Got something you need to do at a certain time every day (e.g., take meds)? Start giving your cat a treat right before you do it. You may have trouble remembering, but your cat absolutely will not.
This might be the most genius idea I’ve ever read.
**note – these are from my experience doing a physics + astronomy degree. take what works and ignore the rest**
1) Do as many practice problems as you can. Attempt all the problems you’re assigned, even if you get stuck just thinking about the question or write down a single equation.
2) Draw diagrams.
3) Consider block paper (also known as “quad and margin”) notebooks for your class notes. It makes drawing graphs a lot easier.
4) Assign the correct variables to whatever values you have *first*. Check your units and define variables if you have to.
5) There’s probably a simple way to code a solution to the problem. Or at least plot the function.
6) Ask questions if you’re confused in class
7) Khan Academy for calculus and Wolfram Alpha for solving equations
8) Write outlines for your lab reports before you start them. Do your figures first.
9) Be enthusiastic
10) Don’t let boys make you feel stupid or like you don’t belong
11) Ask the internet, then your friends/classmates, then your TA and then your prof. But only once you’ve made a real attempt at figuring the thing out.
12) Do (or read) the derivation of important equations at least once so that you understand the underlying principles before you use them.
13) Collaboration >> competition
14) Show some respect for Humanities students. You are not automatically smarter than them because you’re good at STEM.
wash your face every night – washcloth, warm water, and a simple cleanser will do wonders. plus, warm water helps make you all sleepy for bed
take a multivitamin every day – and keep an eye open for coupons for them. usually multivitamins have some pretty great coupons
if you can, open the windows every once in a while. fresh air does a lot of good for your body (and state of mind)!
keep a few cleaning supplies in the bathroom. every so often after having a shower, give things a quick wipe-down. the steam from the shower dislodges any sink guck, making the job much easier – and never underestimate the power of a clean bathroom for both physical and mental health
keep a water bottle by the bed and drink some water when you wake up. it’ll help you greet the day a little easier, and plus – whose mouth ISN’T as dry as the sahara when they wake up?
it’s not always easy, but try to make doing dishes before turning in for the night a habit. i can’t express how lovely it is to wake up and walk into a clean and tidy kitchen
keep snacks in the fridge that are delicious and healthy – my faves are strawberries, cherry tomatoes, and grapes. i love snacks. plus, there’s not really much prep involved with those kinds of things
sweep! sweeping takes up a bit more physical energy, but it’s become one of my favourite things to do. i put on some nice music and visualize sweeping out not only dirt, but anything else clouding up my space – negative energy, self doubt, etc. it’s a nice, witchy little ritual for me now.
light a candle, specifically one that smells delicious
identify the things that make you feel better about yourself and your
surroundings and prioritize them and only them when you’re feeling
sucky. that way, you still feel accomplished, but you aren’t using up
all your mental and physical energy trying to run through all your
tasks/cleaning/etc
remember that you’re doing these things for you, and not anyone else. you deserve to feel happy and at ease!
NineofShades 