my masterpost | my studygram | ask me anything
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[transcript under the cut]
Other advice posts that may be of interest:
All About Procrastination
How To Study When You Really Don’t Want To
Common Study Mistakes
7 Strategies to Improve Concentration
How to make your notes aesthetic
7 Ways to Power Up Your Notetaking
THE NOTETAKING PROCESS
what to do before, during and after class
BEFORE CLASS
How should you be preparing your notes for classes or lectures?
Print out and review any lecture notes or slides if available so you can figure out the structure of the class and the main headings that will be covered
Identify main concepts and terms you expect to learn
Search up any unfamiliar terms, phrases or concepts and get definitions or one sentence explanations
Write questions you hope the class will answer
Make note of any information that could be helpful from previous classes or readings, for example, key people, dates, formulae, definitions, etc.
Read any set preparation material from textbooks or articles and notes down your immediate thoughts
DURING CLASS
What should you do while in class to get the best notes?
Take notes in your own words
Use consistent abbreviations and symbols
Include notes for all aspects of the class (eg. discussions and visuals)
Answer any questions you wrote before class
Add depth and detail to the notes you bring to class (eg. are there any specific examples that the teacher brings up for example?)
Note new questions or areas of confusion from the lecture so you can review those concepts later
Capture main ideas and sufficient detail (definitions, examples, images)
Make connections between concepts both from within the class and from previous classes
AFTER CLASS
Now that you have notes, what should you do with them?
Make time to return to your notes after class, at the very least to read over them
Add clarification and explanation to any areas where you were confused and look up any questions you had (you could also ask your teacher)
Compare notes with a friend or study partner to check for any missed information
Transform your notes into a new format (e.g. mind map, quiz questions, study guide)
Create short summaries with the most important information and keep for later revision (you could even challenge yourself to a certain word limit)
Use your notes to self-test on key concepts by creating your own practice questions and mark schemes
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[Here are some tips and things to keep in mind for going back to uni this autumn! I know that some (me included) have already started going to school/uni in person again, but I think for a lot of people the next semester is still a few weeks away and this might be helpful :)]
[the transcript is below the cut]
Going back to uni after lockdown
What effects has social distancing for over 1.5 years had on us?
Being isolated from our social circle and having little to no social life comes with many negative psychological effects, such as exhaustion, anxiety, irritability, poor concentration, or symptoms of depression.
Being isolated for so long also negatively affects our social connectedness, which is one of the most important factors that influence psychological well-being.
1: Keeping up with current regulations / safety measures
Just because we will finally be able to get back to uni for lectures sadly doesn’t mean that the pandemic is over. So make a point to still keep up with federal and local rules.
Your university will most likely have its own rules on what is allowed on campus, e.g., you might only be allowed to sit at a table with two people. Because the number of people who are allowed to attend a lecture in person might be limited, make sure to regularly check your student e-mail for updates on what your university has planned for the upcoming semester!
2: Checking in and reaching out to others
For some, staying at home might have been relaxing, while others experienced it as very stressful (e.g. due to family). What you can do to help others move forward, as a first step to ease back into socialising, is reach out to them. Maybe you can go and have lunch together sometime soon!
There might be people you haven’t spoken to since the beginning of the pandemic, but who says that you won’t enjoy spending time with them now as much as you did then?
If you are hesitant about conversation being awkward just remember: everyone will understand, you are not alone in this.
3: Reframing of negative thoughts
When reaching out to people, not getting an immediate response is always a possibility. Maybe there still isn’t one a week later. Did I annoy them? Do they not want anything to do with me?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone with those thoughts. Sometimes it is better to take a step back and ask yourself if there is a concrete reason for your worries. Are you overanalysing the situation? Most likely the slow response has nothing to do with you at all! Just send a follow-up text and be patient - who knows what’s currently going on in the other person’s life.
4: Easing back into socialising
After a long time of not meeting in person, many people experience socialising as incredibly exhausting. You can limit this by taking small consistent steps before going back to university, for example: texting, (video) calls, meeting another person for a limited time (e.g., lunch), spending an evening with a group of friends.
Just remember to be patient with yourself (and others!) and don’t try to push too hard too fast. By gradually building up to meeting larger groups of people, you can avoid being overwhelmed on the first day back at university, but it is fine if you still feel that way - everyone experiences this situation differently.
5: Be mindful and respect boundaries
This is something that applies as much to yourself as it does to others. Everyone was affected differently by the pandemic, so it is important to be mindful of others’ boundaries. If they are not comfortable sitting together closely during a break, that’s fine.
Don’t be hesitant to communicate it if you’re the one who is uncomfortable in a situation; just like you should respect others’ feelings, they should respect yours and act accordingly.
Tip: To make sure everyone knows who is fine with what in terms of closeness, you could clarify it via text first to avoid awkward situations.
6: Open and honest conversation
You have heard it before and you will hear it again: conversation is key. Make it an open and honest conversation, so you can be sure that everyone is on the same page.
Talking about your concerns openly will help relieve the anxiety that you or others might be dealing with. It also increases social support because others will probably be experiencing similar feelings. You’ll be there to reassure each other along the way and find solutions for what worries you.
7: Social and institutional support
If you are feeling like you need someone to talk to apart from your friends or family, take a look at your university’s website! Some offer free counselling sessions to their students. Also, student organisations in your city can often provide you with a direct contact to a psychologist or psychiatrist if the need arises.
Take them up on these offers, these people are being paid to help you to the best of their abilities. Sometimes, opening up to a stranger is easier than anything else.
8: Don’t forget about the basics!
And then there are the things you should always do before going back to uni. Do you need to look for a job? Get new books? New stationery? Do it.
Many students also need to move back to the city they are studying in. After a long time of living in a different place, for example, if you’ve moved back in with your parents, it can be time-consuming to pack everything back up or look for a new place to live in.
Give yourself enough time before classes start again, so you don’t end up more stressed than you already are!
9: Help maintain a safe environment
Lastly, there are three general things you can do to help maintain a safe learning environment for everyone:
1. If you can, go and get vaccinated!
2. If you can’t (yet), please consider getting tested regularly.
3. Wear a mask and wash your hands.
(Obviously, all three points depend on a lot of other factors, such as incidence numbers, how many people are already vaccinated, or your country’s policy on offering tests to the population. This is not meant to pressure you into anything, these are simply things that have been proven to help keep virus transmission to a minimum.)
Thank you for reading! I hope everyone stays safe and has a great start of the new semester!
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January 2024
Book Title: Objects from Behind by Ahn Gyu-cheol
Essay Title: Time, as lived by plants
What do the little flowering trees in the backyard do all winter long? The azaleas that, spring to fall, flaunted their green leaves and red flowers to their hearts’ content, now stand still in the cold winter wind for a few months, a frozen image outside the window. After a few chickadees visit in the morning, nothing changes from sunrise to sunset, apart from the shadows that slowly orbit around me. In this unchanging scenery, they remain motionless, their dry, shrivelled branches stretched out in all directions, perhaps sleeping or perhaps dreaming. They’re not the only ones. All kinds of insects and weeds bear through these harsh times in the same way.
But is it right for us to pity them? When I think about those small things standing as one against merciless nature, silent as stone, biding their time, I think about how much we fret and fuss with worry. Trying to fill the void of every second, we are unable to keep still even for a moment. How ridiculous our anxiety must seem to them. I hope that this becomes a year where I learn to be embarrassed by all the whining about being lonely or depressed when I’m alone and about whether life has any meaning or not. I hope doing that awakens the plant-like moments hidden within me in this new year. In front of winter trees, I make this wish.
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Hiiiiiiii I'm backkkkkk
It has been ages since I've opened Tumblr! But now your girl is back haha. So before I hop back I'd like to give an update on what's happening (as if anyone cares)
My NEET exam went worse than I expected but I'm totally the one to blame. But hey, move on, it's not the end of the world (it is)
I missed one of my CUET exams due to some health issues but the other one went well.
I'm applying to a few medical unis in Iran and also for BSc in India.
I'm not studying anything atm so no study posts but I'm reading a lot so yes book posts.
My premie twin sisters are home with me so yes, life is good!
I'm planning to start a YT channel for fun, so let's see how it goes.
That's it folks!! Let's start posting again <33
Also, tagging a few mutuals to let 'em know because tumblr algorithm sucks 🥲
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