September 3rd: How Do You Take Your Tea?

hi i tried to post these yesterday but it failed 😚✌🏻 anyway, this was the sunrise yesterday! saw The Rise of Skywalker and i absolutely LOVED it !! i finished with A’s in all of my classes which i am very proud of :) happy winter break to all the students out there!

What is going on with the world??

Little tips for when you feel bad and don’t know why.

-Ask yourself the last time you drank some water. Drink a few sips even if it wasn’t long ago. Coffee doesn’t count (neither does soda unless it’s the only option) 

-When was the last time you ate? Get a small snack if able.

-Are ANY of your clothes too tight or uncomfortable? This includes socks, headbands, hats, and shoes.

-Stretch! Pop those shoulders, arch that back, straighten those legs. It Helps.

-If you happen to stim, do it! Do whatever feels right!

-Look for sounds, smells, etc. That are bothering you.

-Get your headphones and put on whatever music makes you feel happy/good/energetic.

-Loosen your shoulders, take some deep breaths. Drop your head and loosely roll your head. Try to relax as many muscles as you can.

-Close your eyes for a second.

-Did you take your meds (if you have them)? Do you need to take a Tylenol, ibuprofen Etc.?

-Are there allergens in the vicinity, are there any allergy medications you need to take?

-Breath deep.

I am by no means a professional and I don’t know what could be causing it but I know that these are kind of helpful. I’m not you and you aren’t me so these might not work. If the feeling bad is medical attention worthy, these might not help.

However, I hope that this does help someone.

somehow instead of saying "as a treat", I've started using the phrase "for morale", as if my body is a ship and its crew, and I (the captain) have to keep us in high spirits, lest we suffer a mutiny in the coming days.

and so I will eat this small block of fancy cheese, for morale. I will take a break and drink some tea, for morale. I will pick up that weird bug, for morale.

I'm not sure if it helps, but it does entertain me

little ways to change your life:

learn how to write a new style of handwriting. try wearing your hair or makeup differently. find a new perfume you like.

do things for yourself, not for the validation of others. resist the temptation to post everything online.

start doing something you usually can't be bothered to do. like making your bed, folding everything neatly, stretching every hour, going on jogs, making a healthy meal from scratch or sleeping earlier.

make your surroundings as cozy and as pleasing for you to look at as possible.

bake delicious but sometimes deformed pastries. write things that no one "gets". wear clothes and hairstyles that make u happy. crotchet a sock badly. draw a picture that won't be aesthetic on instagram. let go of the perfect image of who you need to be. do things for yourself.

be messy. self-expression isn't always pretty. scribble messily in a notebook. draw messily an idea for a character. write a messy draft for a story.

learn your thing from scratch, whether it's astronomy, greek mythology, flower species, piano, japanese, making jam, drawing comics, or something completely different.

let yourself fully enjoy everyday things like food, commute, and your morning routines. slow down and notice every single thing that makes you feel nice.

appreciate nature, like the sunlight streaming through in the morning, the sound of rain, and the colors of sunsets.

notice the deeper meanings and emotions in songs, poetry and paintings.

let people in. give new loves and friendships a chance. initiate conversations when you want.

read as much as you can. read different genres, popular and unpopular books, classics and new releases. give every book that catches your eye a chance.

enjoy your solitude like you're a character in a movie. if you can, go out for walks alone. visit the park to look at dogs, a café to people-watch, or a library to spend the afternoon buried in a book. bring a journal everywhere with you, and write poetry and quotes and doodles.

collect little things, like vinyls, pretty rocks and shells, stuffed animals, whatever makes you happy.

find a sport you like. pretend you're a superhero. dance like no one's watching. swim like you're a mermaid. exercise is supposed to be fun, so find one that you like.

make self care a priority. this includes taking your meds on time, starting to study for a test after procrastinating for weeks, deleting things that trigger negative emotions, and knowing when to let go and ask for help.

distance yourself from sources of negativity. learn to be ok on your own. know your worth and boundaries.

let go of the past. forgive yourself for the things you regret and start again.

let go of old relationships. there's a difference between missing someone and wanting them back in your life.

let go of your need to be perfect. it does more harm than good.

never compare yourself. it will always feel like a losing battle, no matter how amazing you really are.

keep in touch with people you don't speak to much. even a message can brighten someone's day.

be kind to everyone you meet, even strangers. if someone makes you happy, make them happier. compliment often, and be less judgemental. give someone a smile, you never know how much it means to them.

wake up earlier in the morning. wake up with the sun and fall asleep with the moon.

if you want to be calmer and more productive, remove things on your phone and social media apps that you don't need. (which is most of them).

make a list of qualities in the person you dream of becoming. write about your ideal life with what you have. make goals to be the happiest and healthiest version of yourself.

don't suppress your emotions, but don't overthink them either. have a kinder relationship with your body and your thoughts.

don't be afraid to ask for help, whether it's a teacher, therapist, friend, doctor or parent.

remember that healing and loving yourself is just starting over and over. it's not too late. you're still young and you can move and grow at your own pace. your peak is yet to come.

pretty 🥺

you can find me on campus committing social blunders

totally forgot i had this notebook! i decorated it last yr with these cute tree stickers i had leftover from a school project :) studying for finals is going well, although i got sick over the weekend 😬

Asking for a Letter of Recommendation

I’ve seen some people post about being nervous/scared of rejection/etc so here is my strategy for requesting a letter of rec:

1. Title the email clearly, so recommender can access later: “Recommendation Request for NAME LASTNAME”

2. Greet them formally: “Dear Dr. X,” (I tend to do this no matter how close the relationship is)

3. Make the request: “I am writing to ask if you would be willing to write a letter of recommendation to support my application to WHATEVER THING.”

4. Tell them the deadline: “I would need the letter by MONTH/DAY/YEAR.” (If you want to give a reason, you can also say that the application is due, or that you are hoping to submit your application by that date.)

5. Why Them?: Share 1-2 sentences about why you think they are the right person to recommend you, or what they might add to your application. “Given your role as my advisor/mentor/colleague/etc, I believe you could offer a clear picture of my interpersonal skills/research abilities/developing strengths/academic abilities/etc.”

6. Offer to Help: Let them know that if they accept the offer, you will provide guidance and support in letter-writing. “If you are willing to write the letter, I would be happy to share more information about myself and my experiences, as well as information about where to send the letter.”

7. Help them decide if they are the right fit: Attach your CV, so they can take a look and make a more informed decision about whether they can confidently recommend you. “I have attached my CV in case you would like to review it.”

8. Thank them for their consideration and/or time

9. Sign off: Make sure your contact information is included in your email signature.

i haven’t had motivation to post in a while but .... here is a picture i took of this wonderful book i am reading