Revision Tips and Tricks

As it's drawing closer to exam period in the UK I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the revision tips and tricks that I learnt over the years at school. Having finished school last year, this is actually the first time in 4 years that I don't have to revise(and probably the last year for a long time as I'm off to Uni in September!), however as I have been helping my sister revise for her upcoming GCSE's, I thought I would pass on my knowledge and put together this mini guide for making the most out of your revision, whether that be for GCSE's, A-Levels, finals etc...

1. Be Organised 

In my opinion, being organised makes a huge difference to the quality of your revision as I used to feel a lot less overwhelmed with the amount of work I had to do once I had made numerous lists and schedules. I found the best way to be organised was to make a checklist of all the topics studied in each of my subjects and to colour code these topics, using one colour for areas that I was quite confident with, whilst using a different colour for topics that I knew I definitely had to revise. By doing this, you can easily prioritze subjects and areas that maybe require more revision than others so as to ensure you don't spend unnecessary time revising things that you are better at and avoiding your worst areas. Revision timetables are also a great way to stay organised, especially if you stick to the schedule, as you know exactly what you will be doing each day in the run up to the exams  and so won't spend valuable time trying to decide what to revise each day. 

2. Vary Revision Technique 

I found that different subjects required different ways of revising, and by the time I did my A-Levels I had a seperate revision technique for each of my subjects. I always used a combination of A3 mind maps for larger topics, flashcards for shorter, condensed notes and labelled diagrams for my Biology, Chemisty and Physics notes, and found that this was the most effective way for me to revise. However, you could also use a whiteboard to make notes, highlight key areas of textbooks and exercise books, or even create voice memos and record yourself reciting some of your notes. 

3. Revise in small, short bursts

Revising all day with barely any breaks is probably not one of the most effective ways to revise, as you are simply going to overload your brain with too much information for you to take in and remember. 30-45 minute sessions of revising with a 5-10 minute break was always my routine, as I wasn't cramming my brain all in one go, and I found that I remembered my notes a lot more this way. 

4. Teach someone else what you know

My biology teacher always said that one of the best ways to revise was to teach someone else what you have learnt, and I have to say that I agree. I would quite often teach my parents and siblings various areas of my subjects as it showed that I was confident enough in the topic to teach it to someone else, and also proved that I had taken in everything that I had been revising. It is a great way to also mix up your revision technique, as well as take a break from the constant reading and writing of notes. 

5. Remove Distractions 

This one goes without saying but being in a loud, busy environment surrounded by distracting stimuli such as other people and electronic gadgets is not the best place to be revising for exams. I always found a quiet place to study, mostly my bedroom, but a library or even the garden is great too, and removed all distractions so that I was fully engaged in my revision. If music helps you revise then I suggest listening to classical music as it is less stimulating than upbeat tunes, and so it is less likely you will be tempted to start singing along and get distracted from studying. Spotify has loads of great playlists for focusing and revising. 

6. Test Yourself

One of the best ways to ensure that your revision is effective is by testing your knowledge of your various subjects. There are numerous resources online, from past papers and mark schemes from previous years, to quizzes covering the topics in your subject, making it extremely easy to see how well you have been revising. Even getting a friend or family member to ask you quickfire questions using your notes is a great way of testing your knowledge, especially a couple of days after revising the topic to see whether you have retained the information learnt over a few days.  

7. Check out Tumblr

I became obsessed with the revision tag on tumblr last year as I took a lot of inspiration from various users notes and revision techniques, so much so that I started becoming quite envious of the notes some people had made. There are a large number of study bloggers on the site, and many of them even offer free printables to help with planning and organising your studying, which I made full use of. It is definitely worth checking out for a bit of inspiration and motivation!

8. Take a Break

Probably one of the most important tips included in this guide, as studying for a number of hours all day every day can be extremely intense and can have a negative impact on your cognitive functions. Taking the time to have something to eat and drink, get some fresh air and even unwinding with a long bubble bath at the end of the day is the perfect way to de stress and refresh your mind after a hard revision session. It is also extremely important that you get enough sleep every night (about 8 hours) to allow your brain to rest, ready for the next day.

I hope you have found these little revision tips and tricks useful, and if you are about to take any exams then Good Luck!

Megan 

Blue Denim and Biker Jacket

Boohoo Biker Jacket | H&M Jumper | Boohoo Mom Jeans | River Island Boots | Topshop Necklace                

Whilst mom jeans have been all the rage for a good couple of years now, I have only recently jumped on the bandwagon after getting a little bit bored of wearing various pairs of skinny jeans almost everyday. Despite only purchasing them the other day I am officially obsessed as there are so many ways you can style them, so I thought I would finally do an outfit post and show you one of my favourite ways of wearing them.

For quite a casual look, I paired the jeans, which are a 70's style mid wash blue, with this khaki jumper, which is a great transitional item of clothing to wear at the moment as the weather can still be slightly chilly. To complete the look I wore this Biker jacket which I love, especially the gold zip details, as well as my beloved pair of black chelsea boots, although I would also wear my white converse for an even more casual outfit, and a simple rose quartz necklace.

I think this is the perfect weekend outfit, and as the jeans are so versatile, it is so easy to style them in a more relaxed or dressy way for whatever occasion.

Do you like mom jeans? How do you style yours?

Megan

Top 5 Nude Drugstore Lip Products

I've always been very much a nude lip type of girl due to the effortless application of a nude lipstick, as well as the fact that they can be paired with pretty much any eye makeup and so are extremely versatile. With the nude lip trend still going strong thanks to Kylie Jenner, I thought I would share my favourite offerings from the drugstore and with all slightly different shades of buff, there is something for everyone...

Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Sunbaked is definitely the most browny-nude out of the whole bunch, with an extremely light and moisturising texture. Whilst the colour is sheer, it is easily buildable to give a glossy nude pout, and, although it looks great worn alone, it is also the perfect gloss to layer over a mid toned brown lipstick. 

My favourite out of the line up is definitely the Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Nudist as it is the most easy to apply (seriously, you don't even need a mirror), thanks to the crayon like applicator. Again it is a slightly brown nude, yet there is also a hint of pink, so is very wearable for an everyday look, and it glides on extremely smoothly, leaving a glossy, natural look to the lips.

The Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon toes the nude/pink line slightly, yet for me it is the perfect 'My lips but better' shade, especially as I like to wear this slightly blended in to create more of a stain on the lips. With a creamy and moisturising texture the colour can be easily built up, perfect for a pared back makeup look. 

Again with a lipstick that could almost be filed as a pink, the Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick in 02 Beige Trench has slightly cool beige undertones, keeping it firmly in the nude category. Definitely the palest of the nudes featured here it gives a semi-matte finish without any dryness, as well as having a pretty long lasting formula. It is a great no make-up, make-up product. 

Completely the line-up, the Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Lacquer in Charm Offensive provides a slightly more intense and bold nude look, yet is still very wearable for everyday wear. The texture can be a little tacky on the applicator yet once on the lips it glides on effortlessly, leaving a long lasting, opaque finish. 

What are your favourite nude lip products?

Megan

Geek Wishlist

I think it is safe to say that I identify quite strongly as a geek/nerd and have done for many years, and I am always scouring the internet looking at the unique and cool items and gifts for all of my various geeky interests. For today's post I therefore thought I would share some of the things currently on my "geeky" wishlist...

I have always been interested in space and the solar system, so I have become quite obsessed by anything space related, whether that be clothing, artwork, jewellery etc, and so as soon as I saw this Solar System dress I fell in love with it. I think it is the perfect statement dress, and would look great in Spring/Summer paired with a leather jacket  and some black ankle boots. Sticking with the space theme, I also love this Planetary Glass set, which includes the 8 planets of the solar system as well as Pluto and the Sun, as the design of all of the glasses is beautiful and would look great for a casual dinner party. Finally, this Star Theatre Planetarium has been on my wishlist for ages as I love looking at the stars, so I think it would be extremely magical and mesmerising gazing at real life constellations and shooting stars projected onto the ceiling using this planetarium. 

In the past few months I have become a pretty big Star Wars fan, so much so that I received quite a lot of merchandise for my last Birthday and Christmas. I love the Funko Pop figures and already own C3PO, but I think that the BB8 version is super cute and would be the perfect addition to my collection. I am also quite obsessed with this Star Wars Death Star Waffle Maker as it combines one of my favourite film franchises with one of my favourite foods, and I think it is the perfect kitchen gadget for any Star Wars fan.  

As an aspiring scientist I am a massive nerd of anything to do with the subject, in particular Biology, so I love this dainty DNA double helix necklace as simple, minimalist jewellery like this is my favourite to wear, and I think it is quite a unique necklace for anyone interested in Science. 

Etsy has always been one of my favourite places to buy anything slightly geeky as there is such an array of products for whatever you are a fan of. Having been a fan of Harry Potter since the age of about 8, I love this Lightning Bolt/Glasses Sweatshirt as it looks extremely soft and cosy, perfect for lounging around to watch your favourite Harry Potter film. Lastly, The Big Bang Theory is my favourite TV show as it is the culmination of all of my geeky interests, and so I love this 'It all started with a Big Bang' Print, which I think will be perfect for my University room in September. 

Megan