catharsis ➳ self care; mental, physical and spiritual health

study tips! (1)

With finals coming up, that means that cram season is beginning! But, cramming while crying the day before your exam isn't the best (and healthiest) way to retain all the material from the very long year. So, I've compiled some study tips!!

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED :
☀︎ a bottle of water nearby
☀︎ a study playlist (I recommend classical music, but do whatever relaxes you! it's scientifically proven that listening to music that stimulates the mind but relaxes the body helps your studying!!)
☀︎ a healthy snack in reach
☀︎ extra pencils, pens, highlighters, paper, etc.
☀︎ a plant or window nearby if possible!!

TIME TO STUDY! :
☀︎ start with the easy stuff
☀︎ take a break every twenty-thirty minutes, but limit your breaks to 5 minutes max. the brain can't focus on one thing for more than 30 minutes at a time!
☀︎ keep your fingers busy - if you find yourself spacing off while reading, doodle with another hand so you can control any fidgeting.
☀︎ keep track of what you don't understand/what you don't finish. Make a mark at the top of your paper and put that in the front of your binder/folder.
☀︎ memorize vocab/literary terms in different orders than what they're given in!
☀︎ don't use flash cards, instead repeat the word and definition back to yourself 3-5 times, or download the app called Quizlet and use the "learn" mode! Both methods work wonders.
☀︎ if you're stuck on math (or any subject) because your teacher sucks and can't teach, go on Khan Academy or just Google the topic you don't understand. Watch a few videos, go along with the tutorials! Help yourself instead of complaining.
☀︎ do the practice exams, and if your teacher doesn't give you one then you can google it!!
☀︎ make diagrams and pictures, especially when studying for subjects like history. They don't have to be pretty, they just have to work.
☀︎ study for tests at least 3 days in advance - it doesn't have to be a full blown study session days in advance, but going over the material at least once or twice a day will really help so you don't have to cram the night before.
☀︎ don't focus on the aesthetic of studying, do whatever works for you. If a bullet journal and making pretty drawings helps you focus, great!! If drenching your wrists in bodyaroma essential oils and then proceeding to do all your homework in chicken scrawl works, that's great too!
☀︎ mute your phone, chuck it across the room, I don't care, just disconnect from technology!! reality > whatever is on your phone.

MOTIVATION :
☀︎ reward yourself while studying! grab a cookie from the pantry or something after you memorize all the terms you have to memorize or something like that.
☀︎ don't set unrealistic expectations, focus on what will work for you. If math isn't your best subject and the formulas aren't clicking with you, of COURSE try your hardest but also accept what is your best. If a B on the final is your best, get a B or higher and nothing less.
☀︎ set alarms so you know when to start studying. I usually set like 5 alarms because I ignore the first couple alarms.
☀︎ worship deadlines like you worship a deity.
☀︎ tell yourself that you can do it!
☀︎ tell yourself you WILL do it!

SOME AFFIRMATIONS :
☀︎ I am not a failure!
☀︎ this is a big deal now, but it won't be after I crush it!!
☀︎ I am intelligent and I am capable of doing this!
☀︎ starting now means finishing sooner!
☀︎ I will not procrastinate because that's bad for my health, thus bad for my grades!