Eden Jade Grey

School

What’s on My iPad Pro – Digital Note Taking & Planning – YouTube Video

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In honor of a new semester, I am sharing with you what is on my iPad Pro! For more videos related to digital note taking and planning, give this video a thumbs up.

Products mentioned:

Music Used:

Song: LiQWYD – Just Smile Music provided by Vlog No Copyright Music. Creative Commons – Attribution 3.0 Unported Video Link: https://youtu.be/CfAqlRoDxaI

Affiliate Disclaimer // This video is not sponsored! All opinions are my own. I receive a small percentage of purchases made through Amazon links on my channel.

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!

Why You Should Take a Gap Year

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In honor of my recent graduation from the College of Southern Idaho with my Associates of Science, I thought it pertinent to share my thoughts regarding the infamous gap year, and going to community college.

A little background…

As many of you may know, I didn’t start out at community college. In fact, I went the classic university route and even lived in the dorms straight out of high school.

When I attended Oregon State University (OSU), I was only 17. I was very good at math in high school, and decided that I wanted to put that skill to use by pursuing civil engineering as a profession. I felt certain about this path until I actually got to college.

It didn’t take long before I started to fall behind in all of my classes and lose focus (very out of character for me). This was one-hundred-percent because I had no passion for my major. I wasn’t pursuing the right degree for me, and I knew it. After a couple months of “sticking it out,” miserable as ever, I ended up dropping out.

I then proceeded to take a gap “year”… haha just kidding… it was more like 5 gap years.

During this period of time I did a lot of growing up, and learned how to be an adult (sort of). This time away from school was crucial because it allowed me to realize my true calling, medicine.

Wait, until you can’t wait anymore!

Once I figured out that I wanted to be a doctor, the opposite of what happened while I was at OSU began to occur. I was itching to go back to school. All I could think about was my dream, and how badly I wanted it.

I decided to get the ball rolling again and enroll in classes at a local community college where I lived.

Try community college…

Going to community college was the single-best decision I could have made. Not only did it allow me to ease back into my educational career, but it gave me the opportunity to complete my bacc-core for a fraction of the cost that a university would have charged. I paid next to nothing for my first two years of college, and still got an incredible education.

I think it’s nearly impossible to know exactly what you want to do before you’ve had a chance to live on your own out in the world. That is why I’m a huge advocate of the “gap year”. Had I taken some time off right after high school, I could have saved myself a lot of time in the long run.

Many students go to college hoping that as they work through their bacc-core, they will figure out what they want to do. That’s fine and all, but you have to pay for every credit that you take. If you are going to college to figure out what you want to do, chances are you are going to take classes that you wont end up needing for your major. Why not take those credits at a community college where you wont be charged an arm and a leg?

Go when your heart aches to pursue your dream.

College is an amazing thing and can open up so many doors for you.

If you are a high school student, or are a college student worried that college may not be for you, I have a few pieces of advice.

One, take some time off. If you’re questioning your pursuit of a higher education, sometimes all you need is a little time away to figure out why you’re doing it in the first place. What do you want out of your education? Why are you here?

Take time off now, so you don’t have to take more time off later like I did.

Two, go to community college if you want to “explore” your passions. It’s cheaper, and provides more flexibility so you can figure out what you want to do in an academic setting without going broke.

My final piece of advice, if you’re not sure about going to college is: don’t! Only make the commitment if you know that you can’t get what you want out of life unless you go to school. You wont do well or get the most out of your education unless you want it, and you want it bad. So wait. If college is right for you, you will go back when you’re ready.

Why Changing The Way You Write To-Do Lists Can Increase Productivity

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Who else feels like every time they write a to-do list, they only get a fraction of what they initially wrote done, but also do a ton of other stuff that wasn’t initially on the list?

I am a task-happy to-do-lister, and I’ve been doing it wrong all along.

Lately, I’ve taken to a new type of task-tracking. Instead of writing every little thing I can think of (just to disappoint myself later when I don’t get everything done), I write down only the things I must do, and my “top priorities” for the day.

I then write down the other things that come up throughout the day as I get them done. This method of daily planning has an incredible positive-psychological effect on me.

At the end of the day, instead of having a ton of unchecked boxes, I instead have a list of things I actually did do. A list of accomplishments that I can feel proud of.

This method allows me to focus on all of the great things I did that day, why also ensuring I don’t forget to do what is most important.

I decided to design my own to-do list that caters to this methodology. As always, please feel free to download and share as much as you want! I design these templates to be used with technology or printed out, depending on your preference!

Click Here To Download!

Now, don’t get me wrong, there is still a time and place for the more traditional floor-length list of to-do’s. I still do this from time to time when I have an unavoidably packed day, full of things that simply can’t wait (hello, finals!).

Because I am easily overwhelmed, and often spend a lot of time worrying about what I should get done first, I have taken to breaking down my longer to-do lists in order of priority. I order them like this: “must do”, “if I have time”, “it could wait”; that way I can work from the top to bottom of my list with no confusion as to what needs to be done first.

Click Here To Download!

I hope you guys enjoy my second release of to-do list templates!

As always, feel free to contact me directly or comment below if you have any special requests. I am happy to design templates based on your needs and preferences!

Don’t forget that all of my template designs live here on my blog for your convince.