- - ( Just Pretend I Wasn't Gone For Months Guys )

❥﹒♡﹒☕﹒ 𝗼𝗳𝗳-𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲-𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 ( just pretend i wasn't gone for months guys )

between smartphones, computers, ipads, and screens everywhere, sometimes i feel like i have pudding instead of a brain and i need to engage in three-dimensional activities that don't involve staring at pixels all day, here are some ideas to get in touch with creativity and real word again.

𝟭. drawing and colouring ( 🎨 )

whether it's drawing landscapes, characters from your favorite series or simple doodles, putting the pen on the paper relaxes me instantly. if you are not good at freehand drawing or you're simply lazy, there are many coloring books for adults with mandalas (my personal favorites) or animals/natural landscapes, also online you can find many drawings to color that you can print. in discount stores you can find packs of colored markers at a great price, after all we don't need to be professionals.

𝟮. puzzles and diamond paintings ( 🧩 )

i recently discovered diamond paintings and i'm obsessed with them, on amazon you can find many sets with amazing designs and composing them is really relaxing. having something to focus on for a few hours a day is really essential, puzzles are perfect for this purpose too.

𝟯. reading and writing ( 📚 )

this is a more challenging activity, when we are burnout the last thing we want to do is use our brain, but reading a good novel or writing down a few pages in your journal can distract you from the present moment and give you a bit of a break while still keeping you productive. every second spent reading or writing is a second invested in your personal growth.

𝟰. experiment with outfits and makeup ( ✨ )

i have a lot of clothes but zero outfits, my favorite activity is decluttering my closet, putting away things i don't wear anymore and experimenting with new styles. also sitting at my desk and trying new makeup that's different from my usual eyeliner and mascara, i find it so fun and it's a great way to reconnect with my image when i've spent a month stuck in my room studying.

𝟱. cooking and baking ( 🧁 )

i'm not a good cook and i've burned more cakes than i care to admit, but i have to say it's terribly fun and therapeutic, especially if you're cooking with someone. u think anyone who cooks professionally hates having a second person in the kitchen with them, but when friends make a cake (ugly but tasty) and then eat it together in front of a cup of steaming tea - now, now, that's real therapy.

𝟲. working out, dancing, doing yoga ( 🩰 )

put on some music, dance in your room, follow your workout routine, lay out a mat and do stretching or yoga, connect with your body after being locked in your mind, physical activity is very important to keep your mind fresh ( mens sana in corpore sano ). if you can, go to a park, or an open space, just be careful of excessive stimuli.

these are some of the things i do, feel free to comment on your de-stressing activities.

Do you have any tips to focus for a longer period of time?

i'm definitely not the best person to ask for advice on how to lock in and focus on studying (i'm a serial procrastinator), but i have some tips to share too.

always make sure you have met your needs: slept enough, eaten enough and are hydrated. concentrating when you are not in good shape is almost impossible.

change the scenario: in desperate moments i go to the library because i get distracted much less there than in my room. if you don't have the opportunity to go somewhere else, try to remove all possible distractions. remove everything you don't need from your desk, throw away your phone, disable notifications, silence/delete all non-study-related apps.

approach the subject as a global conversation, rather than by individual topics. make connections, associations, draw maps that help you visualize what you are doing. making studying interactive and dynamic keeps attention span higher.

find a method that allows you to absorb the greatest amount of information in the shortest time possible. for me, for example, it's listening: from podcasts to videos on yt, listening and repeating are the ways i learn fastest.

don't stress. if you see that it's not your day, forget it, you'll only end up frustrated and in burnout. as an alternative, try doing some sport, a walk, something that moves your body, absolutely NOT social media. you will end up even more guilty and tired than before.

hope this was helpful 💓

you don't want to look back and wish you had worked a little harder.

you become very dangerous when you realise you can do it alone

stop letting your potential and life go to waste because you don't feel confident or ready enough

Hi dear, I saw your post about moving to Spain and it resonated with me a lot. I moved away for uni 15 years ago — from Japan to the US. I remember it being so exciting and intimidating. If I could give you any advice it would be:

1. Don’t beat yourself up about being apprehensive. This is going to be one of the biggest transitions of your entire life! But know that you’re going to a place where you will find many people experiencing something similar, and there are systems in place at your university to support you and your community of foreign students as you make that transition.

2. If you wake up in the middle of the night, don’t think about it. Everything is 100x scarier at 3am. Give yourself permission to put those thoughts aside and mull things over in the morning when life is more concrete.

3. Make a conscious effort to say goodbye to your home, family and current life. Many people put this off because it’s difficult and sad, but it ultimately helps you process and move forward. Revisit all your favorite spots before you leave, eat your favorite foods from your home country, plan special time one-on-one with your family members (and take pics! I did this and hung them in my dorm room), and even have a going away party if that’s an option for you.

Ultimately, you are going to have an incredible experience abroad (I think you know this too). You’re very brave to venture far away on your first journey and you will be so thankful for it. I hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy your time at home before your new adventure begins :)

thank you so much for your kind words, this kind of changes can be really scary, but are definitely what enriches our personality and culture 💖 thank you for sharing your story