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Slow Monday.

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[Oct 24th]

First day of my senior year at university. I am quite excited to start it all; the busy schedules, sleepless nights, rainy days, cozy study ambience, candles ,and staying up late to finish writing an assignment. I live for these moments.

Also, I’ve just started reading The Goldfinch and I am already in love. How beautifully it is written!

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things i learned during finals season because it was rough

start as early as you can, especially for subjects that are cumulative like calculus. you need to understand the basics before you can understand other concepts.

learn how to recognize when you need a break. are you struggling to focus? are you not really engaged with the work? are you actually retaining the information you’re learning? 

don’t get too discouraged if you’re not understanding things right away. yes, it’s annoying and frustrating but don’t give up on it so quickly. if the answer key is provided, look at the answers/steps and try to understand why that answer is correct. give yourself a 5 minute break and try the problem again. practice makes perfect. you’re 100% capable of understanding it, even if it feels like you won’t.

if anyone says it’s easy, they’re lying. everyone is struggling with something.

make your room somewhere where you want to study. light a candle if you need to, open a window, have a warm drink, make sure the lighting is good, wear comfortable clothes, etc.

take advantage of all of the resources available to you. youtube videos, practice quizzes, old tests, office hours, free tutoring if your school offers it, etc. there are so many resources available and there are so many people who are willing to help you succeed; but you have to approach them first.

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studying while dealing with depression

Hi everyone! It’s werelivingarts!

Depression is a very common mental disorder that can affect negatively on the way you feel, think and act. I think that giving some tips and strategies on dealing with depression while studying would be essential to some of you who might struggle out there to get started on assignments. 🙂 Hope that this can help you to fight against depression and embrace your positivity while studying! Remember that you are loved and you are enough ❤️💙💜

And if today all you did was hold yourself together and survive, I’m still very proud of you. 🍀💐

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How did you keep your sanity in med school? I feel like there just aren’t enough hours in a day to get all of my class work done, prep for final exams, and work out/meditate as much as I would like.

It's debatable as to whether I kept my sanity during med school 😂

I will offer a few bits of advice though.

Med school was when I began meditating in the morning. Specifically during third year when I began my rotations. This is because by the end of the day, there was no telling how exhausted I might be. I would fall asleep during meditation practice or not even bother trying.

So if there is something important to you to do daily, start your day with it. That way you know you can commit to it. I did draw the line at waking up any earlier than 4am, however! Fuck that lol

In med school, and perhaps a lot of life, you will freak out and then find a way to succeed. And then freak out and then find a way to succeed. Eventually you learn to relax throughout the process. And if you don't succeed, you need to be ready to be strategic, clever, and persistent so as to find the right path forward. I came very close to not matching in my chosen specialty and you better believe I had contingency plans in place and I was ready to implement them if need be.

Know when to stop studying. When you stop absorbing info, do practice questions. When you start making stupid mistakes, be done studying for the day. Self-care during med school is an investment in yourself. It's not about pleasure, it's about what recharges you and keeps you fresh and vibrant. While self-care can sometimes mean watching something mindless and having a scotch, most of the time it means prioritizing things like exercise and meditation.

But sometimes there may be weeks in which you are just getting destroyed. It happens. All you have to do is survive it and that's a win.

You'll find your own rhythm and pattern with all of this. But if I can be at all helpful along the way, please feel free to reach out 😁

LY

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Productivity Issues Log

This YouTube video by How To ADHD (channel by Jessica McCabe) inspired me to make my own Issues Log. For anyone who hasn’t watched it, an issues log is a list you make and add to, and then reflect on later, so you can make your life more executive-function-friendly. Essentially, you notice all the times you don’t do something, and ask yourself why. For example, “I didn’t eat because there were no clean pots,” or, “I didn’t get dressed because there was stuff in front of my closet,” or, “I didn’t do my homework because I watched tv instead.” Becoming aware of all these things lets you then re-organize your environment so that you’re more likely to do your tasks (wash the pot after you use it so it’s ready for next time, make sure your closet is clear, don’t put your remote control in plain site, or move your tv into another room, etc.).

#from my personal development blog

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"Keep a planner" is actually good advice for ppl with adhd

Not invalidating those who do not benefit from a planner. Your experiences are valid

But im just saying it doesn't hurt to try. I didn't think it would help me either and it did.

If planners don't help,

• to do list on your phone. Download the nikki kawaii notes app. It has a to-do list. And the app is cute and gives u free stickers/cards/ect to use in the app every time u log in

• study bunny app. Has a little bunny that you take care of by the amount of time you spend studying. I think it may have a flashcard section? You earn coins by putting on the stop watch and studying. Every 5 or so minutes, you earn coins which u can use to customize your bunny and their room

• set aside a notebook and use it for studying. But make it a study game. Like a board game.

• force yourself to hyperfixate on your work. It may not work but it might. Worth a try.

• try to finish smaller assignments early so you can focus on bigger ones. I do all my homework for the week on Monday (im in college and its all online as well as in person so it may not work if you're in a different situation). It takes most of the afternoon but it's worth it. Then i spend the rest of the week on studying, working on projects, ect.

If this doesn't work, pehaps a point system. Rank assignments based on how much time you will spend on them (1 being small and 5 being big projects or papers). Divide the assignments into each day of the week or each day that you plan to work on the assignments.

• always write down your due dates

• keeping a planner. I already say this. It helps with memory but also with motivation because when you cross smthn off your list, you can physically see what you've completed and feel accomplished

• i believe there are many study games online that you can make ?

• pretend to procrastinate. Say "ill do this assignment tomorrow". Then after you complete all of the assignments you plan to do that day, say " well... I might as well work on tomorrow's work". Results may vary

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ADHD study tip: Taking notes of individual concepts within reading can be arduous. Instead, it helps keep your focus and improves reading comprehension to read one paragraph at a time and stop and write a 1-2 sentence summary after each one.

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#struggles 😂

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Done! ✅

I just completed my tests for math and humanities and I did well! I won’t know my grades for a few days but I’m sure they’re good 😊 My psych test is on the 30th 😬

Today’s Homework

Psychology

Study for Evaluation 1

Humanities

Study for Chapter 1 Mini Quiz

Math

Study for Test #1

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Bella’s Escuela

About me

First-year psychology student

Future psychotherapist

24 years young

Canadian 🇨🇦

INFP (I know this is pseudoscience but it’s fun! and there is still some utility in knowing these things about yourself and others!)

I have ADHD and chronic pain + 4 mental illnesses 😄 so I post about these things (within the context of studying)

Bella’s Posts

Task Management: Creating + Maintaining a Schoolwork Schedule

Focus/Concentration Tip: Gaming

Reward-based Studying

I have other small posts as well (including quotes) and if you’re interested in those, just search my blog for #bella escuela

my “glo up” Tumblr @isa-glow-bella-grow

#bella escuela #studyblr #adhd studyblr #adhd student #study tips #study hacks #study advice #study blog #adhd blog #pink blog

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September 23rd 2021

I’m thinking about a video my psych professor assigned last week, of a lady talking about Freud’s contributions, and she was gesturing with her hands the ENTIRE time. It was damn-near impossible to concentrate on what she was saying. Fortunately, I had a great idea — I held my notepad up to my iPad to block her from her shoulders down. It actually worked really well. I’m proud of myself for thinking of a solution like that instead of berating myself for not being able to pay attention. Knowing I have adhd and learning about things like sensory overload and over-stimulation has been so helpful.

#from my personal development blog #adhd

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Task Management:

Creating + Maintaining a Schoolwork Schedule

Key elements

Your schedule suits your individual time/task management preferences.

It is flexible enough to accommodate sudden changes, plus fluctuating energy levels, states of concentration, symptoms and moods.

Daily tasks are not over-whelming; they are small enough that they are achievable.

You do not get “burned out.”

It allows you to be consistent.

Steps to create your schedule

Decide if you want your planner to be paper or digital

Find an “order” that’s logical and achievable for you (more on this later)

Refer to your addendum/syllabus and write down all the assignments, tests and other events taking place that week/month (and their due-dates).

Then break these down, assigning tasks to each day of the week (more on this later).

Break down your tasks even further (more on this later).

Decide if you want to follow a simple daily to-do list or a timed schedule (more on this later).

Find your “order(s)”

Mandatory: Schedule assignments around other commitments (work, social, hobbies, etc.).

Do the hardest task first to get it out of the way (so that the rest of your tasks are less daunting, and because your smaller tasks require less energy therefore can be done even after completing the hard task).

Do the easiest task first to build momentum (give yourself a feeling of accomplishment which will motivate you to continue, and boost your self-confidence early in the day to establish a positive mindset for the rest of the day).

Do the task that’s due first to minimize deadline stress, and so your assignments don’t fall through the cracks (causing you to get discouraged and lose momentum).

Plan according to your energy level throughout the day and week: Do you have Pilates once a week? Maybe you can reserve that day for easier assignments. If you know you’re going to be tired for whatever reason, account for that in your planning.

Consider your state of concentration: If you know you’re too groggy or spaced out for the first hour of your day, you can either schedule easy tasks in that time, or none at all. If you take a medication in the afternoon/evening that makes you tired, schedule easier tasks or none, and get harder tasks done earlier/later in the day. If you have ADHD and crowded places mess with your concentration, but you like studying at a café, go when it’s not busy.

Be mindful of your emotions and symptoms: If you have depression, or are prone to depressive episodes, you’ll need to consider that when scheduling. You might have to rework your entire schedule when you get into a depressive episode (like adding lots of breaks). If suddenly you’re going through a big life event (like a breakup), you need to account for that when scheduling. For instance, if you can’t stand to be alone, maybe you can go out instead of staying in, and if your motivation is low, you may need to up your reward-system or break down your tasks even more.

Break down this week/month’s tasks

Refer to your addendum/syllabus and write down all your due dates for the time period you’re scheduling for.

Based on due dates, outside commitments, predictions of energy/mood/symptoms, assign assignments to the days of the week/month that make most sense for you.

Break down daily tasks into sub-tasks

You can do this (in advance) for your full week/month’s assignments, or do it every morning/evening.

Generally, your assignments will follow a variation of this formula: brainstorm, create an outline, research, write rough draft, edit and revise. Test/exam prep will look something like: check to see what the test is based on, pinpoint important sections, review to see how well you know the material, create a list of items to study, rewrite select notes, make flash cards, study topic 1, study topic 2, etc.

What are the individual components of these steps? Here are some examples. Brainstorm: what should my topic be, what should my thesis be, what points can support my thesis, what do I need to research, what questions do I need to ask my prof? Outline: topic, thesis, points, conclusion. Research: write down all the important parts from each source (separately), then sift through to sort into Supporting Point 1, Supporting Point 2, etc. Rough draft: opening statement(s), intro, point 1, point 2, etc., conclusion, closing statement(s). Edit/revise: read and check for grammar only, then read again and check for spelling only, read again and check for cohesiveness only, etc. Topic 1: Part A, Part B, etc.

Each of these small components can be individual items on your to-do list. Big tasks like, “write essay” are too big for most people. Even “write rough draft” is daunting. If you start with something specific and small like brainstorming, and work your way up, it’s a lot easier to approach. Plus, being able to check off tasks more often and more easily will boost your confidence and your sense of competence, thus building momentum.

Here is a sample to-do list: Research X for Point 1 of Literary Essay, create outline for History Essay, Edit/Revise Assignment 1, study Topic 1 and Topic 2 for Test 1.

To-do list or time-based schedule?

To do list: Write down all your assignments for the day. Put them in the order you want to do them, or go through them intuitively (based on what you feel like doing, or what’s most practical at the time/place you’re at).

Timed-based: Write down all your assignments, then write down the time you’re going to do each of them. You could set reminders or alarms if you want, or simply refer to the list. There’s an awesome app I recommend if this is your thing. It’s called Structured (iOS only).

Curate your study environment for maximum focus

Eliminate distractions such as uncomfortable clothing, sounds (or silence), phone and computer notifications, clutter in the room and on your desk, people who may try to talk to you (shut your door and/or inform them that you’re busy).

Designate a space to doing homework only and avoid spaces that you associate with other things (do not study in bed, as you will want to relax or sleep, and/or you will mess with your sleep by weakening the bed’s association with sleep).

Build associations: Incorporate other events and items into your study/homework routine that you only use while doing that, so that you associate those things with studying/homework (examples: specific playlists, pencils/pens, cups/bottles, scents, rituals, decor, etc.).

Ensure good lighting (preferably including daylight).

Get dressed in clothes that make you feel good about yourself. They don’t have to be “professional” and they should definitely be comfortable. Do not stay in your pyjamas. Believe me, I know this can be hard, and I love PJ’s. But they are not good for productivity.

Don’t “multi-task.” It may feel like you’re getting more done this way, but by splitting your focus, not only do tasks take longer, they also diminish in quality. Commit to the task you’re doing.

Meditate: You can even meditate for just 1-5 mins right before studying, homework and/or classes.

Practice self care (daily!)

Sleep (enough, well, and regularly).

Daylight: Get outside, work by windows, use a light therapy box. These can help regulate your sleep, improve and maintain mental health, and boost energy.

Fresh air: Getting outside even for a couple minutes can help you refresh and reset, and feel good about yourself and your life. Fresh oxygen can help you wake up and is great for your health. Even just opening your window can do a lot for your mood, energy and motivation.

Movement: Try to move at least once per day. The benefits of exercise are numerous and immense.

Healthy and consistent eating: Avoid spikes in insulin levels by eating regularly so you don’t have extreme dips in your energy level. Also, brain power uses calories too, so make sure you’re eating consistently, and try to eat healthy. There are so many other reasons eating consistently is good for your health (and by extension, your productivity).

Relaxation and leisure: Make time for fun and socializing, as well as intentional relaxation. Hobbies, movies/tv, time with friends/family, meditation, baths, progressive muscle relaxation, etc.

Therapy: Your therapy sessions are not daily, but you can do 5 minutes of inner-work per day based on what you and your therapist are currently working on. Working with a therapist is a great way to stay on track with your goals, and develop the skills and positive mindset required for success in school.

Reward yourself

Track progress: Reflect on all the assignments you’ve completed and your grades to remind yourself that you’re capable!

Completing to-do lists daily maintains a sense of accomplishment which keeps your momentum going. Check those items off! Or give yourself gold stars! ⭐️

Treat yourself with non-food rewards: Tie completed school work with fun tasks like video games, or take yourself out for coffee, or some other small (non-food) outing. What I’m trying to do right now is not do my leisure activities until my daily tasks are done.

Develop a positive mindset

Take promises you make to yourself seriously. The more you break promises to yourself, the easier it will get to continue breaking promises. You will lose respect for yourself which lowers motivation, and you will lose trust in yourself which can become debilitating as well. The more you keep promises, the easier it will get, the more motivated you’ll become, and the more you’ll trust and respect yourself. Your confidence will improve, and you’ll feel better about yourself. Productivity is choosing yourself. Discipline is choosing what’s best for you instead of what you feel like doing in the moment. Discipline is a muscle, and like any muscle, it can be strengthened, and it can atrophy.

Remember your “why.” What is the end goal of being in school? What’s your career path, and why did you choose it? What will your life be like when you have that career? What would your life be like if you gave up and didn’t make it to your goal? Aiming for your dream while running from your nightmare is a great strategy for maintaining motivation. Lighting a fire under your *** can be a huge motivator.

Remember how good you feel when you get schoolwork done, and let this motivate you to stay consistent. You can also remember how you feel when you don’t get work done, but definitely focus more on the positive!

Go to therapy and/or hire a coach. There are SO many benefits to therapy and I’d honestly need a whole other post to get into it. You don’t need to be depressed or mentally ill at all in order to benefit from talking to a therapist. They can even help you with time management, procrastination, motivation and more! If you can afford it, please do it. It’s such a worthwhile investment.

Be consistent

No “zero days.” Do at least a bit of homework or studying every day so you don’t slip into vacation mode. Make schoolwork a daily part of your life, so it just becomes the norm.

Build productivity momentum (track progress, check items off your to-do list daily, treat yourself, keep promises to yourself, remember your “why,” remember how success feels).

Stay on top of projects. Your assignments are made up of smaller tasks you assign yourself across time. “Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.” - Robert Collier

Avoid burnout (more on this later).

Keep it interesting (more on this later).

Avoid burnout

Self-care: shower and/or bathe regularly, maintain proper sleep habits, stay hydrated, take care of your skin, do relaxation activities like meditation and reading, do fun activities, pamper yourself every now and then with face masks or foot baths, take your meds as prescribed, eat well and regularly, get outside often, move daily, etc.

Break up study/homework sessions into small, manageable chunks of time, with constructive (refreshing) breaks in between.

Break assignments down into even smaller tasks so that you aren’t over-working yourself during the course of a day, and so that you don’t overwhelm yourself (the stress can lead to burnout).

School-life balance: Keep up with your social life as best as you can, make time for your hobbies, maintain self-care, say no to things that don’t serve you, etc. Try to follow through with scheduled schoolwork 100% of the time, but know that you won’t. Sometimes you’ll need to prioritize mental health over schoolwork (be careful though, this is a very fine line, and a slippery slope). Sometimes things will come up and it’ll be out of your control. But more than anything else, there will be times when you just decide to prioritize something else like fun and socializing over schoolwork. This is why your schedule needs to be flexible: to accommodate sudden invites to hang out and random decisions to skip a homework/study session, but more importantly, flexibility will reduce the odds that you’ll skip in the first place. If your schedule includes hobbies and socializing, and anything else that’s important to you, then you won’t feel deprived. If you have school-life balance, you’ll have more of yourself to devote to schoolwork when it’s time to.

Keep it interesting

Romanticize your life by putting effort into making all of your daily tasks a special occasion.

Make meals and drinks special by using your favourite dinnerware and cutlery. Perhaps even incorporate extra elements such as: a beautiful tablecloth, napkins, candles and/or dim lighting, music, wearing your favourite clothing, etc.

Pretend you’re the main character in a movie about a successful, productive student (because you are the main character in your life).

Make games out of studying if this is something that interests you (the Forest app comes to mind).

Use lots of colours in your notes and buy colourful stationary! 🌈

Vary your approach/methods if needed to avoid boredom.

Study with friends (online or in person).

Reward yourself often.

Remember your “why.”

#bella escuela #studyblr #study #study tips #study hacks #study advice #studying #adhd studyblr #adhd study tips #adhd study hacks #adhd study advice #adhd #adhd student #study motivation #study inspiration #task management #time management #executive dysfunction #productivity #productivity hacks #brain hacks #school planner #planner #assignment tracker #school tips #self discipline #success #adhd tips #adhd hacks #adhd advice

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Focus/Concentration Tip: Gaming

Play a game with no words and no sounds while you listen to a lecture. When I try to watch a lecture, I often can’t concentrate on what the professor is saying because I’m distracted by the text on the slides, their cursor, or other parts of their screen or my screen. But if I’m looking down at my phone that has no distractions to make me think, I can focus my thoughts on what I’m hearing. The game I’m playing is called Helix Jump. It’s all haptic feedback if you turn the sound off, and it’s super repetitive, and not too challenging.

#bella escuela #focus #concentration #focus tips #concentration tips #study advice #study #studyblr #adhd #distractions #study motivation #study tips #adhd study hacks #adhd study tips #adhd student #adhd inattentive #inattentive #attention #adhd studyblr #adhd hacks #adhd tips #brain hacks

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Today’s Homework

Psychology

Study for Evaluation 1

Humanities

Study for Chapter 1 Mini Quiz

Math

Study for Test #1

#homework

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moonwisdomclub ~ Instagram

#mooniswisdomclub #just start #just do it #task management #time management #study #studyblr #study advice #study tips #study motivation #study hacks #study inspiration #inspiration #motivation #education #school #university #college #personal growth #personal development #progress #success #procrastination #perfectionism #failing #productivity #productivity hacks #productivity tips #get shit done

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Done! ✅

Today’s Homework

English

Literary Essay discussion forum (8 questions)

Critical Thinking

Logic Activity #1

Humanities

Short Stuff #1