Things to bring back in books:

Chapter titles

Actually having a synopsis on the back instead of reviews no one will read

Me as an art critic: this piece really explores the… Misogyny of the artist 🤔

something I started to realize a few months ago is that “becoming a better person” isn’t born from hating yourself and anxiously striving to do better.  it isn’t particularly glamorous or dramatic.  it’s just work you do while also taking care of yourself, things like:

-being mindful enough to recognize why you act certain ways -being honest about your baggage -resisting the compulsion to “be perfect" -recognizing the importance of your own wants and needs -educating yourself on issues that pose a stumbling block for you -googling things like “how to talk to people” (you can google how to do anything, even very simple things, and I recommend it) -identifying what behaviors you’d like to change in the future -being prepared to wait rather than seeking immediate reassurance/forgiveness for your own comfort

etc.

anyway thnx for letting me ruminate about this on ur dash, hope you’re having a good day.

tips for online learning

cause we ain’t out of the woods yet and online learning is supes draining

change study spaces often: you don’t have actual classes to go to, so change where you study to simulate going to class and desperately trying to concentrate

for those who do not have the ability to change study spaces, redecorate your space, move things around, make it look different

drink water!!! eat food!!! exercise!!! these will help you stay healthy while you spend ungodly hours staring at the screen

take breaks, go for a walk, look away from the screen (mother demands it)

use an app that blocks you from visiting certain websites so you can focus

create a study schedule and stick to it (or change your study schedule often if you hate routines)

schedule in breaks too

please take care of your mental health, please please please, mother wants you to be healthy

call friends (check in on them, make sure they are okay)

do things for fun (NOT genocide)

go outside (yes, the outside is still there whether you acknowledge it or not)

look into online therapy resources, because you deserve help no matter what

everybody can benefit from therapy

headphones will help block out unnecessary noise if you don’t have a quiet space to work

Okay, you messed up, whatever it is didn’t go to plan. Maybe you didn’t study today. Maybe you procrastinated all day. Maybe you gave up on that essay you need to write. Maybe you didn’t write that lab report. Maybe you had to sit a test without being prepared and are pretty sure you failed. So what? Mistakes happen, they’re a part of life and there’s nothing you can do now. Where do you go from here? Give up entirely or learn from this experience and do the best you can from now on? You can come back from this, it’ll be okay.

*book review* if i disappear

“When her favorite true crime podcast host goes missing, an adrift young woman plunges headfirst into the wild backcountry of Northern California and her own dangerous obsession.“

my review:

Eliza Jane Brazier's debut novel tells the story of an avid true crime podcast listener who upends her life to search for her favorite podcast host when she goes missing. This book is perfect for lovers of true crime podcasts and will definitely get you interested in listening if you don't already. IF I DISAPPEAR is extremely eerie, entertaining, and will keep you hooked until the shocking final reveal. This is an extremely unique thriller that had me invested in the story from the first page. The first thing that intrigued me about IF I DISAPPEAR was the writing style. Many people would incorrectly label this book as being written in second person because of the use of "you" throughout, but this book is actually written in what's called "direct address," where the main character is talking to another person the whole time. A huge part of the creepy factor in this story is the way Sera, the main character, talks to Rachel, her favorite podcast host, the whole book. At first, this will be very off-putting because Sera reveals very little about herself when the reader is first introduced to her. The beginning of the story leading up to when Sera inserts herself into Rachel's old life and starts investigating her disappearance feels very detached, but as you continue reading, you realize this was done in an intentional and masterful way. The title of this book is right on the nose, because disappearing, both literally and figuratively, is a the main theme of this book. Sera herself has felt like she has been disappearing for the past few years of her life since getting married, getting pregnant, having a miscarriage, and getting divorced. After these events, Sera suffers a deep depression in which she can't work or get out of bed, and spends all her time listening to Rachel's podcast, which is where her obsession with Rachel comes in. It is easy to see why Sera relates to and latches on to Rachel as the story develops: Sera listens to Rachel's podcast episodes about women who go missing, and she feels Rachel gives their stories a voice. When Rachel herself goes missing, Sera feels compelled by her own feelings of losing herself to find a fellow lost woman. One thing I didn't like so much was the repetition of the phrase "if I disappear," as I feel the message of the book would have been just as strong without the literal use of the phrase, because this book covers so many aspects of how women can disappear throughout their lives. Another standout element of this story was the setting. The descriptions of the ranch where Rachel lived and the surrounding area were so vivid and detailed and really contributed to the feelings of isolation and atmosphere of the whole story. Every piece of the setting added some layer of creepiness to the plot, from the deformed pack of dogs that follows Rachel's mother around the ranch to the horse herd that bullies one of the horses. Everything about the way the setting was written echoed Sera's own feelings of being isolated from other people and from her own life. As it should with any good thriller/mystery, the sense of dread builds as we get to know more about both Rachel and Sera's lives and gets stronger and stronger until what you think is the climax and big reveal. I will admit that I thought I had the reveal figured out based on some of the clues given around 80% of the way through, but ended up being totally wrong in the end. Some readers won't like the open-ended conclusion, but for me it really worked and spoke to the message of the story in an exciting way. This book provided exactly the escape I've been craving from literature lately with its amazing setting and thrilling plot. IF I DISAPPEAR completely distracted me from my own life and took me on a wild, unsettling adventure that has definitely made me want to pick up more thrillers and give some true crime podcasts a try. If you're looking for a total diversion from the world around you, I highly recommend picking up this unique book (and keeping the lights on when you go to sleep after you finish).

how our brains store information

Hello, friends! Today, I’ll be explaining how our brains store information in the hope that it helps you find ways you can more effectively memorize and learn information!

So, let’s begin:

To begin, our brains can store about 2.5 petabytes of memory. Memory is not yet fully understood by scientists, but we do have a pretty good idea of how memories are created in the brain:

- Our brain is made up of 100 billion cells called NEURONS - Memories are created when your brain sends neurotransmitter signals to 2  neurons at the same time. The connection between the neurons strengthens the connection, which then leads to memory creation. Neurons function better when a neural network, or cluster of neurons, is connected, which leads to more connections and a stronger memory. - Once the connection between neurons is made, the hippocampus in each hemisphere determines what is worth remembering.

But how does the hippocampus determine what’s worth remembering?

Well, there are different requirements for adults to learn than children, so let’s tackle that:

ADULTS learn just as well as children, but children learn every waking minute, so it’s easier to make stronger neural connections and store memories. Adults stop learning in the same volume as children, and they begin to store only memories and knowledge that is useful to their every day life and is related to information you already know.

So, as an adult, you’re more likely to make memories that don’t fade if they have more connections between other memories. The more prior connections you have to a new piece of information, the more likely it is that your hippocampus will store it in your brain.

how to avoid headaches while reading/studying

Hello, sparkly friends! Today I’ll be talking about something that will hopefully make studying and reading a lot easier, which is how to avoid getting headaches while doing those things. I’ve divided my advice into three main sections, and I hope it’s helpful to you!

Mind

- rest in between work. Even though it’s tempting to study for long periods of time, this can exhaust your brain and body, which can lead to other symptoms like headaches that will make it harder to study and get all your work done in the long run

- on that note, don’t braintrain for over 2 hours at a time. Your brain’s processing of information will actually flow better if you take breaks in between and don’t overload or overstimulate your brain for more than that time.

Body

- drink a lot of water. Staying hydrated really is so important for so many reasons, and it’ll help you focus and avoid headaches and other unpleasant physical symptoms.

- maintain a healthy diet. You’ll find your brain fog lessens when you’re eating healthy foods, which will help you focus.

- utilize deep breathing so you can continue getting good oxygen flow to your brain

- use good posture to avoid tension or soreness

Eyes

- When reading, allow your eyes to move along the page. Trying to force them to go to the same spot and ignore where they naturally want to go will make it harder to focus and interrupt your brain’s natural processing of information.

- if your eyes hurt, STOP READING!! Take a break, drink some water, have a snack, take a walk in the fresh air, but don’t keep forcing yourself to read when you’re in pain.

notion: is aesthetically pleasing and amazingly organized

me: is a messy bitch who can’t even make a pretty homepage :(((

recent accomplishments

watched module 2 videos for SuperLearners course

came up with ideas for May/June library programs

started March bullet journal section

made 2 recipes from the Magnolia Bakery Handbook

started reading Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Poems or short stories? Mechanical pencils or wooden pencils? Crayons or colored pencils? Markers or pens? Soft cover or hardcover books? Bookmarks or folded pages? Basil or mint? Cinnamon or vanilla? Mousse or whipped cream? Ice cream or cheesecake?

Poems or short stories? Mechanical pencils or wooden pencils? Crayons or colored pencils? Markers or pens? Soft cover or hardcover books? Bookmarks or folded pages? Basil or mint? Cinnamon or vanilla? Mousse or whipped cream? Ice cream or cheesecake?

things to do when you’re feeling down:

watch a movie

read a book

paint!!!

write down your thoughts

listen to some music

reach out to a close friend

if it’s late, get some sleep

surround yourself with people you love :)

have a shower or bath

get some fresh air

write down a list of things you are grateful for

do some sort of exercise (go on a walk, work out etc.)

tidy your room

remind yourself that things will get better, and that you won’t feel like this forever

these?? 💕💖💞💖💕💘💘💗💞💘💞💖💖💞💖🌸💕💖💞💖💞💖🌸💕💖💘💕💖💞💕💖💕💖💕🌸💕💖💞💖💞💘💖💗💞💖🌸💗💖💘💗 for u

the pomodoro technique the basics

Hello, friends! Today I’ll be talking about the basics of the Pomodoro Technique, a studying and time management technique :)

what is it?

the pomodoro technique is a time management method that uses a timer to break your work/tasks into 25-minute intervals, called POMODOROS.

important stages of the pomodoro technique:

Planning, recording, processing, and visualizing are all important aspects and stages of this time management method. In the planning stage, you set yourself up for success by prioritizing your tasks and recording them in a To Do Today list.

6 steps of the pomodoro technique:

1. Decide on the tasks that need to be completed

2. Set the pomodoro timer for 25 minutes

3. Work on the task

4. End work when the timer goes off and put a checkmark on a piece of paper

5. If you have less than 4 checkmarks, take a 3-5 minute break.

6. Once you reach more than 4 checkmarks, take a 15-30 minute break, and reset the checkmarks on the page to 0.

What to do if you finish a task during a pomodoro:

- Review the completed task (this is an important part of the processing stage) - Reflect on the task from a learning standpoint: what did you do well; what could you improve? - Review a list of the upcoming tasks

Other considerations/tips:

The pomodoro technique is recommended as a low-tech technique. It is recommended to record the pomodoro checkmarks with pen and paper and use a physical timer that you can set or wind up or down. The goal of the pomodoro method is to aid with the flow of your learning, and technology interrupts your brain’s natural thought processes and creates a distraction.

studyblr intro: atomic glitter study

Hello from Atomic Glitter Study, aka FELIX :)

about me:

- I’m 27 - my pronouns are they/them - I prefer to be called Felix, after a character from one of my favorite books from last year, FELIX EVER AFTER by Kacen Callendar - I’m a Virgo, INFJ, ennegram 4 - from the USA

why studyblr?

I’ve decided to work toward changing careers to digital marketing, and want a place to keep myself accountable and share what I’ve learned, both in terms of marketing content information and productivity tips. I want to use studyblr as a way to become more productive in general in my work and personal life and a way to hold myself accountable to keep learning even though I’m not going to school formally.

my learning interests:

- digital marketing - literature (I may do book recs and reading accountability posts here) - languages (I really want to learn more languages, starting with buffing up on my Spanish skills)

what to expect on this blog:

- productivity and organization tips (reblogs and originals) - research tips and advice (reblogs and originals)  - book recommendations, lists, accountability posts - bujo pics and tips

original posts will be #atomicglitterstudy; asks will be #atomicglitterasks

you might want to ask me about...

- using libraries - book recommendations - research tips - bujo things ...but you can ask me about anything and I’ll try to help you out :)

I can barely contain myself right now

holy shit

HOLY SHIT