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my hobby !!

HELLO EVERYONE!

To get started, the hobby I am interested in is WEIGHTLIFTING!! 

Weightlifting is a complex and engaging activity that combines both physical and mental aspects. It serves as a type of strength training, where lifting weights contributes to the development of muscle power and bulk, boosts sports performance, and supports general health and well-being.

Embarking on a weightlifting journey has been such a transformative experience for me. Initially, my time in the gym was consumed with focusing on abs and cardio, with the primary aims of shedding weight and obtaining an hourglass figure. As time passed, my goals changed. Now, my main goal in the gym is to continue to build my strength and continuously set new personal PR’s – (personal records) with heavy compound lifting, which involves executing movements that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously. 

The gym can be a lot of things for different people, but I have found it to be one of my many safe places. It’s a time when everything goes quiet, and I can simply listen to my music and workout. I love being able to unwind from my day, and even push my limits when I’m tired. I used to enjoy going with my friends, but recently I have been going by myself, as it is proves to be a lot quicker. Although, I think going with my friends helped me become more comfortable with going to the gym, and not being afraid to try new things. Also, them being there to support me and keep me going helped me a lot. I became a lot closer with people, and it was a great opportunity to not only work out your body, but also your mind. You don’t have to be good at it, you just have to try. It’s more so of a mindset, rather than depending on your physical strength. 

To get started with weightlifting, keep in mind that you are starting out on this journey! Do not compare yourself to others no matter what! Follow advice yes, but be sure that you are consuming the right knowledge! The reason I got started was because of my friends and most of my information comes from TikTok. I recommend starting off with a simple routine and depending on your goal for the gym, I would say to follow pre-made routines from other people either from YT and TikTok. Find what works for you, everyone is different. Also, being aware of what others post (body, food, lifestyle) on social media, they focus only on those parts of your life, so again, don’t compare yourself! 

If you have any questions or need my advice, please contact me 🙂 !! I’m happy to help! 

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR EXAMS!! I can’t believe it’s already week 8 :(. 

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winter qt :)

HELLOOO EVERYONE !!! WE DID IT !! One quarter down, two more to go!

Fall quarter, my first quarter in college was undeniably a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences as everyone could imagine. It was characterized by the tangible stress of adjusting to a new academic environment, the thrill and excitement of embarking on a new journey, the inevitable anxiety that comes with facing unfamiliar challenges, and moments of peace amidst the chaos. From figuring out the most efficient study methods to balancing social activities and academic responsibilities, each day presented new challenges that tested my adaptability and resilience. 

However, amidst these whirlwinds of classes and overload of assignments, there were also moments of tranquility and peace. These were the times when I found myself settling into the rhythm of college life, appreciating the growth and learning opportunities it presented, and taking time to reflect on my personal and academic journey. 

As I progress into the new quarter, I’ve gained a clearer understanding of my workload and productivity levels, enabling me to plan more effectively. To keep me accountable this quarter, I’ve downloaded Notion, an app designed to help structure my days, maintaining organization, as well as accountability. This tool isn’t new to me; I utilized it back in high school. However, during the last quarter, I found myself too unmotivated to organize my schedule properly. Now, with renewed focus and a better grasp of the demands of college life, I’m committed to using Notion. Also, since I am continuing with my bio + chem classes, I have now dedicated a specific day each week with my friends to review the course load. We would review the lectures, complete practice problems, and quiz each other. I found that this would significantly help me reduce the amount of stress before exams, and I would actually be able to understand the material.    

I’m so glad that during the fall quarter, I ended up finishing finals early and was able to go home earlier than most. I feel like the winter break really helped me because I was already feeling the onset of burnout and a deep sense of homesickness. I loved being surrounded by my friends and family, especially for the holidays. During break, I was finally able to relax, and be able to watch the shows I put off during school and spend time with my friends. This period of relaxation and detachment from school responsibilities was essential for recharging and preparing myself mentally and emotionally for the upcoming challenges of the new quarter.

For this upcoming quarter, my goal is that everyday I remain on a consistent schedule and ensure that I get a proper amount of sleep. Furthermore, I also need to set limits for my social media apps, especially tiktok. 

THANK you for reading !! Good luck this quarter !!

here is a little overview of my notion 🙂

Lindsay

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Time Flies – Midterm season #2

WHAT’S UP EVERYONE !!!

In my previous post, I delved into the challenges of my recent midterm experience, which was far from enjoyable. Now, I’d like to discuss my approach to preparing for the upcoming midterms, armed with the lessons learned from the previous round.

I’ve already created a study schedule for two of my crucial classes, chemistry and biology. Hopefully I follow through with it because my grades will reflect this. While it’s truly disheartening to face another set of midterms so soon, I am determined to approach them with a more strategic and confident mindset. Despite feeling somewhat unprepared, I see the upcoming three-day weekend for Veterans Day as a valuable opportunity to catch up on my classes and intensify my midterm preparations.

Although, recently I’ve been grappling with a severe cold that has taken a toll on me throughout this past week. This illness has hindered my ability to attend some classes, reaching a point where I found it challenging to even leave my bed without feeling nauseous. Fortunately, my roommate has been a tremendous support, providing me with a stash of essentials – cough drops, cough medicine, throat soothing remedies, honey and lemon water, and copious amounts of soup. I have been surviving off of cough drops and soup. Lots of chicken soup. I hope that I can recover soon because with midterm season approaching once again, I’m not sure how I’ll be able to survive in this state. 

At the moment, I’m still learning about more effective ways of studying rather than spending hours on end mindlessly studying and in the end, not retaining anything. For my upcoming exams, I am going to utilize a whiteboard and brain dump everything I know about a certain topic, and for the areas I missed or am struggling with, try to focus more on those missing components. Furthermore, I am also going to try ensuring I am constantly completing practice problems. Practice problems are the key to succeeding in that you’ll be ready for the type of questions that will be asked. Something I enjoy utilizing is that I set a timer every hour to take a ten-twenty minute break, like the Pomodoro technique. In this break time, I utilize it to get my heart moving, while providing a break for my brain. I would go outside and complete a walk, a quick jog, or even stretch in my room. 

Some of my late night studying snacks include celsius mixed with chips. Not the most ideal or healthiest mix, but when I’m stressed, this is something I continue to indulge in. Although, hopefully this time around I won’t be staying up late, and actually getting a good night’s rest.

As always, good luck with midterms :’) !!! Put your mental health first and HAPPY THANKSGIVING (in two weeks) !!

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MIDTERM szn in the SPOOKY szn !!!

HEYYY EVERYONE !!! :))

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that I’ve finally survived the wild and wacky adventure of my first round of midterms for my classes. Let me tell you, it was an experience I don’t want to repeat, like ever, especially with chemistry and biology classes. I practically turned into a nocturnal creature, pulling off countless all-nighters fueled by maybe too much caffeine, and as for sleep? What’s that? I’m pretty sure I’ve spent a small fortune from my flex dine on Starbucks concoctions, but I’m too scared to check my balance. But, in the midst of this caffeinated chaos, I discovered my new favorite drink. Someone mistakenly took my drink, and I took their drink because we had the same name! Although, believe it or not, I ended up loving the drink! It was a blonde iced latte with hazelnut syrup, and now I’m head over heels for it. Before this, my go-to was the matcha frappuccino with oat milk. 

I must admit that this whole experience was totally on me. I was completely unprepared for these midterms. I mean, I started studying three days before the exams, thinking I could easily do it. The cold, hard truth is that we need to start studying from day one and keep at it daily to truly grasp the material. This is nothing like my high school days, let me tell you. 

However, looking past the midterm experience, I’m glad to say that I have been able to make such great friends in the process! I have been able to explore around Irvine, and gain a sense of belonging. I have been to many flea markets, restaurants, etc. but unfortunately, may have splurged some days.

Here’s my conversation with my friends: 

Me: “omg should I buy it” 

My friends: “yes you should, when would you have the chance to buy it again. It’s worth it!” 

The sad truth is that I give into it, too easily. 

pictures of some of the best places I’ve eaten at with my friends!

my favorite places to study! – my room and the ALP building

UNTIL NEXT TIME !!! GOOD LUCK everyone, and don’t forget to take care of yourselves!!! Take a break and go outside! Also, HAPPY HALLOWEEEENNNN !!!

-lindsay m :))