#elkstudies

20.12.17

some v disorganised notes i scribbled down in class! [studygram]

okay studybugs, to celebrate 20k+ (!! thank you so much?? what) i’m venturing into masterposts… so studying loads & loads works to a point, but using time productively is such a helpful skill (I’m still trying to learn) & can help reduce unnecessary study time/cover way more ground far more quickly so why wouldn’t you?? 

Methods:-

• The right study methods are important, try a few and choose which work for you
• E.g. I know that active study methods work best for me, so I write notes/essay plans, do exercises/tests, make flashcards and test myself, do past papers, and go over them all with a highlighter for good shit/key mistakes
• Condense, condense, condense!! That’s why I use flashcardseven more than full-blown notes now, it’s so much quicker and easier to deal with small chunks of info
• Also flashcards take way less time in my experience – to make larger note-sheets pretty (which is a Big And Important Deal for me) takes a lot more time/planning/rewriting than just a little , A5- sized piece of card
• I repeat: it is way quicker to write out 1 flashcard again than 1 whole A4 sheet of notes
• On that note (ha), feel free to rewrite your notes if they go a bit wrong, but only if you have time and it will be beneficial to you. Re-writing notes can help get the information in better and is not always a complete waste of time. If not, tho, chillax, swallow your pride and keep on writing, even if you just had to cross out three WHOLE WORDS right in the middle of the page. Your examiner is not going to care. Promise :)
• Use online resources we forget about these too much! Use Quizlet for absolutely anything (more on this below) and memrise is great too tho I don’t use/like it as much. If there’s a particular kind of test/resource you need, type it into Google, particularly if it’s for languages of for a set course (e.g. ‘EDXEL A-level History’), chances are someone else has needed it before too and it’ll be ready and waiting
• Teach what you’re learning or discuss it with your mum/friends, anyone. Just talk at them and tell them everything you know on the spot, it’s a great way to help you remember everything and also test gaps in your knowledge
• Alternatively just sit and write everything you know and can possibly think of for a topic it does the same job

General:-

• Let’simprove timemanagement
  
• Study groups – beware to know thyself tho (if you think you and your friends will just spend ages chatting then avoid avoid avoid) but these can be a great way of keeping focussed and productive over longer periods of time, break up the monotony of studying and be a really helpful support network for a particularly difficult topic
  
• Checklists! And keep them after you finish the day, they are so so indispensable for planning, staying on track and working out how much you have left to do, as well as reminding you how much you’ve already done (which is so important! Keep tabs on this! V. motivating and rewarding as well as instructive)
  
• Actually just plan plan plan this cannot be stressed enough. I plan what I’m doing in each session for my entire day in the morning so that I can keep track of how well I’m doing. It doesn’t matter if you fall behind of catch up too quickly (lucky you), sometimes we over-estimate our fabulousness! Planning just gives you a structure (which really helps everyone) and short-term goals to work towards, which are important to keep you working/motivated
  
• Plan specific activities/topics for each section. If you’re planning and writing in just ‘french’ for 45 mins or ‘latin’ for an hour then you might as well not be planning at all. Instead write ‘french: practise essay – [essay title]’ and ‘latin: four vocab tests (irregular verbs, adjective declensions, masc. & fem. nouns’
  
• Have a set schedule! Keep to similar timings throughout the day with regular breaks (we all know this but it’s important). Lots of people find Pomodoros helpful, I find them a bit to stop-start-y and I can’t get much done so I prefer to have longer study periods with longer breaks. Do not work for more than 50 minutes at a time it is pointless, unhealthy and it does not work.
  
• Maybe try to keep roughly to your school day timings to limit the amount of work you’re doing to a healthy level? I do 45 mins with a 15 min break each time (my printable schedule is here sorry it’s a bit messy)
  
• This means even when I’m at school I can do 2/3 sessions in the evening still sticking to the same timings
  
• What to do in breaks – make tea, small exercises, browse social media, have a chat
  
• What to eat whilst studying – blueberries (the food of the gods got me thru my GCSEs), nuts, any fruit (your brain runs mainly on natural sugars – not refined), anything green (smoothie, kale, avocado), fish (maybe not for a snack but hey whatever floats your boat (ha))
  
• Drink lots of water (tea counts! especially if it’s black (leaf-water)), eat well and exercise it’s actually beneficial to your energy levels, mood and information retention
  
• Work in a well-lit (preferably natural light), comfortable and sensible atmosphere so you can FOcus – preferably quiet (exam practise) or if you need some noise make sure it’s low in the background so it won’t distract you – distractions = timewasting
  
• Feel free to go somewhere other than your room if you know this is going to be more helpful! I find myself losing focus surrounded by my books etc. sometimes so coffee shops/libraries are a really good option (especially with classical music in my headphones)
  
• I like soft piano music when studying as it’s calming and easy listening without any concentration but if you want to have a look at other background noise go here for music or here for general noise

Apps &c.:-

Disclaimer – I don’t often use apps to study. Almost all of these notes are just from brief interactions. I usually just use the default timer on my phone as my timings don’t fit the usual Pomodoro apps, but if you’re looking for something a little more snazzy my all-time faves (they’re all free) are:

1. Momentum (chrome extension for laptop) – studyblr stalwart; I actually use this every day & I love it. Aesthetic motivating new-tab/home screen with gorgeous landscapes, clock, inspirational quote and to-do lists 
2. Quizlet (website and app) – as I mentioned, my absolute fave app for on the go revision. Any quiz/test you need will be there (within reason). I way prefer it to memrise as I find that just takes too long. 4 different ways to learn on the app + more online, once you’ve saved the quiz it doesn’t need wifi so you can use it literally anywhere  
3. Flat Tomato – fave timer I’ve found. Based on Pomodoro but I’ve changed the settings and it works perfectly with the way I like to schedule my time (which is rare). To-do list from which you can name each session & also looks pretty with nice colours. V. simple, no habit tracker or anything but works really nicely & well 
4. FocusNow – Bye delay – free version of Forest which I’ve never used tho I know both are v. famous in the community (and for a reason!). Has an adaptable timer (based on Pomodoro). Grows a ‘castle-farm’ square-by-square for every session you go without clicking off the app. Habit tracker & everything and v. sweet 
5. MinimaList – v. simple but lovely-looking and accessible to-do lists. If you click on a to-do a timer for 15/30/45 mins comes up, and if you pick up your phone a dialogue box tells you to put it back down 
6. Pomotodo–really nice app from what I can see, just as good if not better/more aesthetic than Flat Tomato, with habit tracker &c. and v. v. cleverly designed. The only thing for me is that you can’t change the timings – it’s Pomodoro or nothing, but if that works for you would deffo recommend 

(FYI I have an iPhone so the above apps are all from the app store. Some good google play ones I’ve seen are: Pomotodo(again),Brain Focus,ClearFocus,Focus LockandForest which is on google and apple too (but: ££))

plus! focus & study more effectively; study better; study tips for lazy people

hopefully this helps, feel free to ask if you have any questions or requests (also 1st masterpost eekso please be nice and let me know what you think!). striving for maximum productivity is the interminable struggle - good luck

xxx e

25th April ~ 13:33

I am so sorry about the lack of posts recently, I have zero motivation atm and I keep getting distracted by Antoine Griezmann so… here’s me revision for a Cicero test at the weekend. As things now stand I have done no revision and my first exam is only 20 days away - any help greatly appreciated!!!

17th April ~ 12:15

English essay planning & finishing off holiday homework this morning. I’ve started doing that thing where you plan each day on post-its? We’ll see how it goes. Also I’m running low on post-its.

16th April ~ 14:01

Just gotta love spending your easter sunday revising at home… Alone…

15th April ~ 13:50

Staying with family for Easter so learning that Virgil in my Granny’s beautiful living room, also I am l o v i n g OneNote atm it’s so simple and neat

13th April ~ 15:43

I have been away for such a long time. My productivity & motivation have decreased so much, exams are only getting closer & stress levels only building. I have been so unproductive this Easter: back with a passion to make the most of the time I have left: new regime commences with nailing my Latin set texts

09.12.17 // 8:56 AM

It’s going to be a long day, so I started the morning with a little note to self. Wishing everyone a productive Tuesday!

09.08.17 // 12:59 PM

Crunch time! It’s the weekend before exams and there’s still so much to cover, but I’m buzzing with energy so it’s time to get productive!

09.04.17 // 7:29 PM

We’ve had so many holidays these past few Mondays that I’m not used to Monday classes anymore. Today’s not particularly good either, but that’s the thing about med school—you gotta suck it up and keep moving forward because there are bigger problems for the next day.

08.02.17 // 6:43 PM

A month into third year of med school and I’m just so drained. I’m not sure where I’m gonna get the energy to power through the rest of the year.

07.31.17 // 5:06 PM

Officially the last day of summer! Working on my calligraphy before everything gets too busy with med. I hope I can still find the time to sneak some writing in the chaos of studying.

I hope everyone’s having a lovely Monday!

07.10.17 // 3:32 PM

It’s been a while! Haven’t been posting much because I’m still on vacation for 3 more weeks, but hello again! I decided to break my silence since a certain anon asked me about my fountain pens. I still have a couple more in storage, but right now, these are the ones I have in rotation. They’re nothing fancy, but I love them still. I used a Zig Cocoiro Letter Pen in extra fine for the brush lettering on top.

05.20.17 // 7:42 AM

Most days, I don’t really know what I’m doing. But as my man, @neil-gaiman, once said, “When things get tough, this is what you should do—make good art.”

I love med school (well, most days), but it gets exhausting. So I’m grateful I have the opportunity to take a break and do other things that I love.

05.09.17 // 2:42 PM

Sometimes I sketch and journal to take a break from studying med.

Summer’s almost here! Just one more day of exams then I can focus more on art and triathlon. I hope everyone’s doing great! ✨

Morning Session // Writing up project proposals…

I actually enjoy getting on campus early in the morning, before too many students are around. It gives me time to ease myself into the day (and eat my apple in peace). These pretty red chairs are super comfy too. 

Follow my Studygram for more: studyingbrains 

Assignment Checklist Free Printable (PDF in Google Drive)

Keep your assignments looking professional and academic with these checklists that are used once you have completed a piece of work.

Tick off each task to make sure your work is of a presentable standard, for example:

• Single/Double spacing.
• Hanging indent for references.
• Completing title pages; Title, student ID, module code & name. 
• Consistent font and font size. 
• …And feel free to add your own tasks specific to your course too. 
  
• Bonus: Box at the bottom has common reference styles (MLA, APA, Harvard). 

I usually print these, cut them out and keep one with each assignment. It saves me time having to Google what’s required when referencing University/College work. If you can’t print then just write it out on paper/sticky notes. Let me know if this is helpful (and where to improve!). 

More help: MLA Referencing//APA Referencing//Harvard Referencing 

Follow my Studygram: studyingbrains 

Follow my Twittertoo!

Neuroscientist captures an MRI of a mother and child

Professor Rebecca Saxe (MIT) has taken the first ever MR image of a mother and child. 

“This picture is an MR image of a mother and a child that I made in my lab at MIT. You might see it as sweet and touching… an image of universal love. We can’t see clothes or hairstyles or even skin colour. From what we do see, the biology and the brains, this could be any mother and child or even father and child at any time and place in history; having an experience that any human can recognise.

Or you might see it as disturbing, a reminder that our human bodies are much too fragile as houses for ourselves. MRI’s are usually medical images and often bad news. Each white spot in that picture is a blood vessel that could clog, each tiny fold of those brains could harbour a tumour. The baby’s brain maybe looks particularly vulnerable pressed against the soft thin shell of its skull.

I see those things, universal emotions and frightening fragility but I also see one of the most amazing transformations in biology.”

Quotes have been taken from a TEDx talk given by Professor Saxe explaining the story behind the above picture.

9:00 // Royal Holloway, University of London is beautiful.

I’ve been running experiments with a masters student using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging). I also got an updated scan of my own brain. Nice nice.

Some cool stuff about fMRI experiments:

• Glasses can’t be worn in the scanner (because they contain metal) so you get to wear these sexy specs instead. The lenses that work best for you are slotted in. They’re like swimming goggles. 
  
• People who wear the hijab or a turban can go in the scanner with their head coverings on. Yay! All pins,metals and hair ties need to be removed though. 
• Experiments in fMRI tend to have a maximum running time of 90 minutes. 
• There is a panic button (looks like a pump) given to participants in the scanner, if you ever want to leave the scanner all you have to do is press it. 
• If it’s not given by default you can ask to have a copy of your brain scan. Download a free software called Mango and play around with your brain!!
• The equipment tends to look old - our comps run Windows XP. You’ll see this in science quite a bit and think “why don’t they update??”. Operating systems (Windows/MAC OS) sometimes have updates that tamper with medical software and it can be hard to pinpoint what’s gone wrong. So if it’s working we don’t update it until there’s a reason on our part e.g. when it breaks.

Follow my Studygram: studyingbrains 

Follow my Twittertoo! 

How to get links in your description (successfully!) using the tumblr mobile app. 

For those who already know what they’re doing here’s the link you need to insert with an example:

INSERT TITLE

Example:

About

In order for the tumblr mobile app to redirect to something, it has to be a post e.g. /tagged/about - It can’t be an actual page e.g. studyingbrains/about (this won’t work). 

A couple extra pointers:

• The accent colour (in the mobile app editor) is the colour of your links.
  
• Try to use obscure tags for “about” links and “my post” links. Otherwise random posts with the words will pop up. For an about page maybe tag the post as “ab0utm3″ then other posts on your tumblr with the words aboutme won’t be shown. 
• The above applies to original content too if you tag your stuff as “personal” all posts with that word will pop up (even other users that you’ve reblogged). Come up with obscure tags for mobile links (this makes it easier for followers to navigate). 
• When editing your tumblr theme, links tend to break and need to be reentered. Keep that in mind. Check your links every time, after you edit.
• You can still write in the description box, just write before and after the links. e.g. “Brains | UK |  About|”
• You can add as many links as you can fit!
• You can add links via the desktop theme editor (I prefer this way), by writing in the description box:

I hope this helped! Any questions, just ask!

Friday’s // London is actually really dull today and I am tired. 

We’re celebrating as two of my friends are getting married and another is pregnant. Being The Antisocial Trash™ that I am, I decided to bake cakes in lieu of my attendance. I also read some infamous Dahl and sorted out my evergrowing stamp collection in the morning. 

11:00am // Work breaks.

With formal modules over, my breaks consist of reading [Phantoms in the Brain by V. S. Ramachandran] and walks around campus whilst listening to podcasts.