Grow Yourself Mentally: How Attitude Provides Success

Your mental health could be the key to moving forward to greater things. Here are a couple of reasons why your mental attitude could inform your success.

Have you ever been around a negative group of people? The longer you spend time in their conversation, the easier and deeper you get sucked into their negativity. If you do a bit of digging and observe them from a distance, you will also realize that they don’t move forward in life.

They stay in the same groove of monotony and don’t seem to see the way out of their misery. When you look closely, you’ll see that their mental well-being is the cause of their anger at the world. Enhancing your mental health could be the key to get you out of a rut and moving forward to greater things.

Here are a couple of reasons why your mental attitude could provide you with success.

Aiming For Self-Mastery

If you have a particular set of skills, then you need to do your utmost to develop those skills and become a master. In the workplace, there are only a couple of things that you have control over.

Your skills, thoughts, and behavior are all you need to develop self-control and from there, you choose how you do things or what you say. It is vitally important to garner a positive attitude and do your best, regardless of the situation around you.

If you can show the powers that you persevere and develop, even in the most hostile of times, you will get noticed and your hard work will be rewarded. Your attitude and resilience in dire times will set you apart from your competition and you will grow even faster in your skills.

It all starts with taking responsibility for the things you have control over and making the best out of every situation, no matter how bleak it may seem when you are in the thick of things.

A Change In Attitude Goes A Long Way

Attitude is everything, or at least, that is how the saying goes. I general, people use the word ‘attitude’ out of context, or they attach a negative connotation to the word. This is not the case when your attitude towards yourself and your job is concerned.

One trait that goes hand in hand with attitude is confidence and when you combine a positive attitude with confidence, you get one mean team, waiting to excel past everyone in line.

Your body language speaks volumes and if you can exude a positive attitude, then your superiors will start to invest in you. They will notice that you are the kind of person that will tackle adversity and come out on top because you have the right mental attitude.

When your attitude towards yourself is positive and healthy, your outlook on life and where you fit in it also changes. It is the single tool that you will use to rise above the rest and get back up when you were knocked down.

A positive attitude does not mean that you think that you will never lose, but rather that you will be prepared to lose and take the lessons that you learn from your failures. The real ability is to fight, get back up and fight on.

Setting Goals And Sticking To Them

People who are successful have clear cut goals that they set for themselves. When you don’t have goals in life, you will fall into survival mode and do only what is necessary to survive. On the other hand, when you have goals. You tend to be more deliberate about your actions and you plan your next move to fit into your plan and reach your goals.

Nevertheless, having clear goals as opposed to vague ones are just important. When your goals are unambiguous, you tend to work hard at filling the gaps to reach it.

For instance, if you set a goal to get appointed for a certain job, then you go beyond your normal day in day out routine and fill the gaps in your skill tree and your resume. The same rule applies when you are doing those lengthy assignments as a college student.

It even might require some smart planning like outsourcing the work to online assignment help, but the idea should be to complete the work on time and deliver a project that actually impresses the teacher. You can go through the online resources to learn more about it.

It’s easy to lose focus and forget about your goals, especially when it takes you a bit longer to achieve them. That is why it is important to remind yourself of your goals each day and break the big picture up into smaller, manageable chunks.

It’s A Marathon, Not A Sprint

The thing about growing yourself mentally is that it takes a long time to get it right. Most people don’t even reach their mental goals. This is mainly because people give up before any real result is even visible.

From the day that you are born, your mind creates neural pathways in terms of your behavior or the way you react to a certain situation. Sometimes, your behavior is toxic to growth and you need to change the way you do things before you can move on. Making conscious decisions about how you react in certain situations does not change overnight.

You have to give yourself time to adapt and change your mindset and realize that you are not going to have success on day one. The one thing that you need to remember is not to beat yourself up when you revert to the old ways in which you did things. This isn’t good either.

Create A Path Or Strategy

Lastly, you need to plan your strategy. Having goals and saying to yourself that you want to achieve something by a certain time is all good and well, but how do you get there. Your strategy is vitally important for reaching your goals.

Developing a growth strategy is like playing a game of chess. You always need to be a step or two ahead of the game and make sure you don’t stare at the move right in front of you.

When you have a bigger picture in mind, you also have the ability to see more than one way to reach your goals. Again, looking to the person you want to be in ten years will give you much insight as to your next move.

Short-term strategies are great for steadying a rocky ship and bringing stability, but planning ahead is where real progress lies.

The Bottom Line

The battle of success is won and lost in mind. When you are strong-willed and determined to reach your goal, you will. People are resilient and if you have the right drive, you’ll be surprised at how far you can push yourself.

The only thing that you need to remember is to never give up and to persevere. If you can hold your head up high and make plans when the going is tough, the chances are that you will duplicate that same attitude when it time to grow.

Meet the Author

Michael Gorman is an experienced freelance writer, essay writer, and proofreader from the UK who currently works at best essay writing service. Being interested in everyday developments and industry trends, he writes various blog posts and discovers new aspects of the business and technology world.

Ultimate Guide to Self-Care for Students (A Must Read)

With the demands of coursework and modern life, students need self-care more than ever. To learn more, read the ultimate guide to self-care for students.

Students face many demands, including coursework, deadlines, and other school responsibilities – all on top of their social lives and even part-time jobs. We get it – school is overwhelming; you’re stressed out, and all you really want is to lie down and watch your favorite show. All this stress is normal, but you have to learn how to manage it and take care of yourself in the process. Step one is developing a self-care routine. Below is the ultimate guide to self-care for students – it’ll help you start putting you first.

Take Care of Your Body First

The first step to taking better care of yourself is starting a consistent exercise routine, even if it’s just walking to campus instead of taking public transportation or doing ten jumping jacks in between homework. Staying active is great for obvious reasons, but you also have to get your diet in check. You’re probably familiar with the freshmen fifteen, but if you aren’t careful, that can quickly turn into the senior thirty. Try your best to maintain a good diet throughout college. It’ll help you focus and feel better during school, and you’ll develop a habit that should last beyond graduation.

Of course, you need to get enough sleep as well. Don’t be that student who pulls all-nighters to finish a paper due the next morning. Your paper probably won’t be your best work because you’re exhausted, and pulling all-nighters is an awful habit to start. Instead, allow yourself time to complete your projects, and get to bed on time.

Students Can Say “No” Too

Signing up for every interesting opportunity in college is really easy, especially if you’re a freshman. However, all the fun activities you’ve signed up for will become a hassle when coursework begins piling up and your roommates want to go out. If you become comfortable with saying “no” more, you’ll be able to say “yes” to the things you actually want to do.

Start a New Hobby

Another great way to take care of you is to pick up a new hobby. You’ll stimulate your brain to learn something new and exciting, and you may even find the hobby meditative. However, before you run to a new hobby, do a little research so that you know what you’re getting into. Don’t take on a hobby that’s going to require crazy amounts of money or work – school still needs to come first. For example, if you’re thinking of picking up photography, do some research to find the right camera and to decide which type of photography you want to get into.

When you develop a self-care routine, the stresses of life will become a lot more manageable. Plus, you’ll be able to develop some great habits that will help you through life. Just remember that no one can do it for you – after all, you can’t have self-care without focusing on taking care of yourself first. What are thoughts on self-care for students discussed here, let us know in the comments?

How To Complete A Time Audit & Why It’s Useful

The day has already passed by, and you couldn’t complete your work. Learn how to conduct a time audit to improve productivity.

The day has already passed by, and you couldn’t complete your work. Most of us suffer from such problems or something else that makes us willing to trade almost anything for just a couple of hours more. To avoid these situations, a time audit is one of the best and simple solution that you can follow. It lets you assess your time intention, the things on which you actually spend most of your time every day and set up protocols to check your progress towards the things you intend to spend your time on. The following easy steps would guide you for conducting a time audit.

Step 1: Setting Up Intentions

First of all, you need to set up time intentions. Basically, imagine your ideal workday and write down the amount of time you would ideally spend on activities throughout your day. You can set yourself some goals and allocate time accordingly. For instance:

Goal 1: Projects and assignments (50 percent of your time)
Goal 2: Research and skill improvement (25 percent of your time)
Goal 3: Work-related communication with clients and colleagues (8 percent of your time)

You won’t reach these goals some of the time since everything isn’t under your control. However, you get a target that can be approached.

Step 2: Track Your Time

It’s time to track your time data with a time tracking tool. It can be any popular and reliable resource like RescueTime, Hubstaff, or Time Doctor. Use the time tracking tool to look at the way you spent your time compared to your intended goals. Most of these apps have dashboards that will show you how far you lag behind or over achieve your goals. You can dig deeper and see the frequency of failure of the goals and more.

Step 3: Review Your Audit

Once you have a gauge of your time spending, you can set new goals and realign them to fit your active hours when you are most productive. For instance, you can allocate most of the time to work in the morning, do research and improve skills during the lazy hours, and spend less time on social media and emails to be more concise and precise with your communication.

Step 4: Create A Time Management System

Finally, place a solid time management system by adjusting your schedule and planning out every moment of the next day with time blocks. Everything from breakfast to work and even entertainment. This allows you to gain more control over your own time and lets you make quick decisions regarding the extra flow of meetings and requests. With previous assessments from the time tracking tool, you can also set up your own time management system more efficiently.

The importance of doing Time audit is increasing as our daily schedule gets more busy and overwhelming. However, it can only offer guidance. Improving your time management and gaining lost time requires you to change old habits, introduce new routines, and progressively apply new schedules. The human brain tries to resist any kind of change in our ordinary life. So, to pull through and reap the benefits of time management, you can also introduce someone to whom you would be accountable for these changes.

Five Ways to Utilize Your School Notes & Notebook Review

Students tend to overlook so many important titbits while trying to keep on track with writing down notes and lectures, here are some tips.

There comes a time in every student’s life where they get so much frustrated and saturated by keeping pace with the bulk notes that taking or jotting down lectures becomes an arduous, difficult task. They tend to overlook so many important titbits while trying to keep on track with writing down notes and lectures, which often become a problematic situation during exam days.

We know every student enrolled in different schools, the institution owns different levels of capability of striding with the ongoing work or lecture. So, to solve their concerns and shoo them away, we are discussing the five most important ways to utilize your school notes while taking a class or when reading in this piece of material.

Exchanging Notes with Your Class-Fellows

It is the most effective and feasible method to get hold of all the pending notes and utilizing them for your interest and gain. You can exchange your class noted lectures in turn of borrowing your classmate’s note and lecture copy. In this manner, whatever details you have missed while it was being delivered, you can easily compare and write the missed details, and in the same manner, your class fellow could use the same strategy.

Taking Use of Concept Maps

For students, it becomes tough to build concepts side by side while taking notes during lectures. They cannot focus on two different things, which include observing the concept and jotting it down on the paper. Because of which we often end up missing half of the details to be able to understand the concept. The best way to overcome such a situation is to make use of a flowchart/concept map.

Whenever you meet a situation where you get to do both, i.e., learn the concept and simultaneously note it down, so it is better for you to construct a flow chart by the end of the lecture, that sequences the details in order so that provides you closure of the entire topic. It is the most organized and summarized way of taking and utilizing notes alongside constructing the affluent concept of the topic.

Using the Digital Mode of Notetaking and Squaring

In this age of technology, where everything is now accessible within a short click, why don’t we use it for our good? Students can also take advantage of digital means for copying and utilizing notes. If we don’t get to cope up with note writing, then we can seek permission from our lecturer to capture the jotted details on board and later copy it on our notebooks. Not only this, if we ever fall in doubt over missing information on certain topics, we can seek help from the internet to get a variety of data on that very piece of information.

Post-It-Notes

This trick comes in handy when you are reading your notes to jot down the most important pieces in a separate section. You can always use post-it notes in your notebook to write additional information regarding the topic, which you don’t even need to carry it anywhere. Just paste the note on every right page you are noting additional detail of and carry on with your further researches and learning.

Highlight It Out

Highlighting notation is the most effective way of utilizing notes while reading to hook onto important titbits and details of the concerned topic. You can use a variety of colors to highlight sentences and essential details on your textbook so that when you get to re-access the topic some other time, you won’t have to go through the entire description again.

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Hamelin Notebook Review

Notetaking is an essential part of being a student, so, h Hamelin Notebooks offered to send me some notebooks. I have been using these notebooks all semester and am ready to give you a review!

First impressions

When I first got my notebooks, my first thought was the size, they are quite larger than the A5 sized notebooks or dollar store bound notebooks that I have always used. I chose the smallest of the ones they sent me to use regularly. My second initial thought is that they were thicker, hardcover, and (for someone who does not care for bound notebooks) the binding was really nice!

Once I began to peruse and play around with the notebooks, I came up with a solid list of pros and cons for these notebooks! Check out my thoughts below and get a notebook of your own!

Pros

High-quality paper
Hardcover
High-quality Ring Binding
Pockets
Comes with Stickers/Page markers
Perforated Pages
Connection with Scribzee
Grid and College Ruled
Ink goes on smooth

Cons

Large in size
Scribzee is similar to taking simple photos of your notes, just with different settings (to each his own, I don’t use this function)

Final Thoughts

After nearly a full semester of use, I do recommend the Hamelin notebooks. While they are larger than I prefer and I don’t use the Scribzee function, these aspects are potential pros for someone else! The larger size could be useful if you take larger amounts of notes and the Scribzee addition would be useful for someone who enjoys having digital versions of their notes! To each his own, right?

Get A Notebook

There are few other means of developing and utilizing notes for school students. Some of which involve creating a cheat sheet that includes a summarized definition, equation, formulae of the topic; others include marking pages with tabs to directly access the relevant topic. Regardless of what notebook you use or what you do with your notes...

Let us know in the comments! We would love to hear about how you utilize your school notes and what you look for in a notebook!

Meet the Author

This notebook was written by Rubab and the notebook review, formatting, and editing was done by Elizabeth of ElizabethJournals.

I am Rubab Sikandar from Pakistan. I have a Master of Philosophy in food and nutrition from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Writing is my passion, and I love to write on topics of all niches. Additionally, tons of my content has been published on prominent websites.

9 Study Mistakes You Are Making That Will Cost You Your Grade

You would be surprised by how many mistakes students make even though they feel confident about their studying skills. It’s easiest to see that there is a problem when exam grades begin to drop. Continuing to use the same technique will only lead you to get similar results. Then, before you know it, you’re grades are tanking and it’s too late to save them.

When it comes to studying these days, it is not enough to just retain the information in a textbook. A lot more is tested in exams. So, to do good on your exams a lot of things may need to change. Especially for those who do not choose to be coached and instead study on their own.

Here are some of the study mistakes you are making that will cost you a lot academically!

You Always Procrastinate

You say you can’t study today, but what about tomorrow? If you continue to procrastinate, you are setting yourself up for failure. Putting off your studies will leave you with a much larger workload. Doing all your studying all at once will lead to you not being thorough or grasping all of the fundamental concepts.

Studying In A Rush

It’s not smart to approach your studies like you would a marathon. Some students pick a perfect studying environment with a desk and then stick by that place all day long. The problem with this is that you are not allowing yourself any rest time. Technically, your chances for learning a lot of material is very low with this technique. The reason for this is that the brain needs to rest every once in a while to process information effectively. Instead of procrastinating until your deadlines, schedule your course work in small bits at a time which is more digestible.

Additionally, realize that moving around helps with your brainwork. Experts suggest that moving around betters blood circulation. And better blood circulation permits your brain to sharpen thinking and higher in productivity.

Multi-Tasking

If you are taking multiple courses at one time and end up hiring online class-takers, do not forget to go through the course yourself. You do not want to prepare for an exam in a rush and end up failing. A common motivation for this is usually to get more flexibility that allows you to do other things outside of class-time. While this is a valid reason, multi-tasking is not quite the solution when it comes to studying. Trying to do multiple things at the same time will only exhaust your brain and you won’t retain as much information. You will also be dividing your concentration from one thing, which means you are not fully attentive to learn all concepts. Give your mind ample time to process the information in one project before taking on the next.

Trying To Memorize Everything

Whether you are studying last minute or you are right on schedule, memorizing everything does not necessarily help. The more times you try to master the information in your notes, word for word, the higher your chances of failing in the exams. Ideally, questions are not set to be the exact order of words in textbooks. As long as you understand the logic or concept of the content, you should be all set for any exams set in that area.

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Media Distraction

Social media has become ill for students during study time. A student may be very willing to concentrate on studying, but the distractions from social media hinder them. If you are one to keep looking at your phone, then it will be challenging to focus on your studies. Technically, when studying, you should leave your phone in your bag or in a different room from the one you are in. If you can study without using the internet, then do so. If you have to use the internet, consider shutting down all the tabs concerned with social media or entertainment like video games, YouTube, funny memes, among others.

Studying Alone

Every once in a while, a little solitude is excellent when studying. The problem comes in when you are always studying alone. In the company of people, you get different perspectives from which to approach a topic. As these people help to bounce ideas off, your brain better decodes the information. It is also the perfect time to clarify confusing and complicated matters in the subject at hand. Additionally, the more ways you are studying the better a grasp of the information you will have. Try teaching some of the concepts to your study-mates. Teaching them will not help you to retain the information, but it will help them to learn it as well!

Not Asking For Help

Along with bringing along some company during the study, you are doing yourself a disservice when you do not ask for help. Your professors and any other educators have a vast amount of knowledge they can share with you. Capitalize on the office hours of these people as your opportunity to gather more information. This is especially helpful for the technical bits of your coursework. Additionally, many schools have tutors available to you. Utilize these resources if you are struggling!

Studying A Few Days Up To The Exam

It’s easy to find yourself spending all your time up to your exam watching Netflix and avoiding your studies. Then you’ve found yourself cramming and rushing around to make sure you’ve studied. The few days prior to the exam, your tension has built-up too much causing your studying to not be as effective.

Instead of letting the pressure limit you, consider beginning your studies a couple of weeks before your exams.

Poor Time Management

Some students get almost everything else right, apart from time management. Realistically speaking, it can be hard to compile a 20-page document in two hours. However, students often take studying as a pressure-filled activity that needs to be rushed through. Some students only spare 30 minutes of their day for studying, and the rest of it on other activities. That kind of schedule does not allow your mind to soak in the information you have read. As an alternative, choose a proper balance in how you spend your time so that it is not too much or too little. Set aside an hour each day to study.

Conclusion

Studying is so much more essential than many students realize. Be sure that you are studying right with these tips! Let us know how these tips have helped you to study better in the comments below!

Author Bio

This post was written by Dancun. Dancun has been working with writing-challenged clients for over five years now. He offers ghostwriting, ghost editing, coaching, and SEO writing for businesses that want to see their sites at the helm of Google SERPs. His education background in communications and public relations has given him a concrete base from which to approach different topics in various niches. He especially enjoys writing website and blog content for startups and established businesses. He is also working as an academic expert, providing assignment help to students or mothers who don’t have much time to complete their tasks via onlineclasstaker.com.

Things You Need To Budget For At University

When you go to university, you will have a lot of things that you need to pay for. If you are not careful when you budget, then you may find that your finances get out of control. You may begin to struggle to afford everything. If you want to get some support with that, then you can find some useful tips right here.

Common Course Costs

Sure, your tuition fees will cover some of the costs that come with your course. However, there is a high chance that this won’t include everything. There are ways for you to save money here, and one of the main ways that you can cut back is by buying your books online. You can even buy them from a charity shop or second-hand store. If your course is very dependent on research, then this can cost you a small fortune. You would be surprised at how much of a difference it can make to your budget.

Transport

You always need to try and take into account any travel costs that you may experience when at university. This could include taking the bus to a class or even catching the train home to visit family. You also need to try and look into any alternative methods of transportation that could save you some money. For example, it may be cheaper for you to get the train when traveling to university because you can qualify for a student railcard. To take advantage of any additional savings, try and look into booking your tickets way in advance. If possible, you can also try and stay on campus as well. If you want some cheap accommodation, then look at the University of Southern California.

Top Things You Need to Remember to Budget for at University

Food

Students don’t always live off baked beans. It is more than possible for you to eat regularly and healthily even when you are on a budget. If you want to do this, then you need to avoid impulse buys whenever you are at the supermarket. Additionally, you need to make a shopping list whenever you go out as well. It is also a good idea for you to freeze meals in advance, or even cook bulk meals. When you do this, you never have to worry about heating a meal up, and you can also have cheaper meals when you are on the go.

Entertainment

It doesn’t matter if you are going to student nights, a fancy dress outing or even a quick coffee because it is always a good idea for you to try and cut down the cost of socializing. Give yourself a specific budget every single week to go out with. That way you won’t be inclined to go over, and you can also avoid any impulse sessions as well. If you want to socialize, but you don’t want to spend the money, then you have nothing to worry about. You can easily have a few drinks at your dorm or you can even go to the cinema. A lot of venues will offer you a discount if you are a student, which is fantastic if you want to cut down on cost.

Utilities

If you are in a residential hall then gas, electricity, and water will usually be included as part of your rent. This may not be the case if you are going into private housing. Of course, along with your rent, you also need to put some money aside every single month to cover your utility bills. Setting up regular payments on a direct debit is a fantastic way for you to see what is coming in and what is going out of your account.

Clothing

It’s tempting to go straight to the shop when you get your loan so you can buy yourself a whole new wardrobe. This is great, but it is possible for you to save some money by checking out deals on websites. You might also be able to get a student discount too. The more you can do your research, the more your money will stretch, and this is always a good thing when you are going to university.

If you want to save money on washing your clothes, then try and do everyone’s load at the same time. This way you can all chip in for the washing powder, and you can even take it in turns too. You’d be surprised at how little changes like this can help you to cut down on your bills, and it can also help you to free up more time in the week.

This post was written in collaboration. Collaborative writing means that while I have contributed to this post and edited its content and formatting, I am not its original author. By posting this content on my blog, I may receive financial compensation. Want to guest post for Jihi Elephant? Learn more here.

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5 Effective Ways For Students To Study Smarter

Are you one of those students who tend to while their time away till the exams looms on the horizon, only then trying to cram a year’s worth of knowledge? Do you often find yourself studying much harder than your peers, yet getting lower grades than them? Are you looking to change your ways; in search of better strategies to ace your exams? Well then, you have come to the right place!

The issue doesn’t necessarily lie with your intelligence or retention prowess. You only need to change the way you study. Here are five ultra-effective, smart-studying tips to transform your academic life for the better.

Understand the Concept before Memorizing it

Comprehension is the first step toward smarter study. It may be one of the simplest tips there is; your teacher might have mentioned it quite a few times in class!

However, many students still can’t grasp its importance. And therein itself lies the problem: grasping. Did you know that memorizing without understanding is far more difficult than that with a good grasp of the concept? Go back to the fundamentals if you simply can’t comprehend the advanced theory. It will still take much lesser time than blatantly mugging it up.

Teach Someone to Memorize Better

This is a lesser-known trick with innumerable benefits. Once you understand the concepts, instead of manually memorizing them, teach them to your classmate who barely comprehended a word. You will retain those pieces of knowledge better after a couple of three rounds of teaching.

What’s more, you would also have helped your peers excel! Had each and every one of your peers understood the concept by the time you did? Call your friends over and start teaching them. Admittedly, they might just be bored to death, but that’s what friends are for, eh – a tolerant audience to your many eccentricities?

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Take a Break from Time to Time

You don’t have to keep studying for hours on end without taking a single break. It’s unhealthy, physically as well as mentally. Undue stress has never done anyone any good, and stress levels heighten considerably with continuous studying. Stare at the stars twinkling mischievously bright in the heavens, feel the cool, steady breeze on your face outside the window, and ponder over things other than the next chapter on thermodynamics, for at least 15 minutes after every two hours. Draw up a time table if you have to.

Here’s a little secret! How would you like to study for a whopping 8-10 hours every weekend with more than enough time on your hands for having fun? Study for two hours each in the morning, afternoon, evening and at night before dinner. You will still have a little more than five hours for recreation, excluding eight hours’ worth of sleep. Do the math!

Outsource the more Cumbersome yet less Important Assignments

There are times when students have more work than even the most meticulous of corporate professionals. Instead of letting your homework take a toll on your health, outsource it to one of the numerous assignment editing services in the market.

Browsing through the recommendations and reviews on assignment services will help if you are unsure which editing service to pick. Handing over your less important essays and assignments to such services will considerably reduce your workload, thus leaving you with enough time for actual study.

Start a Study Group with Like-Minded Students

If you thought that a study group was nothing but a bunch of students gathered together to study individually in total silence, you thought wrong. That’s a library! A study group is something more interactive. It is not only a chance for you to clear your doubts but also to organize debates and practical excursions.

For instance, if you are pursuing a major in Geology, go for a picnic on rocky terrain on the outskirts of your city; have fun while identifying the different types of rocks with your study group members. Additionally, you can conduct tests for each other within your group, thus getting ready for exams beforehand.

A few other honorable mentions include the habit of keeping flashcards handy, developing imaginative stories comprising the concepts you learned, and making good use of non-academic reference books. The number of hours you spent studying doesn’t count as much as how much you studied within those hours. Quality takes huge precedence over quantity at any given time.

Finally, signing off with some food for thought. How would it be if you take your stress levels up so high that you fall seriously sick? Working unnecessarily hard and stretching your mind beyond the boundaries of tolerance can lead to unforeseen mental and physical complications. Take very good care of yourself, eat healthily, and stay fit. All that smart-studying you did will go to waste if you end up with a bad headache during exams.

Author Bio

Carol Duke is very keen on teaching students new, effective ways of learning. When not freelancing and blogging on marketing-related matters, Carol enjoys traveling, taking immense pleasure from visiting new countries.

7 Tips for Balancing Work and Studying in College

In today’s world, it’s crucially important to continue growing professionally. For this reason, so many people try to balance work and studying at college.

If you also have chosen this challenging path, you should learn how to cope with the stress to live your life to the fullest. If you are looking for useful tips on how to improve your overall performance and better your state of mind, keep reading.

Establish Healthy Eating Habits

When you immerse yourself in work and studying, you burn lots of calories. For this reason, you should eat healthy food and control your calorie intake. Additionally, it’s important to make sure that your body gets enough nutritive elements to keep functioning effectively.

Doctors and scientists state that individuals who experience physical and mental stress must avoid eating junk food and fast food. Further, it’s highly recommended to increase the intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and superfoods. If you feel exhausted, you should add the following products to your grocery list:

Must-Have Groceries

Blueberries
Olives
Almonds
Chia seeds
Avocados
Spinach
Quinoa

These products contain vitamin E and A, omega-3, antioxidants, copper, magnesium, selenium, and iron. Therefore, if you consume them regularly, you will boost your vital energy.

7 Tips for Balancing Work and Studying in College

Exercise Daily

Only a person, who is physically and mentally healthy, can cope with the balancing work and study. So if you want to be healthy, you have to exercise daily.

It doesn’t matter whether you attend Zumba classes or work out at the gym – be sure that you enjoy the process. The sport will help you to decrease the stress level, and you will feel yourself much better.

Don’t say that you can’t go into the sport because you don’t have enough time. However, it’s not an excuse. You can always find at least 20 minutes a day to make some basic exercises or practice yoga at home.

Get Enough Sleep

Your mind and body require at least 7 hours for recovering after the long day. Further, a lack of sleep can cause anxiety, depression and even more severe mental health issues. So, if you want to live a happy life, you shouldn’t sacrifice your night’s sleep under any circumstances.

Moreover, it’s okay to take a 30-minutes nap during the day. It will not affect your nighttime sleep but will improve your mood and performance.

Spend Time with Friends and Family

Balancing is all about setting the right priorities. First, find your priority number one: your work, studying, family or friends? You need less than a second to answer this question.

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t let your busy schedule ruin your relationship with your loved ones. Further, you should always find a little time to talk to your close people on the phone or to meet them in person. Even if you live far away from your family, you can use Skype or any other services to have an in-depth conversation.

You should understand that the people whom you love provide you with great emotional support. They help you to overcome all the difficulties in your life. If you ignore your family and friends, you will not feel happy while working and studying.

Take Time Management Seriously

Time is the most precious resource, which people have. Do you agree with this statement? Try to imagine that you get 24 precious hours every day. Then, you have to decide how to invest them in building a happier future.

You should learn more about modern time management strategies and apply them to your real life. Doing so will help you to become the best employee and the best student.

The problem is that if you have poor time management skills, your attempt to balance work and study can turn to be a disaster. Further, to prevent the troubles, you should learn how to create an extra hour in your day.

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Work Remotely, If Possible

If you are a waitress or cashier, you can’t work remotely. However, if you are an accountant or web designer, it’s likely that you can perform some of your tasks from home.

Be brave and talk to your boss. You should clearly explain why you would like to work remotely. If you are good at negotiating, your boss will allow you to work from home at least one day a week. As a result, you will get a more flexible schedule and will save a few precious hours.

Don’t Hesitate to Ask For Help

Sometimes, when you have to work and study all day long, it feels like your life is passing you quickly. This is a terrible situation, and you have to find a rational solution.

Don’t pretend that you are a superhero, because you are not. You are an ordinary person, so you shouldn’t feel awkward asking for help.

Do you lack time to walk your dog early in the morning? Well, you can pay $5 to your 12-years-old neighbor, and he will do you a favor.

Do you want to go to the friend’s birthday party, but have to write a research paper tonight? It’s not a problem! You can get help from the best college writing services online.

Conclusion

Professional growth is essential for your success, and it’s a fact. However, there are a lot of beautiful things around you, which makes your life better. Make sure that your work and studying at college don’t take all of your time. Additionally, be sure that you can enjoy all the beauty the world has to offer.

Author Bio:

Daniela McVicker is a blogger and writer with a degree in social psychology from Durham University. Daniela primarily focuses on writing about self-improvement. Additionally, she has authored several insightful and motivating articles like “Making The Right Choices Every Day” and “7 Steps To Open Yourself To New Opportunities & Possibilities”.

Disclosure: This post is a guest post. Another anonymous party authored this guest post. All posts are edited and formatted by Elizabeth Ghekiere. Want to guest post for Jihi Elephant? Learn more here.

3 Useful Ways Students Can Take Advantage of Screen Recording

As a student, a screen recorder may not exactly be on your list of useful apps – but it should be. Contrary to popular belief screen recorders can be a handy tool. If you take advantage of screen recording, it could help you to learn more effectively.

If you want to start to take advantage of screen recording, there are three useful ways that you could begin to do that:

Use Video Calls to Study – And Save Them

Study groups are a great way to learn faster by working together while breaking the monotony of studying alone. But it may not always be convenient to meet someplace to study with your friends. When you can’t get together, use video calls on platforms such as Skype or Google Hangouts as an excellent alternative.

Via a video call, you can not only study together but share notes, and, show each other what you’re doing. With screen recording, you can then record the video call directly from your screen and save it. Having a recording allows you to refer to it at any point – which can help when you’re revising too. well.

Save Useful Online Streaming Videos

Nowadays, there are lots of useful online streaming videos that delve into practically every topic imaginable. Odds are you may already be watching specific videos that may be related to the topics that you’re studying.

Instead of continually streaming online videos, screen recording allows you to save it. It can be used to save any online videos – including live streams or video courses from within certain apps.

Once you’ve saved the video, referring to it will be much more convenient. You could even transfer it to other devices. Moving it between devices allows you to have access to it no matter where you are.

3 Useful Ways Students Can Take Advantage of Screen Recording

Get Help More Effectively

Have you ever been stuck with a particular software or digital problem? However, when you tried to get help but struggled to describe the issue, you’re facing? Instead of using words to describe it, you can use screen recording to capture a video of it instead.

For example, if you’re having an issue writing a report, you could record a video of the part that you find confusing. You can then share the video so that you can get the assistance you need.

By now you should be able to see how screen recording could help you out in many ways as a student. All that you need to get started is a screen recorder Mac or PC.

Once you have a screen recorder, you can explore all of the ways you feel it could be useful. Think of it as a screenshot – but far more effective and versatile.

This post was collaborative. Collaborative writing means that while I have contributed to this post and edited its content and formatting, I am not its original author. By posting this content on my blog, I may receive financial compensation. Want to guest post for Jihi Elephant? Learn more here.

5 Quick Self-Care Strategies For College Students

College life is a mixture of fun, hardship, trouble, and anything in between. Many adventures can take place in the span of years you spent on the tertiary level. Moreover, although you can huddle over these things, you should still not miss the part where you have to take care of yourself.

Any college student can are susceptible to being stressed and perplexed. Even the brightest ones can experience the horrors of academic pressures. Your physical and mental health can be challenged in this particular phase of your life. So, if I were you, I would learn these five quick self-care tips for college students.

This post was written by Layla Parker.

Get Some Sleep

Most college people are quite overwhelmed by a series of deadlines. Each subject can give you a horrifying experience of chasing backlogs on a daily basis. Of course, this doesn’t include the impulsive quizzes and exams that you have to prepare. Otherwise, you’ll get a sure “F.”

To prevent such horrid predicament, a typical college student would burn his nights away from studying. Sleeping is discarded because grades are more important than it. However, is that the case? Well, that’s a big NO.

You see, your systems won’t function if it can relish adequate rest. Certain proofs indicate that sleep deprivation can make you dumb. As a student, being dunce is the last thing that you want to do.

Please take the opportunity to sleep whenever it is possible. Make sure that your sleeping environment is friendly as well. A mattress at the right price can immediately improve the conduciveness of your bedroom.

5 Quick Self-Care Strategies For College Students

Surround Yourself With Positive Folks

In college, you will eventually learn that not all people are worth keeping. Not all souls you meet are there to stay in your life. Although you might see it as something harsh and bitter, that’s the truth.

There are a variety of reasons why this social sequestering happens. Sometimes, it is because these people are not just suited for your life. They might come as a burden or nuisance that you don’t want to deal with. Moreover, if you deem it that way, then don’t hesitate to let them go.

You see, you have to keep yourself afloat at all times when you are in college. You don’t need stresses and strains from other people. Your academics are more than an ordeal. Therefore, see to it that your circle brings positive vibes.

Eat Healthily

College is the peak of liberation. You are no longer restrained your parents to the things that you want to do. Of course, this means that you are already free to get crazy with those booze and other concoctions.

However, if you are seriously looking for a way to improve your welfare and survivability, you have to avoid consuming alcohol, cigarettes, and other harmful substances. At best, what you can do is to eat delicious and healthy foods. Fruits and veggies can never be overrated.

Having a healthy meal make you physically and mentally fit. It also makes your body impermeable to common illnesses such as flu and cold. For a college student, a healthy state of mind and body is already a treasure.

Keep a “Me” Time

Not all the time you need to socialize with other people, especially in college. I was very aloof in college, despite having a set of friends that I get shy with. I just find solitude as a way to relax and gather my composure.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that I would lock up in my apartment and stay there as a bummer. Instead, I give myself a five or ten-minute break without anyone bothering me. The moments that I spent in solitude are vital because they gave me a room to motivate and inspire myself.

Leave the Campus

No. I am not saying that you need to drop your degree and slack off. We are not made to be quitters. Sometimes, the best way to relieve us from overload and stress is to set our feet away from the premises of our schools.

Except for exceptional institutions, many colleges today have an ambiance that is quite pressuring. Of course, being kept on such environment for extended periods will affect your mental and emotional health.

Have a break! Go to your favorite shops or go to the beach so that you can feel the fresh breeze. If not, you can go on a refreshing hike instead. Doing these leisure activities will set your mood anew.

Wrapping it Up

Your college life is crucial. It is the one that determines if you can have a decent chance of surviving in the outside world. However, despite its given importance, no college students should ever waste and kill their lives just to have a degree.

You need to have a break. You need to care for yourself, too. There are very means that can help you succeed in the end part of your compulsory education.

That’s it for now. If you have questions or suggestions, drop them in the comment section below!

Sources: Thoughtco, MindSoother, TheOdysseyOnline

Meet the Author

My name is Layla Parker, the founder of ASleepyWolf.com. At this site, our team is going to bring you a lot of reliable and useful information about sleeping and everything related to it such as the therapies that improve your sleep, the ways of sleeping you should try, all the products you use every day that affects directly to your sleep, your health, and your life.

How to Cope with Test Anxiety | Step-by-Step Guide

It’s normal to feel stressed or anxious about different things that come up in our lives, and having these feelings surrounding tests is nothing to ignore. No matter if you are in grade school, college, or getting your doctorate, test anxiety can affect anyone. Our education can hold a lot of weight, and knowing that something is measuring how much you know is a pretty daunting idea. Wherever you are in your education, know that you’re not alone! Here I’ve compiled some tips and steps to help you cope with test anxiety. You’ve got this!

Before The Test

Tip One: Study

Make a study plan. Prepare and write down your plan of attack. How much time will you spend each day studying? What topic will you cover on which day? Be sure to spread the studying out over time to allow yourself to soak up the information while you are feeling most relaxed.

Tip Two” Relax

Find a way to relax and take your mind off the upcoming test the night before. Maybe a hot bath, reading a book you enjoy, or simply going to sleep early. Taking care of yourself and your mind right before the test will help you be in a positive state of mind and ready to take on the world!

Tip Three: Eat Right

Eat a meal before. Don’t let your test anxiety stop you from keeping your body fueled and hydrated. Drink water, coffee, or tea to help you feel awake and ready to go. Eat a meal that has a good balance of protein, fiber, and fat to keep you full.

Tip Four: Breathe

Before you go in, take a deep breath. Remind yourself that you’ve prepared for this and that you took care of your body and mind to make sure you are ready to do your best work possible. Take one last look at the information if that helps you, but you know yourself best. Avoid this if you think it will make you feel more stressed or anxious.

How to Cope with Test Anxiety — Photo by Brad Neathery on Unsplash

During The Test

Tip One: Stay Positive

As soon as you get your test, take a few deep breaths. Affirm yourself with positive self-assurances such as “I can do this,” “I have prepared for this,” and reminding yourself that your worth does not come from your performance. Close your eyes and take another breath before you open the test.

Tip Two: Look It Over

Before you start answering, flip through and read the question types and understand what lies ahead. This way, nothing on the test will surprise you, and it will help you to realize that you will tackle it one question at a time. Read through the directions, read through all answer choices on each question, and if it is open-ended, take your time. You are smart, and you are capable!

Tip Three: Read It Through

Once you have finished the test, read through it once or twice. Be sure that you answered each question and check your answers again to be sure that you feel confident. Hand in your test with confidence knowing that you did your best.

After The Test

Tip One: It’s Out Of Your Control

First off, you’re done! It’s important to recognize that you’ve completed the test and that at this point it is out of your hands—it is no longer something you can control.

Tip Two: Stay Distracted

Distract yourself if necessary. If you can’t stop thinking about how you might have done, or still feel anxious, distract yourself with activities such as spending time with friends, exercising, or watching your favorite TV show. Try to keep your mind off the test and focused on what lies ahead.

Tip Three: Reflect

Once you feel completely at ease, try looking back and assessing how it all went. Ask yourself, “Is there anything you can do next time to help yourself feel more prepared?” “Were there any tools that helped you, in particular, to retain information or feel more confident about it?” You can also prepare for the next test by coming up with a new study plan based on what worked or did not work before.

Thanks for reading!I hope this helped you as you tackle your next big test. Don’t let your test anxiety win! Good luck, and you’ve got this!

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This post was written in collaboration with Caroline Pitarque Johnson. Collaborative writing means that while I have contributed to this post and edited its content and formatting, I am not its original author. By posting this content on my blog, I receive financial compensation. Want to guest post for Jihi Elephant? Learn more here.

A 3-Layered Study Plan to Green Light Your Education

The fact you’re reading this post suggests you’re struggling to get your head around college organization. Fear not. A shocking number of students feel as though they could drown under that pressure. And, it’s no surprise when you have teachers telling you that how well you do here will dictate your life. Talk about stress! Read on for more on our 3-layered study plan!

3-Layered Study Plan

One of the main things we struggle with as students are finding the time to study. Sadly, that’s about the most critical part of your college career. Even if you attend all the lectures and their extras, not making time to study could see you struggling to survive your first year of college.

But, that knowledge may leave you asking, how can you find the time? If you’re already struggling (and most students are), how can you create space for even more work? It might seem like an impossible task, but trust us; it isn’t. In truth, all you need to do to get on top here is a bullet journal and a three-layered study plan like this one.

Layer 1: The Time You Don’t Have

The blank page is the most daunting thing about starting a bullet journal. How do you even begin to section your life into a workable plan? Well, jotting down the times when you know you’re busy could be a good start. This will help you develop at least some idea of your timetable, and that’s most important of all. So, step one is to create pages which outline everything from your class times, any educational trips you have in the pipeline, and even planned social occasions. After all, meeting up with friends is also essential if you want to keep your sanity. Use a red pen for these areas to show that they’re no-go’s. You won’t need to worry about those hours because they’re taken and accounted for.

Layer 2: The Time You Could Have

Next, move onto the time you could use for study. By this, we meantime which isn’t strictly free but could still be put to good use. You know the type of stuff; lunch hours, commute times. These are periods of your day which are taken, but only loosely. Fill these in yellow. Then, you can leave aside quick-fire study tasks for occasions like these. If you have an activity which will only take half an hour, set it aside and don’t pick it up until there’s a yellow square on your study horizon.

Layer 3: The Time You Do Have

The hard part is out of the way. You’ve separated the time you spend doing stuff in your day. Now, grab a green pen and get into the body of your study plan. If there are white squares left on this journal page, consider using them for your studies. Of course, we all need downtime. Make sure to leave yourself at least one blank space a day. But, the rest of your schedule should be used to get your studying done!

This post was written in collaboration. Collaborative writing means that while I have contributed to this post and edited its content and formatting, I am not its original author. By posting this content on my blog, I receive financial compensation. Want to guest post for Jihi Elephant? Learn more here.

A lot of students feel they are drowning under the pressure. If you’re strugglingall you need to do to get on top is this three-layered study plan!

What is the Minimalist 50:20:30 Budget System (and how to use it)

The 50:20:30 Budget is gaining popularity, particularly among minimalist populations. This budget helps you break down your goal spending into 3 categories making it easier to keep to your budget than a budget which is broken down into 5 or more groups. Keep reading to learn more about the 50:20:30 budget and how to use it!

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What is the 50:20:30 Budget?

The 50:20:30 budget is a simplified budget utilizing 3 categories: essentials, savings, and personal. I have been using this strategy on and off since I graduated high school and it has been the most effective budget strategy I have used yet! It is not only easy to use and simple but encompasses all possible spending without much categorical overlap to worry about. There are no excuses.

50 | Essential Spending

The first rule or spending category is essential spending. This category refers to your bills and any other expenditures that cannot be avoided and occurs regularly. This might include topics such as housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, electricity, internet, phone bill, etc. These bills do not include pleasure subscriptions, or anything extravagant and unnecessary. Remember that your essential spending is half of your income, so spend it wisely!

20 | Savings

The second budget rule is that 20% of your income is to be saved. This might include a savings account, emergency fund, retirement fund, or it might go toward paying off debt. Building up a savings is incredibly essential in case of emergencies, debt issues, retirement, etc. I can personally attest that my savings have saved me, financially, on several occasions! If you aren’t currently saving money regularly, open a savings account and get started today!

30 | Personal Spending

The final rule of 50:20:30 budgeting is that you get to spend 30% on anything else. This includes all recreational or entertainment purchases. This money can be set aside to go on vacation; it can also include clothing, hobbies, home decorating, gym membership, recreational, and entertainment expenditures. Here is where you can go crazy (so long as you remain within your budget) because this category is all you. Whatever your heart desires, this is the part of your budget you utilize to get it. Be responsible, but so long as you remain within 30%, you’re golden!

How do I use the 50:20:30 Budget?

What makes the 50:20:30 budget so successful is the fact that it is minimal and simple. It’s easy to remember the rules, and it’s easier to keep track of, regardless of how you track your spending. My favorite way to track my spending is through Mint. Mint connects to all of my accounts, allows me to set my budget, savings goals, and even pay my bills. I highly recommend checking out Mint, its free!

Another great way to use this budget is to keep an excel spreadsheet of your spending or keep a written record in your planner or journal. Just knowing what the budget is, is not enough, you must now track your spending and be sure to adhere to the budgeting rules.

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The 50:20:30 budget system is gaining popularity, particularly among minimalist populations. Keep reading to learn more about this system and how to use it!

Easy Steps to Create a Stunning Home Study Space

I don’t know about you, but I always found it easier to concentrate when I’m in a pleasant environment. In fact, being comfortable, and having an organized and personalized space around me seems to help me keep my mind focused and get much more done. With that in mind, you may be considering creating a space dedicated to study and work in your home. However, before you do check out the advice below for some help.

Choose A Location

Before you can put in a study space, you need to pick where it will go. You have to be pretty smart about this as well. You want to be smart because you don’t want to be stuck getting distracted all of the time. To this end, an area such as the attic or basement can be the perfect spot. These secluded spaces make it more difficult for people to find you and distract you. This more private space means you will get left alone most of the time to concentrate.

However, before you go ahead with installing your study space, you need to ensure that the area is suitable for long periods of time. That can mean installing basement waterproofing, heat, and light into a subterranean space, or cleaning out an attic room. Also, remember to make your that the floor is sturdy enough to hold the furniture you need.

Easy Steps to Create a Stunning Home Study Space

Pick Furniture

The next step on most folks’ lists when creating a study space is to pick out the furniture that the will need to get work done. Usually, this is a desk and chair and sometimes some books shelves and draws to keep things organized as well. Find your space becomes cluttered fast? Check out these tips.

Make sure that the items you pick are not only fit in with the decor you want but are also comfortable and sturdy. After all, you will spend quite a bit of time in that space. So, the furniture you pick needs to fit the space.

Otherwise, you could end up with a painful back for being in a chair that isn’t supportive of your posture, or even developing RSI if you don’t have your desk at the right height for your computer keyboard.

Add Personal Touches

To finish off your study areas and make it your own it’s nice to include some decorations and personalized touches. What you pick is entirely up to you of course, and many folks are happy enough with a few photos of their family and pets on the desk.

However, if you want the space to have a more cohesive look, you could choose colors that fit in with the broader scheme. Plants in metallic pots are in style this season. Additionally, hanging decorations like the paper pom poms that you can DIY are an easy decor choice.

Follow these tips and you will have the perfect study space to encourage productivity in your studies.

This post was written in collaboration. Collaborative writing means that while I have contributed to this post and edited its content and formatting, I am not its original author. By posting this content on my blog, I receive financial compensation. Want to guest post for Jihi Elephant? Learn more here.

5 Essential Note-taking Strategies & Tips for College

Note-taking is by far the most difficult part of reading for college students. Note-taking is tedious, boring, doubles the time it takes for you to read a chapter, and you generally cannot understand them later. We all know how reading can benefit us. Below are some ways to efficiently and effectively take notes. These strategies will make studying your notes easier and will keep your notes organized.

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Skim

The first note-taking strategy is to skim. I mean two things when I say skim. The first is that I recommend an extremely brief skim of each section before you read them. During this initial skim, take mental note of any bolded or italicized words. These are the words you are going to want to pay particular attention to when you’re reading.

Second, by skim I mean skim instead of in-depth reading. The more important bits of the reading is the beginning and end—the begging and end of the chapter, the sections, and each paragraph. That doesn’t mean ignore the middle bits. Just don’t spend all your time focusing on the middle of each paragraph.

How is skimming a note-taking strategy you might ask? Well when you are spending less time reading every single word, you have more concise, accurate, and organized notes!

5 Essential Note-taking Strategies and Tips for College Students

Utilize Headings

Headings are very important when it comes to note-taking. Headings not only give you a brief idea of what you are about to read, but they can be used to organize your notes based on content. You might try organizing your notes based on headings or a general idea the text focuses on in the section following each heading.

Create Outline

An outline is an easy way to organize your notes as you go. This is particularly easy because most textbooks are organized with headings that give you an outline before you’ve even started taking notes. If you prefer not to outline your notes based on the headings. Create a brief outline when doing the initial scan that makes sense to you.

Color Coordinate

I cannot stress enough about the importance of color coordination in note-taking. Even just alternating colors when you start a new idea can help you to navigate your notes quicker when your studying. Planning Pineapple mentions choosing 5 colors to organize your notes. A different color for headings, subheadings, vocabulary, main notes, and big points. This is an amazing idea that I utilize in my own note-taking.

If you don’t like worrying about colors while you are taking notes, trying highlighting after the fact instead!

Splitting your Page

Another highly recommended way to take your notes is to split the page. Draw a line or fold your page about two inches from the left side. That left column should include cues and questions. The right column is where your notes will go. Then, about two inches from the bottom of the page (or even just at the end of each section), summarize your notes. This strategy is the best when it comes to taking in-class notes, but it can also be used effectively when you are reading your text!

Now that you have 5 more note-taking tools under your belt, you are sure to succeed! Which strategy is your favorite? Let us know if the comments!

How to Organize When You Are Overwhelmed

The New Year is that time of year when everyone begins setting goals. Some of the most common goals for the New Year include losing weight and getting organized.

As someone who loves to organize this puts a big smile on my face, however, many people don’t feel the same way I do about organizing. In fact, they find it dreadful.

A common problem people have when it comes to organizing is they are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. When you feel like this, you have no motivation even to get started. Then, just like that one of your goals has gone down the drain.

You can stick to your goals for the New Year, and you can get organized! Here’s how you can start:

Start with Highest Traffic Area in your House

The entryway is typically the highest traffic area and is usually the best place to start. Analyze what you use every single day. For example, I need my handbag and jacket every day. Our kids need their jackets every day right now as well since it’s winter. We have created a hook system on the wall where it’s easy to hang up our daily items. The kids’ hooks are lower so they can learn to hang up their own jackets. Wall hooks are a great organizing tool to use because they are very easy to use and don’t take up too much space.

Where to Organize When You Are Overwhelmed

Create a Command Center

After your entryway has been updated, work on creating a command center that fits you and/or your family needs. Create a central place where you can manage your mail and calendar. Use a chalkboard or dry erase board for a calendar. Having a visual calendar will help keep your life organized. Even if you only use a digital calendar, establish a visual calendar for your household so that it’s always in front of you. Our household uses the following:

Calendar Dry Erase Board- We write out our calendar on a dry erase board so we can see every day what is going on for the month. It’s easy to update when needed and color code it so it’s organized and easy to read.
Tack Board- This is where we keep photos, kids’ art pieces, important coupons that we want to use.
Magazine Holder– This is used to store magazines that come in the mail.
Hook Holder With Tray- The tray keeps the dry erase markers stored there, so it’s easy to update the calendar. The hooks are used for the kids to hang their jackets there. These hooks are great for key holders as well. Our kids are too young right now to store them there; we’d never find our keys 😉

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Create a Household Binder

Paper still exists in our lives. Creating a binder will serve as a resourceful resource. The binder will become your go-to guide. It will be your Home Bible. It will keep you organized and allow you to become more productive because all of your important resources will be in one place. Time will no longer be wasted searching for documents or wondering what the password is to an account. You’ll want to place it where it can be easily accessed every day, like the inside of a kitchen cabinet or on an office desk. Keep it in the same spot, so you always know where it’s located.

Declutter Your Kitchen

The kitchen is the most commonly used and gathered area of the home. Having an organized kitchen makes things more enjoyable and perfect when an unexpected guest stops by. Depending on the size of your kitchen, break it up into sections: Drawers, Cabinets, and Pantry.

Start each section by decluttering it first. If it hasn’t been used in the past year or it’s broken, get rid of it. Once you have finished decluttering each section, then you’ll want to analyze that space and figure out organizing products to use for that space. If you are organizing your drawers, make sure to use drawer organizers to help keep items in their appropriate space.

Acrylic clear drawer organizers work the best because they give you the best-organized look and feel. They also match well with many different drawers. For the cabinets and pantry use baskets where necessary and label them. Use the same bins for a consistent look and feel. Wicker baskets or white bins work very well. Also, get rid of any type of dishware that doesn’t match your current set-up.

Declutter Your Closet

We wear clothes every day. You should love every single piece of clothing you own; it should make you feel good. When you feel good, you put your best foot forward whether that’s in your work or other areas of your life. Here are some tips to help you with your closet:

Get rid of something if you have not worn it in the past year.
If it doesn’t make you feel good, get rid of it.
If it’s too small or big, get rid of it.
Anything that needs repair (button needing to be sewn, etc.) and it’s been longer than six months, get rid of it.
Color coordinate hanging items starting with the red and move through the rainbow.
Use felt or wood hangers that are all the same to give you a consistent look and feel.

Now you might be overwhelmed by this list and where to start. Start with the first point and then move to the next one. Give yourself a week for each point, and in a month, you will have made a good dent in getting your household organized in the New Year! For more organizing resources, you can visit Organized Marie.

Meet the Author

Marie is an innate organizer and planner. She is a working mom to two with a third on the way and a veteran of Corporate America for ten plus years. Marie is a Fargo native and sports lover.

The Organized Planner was designed for the working mom to help manage and organize personal and work life.

Organized Marie is a place for working moms to create simple, everyday organizing solutions for their home. Every working mom can have an organized, stress-free home.

Want to read more from Marie? Check out these links: The Organized Planner, Organized Marie.

How to Organize When You Are Overwhelmed

How to Boost Productivity Working from Home

More and more people are choosing to work from home. Whether you have a home-based job, you run a business from home, or your employer offers flexible working options, it is important to be as productive as possible. There is an assumption that working from home is easy, but this should not be the case. Working from home suits many people, but others prefer the structure and formality of an office. If you are switching to a home office or you are spending more time at home, here are 3 simple ways to fulfill your potential and maximize productivity away from the office.

Establish A Routine

When you have an office job, you know that you have got to sign in and sign out at certain times. With a home-based role, there is more flexibility, but that does not mean that you should throw routine out of the window.

Most of us work better when we have set patterns in place. Establish a routine that works for you. If you are an early riser and you are more productive in the mornings, start early and tick off the most arduous or complex tasks first. If you do not feel alive until 10 am, consider a later start and work until later in the day.

You may also need to factor in time zones. If you negotiate with clients in different countries or states and the other person’s schedules. Similarly, if you participate in meetings or catch-ups with colleagues on a regular basis, take note of time zones when establishing your routine. If you are not used to working at home, it may take you a few weeks to figure out what works best for you. But you may find that this more flexible approach to working hours suits you perfectly.

Get Your Working Environment Right

When people say they are working from home, it is easy to envision them lying around in loungers with a laptop balanced on their knee and the TV on. The reality is that you are not going to be able to make working from home work for you unless the environment is right. No matter what you do and how much time you spend out of the office, you need an area that is geared towards work. This space should be a place that affords peace and the ability to focus, concentrate, and enjoy some privacy. Spare rooms, attic rooms, and garages can all work well as home offices.

Once you’ve chosen a space, think about how you want to decorate and present it. Choose furniture that will provide comfort, as well as a style. Add touches that will help you feel relaxed, but also energized. You might add houseplants or a scent diffuser machine. If you can, position your desk close to a window, as natural light is proven to increase productivity. It is also a lot more pleasant to look out over fields, ocean waves, or a garden than it is to stare at blank walls.

3 Ways to Boost Your Productivity Away From The Office

Be More Organized

When you work from home, you need to be organized. You can use the same scheduling tools as you do at the office, or you can use a wall planner or an in and out tray system that will enable you to keep track of what you have done. Establish a list of tasks and jobs every day and work on them. For more information about office organization check here, and for more information about time management check here.

It is perfectly possible to be as productive at home as you are in office. Simply apply these tips, and you will be cruising through your to-do list in no time!

This post was written in collaboration. Collaborative writing means that while I have contributed to this post and edited its content and formatting, I am not its original author. By posting this content on my blog, I receive financial compensation. Want to write a post for Jihi Elephant? Learn more here.

How to Create Effective Goals | Includes Free Worksheet

With every new year comes new goals and hopes to achieve these goals. Unfortunately, many of us create goals that never get completed. Why is this? One reason you might not achieve your goals is that the way you wrote it is too vague, not realistic, or has no deadline. This post is all about how to write effective goals that you can achieve. This post may contain affiliate links.

Learn how to write Long-Term Goals HERE or Learn more about SMART Goals HERE.

Define Your Goal

The first thing you need to do when writing effective goals is to define the goal. What do you want to achieve? This is the easy part—getting your idea written down. However, there is more to a goal than just writing it down. Your goals need to be specific, measurable, time-sensitive, achievable, and realistic.

Make Your Goals Specific

An effective goal is a specific goal. If you do not clearly define your goal using measurable terms, you will be less inclined to complete it. Your goal needs to be so specific that it might involve smaller more specific goals to achieve the overarching goal. Read more specifically about these smaller step ladder goals here.

Make it Measurable

An effective goal needs to be measurable. This means that you need to define how you will measure your goal. Are you measuring your goal by smaller tasks or deadlines within your large goal, are you measure with time or an amount? No matter how you choose to measure your goal, measure it.

Set A Realistic Deadline

If your goal does not have a due date, you will feel no pressure to complete it. How can a goal be effective if you are not motivated to complete it by a specific time? Make sure this deadline is realistic and that you have used the specifics and measurements define above to create your deadline. Having a realistic deadline can make a goal that might otherwise not be effective.

Is Your Goal Achievable and Realistic?

How likely is it that you can reach your goal by the dates you have set for yourself? To determine achievability, you must be honest with yourself. It’s common that our expectations are unrealistic, thus, making them unachievable. We get excited and don’t think about how our goal will fit into daily life. It’s often the issue that we set a date that is too soon so that we feel overwhelmed. It’s also common that we set dates that are too far away and we put off achieving our goal, leaving it to the last minute.

Effective goals written in this format are commonly known as SMART goals. They are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-sensitive. Follow this format, and you are sure to have an effective goal!

Now that you know how to write an effective goal, sit down with a pen and paper, and create your goal!

How to Become a Financially Strong Millennial

Millennials live in a time full of financial challenges; there’s no denying that. Whether we are just not trusted, or if it’s because the cost of living is always on the rise. Regardless, it’s a challenge. But, there are ways to become a financially strong millennial. For any millennial out there, wondering how to take hold of your finances, this post is for you!

Organize and Economize

If you find yourself struggling with your finances, then the first tip we have for you is to begin organizing and economizing. Organizing is as precise as it sounds, take to recording absolutely everything that takes place regarding your expenditures or outgoing money and incoming money, all of it. This is for several reasons. The first reason is that it helps to keep a tighter hold on your finances and ultimately stop your spending from spiraling out of control. And second, financial records provide evidence if you find yourself in trouble. My favorite way to organize my finances is Mint. Mint gathers information from all your financial assets, helps you create a budget, and work toward saving goals while providing you with useful spending and income trend information. I have been using it for over seven years, and I don’t know what I would do without it.

One way of organizing your financial information is generating payroll check stubs on a site such as PaystubCreator.net and then keeping them in an organized fashion. You could also be keeping all the invoices you receive, both in the world of bill paying and in the world of income, so that you can always prove you have both paid debt that you owe and have been paid.

Economizing refers to eliminating unnecessary spending and utilizing a budget. Before making a purchase, take a deep breath, and ask yourself, ‘do I really need this?’ and if you do need it, ask yourself ‘is there a cheaper alternative that will work just fine?’ Another way to economize your finances and eliminate splurges is to go shopping with a list, never deviating from this list no matter the deal or discount. It’s hard, don’t get me wrong, I struggle all the time! But it is doable!

How to Become a Financially Strong Millennial

Get Ready for Retirement

Even if your planned age of retirement is well over four decades away, it’s still important to start planning and saving for it now. This is because believe it or not, as millennials, we are in an ideal position to do so (at least compared to past young generations). Starting your retirement fund now is important because your money will grow and accrue interest and the longer it is growing, the more money you will have when you go to retire.

Specifically, what you should be doing is beginning to contribute to a Roth retirement fund option. This is a fund that both you and your employers will contribute to, meaning money will be growing within it whilst you work. A good piece of advice is to match whatever your employer contributes. If your employers do not contribute then it is up to you to save, add it to your new budget!

Now that you have a better idea of how to begin your journey toward financial strength, get going! Start organizing your financial life with the use of budgeting, shopping lists, filing systems, or whatever else works for you!

This post was written in collaboration. This means that while I have added to this post and edited its content and formatting, I am not its original author. By posting this content on my blog, I receive financial compensation.

Moving Costs You Never Considered & How to Minimize It

Are you planning on a big move soon? There may be some costs you have not yet considered! Here are some of those costs and how to minimize them!

In the modern age, it’s not unusual to live with your parents until you’re well into your thirties. A $10,000 deposit would’ve been enough to set you up just a few years ago, but that’s barely a drop in the ocean now. As such, many of us opt to stay at home and save everything we can towards our home funds. It’s either that or jumping into the rental world and kissing goodbye to homeownership forever.

There is, however, one major issue which the savers among us often forget. When plotting out how much we need to save, many of us focus on the amount necessary for our deposits. But, that’s far from the only cost of moving to a new house. When you’re moving out for the first time, you also need to consider moving costs. The expense of moving your home will add up to a fair amount.

Of course, you don’t need to kit your whole home straight away. There’s nothing wrong with holding fire on less necessary aspects, such as the spare room or dining area. But, even when you take things slowly, there are some items you’ll need right away. Without them, your house won’t be a home. Worse, it won’t be a functional space.

In truth, though, even the essentials are sure to cost more than you’re expecting. When you’ve never gone it alone before, it’s near enough impossible to anticipate how expensive the most functional features can be. After all, your parents have always dealt with that stuff. But, to give you some idea, we’re going to look at the more pricey additions, and consider ways you can cut the costs of each.

Moving Costs You Never Considered and How to Minimize Them

Kitchen Supplies

A whisk here, a cutlery set there; surely kitchen supplies can’t cost all that much, right? Wrong. By the time you’ve kitted your kitchen, you’re looking at a hefty price tag. The stuff may not be pricey, but the sheer number of things you need boosts the cost. When you’ve used someone else’s kitchen all your life, it’s a shock to realize just how many things are essential. But, to give you some idea, we’re going to look at a few of the must-have kitchen accessories:

Pots and pans
Cutlery
Crockery
Baking trays
Microwave
Kettle
Whisk
Storage cupboard essentials
Sharp knives
Peeler
Masher

And, oh, the list goes on. Spend an average of $20 on each of these things, and you’re soon looking at insane amounts of money. The good news is, there are some tricks and tips for reducing the sting at least a little.

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The best thing about kitchen supplies is the fact that they’re portable. Each item is relatively small, meaning that you can buy it well in advance and store it without hassle. Buying a bed before moving may not be practical, but you’ll barely notice a box of pans under your bed. The sooner you start, the more you can spread the cost. You won’t notice a small amount from each monthly pay packet, but you’re sure to notice a significant sum going out at once.

It’s also worth asking around friends and loved ones for anything going spare. Most people end up with duplicates in the kitchen, so you never know what you might be able to find free of cost! Maybe even browse the local second-hand stores and garage sales to see what you can find for little to no cost!

Beds & Bedding

The chances are that you’ll also need to stock your new home with new beds. Sadly, bed frames are a lot more expensive than you would expect. Even an Ikea special will set you back a good $200 or more. Cheaper options are still pricey, at around $99. If you spend the bulk of your money one anything, I would suggest that it’s your bed. It may not seem like it, but it’ll be an investment down the line.

The bad news is, if you’re moving a spare room too, you’ll need to buy two beds. You can do the math of how painful that would be. Not to mention that the bed frame isn’t all you need to consider. You’ll also want to think about a mattress and a decent duvet. Then there are pillows and duvet covers to consider. Let’s be honest… it’s getting expensive.

As mentioned above, it’s not always worth cutting costs on your bed. At the end of the day, a decent option now will last you for many years. But, there are ways to lower the initial outlay. If you’re kitting a spare room too, why not invest in a daybed or sofa bed option? These are a lot cheaper, and much more practical. You’ll get a lot more use out of a sofa than you would from a bed which is used occasionally.

Again, you want to pick a high-quality option which will last. But, there are high-quality selections on the cheaper end of the scale. Mattresses pretty much cater for every price range, read about it here and decide which would work best for you. Remember that compromising on price doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality in this instance.

Lastly, remember that you can cut costs on duvets. Quality isn’t as important here, as it’s recommended that you change your duvet every five years or so anyway. Not to mention that many people opt for lighter choices during the summer, such as a blanket or a sheet. With that in mind, don’t be afraid to try cheaper options. It’s also possible to buy cheap duvet covers if you know where to look for them. These won’t impact your sleep quality in any real way, so it’s not worth spending money on top-quality options. Instead, shop around for some bargains, and opt for appearance over quality. That is, after all, the primary purpose of a duvet cover.