Everyone's Best Friend

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self-discovery journal prompts

I’m really struggling with finding my real life and identity. Journaling not only helps me to discover myself and reflect on my personal beliefs and values, but also teaches me to embrace my flaws and improve my esteem. So hop on to one-month journaling prompt to explore and find your true self.

What am I most proud of?

How would I describe myself to someone I have never met before?

What would I look like in 10 years?

What are you are really good at?

What are my weaknesses?

Describe yourself positively in 10 words.

What is my background? How can it affect my beliefs?

What do I love about myself?

What am I passionate about?

What are my hobbies? What roles do they play in my identity?

Who or what motivates and inspires me?

What are my 3 biggest goals?

Describe your ideal version of your dream life.

What do I need to let go?

What are flaws that you accept and how can you looks at these flaws in a positive way?

What do I feel like my life is missing and how can I get more of what I need?

What areas that I can improve on?

What are 5 simple things that make you smile? Describe them.

When am I the happiest version of me?

If I could be anything in the world, what would I be?

If you could make 1 wish come true, what would it be?

If I already know that everything I want is coming, how would I show up differently?

If I could travel anywhere in the world, where would I go?  

How did someone change my day for the better?

How can I change someone else’s day for the better?

What doubts do I currently have? How can I ease them?

What can I do to nurture and mind, body, and soul more?

What are things that no one can understand about you? How can you express them?  

What is your life motto? Describe.

Write yourself a thank you letter.

other people succeeding and achieving things (school, jobs, relationships, etc.) before you do, does not make you a failure. it doesn’t make you bad at these things. it just means some things are going to take a little more time for you than it will for other people. you have time. there are no rules or deadlines by which you have to achieve and experience things. there’s too much pressure to have all these things done by your early to mid twenties but you have your whole life to figure yourself out and do what you want. you are doing your best and that’s what matters. i’m proud of you and you are going to be okay.

hey everyone! with the start of the new school year right around the corner, i thought i’d make my first ~studyblr masterpost~ in an attempt to consolidate some tips & goals that i’ve found helpful or that i plan to use for online classes. honestly, these might be useful even for in-person classes!

1. DEVELOP YOUR STUDY SYSTEM

it’s very easy for me to download files into multiple different folders, take notes in whatever notebook’s closest to me, or jot down dates on the back of envelopes. then, when i need to study or double check a syllabus or instructions, i have no idea where to look.  

instead: choose one or two methods of storing information. you can go all-online (notion, google drive, microsoft word, etc), all physical (notebooks, printing out worksheets and assignment info, etc), or a blend (storing readings online, but handwriting notes, for example). consider making a list of your classes and noting where to find your work for each class, so if you store your work for architecture class online but your history class in 2 separate notebooks, you don’t waste time looking in the wrong place. 

2. PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE

no, you don’t have to make a timetable for every minute of every day. but creating a general study schedule will allow you to mentally prepare for busy days and quickly see when you’re free. 

use an online calendar or planner to block off class and study time. then, add other categories, such as: sleep, mealtimes, pet care, exercise, naps, writing, reading, clubs, or other regular obligations. i’m guilty of making mine too detailed and usually up completely blowing off my minute-by-minute schedule, so making a vague timetable and then adding categories as time goes on is probably your best bet. life happens, and you can’t account for everything. i also like to use post-its on my door or mirror to remind me what i absolutely need to get done at certain times!

3. DON’T IGNORE ‘OPTIONAL’ WORK

your professor records weekly lectures and assigns reading to go along with it. you’re tempted to do just one or the other - maybe you’re tempted to watch the lecture and skip the reading or take notes from the reading and skip the lecture. don’t do it!!! make it a goal to do both!!!

find ways to make undesirable work more bearable. can you listen to lectures while making dinner or going for a walk? how about taking notes while listening to your favorite movie soundtrack? for me, even getting cozy with some blankets, comfy clothes, and tea helps. anything that makes you dread schoolwork is a win!!

4. GET OFF THE INTERNET

i am SO guilty of spending most my time on either tumblr, instagram, or tiktok (endless fyp? no clock? yeahhh my screen time isn’t great). going on instagram when i wake up somehow turns into an hour of…doing what? i have no idea. 

set reminders to do something without your phone. by this i mean: do not bring your phone with you. leave it at home when you go for a walk, don’t multitask watching a movie and answering emails, don’t browse social media while you eat. pick one or more ways to practice completely disconnecting for a while every day!. whether all of your classes are online or just a few (or none!), your brain really does need a break from screens. at the very least, try to avoid blue light before bed (yeah, i know you’ve heard this one before). for me, the tide app is a lifesaver, and i know a lot of you love forest. otherwise, set reminders using a calendar app or your alarm clock!

5. MONITOR AND CARE FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

obviously miss rona has thrown a wrench in many of our plans for school, work, and life in general. if not, there’s no way it hasn’t impacted you in some way or another. pay attention to your thoughts, energy levels, and how you’re coping with recent changes. now’s a really good time to reach out for help if you’re able to; if not, there are various online resources and communities that might help you until you can. mental health support is for everyone. 

some masterposts and resources that may be helpful:

 mental health masterpost by @adelinestudiess

self-help masterpost by @self-care-club

being a student with mental illness by @celeztialstudies

and these mental health resources and hotlines

6. STAY CONNECTED ONLINE IF YOU CAN’T IN PERSON

the first month of my freshman year of college will be online, the rest of the semester will likely be online (though i will be on-campus), and i’m not allowed to see most of my friends. i’m guessing i’m not the only one! regardless of your personal situation, it can be really hard but so helpful to stay in touch with friends, family, and faculty. the first few months were full of zoom calls and virtual hangouts, but they might be dying down by now. 

send letters, set up virtual calls with far-away friends, go to office hours, or video call family members. this might be the hardest one on this list, seeing as most of us are suffering from zoom burnout already. to avoid the potential stress of spontaneous socializing, try scheduling a call once a week at a regular time, asking your friends to facetime later, creating a weekly study group for your classes, watching netflix with someone using an extension like netflix party, texting acquaintances to check in, sending letters/emails to older family members, getting involved in an online community (this is studyblr promo :D) or making a goal to go to office hours once a week/twice a month, etc. 

hopefully these gave you a few ideas on how you might get organized and tackle online classes this year! 

some other studyblr masterposts to get inspired: 

school cheat sheet by @jwstudying 

school tips masterpost by @crimstudies

Survival tips for exam week

TO SURVIVE EXAMS LIKE A BOSS

1. Get your electronics out of the way. I’m a huge advocator of technology in the classroom. But no so when you’re in your bedroom. I remember I had a chemistry exam the next day and I slept at midnight reading a novel. Even though I knew the material and the answers, I couldn’t finish the test on time because I was slower than usual and couldn’t concentrate. SLEEP IS IMPORTANT. So get your phone, tablet, laptop all out and just sleep. Learn from my mistakes people. 

2. Take a day off and meal prep the shit out of your week. When I’m in exam week, I forget to eat. My bodily needs go on vacation to a dark corner of my mind and I simply forget about them until I’m at the verge of collapse from hunger and dehydration. What I did last year to avoid this is to have healthy food at hand all times by meal prepping inexpensive, light and nutritious snacks that can survive in the fridge. 

3. Have your professor’s email or phone number. We are not perfect so from time to time, we are bound to cram everything in a day. In these days, it’s very beneficial to have your professor’s contact info to ask relevant questions. Be bold and ask right away if they have past tests so you can train with them in those lasts couple of hours. When cramming, it’s best to practice instead of reading. Your professor can make a huge difference in this game. 

4. Make an efficient summary. If your professor isn’t willing to help (I see you Law Prof), then I recommend you to take notes using the chapter outline. You know that one page where they outline the chapters paragraph and give it numbers? It’s been extremely useful to me. Why? Because the paragraphs are usually named after the main ideas of the subject. Let me give you an example. One of my introductory classes was Marketing. The first chapter is named Wat is Marketing? The first paragraph is The definition of marketing, the second The marketing concept and the last one The role of marketing in a corporation. So knowing the answer to these 3 paragraphs should give you a strong idea of what marketing really is. A 20-page chapter was easily summarized in only 3 paragraphs. This saves me lots of time and I’m able to identify the most important info right away.

5. Organise a study session with your classmates. I have saved and have been saved by these. Just gather around 4-6 people from your class. Then make sure each one of you has mastered a part of the study material. Then teach what you’ve learned from the others. At the same time, you get to learn too without doing a lot of research.

6. Search it up. If you understand something, the esier it is for you to remember. So if you don’t understand the explanation the professor gave you, ditch him and go look on the internet for a video or article that explains it easier (or slower) for you. 

7. Don’t cram it at the last minute. Yes, don’t do it. It’s likely not going to stay in your mind and it will only give you more stress. I would rec to stop learning all together some 5 hours before the exam and take a nap instead so you feel more fresh and relaxed. 

8. Once you get your test, write all formulas, mnemonics and models. I like to do this before even reading the first question. This way I get all the tools I need out of my mind right away. Therefore I’ll have more space in my mind to think about the actual questions instead of thinking “what was the formula for that again?”  and enter in panic. 

With this spellbinding project, insanely talented artist @littlechmura​ wanted to create a self-contained moment for each of these beloved Harry Potter characters—a single scene that gives a glimpse into their own magical worlds. She’s calling the series “One Breath Each”, and we’re calling it GORGEOUS AF.

How to Brace Yourself for a New School Year

August is fast approaching once again! Though I’m all for “starting the year/ school year right”, I think it’s pretty much unavoidable for us to get off track. A lot. Because of that, I put together this infographic to help minimize those stressful moments in your brand new school years.

First of all, get your shit together. And I mean both physically and emotionally.

it’s a new start my friend!! detox your mind of all those negative thoughts (and people) and embrace the opportunity to start over. 

gather all the supplies you need. if you’re moving into a dormitory, make sure it’s equipped with everything you need to feel at home. 

her campus college packing list

do’s and don’ts

don’t go overboard with this step, but go get yourself some new stationery. choose wisely, and ensure that you’ll actually use it and it’s not just for purposes of aesthetic. we all want nice instagram feeds, but don’t let that be a reason for you to buy too much pretty stationery.

why not think of a note taking system before classes begin? 

the cornell system

mind mapping

flashcards

not all may find the idea of going back to school exciting, but you gotta have the motivation to keep that positive mindset in your head throughout the year! go you.

Organize your study space. You may have to stay in it much longer than usual now.

lighting is important. it’s oversaid, but never untrue. opt for natural lighting when you can, but if you can’t or you’re a night owl, get a good study lamp to brighten up those long hours of work.

I did say you’re probably gonna be staying here for some long bouts of time, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. make your desk one of your favorite places to be in. if you want to, make it really pretty. hang up some motivational posters or quotes - perhaps you even want a color scheme with that. 

desk inspiration

quote posters to get you going

quotes from writers

have an accessible stash of stationery on your desk at all times so that you don’t have to go looking for a pen and a sticky note when you need to write something down. keep pens, pencils and highlighters in a jar near you.

keep something green on your desk, like a succulent. plants are adorable and the sight of them can boost your productivity.

have a planner or a bullet journal, and make space for that too.

a bujo masterpost 

if working with music helps you, have headphones with you as well. always have a study playlist on hand. go for instrumentals or wordless tracks.

study playlist masterpost

make it a habit to keep your space in check every night before you go to bed. it really could make a big difference in how much work you’re gonna be able to do. don’t forget to stay clear of distractions!

Create a stress management system.

okay. this is what i’m telling you to brace yourself for. there are gonna be those days or those moments when you’re gonna feel really depressed or panicked. you’re gonna be okay. feel free to message me or any other studyblr - we’re here to listen =)

take some time out to practice self care and put off work, even for a bit. school is not the most important thing in the world, keeping yourself alive and healthy is. you can sleep, be kind to yourself.

self-care reminders

soothe yourself

go get some food too. you can prep some of your own if you’d prefer.

food masterpost

mood boosting food

never ever ever underestimate the power of exercise. the feeling of finishing a workout is so so so satisfying and I can guarantee you will feel better in no time.

the seven minute workout

popsugar fitness

take out your mat and do some yoga. stretch out all those muscles you held in place for so long sitting at your desk.

I find it important to always have a mini-collection of unread books. if you don’t have any, one of my favorite places to be in is a bookstore or library - and I just read whatever I find. the results can be life changing.

take time to hone your skills in your hobbies. if you can, do it everyday - do that one thing that makes you really happy daily. maybe you like singing. or playing the guitar. or painting. whatever it is, go do it.

write it down! I keep an electronic journal and it really helps to just spill your thoughts out on a notebook or your phone.

honey, please talk to someone if you need to. it won’t hurt. 

Get a headstart on academics.

especially on subjects that are easier with advanced reading. if you already know what books you’re going to be tackling for english or literature, go read them.

sparknotes

shmoop

try asking upper years who used to take your classes if they still have their course outlines, or any material they were given before. this can save lives.

gonna be taking a language class? why not start learning it already?

duolingo

memrise

find textbooks and start using them!!

don’t have any idea of what you’re going to study yet? that doesn’t mean you should stop learning something new. you can listen to a ted talk or join an online course.

ted

crash course

coursera

Finally, set SMART goals for the school year. And have a concrete plan for how you’ll reach them.

what average are you aiming for? what organizations do you want to join? make your goals realistic and specific.

motivation is very important, but honestly, you can’t count on it to be with you every single day, every single moment of your life while you’re working for your goals. what will push you forward then? discipline.

building discipline

surround yourself with a community people who support you. like I said in the first step, detox all those negative people from your life. find ways to work with your friends and help each other in attaining goals.

set rewards for yourself too, not just in the long run but for the little things like finishing a good study session or passing a paper early.

study reward ideas

that being said, don’t underestimate the power of setting your short-term goals. those will be your stepping stones to pursuing the bigger picture you envision for yourself.

Tumblr and Pinterest, provided you don’t go too far in using them, can serve your daily doses of inspiration. don’t just use them for the sake of looking at aesthetically pleasing shots, though.

on a final note, don’t let academics take over your life. I hope you have a fantastic year, and good luck!

What they’re doing is not right!!! They’re only making things bad for actual writers and bloggers on this page, not the people they are after!

Join us on the 17th and protest

For everyone’s information:

The plan for the 17th, when the adult content ban comes in, is to protest.

To do that, we are making as much noise either side of the 17th as possible, and using the site as normal.

On the 17th, dead silence.

People are saying log off but what they really mean is don’t open the site or the app.

But, on the 17th make as much noise as possible on every other platform. Tweet about it and post on facebook and instagram and everywhere else.

What this does is causes a massive dip in ad revenue for one single day. That does not make staff think ‘oh everyone’s gone let’s shut down.’ What it actually makes them think is ‘oh shit people aren’t happy and if people don’t keep using our site we’re out of money and out of jobs.’

A boycott reminds a company that the users (consumers) have the power to make their site (business) worthless with one single coordinated decision.

If you want to join in, here’s what to do:

Do:

Close all open instances of the app and site on all your devices before the 17th

Make posts before and after the 17th on tumblr and other platforms, talking about why this ban is bad

Make posts on other sites during the 17th. Flood the official tumblr staff twitter and facebook with your anger and your opinion

Come back on the 18th and check in

Don’t:

Delete the app from your phone (this doesn’t affect their revenue and since it’s off the store at the moment it’ll be hard to get back)

Delete your account. I mean you can if you want to, but if you keep your account and don’t use it you’re saying to staff that there’s still time to save it. If you delete it’s hard work to come back.

Open the app or website (including specific blogs)

Make any posts (turn down/off your queue and make sure nothing is scheduled)

Go quiet elsewhere. Make it clear that this is just about tumblr, not a mass move away from all social media.

Remember: the execs don’t care about anything but money. Shutting down the site means there’s $0 further income from it. That’s their last possible course of action. If we make it clear we’re not happy, they’ll have to do something or we can do more and more until it becomes too expensive.

Protests take commitment. They’re a defiant action against a business that is doing something wrong. They will try to scare you into not participating, because they’re scared. We hold all the power here, sometimes the execs just need to be reminded of that.

What a legend. Carrie Fisher is deeply missed.

THE GARDEN