10 Helpful Chrome Extensions For Students
After skipping this series for a year since I was on my placement year, I'm back for another addition to my University Room Tours.
This year I was trying to decorate my room more since I have to spend pretty much 24/7 inside these four walls, however, my set up isn't all too different from first year and second year. Even so, I thought it was about time I uploaded this post, and possible have your opinions and ideas on how I can make my room feel more like my room than just another university dorm room.
University Room Tour - Third Year Edition
After skipping this series for a year since I was on my placement year, I'm back for another addition to my University Room Tours.
This year I was trying to decorate my room more since I have to spend pretty much 24/7 inside these four walls, however, my set up isn't all too different from first year and second year. Even so, I thought it was about time I uploaded this post, and possible have your opinions and ideas on how I can make my room feel more like my room than just another university dorm room.
Recently for our apple products, there has been an update on iOS. And with this new update, the iOS14 brings a whole bunch of features that are perfect for taking our digital notes a lot more smoothly. So I'm here today to gather a list of all the new features for you to try out for yourself.
BEST IPAD NOTE-TAKING FEATURES FOR IOS14
Scribble
This feature is a great addition in making the process of working with an apple pencil that much more efficient and smoother. Scribble lets you write in areas you would normally type and those words are changed to text. So say if you wanted to search something up you could write into the search engine what you are looking for instead of typing it, meaning you don't have to put your pencil down at all. Other features of this are crossing out letters or words that you want to be deleted or adding a verticle line between where you want a space if one is missing. And it even works in Goodnotes, for example in the textboxes or even in the search bar when looking up keywords in your work.Shape Recognition
This is when you try and draw a shape such as a star or heart your iPad will automatically sharpen and perfect the shape if you hold your pen to the screen after you finish drawing. For those of you who use Procreate this is a similar feature to what you can do in that app, however now you can also use this tool in other apps like the iPad notes or Goodnotes. Great for those who like to include illustrations in their work or even just to doodle on the side; like how we used to doodle in the margins of our school workbooks.Selection of Handwritten Notes
This works like the lasso tool in Goodnotes, where you can select those notes that you have written by hand. However, now the iPad recognises handwritten text from any drawings that you might also have included in your notes. This smart selection then allows you to treat the text as typed text and you can even paste your handwritten words as typed text in other apps such as google docs; giving a lot more freedom to the notes you write by hand.More Digital Note Tips:
Data Detection
This is a new and quick way to add dates and events to your calendar from wherever you are taking your lecture notes. Say you professor gave out an assignment due date during your lecture, instead of flickering between different apps, the ios14 update means your iPad can now detect these and lets you add them to you calendar from the notes app that you are on. This also works with phone numbers, emails and addresses too.Quick Styles
For those of you who do type, either instead of or as well as handwriting your notes, there is also the new quick way of switching between different text looks, with the boldface, italics, title, heading and more now located on the Aa button on the keyboard, making it smoother to personalise your own notes.These are just some of the new additions that come along with the iOS14 update. I'm sure by now you've seen nearly everyone and their grandmothers making their phone screens look ethically pleasing but now I hope these tips too help you make the use of your iPad (or any other Apple device) more fun and efficient.
I don't post much about my notes and such on my personal/blogging Instagram, however, if you want to see more of my university life or how I'm getting along with taking notes digitally I do have a studygram account that you can follow me on, @she_studies_astro. I'm trying to get into using my studygram more again as some kind of motivation to keep my notes up to date and looking presentable.
Have you found any new features for iOS devices that you love, share them below? Or if you use a different device, what are your favourite tips for taking notes digitally?
Best New iPad Note-taking Features for iOS14
Recently for our apple products, there has been an update on iOS. And with this new update, the iOS14 brings a whole bunch of features that are perfect for taking our digital notes a lot more smoothly. So I'm here today to gather a list of all the new features for you to try out for yourself.
BEST IPAD NOTE-TAKING FEATURES FOR IOS14
Scribble
This feature is a great addition in making the process of working with an apple pencil that much more efficient and smoother. Scribble lets you write in areas you would normally type and those words are changed to text. So say if you wanted to search something up you could write into the search engine what you are looking for instead of typing it, meaning you don't have to put your pencil down at all. Other features of this are crossing out letters or words that you want to be deleted or adding a verticle line between where you want a space if one is missing. And it even works in Goodnotes, for example in the textboxes or even in the search bar when looking up keywords in your work.Shape Recognition
This is when you try and draw a shape such as a star or heart your iPad will automatically sharpen and perfect the shape if you hold your pen to the screen after you finish drawing. For those of you who use Procreate this is a similar feature to what you can do in that app, however now you can also use this tool in other apps like the iPad notes or Goodnotes. Great for those who like to include illustrations in their work or even just to doodle on the side; like how we used to doodle in the margins of our school workbooks.Selection of Handwritten Notes
This works like the lasso tool in Goodnotes, where you can select those notes that you have written by hand. However, now the iPad recognises handwritten text from any drawings that you might also have included in your notes. This smart selection then allows you to treat the text as typed text and you can even paste your handwritten words as typed text in other apps such as google docs; giving a lot more freedom to the notes you write by hand.More Digital Note Tips:
Data Detection
This is a new and quick way to add dates and events to your calendar from wherever you are taking your lecture notes. Say you professor gave out an assignment due date during your lecture, instead of flickering between different apps, the ios14 update means your iPad can now detect these and lets you add them to you calendar from the notes app that you are on. This also works with phone numbers, emails and addresses too.Quick Styles
For those of you who do type, either instead of or as well as handwriting your notes, there is also the new quick way of switching between different text looks, with the boldface, italics, title, heading and more now located on the Aa button on the keyboard, making it smoother to personalise your own notes.These are just some of the new additions that come along with the iOS14 update. I'm sure by now you've seen nearly everyone and their grandmothers making their phone screens look ethically pleasing but now I hope these tips too help you make the use of your iPad (or any other Apple device) more fun and efficient.
I don't post much about my notes and such on my personal/blogging Instagram, however, if you want to see more of my university life or how I'm getting along with taking notes digitally I do have a studygram account that you can follow me on, @she_studies_astro. I'm trying to get into using my studygram more again as some kind of motivation to keep my notes up to date and looking presentable.
Have you found any new features for iOS devices that you love, share them below? Or if you use a different device, what are your favourite tips for taking notes digitally?
I'm not going to promise you that university won't be stressful. It seriously is at times. But I want to put together some tips that might help to reduce some of that stress even if it is only the smallest amount for even the shortest of times.
HOW TO MAKE UNIVERSITY LESS STRESSFUL
Keep on top of homework
Simple but effective. If you are on top of everything, and not rushing to complete every assignment the night of the deadline alongside revising for the impending exams that also follow deadline season, you'll find yourself not only less stressed about fitting everything in but also you'll be able to give everything you best and all. Meaning those grades will probably come out better.Revise throughout the year
It's become a common thing to think that students end up cramming everything in for an exam the night before, however, I have never once done that and I've not failed anything yet. Instead, I revise throughout the year. As much as our teachers and professors tell us to consolidate the information from each lesson as we go along and there are many science reports stating that the best time to consolidate the lesson is the night or day after most of us don't take this on board. And to be honest, sometimes all the workload just gets overwhelming which can be stressful all on its own. However, if you revise even just a little throughout the year, say like once a week go over everything you've done that week, by the time exams come around you'll feel a lot calmer about the knowledge that you do actually know.Make time each week to spend with friends or family
Anybody who can take your mind away from all the stresses of studying. Sometimes one or the other might make things more stressful for you to be around them, but find at least one person who can take your attention away from the work you've got to do even if it is only for a couple of hours each week.Other University Posts:
Get into a rhythm
Find a schedule that works for you, and keep to it the best you can. Not only will this help to stop you procrastinating but it will also mean that for parts of your day you won't have to use brainpower for choosing what to do since it is already set out for you. And instead, that brainpower can be put towards studying. Even making a meal plan for the week will mean you have one less thing to think and stress about each day.Have a decent sleep schedule
Be it five hours or ten, find a time length which lets you charge up your batteries without oversleeping and exhausting yourself more. Whatever length of time you chose make sure that you sleep at the same time every day. That pattern will set your body and especially your brain to work at its best throughout the day and therefore you are more likely to have a less stress-filled day.Whatever you chose from this list, make sure it works for you and how your body works. We are each totally different individuals and work to different rhythms, so how we make university less stressful will always be slightly different.
Even with all these points, there are more ways to reduce stress like watching your favourite TV show or reading a book, what ways asides from the above ones do you use to make university (or college or school) less stressful?
How To Make University Less Stressful
I'm not going to promise you that university won't be stressful. It seriously is at times. But I want to put together some tips that might help to reduce some of that stress even if it is only the smallest amount for even the shortest of times.
HOW TO MAKE UNIVERSITY LESS STRESSFUL
Keep on top of homework
Simple but effective. If you are on top of everything, and not rushing to complete every assignment the night of the deadline alongside revising for the impending exams that also follow deadline season, you'll find yourself not only less stressed about fitting everything in but also you'll be able to give everything you best and all. Meaning those grades will probably come out better.Revise throughout the year
It's become a common thing to think that students end up cramming everything in for an exam the night before, however, I have never once done that and I've not failed anything yet. Instead, I revise throughout the year. As much as our teachers and professors tell us to consolidate the information from each lesson as we go along and there are many science reports stating that the best time to consolidate the lesson is the night or day after most of us don't take this on board. And to be honest, sometimes all the workload just gets overwhelming which can be stressful all on its own. However, if you revise even just a little throughout the year, say like once a week go over everything you've done that week, by the time exams come around you'll feel a lot calmer about the knowledge that you do actually know.Make time each week to spend with friends or family
Anybody who can take your mind away from all the stresses of studying. Sometimes one or the other might make things more stressful for you to be around them, but find at least one person who can take your attention away from the work you've got to do even if it is only for a couple of hours each week.Other University Posts:
Get into a rhythm
Find a schedule that works for you, and keep to it the best you can. Not only will this help to stop you procrastinating but it will also mean that for parts of your day you won't have to use brainpower for choosing what to do since it is already set out for you. And instead, that brainpower can be put towards studying. Even making a meal plan for the week will mean you have one less thing to think and stress about each day.Have a decent sleep schedule
Be it five hours or ten, find a time length which lets you charge up your batteries without oversleeping and exhausting yourself more. Whatever length of time you chose make sure that you sleep at the same time every day. That pattern will set your body and especially your brain to work at its best throughout the day and therefore you are more likely to have a less stress-filled day.Whatever you chose from this list, make sure it works for you and how your body works. We are each totally different individuals and work to different rhythms, so how we make university less stressful will always be slightly different.
Even with all these points, there are more ways to reduce stress like watching your favourite TV show or reading a book, what ways asides from the above ones do you use to make university (or college or school) less stressful?
Starting university is already daunting enough without the pressure of a global pandemic on everyone's shoulders. And that also doesn't make freshers week (or fortnight) any less nerve-wracking or exciting than any other year in the past.

It's that time of the year again and that means there is a whole bunch of us going back to university in the next coming months. For the last couple of years, I've had this little series on the go to help those of you who feel like there is something missing from your university checklists, so for the third year, I now have you part three of this series.
The Forgotten Items Of The University Checklist #3

It's that time of the year again and that means there is a whole bunch of us going back to university in the next coming months. For the last couple of years, I've had this little series on the go to help those of you who feel like there is something missing from your university checklists, so for the third year, I now have you part three of this series.
The Top 5 Best Digital Note Taking Apps
So with the whole world pretty much working and studying from inside their own homes at the moment, it seems like a good time to gather some tips that could possibly be of help.
I really wasn't expecting to write another study update so soon but sometimes life just works out that way.
Being a university student and living away from home for almost three quarters of the year, one thing you have to pick up rather quickly if you don't know how to already is how to cook for yourself. However, after nearly three years of living off my own cooking, the same meals can become rather boring.
BBQ Tofu Salad | Student Meals On A Budget
Being a university student and living away from home for almost three quarters of the year, one thing you have to pick up rather quickly if you don't know how to already is how to cook for yourself. However, after nearly three years of living off my own cooking, the same meals can become rather boring.
Nearly a complete year since I sent off the first pieces of my application for study abroad has come around and in roughly a months time the adventure really begins!
With now only one week left of my work placement left to go I think it's about time I answer some questions that you've all had about everything placement year.
Back towards the first couple of months of the year, I wrote a post about my typical day as an astrophysics student. Instead today I thought it might, hopefully, be interesting to continue that mini-series of a day in the life, with my day in the life of a placement student. In particular the Day of a research assistant.
Day In The Life Of A Placement Student | Research Assistant
Back towards the first couple of months of the year, I wrote a post about my typical day as an astrophysics student. Instead today I thought it might, hopefully, be interesting to continue that mini-series of a day in the life, with my day in the life of a placement student. In particular the Day of a research assistant.
Why Should You Take A Placement Year
So you’ve somehow made it through the first year of university and are ready for the challenge of the second year. But after that enjoyment of student life and the somewhat smaller step from A-level than GCSE to A-Level was, its probably time to give some thought of how you are going to tackle the second year of your degree. Plus this year count towards you finally degree, the first year didn’t, so time to make those plans.
How To Do Well In The Second Year Of University
So you’ve somehow made it through the first year of university and are ready for the challenge of the second year. But after that enjoyment of student life and the somewhat smaller step from A-level than GCSE to A-Level was, its probably time to give some thought of how you are going to tackle the second year of your degree. Plus this year count towards you finally degree, the first year didn’t, so time to make those plans.
I've typically stayed away from writing how-to posts since I've always believed as I'm not a master of anything and that there is probably always someone who is more experienced and well versed in a subject than me. Probably a bit of imposter syndrome there. But since all the time I've had this blog, which is around 5 years now, I've been a student, writing a post about how to blog while also being a student seems like something I could give advice on.
How To Run A Student Blog
I've typically stayed away from writing how-to posts since I've always believed as I'm not a master of anything and that there is probably always someone who is more experienced and well versed in a subject than me. Probably a bit of imposter syndrome there. But since all the time I've had this blog, which is around 5 years now, I've been a student, writing a post about how to blog while also being a student seems like something I could give advice on.

One thing I've tried to focus on here and while being a student is ways to be more sustainable and caring for the environment and wildlife.
5 Ways To Be More Environmentally Conscious As A Student

One thing I've tried to focus on here and while being a student is ways to be more sustainable and caring for the environment and wildlife.


























