Here’s A Random Video Of Arlo In His Volcano :)

3/19-22/25

Sorry life’s been hectic and I’ve been exhausted. Just finished my internship test and got a confirmation that I have the internship this summer!

General:

Went to work

Panhellenic Preview

Organic Chemistry:

Wrote 2 lab reports

Wrote pre lab

Watched lecture video

Forensic Analysis:

Wrote lab report

Took midterm

World Civ:

Did 2 modules

Took quiz

Music:

Took quiz

Internship:

Will be scheduling psych evaluation and my schedule in the next few weeks

Took test

How To Study For Longer Hours

These are some of my tips that I used for studying for longer hours during my junior and senior year in high school. I generally studied 4 heavy content subjects and 2 languages. And, yes, i did get good grades.

Studying is a task that requires you to be consistent and driven. That is why, I want to make one thing very clear. This is not a promotion of toxic studying when you feel too tired.

I will start with a simple process that i formed.

Work => Compensation => Repeat.

Quality Matters

By quality I mean. One hour spending time recalling facts and answering questions and filling gaps is better than 5 hours of reviewing notes. Just focus on improving your focus and methods. I call it the "FM Method"

You choose one specific method, and you consistently follow it for a specific period.

Longer Hours Should Not Exceed 5

If you have to study for long hours, don't let it exceed 5 hours. The reason is simple. It's useless, and your body will drain up and use all your energy. I used to study for 9 hours some days in my junior year. Now i study only for 3-4 hours every day. The results? Practically the same. My grades didn't drop but i feel more motivated to study and complete everything.

So, don't extend the hours you study. Make your focus and methods better.

20 Second Breaks

When you complete a topic, small or big. Just close your eyes for 20-30 seconds and lean back on your chair and calm your breathing. Process the information. Let everything sink in. Take out the tension. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PHONE. And then after those 20-30 seconds, just glance through the topic before moving to the next one. So, take 20 second breaks.

Active Studying > Passive Studying

This is the same thing i spoke before. Use active methods of studying. Active recall and filling gaps, visual representation, learning through stories and mnemonics.

Passive studying is when you learn through notes, repeating things over and over again, trying to memorize instead of learning and understanding the concepts.

One hour of active studying is better than 5 hours of passive studying.

Rewards

When you complete an hour or two, give yourself a small reward. But the reward should be as productive as your time spent. If you spent the last two hours studying and then you watch 3 hours of your favourite tv show then that is not a good reward.

A reward should actually compensate, you need you calm your brain, not indulge yourself in instant dopamine hits.

Actual Rest

A reward is different from rest.

Rest is essential for your body. Sleep is the body's soother. You used your brain for hours and if you don't let it rest than definitely it doesn't matter how well you're actually studying. You. Will. Feel. Tired.

Burnout Effect

In one way, burnout is good. Honestly, some people's highest point is 30 mins or an hour. They find burnout creeping in after some time had passed. And that is why, if you want to reach at least two hours of studying. You need to push that limit. Every single time. Try moving 30 mins every week. Your max limit is 1 hour. Then this week, study for 1 hr 30 mins. The next week, study for 2hrs. then 2hr 30 mins. Do it for a few weeks.

If you don't push yourself to the max limit. Then you'll never actually reach your goal.

Consistency

This is an indefinite rule. You want to improve your grades. Do it every day.

Your work ethic and your willingness to stick to habits will determine your success.

Make a "Your" Environment.

This is a very underrated thing; you must have a "you" environment. It doesn't matter what it is. Basically a "you" environment is whenever you're there, you're motivated to do work. It doesn't have to be a place really. Another example would be, whenever i'm on my phone, i'm likely to waste my time doing unnecessary things but whenever i'm on my laptop, i'm automatically in "work" mode. So, for you it might be your study desk or even school sometimes.

(I remember, during the last 2 months in senior year, i used to go to the very corner of my classroom, sit on the ground, face the wall, put my headphones on, placed my bag in front of me as a table and just solve accountancy sums because that place was my "work" environment. Honestly, it looked so weird but whenever i was there, my focus was just amazing)

Additional Posts That Might Be Helpful:

Study Trick That No One Told Me How To Use Previous Year Papers Tips To Understand Complex Topics Small Things To Get Additional Points In Exams Questioning Method

Hope This Helps!! :)

4/24-27/25

This semester has been very chaotic that i haven’t been posting regularly, but i fear i may die with finals coming up next week 💀

General:

Worked a lot

Greek week happened

Changed my workout/running schedule

Organic Chemistry

Watched Module 4 Lecture 4 video

Started prepping for ACS exam

Had my last lab of the semester

Forensic Analysis:

Started making Quizlet for final

Reviewed for final for the lab with this class

Criminal Justice:

Finished Quizlet for exam 2 retake

Started Quizlet for exam3/final

Music:

Completed concert review essay

Ate:

Bacon egg and cheese McGriddle meal from McDonald’s

Bacon cheese burger with fries

3/24/25

Only went to one class today but had a really good day today :)

General:

Woke up early enough to eat breakfast

Helped cook dinner

Hijacked friends ceramics class again (forgot to take photos of:) new Dino for dashboard of car, cardinal for my mom, moon themed coaster

Organic Chemistry:

Watched lecture video

Forensic Analysis:

Class was cancelled

World Civ:

Did all textbook readings and text quizzes

3/4 videos

Ate:

Bacon egg and cheese McGriddle meal

Chicken cutlet with sweet potato cubes

Small snacks (I don’t remember what)

3/13/25

Nothing much for today, just went to work and had a meeting

Schedule:

Work 2pm-7pm

Recruitment Team meeting (I'm in a sorority) 7pm-8pm

Help my sister with an an assignment

General:

Went to work

Meeting right after

Got “interviewed” by my older sister for and assignment

Organic Chemistry:

Watched another lecture video due to missing class

Ate:

2 bowls mraft mac and cheese

1 side of mac and cheese from chilis

Title: Annihilation

By : Jeff Vandermeer

Score: 10/10

Extra: initially just needed to read it for my world literature class but I fell in love with it and will be reading the rest of the trilogy 😊

4/28/25

Overall good day, thinking about how I’m gonna pass these finals next week 😭

General

Went on a run

Got a new weighted animal

Studied A LOT

Organic chemistry

Started Quizlet for final

Completed last test of the semester

Criminal justice

Added more info to final Quizlet

World Civ

Completed last two modules

Took last quiz

Ate:

Protein loaded tea

Fried fish

Cheese pizza

Snacks

4/7/25

Pretty busy day over all but I got to see my friends which helped

General:

Glazed my cardinal and new Dino

Organic Chemistry:

Finished M4L2 video

Actually went to class

Forensic Analysis:

Reviewed test, 60/100

World Civ:

Completed module 21

Completed test 3

Completed study guide

Ate:

All Nighter Sandwich from Einsteins

Mac and cheese

Crepes

Protein coffee

Title: Authority

Author: Jeff Vandermeer

Score: 8/10

It was kinda hard to start, it felt slow to me, but after it started to pick up pace, it was so good. It gave a good point of view from someone in the Southern Reach (Control/John) who was charged with interviewing a “clone” of the biologist from the first book (Annihilation) of the Southern Reach Trilogy. It then ends with John and the Biologist jumping into an entrance into Area X that she unknowingly created. I highly recommend this series so far to sci Fi fans

Next book: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes