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*boops your nose* send this to ten blogs you think are lovely and deserve a boop on the nose <3

aww thank you!!

March 2024 Reading List 📚🎧☕

Done:

All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr (Decided to re-read this before giving the mini-series a go. A brilliant but sad book imo.)

Current:

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (I gave up on the original version and switched to the English translation, Russian literature: 1, Me: 0)

To-read:

48 Laws of Power by Robert Green (I still haven't gotten around to finding the time to read this)

Beartown by Fredrik Backman ( I decided to restart reading it, as I was quite busy at the time and lost the hang of the plot)

女人就是要有钱/ Women just want money by 刘忆如 - Liú Yìrú (My first proper book in Chinese! This book appears to be a self-help/financial advice book and judging by the plot description it's definitely worth reading - I have an online copy for those interested btw! The target audience seems to be for those in their 30s so I guess I'm getting an early head start)

Classes have started so I'm taking this month easy whilst I try to ease back into my usual routine. But do feel free to recommend me some books for April please!

Getting back on track after a slump

Life is non-linear as it turns out. Sometimes you're doing great and then all of a sudden you're completely thrown off and are struggling to get up.

It happens to pretty much everyone, and even though you can't really prevent a slump from happening, you can use this advice to help you get back on track

Make a list of what you have to do Sit down, make yourself some tea or coffee and just start writing what you need to do. Missed a deadline with that unfinished paper? Write it down, add a sub-bullet to ask for an extension/send an email explaining your circumstances to your professor/teacher (they're also human, chances are if you notify and explain the situation to them, they will do their best to help you).

Break down those tasks into sub-tasks. By simplifying and breaking down your tasks into smaller chunks you're not only making it easier to do them, but you're also helping yourself get rid of some anxieties or fears since that task now looks much easier and more manageable to accomplish.

Update or create a new routine. Whether your routine contributed towards this slump or not, its always good to update your routine as you grow and change. What may have worked then may not necessarily be appropriate or helpful now. We humans are creatures of change, it's only natural that we outgrow our past.

Take it slow when easing back into your routine. Going too fast can actually be counter-productive, because you should be naturally aligning yourself with it and not forcing yourself into something you're not completely ready to follow. Trying to overcompensate generally isn't a good idea, as putting extra pressure on yourself especially when you're just trying to get everything sorted may not end very well.

Write down your goals and dreams to help you get motivated. It may seem difficult and at times pointless to try and get back on track, and reminding yourself about your goals and aims can definitely encourage you to take the steps to getting back on track or starting over.

Talk to someone about what you're feeling and going through. Your school or uni have counselors and people who can help you get through this if you require help. You don't necessarily have to jump straight into it, just start with a friendly email briefly explaining the situation and go from there.

This kind of went a bit off the rails. Just a tad. At 11pm Tuesday night I decided that I at least should try to do the exam, as the textbook material was challenging but doable. And how else can I improve if I don't challenge myself? Yes, the past semester was not easy, but my chinese level had significantly improved. Sure, I could repeat the semester and study the higher class material by myself but I owe it to myself to do what's best for me, not what's easier.

So I signed up, only to find out that my name wasn't on the exam candidate list when it was announced on Thursday evening and after going to the office to ask our coordinator about this on Friday, it turned out that I don't even need to do said exam because I can automatically go up if that was the level after my level last semester.

The next several months are going to be most likely filled with non-stop studying but honestly I think I'll be able to handle it.

Yes, I'm probably not going to be at the top of my class (some of my new classmates are apparently preparing for hsk6!), but as long as I put in the work and keep going, I have a decent chance of doing okay, which honestly all things considered is pretty great.

So we got our class schedules today and it turns out that I'm in the same class as I was last semester, probably because I requested to stay in the same level in the survey that was sent out without actually thinking everything through.

To be fair, this survey was before I got my exam results back and honestly I think did pretty well for someone who was initially placed 2 levels below because I didn't do too great on my placement test (although I evidently redeemed myself on my swap out test).

This upcoming week we're allowed to try out other levels before either staying or doing the swap test to go to a higher level, which I might do if the next level is manageable.

I feel like the main issue is that despite being really out of my depth in the beginning, this level ended up being challenging enough, but what if the next level is too difficult and this level is too easy? I don't want to waste this semester, but I also want to thrive rather than try to survive and constantly be stressed out about studying.

I guess the upcoming week shall reveal its secrets so there's not that much sense in obsessing over it. I for one will try to make the most of the remaining days before classes start.

Have a good weekend everyone!