How to be productive/motivated

Like the school tips these will be catered towards myself mostly because despite my amazing memory one key thing I forget is how to look after myself and keep myself motivated to do work. Despite that I'm pretty sure some of these tips will also be helpful to anyone out there who has no idea how to get the energy to start working. 

1) Get out of bed. It sounds so easy but honestly it's incredibly hard. Especially when you're like me and both your laptop and your phone are at reach from your bed because you'll never get out of it then. Even if you get out of bed at 4pm it's better than nothing and it will stop you from having an entire lazy day.

DO NOT BE LURED!!

2) Shower regularly. Again this may sound slightly weird but it's really easy to fall out of the habit of looking after yourself and your hygiene. But even if it's a quick wash it'll help to wake you up. Though make sure your showers aren't too warm as they tend to make people (and by people I mean myself) super sleepy which defeats the aim of the process. Warm showers are great in the evening when you need help winding down but if you need that spur of energy a cold shower would be optimal. 

3) Open your curtains BEFORE you turn on the lights. I mean have a well lit room in general but natural light is always so much better. Not only will you save on electricity but it's just so much more calming? I'm not sure how to word it but basically it's better than just using the lights in your room. Also if you're braver than I am you can open the windows too to let in fresh air. I'm terrified of bugs so I never do but even if its for an hour or so fresh air will do you a ton of good. (Also that way you don't have to leave your house so win/win for us introverts)

4) Drink water/eat fruit. I'm currently doing both as I write this blog post. So much productiveness. But seriously every time you go downstairs for a snack just open your fridge and grab an apple or an orange rather than opting for nutella. Also hydration is a really important thing so always having a water bottle with you or having a cup of water every couple of hours or so is great. If you struggle with remembering stuff like this I'd say go for the water bottle because you'll see it all the time which would be a helpful reminder. Or if you're like me and you find yourself searching for something to eat every 5.2 minutes just grabbing a glass of water every time you're in the kitchen is fine.

Look at how great that looks

5) Have a clean room or at the very least a clean workspace. I'm sure you've heard the phrase 'tidy room, tidy mind' countless times but it's honestly so true. Now before you start with your 'but it's organised mess' or 'I have a system!' I thought I was like that too until I started realising this 'organised mess' did nothing to help me and just shortened the amount of time I could actually study because I could never find what I needed. Although having a tidy room is the best option if you really don't have the time or energy at least clean up your workspace. For example when I sit at my desk, I can't see the rest of the room since my desk is in a corner. That way even if the room behind me is slightly cluttered when I'm studying I don't notice it.

Literally so many 'tidy desk tidy mind' pictures came up
as I tried to find a picture like this

6) Organise your stuff together. That's a really bad starting sentence, let me elaborate. Basically what I'm trying to say is keep all related stuff together, so for example have your books for studying in one place and all your books which are just for leisure in another. That way when you need a certain book you know exactly where to look and you won't get distracted by 'The Hunger Games' trilogy when you really should be finding your biology textbook. This tip also isn't limited to books and studying stuff. For example I recently started a journal so I keep my journal and all the things I usually use with it (so a pen, pencil, coloured pens, ruler etc) all in one place so every time I want to make a journal entry I have everything at hand and I'm not trying to frantically find everything.

I hope these tips helped you getting out of the whole 'I don't know how to get motivated' slump. I'm really enjoying these little posts I make giving people tips so if you have any ideas on other stuff I should give tips on just comment it below.

Until next time-

Minoo x

Belated Back to School Tips

So I have been back at school (well sixth form) for a week now and I'm sure most people have started school already but I still wanted to make a bunch of tips (especially for people who have productivity issues like myself) to help people to get started with school I guess idk. (Also doing this so I have something to refer to when I feel like I've forgotten how to study yay)

Side note: You've probably heard most

of these tips but nothing wrong with 

emphasis on a couple points right?

1.1) Have some way to organise your work- Whether it's a planner the school gives you or a planner you buy yourself just have one and USE IT! We all think we have great memory and we'll remember the homework even without a planner (and even if that is the case as it has been sometimes with me) you might still forget an important piece of detail that you wouldn't have if you had written it (e.g. you might get a piece of homework for English to write a 500 word essay, without writing it down you might remember the essay part but forget about the 500 word and end up writing too little or too much for your homework.) Jotting down your homework will make sure you have all the little bits of information. 

Another important thing to have in your planner is a due date for your pieces of homework or coursework etc. This way you'll know exactly what piece of homework you should be prioritising, like you don't want to do a piece of homework on Tuesday that's due Friday but then miss out the homework for Wednesday. It's also useful to tick or cross off a homework task that you've completed as you'll know how much you have left to do with a quick glance; it also feels incredibly satisfying to know that you're done with something. If you're struggling with something you could always mark it red so you know what you need help with.

Amazing way to organise

1.2) More organisation tips because there's so many ways to organise wow!! Now you have your planner you need a way to organise the actual content you get. Good investments would either be a folder or notebook for each subject depending on the type of work your teacher gives. If it's a worksheet sort of based subject a folder would be handier to store all your sheets and not lose them whereas if it's more written based and worksheets are rare a notebook would be a smarter investment. You'll probably find that you will not invest solely on folders or notebooks and it might actually be a bit of both. There is also a chance your school will provide you with some of this stuff (for example we are given folders for each subject in my sixth form). However you decide to organise your work is up to you but try and keep everything in one place and have each subject in a separate notebook/folder. Last year I had one massive folder for all four of my subjects and by the end of the year it was just a mess and I would not recommend it at all.

2) This one may be a little late if you've already started but make sure you have all the essential stationery before the school year begins. A good thing to do is look through your current pencil case and jot down everything you don't have that you need so when you go out shopping for school you know exactly what to get. Also remember to get any stationery which is specific for the subject you are doing. (e.g. a compass for maths) The brand you get doesn't matter just buy stuff which is good enough (basically don't be silly like me and buy expensive stationery because it's prettier and then wonder why you don't have enough money for food). Just because studyblrs (which honestly make me less productive because I'm too busy staring at the amazing notes) have really cool stationery doesn't mean you need it. As long as it works you'll be fine.

Ah the art of feeling productive without doing any work

3) Try to ask for help- The reason the word try is there is because I know that not everyone feels comfortable asking for help (I am one of those) but if you're struggling with something you won't magically get better if you don't reach out. If you really feel uncomfortable asking help from a teacher try a friend who does well in that subject first and see if they can help you understand it. If that doesn't work and getting help from the teacher is the only way you can get past it just try to ask for help. I promise you that they don't think you're stupid for not understanding something and that they're happy to give a hand. (I say this but watch when on Monday I'm struggling and I refuse to ask the teacher for help lmao) Also if you don't like asking for help face to face, see if you can email your teacher as that might help you feel less anxious about it.

4) Break up your work- Having tons of work to do can be overwhelming and put you off doing any work whatsoever so break up the work you need to do into little tasks to help you get through it. Not only will it take off a massive load as you no longer feel bombarded but it'll just feel easier and quicker to do. In the example of having an essay rather than looking at it like that split it up into

• Planning 
• Writing the introduction
• Making your three main points (Or however many you're asked to do)
• Start elaborating on these points with evidence to support them
• Keep switching between the last two points until all the points you have made have been explained in depth
• Write a conclusion

If the essay is typed you could even start off in notes and change it into prose once you know the direction you're going in. 

With a project you could split up each topic that you're going to research and write about for the day and slowly bring it together rather than feeling like you have to do it all at once.

5) Avoid the internet as much as possible- You say that you're only going online for a small break but trust me next thing you know it's 11pm and you're either on the depths of tumblr or searching weird videos on youtube. Unless you need it for studying you should avoid it and even then leave the subject that needs the online work to last so you can at least get through some other stuff before. I know that sometimes you might come home from school and you're way too tired to get started and you need a bit of rest before you do but the internet is a no go. Instead try and do something that doesn't involve the internet whether it's to read, draw, spend time with some family members etc. to rest so that you're not distracted. Personally I've found that when I do something like read when I get home I end up being much more productive than if the first thing I do is turn on my laptop.

Don't touch until you do some work

I'm sure there's more tips I could give you but honestly I'm incredibly tired and one tip would have been to sleep early which I'm currently not doing so I'll just end it here. I mean five well developed tips (technically six because the split in 1) is pretty good right. Anyway I hoped this helped in anyway.

-Minoo

(p.s. I'm so close to 200 posts wow. Actually that's not that much considering I've had this blog for about 3 years)

 

Done

I'm done.

Not only "ugh I'm done with life and people in it" done.
But "I have finished the second part of my education and I no longer have to see people who contributed to the fact I was very quiet and shy, and had confident issues in secondary school." done.

You see on this day, the 13th of June 2014, I finished secondary school. Which is quite a big moment in my life I guess. But it feels amazing. Knowing I've survived 5 years of being ignored by my peers, changing my group of friends practically monthly because I never felt welcomed.

Always alone.
Always ostracised.

The years you spend in secondary are your best. (Though this is due to your age not school)
And your worst.

I mean it was in these years that I went on a journey of self discovery. In these years I became a feminist. In these years I realised that I was bisexual. In these years I became a whole different person to who I was when I first started secondary.

However secondary school had no part in this- it was literally just me becoming more involved with activism online.

But at the same time these years were the ones where I felt lonely. Many people found me annoying, or just generally disliked me for reasons I do not know. Perhaps it's the fact that I talk a lot once I'm comfortable with you. Maybe it was because I tried to be funny but in reality I wasn't. Those things I will never know. But what I do know is that secondary school drained me. My energy and aspirations were dragged to the pits of hell and succumbed a fiery death, leaving me to grudge through secondary.

I made a post a few months back about the poison schools inject into our brains. My point still stands. But after 5 years of being told by teachers to "speak up more" yet they never wondered why I restricted myself to contribute, I can finally raise my hand. I will raise my hand up high, with my middle finger stretched to the best of its capabilities whilst the rest of my fingers hide away. And with that middle finger I will wave goodbye to school. For I am done.

The show must go on

LIGHTS
CAMERA
ACT-

Wait, I can't do this..all these people staring at me it's scary.

See no one really sees the downsides of acting- especially in plays. To be honest actors and actresses who perform films have it easy in some ways- if they fuck up it's okay there's another take. If something happens to a performer they can postpone (I mean Sherlock got away with postponing for nearly 3 years). There are such little complications.

Acting on a stage on the other hand- scary as fuck. All the eyes glare at you- waiting for your next line. But it feels like you're prey and they're waiting for you to crack under pressure. The eyes, the empty eyes. Acting isn't easy.

Now I have a performance in May. May 23rd. For my GCSE drama. And the way things are going. We're fucked. One member got put on early study leave (basically excluded) and she was a main character whilst two haven't finished their written work so can't act until they do and the other member who's left. Pain in the fucking arse. To make things worse I have to have a mental breakdown on stage.

Now I'm no stranger to crying and screaming and wanting to just die and leave this pathetic world. I have had plenty of depressing days which sadly can account for that. But pretending is much worse. What if I mess up? What if it's obvious I'm acting? What if it's nothing like a mental breakdown and I end up offending someone?

Acting is scary. Seriously.

-Minoo

English Speech

Hey Guys,

So for English I have to make a speech about either something I'm passionate about or something that annoys me. I've decided to do the annoyed one and here's my speech. I'd love to have some feedback. Oh and I'm allowed to have up to 3 pictures to help me with my points. (I only have one at the moment) (I go to an all girls school btw)

Hi, my name is Minoo, and what annoys me is sexism. People think that sexism is a thing in the past, with the whole suffragette movement, getting women the right to vote, the fact that women can work now among other things but sexism is still around. Don't you hear people saying "You fight/kick/throw like a girl" when they're bad at something? Like being a girl means you can't fight/kick/throw? Don't you remember the amount of times we're told that get paid less than men?

Sexism annoys me because when I show you this picture (one above) all of you will pick the one with hairy legs as the man because apparently women can't have hairy legs. However who says that? Society. And really, up until now, who has been the dominant voice when it has come to society? Men. Sexism annoys me because recently in Texas, they tried to make abortion illegal. The people who tried to pass this law were men. Men who will never be pregnant. Men who will never know the feeling of having something inside you that you genuinely don't want. Personally I don't agree with abortions but if a woman decides to terminate her pregnancy I would let her as it's her life, her choice and as long as it doesn't affect me it's none of my business. Sexism annoys me because if a man goes outside topless no one really cares but if a woman goes out in a crop top and shorts she's called a "slut", a "slag", a "whore" or get's wolf whistled at. This has happened so many times that no one even realises how sexist we're being. "Oh that girls skirt is shorter than everyone else's, must be a tart" or "I heard she's had sex with 3 different guys. Such a whore" but if a guy has sex with 3 different girls everyone else is just like "Go on mate, getting all the chicks" Sexism annoys me because most people believe that only a woman can get raped or abused and the men can be the only one who commits it because a woman is a fragile, delicate, gentle creature who is always in distress while the man is the strong, powerful one. Sexism annoys me because even when a man does get raped or abused by a woman he is too scared to speak out because he thinks a woman hurting him is something to be ashamed of, like it takes away his manliness. I remember once when I was in Primary we had a tug of war competition and one girl beat every single boy. Nevertheless most people believe all men are stronger than women. Sexism annoys me because if a girl plays video games people say that she's only playing them to seem more attractive in front of guys, as if a girl can't play something for her own enjoyment. Sexism annoys me because whatever a woman does a man will try and link it to himself as though the world revolves around him. Most of all sexism annoys me because despite the fact the only thing that males have that females don't is a penis* people still think that females are lower than them.


*not sure if allowed to say in actual speech

I AM FREE

I can breath, I can scream, I can drink water with labels on, I can do whatever without a nosy old man/woman staring at what I'm doing, I can talk, I can communicate, I can use my phone, I can have my bag at my side, I can do nothing all day, I can relax, I AM FREE.

Free from what you ask?

*Screams from rooftops*

FROM EXAMS 

Today was my last exam for this year, it's all done and dusted, I can make videos again, I can play PS3 with my brother, I can spend all day on the internet without feeling guilty. It feels amazing.

So my tests today were maths and boy they were so damn hard, I WANTED TO CRY. But it's over.

But it was so stressful and here are some stories about exams that I have experienced:

1) The nosy invigilators that have nothing better to do than stare at your work

and they just stay there ad stare and stare until you feel  uncomfortable. Then they just look at you with the most questioning or disapproving look and you feel scared. Or they stare at you from afar, like "hmm she might cheat let me stare at her for the WHOLE FUCKING HOUR JUST IN CASE"

2) That test you feel okay with but then randomly it's like LOL TIME'S UP HAHA SUCK ON MY DICK.

and like they don't let you even finish your sentence do you know how annoying that is. LIKE I HAVE ONE MORE WORD TO WRITE BUT NOPE.

3) That test you finish so quickly (either you did really good or really crap) and you have nothing to do for half an hour

That one happened to me several times, and like you're not even allowed a book to read after, or something I had to sit and entertain myself with a pencil, pen, rubber WITHOUT making any noise, looking at any other direction and not disturbing anyone. The minutes felt like years.

Those are some of my experiences with exams BUT NOW I DON'T HAVE TO DO THEM FOR AT LEAST 8 WEEKS WHICH IS 2 MONTHS RELAXATION HERE I COME.

-Misha 

Or should I say goodbye with Minoo

I might as well do Minoo seeing as I've told you all

-Minoo 

Send help

I. Am. Officially. Dead.

Now I have a few things to explain Am I right? So here goes *deep breath*

1 My Name:

Now this I could explain any time but I thought I just smack it on the end (well beginning of this post) Now most of you know my real name isn't Misha. Some of you even know my real name already. But today in front of all of you I'm revealing it. I used Misha because I was scared of people finding me. But soon I realised, with my first name no one can really find me. I mean unless they have more details, like surnames, school, address that sort of thing.

(And I'm not stupid, I would never give that out, unless I was ordering something online but that's a different story.)

ANYWAY. My name is Minoo. Pronounced Me-noo. Now you can call me Misha, you can call me Minoo you can call me Flabberdabberdingdong for all I care. I just felt like I needed to come out and say it.

2 Now the reason I'm dead:

I am literally physically dead. I feel so damn tired and my school year still isn't over. Let me explain.

I have had tests, tests and more tests these past 2 weeks and they're still not over. Last Tuesday and Wednesday I had Drama Exam, which sounds cool but it was FUCKING TIRING. We were on our feet for SIX HOURS IN TOTAL. And on Wednesday after the exam had finished I thought "YES RELAXATION" but no all I had time for was to get changed and I was back at school for a drama trip.

We watched this play:

Which I'm not going to lie, it was AMAZING. Like the best fucking play I have ever seen.

So Wednesday I get home at 11 and sleep. And now it's relaxation right? Wrong. So okay I had Thursday to relax. But Friday I had rehearsals for my drama production and I had another rehearsal on Monday. Then Monday evening and Tuesday evening I had a performance.

The first one went CRAP. And I mean so damn crap it's going to be it's own post.
The second one went better.

3 What's happening next?

Well tomorrow I have Sports Day
On Thursday I have a Science Exam
On Friday I have a Maths Exam
Then for 2 weeks I have work experience
Then 1 week left of school and I'm done.

Now I'm probably not going to make a post until the work experience (basically until my hectic life calms down)

So I'll see you then!