Sometimes My Work Feels More Academic Than My Studies

how to learn new content and never forget it

save this for your next academic year and finals, and it’ll save your grades and time.

1. whenever you read a paragraph with new content, close the book/look away and ask yourself: “what have i just learned?” explaining the concept to yourself right away and asking follow-up questions will change the way you retain new material forever.

2. at first, it’ll be daunting, and it’ll be pretty hard to actually bring yourself to do this. trust me, it’ll be worth it - as this is scientifically proven one of the most effective study techniques.

3. to try this out, set yourself a timer for how long you estimate learning a concept might take. now take away 20% from that estimate. you won’t be able to reach this goal with basic highlighting and re-reading techniques - but with active recall, you will.

4. once you’ve understood the concept, use spaced repetition systems like anki flashcards to force yourself to retrieve this information in a set period of time. this way, your brain will always be reminded of this concept before it could possibly forget it.

5. teach it to others as much as you can. as with the old wisdom “see one, do one, teach one”, one of the only guarantees you’ve really gotten something is when you can effectively teach it.

hope these are helpful for you!!

more content like this on my instagram, @softmedstudent

hello friends!!! i made masterposts for almost all the stem subjects now, why not physics too? here you go [especially for @k-imeme]:

studying

how to study physics

tips to solving physics problems

tips to ace your physics exam!!

physics notes

using a calculator!!!!

science glossary

topics

motion

sound + waves

work, energy + power

heat + thermo

quantum phenomena

light + radiation

electricity, magnets + circuits

electricity + magnetism

mechanics

modern physics

optics

oscillations + waves

special subjects [space is here too]

thermodynamics

fun stuff yaaas

john travoltage [i love this idk why]

10 cool science websites

links + website resources

space + the universe masterpost B-)

minutephysics

physics on khanacademy

sparknotes physics

great physics website!!

institute of physics resources

stuff you may want to know

careers in physics

why study physics?

top 10 reasons why you should take physics

my masterposts

notes, studying, and self-study resources

self-study resources

supplies

igcse resources

improving your handwriting

how to studyblr

literature masterpost

organisation

aesthetically pleasing notes

annotating

studying a foreign language

really great apps

math

college + uni

motivation

biology

space!!!!

chemistry

+ more

hope this helps you v much + if you ever need anything/want to request a masterpost just message me :]

September 1, 2020 - physics studies.

It's September already! August was a tough month for me and I'm so excited to welcome the better days ahead <33 ☁️ September, please be nice 💫

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ Keep on working hard and take care of yourself friends ♡

🎶 Dynamite - BTS

Wouldn't mind having one.

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How to Handle Having TOO MUCH To Do

So let’s say you’re in the same boat I am (this is a running theme, have you noticed?) and you’ve just got, like, SO MUCH STUFF that HAS to get done YESTERDAY or you will DIE (or fail/get fired/mope). Everything needs to be done yesterday, you’re sick, and for whatever reason you are focusing on the least important stuff first. What to do!

Take a deep breath, because this is a boot camp in prioritization.

Make a 3 by 4 grid. Make it pretty big. The line above your top row goes like this: Due YESTERDAY - due TOMORROW - due LATER. Along the side, write: Takes 5 min - Takes 30 min - Takes hours - Takes DAYS.

Divide ALL your tasks into one of these squares, based on how much work you still have to do. A thank you note for a present you received two weeks ago? That takes 5 minutes and was due YESTERDAY. Put it in that square. A five page paper that’s due tomorrow? That takes an hour/hours, place it appropriately. Tomorrow’s speech you just need to rehearse? Half an hour, due TOMORROW. Do the same for ALL of your tasks

Your priority goes like this:

5 minutes due YESTERDAY

5 minutes due TOMORROW

Half-hour due YESTERDAY

Half-hour due TOMORROW

Hours due YESTERDAY

Hours due TOMORROW

5 minutes due LATER

Half-hour due LATER

Hours due LATER

DAYS due YESTERDAY

DAYS due TOMORROW

DAYS due LATER

At this point you just go down the list in each section. If something feels especially urgent, for whatever reason - a certain professor is hounding you, you’re especially worried about that speech, whatever - you can bump that up to the top of the entire list. However, going through the list like this is what I find most efficient.

Some people do like to save the 5 minute tasks for kind of a break between longer-running tasks. If that’s what you want to try, go for it! You’re the one studying here.

So that’s how to prioritize. Now, how to actually do shit? That’s where the 20/10 method comes in. It’s simple: do stuff like a stuff-doing FIEND for 20 minutes, then take a ten minute break and do whatever you want. Repeat ad infinitum. It’s how I’ve gotten through my to do list, concussed and everything.

You’ve got this. Get a drink and start - we can do our stuff together!

here is a list of questions i have already answered about graduate school!! 

please check it before you send me a question about graduate school :) :) i hope it’s useful! xo // updated 02.2020

basic info

what is the PhD and what can you do with it? (+) 

what does a literature PhD entail?

should i do a PhD if i have to pay tuition?

is the degree worth it?

does it look bad to take time off between degrees?

what was your timeline like? 

what’s the difference between a terminal MA and a PhD? (+)

does getting an MA first help you get into a PhD program?

is it okay to just try grad school out? 

application process

how can i prepare for applying early in my undergrad career? (+) (+)

where should i start looking for programs?

should i choose a program based on rank or fit? (+)

how can i find lower-profile programs doing cool stuff?

how many programs should i apply to?

parts of the application

advice on the writing sample

advice on the GRE (+)

how should i ask for letters of recommendation?

how should i write a statement of purpose? (+)

how do i demonstrate my “ability to excel”?

how should i address mental health/family/personal issues that impacted my grades?

should i send in extra materials?

grad school application spreadsheet

how should i email potential advisors? (+) (+)

how can i survive the waiting period? (+)

how should i prepare for an interview or phone call? (+)

what should i ask at open house?

what should i do if i don’t think i can afford my grad school tuition?

what should i do the summer before i start my program?

seminars/coursework

how should i plan for grad seminar presentations? (+)

what should i bring with me to seminars?

what are grad seminars like?

how can i get better at speaking during seminars?

what do you mean grades don’t matter

reading

what should i have read before i start my lit grad program?

how much reading should i expect?

how can i read a lot without getting overwhelmed? (+)

how can i read efficiently? (+) (+)

quals-specific reading advice

how should i take notes on critical articles?

writing

how do i write a lit review?

how do i write an indicative bibliography?

how do i choose a dissertation topic? (+)

how do i plan for a long research paper?

how do i balance all the different kinds of writing i have to do?

money & living

how can i find housing before i move?

how do finances work in grad school?

what is adjuncting and why does it suck?

how can i budget while on a stipend?

should i work while in grad school? (+)

what’s important to a research assistant application?

i’m running out of funding / i’m off normative time

fellowship, postdocs, & job stuff

which websites post US fellowship/postdoc/job ads?

CV writing tips

how do dissertation fellowships work? (+)

tips for grant, award, & fellowship applications

should i share my materials with others?

how does the academic hiring process work?

how do i keep track of all my applications?

how do i think up a second project when i’m not even done with my dissertation?

job materials masterpost

skype interview-specific tips

job talks

negotiating (+)

general tips (+)

what’s up with the professor is in?

how do i stay motivated while getting buried in rejection letters?

misc

will grad school make my mental health issues worse? (+) 

how do i survive conferences (abroad)?

how should i deal with burnout? (+)

secret labor

i think i want to quit

my advisor is ghosting me

how do i work with no structured schedule?

how do i get enough sleep?

how do i balance my work & my teaching?

how can i beat imposter syndrome? (+) (+)

how can i excel in grad school?

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(Travel Journal)

New Zealand 2022: Christchurch

Christchurch was so much smaller and quieter than I had expected, especially having lived in Melbourne for years. It felt very much to me like a big town than a city, resembling Ballarat or Bendigo in Australia, but with its unique charms, of course.

We visited the Tannery (Yes I've posted this spread inspired by the vibes there before, so this is a re-post), a quaint shopping area with beautiful boutiques and vintage shops. Most of the time however, we were around the Riverside Market, trying the local produce or just enjoying the vibes of the place.

Christchurch Botanic Gardens was definitely a highlight, with flowers I've never seen before, massive trees, beautiful water features and charming rose gardens. I enjoyed Christchurch Botanic Gardens more than the one in Auckland, although the weather probably played a big part! The curated experience of the two gardens were very different though, so it's probably not a fair comparison. But I'd definitely recommend all three areas to anyone visiting Christchurch.

11.01.21 - day 2? / monday motivation and a double shot of expresso;; my project is off to a fairly good start! My review for e&m isn’t going as well, but I’ll still try to work on it and hopefully get to review some quantum before tomorrow too. Didn’t even have classes today but I am exhausted:^) well, here we go

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Bujo trackers for getting your shit together

I typed a super long ass post about this and the accidentally deleted it before saving and now I’m lying on the cold hard ground

Yohoo potatoes, I’m back with another *whips out a megaphone out of nowhere* “long ass post” (is that my patent now?) for you guys! This one could help out with your studyjo/bujo (if you don’t know what a studyjo is don’t worry I’ll link it later) and organising that potato life to make the most of it!

Why should I use a bullet journal?

You’s a student

You’s busy

You’s got life you can’t handle sometimes

You will 120% forget about tat assignment deadline unless you’re reminded of it

You get to laugh at your past self after 20 years or so

It’s therapeutic and all that ish

You’ll like it because it’s being productive while actually kinda procrastinating (aren’t we bosses at procrastinating?)

Memories :)

Bolded ones are the trackers I am using and are potato proofed

1. Study related :

SYLLABUS TRACKER : finals can go a little smoothly if you have it all at one place

PROJECT PLANNER/TRACKER : deadlines + road map of how you’re gonna ace that project

STUDY SESSION TRACKER : time, date, subject and rating your session

GOALS TRACKER : realistic ones, like score 75% or more in this test, or master the concept of integration (ughh). Philosophy ones come later ;)

EXAM PLANNER : plan something for each day a week before your exam and see the magic

For solving based subjects :

PROBLEM TRACKER : shade the box every day you solve “x” number of sums

FORMULA QUIZ : the most difficult ones which you’ll never remember unless they’re carved on your ribs

Theory based subjects :

CONCEPT PLANNER : shade the box every day you learn “x” concept nicely

RANDOM CONCEPTS TO REVISE LIST : super helpful when you’re procrastinating and don’t know what to study - refer to this list and do you ish

READINGS LIST : shade the box every day when you read “x” number of paragraphs from textbooks/notes/books

Language based subjects :

WORD OF THE DAY PAGE : one word every day

PASSAGE OF THE MONTH : sort of like a journal but in your target language

FAVOURITE SENTENCES/QUOTES /SONGS/ETC IN *TARGET LANGUAGE* PAGE - similar to a journal thing, make it all aesthetic and cool so you’ll want to fill it in more

2. Entertainment related stuff :

MOVIES WATCHED SO FAR - all the movies, maybe stash a ticket or smthn?

MOVIE OF THE MONTH - can pick any one tbh

APPRECIATION PAGE FOR *FAV ACTOR/ACTRESS* - can you guess who’s appreciated by this potato?

SONG OF THE MONTH - only pick one and trust me that is very difficult

APPRECIATION PAGE FOR *FAV SINGER* - guess mine again?

PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH - best songs only

MIX TAPE FOR *FAV PERSON* - you can actually even make a real one and give it to someone you really like ;)

SERIES TRACKER - episodes/seasons number, shade the box as you finish it

REVIEW PAGE - review some movies/TV show you just saw

FAVOURITE MOVIE QUOTES PAGE - “you’re a wizard, Harry”

3. Mind related stuff :

QUOTES PAGE - motivational, sentimental stuff

MEDITATION TRACKER - this potato might try it

CROSSWORD TRACKER - shade the box every time you successfully solve an entire crossword/puzzle

RIDDLE TRACKER - shade the box every day if you solved 1 riddle

CREATIVITY PAGE - doodles, ugly poetry, cringy picky up limes, whatever floats your goat

BRAIN DUMP PAGE - every single thing on your mind transferred on this page. Suggested before sleeping so that you’re light headed and stress-free

IDEAS ORGANISER PAGE - give form to those abstract plots and connect all ideas to make a bigger one

PERSONAL PROJECT PLANNER - like maybe that book you always wanted to write

LIFE IN PIXELS - mad, sad or smad?

4. Health related stuff :

EXERCISE TRACKER - shade the box every day if you did “x” duration/amount of exercise

FOOD TRACKER - keep record of what junk you munched on today and try to avoid it sometimes

WATER TRACKER - ughh so important

CARBS TRACKER - kill a puppy next time you overeat

MOOD TRACKER - graphs look fancy tbh

ROLE MODEL’S PAGE - everything hermione granger does/says

5. Money related stuff :

BUDGET TRACKER - note down every little thing you spent on, figure out where you can save up

SAVINGS TRACKER - fill that little jar and buy those pens you always wanted to

Aaand that’s about it for now! I’ll be back with another long ass post so have fun bullet journaling till then!

Feel free to hmu if you aren’t clear about how to use a certain tracker!

Etudaire ~

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