Study tips

Another week has come and gone. Currently, I am celebrating Canadian thanksgiving up at my grandfather's where there is no internet, so I'm scheduling this post in hopes that it will post on time. I had a pretty bad cold towards the end of the week and wasn't feeling well at the beginning so sadly I went without exercising this week. Next week is my reading week, meaning no classes so that will be fun. I also just registered to vote for the first time and hope to be doing that Monday on one of the early voting days.

I've seen hundreds of "studying tips" posts floating around on the internet, and while many of the tips are useful, they do get repetitive. The study tips are often either specific to one learning style, or a mix of many learning styles so you have to pick out the best for you. To figure out your learning style, try this quiz.

From past quizzes, and testing different strategies, I have found that I have two learning styles that are higher than the others. First is the visual learning style. This means that I learn best when I see a diagram, video, or slideshow relating to a topic. I am also a Kinesthetic learner which means that I learn my doing. Applying what I learn into real life.

This post will be an outline of what exactly I do to study, so if you don't share my learning styles, I would suggest finding different strategies, or just taking the tips that work best for you.

Pre-Study

I do a few things before even starting to work. Some are done up to a week before, and some are done only a few minutes before.

• Planner. I use a planner throughout the week to make sure I know what all my assignments are. My planner is monthly, but you can use weekly or daily if you prefer. After each class, I mark my homework, including readings, on the date that it's due, with a little checkbox next to it. I do this for all four days.
• Lists. I love lists. figuring out what order to do something in makes homework a lot less stressful for me when I know what is higher priority. On the Friday before, I list all of my work for the upcoming week. I then separate it into groups. The first group is things due on Monday and Tuesday. I try to get these done over the weekend. Next is things due Wednesday, and finally Thursday. Whatever I don't get done on the weekend, I try to get done between classes on Monday. For an example of my list, look here:

• Next, When I plan on studying, I put on a playlist from 8tracks. I don't usually listen to instrumentals, but songs that I know well.
• I get a small snack that I can eat with one hand like trail mix, grapes, dry cereal etc, I also grab a tea/coffee and a bottle of water.
• I look at everything I need to get done that day and make sure I have all the binders and textbooks I need.
• I set everything up on my bed. I knew you're not technically supposed to study on your bed, but it's more comfortable and casual.

Studying

This varies depending on what I'm doing. Whether I'm completing an assignment, or reading. I'll pretend that I'm doing 5-9 on the list above and explain how I would approach it.

1. I would complete the first half of  assignment 5.
2. quick 5 min break
3. the second half of assignment 5.
4. quick 5 min break
5. read chapter five of children
6. quick 5 min break
7. read chapter six of children
8. 20 min break
9. complete half of assignment 8
10. quick 5 min break
11. complete second half of assignment 8
12. quick 5 min break
13. read chapter 2 of soc psych
14. quick 5 min break
15. read chapter 2 of abnormal psych
16. done!

Breaks

there are many things to do while taking a break.

5 Minute Break

you can;

• get up and stretch
• dance to your favorite song
• play with your pet(s)
• refill your drinks/food
• just chill
• ground yourself using these methods

20 Minute Break

• go for a walk
• watch a sitcom episode
• spend time talking to friends or family
• take a quick power nap
• make dinner, eat while studying
• journal

Other Tips

• Pace back and forth while reading
• act as if you're teaching the material to the class and read out loud
• draw pictures in the margins that remind you of the topic
• highlight in different colors, maybe color coordinating, definitions, important notes, details, and so on

That is all for now! let me know what you think and how you study. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Apps

Another week has come and gone and Sunday has returned. My gym streak has continued, with another 3 days but sadly my eating habits are still crap... I'll keep trying. This week was pretty busy, but I'm finally starting to prepare for my placement which is happening the beginning of January.

The topic of the week is Apps. I'm a big fan of downloading 4-6 apps at once and using the hell out of them for a couple of hours and then uninstalling all but one or two. Through this, I've found plenty of really cool and helpful apps that I'd like to share. I have an android phone so I'll add a link to the google play store, but IPhone users will have to see if it's in the app store.

Games

I have a few basic games on my phone such as Solitare, but there are a few unique one's I'd like to share.

Little Alchemy-  I don't know if this actually qualifies as a game, but basically you mix elements to create new ones, and they get more complicated as you go.

Covet Fashion- In this game, there are daily/weekly fashion challenges where you create themed outfits from real designer garments. Join my Fashion House, Haute Couture Elite!

The Perfectionist- If you're a perfectionist- like me- this game will give you a competitive outlet. 

Waste Time

Not necessarily a game or activity but I can spend hours on these apps!

Showbox- Not a google app, it's independent but you can watch tv/movies for free, either streaming 

or downloading.

Perfect365- An extreme editing app that I really don't take seriously, but it's cool to mess around with the make options

Buzzfeed- The app is easy to use and navigate with location specific suggested articles.

Work Out

Useful apps for working out or going to the gym.

Nike Training- Some cool workouts and tips

Zombie, Run!- I haven't actually used this yet because I just got it, but I 100% plan on using it Monday. It's usually like $5 but for some reason I got it for free??

Health

Some mental/physical health apps.

Vent- Anonymously(or not) share your feelings.

Clue- track your period.

Pacifica- keep track of your mental/ physical health and do some relaxation activities such as meditation and thought records.

Colorfy- relax and take part in some color therapy.

Miscellaneous 

A variety of other cool apps.

Final Countdown- Just a countdown app that I put everything into.

Hola- So I can watch American Netflix even on my phone...

Google Rewards- still iffy about how well it works but it's pretty cool if it does.

Coursera- Free online University and College courses.

Those are just a few of the apps I have. Leave me suggestions in the comment section and your suggestion may be in  a second part!

OMG I Love Office Aesthetic

I hope you all have had a fantaaaaaastic week. Mine has been pretty good, just settling into a routine and all of that. I actually went to the gym three times this week and am feeling awesome! I'm going to refresh myself on my how-to post on staying healthy in college, which you can find here. Friday was busy after my fridge cut out and I had to cook everything in my freezer. luckily a new fridge was found quickly and I could get on with my day. Saturday was horrible after I found a giant spider in my sheets. I finally fell asleep but today I found out there are several nests in my room. they were vacuumed and spider repellant was sprayed in my room so hopefully tonight is less anxiety inducing...

This week's post is a kind of extension off of last week's post on dorm/bedroom style. I will be sharing some really cute office decor along with stationary and office supplies. All of the pictures were found on Pinterest and have links next to them.

Office Style

 I love the mix of gold and pink (X)
  A rainbow theme really lets you show all of your colours! (X)
  Forget a chalkboard wall, I want a corkboard wall! (X) An ocean theme will always be relaxing to me (X)
  Call it, real-life Instagram! A super cute idea (X)
  Adds a cottagey feel the room... very comforting (X)

Cute Stationary 

 Super fall themed! (X)
 Gorgeous art (X)
  Pastel Highlighters! (X)
 Super helpful sticky notes (X)
 Say goodbye to your days of crumpling paper (X)
 Mean Girls Pencils (X)

Awesome Organization

 All-in-one carrying case (X)
  Helpful and minimalistic (X)
  Organization wall (X)
 more pastel! (X)
  very simple and pretty (X)

Other Cool Office Related Things

 Very calming and pretty (X)
  Headphone winder/ screen cleaner (X)
  Miscellaneous pink things (X)

This is just a brief glimpse at some styles I find really cute/helpful in an office. I'd love to hear your opinions so comment and share!

Room Style

Happy Sunday! I finally had my two final Monday classes, but sadly none of my friends are in either. My first class, counselling and communication skills, was pretty good but the textbook is really dull. I already have a test tomorrow so my fingers are crossed. My second class, English, was pretty good as well. luckily I do not have to buy a textbook for this class. The one downside is that my teacher is one of those deep thinkers that believe that every small detail has some metaphorical meaning and as a writer I can say that 95% of the time, details are just to set the scene or fill space, and rarely have a superficial meaning. Nothing else really happened through the week except that I'm finally moved into the basement *happy dance* and I attended my first college party!

Now that I've, mostly, moved into the basement, I have decided to make a quick post on some amazing dorm/bedroom styles and tips for those getting sick of their blank walls.

Super Useful Things to Have

• Toolbox
• First aid kit- even if it's just the basics
• A printer- " I added a bit of washi tape so it wouldn't be an eyesore" (X)
• Storage- you'll honestly never have too much.
• Rug- You will be grateful on chilly mornings.
• Mirror- Full-length is even better

If You're in a Dorm or a Dull, Undecorated Space

• Work with white walls instead of covering them up- "embrace the minimalism" (X)
• Plants help to liven up a space.- some plants that grow in low lighting are; peperomia, zeezee, arrowhead vine, cast iron. and calathea
• Make photo frames from washi tape
• Use throw pillows as extra seating
• Get alternative lighting if your room only has drab fluorescent lighting
• Lofting beds can add extra space- if the ceilings are high enough

Extra Decorating Tips

• Make sure that your desk is as aesthetically pleasing as it is organized- this will make studying less painful
• Instead of hiding your shoes, use them as art. display them in view.
• use clipboards as photo frames and to display important documents at your desk
• Make your own headboard if your bed comes without. It can add some style and you can coordinate it with your duvet cover or comforter

If you're still stuck take this quiz to determine your ideal  room theme and then see this post for some styling tips by theme.

I'm sorry this post is short, but I'm still adjusting to all the homework. See you next week!

Sources

x x x x x

First Week Frenzy

I survived the first week!!!!! This post is just going to be a recap from my week, but I'll continue next week with more tips, tricks, and survival skills for college with actually first-hand experience now :P

To begin, I've only attended five of my seven classes because my two Monday classes fell on the labour day.

Day 1: Tuesday

Today definitely had its highs and lows. Luckily, despite me being directionally challenged, I found my classroom very quickly. So quickly, in fact that I ended up being 30 minutes late and took some time to explore.  My prof. was someone I'd met before at open houses and orientations. She's  teaching prep. for professional practice and there is a wide variety of people in my class. despite the fact that my class is three hours long, it flew by, especially with the two breaks. First impression rating: 4/5. After that, my afternoon was spent waiting. Waiting 40 minutes to talk to financial aid, waiting 20 minutes to get into the bookstore, and waiting in line for coffee. The library and student centre are really nice and definitely places I can see myself spending time. Despite the fact that everything was really interesting, I was bored. I feel like this could've been different if I had the nerve to make friends, but that's a work in progress. Oh well... tomorrow I tackle public transit.

Day 2: Wednesday

Today was much better than yesterday. I, as expected, messed up the buses but was still at school in good time. I got to class and had my fist course of the day, psychology and child development. My teacher was very nice and seemed excited about the class. I was also excited because I took a class very similar to this in 12th grade and loved it. We are also doing a virtual child assignment where we choose how we raise our baby and it determines it's life. If you want more info on this let me know because it's really cool. First impression rating: 4/5 After lunch and a three-hour break I was off to my next class. I actually got to know a couple girls who seem really nice and sat nearby. The teacher seemed nice enough; he is teaching foundations of child and youth care. First impression rating: 3.5/5. After class, I got myself some dinner and got to know another girl. The reason today was so much better is that I am actually socializing and not as lonely and bored.

Day 3: Thursday

I strongly believe that Thursdays are going to be my favorite days of the week. I got to my first class, social psychology, pretty early but one of the girls I met yesterday was already there and we talked until class and met up with another girl. This is by far my favorite class so far. My teacher is amazing and the material is really interesting. First impression rating: 5/5. Afterwards, we all went for lunch and went to the bookstore to purchase my books. I bought five which was just over $500CAD and still have two more to buy. luckily many of the books I'll be using in other semesters. My second class of the day is mental health and my teacher seemed really nice. I even got out of buying one of the books for her class because it was mainly for APA referencing which I'm comfortable with. Mental health is something I'm interested in so I'm excited about the course. First impression rating: 4/5. After class, I got invited to a couple parties which I might actually attend.

Fridays as I've mentioned I have no class so I just relaxed and got started on my reading. My biggest tip for starting college, now that I have started, is not to get discouraged if the first day isn't what we expect. Our classes may seem difficult and the road may seem long but we all can do it...  

Keeping off the Freshman 15

Not too much happened this week except my orientation on Thursday. I met my program staff and my classmates and saw my *shudders* book list. In other news, I got some cute clothes today and I'm still not moved into my basement and very bitter about it. My mom's getting into hoarder territory and my sister is not far behind her. Also OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Plan) is a pain in the ass and totally unfair. Looking back on the summer, my biggest regret is being a massive lump. I've undoubtedly gained some weight and my boobs are harder than ever to contain. It's about time I get my sh*t together >:|

I will be the fist to admit that I am definitely not the authority on health. I have an unhealthy addiction to chocolate, the thought of running makes me cringe, and no one can describe me as "fit". Despite this, this post is extremely important for others as well as myself. Seeing as I have limited knowledge on this topic, I have scoured the Internet for other resources and have compiled them into a useful guide for both you, the reader and me, the author.

Exercising

Though it is dreaded and seemingly impossible to be a gym rat while in college and possibly having a part-time job, you can include fitness into your everyday life.

There are mannnny reasons why it is important to exercise, including health, improved academics, and improved mood. read some more reasons here. So many college and university student find time to exercise that there is hardly an excuse not to. To read how other students do it and find inspiration, look no further than this article.

Here are some more tips and links to make exercising a bit easier;

• Learn to love running. I hate running with a passion, but these tips make it a bit less excruciating (X) 
• Incorporate exercise into everyday tasks. If you're doing these things already, why don't you spice it up a bit? (X) (X)
• Have fun. Exercise with a friend or by yourself, as long as you're interested in the activity
• Lookup instructional videos like Blogilates on Youtube (X)
• Look for free classes. Even if they 're not hosted by the school, look for ads by the community or from local gyms. (X)
• Join a club or sport. Whether it's dance, soccer, or tennis, as long as you're heartbeat is up, it helps! (X)
• Take a hike. If you're lucky enough to have some greenery around your campus or nearby, explore it. The nature will also help you relax and you may find a cool study spot. (X)
• If your school has a gym, make use of it! Luckily my tuition pays for free use of the gym, so I'll have a place to go in the winter.
• Make a routine. once you've made something a routine, it's much harder to give up... especially if you enjoy it! (X)
• Yoga. It's not for everyone, but it 's a great way to relax and tone up after all that cardio you'll be doing! Tip: for an extra kick, try hot yoga!

Diet

While the above is great, apparently fitness is only 30% exercise and 70% what you eat. This can be frustrating living on a student's budget and schedule... double that if you're in dorms. While it may be difficult, again it's not impossible.

While there are many roadblocks, there are also many resources to help you eat well;

• Figure out what's in season. This will save both your taste buds, and your wallet (X)
• Drink lot's of water. I'm really bad at this myself, I really only enjoy drinking water if it has an enhancer in it like Mio or crystal light. This app will help you keep track as you take care of a cute plant (X)
• Visit your local farmer's market. It will liven up you day, and if you go closer to closing, you may get a few end of the day deals (X)
• Look for healthy options in the cafeteria. This is essential if you have a meal plan. keep track of the extra carbs and also take a fruit. (X)
• Snacking is ok! As long as it's somewhat healthy like a granola bar, fruit, etc. (X)
• Check out this $2 meal. A dollar tree just opened up near me so I may take this advice one day when I'm low on time. (X)
• Focus on doing well --> not perfect. Face the fact that you're not going to have a perfect diet. As long as you're doing well, you don't have to do perfectly (X)
• Go Paleo. It's inexpensive, tasty, and simple (X)
• Mug+Microwave= Happiness. Don't get me started on mug meals... Quiche, Soup, Chili, Cake ... 
• Routine. If you eat at relatively the same time each day, it will help your metabolism greatly and establish eating habits (X)
• Eat Breakfast. You've probably heard this tip 10000000 times and there's a good reason for that. It's Important.
• Avoid eating late. It's harder to burn off. (X)
• Avoid calorie-filled alcohol. Whether the drinking age is 18, 19, 21, or anything else, you'll probably be of age at some point during college. avoid the extra calories if possible. Tip: water+Vodka+Mio...
• Get creative. Google is your friend, use resources to avoid the pounds. (X)
• Check out this suggested shopping list. Just some essentials. (X)

Other Health Tips

There are other health concerns to consider as you start college.

• Avoid Stress. I know, I know... easier said than done. But by avoiding procrastination and getting help, you could be doing your immune system a solid (X)
• Get enough sleep. There will be all nighters and there will be 2 hour nights but keep them to a minimum and use this app to keep track of your sleep (X)
• Don't check the scale too often. Unless you're trying to lose/gain weight, don;t check your weight more than once a month. In reality, your weight will fluctuate and there's nothing you can do about it. as long as you're exercising, eating well, and feel good, all they are, are numbers.
• Get tested and use protection. Your sexual health is just as important as everything else (X)
• Visit the clinic. If you're sick, get help. It's better to miss a day with only a sore throat, than two weeks with strep. (X)
• Take care of your mental health. It 's as important as your physical health, if not more. Take rest days when needed and make use of school counsellors. I'll make a mor in detailed post regarding mental health another time. (X)

So this is all for now, let me know what you think and if you have any other tips. Please share!

The Horrors of Supply Shopping

My week has been very eventful. Along with being pleasantly surprised with my school ID, I also went to the CNE. As always, it was amazing but wearing flip flops and walking for 14 hours made my back hurt for days. I also convinced my mom to let me claim the basement seeing as I could not afford to stay in residence. The basement is a mess so let's see how that goes...

I had been putting off school supply shopping for ages... well until about a week ago. But finally my bag is ready to be filled.

The reason I was so hesitant to get supplies was because I had no clue what I should get. I didn't want to be underprepared, but I also didn't want to face the embarrassment of buying way to much. I hit the web, blogs onsite and various Tumblr blogs and composed a list,

Necessities

These are items that you definitely need:

• Bag- I'm reusing my bag from last year because I love it so much. It's a black turtle shell that fits my laptop perfectly and is big enough for everything else
• Pencils
• Erasers
• Pens- blue, black, and red
• Notebooks- at least one for each class... I have seven this semester :/
• Lined paper
• Small ruler- less for measuring, more for making straight lines
• Sticky Notes- variety of shapes/sizes/colours
• White Out
• Highlighters
• Index Cards- and maybe a cute case for them
• Binders- either one per class or, if you have many like me, one per day
• Subject dividers- Suuuper important if you're using a binder per day
• Pencil Case- something to hold this stuff in...
• Water bottle- reusable please
• Planner- trust me

Good To Have

These aren't absolutely required but will definitely help.

• Laptop/Tablet- It's difficult to go through school in this age without one but don't get me wrong, it's definitely possible. If you don't have one (and even if you do) make sure you have a flash drive
• Fineliners- definitely a bit pricey for a good assortment but worth it for studying, especially if you're a visual learner.
• Dry erase/cork board- best to have important dates right in front of you instead of keeping it in a book
• Mini Stapler
• Mini hole punch- got a cute purple mini stapler and a purple ruler/hole punch combo from staples
• Paper clips- good for papers you need to keep together but can't hole punch (important documents)
• Travel mug- coffee and tea can be just as important as water when it comes to 8 am classes (I have two :/ )

That's all I've gotten. Regardless of what you find, keep in mind to look for deals and sales. Some things can get pretty pricey and you have to keep in mind how much you'll be paying for textbooks and other course requirements. If you have any suggestions please comment and don't forget to share!

Welcome!

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First off, let me introduce myself;

My name is Sarah and I'm 18 years old, a Taurus, and from Canada. My interests include writing, music, reading, fashion, and swimming.

I'm starting this blog to document my time going into college which, according to my countdown app, starts in 15 days, 14 hours, and 34 minutes. Wow. I'll be studying child and youth care Monday through Friday and have the amazing delight of having Fridays off. I am nervous and excited to start this new chapter, as I assume everyone in my position would be. I am starting with a blank slate, knowing no one and learning everything. I will post any notable happenings and lessons I've learned, each Sunday night, as well as tips for surviving college.

This was just a short intro post, but tune in next week and each Sunday after that for more! please comment and share!