#if you regularly procrastinate writing I highly recommend

[late-to-the-fandom]

#if you regularly procrastinate writing I highly recommend #writblr #writing encouragement #writing advice #also just regular advice

[owlf45]

How do you stay so concentrated to write such long chapters? Coming from a procrastinator

I'm a very obsessive person so when there's a deadline about something I even sort of care about, I can hyperfocus on it like a motherfucker

Part of learning how to sit down and write for long periods of time is building habits. It's so easy to get distracted or fall off, especially in the first hour— I hate the first hour of every writing session. I highly recommend writing a little bit every day if you want to finish a chapter, because once you get a flow started, it's much easier to jump right back into what you were doing.

Have a plan! Even before you begin your chapter, have an end goal, or have certain things you know need to happen in the chapter. Part of procrastinating means you waffle around, get stuck on a certain scene, and in trying to figure out what to do with the rest of the chapter, you end up on a Google spree or doomscrolling on your socials and forget about writing entirely.

Additionally, you literally have to practice your ability to sit down and write. And it's hell! I've been consistently writing since I was 12-13, and it took years for me to build a tolerance to sit down and binge a 5-hour writing session. It's really, really hard. It's a skill I had to develop. You can't just 'turn off all distractions' and suddenly be able to concentrate on your work, you have to train your brain to be able to sit down and do it. So if you've only ever written for half an hour, keep doing that regularly, and then bump it up to 45 minutes, and then an hour, and then an hour and a half.

Finally: as a hell of a procrastinator myself: make fake deadlines for yourself, and get started early. Those are my two tactics to psych out my brain. I know people make fun of me for not managing to keep my promises, but making promises yields at least a 70% update rate which IS BETTER THAN NO CHAPTER AT ALL! It helps to have an audience or a friend to keep you accountable too.

Lastly: please respect your boundaries while you practice concentrating on your work. Again I'm an obsessive freak who used to regularly write on 16-hour binges and once wrote 90k in a week so I could update a fic every day for a week. I'm a disaster and comparing yourself to me is neither healthy nor realistic, I'm the type go into a writing coma, snap out of it at 9pm and wonder if I ate that day. Not healthy and not the glamorous perspective you should have!! You can learn how to write long chapters in reasonable time frames (not week long binges) at your own pace that respects your boundaries! Please in fact do that!! For my sanity!!!

#okay im getting off my soapbox #sorry if this wasnt the answer u wanted to hear lol #writing is literally a skill and unfortunately like a muscle you just constantly have to train it #even if that just means getting up and going on a little walk!!! #or in this case!! even if it just means opening your doc and writing three sentences #my asks

[solarsavoy]

🏅😈 !!

Thanks for the ask! 💙

🏅 What is something you recently felt proud of in regard to your writing (finished a fic, actually planned for once, etc).

I recently started changing up how I do things for my regularly posted fics. As most know, I'm a notorious procrastinator. One of the things that helps me write a 7k+ word chapter in just about a single day (expecting Magic Shuu ch5 to be like this tomorrow, and LIR ch 26 on Friday because I haven't even started that one yet 😑) is that I'll write out a synopsis of events. This makes it so it's easier to visualize where the chapter is going and I can make "edits" to make sure everything is included and covered even though I haven't actually written it yet. I'd rather just stop procrastinating, but doing this makes it so I stress less about hitting a writing block because I already have a list of events laid out. I highly recommend it. I've had much less trouble with writer's block lately because of it, and it tends to get the creative juices flowing a lot easier too.

In some of my posts, I'll mention in the end notes "unused lines". I usually get those from these synopses as I visualize what happens and they come to me and when I hit a block, I just focus on adding more details to the synopses, but not everything plays out the exact same way, like the unused lines. In the moment, they sounded good, but when I got there, I just couldn't use them. Not with it sounding natural. Anyway, I'm very proud of this because it's like a workaround for writer's block, and I'm really hoping it helps when Kristmas Karma II starts up. God, please don't let me put it off until the last second because I'll be writing like crazy 24/7 just to keep up with posting daily... sometimes multiple times. Oh, and the pictures. 🙄 Because my muse is fucking nuts. Oh yeah, and... *glares at tuuli. She knows why.* At least we're starting it now instead of later, lol.

😈 Is there anything you enjoy doing that you think your readers hate?

I don't necessarily do it on purpose, but as a firm believer in following the story no matter where it goes, this sometimes leads to "bad endings", and sometimes I really love when it ends up tragic because I wonder how the readers will react. I do worry some people dislike me for it though. I mean, I like happy endings too, don't get me wrong, but everyone likes happy endings (except Hazama). When you have a bad ending, you find the readers that truly love the story over readers that just want a happy ending, and the prior tend to read a little closer, in a way. I'd say my work is generally divided into thirds. 1/3 is sickeningly sweet happy stories, 1/3 is horribly tragic, and the final third is left up to interpretation (i.e. In the Shadow of Death and ASR are technically here). I won't give examples of the happy/tragic ones because I feel those might be spoilers. 😏

Feel free to send in asks! I'll be answering anything from the WIP Wednesday ask game linked on my pinned post every Wednesday all day Wednesday! Feel free to ask the same questions again as well, because I feel like a lot of the answers will change frequently. ^^ Have a good day everyone! And thanks again for asking, bismuth. 💙

#solarsavoyasks #WIP Wednesday #ask game

[kilodalton]

How I went from writing semi-decent X-rated fanfic to writing for $$$

I was thinking about making this post for a while, but held off bc 1) I didn't want to get hate, and 2) procrastination ftw.

Also 3) I couldn't think of a good title for this post (I can never think of good fanfic titles either so hey at least I'm consistent lol), and while the one I chose does sound like a crappy ad, lol please bear with me.

First the obligatory About Me: I started writing fanfic about 10 years ago when I was a new mom and had just started my pharmacy degree (in the US, it's a doctorate and a lot of work). I was pretty miserable at that point in my life and fanfic was a wonderful outlet for me. After I graduated, I unfortunately let a lot of fanfic things slide (sorry about the half-finished-years-old fics, I *will* get to them I promise lol) as I completed postgrad training, had another kid, and started my career.

It was around that point that I realized that yes, I did have a well-paying career but 1) HELLO STUDENT LOANS and 2) kids are $$$$ and 3) wtf I just wanted more money OK is that a crime.

So I started reading a bit about income/money/stuff and they recommended a few things. The main points were that to increase your cash, you can either decrease your expenses or increase your income. I mean DUH, but it actually helped seeing such an obvious statement in black and white.

I had already reduced my expenses and felt like reducing them more would compromise my standard of living. So making more money it was! I knew my job wouldn't provide it, so I was looking for other opportunities.

I had heard about a couple of different freelancing websites, and the one that stuck with me was UpWork. I decided to test it out, maybe I would be qualified for something there.

I found A LOT of writing jobs listed. Like A LOT. In so many different niches it boggled the mind. I settled on medical writing for obvious reasons, but they all wanted "real" writing experience which I didn't have (lol somehow I don't think fanfic pr0n counts).

Anyway, so here's the meat of this post. I made my OWN writing experience. Mainly by writing a few articles on Medium (which is free to post on), and one unpaid oped for a medical website that had been advertising for unpaid writers. I knew I wanted PAID writing gigs at this point, so my unpaid articles on Medium etc were on similar topics to the ones I knew I wanted to get paid to do.

I also took a little time to learn about SEO - search engine oriented - writing. Basically it helps your writing be found in a google search, which a lot of websites obviously want.

At that point, when I applied for writing jobs, I could tick a few different boxes: YES I had writing experience (I could attach links to my Medium articles in my applications) and YES I was familiar with SEO writing.

The main stumbling block was how much to charge. That one is tricky and highly variable. The nice thing on Upwork is that the client often has a budget, so you can look at it and decide "yes that is OK" or "OH HELL NO LMAO." It's up to you. I certainly charge some clients much more than others (like 3x as much) simply bc I know they are willing to pay it. And I certainly undercharge others I have a soft spot for (one of my clients is a Navy veteran, and I support the military, so I gave him a steep discount).

Anyway. Fast forward almost 2 years. I have had about ~30 different clients, and regularly still work with about 10 of them. I have weekly contracts with 6 different clients, and write/review/edit around 20 articles a week. I do it in my spare time, after work or on weekends, but it has increased my income by about 30%.

I have even shut off my Upwork visibility at this time, because I have gotten to the amazing point where I keep getting requests and have no time to handle more articles lol.

My clients are all in the medical field because that's my specialty, but they range from personal blogs, to vitamin companies, to an addiction rehab center, to a chiropractor's office, to support websites for various chronic diseases.

Anyway. I started off writing fanfic, and eventually managed to turn my writing into something quite profitable. I know a lot of people are budding writers here so wanted to share my story for inspiration/in case anyone wants a similar path. That is all.

Feel free to send an ask if you have questions!

#writing #writing for money #writing for a living #being a writer #yes i am a professional writer wow that sounds weird

[takiki16]

I want to ask a question and I want to preface by saying no shade whatsoever and that I’m genuinely curious. I’m making the assumption that you work in law by some of your tags but you’re also co-writing this amazing story and I’m just like... how?????? I’m a nurse and when I have time off I have zero brainpower to think of anything worthwhile that’s not porn and here you are living this dual life like it’s no jam. I just wanna know the secret.

Hi!  First off, thank you for your lovely comment on INAIED, the serotonin from reader feedback is part of what keeps me going XDDD

Second of all...to answer your question... I have exactly ZERO things together about my life, please don’t assume that I am anything but an anxious ball of nerves, but I guess it boils down this way? 

(more under the cut so rambling doesn’t get too long)

1. About 5% the gotdam revenge bedtime procrastination.  I regularly get about 30-40 minutes of AMAZINGLY concentrated creativity around 11pm- 1am every day during which I pound the keyboard like a hamster on meth (this is when most of my longer tag rants get written).  I pay for this by hating the world in the morning.

2. About 5% just me being really, incredibly privileged.  I don’t want to get too specific about myself irl, but my job pays enough for me to be financially secure, which means I have less anxiety and more creative leisure.  My apartment is tiny, but my only roommate/dependent is the cat. I also have certain amount of agency over my schedule and a certain amount of flexibility and built-in limits as far as hours - I can and have worked until I have nervous tremors, but if XYZ other people are done for the day, then come back later, counsel.  The nature of my work is that it comes in waves.  When I’m in a slow period (as I am currently), Gallifrey and I try to build up a buffer of pre-written chapters that can tide us over through the next hell period.  (it helps that we had about 5 chapters or so pre-written by the time we first started posting). 

Also, INAIED is pretty much the ONLY thing I’m doing outside of work lol.  I a paint-by-numbers kit months ago that I’m filling in at a glacial pace when I just need to see visual progress for my labor, but other than that...it’s work and the immortal husbands XD. 

3. 90% MY AMAZING FIC TENNIS PARTNER, @gallifreyburning.  SERIOUSLY.  I say this a lot, but I am not joking, folks.  INAIED would NEVER have happened without her.  Those of you pr0nbots who remember me from the Jupiter Ascending fandom will remember that my ONLY other multichapter fic hasn’t updated in TWO YEARS.  And ALL of my other fics are at or under 2k.  INAIED, meanwhile is at 50k+ words AND COUNTING, and that is COMPLETELY due to the wonderful influence of my co-author.

Having Gallifrey as a fic tennis partner means that not only is literally half the work done for me (and tbh more than half of the plot work), I get both feedback serotonin when I send her volleys and NEW CONTENT serotonin when SHE sends me volleys.  She constantly throws out new and amazing plot threads that I can pick up on without much more work on my part - I love it when I read comments that have the exact same reaction to her writing that I did, because SAME HAT!  SAME HAT!  Except I have the STUPENDOUS LUCK of actually sharing the creative process with her!  

I would highly recommend playing fic tennis with a fandom friend - it really is the best way to write MORE and write BETTER. 

#inaied #takiki16 #the old guard #PLS DO NOT TAKE THIS AS ANY SIGN that i am an actual 100% functional adult #i live with the constant fear that my current lifestyle is actually massively unsustainable #and that I am borrowing heavily against SOMETHING in my life whether its work or health or energy #and that at some point in the future it is all going to come crashing down on me #but for now...i am Doing My Job and i am Writing The Thing and FOR NOW they can delicately coexist...for now #Anonymous

[motivationandmid-terms]

Hiya lovelies! I know it’s been a while, so here I am, with a masterpost. I know that school is out, but a majority of this can easily be used for studying on your own! Hope it helps!

*Time Management*

To Do Lists

Bullet Journals

Bullet journals are easy to use because they’re 100% made by you. They can be in notebooks, sketchbooks, or really anything you want. You can just use it to make lists or go even further and plan your weeks/months. I know I personally use one page to keep track of my whole month (which includes my calendar, habit tracker, monthly goals, and bible verse of the month) and then will do multiple to-do lists on other pages. They’re huge in the studyblr community so if you need any inspiration just do a quick search!

My Current Bujo

Simple To-Do Lists

Put the hardest tasks on top or the tasks you want to do the least at the top (you’ll feel less stressed once you get these tasks done)

Put tasks in order of how you’ll do them

Don’t include routine things

I recommend using a habit tracker for this, even if it’s not in a bullet journal

Efficiently Use Your Time

Home Life

Routine! Routine! Routine!

Set time away for certain tasks of the day, and make sure you do them regularly

Schedule studying for 1-hour time blocks

Study for 50 minutes, break for 10

DO YOUR HARDEST/LEAST LIKED ASSIGNMENTS FIRST!

Believe me, if you save these for last, you’re going to worry about them the entire time. Plus, you’ll feel so relieved to end your homework session with easy assignments that you enjoy doing!

Work ASAP, don’t procrastinate

Do your work as soon as you have time, or when you get home. If you keep putting it off you’ll have to rush to get it done.

Spend extra time studying the subjects you have trouble with.

Work on your long-term assignments continually in short tasks.

School

Use the extra time to get caught up/work ahead

Work on your homework right away!

This gives you the opportunity to ask your teacher questions!

If you have a study hall and don’t have any homework, review notes/study/read ahead

If you miss school make sure to get all the assignments and notes

Get notes from 2-3 people, some people forget parts of notes and some parts you may not be able to read

Organize

Write down all assignments and their due dates!

Planners are really good for this!

Write down the dates and times of practices, meetings, etc.

*Goal Setting*

Start by making a list of your most important goals

Put your goals somewhere you’ll always see them as a reminder

Reach your goals! If it was tough, look at what was wrong and revise the next time!

After you finish a goal, replace it!

Evaluate your past goals to see if they were too hard or too easy, then adjust

*Study Skills*

Memorization Tricks

Acronyms

Rhymes

FLASHCARDS!!!

Where/How to Study

ORGANIZE, PLAN, AND PRIORITIZE!

Find a quiet place to help focus!

Music Helps People So Here’s My Favorite Studying Playlist 

Try to study in the same place.

Straight-backed chairs, well-lit areas, and fresh air are great for study spaces!

Make a study kit.

Ruler, pens, pencils, paper, erasers, paperclips, note cards, a calculator, and highlighters! It’ll help you focus as you won’t ever have to worry about needing anything!

Keep your workspace tidy!

I know that whenever I’m about to sit down and study I wipe down my desk, light a candle, and make sure I have my study kit.

Reading to Learn

Read review questions before starting your assignment

They usually highlight the most important parts of your reading, which will help when it comes to the work

Use a variety of material to learn from

Write a small summary highlighting the most important things you read in your own words

Use photos, charts, and illustrations to help understand

LOOK UP WORDS YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!

DO NOT be ashamed to look up a word you don’t know. In the long run, this will help you understand the reading and increase your vocabulary!

Listening and Notetaking

Use abbreviations and symbols

Listen for key phrases

“This is important” and “Don’t forget this” are pretty dead giveaways that you’ll need to know it later

When told something will be on a test, take note of it!

I know that with my chemistry notes, I’ll put little stars by the info. until I rewrite them as a note to myself, but after I rewrite them I use a little sticky note that literally says “WILL BE ON TEST!”

Stay alert and ask questions during class!

If you have questions but don’t want to ask in front of a class, make note of it and then ask your teacher after class!

Use pens/pencils that won’t smudge!

The absolute worst thing for me is writing gorgeous notes and then moving my hand slightly and then having it look like I took a hammer to all my stationary on top of my notes.

Mark pages with the page #, subject, and date.

Keep same-subject notes together!

I like to have notebooks dedicated to each subject! But you could easily get a multiple subject notebook or use a binder with loose leaf paper (I do this for Chemistry, and highly recommend it!).

Use margins of paper to ask and answer questions in class.

So, that’s it for this post loves! I hope you enjoyed and hopefully it’ll help some of you! Thanks for taking your time to look through, have a fantastic day/night!!

#studyblr #studying #tips #masterpost #study motivation #notes #Note Taking #study #have a beautiful day #senior #high school #keep going #i believe in you #you are amazing #Thank you for existing #school tips #school #motivation

[toomuchsky]

y’all know this is where i come to brag about myself at this point

i’m sitting here self caring by watching yt vids and organizing and doing my make up (which holy shit y’all looks GREAT. elf cosmetics is amazing and i highly recommend they’re SO CHEAP and SO GOOD. they regularly have free shipping and sales and shit on TOP of like. the most expensive thing being 10 bucks) just for fun. i’m organizing all the shit i bought in india like earrings and shoes and gifts and stuff.

i’m staring at this CORIDAL INVITATION i just got to the GOVERNOR’S house on may 1 to celebrate the start of aapi heritage month which is cool, procrastinating writing my TED TALK and yesterday during coro selection day i was facilitating a role playing kind of session and my questions always started with like “my wife” or “my girlfriend” and this girl came up to me after the end of it and was like “i just came out a couple of days ago and to hear you say that was so amazing” like. i MELTED. absolutely melted. 

anyway i’m gonna continue drinking wine and playing a video game now until my roommate comes home

#don't look at me #text #GOOD! VIBES! ONLY!

[bujo-ie]

Hi!!!! Congrats on 5/6k💞 I hope you don't mind me asking what your tips are for newer Studyblrs/gaining followers?

hi anon! i’m currently answering this question under very dire circumstances-i have a nine page essay due for my harshest teacher tomorrow that i haven’t started and i’m going to bed in about twenty minutes! but it’s okay nbd lmao

this ask! it’s really not up my alley, because, as i’ve said before, i have no clue at all how i’ve reached this high of a milestone. i literally have THREE posts right now that are actually relevant to my studyblr and one that has 150+ notes for being #aesthetic. my posts with the highest notes aren’t even relevant to the studyblr community, but rather the figure skating obsession that i’m trying (see: failing) to get over. so honestly? no idea.

i will, however, tell you what you can do to gain more popularity (almost everything that i don’t do). this is under the cut because of how long this is (don’t let that deter you from reading this though ;D)

how to gain followers

post regularly, regardless of how “shitty” your posts may be (plot twist: no studyblr post is shitty ok!!)

learn how to use the schedule function. i have no clue how to use it tbh but it really keeps you on track if you have a lot of content that’s done and edited and all but you just lose track of posting time (this unfortunately, doesn’t work for me, someone who has zero content)

learn how to tag well! i know people put me in their tags (which is soooo flattering thank you so much!) but i typically don’t check it that often (for some reason my tag hasn’t been working when you search tumblr? someone halP) so i would suggest people who, of course, have a big following, check often and, most importantly, are willing to reblog posts from smaller studyblrs (sad to say not many, but i know @studyblr does)

as much as pictures are very aesthetically pleasing, i highly suggest writing masterposts or lists of tips and other stuff! i know that’s the type of content that i’m both interested in actually reading and putting on my blog, so that’s a definite reblog on my part. i will typically even save these in my drafts for future reference since i am hopeless at tags.

pictures are great, but are easy posts for insta (studygrams), and i find that tumblr is more useful than insta for the exact purpose of finding resources and tips instead of just aesthetics

langblrs: lists of vocab. think outside the box for this too; recently i reblogged a list of spanish vocabulary for the cafe. i can’t even tell you how interested i was in it, it was nice to see the words i knew being grouped differently and also have the opportunity to learn newer words

be active. don’t worry so much about how good your content is, or even how much-i think the fact that you are promoting and spreading any type of content is enough to keep the studyblr community going. often times i see a lot of studyblrs posting that their dash is dead and that they’re trying to go on a following spree. follow those posts, follow more people, and reblog more things. 

QUEUE THINGS. the queue function saves my dumb ass during the weeks where i really need to get to work and cannot afford to go on tumblr at all and also when i’m not on studyblr content. unfortunately i still find ways to procrastinate on tumblr though so whoops

get yourself involved in the community. this can be done in a number of ways:

be open to friends and new studyblrs! continuing on with the “getting involved with the community” note, it’s both an act of kindness and also a huge boost to new, small studyblrs for reblogging their introduction post. 

actually interacting with other studyblrs. i know the pain of having to interact, but i have seen the effect of my interactions with others, and it really pays off. i would say that the greatest increase in followers i had (while i was active starting christmas 2017 until now) was when i put out a post tagging over a hundred blogs to come and tALK TO ME and people did!!! and now i’m glad to say not only do i have tumblr friends, but people know that they’re always open to my ask box and are not reluctant to send me asks

doing tags and ask memes. i find this to be one of the best things of having a tumblr, i absolutely love the tags and ask memes. i actually have a bunch of ask memes saved for a time when i am not swamped with work and also my celebration requests. as for tags, it’s a way to get to present yourself to people, so why not?

reminder to always be careful with what kind of information you put on the internet though

challenges. one of the best ways, imho, to put yourself in the heart of the studyblr community. i, for one, absolutely adore looking at peoples challenges, it’s a good way to see progress in their work, expose yourself to more posts, and even motivate yourself to do challenges. although i haven’t caught on with this yet, i do hope to.

put effort in your posts. i know i’m very attracted visually, so i love posts with headers (you can use canva like me and em (@nichestudyblr) do :>)

be patient. results take some time :))

most importantly

remind yourself why you made a studyblr. in all honestly, if the answer to this is for more followers, i highly advise you to just…stop. that’s not the core motivation nor the purpose of a studyblr, and it shouldn’t be for anybody. followers are very insignificant in the long run, as popularity typically is. as much as i love all my followers, i do not-and should not-be losing sleep over whether or not you enjoy the content i post.

that’s all i have! in all honesty i would take everything you just read (if you made it down here) with a grain of salt because i am the exception to a lot of what i just said; i don’t know how i have so many followers in such a short time, but i’m very thankful and love you all! thank you for your utmost support!

back to my essay

p.s. to the anon who sent me this-send me a msg off anon and i’ll follow you! i’m also doing shout-outs for people who give me really good music recommendations so there’s that

#what a long post #why can't this be my essay instead #why do i have to write about perception adn schizophrenia #hOW DO YOU EVEN WRITE AN ESSAY ON PERCEPTION #someone help me T^T #sigh capstone is the end of me #anyway #ask #answered #anonymous #i love how people think i know why i have followers #like m8 if i weren't me i wouldn't follow me lmao

[liamtheocreative]

How To Set Goals For Better Results

I think we all set goals, whether we intend to or not. We all desire certain things in our lives and chose to put the effort towards achieving them. I am no different. I have been setting goals for as long as I can remember. However, I have been doing so with more consciousness and intent in recent years…here’s a couple things that I’ve learned.

Keep The Goals Fairly Vague

This aspect is probably the most important in my opinion, which is why I’m listing it first. In the past I had the tendency to set pretty specific and detailed goals. This is perfectly fine for short term and simpler goals, but for the more long term goals I would highly recommend that you take out some detail.

Life has tons of curveballs to throw at you and your preferences will change regularly. For some of us, your preferences can change day to day. Setting vague goals allows you to have a general destination in mind on your road map to achieving your goal all while allowing variables of life to change your path but not your destination. I’d relate that to road construction and detours, your destination doesn’t change, just the streets that you take do.

A vague goal also allows you to keep from getting discouraged. If you’re specific with your goal then an end result that maybe doesn’t quite meet your goal will bum you out even though you essentially achieved what you wanted. With vagueness, getting to your destination with a slightly different result is still a win and you should be proud. One of my favorite sayings at the moment is, “Sometimes, done is better than perfect”. I love this because I’ve found myself not completing projects and tasks because I couldn’t get them just the way I wanted. These projects end up being trashed with a bunch of wasted time instead of getting something out of it and not considering any time wasted. All I can do now is take those projects as learning experiences and move on to the next one.

Don’t Look Too Far Into The Future

Another trick I’ve learned to setting goals is to not set too far into the future. This life we have can end at any moment. You might not be around in the future to accomplish this goal that was taking the place of another goal you had the time to achieve.

If you set a goal too far into the future it automatically gives you an excuse to put it off and procrastinate time and time again. Each day you tell yourself that you have time and that you can start working on that tomorrow, but when does tomorrow come? In all technicality, tomorrow never actually comes. If you want to set goals for years out that’s your choice, but I recommend setting smaller building goals closer to today that will help get you to the end goal.

Don’t Set Too Many Goals At Once

If you’re like me, then you have a lot of different interests and hobbies that create for a lot of different goals. It’s ok to write all these goals down, but you need to be able to pick out just a couple to focus on solely at one time. The more separate goals you have, the more overwhelmed you become. Remember, there’s only 24 hours in one day. Determine what matters the most and focus on that.

Thanks For Reading!

I’d love to hear your feedback on these opinions of mine. The comments below make for a great place to respond. I’m also all over social media, feel free to reach me there as well.

[taehyung-the-baehyung]

Im on summer break rn and I have one more month to go!! I'm happy that I can sleep in and chill but I'm??so?? bored?? like yeah I can meet up with friends but I do that like 2 days a week and the rest is just ?? ahhh do you have any recs? anything to check out? anything to do?literally I don't care if it's a band, a book, a video, show, hobby or just a freaking baking recipe,, I need stuff to obsess over and I need lots of it ://

WHY IS THIS ME?

honestly, i’m the type of person that has to be learning something. i don’t miss homework and tests or anything, but i miss learning. so i’d say just go learn or do something new. go visit museums, drive around aimlessly and go wherever interests you, learn a new language, etc.! i’ll tell you what i’ve been doing and some other recs below the cut (cause it got kind of long 😅)

fill up my inbox ❣️

• i’ve been learning some html/css over at codeacademy and that’s a great website. i’ve always been interested by coding and i think theme makers here on tumblr are so talented. from the little html i’ve dealt with, it’s very intriguing so i want to get really good at it! i recommend learning coding, even if it’s a little bit. it’s a great job skill and to say you learned it yourself would be pretty cool. @roxiestheme & @magnusthemes are two of my favorite theme makers and a lot of the time these amazing theme makers will have tutorials or learning resources to help you out if you’re interested! 

• i’ve also been trying to learn some korean and keep myself brushed up on my italian, so i’ve been going through resources for both– watching movies and shows (kdramas are a great way to spend time, i tell ya :D). @bitesizekorean & @19tc are two my favorite korean langblrs and i’ve been taking italian for 6 years now so i just generally stick to reading news articles, finding netflix shows that have italian audio, etc. learning new languages is always fun, even if it’s just a couple basic phrases! italian, spanish, korean, hindi, etc. it’s all out there to learn! 

• i used to read a lot when i was younger but now the only thing i read is fanfic…which is perfectly fine, but i miss whizzing through entire books and not even blinking before picking up the next one! i had two months to read but i highkey procrastinated on this one…although finally last night i started a new book and am liking it so far. i recommend making a goal for yourself to finish x amount of books by the start of your semester! currently i’m reading china dolls by lisa see and up next will be behold the dreamers by imbolo mbue

• obviously i write a lot and lately i’ve been motivated by consistently seeing stories that i personally felt were better than mine. i’ve reached a point where i’m writing regularly but can’t see any improvement, so i’ve been doing writing exercises and reading a lot about writing. if you are interested in starting to write i highly highly recommend @writeworld and @lizard-is-writing on tumblr (you can always always always come to me as well! i may not be an expert but i can definitely be a supporter as you start!) i’ve also been reading bird by bird by anne lamott which i like because is really encourages me to stick to my writing and not abandon it out of discouragement (which i’ve done in the past…) i recommend trying to dabble in a new art or continue a passion of yours that you’ve always had! whether it’s writing prose, or poetry, drawing, calligraphy, painting, collaging, you name it– try something new with that creative brain of yours! go find things on pinterest if you need a little spark! moodboard making is also something fun you could try right here on tumblr that’s pretty popular! 

• another thing that is semi related to the one above is journaling! this helps me write everyday, but it also helps me sort out how i’m feeling and why. i’m a very self-reflective kind of person so although it’s always happening in my head, it’s great to have a place to really work through the way my mind works and articulate it. my favorite journals to use are these book journals which take old children’s books or novels and they insert journal pages between the original book pages. absolutely charming if you ask me. BUT i’ve been journaling for years so i have like a million and three filled journals and while i love looking through them, i thought it might be interesting to try out typing them as well so i’ve started one on tumblr, which makes my life easier since i’m basically always on this damn website xD it’s convenient so far, and i like that i can sort through things by tag. but i kind of prefer the physical journals so i might revert to my old ways…

• and lastly, i take only average care of myself. i don’t eat enough (i’m pescatarian and super picky so i’m like 80% sure i’m not getting enough protein) and i only workout when i feel like it (when i’m home anyway, i’m pretty good about it at college since the gym is literally like two feet away…). this summer one of my goals has been to really workout and learn about fitness. i watch a lot of youtubers and read up on basics about how certain foods can affect different parts of your body. tiffanyrotheworkouts have been my go-to at home workouts and abby pollock has been amazing in terms of teaching you about muscle groups and then going into certain workouts to use when you’re at the gym. i definitely recommend trying new things to keep yourself active! take walks by yourself around your neighborhood, go hiking, go for a run, head to the gym, dance around to your favorite music at home. i’ve always been bad at this, but i’m trying really hard to not stay planted in front of my laptop.

other things that are super fun to do:

• bake some desserts

• learn a recipe from a different culture of cuisine

• go to museums (one of my favorite things to do)

• explore your city / town and find those hidden spots that you end up loving 

• go on a bike trail

• find new music on spotify (always keeps me busy for a long time)

• go shopping and upgrade your wardrobe 

• learn photography

let me know what you decide to take on or if you discover something yourself to do! oh and here’s one more:

• talk to your favorite tumblrs! (aka i love interacting with y’all please come talk to me)

#kavya says #damn i went hardo on this #but it was fun #cause now i have a list to follow too #i hope you find something to keep you inspired #anon sarah ☼

[uwp1advice]

How to Go About Writing in College While Maintaining Your Brain Power

As far as I’ve heard, everyone is taken aback by the difficulty of college when they first arrive. I was, too. But don’t you worry, I have a list of tips that’ll ensure things go smoother from here on out. If the copious amounts of writing assignments have your stress levels skyrocketing, then this article is just what you need. Let me help you conquer those pesky papers, and teach you how to sustain your best brain, too!

*Disclaimer: Everything I’ve written is personal advice, so I’m not expecting my tips to necessarily work for everyone. Please read with an open mind and feel free to message me with your opinions or personal tips.*

Tips for Your Best Brain

Eat Nutrient Dense Foods and Eat Regularly

As a Clinical Nutrition Major, I find that what you put into your body for fuel really does impact how your brain functions. Running off of Ramen and Starbucks isn’t going to give your brain much to work with. The ideal meal would consist of 1) carbohydrates 2) protein 3) healthy fats, and 4) fiber. You should aim to hit at least 3 of those 4 requirements during each meal. I guarantee your brain, and your stomach, will be happy when you’re studying in the library for hours.

Sleep! Even if it’s Just a Nap

Sleep is crucial. Whatever you do, DO NOT pull an all-nighter. Your brain needs sleep to process and store information, so staying up until 6 am would be hurting yourself in the long run. Schedule out your work and study time in advance, so you can get some well-deserved sleep. Even a quick nap here and there is better than no sleep at all!

Stressed or Anxious? Head to the Gym!

Exercise is known to boost endorphins and energy levels, which can help combat that overwhelming feeling of school-related stress and anxiety. Also, if you’re brain feels fried from hours of working on your paper or studying for your midterm, exercising is a valid excuse for taking a study break! Not into the gym? Try a brisk walk outside instead.

Limit Your Coffee Intake to Two Cups a Day

In my Current Topics in Nutrition (NUT 11) class, our teacher informed us that the recommended amount of coffee per day is 2 cups. I highly recommend following this advice, as too much caffeine can cause: dehydration, anxiousness, shakiness, nausea, and insomnia. However, if you feel alert and productive without any caffeinated drinks, then this is the best option overall!

Tips for Writing Essays

The Earlier the Better

Writing assignments have always stressed me out the most. In order to relieve that stress, I’ve learned to start working on them way in advance. Starting a paper the week before it’s due will give you plenty of time to write out all of your ideas and make edits before you turn it in. This should result in a better grade and a better frame of mind, as procrastination will only prolong and worsen your stress. 

Brainstorm with Peers, Teachers, or Friends!

Brainstorming is an easy way to help you determine what you want to write about when you’re feeling disorganized or indecisive. I advise you to brainstorm with your teacher, your peers, or even someone unaffiliated with the class. By brainstorming ideas with people, you can pin point what your main concepts will be. Once you’ve figured out your paper’s main concepts, I guarantee you will feel more confident about your writing.

Make an Outline

Outlines aren’t always necessary, but I do think they’re helpful for establishing some organization while constructing the first draft of a paper. When it comes to crafting an outline, it shouldn't be so complex that it includes every little detail that you want to talk about in your paper. Simply outlining the order of your main points, or writing down some bullet points for what you want to talk about in your body paragraphs, is enough organization to help you write your first draft.

Write It All Out

If you have allotted yourself enough time, take a day to bust out the entire first draft of your paper. This doesn’t have to be an exquisite first draft; it will probably look like a frantic flow of thoughts. Literally write down everything that comes to mind about your topic, and don't worry about grammar, structured paragraphs, or fancy vocabulary at this time. Writing down all of your thoughts should give you plenty of material to sort through and edit the next day. 

Give Yourself Time to Revisit and Revise

Starting your paper in advance will give you an ample amount of time to revise your paper before the due date. Sometimes when we first write a paper, our brain will read over mistakes without ever realizing something was off. The longer you have to look over your paper, the better, because you can always find something to tweak and improve. Also, it never hurts to get another pair of eyes on your paper. Try sending your draft to a friend for them look over it before you turn it in.

Get Your Teacher’s Opinion Whenever You’re Unsure

Asking your teacher a question can seem daunting, I know. However, teachers are surprisingly helpful! If you’re unclear on the prompt, the paper formatting, or are unsure if your topic fits the requirements, this is a good time to contact your teacher. It’s better to be reassured that you’re on the right path, than to keep your fingers crossed and hope everything will work out by itself. I’ve found that teachers are usually eager to help students with assignments, so speak up and ask for help the next time you need it!

#uwp1 #advice #college #writing #brainpower #papers

[therabbitandthebard]

Aw thanks for the tag @pearipatetic , I love the story behind your URL and I’d like to get to know you better too! Plus, I’ve always wanted to try one of these soooo

rules: answer the questions in a new post and tag 20 blogs you would like to get to know better.

nickname: Man oh man, I have so many weird nicknames, my friends rarely call me by my actual name anymore…it goes from Syd to Squid to Squidith to Squiggles and on and on. Also sometimes Mom.

star sign: Taurus, and for good reason #momfriend

height: 5'7", 5'8" ish

last thing i googled: fundamentalism definition (bc I’m reading Persepolis in English…imma rant real quick for you book lovers out there, it’s an amazing series of two autobiographical graphic novels about an Iranian girl in the 70’s-90’s and her struggles with war, the veil, independence, identity, rebellion, etc. I highly recommend)

fave music artist(s): My go-to’s are Bon Iver, Amy Winehouse, Childish Gambino, and good ol’ John Lennon

last movie i watched: American History X (bothersome but hella interesting)

last tv show i watched: Orange is the New Black (binging!) and SKAM (rewatching always bc I’m in withdrawal…where is our s4 promo y'all??)

when did you create your blog: I’m not exactly sure, but definitely over a year ago

what kind of stuff do you post: aesthetics and art that please the eye and have underlying substance (whether it be political, poetic, etc.) also poetry and the occasional news/politics/social justice post that needs to be shared

do i have any other blogs: yes! It’s a multi-fandom blog for the webcomic Check Please! the show SKAM and anything by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton & In the Heights mostly) (it’s @quebecoisandangst if y'all wanna check it out)

do i get asks regularly: nope! But I’m always open for a chat, so drop by my mailbox any time!

why did i chose my url: ok imma rant a lil…basically, how I aspire to be is cultured and analytical and open-minded, but in that ambition I sometimes find myself being a pretentious lil shit about it. I hate that almost as much as ignorance, so i’ll make a lil lighthearted jab at myself, making myself aware that what I said/thought was “kind of pretentious” and reminding myself that I am but a smol inexperienced baby seedling and there is infinitely more to learn and so so many viewpoints to consider.

gender: cis girl (she/her)

hogwarts house: proud Slytherin y'all!

pokemon team: haha, I have no idea! I played it once with some friends then deleted

favorite color: depends on the context really, but I do love yellow and pink

average hours of sleep: 4-5 bc I am always writing papers or procrastinating by drawing fanart

lucky number: 3

how many blankets do i sleep with: 3

dream job: a playwright, a multilingual political advisor/mediator or a lawyer

following: I mean, only a measly... 735 blogs...

I tag @wetbreadofficial (even though we’re silent mutuals regarding my SIDE-blog, but still you seem lovely!) @awkward-turtle140, and everyone else! Yes, if you see this, I tag you! I don’t have many mutuals or frequented blogs to specifically tag, but I’d love to learn some more about my followers in general!

[di-sss-learning-engineering]

How to Get a Better Memory Start Here: Ready to Get a Better Memory? Wouldn't it be great to have a better memory? Well, you can! To remember people's names. To memorize school work. To master information related to your job. To always know where you put your car keys. You could get better grades, advance your career, and impress everyone with your brain power. Maybe even avoid Alzheimer's disease. But how? To boost your memory, you need to do two things: 1) improve your brain health; and 2) learn memory techniques. It's amazing how much stronger a person's ability to remember can become if they take this advice to heart. First, improve your brain health. This will strengthen your natural memory ability. Second, learn memory skills. This strengthens your trained memory. The good news is that on this website I've explained all the techniques and tricks you need to know to get started. Recommended by It Works, But You Have to Make the Effort Getting a better body means changing your body by forming new and better habits. A better memory is obtained the same way. You need to form habits that help your brain work at its best. And you need to change the way you learn information. You can't "get" a great memory the same way you can get some better clothes or get a new TV. You can't swap your brain for a better one. It's like getting a better body. If you want to get stronger you have to exercise. If you want to get thinner you have to eat better food (and maybe eat less). If you want a strong immune system, you have to take vitamins and eat healthy foods. Improving your memory requires forming new, life-long habits, and this requires commitment on your part. You must decide whether you are willing to put in the effort to reap the benefits of a superior memory. You think you want a more powerful memory. But how badly do you want it? Are you motivated enough? Playing brain games once or twice a month won't improve your memory. Getting a good night's sleep one night out of seven won't give you a better memory, either. To improve your memory, you have to make these habits part of your regular routine and not procrastinate with this. It also helps if you understand the basics of how memory works. Anyone who wants a strong and healthy body must exercise several times a week for many years. If they lose the habit and stop exercising regularly, they will quickly start to get weaker and their muscles will shrink. Strengthening your natural memory means creating the optimum environment for your brain and adopting powerful new behaviors for remembering. Like anything in life, the results you get depend on the effort you put into it. Your Memory Improvement Action Plan TO-DO ACTION: For a more powerful memory, follow the steps in the box below. If you want a better memory, make these daily habits! 1st: BRAIN HEALTH, Improve Your Natural Memory The brain responds to the environment you provide. If you eat poorly, don't exercise, and miss out on restful sleep, your brain can't operate at its best. And your memory will suffer. To improve the health of your brain, follow the steps below. Make changes in your lifestyle so these become habits: Brain Foods. Eat antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries and asparagus, lean protein such as fish, healthy fats including eggs and nuts, and high-fiber foods like fruits and vegetables. And drink lots of water! It's a winning combination for the brain. Healthy Body Weight. You might find this surprising, but being overweight is associated with memory loss, learning impairment, brain shrinkage, and even increased risk of dementia. Study after study has demonstrated this. So get your weight under control if you can. Brain Games. Play brain games for at least 10 minutes every day. Depending on which games you play, this strengthens brain skills including memory, concentration, problem solving, thinking speed, and mental flexibility. Cardio Exercise. Perform intense cardiovascular exercise several days per week. This stimulates neurogenesis (brain cell growth) in memory areas of the brain including the hippocampus. If you sit hours a day at a computer, consider investing in a treadmill desk. It's not intense cardio, but according to research you'll enjoy a boost to memory, attention, and even longevity. Healthy Diet. What you eat affects your brain power. Too much fast food, soda, and other empty or harmful calories is guaranteed to slow your brain and hurt your memory. Meditation. Benefits of mindfulness meditation include stress relief as well as better concentration, working memory, self control, and long-term memory. Memory Loss. Correct any bad habits or medical conditions that might be causing loss of memory. Take steps to protect your brain against Alzheimer's disease and other age-related forms of dementia. Restful Sleep. Get sufficient restful sleep to consolidate memories and provide mental energy. Modify your sleep schedule as appropriate, and use sleep aids if needed. Stress Relief. A high level of stress impairs learning, memory, and judgement. Manage your stress, first by understanding how stress affects your brain and your health. Then take steps to relieve the stress in your life. Vitamins & Supplements. Take memory-boosting vitamins and supplements as needed to provide your brain with extra nutrients that may be missing from your diet. 2nd: MEMORY SKILLS, Use Memory Techniques A healthy brain is like a powerful, well-tuned engine. But driver training is required to operate the car with ultimate skill and precision. Memory skills are techniques you can use to boost your memory performance to a level you never thought possible. The following are skills you can learn and use for a more powerful memory: Journal Writing. The habit of keeping a journal can help strengthen your memory of the events in your life, also known as episodic memory. Memory Systems. For memorization, use the Memory Systems such as the Peg, Journey, Memory Palace, Name-Face, and Phonetic Number methods. These systems involve using the visualization memory technique. Mental Exercises. Weave memory exercises into your daily routine to strengthen your memory. Mental Snapshots To improve your episodic memory of events, take a mental snapshot of important scenes and special moments. Mnemonic Tricks. Use mnemonic devices such as Rhymes and Acronyms as extra memory techniques when convenient. Speed Reading. Increase your average reading speed, to improve your comprehension and memory of the material. Study Skills. Use study skills during study sessions to retain more of the material. Examples include Whole/Part Learning, Reducing Interference, and Recitation. (Especially reciting out loud to another person.) Continually improve your brain health and memory skills listed above, and your memory should grow stronger and stronger over time. Begin today to improve your life in these areas. Study and learn, then make them into lifelong habits. The Most Powerful Memory Technique The "memory systems" based on the visualization-association technique are the most effective memory improvement methods I have ever seen. Once I started using these systems, I was shocked by how well they worked. If there is one thing you take away from this website, learn to use the memory systems!! More than 2,000 years ago, the Roman orator Cicero and other masters of memory were fully aware of the two facets of human memory - the natural memory and the trained memory. From the Rhetorica ad Herennium, published about 90 B.C.: There are, then, two kinds of memory: one natural, and the other the product of art. The natural memory is that memory which is embedded in our minds... the artificial memory is that memory which is strengthened by a kind of training and system of discipline. The most powerful memory techniques in use today were known and used by ancient Greeks and Romans and were used widely throughout the Middle Ages. Ironically, most people today are unaware of the memory systems that everyone back then were using. We seem to have forgotten the techniques that everyone used to know! At least today we have science to back up the use of these techniques. For example, the Dual Coding Theory of memory has shown us that verbal and non-verbal (image) information is processed through two separate pathways in the brain. Fortunately, memory experts such as Harry Lorayne and others are helping to popularize these methods once more. If you search through Amazon.com or other online retailers for "improve memory", you'll find numerous how-to memory improvement guides. Lorayne's twist on memory techniques and terminology were among the first I was exposed to, so I tend to refer to them frequently on this site. I highly recommend his two books Super Memory, Super Student and The Memory Book for their clear explanation of the basic memorization systems. Compared to the ancients, we do know quite a bit more about improving and protecting natural memory through improved brain health. And the memory techniques, though not widely known or taught, are still available for those willing to take the time to learn them. Is It Normal to Forget? Our brains were designed to forget. Even the smartest person doesn't remember everything. Forgetting protects the mind from becoming cluttered with trivial details. Researchers at Stanford University's Memory Laboratory showed that the more subjects forgot competing memories, the less work their cortexes had to do to recall a specific one. So a certain degree of forgetting is completely normal. So the idea that forgetting is somehow "abnormal" is a myth. In fact, there are several other memory myths that many people assume are true. But some people (like me) seem to forget too much. Remembering a doctor's appointment or your friend's telephone number isn't clutter. You need to remember those things. One of the main reasons why we forget things is that we have trouble retrieving the items from memory. The information is there, but we can't find it because we are missing the cue. Fortunately there are ways to create these cues intentionally whenever we want to remember something. That's why I built this website. To help you learn powerful habits and techniques for creating these mental cues and for strengthening your brain power in general. Free HTML5 Brain Games - Play Online Below are links to the free HTML5 Brain Games on this site. Play these games online anytime with no restrictions. These games work on desktop computers and tablets. They do not require the Adobe Flash Player. To play, click the "HTML5/Mobile" link on the game page. As I mentioned, HTML5 games run well on desktop computers and on mobile tablets. They do not require any special plug-ins to run. They even work on smart phones, although some of the games (such as backgammon) may look too small on a phone. The games above have both an HTML5 version of the game and a Flash version. Go to the game page, then choose which version you want to play. To play the HTML5 version, click the HTML5/Mobile link. To play the Flash version, click the Small, Medium, or Large link or Very Large button. Many of the free online games on this site require the Adobe Flash Player plug-in to run. The HTML5 online games do not. The HTML5 games should work right away for you, no plug-in needed. The HTML5 games should work in most browsers and platforms automatically. If you have trouble running the Flash games in your browser, try the HTML5 games. In other words, no browser plug-in is needed to play HTML5 games. The code, which is primarily CSS and javascript, is built right into your browser. Nice, right? More About the HTML5 Games Adobe Flash games are relatively old technology. Also, they are being intentionally phased out by the major tech companies. By 2020, Flash-based games probably won't work at all anymore. For that reason, I'll be adding HTML5 games going forward. HTML5 games load fast and use open-source technology that works well with modern browsers. There's no logging in, no registering. Just go to the game page and start playing! To learn how to use brain games to improve your memory and brain power, visit the main Brain Games Training page. You May Also Like Like This Page? If you found the page above interesting, fun, or useful, please click the "Like" and/or "Share" button below. Feel free to leave a comment as well. Thanks very much!

[sprucebodylab1]

10 Best Meditation Books for Beginners

Let´s face it. Most of us know how beneficial it is to meditate. Most of us know that meditation is scientifically proven to make your body and mind healthier. That is why most of us want to begin meditating.

However, most of us also keep procrastinating.

For beginners, meditation can seem like it comes so easy to those who do it regularly and impossible to master.

Thankfully for us, meditating is actually very simple and just requires regular practice.

In order to help those of you that want to begin meditating but don't know how to begin, we have scoured the web and looked to our own experience in order to compile this list of the 10 best meditation books for beginners.

This list comes in no particular order of preference.

All you need to know is that if you read any of the books on this list you will have a very solid foundation and will be able to enjoy the benefits of meditation in no time!

Top Meditation Books for Beginners

Source: Bookriot

​THE MIRACLE OF MINDFULNESS: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION BY THICH NHAT HANH

The Miracle of Mindfulness shows up on a lot of lists for meditation books, and for good reason. In this book, Thich Nhat Hanh offers practical suggestions and accessible anecdotes to help anyone learn to practice mindfulness. With a healthy mixture of spirituality and practicality, this book offers practices for every part of your life, from eating a tangerine to washing the dishes.

Source: Choosemuse

10% HAPPIER BY DAN HARRIS

2004, award-winning journalist Dan Harris suffered from a panic attack during a live broadcast of Good Morning America. This book takes us through his personal journey of learning how to tame the voice in his head, along with discoveries and striking facts about mindfulness meditation along the way.

If you’re not convinced of the benefits of meditation or mindfulness, this is the book for you. Don’t expect how-tos and guides, but rather an introduction to the world of mindfulness meditation through an entertaining, first-person narrative.

Source: Nerdy Creator

MINDFULNES IN PLAIN ENGLISH BY BHANTE HENEPOLA GUNARATANA

The most effective way to express something that people understand is to use the simplest language possible. This book is a great introduction to meditation especially if you are new to it or find it confusing.

The focus of this book is in Vipassana meditation (also known as insight meditation). In Vipassana meditation, you cultivate two mental qualities in a balanced ratio — awareness and concentration. Both are needed for meditation.

This book teaches you how to deal with distractions when meditating, what to do with your body and mind, where to sit, and more. If you are someone who needs a detailed yet simple guide on how to meditate, this is the book for you.

Source: Very Well Mind

REAL HAPPINESS: THE POWER OF MEDITATION BY SHARON SALZBERG

The Power of Meditation delivers a 28-day program that covers almost every element of the practice, from the basics (like learning how to properly breathe and understanding posture) to the more advanced (calming the mind and dealing with distraction). The book, written by leading meditation teacher and spiritual author Sharon Salzberg, features 12 meditation practices, including mindfulness meditation and walking meditation.

People who have read the book say that Salzberg does a great job of explaining the benefits and the science behind meditation. They also agree that she offers practical advice that eliminates the frustration many people can experience when learning to meditate for the first time.

Source: Book Meditation Retreats

WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE BY JOHN KABAT-ZINN

This classic book is ideal for meditation newbies, as it covers everything from an easy-to-understand explanation of meditation, free from trendy buzzwords, to simple techniques that you can practice in everyday life. Although it was first published in 1994, the message and practices in this book are, perhaps, even more relevant today. Escapism is everywhere and everyone is, at some point, guilty of it. Whether it’s through classic rituals of binge-watching your favorite Netflix series or endlessly scrolling through filtered lives on Instagram, the message in this book is clear and simple; Wherever you go, there you are. It challenges you to be in the present moment and wholly accepting of where you are, right here and right now.

Source: The Monk Life

THE UNTETHERED SOUL: THE JOURNEY BEYOND YOURSELF BY MICHAEL A. SINGER

We all have an inner monologue that rambles non-stop, all day, every day, like clockwork. This voice is always talking, changing how we pilot our lives, and almost never shutting off. The first step towards a life of freedom and peace is realizing that this is going on, because then you can pause, step back, and view your thoughts from a totally new perspective.

The Untethered Soul is my most recommended book for anyone looking to get out of their own head, transcend their ego, and get a handle on their anxiety in the process. This was the book that helped launch my own journey of self-exploration and mindfulness.

My favorite lesson from this book (that becomes clear quite early) is that your thoughts do not define you, they’re simply outputs of an always active mind.

Source: Men's Journal

ZEN MIND, BEGINNER'S MIND BY SUZUKI ROSHI

This classic text is largely responsible for the explosion of Zen practice in the Western world. Suzuki Roshi sharply communicates the foundational philosophy of the Soto School, elucidating the meditation practice of shikantaza, or “just sitting.”

He transmits the teachings of his authentic lineage through a rhetoric that is simultaneously sparse and elegant, definitive and spacious. “To stop your mind does not mean to stop the activities of mind. It means your mind pervades your whole body,” says Roshi. If you’ve ever wanted to begin practicing Zen, this is the place to start.

Source: Mind Works

HOW TO MEDITATE: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MAKING FRIENDS WITH YOUR MIND BY PEMA CHODRON

Beloved teacher of meditation, Buddhist philosophy and practice, Ani Pema Chödrön offers a “practical guide” to meditation.

The explanations are highly accessible to anyone interested in sitting, even while having their roots in the traditional Buddhist canon. Ani Pema explains how to use mindfulness of the body, thoughts, emotions and sense perceptions to connect with well-being and “live wholeheartedly.”

The author invites us to “Consider that what needs your attention and consideration is your own mind, and how you view […] outer circumstances. You can befriend your circumstances; you can have compassion for your circumstances and for yourself. What happens when you do that?”

Source: Huffpost

A PATH WITH HEART BY JACK KORNFIELD

Jack Kornfield has been teaching meditation internationally since 1974 and trained as a monk in Thailand, India and Myanmar.

​This book is rife with the wisdom and meditation methods that he accrued throughout his years as a monk and teacher. He systematically walks the reader through some of the various challenges that arise in meditation. The teachings he presents have the flavor of Buddhism, but are more or less non-denominational. 

At the end of each chapter, Kornfield offers a technique that can be employed to experientially recognize what he has conceptually outlined. He presents several methods of attention training and offers exercises for cultivating sensitivity and kindness.

Source: Losing Stress

PEACE IS EVERY: THE PATH OF MINDFULNESS IN EVERYDAY LIFE BY THICH NHAT HANH

If you are after a beginner introduction to meditation, you are not going to find a more accessible book than Peace is Every Step. You can easily read it in less than a day.

The writer, Thich Nyat Hanh is a Vietnamese monk, who is a famous teacher and writer of more than ten books.

His writing style flows effortlessly and truly reflects his nature: It’s peaceful and elegant. With some fantastically, simple ways to develop mindfulness in our busy lives.

I only read this four months ago and the main thing I gained is the perspective that meditation can be enjoyable. And through the example of Thich Nyat Hanh, it is possible to become a better person.

Wrapping it up

This list of books will help you a lot if you want to start meditating. I can say I wish I had read any of these years ago.

Having said that, books are great to begin with, but the best way to maximize results is to combine reading with audio.

If you want a quality guided audio meditation practice, you should try the amazing Zen12 meditation program.

It is an amazing program that we vouch for. Plus, they have a free trial, so you have nothing to lose!

source https://sprucebodylab.com/best-meditation-books-for-beginners/

[manage-management]

30% content, 70% fluff and repeat I didn't believe other people when they reviewed that reading this book is unnecessary due to how simply these 12 week year concepts are. Well, I purchased and read the book anyway, and I have to agree that you can get the gist of the technique after reading 30% of the actual book. The rest of the 70% is a combination of repetition of concepts, repetition of tips and tricks, customer testimonials, and motivational preaching. I have read many goal-setting and general productivity books, and to be honest this has been the least worthy read of them all. Try to find yourself a summary online, because the actual volume doesn't add much in terms of knowledge or value. Go to Amazon

A teaser to upsell you to $600/year planning software....pass on this one. The book was decent, though lots of stuff from other materials you can find elsewhere, the upsell to try and get you to use his 'planning software' at $600 year really turns me off of him. Go to Amazon

like the book have to get through a few 12 ... like the book have to get through a few 12 week years to see if it can truly improve my efforts and performance. Lots of stuff to think about and tackle. The ideas seem sound and so far so good in practice. But just on my first "year". But way further alone than anticipated, procrastination seems to be losing and that is a great thing. Increase focus and attention on what really matters to me and reducing the distractions, rabbit holes, and trivia that often eats up time and energy with little return. Go to Amazon

I highly recommend it. The first half repeated itself over and over. I was more interested in the implementation, not just selling me on the system. However, this book has revolutionized the way I think about my goals and to-do lists. I have been able to accomplish more in the last two months than I did all of last year. Even if you only implement one thing you learn in the book, you will still be making more progress than before you read the book. I highly recommend it. Go to Amazon

Predictable and filled with fluff I had high expectations for this book, but was disappointed to find out that the “12 Week year” was just a fancy way of saying Check in on your goals more regularly. Go to Amazon

INTENSELY Pursue Your Goals This book sounded kind of gimmicky, but I bought it anyway. In fact, I almost stopped reading because the first 5 chapters or so read like a sales pitch for this goal-setting method. I am glad I kept reading! It has changed the way I set my goals. In short, the book showed me how to INTENSELY pursue a few goals over a short amount of time, regroup, then pursue another set of goals. Five stars, well worth it! Go to Amazon

but great reminders. I write my annual goals every year A lot of stuff I already know, but great reminders. I write my annual goals every year. Now after reading this breaking them down into 12 week increments makes so much sense. More focused, and more achievable. Keeping everything on top of mind. So glad, I read this book. Go to Amazon

One to Skip I really don't like to give negative reviews, but after reading this book I feel compelled to tell others who enjoy reading books about productivity that this is one you can skip. For those who have never read a book about goal-setting or managing your time, perhaps you'll find something of value in "The 12 Week Year." For the rest of us, however, the concepts of creating a vision, identifying goals, breaking those goals into actions, creating a weekly plan of execution and measuring your efforts is very basic and nothing new. Go to Amazon

Super detailed (boring) but very informative 12 Week Year Got Me Laser Focused Three Stars Five Stars Five Stars Five Stars It makes me feel good because I can see my progress each time I found out about this book when I was watching ... Great book. I highly recommend Outstanding

#Michael Lennington: 9781118509234: Amazon.com: Books

[shivaontrans-blog]

Lord Shiva’s 7 Secrets Of Success 1) Have a firm determination towards your goals Once you have set your goals, repeat to yourself, ‘I will be successful in my mission,’ and be determined towards it. 2) Staying unaffected by society and what they think about you 3) Have respect for your teachers and gurus This includes parents, peers and the divine source you believe in 4) Keep a balanced and stable mind You must not suffer from any sorts of inferiority, superiority or defeatist complex or complex of hopelessness and despair.’ Our minds should always be stable and balanced. 5) Develop self-control People may tend to procrastinate or do things which may steer them away from reaching great heights. 6) Embrace a balanced diet It will not only keep your body and mind in an energetic and determined condition, but it will make your spirit feel energized and replenished to take on whatever challenge comes during the day. 7) There is no seventh secret As unusual as it sounds, Shiva says that there is no seventh secret. It is totally up to you on how you want to interpret this secret. One meaning is that the above six secrets are all you need to know in order to be successful. There is no seventh or eighth one. It is highly recommended that you paste these secrets on your bedroom wall or write it down in a book so that you can read it regularly and make it part of your daily lifestyle towards reaching success. – Aum Namah Shivaya – #shivaratri #teamjunkiri #junkiri #onlyone #bloggers #nepal #nepali #pashupati #festival #shiva #lordshiva #nepaliwriters #risingjunkiri #writersofinstagram #pashupatinath #kathmandu #om #jaishreekrishnaa #krishna #shreekrishna #jsk #jaishreekrishna #harekrishna #radhakrishnadev #janmashtami #krishnajanmashtami

#junkiri #shreekrishna #nepaliwriters #radhakrishnadev #kathmandu #onlyone #nepali #shiva #jaishreekrishna #writersofinstagram #shivaratri #pashupatinath #janmashtami #lordshiva #jaishreekrishnaa #krishnajanmashtami #jsk #teamjunkiri #om #festival #pashupati #risingjunkiri #harekrishna #krishna #nepal #bloggers