planners to check out: bullet journals, ban.do planners, big sky planners, happy planner, passion planner, rifle paper co. planner, kikki k planners, erin condren life planner, filofax planner 

• learn your learning style your life will be so much easier once you understand what works for you. 
• know what you have to do. I like to make a to do list everyday, but if you’re using your planner correctly, that should be good enough. 
• check out some apps to help minimize procrastination and distractions
• keep some school/office work with you at all times. that 30 minute wait at the doctor’s office? boom. study session. you can cross that off your to do list
• mess around with your schedule. try doing different things at different times. Maybe going grocery shopping at 3 pm when everyone and their mother is doing the same thing isn’t the best idea. 

• surviving college
• time management strategies 
• getting your shit together by yours truly
• a great pdf on time management
• my tag on study tips 
• my tag on productivity
• my tag on time management 
• other posts by me

•  ok so i can’t stress how important this is enough
•  if you have a really untidy workplace (not like a little cluttered, like suPER untidy), you probably won’t be able to work as efficiently!!
•  you don’t need to worry about buying fancy stationery or expensive organising things, if all you have is a bookshelf and a table, that’s great!! if you have a large desk with built in storage, that’s great too!! make good use of what you have
•  it’s a good idea to sort out what school notes and things you have from the previous year and what might be helpful or necessary for the coming year
•  trash what notes you don’t need and sort out what ones you do
•  personally i like to keep my textbooks from previous years, but this is up to you.
•  make sure you have a space for your timetable, folders, etc
•  make it a happy space to study!
•  i also like to make sure my happy sleepy relax place (probs ur bedroom) is clear from clutter and will be conductive to sleep and relaxation
•  try and keep technology away from this area - i know it’s tempting to watch netflix until 3 in the morning (cough*guilty*cough*) but try to keep this to a seperate area - ur brain knows and will associate this to this area, which isn’t good for when school starts

• honestly i know it sounds lame to spend your summer holidays doing MORE schoolwork but it really doesn’t have to take up all your time!!
• pick a subject you found difficult that you’re doing next year, or something you want to revise and get ahead in, and make a plan
• set aside a certain amount of time during the day that you’ll spend doing some schoolwork
• it can be half an hour, or 5 hours!! it doesn’t matter how long, it’s still better than doing nothing at all!
• but don’t stress yourself out. chill, you got tons of time!!
• so…. “i will do 45 minutes of maths problems every second day until school starts!” or “i will make sure i get 50 xp on duolingo every day until school starts!”
• make sure it’s realistic for the amount of time you have during the holidays and how much you want to achieve
• i like doing this for subjects like maths, french, and the sciences where having a strong foundation is crucial for when you start doing more complex topics!!
• for maths i typically revise the difficult topics or things i might have not have done as well on and just make sure i’m all brushed up and ready for the year
• for languages, DUOLINGO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND!!
• honestly it’s free and such a great way to learn new vocabulary and phrases!!
• also, skim your textbooks, find out what’s in the syllabus, and the assessments for yo subjects
• if you have any books for english or anything, try to read them - i’ve always heard and abided by the rule that the first time you read a book you’re sort of learning the story and focusing on the plot, but the second time you read it is when you should be looking for literary devices and techniques

• use a planner/calendar/bullet journal omg, just use one pls
• or something that works for you!
• handing assignments in late is literally the worst way to lose marks because you could have had them and saved yourself stress just by handing it in on time
• bullet journals are pretty popular in the studyblr community, and there’s an awesome masterpost on them by @studyign​
• or you can use a planner!!
• good brands include kikki k, erin condren, the day designer, typo, etc
• ofc you don’t have to have an expensive one!! you can make your own using a spare notebook and a pen!!
• plus there are lots of wonderful printables out there
• look at @theorganisedstudent​
• also, sort out your school bag/pencil case and make sure you have everything you need for the upcoming year

• figure out how you’ll organise your subjects and notes and things
• personally i like to have a binder for each subject for handouts, take notes in a notebook and homework in a separate notebook, and have secondary notes on my computer using OneNote
• knowing how you’re going to organise your notes and handouts and assignments before the school year starts is so helpful - meaning you spend less time looking for notes and more time studying!!
• accordion folders can be really great for taking specific papers or assignments from school to home
• i personally prefer writing my notes by hand as i feel i take them in better, but writing them on a computer is still ok!! just do what works for you.

• honestly after such a big school year too, don’t get too stressed about the coming year. instead look at it in a positive light.
• yes a little bit of stress helps to keep you on track and make sure you don’t simply say “i’ve got SOOO much time” but too much (as I’m sure you all know!!) will simply hinder you… yerkes-dodson law (i’m a psychology lover i’m sorry)
• so take time out during the holidays to destress and relax at the same time!!
• you’ve got this!!
• whether you’re starting year 7 or going into your final year, you can totally do this.
• i believe in you!!!

1. Take advantage of that lower workload in between exam periods to make good notes, clean your house, get work experience and do the things then rather than when you’re busier
2. Use Highlighters instead of pens to save time. Or vice versa depending on you
3. Change the timing in the pomodoro technique to suit you rather than the other way round
4. Use a planner to 
5. Work out what time of day you study best. You could get up and study in the morning if you’re that sort of person
6. Attend your tutor or form sessions. Even if you don’t do much in them, you can
7. Keep your planner small and carry it everywhere
8. Even better, put your planner on your phone
9.  Don’t sulk if you fail, look back at why you failed and try to improve
10. If you get distracted by wanting to do something when you should be focusing, write it down. It gives you a checklist of things to do later
11. Do these things on the checklist in your study breaks
12. Answer questions without your teaching asking you to
13. Read about your subjects outside of your classes, especially in high school
14. Sit at the front of the class room
15. Don’t sit by yourself in class
16. Get an early nights sleep
17. Or at least use sleepytime to get a good time frame
18. On school days when you wake up, get up straight away, it stops you lazing about
19. Work hard from the start of the year. There isn’t a time to slack off
20. Try spaced repititon for learning key facts or a revision schedule
21. Have snacks and a drink during study sessions. Preferably water.
22. Summarise and make all your notes onto smaller bits of paper for revision, it helps you cognise what the important facts are
23. To avoid study stress, take breaks and avoid studying for more than two hours a day
24. It’s also good to have a day where you don’t study at all once a week
25. Don’t schedule too far in advance, you’ll just get busy in the meantime or change your methods
26. When you’re feeling too stressed to work properly but not studying stresses you out, do easier tasks like reviewing flashcards or watching videos on your course
27. Do as much of your work in school as possible
28. Prioritise your classes. Especially if you have loads
29. Make any big habit changes you’ve been thinking of at the start of a term or new year
30. Study a little before bed, you’ve probably seen that study that says you remember more just before bed
31. Only make flashcards of the things that you don’t get or are important, not everything
32. Use online sites like Brainscape, Memrise, Anki or Quizlet for flashcards between devices
33. Print off your powerpoint slides before a lesson
34. If you can’t do that, read ahead in the textbook
35. The syllabus is your guide, so use that as a framework for your revision notes
36. Your stress and nerves are normal, don’t worry
37. Aim to finish your revision a week before your exams, it makes you start earlier and finish earlier, you also can rest before your exam
38. When you pick your subjects, choose the subjects you love
39. Don’t drink alcohol when you’re studying or any type of drug
40. Don’t listen to how much everyone is studying. A lot of people big it up or say they do none, usually both aren’t being truthful
41. Take messy notes in class and neaten them up later
42. Or take your notes online or on a computer
43. Have a folder to put your loose sheets and handouts in
44. Keep your to do list and schedule all in one place, whether that’s a book, app or phone
45. If you fall behind or are ill a lot, your classmates are your friends for a realistic description of what you’ve missed
46. When at school, know all the places you’d like to study in case one of them is busy
47. Don’t work in your bed if it makes you tired
48. Or work in your bed if all your seats are uncomfortable and it’s distracting
49. Don’t have too much coffee! And energy drinks are just terrible for you so maybe not have those either
50. You don’t have to be truthful to your actual opinion in essays, just go for what option has the most points
51. Listen to your teacher
52. Have your window open, the fresh air helps
53. Use practice papers and questions, they really help
54. Try to teach others as well or if you can’t, explain it in your own words to yourself
55. Combine more than one technique, so that the weaknesses of each method gets covered by another
56. Seriously just listen to your teachers
57. Check your emails every day
58. Set realistic goals and try not to be too harsh and unrealistic about the time you’ll spend achieving these as well
59. Use loud and annoying alarms to get you to do things
60. If you have to read, read out loud rather than in your head
61. Use a hair tie if you have long hair to keep it out of your face
62. Keep clean and get dressed for studying
63. Don’t waste your term making your notes pretty, if it helps, make sure the benefits outweigh the time problems
64. Study when you can. Don’t study if you’re too exhausted to do so.
65. Keep your desk as clean as you can
66. Know your sources of motivation. Possibly find a way to put that in your study space.
67. Attend as many classes as possible and don’t skip
68. Keep yourself busy with stuff that isn’t studying
69. Reward yourself for your hard work
70. Before you go back to school, start to wake up earlier so you’re ready
71. Wear comfortable clothes to school
72. Or wear whatever makes you feel good, feeling bad can be pretty distracting
73. Always think about the next step early, whether thats getting work experience, choosing subjects, finding a job or picking a thesis
74. Always eat breakfast
75. And always eat lunch too! Especially at school
76. Do whatever is best for you. Don’t follow a studyblr trend, do what’s best for you.
77. Make your studying a habit. Do it nearly every day for a long time and it’ll begin to feel more like second nature
78. Get to know your teachers if you can
79. And don’t be afraid to ask them for help outside of a lesson, either by email or afterwards, it helps a lot 
80. Look at the types of questions you often get wrong as well as the topics you keep missing out on 
81. Keep a spare bit of food in your bag, I usually have some sesame snaps in my bag as a small snack so I don’t have to get up to get food
82. Make productive friends and people with similar goals to you
83. When revising, revise everything and then focus on your weak points
84. Don’t spend too long on tumblr, and if you are right now, then this is your reminder to log off!
85. Don’t panic when you don’t know all the answers in a test, do you really need 100%?
86. Break your studying into smaller bits and spread it out over time to avoid headaches, burnout and all the problems that come with it
87. Eat better. Get enough fruit and vegetables
88. Don’t forget about Protein, from meats, nuts, etc. it helps a lot
89. If you’re falling asleep in class, I usually drink water, pinch myself, take lots of notes and fidget to keep myself up
90. Regularly clear out your bag, because a lot of stuff builds up
91. If you’re a more artistic person, use drawings like visual notes, mindmaps, timelines and literal drawings to help you study
92. If you study with a friend, quiz each other
93. Study on public transport if you can, notes and flashcards on phones are good for this
94. Don’t neglect any of your subjects, make sure they all get some time spent on them
95. Also focus beyond your first exam, it’s easy to overprepare for the first test and then not be ready for the rest
96. When taking a test look through it quickly before hand
97. Remember you don’t have to take the test in order
98. Review your notes all the time, review helps the memory
99. If you want to pull an all-nighter see if you can do it in the morning or day instead, and don’t do it the night before anything important
100. Always look at the details, especially if you get a mark-scheme or guide for your assignments
101. Constantly be taking on new improvements and trying to improve your methods

At the top of the page I’ll always write the date in full and the name of the module that those notes are for, followed by title for that lecture. Underneath, you can see that I’ve devised a colour coding system with highlighters. I usually do ‘citations’, 'examples’ and 'important info’, but this may vary depending on the lecture content, so I do this step after I’ve completed the notes. 

Each section of the lecture is given a subheading, which I will underline - again after the class has ended, usually at home. I use the subheadings which feature on the PowerPoint, but rather than writing the information shown on those I base my notes off of what the lecturer is saying.

I indent my writing for examples and for the text that follows them, as you can see with 'the diggers’ and my definitions of the green economy. I find this makes it much easier to identify and follow as you re-read your notes. 

I use little right-angle arrows like you can see at the top of the page for my 'follow through points’, which act as consequences for the point that is mentioned above. I will use three dots {like this ∴ } as a symbol for 'therefore’. It concludes the points that I have made and is usually based off of how the lecturer has summarised the point they are making. This makes my notes much more coherent.

• alarm at 6:30 plays slow-building music
• guided meditation
• get on my phone, scroll through social media to wake myself up
• alarm at 6:50 plays more vigorous music to startle me awake if i fall back to sleep
• lift weights
• shower

• productive - really nice, simple, and pretty app that lets you keep track of good habits.
• stop, breathe & think - the only guided mediation app i’d ever recommend, allows you to put in how you feel and calculates a meditation for you based on that.
• nightstand - an all in one sleep timer/alarm app that lets you include your own music and photos as well as set a gradual alarm. the only thing is you have to keep it open all night. 

• set more than one, especially if you’re prone to falling back asleep. turn snooze off for each one, though.
• set them in reasonable intervals. don’t set them every five minutes unless you need every last minute in the morning. mine are 20 mins apart. it may take some trial and error, but you should find what’s best for you.
• the first one should have the calmest song, then each should increase in intensity to help you avoid sleeping through them all.
• name them with cute emojis, motivations, etc to make them feel less dull!!

• sit up. i always find it harder to stay awake if i can just roll over and close my eyes again.
• do something that gets you out of bed. an exercise, getting coffee, finding your pet. it can be anything, large or small, as long as you have to leave the warmth and comfort of your bed for it.
• look at your phone. if it can keep you up at night, it will wake you up in the morning. but be wary of this. try to stay on sites/apps that are more positive than not.
• drink water. keep some beside your bed. even if it isn’t cold, it will rejuvenate your body system and get it functioning normally for the day.
• leave a to-do list beside your bed full of little things you need to do some day. use those as an incentive to get out of bed. “i’ve got to change the litter box” can be the difference between awake and asleep (again).

• mediation (guided or unguided). sit up and just assess how you’re feeling. address any left over emotions from the day before and remember that today is a new day! 
• tea. i can’t speak from experience for this one, but many people i know suggest tea over coffee because it too has a bit of caffeine in it, but rather than jittering you awake, it slowly brings you out of your sleepy state and into the morning.
• open your window or keep your blinds open before you go to bed. in the morning, natural light and fresh air will slowly awaken the senses as you get up and prepare for the day.
• eat !!!!! holy crap i cannot express how important eating is in the morning. if you eat in the morning (especially proteins and fruits), your body will have more energy throughout the day and you won’t want to eat as much later on. 

• mymorningroutine - successful people write about their morning routines.
• morning routines of 12 women leaders - forbes article.
• 22 quick habits to add to your daily morning routine - article. not all of these will apply to you, but they definitely give you something to think about.
• how to create a success-based morning routine - 7500 words of pure help. the author even put it into chapter format and linked a .pdf version of it!

make a timetable to plan exactly when you are going to do things and how long for. you could use a bullet journal, planner or even a notebook. planning gives you structure for your day and makes you more likely to get things done. (and checking things off a list is the most satisfying thing ever!!)

if your phone is taking over your life and preventing you from getting things done, turn it off and put it in another room! I also love using the app “forest”, where trees grow depending on how long you have stayed off your phone for. there are many other useful websites which can block social media so that you don’t get distracted.

the best way to get motivated is to have something that you want to achieve. be determined to reach this goal, it could be anything from reading a chapter of a book to learning a vocab list. make sure that it is achievable in the time that you have.

make a list of all the reasons you want to do something and whenever you feel unmotivated look at this list and hopefully it will boost your motivation! you could also consider the positive things that will come as a result of doing this thing.

try to build a daily routine centered around what you want to do. for example, instead of going on your phone for half an hour in the morning you could use that time for something else. once you get used to this, hopefully getting motivated won’t be a difficult.

try keeping a log or habit tracker to see how often you are doing things that you want to be doing. this may give you motivation to carry on doing what you’re doing and you can see which days you are lacking motivation and try to be more motivated the next day.

for example, if you want to be motivated to get a piece of homework done then say to yourself that if you finish it then you can watch one episode of a tv show, or anything else that you enjoy doing. but remember to be firm, you can only get the reward if you get something done!

this makes things easier to tackle and makes them seem much less daunting. and often if you start working on a smaller task you may actual want to continue

• motivation masterpost 
• 10 study motivation quotes
• getting motivated 
• staying motivated 
• another fab masterpost
• reaching goals 
• how to stay focused 

noteology.wordpress.com

Not specific: I want to study for my History test.

Specific: I want to earn a 90% or above on my History test in order to get an A in the class. Today, I will gather all of my lecture notes and graded assignments from the entire unit and create a checklist of topics I need to know. Tomorrow, I will make flashcards for all the vocabulary words and dates of important events. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday night until the exam, I will spend two hours reviewing my flashcards, creating mind maps, and revising my notes.

Not measurable: I want to get fit.

Measurable (qualitative): I want to fit into these jeans again. I want to reduce cravings. I want to learn to enjoy fruits and vegetables.

Measurable (quantitative): I want to lose 10 pounds. I want to do 50 consecutive pushups. I want to run a mile in 8 minutes.

Not attainable: I want to run a marathon.

Attainable: I’m currently a total couch potato, so I’m going to start by running for half an hour three times a week, then gradually increasing my time and speed. I’ll sign up for shorter races before attempting a marathon. I know I won’t be motivated to run after a long day at school, so I’ll set out my gym clothes beforehand to make getting started as painless as possible.

Not relevant: I want to go to a prestigious college.

Relevant: My parents are pressuring me into going to this “name-brand” school, but it’s not truly what would make me happiest. The tuition would put a lot of financial strain on my family. I’d feel more comfortable attending a smaller school close to home with better financial aid. I might consider this prestigious university for my graduate degree, but it’s not the right place for me right now.

Not time-bound: I want to write a book someday.

Time-bound: I’m going to write and publish my book by the end of this year. I will brainstorm and research during this month, write the first section next month, the second section the next, etc. I will edit in December and have it ready to be self-published by December 31st.

• make vocab flashcards
• start writing/highlighting notes
• read your textbook/chapter twice

• review flashcards twice
• read notes twice
• read textbook/chapter once
• create some diagrams

• find a video about the topic
• read your notes aloud once
• read your textbook/chapter once
• review diagram

• try rewriting you notes from your memory
• read notes aloud once
• read textbook once
• practice vocab flashcards

• make a summary of your chapter/lesson
• go over vocab
• read notes
• read textbook
• find more videos on the topic

• try to find an educational song about the topic(trust me, it makes concepts stick in your head)
• review vocab
• read notes aloud once
• read textbook/chapter once
• go over diagrams or try to redraw them from memory

• go over your vocab
• watch another video
• read aloud notes
• read material
• go over diagram again
• get a good night’s sleep!!!

Draw out a table with rows all the days of the week and columns for time slots. Obviously adjust the time slots to suit you, so if you wake up really early then you can add earlier time slots, if you go to bed really early don’t make late time slots etc. 

STEP TWO

In your table, write in wherever you have classes - I have college from Monday to Friday and study four subjects (plus the Welsh Baccalaureate, ew) with two two-hour classes in each per week. I colour coded these in a red/orange colour. 

STEP THREE

Now add in any other regular commitments you have e.g. extra-curricular activities, family commitments etc. I colour coded these in blue. I added “lunch” as a commitment on weekdays because I often forget to eat in college, which is a bad thing. Always make sure you eat and drink enough!

STEP 4

This is where you slot in your study sessions. I added in my study sessions and colour coded them by subject.

This step will be different for everyone depending on what you’re studying, how close you are to exams etc. I aim for at least 4 hours study a week per subject, and then as exams get closer I’ll probably up this to 5/6ish. Allocate time as you need to - I’ve used less time for maths than my other subjects as I’m more confident in it, and more for music where I feel I need more work.

Make sure you don’t add in too many on any one day and be sure to give yourself breaks. I would also say that you should work with a maximum of two hours per session, but if you prefer to study in long sessions then go for it!

Basically, you know what works for you. :-)

STEP FIVE

(Optional)

Once I’ve added in my study sessions, I like to add up the total hours I’ve done for each subject. This acts as a target and if for some reason I can’t do one of my study sessions I’ll aim to make it up somewhere else in the week so I can still reach this target. 

I also make a key for the colour coding as well. 

(In this step I scheduled in instrument practice around my studying as well, treating practice sessions like study sessions - useful if you happen to be a musician idk)

That’s about it! If you have any questions about this or anything else, I’ll do my best to answer, the ask box is always open :-) Hope this was useful to someone! ✿✿✿

• Here’s some printables v similar to these ones, some of you guys want more of these types so here you go!
• As you can see I reaLLY like bright colours :,) sorry if you don’t prefer these colours :p

Download links: (left to right, up to down)

1. Plan Out Your Day. - Green + Gold 2. Plan Out Your Day. - Blue + Red 3. Check it Off. - Pink + Blue 4. Check it Off. - Yellow + Orange 5. Stuff To Finish… - Blue + Pink 6. Stuff To Finish… - Pink + Green

1. Assignment Tracker
2. To Do Lists: first version, second version
3. Weekly To Do: first version, second version
4. Daily Schedule Planner
5. Printable tag on my blog