What to do Friday Nights Home Alone

Here is the link the to Netflix Movie Night 3 Packs post

Neflix Movie Night 3 Packs

College Graduation Bucket List

Make this the best school year yet: Healthy Habits

You can study as hard as you want, have all the best  supplies, and always have everything scheduled, but if you are not healthy you will not be happy. 

Eating

This is often one area that college students struggle with the most. No one wants to gain the infamous Freshman 15. Here are someways to avoid the extra weight:

• Keep healthy low calorie snacks handy
• Fruit (grapes stay good in the fridge for a while)  
• nuts (be careful of trail mixed filled with chocolate and peanut butter, while filling stay to the serving size)
• 100 Calorie packs
• Dried fruit
• Granola bars
• Do not restrict yourself from everything, moderation is best to keep your sanity
• Drink plenty of water

Sleeping

The one thing no one can seem to get enough of. Studying until the wee hours of the morning is sometimes crucial to fit in other activities and fun. Sleep is essential, but not to be cliche, you can sleep when you dead. 

• Take naps in your longer breaks between classes
• Catch up on sleep on the weekends
• And if all else fails that is what coffee and energy drinks are for

Sleep is important but while you are in college it is not always a reality. 

Exercising

Making time for exercising can be as difficult as finding time to sleep, but simple things like always taking the stairs can really add up. Here are some tips on keeping up with your fitness:

• Walk! Everywhere, between classes, and on study breaks. Walking is easy and can be used to clear your mind when studying or to take a moment to prepare for tests
• Try in-room these exercise routines.



• 
  

•  They are simple and take anywhere from 5 minutes to 25 minutes
• Take the stairs
• Take advantage of your college's athletic centers. They are usually free and have a ton a equipment   

Socializing

College socializing, even in high school, can be stressful. Socializing can be nerve racking for some people, here is how to make it a little easier

• Leave your comfort zone
• that being said in certain situations (parties, alone with someone you are attracted to, etc) be careful. Have fun but also realize the risks
• Don't be too cool for something
• if there is a campus sponsored dance that seems lame, but you don't have any other plans, go! Who know it could be great!
• SMILE!
• If some one makes eye contact with you, smile back
• People are more open to friendly faces
• When you find a seat in class don't sit completely alone
• Be apart of clubs and organizations, they are great places to meet people with similar interests

 

Now you know how to be healthy and happy this school year!

Love Always,

Rach

Make this the best school year yet: Apps and Technology

Technology is a must, especially in college, to keep track of assignments, appointments, deadlines, and everything we are all expected to remember. 

Technology can be very expensive, but these apps and are FREE :)

Learning Tools

Calculators and unit converters can be very helpful in class (depending on where you are I guess), but those cell phone tools have been around almost as long as cell phones have been. These apps are tools as well, but a little more new age. 

Dictionary.com App

Great app! Every word at the touch of your finger. Perfect for in class when your professor uses a word you are unsure of or when you are you are reading and you are too lazy to pick up a real dictionary. 

Oxford Grammar and Punctuation App

An app that I should probably use more of. Ideal for writing papers and need a quick check.

SparkNotes App

Anyone who has had to write a book report and had no clue what to do has probably been to this website, and now they have and APP!

Apps to Organize Your Life

You may know every word in the dictionary, but if you have know idea where you are going you are screwed. These apps will help with your schedule, make files more accessible, and help everything be all in one place.

Calendar

I personally, LOVE Google, so Google calendar is my choice of online calendar, but any online calendar that will sync with your phone, tablet, and computer is the one you are looking for. 

File Sharing

Evernote, Google Drive, and Skydrive (by Microsoft) all make it possible to open, edit, and share files on you phone, table, and computer. 

Make this the best school year yet: Studying

Studying is more than cramming in all the reading possible in one night, it is a way of learning. Studying is something that needs to be done most days of the week to properly store the information that is needed. While studying takes effort, if it is done efficiently, it can accomplished in many short sessions instead of one long cramming session. 

Study also needs to be done in class as well as out of class. 

In Class:

oTake Notes

§  In class, from professor’s website, you need something to look at when you are out of class

o  Write down assignments

o  Ask questions

o  Pay attention

o  Come prepared

Out of Class:

o  Do the readings & homework

o  Email professor questions about readings or homework

o  Keep up with the syllabus

o  Pick one day as your “homework day”, the day that isn't quite as busy as the rest that you devote extra time to catch up on readings and assignments  

o  Use a planner and to do lists

o  Find out the type of learner you are and plan your studying accordingly

This graphic is from onlinecollege.org

Planner and To Do Lists Printables!

This planner printable was featured in the post Scheduling & Task Management. But I thought I would repost these for easy access.  




Print this double sided, cut in half, then hole punch to put into an 8 1/2" X 5 1/2" mini binder. The final product looks like this. (minus the monogram on front cover)
                         

Print these to do lists to stick in your planner, folder, or on you bulletin board.  

If you have problems downloading these PDFs email me at lovealwaysrach@gmail.com. 

Love Always, 

Rach

Make This The Best School Year Yet: Scheduling & Task Management

Scheduling and Task Management is especially important for college students and students with busy schedules. Keeping track of assignments, meeting, and deadlines is crucial for being successful. I use a few things to keep me in line.

My Planner

Traditionally I have bought planners in the past, but this year I decided to take a crack at creating one. This is what I came up with.  
To print this planner I printed double sided onto cardstock paper, cut each page in half, then 3-hole punch it. This could also be printed onto regular paper, but I thought cardstock would hold up better. This printable is created for 8 1/2" X 5 1/2" mini binders. I bought mine at Target and bought section dividers and blank paper in go in it as well.                               

 
 

To Do Lists

Another task management must have! A simple to do list on a post-it will do, but these cute printables make tasks a little more fun. 

This double sided to do list is is perfect to slip into a folder, hole punch into your planner, or clip to your calendar. 



This single sided to do list is perfect to to pin on your bulletin board to keep in a note book.

Bulletin Board 

A bulletin board is important for keeping invites, notes, business cards, and random thoughts in plain site. This year I bought a 4 pack of Board Dudes 12"X12" bulletin tiles from Jo Anne Fabric for less than $7. 

Online Calendar

In a world that depends on the internet and phones, using an online calendar is a must. I personally use Google Calendar. I can access it on my phone, tablet, and computer, it will send you alerts and syncs on all your devices. It is a great way to be able to look at your calendar hour-by-hour and schedule things accordingly.  

  

Love Always,

Rach

Make This The Best School Year Yet: Organizing

For your classes and leadership positions:

A simple folder and notebook is all you really need. 

Your Folder:

Your Notebook: 

• ALWAYS date your notes for future reference
• Use sticky notes to mark chapters or units for easy reference
• If you have daily assignments or reading notes use a notebook with more than one subject to keep sections separated
• TIP: There is no shame in using wide ruled notebooks if you have larger hand writing or like having more space between your lines   

Color coding your folders and notebooks to be the same for each class could be helpful, but necessary. 

If you are taking a course with a lot of hand outs or you like having your papers and notes specifically organized a BINDER is a good idea. 

Your Backpack:

You need 3 main categories in your backpack:

• Your Pencil Pouch
• Pencils (and sharpener if you are using wooden) and lead
• Pens (Black and colored)
• Big Eraser
• Highlighters
• Flash drive
• Extras: sticky tabs, sharpies, calculator, lip balm
• TIP: for a cute small cosmetics case

• Beauty
• Compact
• Lip balm
• Tampons
• Extra pair of panties 
• Mini deodorant
• Bobbie Pins
• Pony Tails 
• Extras: lip gloss, mascara
• Just in Case
• Pain killers
• Small, low calorie snacks
• Water bottle, filtered for the water fountain 
• Umbrella 

Your Desk

• Label everything
• Keep everything non-desk related things off
• Use jars, cups, bins, drawers, etc to keep things as organized as possible
• Keep a garbage can next to your desk to avoid a pile up of unneeded things

Love Always,

Rach

Make This The Best School Year Yet

Organizing  

Scheduling & Task Management

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Love Always, 

Rach  

Hello!

Hello! And Welcome to my blog Love Always, Rach. I am Rachel! Your host, advice giver, idea trier, and hopefully your new friend! I am writing this blog to share ideas, feelings, and information to hopefully make your life easier, inspire you, and to be inspired myself. Follow my blog to follow my journey through college, the beginning of adulthood, my love life, and dealing to my family and friends. It won't be an easy ride but hopefully it will be and interesting one.

Love Always,

Rach