How do you study? Where? What are some tips that you'd like to share with others?
I want to hear from YOU!
Monday 29 October 2012
Midterm Madness
You are either one out of two types of students right now: either you just finished your midterms and you're finally able to breathe (wondered why i haven't blogged in so long?) or you're in the middle of your midterms and you can't wait for them to be over.
If you've finished your midterms, CONGRATULATIONS!
You did it- you made it through your midterms in one piece! Whether you think you did great or failed miserably, don't dwell on it. What's done is done, so give yourself a pat on the back for getting through it. If you didn't do so well, read over it, ask your teachers questions about how you could have answered questions better, and learn from your mistakes. By learning from what you did wrong, you can make sure you're that much more prepared for the final exams.
Don't get too comfortable!
Although it's important to give yourself a break, the semester/term keeps moving forward, and at an extremely quick pace, so it's really important not to get lazy. Make sure to stay on the ball and understand the material as the semester progresses (trust me, it'll save you come Finals, and make studying for them that much easier).
If you're still drowning in Midterms, YOU CAN DO IT!
Don't get discouraged- you're almost there! Although it can be really hard during this time, stay focused and stay positive! Make sure to stock up on your favorite coffee brands, tea brands, and a few Red Bulls. Although you're really busy, please take care of yourself. Listen to your body and sleep if you're too tired to function. If you feel like your brain is mush, go for a run to clear your mind (it'll also give you energy!).
Here are some studying tips for everyone, whether you're done midterms or not:
Study with a friend
First of all, it's much less lonely and much more fun. (Well, as fun as studying can be). Do your own thing for about 45 minutes, then check up on each other to make sure you both understand. Quiz each other, discuss the material, give each other relevant examples. You'll feel much better knowing that your friend is in the same boat as you, and you'd be surprised about how much you can learn from your peers. Bring coffee and some treats and make a night out of it!
Make your own notes
Read through your textbook, your class notes and your class slides. As you do this, create your own notes summarizing everything in the best way that makes the most sense for you. Use highlighters, and format it in a way that is best for you (I personally use lots of simple examples)
Understand, don't memorize
Don't try to retain information just for the sake of the exam.Understand it. Try to explain a concept to a friend, a parent, or even to your dog. Know the content like the back of your hand!
Organize your time
Make a schedule for every single day. Plan out your study sessions to allow yourself enough time to study for each subject, and always make lists of what you have left to do. Instead of writing "Study Psychology" on your to-do list of the day, plan out exactly what you'll be studying ("Read and take notes on Chapters 4 in the morning, then do practice problems in the afternoon"). The best part: crossing things off your schedule and to-do list and realizing how productive you are!
Find your best study location
Where do you study best: Starbucks? Second Cups? Cafe Depot? Tim Hortons? School libraries? Your dining room table? The desk in your room? Chapters? Make sure you decide where you work best, so you don't waste time finding place. Another tip- if you're in public, beware for loud noises. Invest in earplugs and always bring your iPod with you. ALSO, studies show that people work best with soft classical music playing in the background, so if you haven't already tried that, do it!
We go to school to learn, but we learn so much through the process. If things don't work out for your midterms, learn from them. Switch up some habits, try different studying tactics, start a study group, attend tutorials, speak to your teachers. There are plenty of people supporting you and your studies, so don't be shy to approach people for help. Most importantly, don't be so hard on yourself and don't give up!
Study Smarter, not Harder!
Happy Studying :)
If you've finished your midterms, CONGRATULATIONS!
You did it- you made it through your midterms in one piece! Whether you think you did great or failed miserably, don't dwell on it. What's done is done, so give yourself a pat on the back for getting through it. If you didn't do so well, read over it, ask your teachers questions about how you could have answered questions better, and learn from your mistakes. By learning from what you did wrong, you can make sure you're that much more prepared for the final exams.
Don't get too comfortable!
Although it's important to give yourself a break, the semester/term keeps moving forward, and at an extremely quick pace, so it's really important not to get lazy. Make sure to stay on the ball and understand the material as the semester progresses (trust me, it'll save you come Finals, and make studying for them that much easier).
If you're still drowning in Midterms, YOU CAN DO IT!
Don't get discouraged- you're almost there! Although it can be really hard during this time, stay focused and stay positive! Make sure to stock up on your favorite coffee brands, tea brands, and a few Red Bulls. Although you're really busy, please take care of yourself. Listen to your body and sleep if you're too tired to function. If you feel like your brain is mush, go for a run to clear your mind (it'll also give you energy!).
Here are some studying tips for everyone, whether you're done midterms or not:
Study with a friend
First of all, it's much less lonely and much more fun. (Well, as fun as studying can be). Do your own thing for about 45 minutes, then check up on each other to make sure you both understand. Quiz each other, discuss the material, give each other relevant examples. You'll feel much better knowing that your friend is in the same boat as you, and you'd be surprised about how much you can learn from your peers. Bring coffee and some treats and make a night out of it!
Make your own notes
Read through your textbook, your class notes and your class slides. As you do this, create your own notes summarizing everything in the best way that makes the most sense for you. Use highlighters, and format it in a way that is best for you (I personally use lots of simple examples)
Understand, don't memorize
Don't try to retain information just for the sake of the exam.Understand it. Try to explain a concept to a friend, a parent, or even to your dog. Know the content like the back of your hand!
Organize your time
Make a schedule for every single day. Plan out your study sessions to allow yourself enough time to study for each subject, and always make lists of what you have left to do. Instead of writing "Study Psychology" on your to-do list of the day, plan out exactly what you'll be studying ("Read and take notes on Chapters 4 in the morning, then do practice problems in the afternoon"). The best part: crossing things off your schedule and to-do list and realizing how productive you are!
Find your best study location
Where do you study best: Starbucks? Second Cups? Cafe Depot? Tim Hortons? School libraries? Your dining room table? The desk in your room? Chapters? Make sure you decide where you work best, so you don't waste time finding place. Another tip- if you're in public, beware for loud noises. Invest in earplugs and always bring your iPod with you. ALSO, studies show that people work best with soft classical music playing in the background, so if you haven't already tried that, do it!
We go to school to learn, but we learn so much through the process. If things don't work out for your midterms, learn from them. Switch up some habits, try different studying tactics, start a study group, attend tutorials, speak to your teachers. There are plenty of people supporting you and your studies, so don't be shy to approach people for help. Most importantly, don't be so hard on yourself and don't give up!
Study Smarter, not Harder!
Happy Studying :)
Monday 8 October 2012
Turkeyturkeyturkey!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend of family,
friends and friggin’ fantastic food! There’s nothing quite like pigging out on
turkey, stuffing, carrots, potatoes and pie while being surrounded with the
people you love. And thank God they love us, or else I’m not too sure if they’d
stick around after watching us stuff our faces the way we did this weekend...
In the spirit of the holidays, today’s post has two
Thanksgiving-related topics.
The
“Thanks” in Thanksgiving
Before we all dug into our delicious meals, how many
of us actually gave thanks? What are we even thankful for? And why do we only
need to reflect on what we have one day a year?
If I were to ask you what you’re thankful for, what
would be the first five things that would come to mind? A family member’
support? A friend? The incredible mark you received on your last exam? The
creation of Apple? No answers are wrong, in fact, recognizing your thankfulness
for these five things is a great place to begin. This week I want you, my dear
blog-readers, to reflect on why these five things mean so much to you and why
you are thankful for them. Then, I want you to let those five things know just how much they mean to you. So
yes, I’m giving you full permission to speak to your bed and declare your
thankfulness to it, or to tell those amazing Tim Hortons workers that this
Thanksgiving you are giving thanks to them for brightening your mornings every
day with their delicious breakfast sandwiches and cheap coffee.
But
it tastes sooo good..
I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but Thanksgiving
dinners are not helping your “Get-Back-into-Shape” plan. So instead of letting
the extra pounds the holidays has to offer to get the best of you, start
shedding away the extra pounds right away! It doesn’t take much, but here are
some few easy ways to get you back into your healthy routine:
-Take the stairs
-Go for a walk every evening
-Go for a run each morning-Hit the gym at least half as much as you hit the books
-EAT THOSE LEFTOVERS IN MODERATION. LEFTOVER TURKEY AND PIE IS UNACCEPTABLE TO EAT EACH DAY AS BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER
Don't get off track because of a weekend of delicious meals! And don't forget to give thanks :)
Have a great week, and remember to incorporate a sense of balance in your life to keep yourself happy and sane!
Wednesday 3 October 2012
YOLO
As much as I can't stand Drake's song that contaminated people into using that saying "YOLO"- it does have a point. You DO only live once. (And no, this is not an opening for a debate about reincarnation- just hear me out). My point is that we live once, and we need to make the most of it. You can roll your eyes and think "I'm smack in the middle of midterms- how am I supposed to enjoy life right now?!" It's not about living on the edge each day and I'm not telling you to ditch your studying and go skydiving instead while yelling out "YOLO!!" It's about keeping yourself as happy as possible, because that is how you will make the most of your life. Here are some guidelines to keeping yourself happy:
Be your own best friend
How would your best friend react if when she did poorly on her test, you called her stupid? How would she feel if when she tried on a dress, you called her a fat pig? How would she feel if you never made time for her? Or if you never made plans with her to have fun? Treat yourself as a best friend. Be nice to yourself! Don't be so hard on yourself, stop blaming yourself. Would a best friend want to stick around you if you're constantly negative and mean towards her? Would YOU want to be around a best friend like that? So next time you get a lousy grade, try a nicer approach. Instead of putting yourself down, tell yourself that you tried your best and find a way to get a better grade for the next one.
A healthy smile is a happy smile
Student life can get extremely busy and extremely packed with bad habits such as: coffee, energy drinks, sleepless nights, lack of eating, or overeating unhealthy food because it's the quickest option. Whoa, stop right there. By doing that, you're beating your body up. So you have alot of schoolwork on your plate, so what? What did your body do to you to deserve being treated so poorly?!
It's time to change your habits and create balance. The occasional energy drink, late studying night and fast meal fix is understandable, but DO NOT make a habit out of them. How do you change these habits? Simple!
-TIME MANAGEMENT. If you plan out your study sessions and use your time productively, you won't be cramming during the wee hours of the morning
-PREPARE YOUR MEALS. Make your lunch in the morning and bring it to school so you won't waste your money (and health!) by eating fast-food
-GET SOME SLEEP. Minimum 8 hours a night. No buts!
-MAKE TIME TO EXERCISE. Exercising doesn't need to be a 2-hour session at the gym. Do 50 crunches before bed and first thing in the morning! Take the stairs instead of the elevator! Much much more to come on this topic..
Keep yourself healthy!
Cheer up, buttercup
Put the books down and take out a sheet of paper. Take your hand off the mouse and grab a pen. Still haven't done it yet? What are you waiting for! Ready? Okay, here we go.
Make a list of things you really like. Simple things, like your favorite coffee, tea, restaurant, that make you happy and put you in a good mood. FILL UP THE PAPER. Include everything you can think of: sports, food, exercises, luxuries, TV shows, stores, your "jam", people, your favorite beer.
Done? Great!
Student life can be really frustrating. Your day consists of following a schedule, your classes consist of following your teacher's lesson plan, and sometimes it gets so bad that your weekends are completely taken over by schoolwork and studying. Wait a second.. isn't this YOUR life? Where is your say in any of this?! Sometimes we can't control the big picture. But we can definately control the smaller things, and make ourselves happy while doing it. Tomorrow I want you to incorporate as many items on that list into your day: start off your day drinking your favorite coffee, wear your favorite sweater to class, prepare yourself your favorite lunch, listen to your favorite playlist on your way to class- you get the point! (But please, use your head. Don't bring your favorite beer into class and then leave halfway for a vacation)
My intentions are not to take control of your life. This blog is simply a guideline to help you stay as happy as possible. You do what you gotta do to get through your day, but you only live once. So make the most of it and keep yourself as happy as possible! Have a great day!
Be your own best friend
How would your best friend react if when she did poorly on her test, you called her stupid? How would she feel if when she tried on a dress, you called her a fat pig? How would she feel if you never made time for her? Or if you never made plans with her to have fun? Treat yourself as a best friend. Be nice to yourself! Don't be so hard on yourself, stop blaming yourself. Would a best friend want to stick around you if you're constantly negative and mean towards her? Would YOU want to be around a best friend like that? So next time you get a lousy grade, try a nicer approach. Instead of putting yourself down, tell yourself that you tried your best and find a way to get a better grade for the next one.
A healthy smile is a happy smile
Student life can get extremely busy and extremely packed with bad habits such as: coffee, energy drinks, sleepless nights, lack of eating, or overeating unhealthy food because it's the quickest option. Whoa, stop right there. By doing that, you're beating your body up. So you have alot of schoolwork on your plate, so what? What did your body do to you to deserve being treated so poorly?!
It's time to change your habits and create balance. The occasional energy drink, late studying night and fast meal fix is understandable, but DO NOT make a habit out of them. How do you change these habits? Simple!
-TIME MANAGEMENT. If you plan out your study sessions and use your time productively, you won't be cramming during the wee hours of the morning
-PREPARE YOUR MEALS. Make your lunch in the morning and bring it to school so you won't waste your money (and health!) by eating fast-food
-GET SOME SLEEP. Minimum 8 hours a night. No buts!
-MAKE TIME TO EXERCISE. Exercising doesn't need to be a 2-hour session at the gym. Do 50 crunches before bed and first thing in the morning! Take the stairs instead of the elevator! Much much more to come on this topic..
Keep yourself healthy!
Cheer up, buttercup
Put the books down and take out a sheet of paper. Take your hand off the mouse and grab a pen. Still haven't done it yet? What are you waiting for! Ready? Okay, here we go.
Make a list of things you really like. Simple things, like your favorite coffee, tea, restaurant, that make you happy and put you in a good mood. FILL UP THE PAPER. Include everything you can think of: sports, food, exercises, luxuries, TV shows, stores, your "jam", people, your favorite beer.
Done? Great!
Student life can be really frustrating. Your day consists of following a schedule, your classes consist of following your teacher's lesson plan, and sometimes it gets so bad that your weekends are completely taken over by schoolwork and studying. Wait a second.. isn't this YOUR life? Where is your say in any of this?! Sometimes we can't control the big picture. But we can definately control the smaller things, and make ourselves happy while doing it. Tomorrow I want you to incorporate as many items on that list into your day: start off your day drinking your favorite coffee, wear your favorite sweater to class, prepare yourself your favorite lunch, listen to your favorite playlist on your way to class- you get the point! (But please, use your head. Don't bring your favorite beer into class and then leave halfway for a vacation)
My intentions are not to take control of your life. This blog is simply a guideline to help you stay as happy as possible. You do what you gotta do to get through your day, but you only live once. So make the most of it and keep yourself as happy as possible! Have a great day!
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