Eden Jade Grey

7 Ways to Prepare for a New College Semester

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By this point in the summer most of us have our class schedules for next semester. If you want to start the new school year as prepared as possible, it’s a good idea to start organizing and planning as soon as you can. While you need your syllabi to complete a detailed study and assignment plan, you only need to know your general schedule to do the things that I discuss in this blog post.

1. Prep that planner

This semester is obviously a lot different from previous semesters because of COVID-19. Many of us don’t know if dates, classes and events might change in the future which makes it hard to completely prep your planner. However, there are still a lot of things you can do right now that will be easy to change or add to as things progress.

If you think your class schedule might change, hold off on writing in your class times until you know more. You can go ahead and add these important dates to your calendar instead: first and last day of classes, financial aid disbursement, tuition and fees due date, holidays & other no-class days, any vacations you know you will be taking.

2. Locate your classes

This is especially important if you are on a new campus (like I am) this semester. Figuring out where your classes are by physically walking from one classroom to the next will make your first day so much less stressful!

Following your class schedule – walk from one classroom to the next based on the actual route you will need to walk each day. This will also give you a feeling for how much time you need to get from class to class.

3. Sign in to your school’s learning platform (Blackboard, Canvas, ect..)

Whatever learning platform your school uses, I suggest you set up your account and familiarize yourself with the layout of the website right away. Starting about 2 week before classes begin, I start checking in regularly to see if any classes have gone live (many professors will post the class a full week before class starts).

Often times when they do this there will be helpful information about textbooks, class expectations, and other information you may need to know. You will also have access to the syllabus which will give you a wealth of information about the class.

4. DON’T buy your textbooks ahead of time

This is a mistake the over-preparer in me has made a few too many times. I love to enter the first week of classes feeling 100% prepared, but textbooks are one of the few things that are a good idea to wait on. Unless you know without a doubt that you need a certain textbook or material, hold off on buying them until your teacher gives you more information.

5. DO buy your school supplies and set up your notebooks/binders

As soon as you know your schedule you can set up notebooks and folders for each class. If you have access to any syllabi, use them to further prepare. If you’re using paper notebooks, set them up with labels and integrate them into your organization plan. If you’re using an iPad or tablet for note taking, set up your note taking app with notebooks and folders.

Here is an example of how I set up my classes this semester using the Goodnotes app:

6. Organize your work space (physical and digital)

Something I always do before a new college semester is reorganize and purge EVERYTHING!

Haha no, but really.

Having a clean workspace that fosters a productive and motivated mindset is so important as a student. Before classes start, do a big purge both in your physical workspace, and digital. Rid your devices of any unneeded documents and organize the ones you do need into relevant folders. You can even clean up your browser’s bookmarks and refresh your wallpaper.

Make sure the physical space that you intend to work is clean and clutter-free. Establish a designated area to keep all of your school materials. Purge old notes, textbooks and other school stuff that you don’t need anymore. Doing this will help you stay organized and will reduce your stress overall.

7. Get into your rhythm

I highly recommend you start going to sleep and waking up as if classes have started at least (ideally more) a full week in advance. It can be so hard to change your sleep cycles, and feeling fatigued during the first week of school make things much more stressful.

Additionally, start thinking about things like your meals and groceries. What are you going to take for lunch each day? What are you going to make for dinner when you don’t have a lot of time? How and when are you going to make time for self-care and exercise?

Waiting until you’re “in the thick of it” is not the right approach if you want to be successful. Your health and wellness are essential in supporting the hard work your brain is doing in school – make sure that you take care of it and set yourself up for success by planning things out even if it seems excessive.

Productive Day in My Life – My First Ever Vlog!

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Hello!

As you can probably tell from the title of this post, I decided it was time to film a day in my life, vlog style. I personally love watching these types of videos. Seeing other people be productive motivates me so much, and I hope this video does the same for you.

Click below to see the video!

As always, thank you for your support!

How to Be Successful in Online College Courses – Adjusting to COVID-19

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Wether you’ve taken a hundred online classes or none, this school year is going to look a lot different than normal for most of us. Many classes have been either partially or fully moved online, and there will be unforeseen challenges to overcome over the next few semesters adjusting to this new normal.

Because I have often had to work full-time while in school, my schedule each semester is usually at least partially comprised of online courses. I have excelled with this format of learning in the past, and thought I would share with you the tips and tricks that have made me so successful.

Tip #1: Communication is key

Just like with a regular class, asking questions and clarifying things you’re unclear on is integral to success.

It’s easy to feel like you might be pestering your professor if you email them with every question you have, generally this is never the case though. If you’re worried about sending too many emails, keep a short list of questions you want to ask and send an email with all of them at once. Never be afraid to reach out if you have questions, your teachers are there to help you.

If you have a proficient professor, they will not only be prepared to stay in contact with you via email, but will expect it.

At the beginning of each semester there will usually be discussion boards aimed at getting to know your peers, 99% of the time your teacher will be the first to introduce themselves.

I recommend taking this first assignment seriously; try to get to know your professor the same way you might in an in-person class. This will help you and your professor establish a relationship early on, helping ongoing communication feel more comfortable.

Tip #2: Check your email everyday

Check your email every single day.

I’ll say it one more time for the people in back, CHECK YOUR EMAIL EVERY DAY.

This is the only way that your professor can communicate with you. To get the most out of your class and stay on top of things, you need to religiously check your email for announcements, reminders, and other communications.

I recommend connecting your school email to the “mail” app on your phone so that everything goes to one platform.

Tip #3: Schedule it out – You NEED a routine

As soon as you get your syllabus, start scheduling. Look at the course load, your available time and energy and set your schedule.

Depending on your available time, this may look as specific as scheduling blocks of time devoted to that class on certain days of the week.

For others it could be more general. For example, you might decide that you need to spend 6 hours a week studying for a certain class, and simply plan to spend two, three-hour sessions studying each week whenever you feel like it.

When deciding this schedule be honest with yourself. The only person you’re going to let down is yourself if you don’t block of adequate time.

Whatever your method, do it as soon as you get your syllabus, write it down somewhere you’ll see it everyday, and do your best to stick to it.

For online classes I recommend adding 1-2 extra hours to your estimate of the time needed to do well in the course. Because you aren’t going to class, you will likely need to make up for this lost learning time with more studying.

Tip #4: Schedule those tests

Chances are, the second you get your syllabus, you will know when your exams and quizzes are. Add them to your planner now.

It’s easy to lose track of deadlines in online classes because you don’t have a teacher reminding you as frequently. You have to be your own boss in order to be successful. Set reminders, write it somewhere big an obvious, do whatever you need to do to ensure you don’t lose track of upcoming due dates.

Tip #5: Create a space that motivates you

This may seem obvious, but it is essential. If you don’t have one already, get yourself a desk and turn it into your own personal study-getaway. Make sure your space sparks joy and make you feel motivated.

If you don’t have space for a desk, try using a lap desk instead.

This one is a great option

While this isn’t as ideal as a traditional desk, it will still give you a designated work space to do your homework and study.

Tip #6: Avoid distractions

This may also seem like an obvious one, but it is extremely important nonetheless. If you do have a home office, make sure it’s free of distractions. Create your space away from the TV and in an area where you can shut yourself out from distractions. Utilize the do not disturb feature on your phone. Eliminate anything you know easily distracts you (we all have something).

Tip#7: Don’t expect it to be easier than traditional in-person classes

One very common myth I would like to debunk is that online classes are generally easier than in-person classes. While this may be true for some, for the most part, online classes are just as difficult. In fact, because they require you to be more disciplined and accountable than traditional classes, they can often be harder for students.

Go into your online course ready to take on the challenge, and start strong. Set yourself up for success, and hold yourself accountable!

How to Refurbish Your Old Furniture on a College Budget

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Recently, we moved to a new home. I am one of those weird people who loves moving because it presents the opportunity to redecorate my space.

Originally, I wanted to replace most of our old, dated and run-down furniture with newer pieces. I’m so glad that we decided to refurbish our old furniture instead. Doing so allowed us to achieve a custom look while saving hundreds (maybe even thousands) of dollars.

I used to think that repainting furniture would be extremely difficult because you had to sand, prime, paint and seal ever part. Shout out to my close friend Freya for debunking this myth for me and showing us how it’s done!

Apparently, chalkboard paint is the way to go… no really… for everything. If you are a DIY’er, this is a life changing hack.

Chalkboard paint requires no sanding and no priming. It is perfect for painting over furniture that has a lot of flaws because it’s thicker, buildable consistency naturally fills in most scratches and marks.

Using chalkboard paint allowed my friend and I to paint seven pieces of furniture in a matter of days.

Today I am sharing how you can paint any piece of furniture and take it from drab to fab in just a few hours.

Materials:

  1. Chalkboard paint in the color you want (I mixed gray and black for the charcoal color you see)
  2. Top-coat (I used matte clear, but they also offer a glossy finish)
  3. Synthetic brushes
  4. Paint stir stick
  5. Plastic to protect the ground where you are painting
  6. Replacement knobs (if applicable)

How To:

  • Set up your work station
  • Clean off whatever you are painting
  • Stir or shake the paint very well
  • Apply 2-3 coats (I usually do 2 full coats and then a 3rd coat for touch-ups)
  • Apply top coat
  • Attach any knobs or hardware that you took off

Tips & Technique:

  • The paint will dry very fast. Work quickly, blending the paint with your brush as fast as you can. This will help avoid any clumping or irregularity in strokes.
  • When applying the top coat, don’t over-brush. It clumps very easily, so less is more.

Where Have I Been? Moving, Grieving, Big Changes.

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Hello, hello!

Today I am here to both update you and reflect on recent events. This blog post is a little unconventional for my site, but I’m here to write it nonetheless.

To start, we moved.

Skylar and I are finally living in the city and are getting settled into our first home together without roommates. I’m enjoying being in Boise so much, and look forward to spending the next several years here.

Let me know in the comments if you want to see a house tour soon on YouTube!

I planned on kicking off my YouTube channel during this moving process with some moving vlogs, but “life” happened and that had to be put on the back burner.

For those of you who know us, or at the very least follow me on Instagram, we have two dogs and love them with all of our hearts.

Only four weeks ago we took our youngest pet, Jackson, to the vet because he developed a concerning limp that wasn’t healing on its own.

Jackson was an extremely active dog who loved to play fetch and run as fast as he possibly could. We assumed his limp was a little sprain because we noticed it after playing one day. At the very worst we thought it could be a torn ligament or broken bone.

For the first few weeks we watched it and tried to keep him off of it as much as we could. When it wasn’t getting better, we decided to get a professional’s opinion.

We couldn’t ever have prepared for the news the vet gave us after we took him in. Jackson didn’t have a sprain or broken bone, rather he had osteosarcoma, a very aggressive bone cancer. At only 4 1/2 years old, we were stunned by this news.

Jackson had shown no signs of illness until now. His appetite was fine, temperament playful and stubborn as ever. He had tons of energy and was showing no signs of cognitive or physical decline.

The vet offered us the opportunity to get a second opinion, which we took. The radiologist confirmed bone cancer though, and the vet explained that it was only a matter of time until he broke the bone most affected by the cancer. Since the cancer had already spread to his chest, there was no possible treatment, such as amputation.

The vet who worked with us during Jackson’s final days was so kind and helped us come to terms with the fact that we needed to let him go as soon as possible, before he broke the bone. If he did break the bone, he would have to be put down immediately because he was already so sick.

We spent the next week grieving and trying to give Jackson the best end to his short life that we possibly could. We watch his health and happiness decline rapidly over the course of just a few days. By the end, we found comfort in knowing that letting him go would at least relieve the pain and discomfort he was experiencing.

When the day came, we were expectedly emotional. We only had 7 days to process what was happening before we had to put him down. To say this situation was devastating and unexpected would be an understatement. Letting a pet go feels like you are going against everything in your entire being. The only thing that made us feel confident moving forward was our vet’s reassurance that we were doing the kindest thing for Jackson by letting him go peacefully and relatively pain-free.

The process was horrible. It was truly painful. However, being there with him until his very last moments and being able to control his pain brought us so much closure.

I am still often overwhelmed by grief, but have been so lucky to feel a magnificent amount of love and support from friends, family, acquaintances and even strangers.

I share this story not only to explain why I have been taking some time away from blogging, but to reflect on loss and the fragility of life. Loss seems to bring people together through shared experience, emotion, memories and empathy.

When I first found out about Jackson, I could feel myself shrink. I wanted to hide and isolate and wallow in my feelings. The best thing that I did for myself though was to let me friends and family be there for me. I didn’t suppress any feelings. I just let the emotions come naturally, and let myself heal slowly.

There is a huge hole left where Jackson used to be, but we are filling that hole with all the love we can muster for our babies who are still here.

We will never forget you Jackson. You are so missed and so loved.

Beach Day Essentials

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I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but it’s summer out there.

Man, it is hot!

With that being said, I thought it would be fitting to share my essentials for a day in the sun. This could be a beach day, river day, lake day, backyard day… really any day that I plan to spend sunbathing and relaxing!

1. A good towel for lounging & drying off

Behold, the Sand Cloud towel!

I have seen ads for these adorable towels all over Instagram for years, and finally made the investment. They are advertised as “sand resistant” so they don’t cling to whatever they’re laying on top of.

Turns out, that feature is incredibly convenient and sort of amazing.

Plus, they come in so many different designs and sizes!

The main reason why I love Sand Cloud is because of their mission statement:

Sand Cloud is on a mission to help save Marine Life. As we continue to grow our brand, we are focused on creating the best sustainable products in the world. From packaging to products, everything is designed with sustainability in mind.

Sand Cloud’s mission statement

To seal the deal, 10% of profits are donating to saving Marine Life, which is truly amazing!

If you are interested in purchasing your own Sand Cloud towel, I have a discount code for you!

Just use the code EDEN.J.GREY575 at checkout for $15 off your purchase of $50 or more!

-Just FYI-

I only work with brands that I support and believe in. I will never promote a product that I don’t absolutely love.

2. Fish-safe sunscreen

Sunscreen is key.

At this point, I think we’re all educated enough to know how important sunscreen is for preventing cancer, wrinkles, keeping tattoos bright and fresh… so many things.

I wont waste your time preaching about the miracle that is SPF, but I recently learned that normal sunscreen is incredibly toxic for sea life.

I had no idea the negative impact that sunscreen had on Marine Life, but this sunscreen by Sand Cloud is fish-safe and blends into the skin like a dream!

3. A good book

The book I’m currently reading is called The Miniaturist, and it is fabulous! Based in the 1600s, it’s a great read about a young girl who marries a wealthy man in Amsterdam.

This book is taking me a very long time to read because I have also had my nose in other nonfiction books recently, but I’m looking forward to finishing this one during my next beach day.

Whatever you’re reading (or listening) preference, I think that having a story to follow while you pass the time by is an absolute must! If you want to use your time in a more productive manner, you could also listen to an educational podcast.

4. My trusty water bottle

This may be obvious, but staying hydrated while sunbathing is essential. I find that if I don’t drink enough water on a beach day I end up with a raging headache and a bad attitude.

My boyfriend and I both own one of these Iron Flask water bottles and absolutely love them! They insulate just like a Hyrdoflask or Yeti, but don’t have a ridiculous price tag like other brand-name water bottles.

This water bottle is my life. It is literally the sole reason why I stay hydrated every day. If you have a hard time getting in your daily water goal, I highly recommend getting a reasonably sized water bottle with a straw. It makes it convenient to drink water and easier to remember.

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