The Re-Write” (This movies is exclusively focused on writing fiction. It always helps when I have to get my Lit homework done).
“Miss Representation” dir. Jennifer Siebel Newsom (I fabulous documentary about how women are treated in out media and in society at large. Seeing this always makes me want to work even harder to defy these stereotypes. Even if you don’t need to study, this is a great watch).
So, these are all I could think of a the moment. But if I think of more I will add some. And everybody, feel free to add your favourite movie/tv show study motivators too!
School is officially back in full swing for most of us, and with it comes lots of deadlines, pressure, and competition. So I thought I’d make a list of simple techniques, websites, and diys to help you relax and enjoy some “me time” in the midst of all of the stress!
write a letter to someone. you don’t have to send it.
listen to your favorite songs
live puppy cam//live kitten cam
make a list of everything that’s stressing you out and the action steps you can take to handle them
knit/crochet
let your thoughts float away
read some soothing suggestions
go for a walk
make a face mask
make a hair mask
meditate
take a long shower
do some yoga
do a seven-minute workout
watch paint-mixing videos
open a window and let some fresh air in
have a cup of tea
indulge in a snack
take a hot bath
listen to the rain
read a good book
practice aromatherapy
journal
vent anonymously
play with a stress ball (a real one or a virtual one)
talk to a stranger
play a game of cards
watch a movie
analyze your stress
skip rocks
cry, scream, punch your pillow. you’ll feel better.
call or text your friends
take control of your time
defeat perfectionism
create a virtual zen garden
take a nap
color in some mandalas
collect some virtual cats {iOS//Android}
paint your nails
practice guided imagery
make a music playlist that conveys how you feel
do a breathing exercise
create a nebula
look through photos of your favorite people/memories
make a glitter jar
find one good thing that happened today
find some quiet
play with your pet
receive some hugs
light a scented candle
practice progressive muscle relaxation
do an Epsom salt foot soak
turn the lights off, lay down, and daydream
laugh!!
take care of your plants
organize your school supplies
clean your room/closet
make a compress for stiff muscles
hang out at the pool
repeat positive affirmations
fold some lucky stars
give yourself a scalp massage
create sand art
list 50 things that make you happy
make stress your friend
Thanks for reading! If you have questions, feedback, or post requests, feel free to drop me an ask.
+Click here for the rest of my original reference posts!
—Sophia :)
080916 - It’s Week 5 now and I can’t believe that I’m already halfway into the first semester of my sophomore year. Taking a science module this semester for contrast in my timetable and it’s really dense!! But I’m glad I decided to start watching TED talks again because it’s so inspiring to see things you’re learning in class get talked about by professionals. It’s also great to be learning things outside of my curriculum!!! I’m so motivated but I’m worried that I’ll burn out as well so here’s to more doodles and studyblr shenanigans to keep me going :-)
I decided to doodle on the cover of my bio ii notebook so I could distinguish it among the others.
3rd of September, 2016 | 03/30 Days of Productivity
My time management today was so good I had the time to take a nap, watch a movie and do half of my weekend to-do goals. I’m now up-to-date with math and have done my draft for my one point perspective to do tomorrow. 😁
Astrophysics ☄☄
if you see someone being interrupted in a conversation, acknowledge them, don’t let them be pushed to the side. if you see someone lagging behind, walk beside them. if someone is being ignored, take the step to include them. always remind people of their worth. it hurts when it feels like you’re being forgotten. that small gesture can mean a lot.
Flashcard Mistakes
Mistake #1: Not Making your Own Cards
The actual process of creating flashcards is important.
Your deck of flashcards should not just be “dictionary definitions.” Turning knowledge into cards is valuable for the same reasons it’s important to not take word-for-word notes: when you try to express information in your own words, you process the information. When you process it, you have to recreate the ideas in a way that makes sense to you. The process of retrieving and reorganizing the information actually strengthens the memory.
When you study flashcards which you created, you’ll remember the context in which you created them. If you’re studying a word in a foreign language, for example, you can include an example of a sentence that gives you trouble or some hint at the subtleties of the words which you’d miss by just writing a dictionary definition. In short, you can customize the card in a way that captures the exact challenges you face with that bit of information.
Mistake #2: Studying in One Big Session
If you sit down for one massive “cram session” with your cards, you’re hurting your learning.
The best way to use flashcards is as a quick impromptu study session. 15 minutes at the bus stop and 30 minutes between classes is better than hours and hours of continuous study at the end of the day, thanks to the rules of perfect practice. If you graph your progress, like I love to do, you’ll quickly discover that most of your progress seem to happen in between study sessions.
Here’s a surprising truth:
The goal of flashcards isn’t to get them right.
It’s to remind yourself of knowledge you’ve forgotten.
Researchers who have studied memorization developed a technique called “spaced repetition” for this reason. The major insight that they had, as a result of analyzing thousands of hours of study, is that you want to prompt recall just as something is about to be forgotten.
Mistake #3: Practicing Mindlessly
Do you know every fact in your deck equally well?
Certainly not. So you shouldn’t be lumping them all together into one big pile.
If you’re “zoning out” or going into a “robotic” mode when you use your flashcards, you’re wasting time. You should think about each card. Use the word in a sentence, remember some places you’ve heard it, say it aloud to yourself, etc. Engage with the content, don’t just say “yes, I know it” or “no, I don’t.” In fact, the spaced repetition concept from above would even suggest that you rate how well you know the card on a scale of 1-4. Then you sort the cards based upon how well you know them and study the ones you struggle with the most first before coming back to the ones you know better.
If all of this sounds hard to manage, there’s a better way.
So if you really want to improve your learning with flashcards:
Study it whenever you have a few minutes to kill. Embrace the small minutes of downtime you’d normally use to check social media.
Engage in the content. Say the words to yourself, use them for an example, and don’t rush through the cards.
Source
#favbookever
what i say: i like learning languages
what i mean: thanks to duolingo i can say "she reads a newspaper" in twelve european languages
Nerdy carb humor 🤓 in celebration of me getting carbs today 🤗 DFC (down for carbs 😂)
Foolproof Guide to School Success!
Hi! I just finished my first year of college and I definitely have to credit the studyblr community for all the useful information and tips! I currently closed the year with a 4.0 and don’t plan on stopping!
In high school I was an ok student but I decided to change all that when I started college. So, whether you’re in high school or college, it’s never late to change and attain academic excellence! So here are my tips!
Try to get an early start on your day and sit closest to the front as possible. Studies show that sitting in the front of class will improve your grades and knowledge!
A study showed that those who sat in the front achieved an average of 80% while those in the middle achieved an average of 71.6% on their exams. And guess who did even worse.. unfortunately those in the back scored an average of 68.1%
Distractions are decreased because there’s no one sitting in front of you, just the lecture which basically forces you to pay attention.
This increases the likelihood of your professor getting to know you. Why is that important? Well, in an accounting course I once took, I sat in the front, attended extra tutoring sessions hosted by that instructor, and generally put in extra effort in the class. By the end of the semester everyone was really struggling, over 20 students flunked out, and even my tips weren’t getting me to that A I wanted. Well, because I had established who I was and that I was serious about the class, my instructor bumped my final course grade from an 88% to 93%! She said she noticed the effort I put in so she gave me the grade she thought I deserved
Seriously, sit in the front!!
Ok, now that you have a good spot in the class, make sure you take great notes! The Cornell notes system is great but do whatever works best for you.
Abbreviate often
Date your notes at the top so you can order them chronologically. This will make studying a breeze later on.
Find a color coding system that works for you. Highlight main ideas and vocab.
Find a notebook that works for you. I was lucky enough to score 20 moleskines at my local thrift store at 1 dollar a piece so I’ve been using those.
If you prefer loose leaf paper, buy a bunch and stick it into a flexible binder so you can organize and reorganize your paper.
Use post-its and sticky tabs to add extra info that you might have left out during class. Use sticky tabs to find certain notes faster.
These are some of my favorite note taking supplies:
These Pilot G-Tec pens are some of my favorite pens ever! They are super smooth and the lines are really fine. This 5 pack costs around $11 which is pretty affordable!
Mead notebooks are a classic staple. Seriously these are super durable!
These sticky post-it tab hybrids work really well for marking a page and highlighting important info.
Mildliners are really nice and the colors are not to bright. A pack runs around $7 and a 3 pack is $15 on Amazon.
If you want to go the extra mile, retyping up your notes is a great idea. That way your in class notes can be messy and it won’t matter since you’re going to type them up anyway. One Note is awesome for notes.
I developed my own system for deciding on how I will study and how often I will study. It goes something like this:
Rank your classes in order of difficulty into three sections:
Easy, medium, and hard….
Easy classes get one point
Medium classes get two points
Hard classes get three points
Is the class math related? ….. add 2 points
Is it science related? …… add 2 points
Is the class a subject that you struggle with? ….. add 3 points
is the class AP? ……… 3 points
Add up the points for each class.
Classes with 1-3 points:
these classes are generally easy and have an easy instructor, contain info you already know, etc.
These classes get 45 minutes a day in your schedule and minimal studying on weekends.
Classes with 4-8 points:
These classes might need some more effort so try to…
Set aside an hour a day and 30 minutes on weekends.
Classes with 9 points and up:
These classes are usually more intense, have daily assignments, have a strict instructor, etc.
Set 2 hours a day and an hour or more on weekends. Consider going to free tutoring provided by your school, join a study group, or go to your instructor’s office hours.
Plan your months, weeks, and days in advance! Keep a planner, calendar, or bullet journal. I personally use a bullet journal and keep a calendar printable in each binder I have for my classes.
Include due dates, exam dates, when your rentals are due, etc.
Look at it everyday!!! That way you won’t forget important events.
If you want to, make it pretty! Decorate it with stickers, pictures, polaroids, etc. to make it more personal.
If you prefer minimalism, keep a simple planner or bullet journal system.
If an electronic system works better for you, go for it! But I’ve noticed that writing it on paper works best!
Here are some great planners or journals to use:
Moleskines are always a great choice!
This hardcover Yoobi journal is comparable to the Moleskine and comes in pretty colors! The price is awesome, each one runs at $6!
Bando makes super pretty and trendy planners. They run from $20 and can get pricey though. It’s definitely worth it though!
This Sugar Paper gold polka dot planner is really cute and super affordable!
The AT-A-GLANCE planner has a monthly view and daily sections with plenty of room for writing in important dates and decorating with cute stuff!
Kikki K has amazing planners. If you want to splurge consider their stuff. I’ve always wanted one but it’s around the price of a textbook :(
While Studyblr has so many resources and tips, in case you haven’t noticed, a lot of the pretty pictures use muji pens, staedtler fineliners, and those cute lil’ backpacks. Remember that you have to use supplies that work with you. Here are the essentials to carry with you:
Notebooks and binders
A sturdy and comfy backpack. I use the Borealis backpack by The North Face on discount. Make sure it has comfortable straps, back support, enough room for all your stuff, and compartments for your food and water bottle.
A phone charger. Keep it in your backpack. My phone has died on me so many times and it sucks, especially if you have to take the bus. Invest in a portable charger.
Earbuds are a must, especially if you take public transportation. Also great for when you’re at the library, gym, etc.
As previously mentioned, a water bottle and FOOD! Pack a lunch but also have backup snacks like granola bars or nuts. You need food and water for energy.
Keep extra change. You never know when you need it!!
Your planner.
Pens, pencils, etc. Especially a stapler if you have homework that you regularly turn in!! Its really awk when someone doesn’t have a stapler and everyone in the class doesn’t either..
A laptop, seriously a must! Chromebooks are affordable!
Hope that’s helpful! Looking forward to another year in college and staying in the Studyblr community,
Thania
This gave me a reason to smile when I didn’t think I had one
“Until the very end” | promotional pictures from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Hard to argue with that logic. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(Thank you to the MANY lovely people that recommended this scene from Deathly Hallows!)
The greatest witch of her age didn’t become great by sitting on tumblr all day
in case you needed motivation
hey guys!!
so since i’m a rising senior i’ve been working hard all summer in preparation for applying to colleges this coming fall. throughout the duration, i’ve found some amazing websites to help you through the process, and resources i think are worthwhile to check out.
set up an email specifically for colleges (best to do this before/during junior year) b/c
your inbox will overflow with college emails
you will hate yourself if you don’t
use it as your email for college-oriented websites you sign up for
put it on interest cards you fill out during college fairs/visits
colleges are going to email/spam you 24/7 just direct them here honestly
google drive
make a folder for college
put your essays in there
you can share essays with editors really easily this way
make a spreadsheet of all the colleges you are applying too with categories like size, type, location, etc.
make a list of achievements, awards, teams, clubs/extracurriculars, etc. that you can refer back to during applications
make sure to have an emergency flashdrive with your important college documents on it
finding colleges & stats
cappex: helps find colleges that fit you, calculates admissions chances, helps you plan college visits, helps with scholarship search, etc.
through cappex you can access meritaid, a great scholarship resource
naviance: a college readiness worksite site that does a ton and is basically a combination of every single site listed. it’s used through your school, normally, so get in contact with your counselor about making an account
unigo: this site gives reviews/advice/experience from current or former college students regarding the school they attended, and also offers tips and tutorials for admission from professionals, plus a college database
collegenavigator: exactly what it sounds like. this site has a ton of info on schools and it’s really easy to use
collegeboard: general resource!
collegedata: lots of statistics and overviews of schools
collegeresults: shows the graduation rates of colleges
collegeinsight: gives info about affordability, diversity, and student success
admitted.ly: this is an awesome website (and app) for matching you with schools, and it’s really organized/manageable as well
collegeniche: this is basically yelp for colleges. reviews for students, by students, about specific colleges
organization/tracking
overgrad: tracks college and career goals
makemeafreshman: this website is an actual godsend. enter all the colleges you are applying to (including what type, such as early action, early decision, etc.), and it will generate a schedule of things you need to do and specific dates they need to be done by (submitting fees, completing the commonapp and FAFSA, etc.)
scholarship oriented
posse: organization that identifies gifted scholars, then groups them into “posses” by region, and hands out full scholarships to top colleges
questbridge: links exceptional students (esp. low-income) with colleges, scholarship providers, enrichment programs, and employers
college greenlight: amazing for finding scholarships to apply for (they can find a scholarship for anything), plus does college matches based on criteria you give
majors
collegemajors101: provides info about a variety of majors, like course requirements, career options, etc.
i’ll definitely keep adding to this list, and if you have any questions about the sites or have some you think should be added, please message me!
remember, the best thing you can do is get things done early. summer’s not over yet and there is still a lot of time between now and application due dates. make the most of it! get organized, and get educated about college.
happy studying/applying!
Tracing paper sticky notes are such a clever idea. They’re perfect for text books as they don’t leave any marks behind.
I’m pretty sure I haven’t left my desk for the last 12 hours but it’ll all be worth it tomorrow! My mildliners arrived and they are SO cute, I can see what all the fuss is about now ^.^
Season 4 will hurt but I am all ready for the pain.
Please tell me it's okay that I just failed a class. I came this far, then bombed a big project and it's an automatic fail. I had to drop the class.
FUCK YES. ITS OKAY TO FAIL.
Sometimes we try and try and try but in the end we still fail. I honestly have been there so many times.
I did an assignment for cognition last year. I started on the first day and spend A LOT of time on it. Guess what? I got 10%.
I did a stats test before and I spend a shit load of time studying and doing past papers. Guess what? I got 0. A big fucking zero.
I spent 4 years swimming and going to every single training session. Guess what? At every race I got LAST PLACE.
I spend 2 years doing table tennis. Every session we had competitions against my team mates who were 4 years younger then me. Guess what? I lost every session, every competition to EVERYONE.
When I fail, I literally sob my eyes out because it fucking hurts. It hurts because I have tried so hard and got nothing. It hurts because everyone who tried less seemed to have done much better then me. So then I start asking myself “why do I even bother trying?!”
And then slowly these things will start creeping up on me:
If I didn’t try then I might have failed worse
There is literally no where to go but up now
Now I know where I went wrong. Now I can try TWICE as hard.
Fuck this piece of paper. In the end its just a piece of paper. I am alive and well and I am not going to let a piece of paper to defeat me.
Whatever it takes. Even if I fail again, I am going to crawl back up on my hands and knees.
Does it work? Honestly, sometimes. Failure still hurts but I am crawling up. I am crying but I am still going. Tomorrow, I will wake up having failed but it will hurt less. Tomorrow I will try and try and try again.
