Your personal Tumblr journey starts here
Tips - Blog Posts
hot artists don't gatekeep
I've been resource gathering for YEARS so now I am going to share my dragons hoard
Floorplanner. Design and furnish a house for you to use for having a consistent background in your comic or anything! Free, you need an account, easy to use, and you can save multiple houses.
Comparing Heights. Input the heights of characters to see what the different is between them. Great for keeping consistency. Free.
Magma. Draw online with friends in real time. Great for practice or hanging out. Free, paid plan available, account preferred.
Smithsonian Open Access. Loads of free images. Free.
SketchDaily. Lots of pose references, massive library, is set on a timer so you can practice quick figure drawing. Free.
SculptGL. A sculpting tool which I am yet to master, but you should be able to make whatever 3d object you like with it. free.
Pexels. Free stock images. And the search engine is actually pretty good at pulling up what you want.
Figurosity. Great pose references, diverse body types, lots of "how to draw" videos directly on the site, the models are 3d and you can rotate the angle, but you can't make custom poses or edit body proportions. Free, account option, paid plans available.
Line of Action. More drawing references, this one also has a focus on expressions, hands/feet, animals, landscapes. Free.
Animal Photo. You pose a 3d skull model and select an animal species, and they give you a bunch of photo references for that animal at that angle. Super handy. Free.
Height Weight Chart. You ever see an OC listed as having a certain weight but then they look Wildly different than the number suggests? Well here's a site to avoid that! It shows real people at different weights and heights to give you a better idea of what these abstract numbers all look like. Free to use.
Some tips for using a few words to describe voices:
1. Tone Words: Use tone words to convey the emotional quality of a voice. For example, you can describe a voice as "melodic," "soothing," "sharp," "gentle," or "commanding" to give readers a sense of the tone.
2. Pitch and Range: Mention the pitch and range of the voice. Is it "deep," "high-pitched," "raspy," or "full-bodied"? This can provide insight into the character's age, gender, or emotional state.
3. Accent and Diction: Describe the character's accent or diction briefly to give a sense of their background or cultural influences. For instance, "British-accented," "Southern drawl," or "formal."
4. Volume: Mention the volume of the voice, whether it's "whispering," "booming," "murmuring," or "hushed."
5. Quality: Use terms like "velvet," "silken," "gravelly," "honeyed," or "crisp" to convey the texture or quality of the voice.
6. Rate of Speech: Describe how fast or slow the character speaks, using words like "rapid," "slurred," "measured," or "rambling."
7. Mood or Emotion: Indicate the mood or emotion carried by the voice. For example, a "quivering" voice may convey fear or anxiety, while a "warm" voice may express comfort and reassurance.
8. Resonance: Describe the resonance of the voice, such as "echoing," "nasal," "booming," or "tinny."
9. Timbre: Mention the timbre of the voice, using words like "rich," "thin," "clear," or "smoky."
10. Cadence: Highlight the rhythm or cadence of speech with descriptors like "staccato," "lilting," "rhythmic," or "halting."
11. Intonation: Convey the character's intonation by saying their voice is "sarcastic," "apologetic," "confident," or "questioning."
12. Vocal Characteristics: If applicable, mention unique vocal characteristics, like a "lisp," "stutter," "drawl," or "accented 'r'."
Y'all can also go check for fatphotoref. You have to ask for the password to be able to access it but it's like any other reference pics, only with fat people.
They also have a twitter btw.
Yo my dude, what's that fat bodies anatomy book you have called? I need refs and google is NOT helpful. Thank you!
Morpho: Fat and skin folds by Michel Lauricella ✌️
Joint pain tips from someone “too young to have chronic pain”:
[I’m not a doc or a medical professional, take with a grain of salt]
- NSAIDs like ibuprofen/aleve are hard on the stomach and liver. If u take it consistently, consider lidocaine pain patches, tiger balm, or topical NSAIDs. (Still bad for liver with consistent use, but not on the stomach obv)
-foam rollers are real nice for thigh or back/neck pain. If you need it for shoulder stretching, make sure to get one long enough to lay ur whole spine and head on.
-rly good shoe inserts are stupid expensive but getting properly sized for one at a place like REI can rly save you a lot of foot, ankle, and knee pain.
-speaking of shoes plz find ones that have enough room for the tootsies. We’re talking abt bone health here.
-you can use KT or other athletic tape to give minor support, compression for medium, and splints/braces for more serious support. Don’t let braces take over keeping ur body in shape tho.
-in my experience, tube/sock-like braces stay in place the best. I’ve tried the kind that Velcro and they slipped constantly.
-if u overwork a tendon, muscle, or joint, it can take a lot longer for it to heal then when it just stops hurting. Be careful to reintegrate activities slowly after an injury.
-while it kinda makes ya feel silly, walking “like a robot” can help hypermobile/ligament laxity folks to keep proper motion in mind
-upside down criss-cross and w-sitting are horrendous for your knees and make your PTs sad
-if you are doing arm exercises, try not to extend your arms back beyond the line of your shoulder
-to my ND folks: try to rest your arms sometimes, Trex arms are comfy but bad for circulation and joints
-if it feels like your eyes are trying to burst outta ur skull sometimes it means you need to lower inflammation in your sinus.
-for my bra-wearing folks: racer-backed bras hurt the upper traps less and distribute weight better
-drink water my dudes. Ur body hates life w/o it
Useful Notion Templates
Use a beauty and skincare tracker.
Write down a weekly plan date.
Keep track of your life and habit goals.
Use a gratitude journal to boost your positivity.
Start planning your trips in advance.
Create an online wish list.
Stay physically active and work out.
Write an effective resume.
Create a list of books to read.
- Mimi ♡
upgrade your life by taking note of the objects you use most and slowly replace them with the most beautiful and high-quality versions of those things you can find.
quick tip: if you feel unproductive no matter how much you're working and/or studying, what you're lacking is not more responsibilities, it's actually leisure. I know it may seem contradictory, but having hobbies, having a "busy" free time, filling up your schedule not only with obligations but also with things you do simply out of fun, with no goal in sight, are all extremely important to make you feel fulfilled and drive away this anxiety.
if you're only experiencing progress with the aim of improving your career and making money, but not nourishing your soul and spirit, you'll always feel like you're missing out or lacking in something.
find something that relaxes you, that takes your mind off your obligations and that makes you build a better relationship with your inner self, and this feeling will vanish.
MY FEED HAS BEEN INFECTED WITH SONADOW (??? I think) HOW DO I GET IT OUTTTTTTT HELPPP
College Life 101
Alrighty folks, here are some nifty tips on how I survived (and could have better survived) college:
As soon as you have your schedule, email your professors. Everyone. Especially if you have questions about the course, if you’re going to miss, etc. also make sure you do it from your school email, many professors will not check an email if it isn’t from a school address.
On move in day, bring a door stop. moving in is so much easier when you don’t need someone to hold the door for everything.
Shoe racks and command strips/hooks will be your best friend. Use the racks for misc. things like utensils, seasonings, Keurig mixes, hot chocolate, etc.
Bring a whiteboard/corkboard. Write down your classes and anything you need to get done for those classes and make sure that you keep it updated. On the cork side post up papers with important numbers, a map of campus, and other things you get.
SIGN UP FOR ACTIVITIES (ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE ON A SMALL CAMPUS) otherwise you’re not going to have a fun experience. Even if it’s just something you THINK you may have a slight interest in, try it!
Go to one or two sporting events, just for the hell of it
Put important dates in your phone calendar or even a planner. Somewhere you will be reminded of them. Times and dates are critical.
Eat. and eat well.
Use chegg, upper classmen, or other resources for textbooks before you buy them. Campus bookstores are astronomically expensive and it can be a lot cheaper going somewhere else. I use Chegg and they also send you free tide pods, coffee samples, etc.
Bring medicine that you’ve used in the last two years, even if you haven’t used it in a while just to be safe.
If you’re gonna do laundry on the weekends Friday and Saturday nights OR Sunday mornings are prime time. Be prepared for staying up late or getting up early to do laundry
PUT. A TIMER. ON. YOUR. LAUNDRY. Seriously, when you have to share a laundry room there is nothing more annoying than someone who won’t move their laundry out for other people.
On a related note DO NOT THROW OTHER PEOPLE’S LAUNDRY ON THE FLOOR. Fold it up, leave it on the dryers or w/e with a little note. Don’t be an asshole.
Keep extra pads and tampons around everywhere you go. Help yourself and/or ya menstruating friends out.
Bring a phone/laptop charger with you throughout the day. I know I personally have some long breaks between my classes where I do homework and w/e
Use Google docs for your assignments, or other programs that back up your work to the cloud. My laptop broke halfway through the semester and the only thing that saved me was Google Docs because my school uses gmail
Download Groupme. Right now. Do it. It’s a great way to create group chats, keep them in one place, and keep them backed up somewhere, you’re gonna have some for group projects, your dorm, any programs, etc.
Bring a three hole punch, scissors, glue, tape, notecards, and binders. Also get pocketed folders for any important research papers you may need to turn in.
ALSO DRY ERASE MARKERS ARE A LIFE SAVER. bring them around for studying in empty classrooms it’s v helpful
COLOR CODE YOUR BINDERS/NOTE BOOKS/STICKY NOTES. Your binder for one class and all its accessories should be one colors. Color organize your notes. (If you’re colorblind, use patterns or something simple for you.)
Try typing up your notes after classes, save them to your laptop and whatever online thing you use. Sometimes you’ll need your notes and you either won’t have your notebook, laptop, or both and it can be very important to keep your notes accessible.
Make use of tutoring services or other students/friends that are good in your classes. C’s get degrees and if people can help you understand it better then WOO
Try not to miss too many classes, but if you do make sure you contact your professors about it (or someone in that class.)
Sleep is v important, but can also be too good so set alarms at least a half hour before your classes to get ready and go.
Take deep breaths. Make friends. Take no shit, do no harm.
((These are based off of my personal experiences, feel free to add on if you think of something))
Studyblr Masterpost
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
physics
summary writing [pt. i]
the discursive/argumentative essay [pt.ii]
+ more
studying + how to how to study biologybio study guides a-level bio guidecrash course biologypowerpointsexperimentsa question bankthe biology cornerhow to draw biological diagramscheck out this whole website basically, i’m getting a lot of information from thereplantsbuds + twigs seeds + germinationvegetative reproductionvegetative reproduction - tropical examples flower structure flower structure - tropical examples fruit formation fruit formation - tropical examples
animals
protista insect life-cycles insect structure and function insects - tropical fish: characteristics fish: tilapia amphibia birds
other
fungi teeth + dentition
pictures + stuff to get you inspired
idk i like this cardio thing the axial skeleton cute lil heart anatomy viral diseasesmicrobiologycells!!
Agendas & Planners: Kate Spade Medium Agenda Vera Bradley Student Agenda Jonathan Adler Agenda Kate Spade 12 Month Day Planner Lilly Pulitzer Large Agendas
Notebooks: Jonathan Adler Leatherette Journal Vera Bradley Fabric Journal Kate Spade Notepad Vera Bradley Spiral Notebook Kate Spade Journal Vera Bradley Notepad and Pen Set Kate Spade Spiral Notebook Lilly Pulitzer Mini Notebook Jonathan Adler Mini Notebook
Writing Utensils: Vera Bradley Gel Pens Lilly Pulitzer Pen Set Jonathan Adler Ink Pen Jack Wills Emsworth Pen Vera Bradley Markers Kate Spade Pen Set Jonathan Adler Pen Set Vera Bradley Dual Tip Highlighter Set Jack Wills Pencil Set Jonathan Adler Pencil Set Jonathan Adler Highlighter Set Kate Spade Pencil Set Tory Burch Colored Pencil Set Vera Bradley Pencil Set with Tin Vera Bradley Click Pen Set Lilly Pulitzer Pencil Set Vera Bradley Mechanical Pencil Set Lilly Pulitzer Ball Point Pen Vera Bradley Pencil Set with Sharpener Kate Spade Ball Point Pen Vera Bradley Ball Point Pen Kate Spade Dual Tip Highlighter Set Lilly Pulitzer Dual Tip Pen & Highlighter Set
Cases & Containers: Lilly Pulitzer Pencil Case Vineyard Vines Pencil Case Jack Wills Pencil Case Jonathan Adler Laptop Cover Kate Spade Pencil Case and Accessories Vera Bradley Laptop Sleeve Jonathan Adler Pencil Case Vera Bradley Neoprene Laptop Case Lilly Pulitzer Laptop Tote Vera Bradley Pencil Case
Organization: Kate Spade Letter Tray See Jane Work Expanding File See Jane Work To-Do List See Jane Work Letter Tray Jonathan Adler Binder Clips Jonathan Adler Nautical Shapes Paper Clips Jonathan Adler 3-Piece Desk Set Kate Spade File Folders Kate Spade Bow Shaped Paper Clips Kate Spade Binder Clips Vera Bradley Binder Clips
Storage: Kate Spade Nesting Boxes Jonathan Adler Collapsible Storage Box Vera Bradley Small Collapsible Bin Vera Bradley Medium Collapsible Bin Lilly Pulitzer Medium Organizational Bin Lilly Pulitzer Large Organizational Bin
Sticky Notes, Pads, & Memos: Jonathan Adler Supplies List Pad Jonathan Adler 5 Minutes Sticky Notes Kate Spade Sticky Note Set Vera Bradley Desk Note Set Vera Bradley Mini Memo Cube Jonathan Adler List Pad Lilly Pulitzer Sticky Notes Jonathan Adler Daily Schedule Pad Jonathan Adler Sticky Note Set Jonathan Adler Plan of Attack Sticky Notes Jonathan Adler Weekly List Pad
Desk Supplies: Kate Spade Giant Eraser Jonathan Adler Giant Eraser See Jane Work Pencil Cup Jonathan Adler Acrylic Ruler Jonathan Adler Brass Peacock Letter Opener Jonathan Adler Tape Dispenser Kate Spade Eraser Set Kate Spade Desk Supply Bundle Box Lilly Pulitzer Mouse Pad Kate Spade Stapler Jonathan Adler Stapler Jonathan Adler Block Calendar Kate Spade Tape Dispenser Lilly Pulitzer Calculator Kate Spade Pencil Cup
Backpacks: Vera Bradley Tech Backpack Michael Kors Jet Set Backpack PINK Campus Backpack Jack Wills Earnshaw Backpack Michael Kors Studded Leather Backpack Vera Bradley Lighten Up Medium Backpack Vera Bradley Lighten Up Large Backpack PINK Classic Backpack Vera Bradley Campus Backpack Vineyard Vines Backpack Vera Bradley Drawstring Backpack Jack Wills Aylesford Backpack Vera Bradley Ultimate Backpack Vera Bradley Quilted Backpack
Other: Kate Spade Bookmark Set Lilly Pulitzer Dry Erase Board Vera Bradley Study Buddy Jonathan Adler USB Keychain Lilly Pulitzer USB Keychain Jonathan Adler Magnet Set Jonathan Adler Metal Bookends Jonathan Adler Presentation Book Vera Bradley Square Ribbon Board Kate Spade Bow Shaped Push Pins Lilly Pulitzer Academic Planner Stickers Kate Spade Bow Shaped Magnets
Electronic Note taking:
Guide to taking typed notes
Handwriting versus typing your notes
Organising your typed notes
Note taking apps
General note taking and guides:
Combining lecture and reading notes
Resources about making chapter outlines
Recognising key points in a lecture / reading (for efficient note taking)
10 tips for good note taking in lectures
Guide to note taking (the major approaches and techniques)
What to do after you take your notes
Organising a notebook
Taking notes that work (By Dustin Wax)
Top note taking tips
An example of me using cornell notes
Visual / Pretty Notes:
Visual guide to illustrating notes
How to make your notes prettier!
Pros and cons of pretty notes
Guide to colour coding
Guide to my graphic notes
How to make notes cute and neat
Inspiration: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 /
really helpful search engine
another helpful search engine
Economics
The Economics Detective
EconStories
English
eNotes
Shmoop Grammar, Punctuation, and Writing
Shmoop Literature
Video Sparknotes
Geography
Geography Hub
Geography Now
Minute Earth
Wonder Why
History
Alternate History Hub
It’s History
Smart History
Mathematics
Khan Academy Differential Equations
Khan Academy Linear Algebra
Khan Academy Probability and Statistics
Numberphile
Philosophy
The School of Life
Wireless Philosophy
Science
Applied Science
ASAP Science
Bozeman Science
Computerphile
Khan Academy Computer Science
Minute Physics
SciShow
SciShow Space
Sixty Symbols
General
Big Think
Crash Course
In a Nutshell – Kurzgesagt
IQ Squared
It’s Okay to Be Smart
Khan Academy
Life Noggin
Ted-Ed
Wisecrack
StudyTube
Appsademia
Biology Queen
College Info Geek
Mary Plethora
Studyign
Study With Jess
1. Specifics:
1.1 Chemistry
How to study chemistry
How to take chemistry notes
Tips for studying chemistry
Super cool Periodic Table
1.2 Biology
Basically everything you need
Advice for studying biology
Biology guide
How to draw a biological diagram
1.3 Math
Mathaway
Algebra Calculator
2. Phone and Computer
Productivity apps for iOS (mine)
Evernote (app and site)
Fliqlo (computer)
Momentum (computer)
Apps (phone and computer)
3. Notes
Guide to aesthetically pleasing notes
Banners reference
Guide to color coding
Sketchnotes References
Make Your Notes Pretty!
Stiky Notes - How to
Huge note-taking masterpost
4. Time Management
Tips on time management
Stop procrastinating
Bullet Journal - How to start one
5 days study plan
Pomodoro technique
How to do a lot in little time
How to schedule study for exams
5. Masterposts
Study (everything)
Studyblr- How to
School
Note Taking
Note Taking (2)
Note Taking (3)
Chemistry
Math
Biology
Languages
School resources
Printables
Bullet Journals
Music
Music (2)
Others
(FREE)Printables
How to start a study group
Study 101
10 mistakes when studying
100 reasons to study
Start Studying
Types of learners
How to stick to your plans
How to stay motivated
tips
sketch notes
study tips
visual/spacial learning
strategies
more strategies
auditory study tips
tips for auditory learners
helpful hints
5 tips for auditory learners
study tips
tactile learning strategies
kinesthetic learning strategies
the kinesthetic learning style
reading and writing
study tips
annotation tips
masterposts
learning styles and study tips
tips for auditory,visual, and tactile learners
active vs. passive learning
+sites
a guide to learning strategies (VARK)
understanding the learning styles
• Sketchnote Tips - by Carol Anne McGuire
• Visual Notetaking by Succubus studies
• Tips for beginner sketchnoters by Sketchnotespace
• How to illustrate your notes by Reviseordie
• Guide to pretty notes by Theorganisedstudent
• How to make pretty notes by Studyspoinspo
• Sketchnotes by Raindropvalley
• What is visual notetaking? By Danyadsmith
• Fundamentals of Visual Notetaking By Danyadsmith
MOST OF THESE ARE TAKEN FROM OTHER MASTERPOSTS
fellas im about to join a writing competition for my school, but currently have no ideas. Suggestions?
the theme is Stories for Strange Times
Easy Makeup Tips for a Quick, Flawless Look
When it comes to makeup, I like to keep things simple and efficient, especially on busy days. Over time, I’ve found a routine that works for me and gives me a polished look without spending hours in front of the mirror.
First things first: I always start with a clean, moisturized face. I give my skin a few minutes to soak in the moisturizer—it makes a huge difference in how smoothly makeup applies.
Next, I apply a makeup primer with rice protein. This step is essential for keeping my skin matte and shine-free all day. Having dealt with acne in the past, the "dewy" look isn’t for me, so this primer is a game-changer.
Most days, I skip the heavy stuff like foundation, concealer, and powder unless I’m going for a full-face look. Instead, I focus on enhancing my eyes and brows.
My Quick Eye & Brow Routine:
Brows: I use a brow tint to define my shape and pluck any stray hairs to keep things clean and tidy.
Eyeshadow: Since I have hooded eyes, I keep it simple:
Apply a light, sparkly shadow on the brow bone for a subtle highlight.
Use a darker shadow on the upper lid for depth.
Finish with a white, shimmery shadow on the inner corners for brightness.
Eyeliner: A thin line of black liquid liner on the outer half of my top lid with a small wing works wonders for my eye shape.
Optional Pop: Sometimes, I’ll add white eyeliner on my waterline to make my eyes appear bigger.
Mascara: A few coats to define my lashes, and I’m good to go!
For lips, I keep it low-maintenance with a swipe of clear gloss or Vaseline. It keeps my lips hydrated all day without feeling sticky or heavy.
Life Hack:
If you struggle with oil and shine throughout the day, makeup blotting papers are your best friend. These small, portable sheets soak up excess oil without messing up your makeup. They’re compact enough to fit in a pocket or purse, making them perfect for touch-ups on the go.
This routine is quick, easy, and leaves me feeling confident without overdoing it. What’s your favorite go-to makeup trick? Share it below—I’d love to hear!
hey if you’re scrolling through tumblr looking for a distraction rn (case in point: i just got done crying dramatically on the bathroom floor and need to look normal when i walk out)
whisper beep boop to yourself a few times
take a breath
fluff up your hair
make a lil list on your phone of all your friends/people who you love
read through that list if you already have one
drink some water, with each sip you are slowly coming back to feeling a-okay
rant in my askbox/message me if u need, i’m ur new pal xx
What I learned during one year of online school, and what another year may look like
Just some raw facts
first and foremost, pay attention in class, or at least try to. I spent the majority of my classes browsing through meaningless memes on Pinterest or chatting with my friends, and I regretted it as soon as exams came around.
try doing something physical doing your class, as this reduces the chances of you drifting off and/or losing focus (I personally chose to doodle mindlessly, nothing that involved too much brain power and focus)
all your organization systems fail you
and finding a planning system takes months, but once you find it, STICK TO IT. mine was a hybrid weekly and daily planner with absolutely no other spreads (except a separate calendar). efficient and less time-consuming to make.
you feel motivated in random bursts and will plan out the entirety of your remaining year and then forget about that plan the next day
routines seem appealing as you try to get your life together from the ever-increasing slumps but then your realize they just make everything even more monotonous that they already are
sticky notes are the shit. like seriously. I had sticky notes in my textbooks, past papers, study notes, and even other sticky notes. they’re versatile and a great way to jot down information quickly and right on top of where you want it (a paragraph on your textbook, for examples)
do not rely on just your textbooks, especially since it’s 10 times harder to ask for help (and by the time you get around to meeting your teacher, you might actually forget about it). ask anyone around you for help – friends, family – and use all the resources you have.
online learning resources are astronomically underrated. while I was struggling in multiple subjects all by myself, I decided to expand the resources I used for studying. My favourites through my senior year were:
OpenStax (FREE textbooks on a variety of subjects groups, by Rice University)
Khan Academy (need I say more?)
Crash Course on youtube, especially for AP Exams (I’m not a part of the US education system btw, and the resources I’m mentioning are applicable to everything)
online pdf versions of textbooks
tons of youtube channels (too many to list here,)
use your phone/computer’s night light. trust me it works wonders. plus, it’s cheaper than blue light glasses if you already own a phone/computer (most have it built in). also known as a blue light filter/yellow light.
a little bit of gratitude each week will help you keep your sanity (coming from a former skeptic)
sleepless nights will be common, especially with all the screen time, but you’ll learn to live with that.
and mental health will just go down the drain
but it will all be okay
you get both your grades and confidence high
i speak from experience
some fucking resources for all ur writing fuckin needs
* body language masterlist
* a translator that doesn’t eat ass like google translate does
* a reverse dictionary for when ur brain freezes
* 550 words to say instead of fuckin said
* 638 character traits for when ur brain freezes again
* some more body language help
(hope this helps some ppl)
ways to support the blm movement
this google doc includes a list of petitions to sign, resources to help educate yourself and others, organizations to donate to, and contacts of law officials to get in touch with to express your support for the george floyd and black lives matter movements. this includes ways to help even if you don’t live in america. please read it and support the movement.
use your voice. use every platform you have, no matter how big or how small. nothing will change if you just sit there and watch. if you think you’re the exception, you’re not. remaining indifferent will only support the oppressor. do something.
write to your legal representatives. express your support for legislation that would bring justice to the unarmed civilians who’ve been murdered by law enforcement officers. demand for justice.
call 612-324-4499 ㅡ this is a hotline that will coach you on how to get connected with the people who can arrest the officers that murdered george floyd.
create serious conversation. stop demeaning people who disagree with your philosophies on how to overcome. it is useless and no better than the practices of the oppressor to silence. we need to listen to each other with respect and really consider how we can combine our perspectives to create practical change.
please feel free to add any links or resources or information that you think will be helpful and also reblog to spread awareness. the systems we are fighting against were literally created to oppress marginalized communities and therefore will not go down without a fight. we need to collectively stand up and do something about it.
Hey so, I decided to do another masterpost. This time on exams. Some tips for studying at the very last minute if you are like me, disclaimer: I am not in any way supporting cramming but this is just to help you through if you are left with no choice other than cramming.
Cramming
Cramming tips that actually work by @optomstudies
The night before the exam
What to do the night before an exam by @beautifullearning
The night before your exam by @tiny-personal-university-thing
The night before exam and I didn’t study guide by @renaistudying
The night before test and I haven’t started studying by @getstudyblr
Revision methods
Revision methods that actually work by @alimastudies
The 5 Best Revision Methods by @bstudies
Study tips
More unconventional study tips by @minimaliststudy
A stash of tiny study tips by @justestjarchives
College study tips that actually help by @samsstudygram
Five tips for study marathons by @booksavolonte
General study tips by @plantednotes
More study tips
My study tips by @anatomyandcappuccini
My study tips
Personal study tips
Quickfire study tips by @annabaestudying
Quick study tip by @studyspiratiom-coffee
Rare study tips by @studybllog
Scientifically proven study tips by @swankiegrades
Secret study tips I wish someone would have told me by @fearlessroadtomd
Some rare study tips by @organisedorgana
Top 5 study tips by @studyign
Weird study tip by @artemissstudies
101 study tips by @study-early
Study tips by @howtohighschool
Study tips from someone who has already been there by @haylstudies
Study tips straight from my professor by @just-refuse-to-be-stopped
Study tips that helped me get back on my feet by @sillydaisies
Study tips that aren’t bullshit by @thebitchwhomadeit
Tips for effective study by @kimtented
How I write revision summaries by @athenastudying
Ways to study for exams that are actually productive
10 mistakes when studying by @howtostudyquick
Memorising information
How to memorise information by @monetstudy
How to memorise information faster by @qxzu
Memorization tips by @aescademic
Memorization tips by @determinationandcaffeine
Memorization tips by @studyquill
Exam tips
How to cope with exams by @uk-studying
How to revise for exams by @a-pro-s-studyblr
Studying for exams by @orangeblossomstudies
Tips for doing well on your exams by @aboysstudyblr
Tips for doing well on your exams by @thepeachystudies
Exam tips by @studywithmaggie
Exam guides
Finals: study guide for the brave by @educatier
Pennyfynotes guide to exam season by @pennyfynotes
Quick guide to doing the finals by @inkskinned
Test taking tips
How I revise for exams + tests
How to study for a test by @tbhstudying
My test taking tips by @55studies
Test taking tips
Exam preparation
How to make a stress free exam plan by @marias-studyblr
How to mentally prep yourself for a test by @eruditicn
Procrastination
How to beat procrastination by @eintsein
Types of procrastination and how to deal with them by @emmastudies
Time management
Time management by @academiceve
Time management tips for busy students
Motivation
My motivation tag
Other masterposts by me
Notetaking masterpost
College advice masterpost
Apps for students masterpost
Icon credits to @rhubarbstudies
How to Study Like a Harvard Student
Taken from Sophia Chua-Rubenfeld, daughter of the Tiger Mother
Preliminary Steps 1. Choose classes that interest you. That way studying doesn’t feel like slave labor. If you don’t want to learn, then I can’t help you. 2. Make some friends. See steps 12, 13, 23, 24. General Principles 3. Study less, but study better. 4. Avoid Autopilot Brain at all costs. 5. Vague is bad. Vague is a waste of your time. 6. Write it down. 7. Suck it up, buckle down, get it done. Plan of Attack Phase I: Class 8. Show up. Everything will make a lot more sense that way, and you will save yourself a lot of time in the long run. 9. Take notes by hand. I don’t know the science behind it, but doing anything by hand is a way of carving it into your memory. Also, if you get bored you will doodle, which is still a thousand times better than ending up on stumbleupon or something. Phase II: Study Time 10. Get out of the library. The sheer fact of being in a library doesn’t fill you with knowledge. Eight hours of Facebooking in the library is still eight hours of Facebooking. Also, people who bring food and blankets to the library and just stay there during finals week start to smell weird. Go home and bathe. You can quiz yourself while you wash your hair. 11. Do a little every day, but don’t let it be your whole day. “This afternoon, I will read a chapter of something and do half a problem set. Then, I will watch an episode of South Park and go to the gym” ALWAYS BEATS “Starting right now, I am going to read as much as I possibly can…oh wow, now it’s midnight, I’m on page five, and my room reeks of ramen and dysfunction.” 12. Give yourself incentive. There’s nothing worse than a gaping abyss of study time. If you know you’re going out in six hours, you’re more likely to get something done. 13. Allow friends to confiscate your phone when they catch you playing Angry Birds. Oh and if you think you need a break, you probably don’t. Phase III: Assignments 14. Stop highlighting. Underlining is supposed to keep you focused, but it’s actually a one-way ticket to Autopilot Brain. You zone out, look down, and suddenly you have five pages of neon green that you don’t remember reading. Write notes in the margins instead. 15. Do all your own work. You get nothing out of copying a problem set. It’s also shady. 16. Read as much as you can. No way around it. Stop trying to cheat with Sparknotes. 17. Be a smart reader, not a robot (lol). Ask yourself: What is the author trying to prove? What is the logical progression of the argument? You can usually answer these questions by reading the introduction and conclusion of every chapter. Then, pick any two examples/anecdotes and commit them to memory (write them down). They will help you reconstruct the author’s argument later on. 18. Don’t read everything, but understand everything that you read. Better to have a deep understanding of a limited amount of material, than to have a vague understanding of an entire course. Once again: Vague is bad. Vague is a waste of your time. 19. Bullet points. For essays, summarizing, everything. Phase IV: Reading Period (Review Week) 20. Once again: do not move into the library. Eat, sleep, and bathe. 21. If you don’t understand it, it will definitely be on the exam. Solution: textbooks; the internet. 22. Do all the practice problems. This one is totally tiger mom. 23. People are often contemptuous of rote learning. Newsflash: even at great intellectual bastions like Harvard, you will be required to memorize formulas, names and dates. To memorize effectively: stop reading your list over and over again. It doesn’t work. Say it out loud, write it down. Remember how you made friends? Have them quiz you, then return the favor. 24. Again with the friends: ask them to listen while you explain a difficult concept to them. This forces you to articulate your understanding. Remember, vague is bad. 25. Go for the big picture. Try to figure out where a specific concept fits into the course as a whole. This will help you tap into Big Themes – every class has Big Themes – which will streamline what you need to know. You can learn a million facts, but until you understand how they fit together, you’re missing the point. Phase V: Exam Day 26. Crush exam. Get A.
random things I do to fool my brain into staying interested during online study
changing my chrome cursor into something cute like a strawberry
changing my chrome theme to a wacky colour
adding stickers onto my laptop
listening to new music in a language I don’t know
or hyped video game music for energy
buying a fidget toy. like deadass I had my doubts but they’re so good
using the web paint extension while in meetings or lectures
changing the appearance of whatever note taking app you use
for epic gamers with light-up keyboards, changing the light’s colour settings
having a very hot or very cold drink
putting said drink directly under my face when working and using a straw, so I don’t forget it’s there and don’t have to move my head much to sip
hav u eaten or drank anything today hey hello it’s already midday
sparkling water perchance?? it’s water but it’s fun and interesting
ambient fireplace 10 hours loop
alternatively, death metal hardcore bass boosted.mp3
putting on a ridiculous outfit and pretending you’re a wizard doing important work. I have given up on being “put together” at this stage
getting up and having scheduled dance breaks to move around
don’t like your chair? are u gay and can’t sit normal? try arranging pillows and boxes to make a diy cross-legged chair or sit on the floor
u kno when you get a million ideas during studying but u don’t want to break focus: hey siri okay google alexa remind me in a sec about this very specific thing that just couldn’t wait 10 more minutes to force itself into brain
giving up. lmao sometimes you genuinely need a break and nothing you do will make your brain focus so don’t feel guilty for needing rest! it’s technically more productive to spend the time resting and recharging than forcing yourself to half assedly focus and get nothing done
tl;dr- changing appearances of devices often for Spice, having small snacks and various drinks, hype music for energy, any and all fidget toys, knowing when to give up
Hey you wonderful person! I just started studying bio and was wondering if you had any advice on thinking like a biologist?
hey you wonderful person as well and budding biologist!
Thinking like a biologist.. hmmm! never been asked something like this before, so this is great for me to think about it too! here are 7 “rules of biology” if you may, that i personally find truth in. it’s definitely not complete, and maybe not all 100% correct, since i am just one person. but it’s what i believe:
nothing in biology is absolute. this field is about as lawless as lawlessnes gets. for example: “smoking causes lung cancer”–yes, in some cases, but not everyone who smokes gets lung cancer, and not everyone who gets lung cancer smokes. because individuality exists in biology, it makes things complicated. that’s not to say there’s no rhyme or reason; it’s just that nothing happens in a vacuum/by itself so the answer to a lot things is: “well, it depends.” that’s why you’ll see a lot of words like “may”, “can”, “sometimes”, and “suggests” in biology.
science is a tool created by humans to understand nature. thus, science can never be 100% free from human bias and error. we try to be as unbiased and close to the truth as we can by using things like experimental controls and large sample sizes, but at the end of the day, sometimes science can still be flawed. and that’s ok! but we need to be able to edit past discoveries to what we know now. (and going off of that, I really don’t like that popular quote by neil degrasse tyson: “science is true whether you believe it or not”. that’s not accurate. what’s accurate is “NATURE is true” because humans doing science can be very very flawed)
going off of that, question everything. don’t accept something is true until the evidence is sound (ie. good study design, no false interpretation of data, reputable sources, etc). even if someone well respected in the field says something, doesn’t always mean it’s true. be your own advocate in finding out the facts.
sometimes the “outlier” can teach us the most. take cancer, for example. it’s definitely a non-normal state of health and being, but from it we learned so much about normal cellular and organ function. or how we’ve been able to discover some drug metabolism gene variations in certain populations because they didn’t respond well to a treatment during a clinical trial. a lot of knowledge in biology can come from studying what goes wrong or contrary to what we expected.
your personal ethics may be challenged at times. this is particularly applicable for things like: science vs religion, research on animal models, who and what gets funding priority (eg. a cancer drug with the potential for pharma companies to make billions vs a tropical disease that primarily affects poor communities?), the high cost of pharmaceuticals/health-care in general, open-access knowledge vs getting scooped, is it right to sequence every individual’s genome, etc. you will truly need to know yourself, especially your beliefs and your limits, to navigate these situations.
everything is connected, sometimes extending beyond the realm of biology. this is related to what can happen in a given situation is always “it depends”. everything affects everything; we–every living unit from microorganisms to cities–are all connected in some way. for example, recent research has shown certain populations of bacteria in our guts can alter our mental health, and it’s easy to see how that can change our day-to-day-life, which in turn can affect society in general.
never cease to be fascinated. the biology of nature is amazing, everything from the smallest virus to the largest ecosystem. no matter how jaded you may become later in your career, never let go of that childlike curiosity that first brought you to the field.
good luck and have fun on your adventure as a biologist :) and i’m always here if you need anything!
Actual good first-time college student advice:
Wear jeans/pants that “breathe” and bring a sweater, even if it’s scorching hot out, until you know which building blasts the AC to 60 degrees F and which feels like a sauna
Backpacks with thick straps are your friend! Messenger bags are cool and all but if you’re commuting with a lot of stuff, symmetrically styled backpacks are better for your back
You are your own person and you can walk out whenever you need to or want to, so long as you’re not disrupting the class. Meaning you can go to the bathroom without permission, take a breather if you’re anxious, answer an important phone call, etc.
If you don’t like the class on the first day, if you can- DROP THAT CLASS AND TAKE ANOTHER ONE! It’ll only get worse from there!
If you can, take a class outside your major; it’s a good break from your expected studies.
You are in charge of your schedule. Your adviser and guidance counselor is there to ‘advise and guide’ but if you don’t like certain classes and you can substitute for others, that’s your choice.
Consequently, if you are changing anything drastic in your plan, talk with your adviser and instructors.
Pay attention to your credit hours and grades. Never leave this to the last week of school, you will be sorry and stressed beyond belief!
Unless it’s a lab book or otherwise specified, go to the class for a week or so before buying an expensive textbook. Some classes, while having it on their required list, do not actually use the textbook a whole lot and you might find some of it scanned online. Rent if you can or buy used online (schools actually don’t give discounts). Use your best judgement on what you think you need.
Tell the people who go up to you selling or advertising things you are not interested in that you are in a rush to class and don’t have time to listen to them. It’s less rude and they’ll leave you alone.
The smaller the class, the better it is to have some sort of acquaintanceship with a couple classmates. They might save your ass if you are absent one day or need to study. And talking with them makes the time go by faster without it being so insufferable.
You don’t need to join a club or sport, but internships are cool and useful!
If you can afford it, take a day off once or twice each semester if you’re too exhausted. Just be aware of what you missed and if it was worth missing!
Your health is the most important, this goes for mental health too!! Note: College-age/upper teens is when mental disorders like depression and anxiety are most commonly diagnosed. Most schools have therapy services, especially during exam time. Look into it if you need to!
Communicate with your professor if you are having trouble with something. Anything.
Eat and stay hydrated. Bring a water bottle and snack to class.
All-nighters will happen but never go over 36 hours without sleep.
It’s going to be hard and there will be times you might think about giving up. This WILL happen. You just have to make sure what you’re doing isn’t making you absolutely miserable and/or there is something rewarding and positive to look forward to at the end!
I'm moving to a studio apartment in six weeks and am in desperate need of tips
