“And I don’t care what anybody says; I like doing it, and it’s what I shall continue to do.“
That’s only one of your great quotes. And that’s exactly why I admire and love you so. You were the most creative, daring, musical, playful and funniest guy I know of the last 50 years. And that you were one of the sexiest blokes in the world didn’t hurt either.
We will celebrate your wonderful life today. In our hearts forever, Starman
You’re amazing. I know this for a fact. You may not have been looking for this post, but here it is, making sure you know that you matter, at least to me. Days get tough, but you are amazing. You always have been and always will be. Have a nice day you wonderful, wonderful person.
There’s a song that’s been proven to reduce anxiety by 65%. It’s called Weightless by Macaroni Union, and it was specifically designed to slow your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and lower cortisol levels. It’s so effective that it’s dangerous to drive while listening to it because it can make you drowsy. SourceSource 2Source 3
Sound therapists and Manchester band Marconi Union compiled the song. Scientists played it to 40 women and found it to be more effective at helping them relax than songs by Enya, Mozart and Coldplay.
Weightless works by using specific rhythms, tones, frequencies and intervals to relax the listener. A continuous rhythm of 60 BPM causes the brainwaves and heart rate to synchronise with the rhythm: a process known as ‘entrainment’. Low underlying bass tones relax the listener and a low whooshing sound with a trance-like quality takes the listener into an even deeper state of calm.
Dr David Lewis, one of the UK’s leading stress specialists said: “‘Weightless’ induced the greatest relaxation – higher than any of the other music tested. Brain imaging studies have shown that music works at a very deep level within the brain, stimulating not only those regions responsible for processing sound but also ones associated with emotions.”
The study - commissioned by bubble bath and shower gel firm Radox Spa - found the song was even more relaxing than a massage, walk or cup of tea. So relaxing is the tune, apparently, that people are being Rex advised against listening to it while driving.
The top 10 most relaxing tunes were: 1. Marconi Union - Weightless 2. Airstream - Electra 3. DJ Shah - Mellomaniac (Chill Out Mix) 4. Enya - Watermark 5. Coldplay - Strawberry Swing 6. Barcelona - Please Don’t Go 7. All Saints - Pure Shores 8. AdelevSomeone Like You 9. Mozart - Canzonetta Sull’aria 10. Cafe Del Mar - We Can Fly
One of the comments suggests pairing it with Rainymood.
To love Jesus means to keep His commandments. [Such keeping] is not a matter of mere obedience but of loving imitation. [Try as one might, it is impossible to honestly obey anyone unless one also loves them; neither pride nor indifference can even feign the virtues of humility and dedication required to observe another’s commands. On the other hand,] if I love a person, I want to keep that person’s commandments, both out of loyalty and out of respect for that person’s qualities: [for as one who loves will easily discern,] the commandments [given] will reveal and mirror that person’s qualities. So, the Law given by Moses reveals God’s nature by what He commands. Just so, the actions of Jesus reveal His and the Father’s nature: He heals, He loves, He judges, He forgives, He commands. To obey the commands [given by our loving God] is a response in love, [not legalism. To keep them, like a gift, is the natural and necessary consequence of our personal relationship to Him]: we need to do just that.
Trusting in God (in Hebrew, bittachon - בִּטָּחוֹן) does not mean that we are obligated to affirm that this is “the best of all possible worlds,” though it does mean we believe that eventually God will wipe away every tear and make all things right. Bittachon is a word for this world, which says, “Though He slay me, I will trust in Him…” Those who call upon the LORD can trust not only in concealed good behind ambiguous appearances (“all things work together for good”), but also in a future, real, substantive good that will one day be clearly manifest for us all. We fight the “good fight” of faith, which is a worthy struggle that eventually is realized for blessing. Meanwhile, may the LORD our God keep us from such depth of sorrow that leads to sickness, darkness and despair.
I’ve had a few people asking me how they can put together the ultimate application for university, and in particular for Oxbridge. Much of the advice in this post is relevant for any university applications, but there is also some Oxbridge-specific advice!
1. Work hard and know your stuff
To be honest with you, the only way to have a killer application is to have worked hard and to know your stuff! The simple fact is that universities want to take people who are going to add value to their institutions, so if you aren’t willing to put in the hours preparing for exams, perfecting your personal statement and understanding what the courses you are applying for involve, they are unlikely to offer you a place.
2. Have the exam results to prove it
The simple fact is that exam results are the best indicator universities have of how hard you work and how smart you are. If you can have put together strong performances at GCSE and in your ASs, you are instantly in a pretty strong position.
At Cambridge especially, exam results really are key, so you need to have high marks across most of your papers in order to really stand a chance. Cambridge pretty much assumes that everyone they interview will have similarly good grades, so then it comes down to your personal statement, entrance exam marks and interviews to decide who they take.
3. Pitch-perfect personal statement
Your personal statement is important, regardless of where you are applying! It is your only opportunity to express your interest in the subject you are applying for and to tell the universities you are applying to exactly why you are worth their time and energy.
Focus on your subject!
When you write your personal statement, you need to really focus on your interest in the subject you are applying for, making sure that you point out areas of particular interest, where you have gone above and beyond what you are expected to do at school in order to really stretch your intellectual boundaries.
80%-20%
In general, Oxbridge (and most other universities) recommend that your personal statement is 80% about your subject, so you should really only have a brief final paragraph to outline any other extracurricular stuff you take part in. That said, it is definitely worthwhile including something on your extracurricular activities as this demonstrates an ability to excel academically while still handling the demands of other commitments.
Show an interest in the subject, not its potential future rewards!
When you’re writing your personal statement, definitely bear in mind that you are trying to convince someone that you will be worth their while teaching. As such, admissions will be looking for people who are genuinely interested in their subject! So, avoid writing study like: “I’m interested in studying economics at Cambridge because it provides a great pathway into a range of high-flying careers”… This will really, really annoy anyone who reads your personal statement!
4. Entrance Exam
This one only applies for certain subjects and certain universities. Personally, I didn’t have to take an entrance exam for my subject, but I’ve spoken to a lot of people who did. For example, a lot of my friends study law, and so had to take the LNAT, a UK exam that pretty much anyone wishing to study law has to take.
Practice!
Having spoken to people who did entrance exams, the single, universal piece of advice was to practice past papers, to spend time looking up tactics and to research the different styles of question you may be asked. These tests are said to be tests of your aptitude to study a certain subject. However, in reality, they are more a test of whether you have been bothered to spend time looking at what you need to do in order to succeed in them!
You may also find it helpful to speak to people you may know who have taken these tests for advice.
5. Interview
So, at some universities, and specifically Oxford and Cambridge, you will have to be interviewed in order to get an offer. If this is the case for you, please check out my blog post Interview like a Boss.
Please check out my Exam Grade Booster blog and reblog this post if you found it helpful!
One of the hardest thing I’ve encountered is trying to study when you lack motivation or initiation. Whether it be due to a mental illness or simply procrastination, it can be very difficult to do what you need to do. Here are some tips for buckling down and getting things done. These are also helpful tips for things that aren’t even related to studying.
Be kind: lacking motivation or initiation does not mean you’re lazy or not trying hard enough. If it’s due to a mental illness, remind yourself that that is what it is and it is not your fault. Talk to yourself in a compassionate, encouraging, and helpful way. Don’t beat yourself up, think positively and focus on how you can improve your current situation.
Tell yourself why: remind yourself why you need to study, finish that project, etc. What are the reasons this assignment matters? How will you benefit from starting or finishing this assignment? How will other people benefit? Reminding yourself of the importance of something will make starting or finishing the assignment easier and more rewarding.
Start with the easiest: start with the easiest assignment first. This will provide a kind of snowball effect and make it easier to work. The sense of accomplishment from finishing one assignment will make starting the next more manageable. Sometimes when you think of the mountain of work you have to do it can be overwhelming. Start with the easiest assignment and go from there.
Make it smaller: break assignments into really small bite-size pieces. This goes along with the previous tip; if you have a big assignment, start by breaking it down into really tiny pieces.Think of one assignment you have to complete. What is the first step? Can you make that first step even smaller? Keep making it smaller until you are absolutely certain you can do it.
Just 5 minutes: if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, exhausted, etc. tell yourself you only have to study or work for 5 minutes. Do the assignment for 5 minutes and then you can quit if you still aren’t feeling it. Sometimes it just takes getting started to motivate yourself to finish.
Take breaks: break assignments into small, doable steps, and take frequent short breaks. This will help you stay focused and help fight becoming mentally tired. The pomodoro method is great for this. It’s much easier to finish an assignment if you have little breaks to look forward to.
Don’t wait to feel it: don’t wait to do an assignment until you feel motivated. Do it anyway; once you get started you may begin feeling motivated.
Give yourself credit: give yourself credit for the time and effort you do put in. It is easy to call yourself lazy, especially if your low motivation is caused by a mental illness, but you are actually working harder than you would if you were feeling motivated. Remember: it doesn’t matter how big the assignment was. It doesn’t matter how much you accomplished. It doesn’t matter how it turned out. It doesn’t matter how you feel about it. It doesn’t matter what other people think about it. If you put in any time or effort, give yourself credit.
Go outside: going outside for even 5 minutes can boost your mood and energy. It doesn’t take much to get the benefit. It works even better if you can be near trees or water!
Chunk the day: break up the day into small parts. Decide on the littlest amount of time you can spend on an assignment. It can be as big or small as you want. This is your “chunk” of manageable time. Decide what you will do with that chunk of time, and tell yourself “I only have to keep going for this chunk, then I can stop if I want to.” After the chunk ends you can rest, keep going, or do something else for the next chunk. Chunk your way through the whole day and you will be more productive and feel better!
Budget your energy: ask yourself how much energy you have “available” today. Don’t push yourself beyond your capacity because you will just get burned out and wind up in the same position you’re in now, instead only do what is reasonable for the amount of energy you have. No matter how little energy you have, always save some time for self-care: exercise, grooming, hobbies, relaxation, etc. Reduce negative thoughts and replace them with happy thoughts to boost energy and motivation! Repeat and persist: it is much better to do one small thing many times, than do one big thing once. Reward/congratulate yourself for every bit of effort no matter how small. Your brain will respond very well to this and you will have more energy, well-being, and self-confidence!
Build a routine: try to create a routine where you do similar assignments at the same time almost everyday. Having a routine makes it easier to get up and do the work automatically instead of relying on motivation/initiation.
Study groups: if you get word of a study group sign up! The best kinds are the ones that have a schedule that you are expected to be at, this makes it easier to get going. If you don’t know of any study groups, grab some friends and start one! Designate a time, place, and frequency to meet and make sure people stick to it!
Use a planner, calendar, to do list, etc: utilize these to make lists, establish a routine, and set goals. Having your assignments physically written down will help you stay focused on one task and actually crossing it off a to-do list will make it easier to begin a new assignment.
Post your goals: remind yourself whyyou’re studying. Put up signs, pictures, notes, etc. in your study space to keep your goals in sight. Whether they be long-term or short-term, reminding yourself of what you hope to achieve will help motivate yourself into studying so you can get your dream job or whatever your goal may be!
Get cheerleaders: sometimes getting started on an assignment by yourself can be too much. Try talking to trusted friends, family, teachers, etc. about your goals and how you’re struggling with finding motivation (you don’t need to be too specific on that last part!). It’s okay to ask for help. Support could be something as simple as a “you can do this!” text or phone call, a nice hug, or even just having someone sit in the same room while you do your work. Tackling big assignments alone can be daunting but developing a support system can make a world of difference!
Team up: try grouping up with other students in your classes or that have similar assignments. Even if you aren’t working on the same assignment just having someone working beside you can be all the motivation you need. Study groups are great for this! Surrounding yourself with others who are working hard will help inspire you to focus and get it done, other students also make for great resources! You never know who may have taken that class already and can offer a word of advice.
Just do it: use self-talk to get yourself started studying and to keep yourself going. Try writing down one of these phrases to display in your study area: “I am choosing to get started” “Just do it!” “Put one foot in front of the other” “I think I can, I think I can” “One step at a time” “It doesn’t have to be perfect” “Good enough is good enough” “I am focusing on starting, not on finishing” “It doesn’t matter how I feel now; I will get started and I may feel better later” “Start small” “What’s the smallest thing I can do right now? Do it!” or think of one of your own!
hi everyone! since the holidays are over for most of us, i thought i’d make an inspirational and motivational masterpost all about notes! upgrading your notes by changing the layout, adding doodles, banners, using sticky notes, changing your handwriting etc. motivates me personally to study!
out with the sloppy last minute notes and in with the new!
sappho, trans. anne carson // letters to gilbert bradley, gordan bowsher // borrowed time, paul monette // from now on we are enemies, fall out boy // the great geysers of california, laura de force gordon // little beast, richard siken // the song of achilles, madeline miller // samson, regina spektor // selected letters of e. m. forster, e. m. forster // break my heart, joy harjo
(visitor’s book in the Lesbian Herstory Archives of New York)
