Majexs03 - Aprilph

Study tips that i learned through failures!

1. It's so important that you do a first read thru of the text as fast as possible. Stick to annotations and brief summarizing notes/outlines. Our brain is constantly making connections even when we're sleeping, so even if you don't understand something at first, getting stuck on it is a waste of your present time AND sleep time. Some things will click while you're doing chores because your brain is still working in the background! But it can't happen if there is nothing to click. Try to expose yourself to all the material as early as possible. [If you're studying math, skip the derivations and proofs in the first read thru and just do the example problems and focus on the underlying assumptions. Depending on the class/exam objective, you might not even be tested on the proof]

2. The breaks. Even if you know you can study 4 hours straight - don't. I used to do this especially when I was anxious, but it just burned me out. Even as quickly as the next day! If you're doing your first pom of the day and you feel really fresh to the point that you feel like you can skip that first break - dont.. it will pile up!

3. The water and the sugar!! This might sound really obvious, but studying burns up so many resources. On days I don't study, I might be okay with 60-70 oz of water, but on days I do, it's normal for me to hit 100 oz. I also ate way more food in general and ate more sugar too, and I think that's pretty normal.

4. Flashcards and practice problems > annotations > having nice notes. It kills me to say it, but the last exam I took (and passed!), I relied on my very disorganized notes/screenshots on my tablet. I didn't have time to organize and transfer them nicely onto paper in order even though every perfectionist cell in my body wanted to soo badly. Making your own textbook can be helpful but I seriously just didn't have the time. Focus on what will actually get you that pass score!

5. Find the note-taking app you like BEFORE your study period or exam season and practice using it! The last thing you want is to fight the syncing mechanism as you're trying to study. I like to use Flexil because of the split screen feature, the linked screenshots, and the cross-platform sync. If you are studying math, either learn latex over the summer/off period so you can use it in Obsidian/Anki or commit to manually written flashcards and notes the whole way. Dont try to switch halfway through because that will be a waste of your time. I personally think writing out the math is faster than typing it out in Latex, but it's your poison (they're both poison). (And if you study any type of math, I 10000% recommend using a tablet)

6. Unless you are studying for fun, orient everything around the class/exam objectives. Unfortunately, you're not gonna have time to be curious. If you don't think something will be tested, quickly cut it out and move on.

7. Figure out what your exam taking weaknesses are. Out of every 10 missed problems, I realized I'd miss a question solely because i input the wrong number into the calculator. Now I say the numbers in my head as I put it in, do it at a relatively slow pace, and break up large formulas into itsy pieces and make sure the output is close to what I expect it to be. I write out all the steps on paper sometimes to make sure every calculation is as expected. You only get once chance during the real thing, so it's important to come up with a policy to reduce risk and to stick to it every time.

Anytime someone does something bad to me, I ask myself how I put myself in that position. Not because “it’s my fault” or “I deserve it” — but because I want to grow and never be put in that position again.

It’s important to reiterate how crucial it is to keep your goals to yourself. Even to family members and friends, just keep it to yourself lol. A goal of yours that may sound crazy and bizarre to them may be aspirational to you, and hearing these unsolicited opinions from others really isn’t beneficial to your journey.

Fr lol I’m not judging though but……wow

I can admit when I am wrong, but I will never accept responsibility for something I didn't do. I work hard at being/staying self-aware, but I won't be projected onto. You cannot call me by any name other than my own.

#Tips

another big list?

Start from the top down.

Start with your hair. I wore wigs for years, switched to clip-ins and extensions for convenience, and now my hair is healthy enough to wear on its own. Figure out what you want to do with your hair in terms of style and colour and begin nourishing it so that it looks good and you’re happy with the way you choose to wear it. Wigs are a great option and I know so many women of different races and ages who choose to wear them because it’s convenient and they’re able to do whatever they want without worrying about how their natural hair will react to drastic changes.

Find a skincare routine that suits your needs and run with it. I’ve experimented a lot and finally settled on a routine and it works for me, my face, shoulders, décolletage, and neck look good, and I’m comfortable in my own skin. Finding a routine that works for you and doesn’t break the bank is SO important for the entire process and your skin is your largest organ and a good reflection of your health. The one thing I will say is sunscreen and a good lip balm are a part of every good skincare routine.

Drink more water and either eat or drink your greens. I thought juicing was a joke for the longest time and I didn’t enjoy it at all but I started drinking hella water, juicing, and focusing on small ways to improve my health and I feel better. I drink iron supplements, make sure I’m getting my greens in by drinking juices (still experimenting with this one), make sure to have at least 2.5 litres of water every day, take my supplements, and feel great. Not everyone needs supplements and a bunch of extras but they can be great for the women that do have deficiencies and I love my selection.

Get to the gym. I do pilates 6 days weekly, go to barre on Sundays, walk 10,000 steps daily, keep up with my cardio, and do some light lifting to stay in shape and I actually look much better than I ever have. Making sure to move your body is an essential part of success and surgery can’t and won’t fix everything; you need to put the work in to see real results and going to the gym can be the most satisfying experience. I’ve been getting more into swimming and trying to swim early mornings and embracing water aerobics and fun classes, I’ve been having the time of my life keeping my body toned, and my stamina has majorly improved.

Find a hair removal routine that works for you and stick with it. I favoured epilation for the longest time but my sister in law convinced me to try the woman she goes to for laser so I’m going to switch to that. Having smooth skin, no hair, and a good canvas for whatever you’re choosing to do with your body is so important and keeping your body moisturised and free of ingrown hairs and bumps is so satisfying. I personally use exfoliate and use oil whilst my skin is still wet from the shower and then use lotion to make sure my skin is deeply moisturised and I love the sheen it gives my skin.

Do not start down the surgery path unless you know how to say no to yourself. It’s extremely important that you don’t start fucking around with fillers, botox, implants, and the entire world of surgery unless you know when to stop and when to tell yourself no. One of the saddest things in the world is seeing women who’ve gone too far and have started looking for cheap surgery in order to keep going or somehow get their old look back. Don’t start with surgery if you can’t afford quality surgeons, don’t get procedures you don’t need just to fit in, don’t go too far, and listen to doctors when the tell you that they don’t think that you need something.

Maybe this is just me but maybe it’s not. I think that everyone looks good with a little bit of colour but the key is only going for what’s natural for the skin tone you already have. I only tan a little bit, I never go too dark, I try not to let myself get patchy, and I don’t go for any unnatural forms of self tan. I call the colour I go for ‘summertime glow’ and I love it because it’s natural and not at all orange, perfectly bronze, and it suits me whilst still looking like my natural skin colour. The goal is beachy vacation, not whole different race. I also think that self tanning is great for covering up scars and it gives you a little bit of warmth when the weather turns dreary.

Figure out what works for your nails and stick with it. Literally every woman I work with has a French tip, I see how a little tip has suited my sisters, and I found that a little acrylic overlay and gel polish work wonders for me. I’ve done the same nail combo ever since I moved to Texas and I love the way it looks, it gets me the MOST compliments from men, and it’s simple enough to match every outfit. I talk about French tips constantly and how they’ve never done me wrong so I’ll leave off here but having a go to nail combo for your mani-pedi will take so much stress out of your daily routine and help your o look polished even when you’re down.

Experiment with perfumes, soaps, and scents but DO NOT overdo it. Experimenting with scents, figuring out what suits you, trying out custom blends, and finding ways to enjoy perfume will bring joy to your life. I love love love perfume and experimenting with different scents and I think that the perfumes and scent blends I choose to wear have levelled up my look exponentially. You don’t have to spend a million dollars on designer perfumes when you can work with soaps, scrubs, and affordable choices, there are so many indie perfume makers who have great blends, and it’s fun to start with samples and work from there so that you can figure out what you like without breaking the bank or having to do lots of blind buys.

Makeup and accessories are going to go into one category because I talk about both far too often but I’m going to tell you this: less is more when you don’t know what you’re doing. If you don’t know how to apply makeup then maybe starting off with a full face, heavy contour and conceal, and a complicated eye isn’t the way to go. Start slow, watch tutorials, take the time to learn what you’re doing, and don’t spend millions on high quality makeup before you know what you’re doing and know what you like. It’s the same with choosing your accessories; don’t buy a million different bracelets and necklaces before you know what you’re doing or you know what your personal style is and don’t chase after aesthetics and ideals that don’t fit you and waste money on trends that you actually hate.

All things I’ve said before.