Mop's Study Tips

Hey there,
It's Mop. This week our school started up again and I thought I would share some study tips (this post is from our old blog)

1. Study, break, study

The way you study is generally controlled by the intervals your breaks are at. The productivity and amount of information retained is significantly higher if you take a break rather than study for hours at a time. I have a 'study cycle' which I use to time my breaks. This cycle does change depending on what subject I am doing, because subjects vary in difficulty and intensity, depending on what they r. My average study cycle goes something like this: study 30 mins, break 10 mins, study 20 mins, break 5 mins, study 10 mins break 15 mins. This adds up to roughly 90 minutes of study. 

2. Textbook time

If you read you textbook without an issue, that's great! If, like most people, you have a problem focusing on tiny print and big words, there are a variety of methods available to research on helping you concentrate. I have included two which I find particularly effective. 

3. Teach it

Teaching what you learn helps you understand the information you're studying. Good people to teach your information to are parents, siblings but most importantly class mates, because you both get something out of it!

Did I miss anything? What do you do to study more effectively?

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Live a life you are grateful for

Hi, it's Poppy again.
Sometimes we can get caught up in what we want and what we don't have that the things that we have are sometimes forgotten. 'You don't know what you have until it is gone'.

Recently I started a gratitude journal and I have found it to be a really relaxing, thoughtful and interesting exercise.It helps be me thankful for the things that I have not just the things that I want. 

Each night before I go to sleep I write one sentence about what I did that day and one sentence about something I am grateful for. It helps me relax and reflect on my day and often puts me in a much better mood. 

So... how to start a gratitude journal.
You will need a diary or journal of some sort. I use a 2016 diary with a few lines for each date, but you could have a plain notebook and add the dates yourself.
That is pretty much all it is. Just spend five minutes every day writing something that you are grateful for.
Do you do something similar? What do you get out of it? Let me know in the comments below.

Image featured in the background of the header of this post was found on canva.com as a free image. 

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Why I have a personal art journal.

Hey there,
It's Poppy, today like I said in my last post I am going to talk about a personal art journal. //just a warning I have a lot to say about this so get comfy- we could be here a while as I dive into my gazillion reasons why I love my personal art journal.//

Some people might be different to me. Some people are completely confident with every idea they come up with. These people might have every single one of their drawings stuck up on the wall, proudly showing off what they have created. But I am not that kind of person. I like to show one or two close friends my creations. It is rare that I will post pictures of my art on social media, or even share them on this blog. This is why I have a personal art journal. If you, like me, are shy when you meet people, don't really like making a big fuss and aren't particularly confident in your ideas, or are a perfectionist who wants their ideas to look perfect. A personal art journal is just what you need.

Your personal art journal will vary depending on what type of art you prefer. It could be a folder on your computer- for digital artists, a pile of paintings, a box of origami, a sketchbook of drawings- really it can be anything.

For me, a personal art journal is a way of experimenting with new ideas, gaining confidence with my drawings and having an artistic outlet with no pressure.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Have you got a similar project? Did you try this one? Did I miss anything?

Image featured in the background of the header of this post was found on canva.com as a free image. 

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April's finest Instagramers

Hey guys! It's Mop, again, and I'm here with my favorite instagram accounts of April. I try and find the coolest ones for you to follow, so your feed is filled with fabulousness...

1. @thepaperbeast {Carla McRae}
This account is full of artsy goodness, and adorable illustrations.

2. @glittrsmack {Juliana Horner}
I am absolutely in love with glittrsmack's illustrations. They are just too cool for words, and pics always make me smile.

3. @klikadesign {Monika}
Super cool watercolours.

4. @copicmarkerau
Copic. Need I say more?

5.  @pantone
Oh,  I love colour.

6. @poppy_and_mop_blog
This is our account- get updates on new content and see some amazing photos.

Let me know your thoughts below.

p.s none of the accounts above sponsored us to feature their name here.

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5 ways to disconnect...

Hey, this is my first post on Poppy and Mop and I am super excited to get to share some things with you.

Last weekend I spent a lot of my time doing homework (yay!!) and blogging but I did, on Saturday, spend some time outside with my family and it made me realise how caught up we are in our own lives and how little we have time to do something fun and active (that isn't PE at school). Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that you should spend every moment outside, offline and exercising (that would be CRAZY!!!) or that social media is taking over our lives or anything like that. I just want to give you some advice on ways you can stay sane in this super-connected modern world. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to take a break and remember the things you enjoy and the things that are important to you.

1.Take some time out- instead of waking up and rolling over to check your phone (admit it you do it) wake up and think for a few minutes. I like to think about how this day will span out. //Did you know that if the first thing you think in the morning is positive then your whole day can change?//

2. Focus on what makes you happy- if you spend time doing what you love your life will seem so much happier- why should you focus on the negatives?

3. Spend some time outside each day-You could take your maths homework outside and spent 15 minutes in the garden doing it. Fresh air is good for you and I find that it often helps me concentrate and what would have taken me 20 minutes is now more enjoyable and takes less time and stress.

4. Spend time with friends- friends are super important, instead of  having 10 friends who you don't really know try and be friends with fewer people but get to know them really well. I know that at high school it is often the person who is the most popular that seems to be the best but does that person really have a friend they can turn to if they need it?

5. Create something every day- whether it be a doodle or a story it is really important that you have some creative outlet- maybe you could even start your own blog! It doesn't have to take you long. I have an art journal at home that I try and draw in every day. I don't show it to anyone so there is no pressure to like my drawings or for them to even be good...(more about that in my next post on Saturday or next Monday)

So there you have it. 5 ways that you can take time out and enjoy your life a little bit more. Did I miss any? Leave you favourite ways to 'disconnect' below. I would love to hear from you!
See you soon

ps. Don't forget to check out Mop's post on Wednesday.
The image featured in the background of the header was found on canva.com as a free image

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