STUDYBLR TIPS

1. I AM RE ALLY SC ARED O F MY E X AMS BE CAUSE I AM A

FRESH MAN SO I WA S WO NDERI N G IF YOU HAVE ANY TIP S
ON INCR EASIN G CONFID ENCE?
Practice makes perfect! If you can, get your hands on some past exam paper questions and try answering
them. This helped me a lot because when the exams came around I knew what to expect! As long as you
prepare and do lots of studying in the run up to the exam you will have nothing to worry about! xo

2. HOW DO YOU LE AR N FOR AN EX A M?

I tend to make a study guide which is usually a compilation of text book / academic journal info (if at
university level) and my class notes. Ill also focus on doing past paper questions to identify where my
strengths and weaknesses are! xo

3.I HAVE MED SC HOOL EN TRY T E ST IN 7 MONTH S IN A FOR EGIN

LANGUA GE AN D I'M SO STRE SSE D OUT B UT I C A N'T SE EM TO
FOCUS OR ST AY MOTIVA T ED HE L P PLEA SE :(
oh Im so sorry to hear that youre feeling this way! You still have plenty of time to prepare, so Id sit
down and make a plan of everything you need to cover over the next 7 months. Thisll mean that that by
the time the exam comes around, youve prepared as much as possible. Also always ask for help where
you need it! xo

4.I WANT ED TO ASK, WH E N IT C OMES T O REVI SI NG AND

HAVING TO DO HOME WO R K A T THE SA ME TIM E H O W WO ULD
YOU GO ABOU T THAT BE CAUSE I AL WAY S HEA R "REVISE AS
YOU GO ALON G" HO W TH OUGH?
Id recommend keeping a schedule / study plan so you can add your homework onto your planner as you
get it, along with when its due and when you plan to work on it. That way you can identify gaps of free
time where you can do some revision.. other than that you could set aside a couple of hours at the same
time each week where you just do revision and not homework! xo

5.ON THE DAYS YOU DO N' T FEEL MOTIVA TED A T ALL, WH AT DO

YOU DO TO GET STUFF DONE?
This is a difficult one! I usually put on some music and promise myself a reward at the end of the day if I
complete my to-do list.. that usually works! xo

6.DO YO U HAV E ANY TIPS ABO U T HO W T O MAK E A GOOD

STUDY G UIDE A ND WHAT TO IN CLUDE I N IT :)
I like to make my study guides on Microsoft Word rather than handwriting them. It helps me to be able to
go back through to earlier sections and add / remove text where necessary. I like to set my study guide up
by making headings and subheadings according to the syllabus for the class. Ill then compile information
from my class notes and extra-curricular reading into the relevant section, so that might include notes
from journals (university level) or text books. Ill also add in diagrams if necessary! Its useful to have a
system such as bold text for key words and underline for quotes. Hopefully this helps you! xo

7.CAN Y OU LIST THE THIN GS YO U DID WH ILE ST UDYING THAT

MADE Y OU SU CC ESSFUL? !(:
sure! here are some of the things I did that I think really helped:

ALWAYS checked my feedback comments from exams and essays, then I made sure I was doing
what they suggested in my current and future pieces of work
I always studied at the time of day that worked best for me - I was motivated in the evenings so I
tended to keep those free
Ask for help when you need it - dont struggle through
Getting a good nights sleep and eating well (not necessarily healthy as Im not too good at that,
but getting 3 solid meals) helped me massively
I found a study spot that helped me and made sure I ONLY did studying there which helped me
feel motivated as I didnt associate that room with anything other than school work
I listened to studying playlists which made me so much more concentrated
I took breaks! And went out with my friends! and had days off!

8. WHAT I NSPIR E S YOU T O AL WA YS POST AND CR E ATE

BEAUTIFUL NO T ES? ALS O WHA T MOTIVAT ION D O YOU USE
TO AL WA YS FE E L MOTIV ATED W HEN STU DYING?
I guess my motivation is being able to make cute notes! It always keeps me interested if I can write neatly
and use nice colours. I keep myself motivated by listening to study playlists and studying in the library
where Im surrounded by other people who are in the same mindset! xo

9.HO W D O YOU OVERCO ME LA ZI NESS? I REALL Y W A NT TO

START O RGAN IZ ING MYS ELF B U T WHEN I T COM E S TO IT I DON 'T
FEEL LIK E DOIN G IT.
Well I think its important not to expect it to happen overnight! Thats usually my problem - I overwhelm
myself with lots of tasks which I think will make me less lazy then attempt to do them all at once. This
isnt a good idea because itll leave you feeling unmotivated when you understandably cant become an
organised person overnight. Start by making a list of every step you think youll need to take in order to
overcome your laziness.. no task is too small for this list, even put making your bed on there! Start by
prioritising how important they are you might not urgently need to sort through your summer clothes in
January, but you might urgently need to make an essay plan for your upcoming assignments. Once you
have your priorities sorted you can begin! Dont be too disheartened if you still feel unmotivated, itll take
a long time to get everything in gear. Remember to reward yourself along the way as that will make it all
worth it! Good luck! xo

10.DO YO U FIN D ITS BETT ER TO T AKE NOT ES WIT H PEN A ND

PAPER OR ON A LAPTOP ?
pen and paper! xo
 1 1 . HI ELLEN! HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY CONCENTRA TION
DURING AN EX A M? (PS : YOUR PRINTABL ES AR E SO BEA UTIFUL ,
I USE TH EM EV E RYDAY! )
yay I am so glad you like them! here are a few tips that might help:

get a good nights sleep the night before (8-9 hours if you can)
stay hydrated - make sure you drink 2 litres of water a day and take a bottle of it into your exam
as well
eat a good breakfast that will give you energy through the day (porridge and a banana maybe)

hope this helps!xo

12. H I DO YO U HA VE ANY G O OD T IP S FOR GETT ING S UC H A N EAT

HANDW R IT ING LI KE YOU R S ? THANKS IN ADVANC E !
hmm I guess just find a pen that suits you (I love the Sharpie fineliner ones.. they make my hand writing
look so much neater than it actually is!). Also dont rush and practice! xo

13. WOUL D YOU BE UP FOR PO STI NG TIPS FOR HO W OTHER

STUDEN TS CA N BECOME ORG AN IZED?
yes! here are just a few:

maintain a good file-folder system for all your notes and assignments (use lots of labels, different
folders, colours etc just find something that works for you and stick to it!)
write everything down on a task list so you never lose track of what you need to get on with
similar to the above, keep an agenda / planner and actually use it!
make sure everything has a place - you wont lose anything then. Always know where you keep
books, notes, school supplies etc
Pack your school bag the night before!

14.HAVE YOU AN Y T IP S ON H OW TO GET A F IR S T?

Okay I have some that definitely helped me so hopefully theyll be good for you too! Towards the end of
my second year at university I started to realise I could realistically achieve a first - I mean it wouldnt
just be handed to me, Id need to seriously put the work in. These are the things I did that I dont think I
would have got a first without.

ALWAYS GET FEEDBACK. This applies to everything but especially for getting and
maintaining firsts. When you get a marked assignment back, follow their instructions very closely.
Itll tell you where youve lost marks and where youve gained marks, so process these comments
and then youll know what to do / not do on your next assignment. If you still feel like you need
more info about the good and bad parts of your assignment, arrange a meeting with the tutor to go
through it. Feedback is invaluable and you wont achieve a first without being proactive with this.
Treat your degree like a full time job. Being a full time student doesnt mean its okay to only
study when you feel like it - you need to put the time in and make that time count. Set schedules
and stick to them! My best advice for time management would be to work backwards from your
deadline and set little goals along the way so you know when you need to have things done by.
 Do a lot of reading. The wider youve read, the more comprehensive your understanding of the
topic will be. Its no good finding a perfect reference to build your argument around without
having some others to use as further evidence. You might even find a few differing opinions
which is always good.
Dont forget to give your own opinion! If you immerse yourself into your studies and show a
genuine interest in what youre writing about then youll start to form your own opinions on the
topic along the way. Dont be afraid to share these in your assignments! It shows your ability to
think individually rather than taking an academics word as being the only opinion out there.

16.What do you do when youre feeling unmotivated?

- I usually remove myself from the task (i.e. if Im sat at my desk trying to do work Ill move away from
it and go in another room), then I tend to pop onto Tumblr to get some motivation from seeing others
being productive and motivated.. setting myself a little deadline with a reward at the end usually helps too.

17.HI! DO YOU U SE A RU L ER TO WRITE Y OUR N O T ES? CAUSE

THEY AR E LIKE 100% O N THE SA ME LINE HAHA :)
noo I dont, I just write on lined paper.. I have to say it isnt always so straight if Im in a rush haha! xo

18. ELEVE N LITT LE SELF C ARE TI PS FOR STUD ENT S

1. Get enough sleep. Your brain needs it. Set yourself a bed time and fall into the routine of going
to bed and waking up at the same times each day.
2. Drink water and lots of it. Aim for 2 litres a day. This ones easy, you can do it. Ditch the juices
and carbonated beverages, just add a slice of lemon to your water if you feel like something fancy.
3. Allow yourself to switch off. Dont be afraid to read books that have nothing to do with your
studies. Go to the cinema. Work out. Take your mind away from your workload.
4. Take care of your skin. Wash your face every morning and night. Moisturise after every shower
and bath. Dont go to bed with your make-up on, no matter how tired you are.
5. Talk to your friends and family about something other than school. Dont let your studies detach
you from the things going on around you.
6. Work out. Even just once a week, or whenever you can. Go for a walk or a run, maybe just for 15
minutes. Follow along with a YouTube exercise video from the comfort of your own home or try
out some yoga moves.
7. Make time for your hobbies. Studying is your full time job, but theres plenty of hours left in the
day. Dont neglect the things you love.
8. Cook. Sometimes all we have time for is microwave noodles, but dont fall into the habit of
relying on the basics. Youll feel the difference.
9. Dont forget to laugh. Watch a hilarious film. See a comedian at a local venue. Watch funny
videos on YouTube. Reminisce with friends. Itll do you good.
10. Ditch the caffeine. Dont rely on Starbucks. Its delicious but you dont need it. Save up all the
money youd usually spend on coffee and treat yourself to something instead.
11. Make your bed every morning. Youll be grateful at the end of a long day when you can get into a
cosy bed that doesnt look like you just rolled out of it.

18.I cant get motivated to study. How do you do it?

Trust me when I say that there are times that I couldnt bring myself to study no matter what.
Motivation is peculiar and unfortunately youve got to want it it wont just come about suddenly. Be
strict with yourself and establish a routine of studying that you can fall in to with our without the
motivation that you are reliant on. Once studying becomes a habit for you it will be much easier to
get everything done, and you wont be as conscious of whether you feel like doing it or not.

19.I do a lot of extracurricular activities, so its hard to find time for me to do my homework
and study. What should I do?

I think its important to find the balance. I would recommend printing out a weekly planner (I have a
selection on my printables page) and starting by marking on there the hours you are committed to
i.e. time spend at school, travel time, extra curricular activities. Next, mark on meal times, shower
times and sleeping time. By now, you should see where youre true free time is. Are there any clear
gaps? Are your weekends free? Identify these times and contemplate whether youll realistically be
able to complete all your studying during these times. Think about how it would work at busy times of
the year, when you have a lot of tests or essays. If you dont think youd have enough time, it might be
time to scale back your involvement in your extra-curricular activities. These activities are important
and rewarding, but your grades shouldnt suffer because of it.

20.Should I use one large folder / ring binder or lots of smaller ones?

This really depends on your workload and how much you want to carry each day / how far you have
to carry it. At university I preferred to keep all my notes in one folder as I didnt need to take them to
class with me. I would write in a notebook and then transfer that page into a section of my ring
binder when I got home. For A-Levels and GCSEs where youre likely to have a lot more work, I
would recommend keeping a separate folder for each subject. Dont take these to school everyday
though. Invest in an acordian organiser which you can take to school each day with a specific
section for each class.. that way you can just take the notes or pieces of homework you know you are
going to need.

21.I struggle with essays. Can you help?

From my experience, time management and effective planning are the two essential elements
necessary for doing well with essays. Lets think about them both:

Time management: This is really important as you dont want to rush your essays or run out of time
through poor planning. The day your essay is assigned, come up with a rough timetable of when you
want to get it finished by. From my experience, it is easier to plan your time by working backwards
from the submission date. I like to leave myself at least 4 days between the essay submission date and
the date I actually finish the essay, just for ease of mind. I find that when I finish the essay early my
mind is more relaxed and I never have to deal with last minute essay panics. My essay technique is to
gather all my references / readings, then plan a structure, then write the essay. It usually takes me 2
weeks to write the essay (possibly less or more depending on the word count though!) and half a week
to a week of checking / proofreading / editing, so I factor those areas into my plan. Gathering
references usually takes me 2-3 weeks. Seen as at my university we were given at least 5 weeks to
write our essays, this worked out for me and I always adapted my plans depending on how
comfortable I felt with the essays and what other work I had to complete during this time.

Planning: Ive already discussed some of this in the context of time management, but essay planning
is really important. Fail to plan, plan to fail. A teacher once told me that and Ill never forget it -
and its true! I like to gather all my references and readings prior to writing the essay and then
structuring it around those readings. If you read enough relevant material youll find that your essay
starts to structure itself. If youre struggling with structure, have a look at your lecture notes as this
 might give you an idea of how the lecturer / professor structured the relevant class/classes for that
essay. Once youve done this, structure your references according to relevance and how they relate to
each other. Remember that its okay to have references which show conflicting opinions, and it can
also be a great idea to show your own opinions or reflections - this is essential in your conclusion. I
like to make a rough essay plan with my references and ideas which is about half my word count /
page count - this makes it much easier to write it up formally in a format that can be submitted. I also
found it was easier to write my introduction after Id written the rest of the essay. This might sound
strange, but I struggle with introductions and it was much easier to write when I already had the
essay sorted!

I have an essay planning printable which may help you with essay writing.

22.My friend wants to borrow my notes but I am reluctant to give them to her. What should I do?

Situations like this can be tricky, and there isnt one set way that you should go about letting your friend
know how you feel. I think its important to make it clear to them that they wont learn in the way theyre
supposed to if theyre just copying your work. Encourage them to study themselves, which you could
maybe facilitate through group study sessions where you each take one subject to learn and then feed
that back to each other as a teacher would do.

23.I have a blank notebook and I dont know how to fill it. What do you suggest?

There are many ways that you can make use of empty notebooks. Here are a few ideas:

Make it into a 'one line a day diary .. split each page into 5 sections and then write one sentence
a day on each page for 5 years. This is a great way to look back and see what you were doing in
the past!
Use it as a list making book. Keeping lists is a great way to stay on top of your workload.
Make it into your own personal dictionary.. every time you find a word you dont understand /
want to remember write it down with its definition in the notebook.
get a lot of questions about how I take my lecture notes, and so I thought a quick post might be
helpful! Ive said many a time that I dont do anything too complex with my notes, nor do a re-
write them - but this system really works well for me!

NOTE TAKING SYSTEM:THE BASICS

First off, I write all my lecture notes in black pen. Sometimes this is a Bic pen, sometimes a
Sharpie Fineliner. My highlighters are the Zebra Mildliners. I dont underline and highlight my
notes until after the class, usually the next day. This allows me to focus more in class and gives
me an opportunity to review the information at a later date.
STRUCTURE
At the top of the page Ill always write the date in full and the name of the module that those
notes are for, followed by title for that lecture. Underneath, you can see that Ive devised a colour
coding system with highlighters. I usually do citations, 'examples and 'important info, but this
may vary depending on the lecture content, so I do this step after Ive completed the notes.
 Subheadings

Each section of the lecture is given a subheading, which I will underline - again after the class has
ended, usually at home. I use the subheadings which feature on the PowerPoint, but rather than
writing the information shown on those I base my notes off of what the lecturer is saying.

Indentations

I indent my writing for examples and for the text that follows them, as you can see with 'the
diggers and my definitions of the green economy. I find this makes it much easier to identify and
follow as you re-read your notes.

Symbols and Shorthand

I use little right-angle arrows like you can see at the top of the page for my 'follow through
points, which act as consequences for the point that is mentioned above. I will use three dots
{like this } as a symbol for 'therefore. It concludes the points that I have made and is usually
based off of how the lecturer has summarised the point they are making. This makes my notes
much more coherent.

I hope this has been informative and has maybe given you a few ideas on how to do your own
lecture notes! xo

10 STEPS TO REACHING YOUR FULL ACADEMIC

POTENTIAL
1. Always get feedback, whether that be on essays, exams, homework or your general performance. In
all cases, especially those where you cant obtain formal feedback {i.e. from receiving a graded
essay or test back}, arrange to meet with your tutor to discuss your progress.
2. Study efficiently. Pay attention to when you study best {morning or night?} and where you study
best. Work on a schedule that falls around that. When you study, give it 100% and dont give in to
menial tasks {such as checking social media} that will break your concentration. Do this on a
planned break.
3. Form good habits. Get roughly the same amount of sleep each night from the same hour at night to
the same hour in the morning, if you can. Drink plenty of water. Like I said, take breaks. Study
daily, even for a short amount of time if that is all you have.
4. Set yourself deadlines and stick to them. If you can, start your homework/assignments as soon as
you get them, and if theyre longer ones, set goals along the way.
5. Fail to plan, plan to fail. A teacher once told me that, and it resonates in my mind even ten years on.
It is not wise to write an essay or assignment in your head as you go along. Give yourself a structure
and brainstorm ideas, no matter how brief or comprehensive this is.
6. Study actively. Dont write and rewrite notes over and over. Get the information in to your long
term memory through active recall {testing yourself}, making visual aids {mind maps/diagrams}
and teaching others.
7. Anticipate a certain degree of disappointment somewhere along the way. Even the brightest minds
will falter, and understandably, this might knock your confidence or your motivation. Allow
yourself to build on those errors in time for your next assessment - let that motivate you. Making
mistakes is inevitable, but not making the same mistake twice is key.
 8. Enjoy what you do. Take classes that interest you, and aim to develop a knowledge of that subject
which is well-rounded and comprehensive. Taking the extra steps to immersing yourself in your
studies will not only make the process easier, but youll gain motivation through your
inquisitiveness and desire to learn.
9. Treat your studies like a full time job - that is what they equate to in most cases. Take breaks and
know your limits, but remember that if your input is minimal then your output will be too. Resist
that urge we all know too well, and dont shy away from your education.
10. Dont succumb to the pressures of studying in the same ways as other people. We are all individuals,
and what works for one is not forced to work for another. Experiment with different aspects of your
learning experience to find what works for you. If youre not a morning person, thats okay. If
colour coding feels pointless to you, thats okay too. As long as you are making progress and you
are reflecting on your studies then youre doing just fine.

P S A: W HAT IS R E V IS IO N?
Do you ever see studyblrs taking about revision and not know what it means? Do you wish you knew
how to revise?

Well revision is defined as rereading work done previously to improve ones knowledge of a subject,
typically to prepare for an examination. So essentially, revision is an umbrella term which applies to
the act of studying for an exam. Chances are, if you didnt know what revision was before now, then you
were already revising without even realising!

As far as I know, revision is a term more commonly used here in the UK {sorry, it may be used elsewhere
too} we dont tend to use the term studying as much as revision. Also, when you hear people talking
about revision it will most likely always be applied in the context of tests and examinations, but broadly
speaking you could also revise an essay through redrafting and editing.

I hope this helps!

24.SHOU LD I T A KE CLASS NOT E S ON MY L APT OP AND WRI TE

THEM U P AFTE R WA RDS I N MY N OTEBOO K, OR T A KE NOT ES IN A
NOTEBO OK AN D TYPE TH EM UP A FTER WA RDS?
Hmm, this really depends on the quality of the notes you take when youre write compared to when you
type.. do you find that your notes are messy when you hand write? do you prefer typing in lectures so you
can get all the key info down? I personally preferred to write my notes in lectures then highlight them
afterwards according to facts / quotes / citations etc. Please note that I didnt always do this it depended
on my workload and priorities. I think writing notes up after a lecture is unnecessarily time consuming
because you could be using that time to study in a more effective way. You could always try both I guess
and see which works best for you personally! xo

25.STUD Y TIPS TO GET G O OD G RADES?

Always always always get feedback on work you submit, assignments, tests and exams - take it
all on board and make sure you act on the feedback! Dont just ignore it because its hands down
the best way to bring your grades up in my opinion.
Actually study. good grades dont just happen youve got to work for it
study actively
 Always ask if you dont understand something. Teachers are there to help you and you shouldnt
neglect their potential to help you when you need it the most.
Make your lifestyle conjunctive with good study habits - practice efficient time management, eat
well, plan everything and get a proper nights sleep.

2 6 . I A LW AYS S TU DY S O HA R D B UT I DON 'T H AVE GO OD GR ADES AND

THAT P IS S ES ME OFF. I S P END A LOT OF T IM E S TUD Y ING FOR
NOTH IN G. I F EE L S O S TUP ID, W HAT C AN I DO ?
youre not stupid! I think it is important for you to get as much feedback as possible as to why youre not
getting the grades which reflect the effort you are putting in. Ask your teachers to work through your past
essays and assignments - make sure they tell you exactly what you need to be doing to reach those higher
grades. I think this will make a lot of difference for you! xo

27.IM KIN DA WO RRIED A BO UT W RITING/LI NING SE NTENCE S ON

BOOKS CUZ I M A FRAID IL L DO T HE WRO NG THI N G AND SCRE W
EVERYT HING U P. DO U H AVE A N Y TIPS? ? THAN K S IN ADV ANCE
(LOVE THE BLOG, URE O NE OF MY FAV ORITE S TUDYBL RS)
first of all, thank you! Have you thought writing with pencil rather than pen? I always annotated my
books with pencil as I found it much easier to distinguish between the print and the annotation that way.
Also, if you go wrong you can easily erase it! In terms of lining or highlighting, how about investing in
some erasable highlighters? These Pilot Frixon highlighters are erasable. You could also try highlighting
strips like these which can be easily removed / moved around! xo

2 8 .W HAT AR E YO UR TOP TH R EE B IGGES T ADV IC E A BOUT S TUDY IN G? ?

1. start your work as soon as you get it

2. plan everything

3. always ask for feedback and take it on board

29. JUST A NOT E: TYPIN G YOU R NOTES T E NDS T O BE LES S

EFFECTI VE TH A N WRITI N G THE M OUT : -)
While this is true, writing and typing notes is passive studying, which isnt that effective anyway when
compared to other study methods, particularly those classed as active studying. I prefer to encourage
people to engage in active studying , and because typing notes is quicker then more time is available to
study actively! you can read more about active studying here.

30. ANY T IP S ON S TAY ING W AKE IN C LAS S ?

get a good nights sleep beforehand! also drink lots of water and actively engage with the material in class.

31. DO YOU R EC O MMEND TYP ING LEC TUR E NOTES ?

I dont see why not - I always wrote mine out because it helped me remember the information better, but
sometimes I wish I typed them so I could get more information down and edit it easier after the lecture. I
think it would be good to type lecture notes then go back to that document and pad it out with information
from text books and other material on the reading list for that lecture! xo
 3 2 .P LEAS E C AN YOU HELP ME FIND A ONLINE S HO P TO BUY A BIG
P ENC IL C AS E LIK E THE ONE IN THE FOTO O F
S TUDYW ITHS AV A NNAH? ? THANKS XOXO
something like thisx? xo

3 3 .W HAT IS YOUR FAVOR IT E MUS IC TO LIS TEN TO W H ILE S TUDY IN G?

XX
I have a study playlist but unfortunately 8tracks are changing their terms and conditions at the end of the
month which means they will be removing many of the tracks which I linked from soundcloud. For now
you can see the playlist here, but I might make a new one on Spotify or another platform! xo

34.IT TAK ES ME 3 HOURS TO R E WRITE A ND CO M BINE MY CLAS S

LECTURE NOTE S WI TH B O OK NO TES PER CLASS ( I READ T HE
BOOK A S I RE AD MY LE C TURE N OTES). I ONLY D O IT FOR CHE M
AND BIO, BUT IS THIS TO O MU CH TIME TO SP EN D ON TAKI NG
NOTES ?
I wouldnt recommend re-writing notes, and it does seem like 3 hours is a lot of time which you could be
spending doing more active studying.. rather than just reproducing information that you already have. If
you really want to combine your notes you could do this by typing them up as that takes much less time!
xo

35. H I, I'VE BEE N US ING S TAEDT LER FE LT T IP P ENS (THE GR EY

TR IA NG LE ONES ) FOR A W H ILE AN D THE T IP S AR E S T AR T ING TO
ANNOY ME. D O Y OU HAV E A NY R E C OMMENDAT ION S FOR OTHER
BR ANDS OR KNO W OF AN Y W HER E THE T IP W ON ' T S OFTEN UP TO O
MUC H?
You might prefer the stabilo fineliners!

3 6 .DO YOU F IND H IGH LIG H T IN G T H INGS GENU INE L Y HE LP FU L?

only sometimes I find highlighting useful after Ive taken lecture notes if I am trying to colour code
something. I think it makes it easier to see the key information. But for general studying and
memorising no I dont think it is very useful! xo

37.THERE ARE E NDLESS ST UDI ES THAT SHO W HI G HLIGHT IN G

MAKES YOU FOR GET WHA T YOU 'VE HIGHL IGHTE D . IT'S GOOD
FOR YO U TO L O CATE KE Y INFO LATER, B UT DE FO WILL M AKE
YOU FO RGET I N THE FI R ST INST ANCE. # SCIEN CE ANDTHA T
which is why I said I dont find it very useful :)

3 8 .DO YOU F IND H IGH LIG H T IN G T H INGS GENU INE L Y HE LP FU L?

only sometimes I find highlighting useful after Ive taken lecture notes if I am trying to colour code
something. I think it makes it easier to see the key information. But for general studying and
memorising no I dont think it is very useful! Xo

13.11.14, 2:39pm // I am the worst at making unrealistic to do lists which ultimately makes me
lose my motivation, so today Ive kept it short and concise which is working so much better for
me.
14.11.14, 12.27pm // I love these long, lined post it notes (pictures left under the book tabs) for
making notes from literature that I can use in my essay. My to do list is concise again today and is
a mix of academic and personal. #friyay
16.11.14, 12:35pm // today my to do list is short as I want to devote the majority of my time to
working out all the phrasing and grammatical mistakes in my essay. This part of essay writing
can have a really big influence on your grade! Im also keeping my pens in this cute mason jar.
17.11.14, 14:32pm // whats on my desk?
laptop, usually on an essay or tumblr
a mason jar filled the most used items in my pencil case
a refillable cup, usually filled with water
my academic diary, complete with 1000 post-it notes of things I need to remember!
clean post-its for those mental sparks
earphones - classical music makes me study harder!
burts bees lip balm
22.11.14, 16:09pm // its official, I am in love with sharpie pens. Theyre so ergonomic for me
compared to the triplus fine liners, and dont smudge or print through the page. Win! They way
they make my handwriting look gives me all kids of feelings.
16.1.2015, 4:51pm // sometimes Im just not in the mood for studying on my laptop. Pen
and paper is so much more satisfying (and less distracting hah)

39. HI (: CAN I ASK YOU FOR A DVICE? WHAT C AN I USE AS A

RE WARD FOR M Y GOAL? I WAS THINKIN G ABO U T IT A LO T, BUT
I CAN'T FIN D A PERFE CT ANSWER , CAN Y OU HE LP ME? (: SORRY
FOR MY ENGLI SH, IF T HE RE AR E ANY MI STAKE S (:
How about treating yourself to a little something - maybe a new notebook or some cute pens that you can
use for studying? It could even be something like a new DVD, a trip to the movies or just a night off from
your usual chores! xo

4 0 .H I E LLEN! I HA VE MY S A TS IN O C TOBER AND I' M S O FR EAKED

OUT. I W AS TED A LL MY S UMMER D O ING NO TH IN G A ND NOW I FEE L
R EA LLY BA D. S C HOO L'S IS R EOP E N ING IN 3 W EEKS . I AM VER Y VER Y
ANX IOUS .. P LEAS HE LP ME GET OV ER IT A ND S TOP S TR ES S ING...
Dont worry, it isnt too late to do well! I think it is important that you set yourself a realistic schedule so
you know how much you have to study and when it has to be done by. You can do it, it will just take a lot
of time and dedication. Get in the habit of studying on the weekends and after school, also set up a proper
study space which you can associate with SAT preparation - make sure it is quiet! xo
 41.CAN YOU RECOMMEND AN Y ESSENTIALS APPS FO R
STUDEN TS? X
I sure can!

Adobe Acrobat DC - amazing for reading PDFs on the go! I used this all the time for journals and
ebooks.
Google Calendar - make the calendar on your PC then sync it with the one on your phone. I
always recommend people to have a proper, tangible planner but having an electronic version is
also great for on the go.
8Tracks - because listening to study playlists is the greatest.
Google Drive and Google Docs - get into the habit of backing your work up onto Google Drive.
If you download these two apps you can make your documents available offline to read
through/edit from your device. Probably works best for iPad.
Pomodoro - this is a good app for using the 20 minute work/5 minute break technique. Itll keep
you motivated!

http://theorganisedstudent.tumblr.com/post/123257118689/hi-i-was-just-wondering-what-your-best-
tips-are
http://theorganisedstudent.tumblr.com/post/123246105762/hi-ellen-ive-been-really-inspired-lately-
from
http://theorganisedstudent.tumblr.com/post/123239300772/hi-ellen-any-tips-on-what-to-do-when-
one-feels