5 Ways To Overcome Test Anxiety

Have you ever studied very hard for your tests only to get into the exam room and your mind goes blank, literally? And, as if that’s not enough, your palms become sweaty and the stomach starts to ramble? These are classic signs that you have test anxiety. Continue reading to learn some simple ways to manage your test anxiety effectively.

What Is Test Anxiety?

Feeling a bit nervous when you are about to take a test is normal, but for some back to school moms, it is a debilitating experience. According to VeryWell Mind.com, test anxiety is “a psychological condition in which people experience extreme distress and anxiety in testing situations.” Whether you are sitting for your AP exam, an ACT, or even an important final paper, test anxiety can derail months and years of hard work.

How do you know that you have test anxiety?

Test anxiety can be manifested through your body, emotions, and thoughts. The best way to find out whether you have test anxiety is to watch out for cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms. The physical signs include a racing heart, nausea, shortness of breath, excessive breathing, dizziness, headache, tense muscles, and dry mouth. The emotional signs include anger, fear, disappointment, shame, guilt, and a feeling of helplessness. The cognitive signs, on the other hand, include difficulty concentrating, self-comparison, racing thoughts, negative experiences, and at times, blanking out.

If you have intense test anxiety, you are at risk of not only failing the test but also experiencing a panic attack. It is important, therefore, that you be conscious to avoid test anxiety. If how do I deal with test anxiety is your major concern, here are a few actionable tips to help you address this problem.

Test Anxiety Management Tips

Prior to establishing ways of dealing with test anxiety, it would be important to know what causes anxiety, in the first place. You are likely to experience test anxiety if you do not get adequate prep time, are afraid of failure, or have had a prior bad experience with tests.

The following tips will help you overcome test anxiety:

1. Prepare Well

Perhaps, getting prepared for a test seems like an obvious thing, but it requires proper planning. For most of us, we are bombarded with responsibilities everywhere we turn. So, it is important that you have a proper schedule. Preparing well for a test will give you the confidence you need to walk into any test confidently. But, how do you prepare well?

Studying much earlier is more productive than cramming at the last minute. Additionally, it is important to establish what works for you when preparing for tests. Establishing a consistent pretest routine eases the level of your stress and helps you prepare well for the test.

3 Ways You Can Use Your Devices To Maximize Productivity

2. Get Enough Sleep

There is a direct relationship between academic performance and sleep. One of the mistakes that most students do is imagine that they can read and grasp everything overnight, especially the days towards a test. Reading a lot within a very short time will only confuse you. In fact, pulling an all-nighter will strain your nerves. It is important that you have enough night’s sleep – 9-10 hours. It not only helps you walk into the test with enough energy but also guarantees optimal performance.

3. Adopt an Effective Relaxation Technique

It can be hard for most back to school moms to stay calm before and during a test. Various relaxation techniques can help you ease your nervousness. Adopt a relaxation technique that works for you. It could be breathing deeply, relaxing your muscles, or even learning to think about positive outcomes with your eyes closed.

4. Practice Self-care

You will more likely to experience high test anxiety if your overall anxiety is high. The implication is that if you can lower your anxiety, you will not have to worry about test anxiety. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and exercising are some helpful ways to manage stress. For example, to be calm a few days toward the date of the test, you can adopt a personal wellness plan.

Saying “No” to Stress with Priorities Check-In

5. Ask for Help

Do not shy away from asking for test anxiety management help. Talk to your test consultants, professors, teachers, as well as your family members and friends and you will find it reassuring to take your tests. They can offer you valuable information for your test preparation.

Most mental health professionals and counselors can help you address negative thoughts while preparing for your tests. In addition, you should have any form of disability that could interfere with your learning and preparing for the test, it is recommendable you ask for the necessary test accommodations.

Managing test anxiety is not something you can achieve in a day; it should be a continuous process. Start by taking great care of yourself, understanding that it is okay to make mistakes but learn from them, think positively, and you will be in control the next time you are taking a test. Above all, find a group of like-minded individuals such as the Back to School Divas Facebook Community to act as your support system.

Follow Back to School Divas via Facebook or click here to join the Back to School Divas FB Group to get advice on all of your degree questions in real-time!

February 5, 2020

How this woman makes $140K a year with JUST a 2 year Degree

How THIS woman makes $140K A Year WITH a 2 year Degree

You thought going back to school would be a step toward a bigger paycheck, but you found out that the idea wasn’t all it was hyped up to be? You’ve got mountains of student debt and...

How THIS woman makes $140K A Year WITH a 2 year Degree

You thought going back to school would be a step toward a bigger paycheck, but you found out that the idea wasn’t all it was hyped up to be? You’ve got mountains of student debt and degree after degree and you haven’t even cracked 6 figures yet?

As costs of a college education rise and salaries seem to stagnate, many women are realizing that going to school longer for the traditional 4-year degree doesn’t necessarily help them bring in the big bucks. In some cases, it only helps them get into more debt.

LendEdu analyzed a College Pulse survey of 7,000 college students from nearly 1,000 colleges and universities and found that students, on average, expect to earn $60,000 in their first job out of college.

But a recent survey from LendEdu shows actual salaries are closer to $50,000.

Yet, there is hope for those who are looking to follow a less traditional route.

Read the interview below to learn how Neece Lewis, age 32, was able to turn a 2-year degree in Industrial Systems Technology into a $140K a year job in Nuclear Power.

Back to School Divas: Nuclear Power is such a non-traditional field for women. What made you decide to go in that direction?
Neece Lewis: Lol! I get that question more than you know but truth be told…I wanted to try something different. I found no interest in the conventional jobs that were for women.

I loved math but didn’t want to be behind a desk. I loved figuring out things and how they work but absolutely hated the idea of sitting behind a screen all day. So, I actually started off as a mechanic and all of these men thought I was a joke with my nails and hair but I was good… damn good…

Later I had the opportunity to work in the nuclear field. In this field, they usually promote within and I passed every test I sat down to take. So, now I’m here as a Nuclear System Operator and I absolutely love it…

What program did you attend?
I went to a local community college named Wallace Community College (WCC)…I majored in Industrial Systems Technology.
But nuclear power can be so broad that anything in science, technology, engineering, or maintenance can get you a foot through the door.

How old were you when you started the program?
I was 26 when I returned to school (32 now). I graduated when I was 32.

I was the same age when I graduated! What is the best way to get into the field of Nuclear Power?
Experience or a certification/degree that relates to technology, engineering, maintenance, or engineering. They need more women as they are currently trying to make this field more diverse. So, being a woman gets you a leg up.

How is work-life balance?
Ehhh… I personally love it. I do work shift work which I know a lot of people don’t like but my regular work schedule consists of me working only 14-16 days a month (either days or nights…12 hr shifts)…but they give us ample amount of vacation days where I can reduce that if I’d like to and we have extra help on shift if you should have to leave for any emergencies…

Do you have children also?
Yes. Two (a daughter-7, a son-10)

Awwww, how old were they when you started the program?
Lol!! My daughter was 2 and my son was 5.

Oh, wow! Was it hard to manage them and the Industrial Systems Technology program as well?
Yes! I can’t lie. I was a single parent and had no help from their bio fathers. The program work, itself, was pretty easy and it consisted of a lot of hands-on work. Juggling that, working, and my kids is what made it hard. I also received a scholarship that would pay me 11$/hr at 20 hours a week but it wasn’t enough to care for my children so I ended up having to work 2 jobs and go to school.

There are a lot of companies that are invested in these types of programs at community colleges because this field is needed. They paid for all my tuition and school supplies/tools…and when I graduated, they gave me a full-time job with beginning pay at 26$/hr! So it was worth it in the end.

It sounds like it! Do you know if any of those companies specifically?
I don’t…it usually depends on the school so, the admissions department would be a great place to ask for all that info

Anything else you want to add that you think other women might need to know?
There are a lot of unconventional jobs that we can be awesome at. Women are needed! We tend to have a gift of attention to detail! We are more than teachers, social workers, and nurses. We are engineers, we are doctors…we are important. These other industries need us.

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. I’m sure this will help many of our readers!
Thank you ❤️

Follow Back to School Divas via Facebook or click here to join the Back to School Divas FB Group to get advice on all of your degree questions in real-time!

Do you have a high earning degree? Tell us about it in the comments!

African American woman smiling wearing cap and gown and holding diploma

July 17, 2019February 5, 2020

6 Steps to Building Better Study Habits This Spring

When you think about building new habits, you probably think about the New Year. After all, this is the time where we all take a good look at our lives and see things that we want to change. However, most people drop out early and do...

So, how can you change this? How can you ensure that you build good habits on any occasion and not only think about them in when the New Year rolls around? Learn the best ways to stay productive on the go with good habits.

The Step-by-Step Process to Building Good Habits

Step #1: Define And Focus On Just One New Habit

Most of us have different habits that we want to change. However, if you try to change them all at the same time, you’re more likely to end up failing. With this in mind, it is a much better approach to simply focus on one new habit that you want to build.

The key to determining the first new habit you want to implement in your life is to think of something that you can do all the time and that fits your daily life. That could be a 15-minute walk every lunch break, swapping soda for flavored water, or going to bed 30 minus earlier.

Step #2: Make A Commitment:

One of the most important things that you need to do when you are building a new habit is simply commit to it. You can even tell your friends that you will do this or that for the rest of your life. If you don’t mean it, it won’t do you any good. Besides, building a habit is more about doing than it is about telling. So, commit to your new habit for at least 30 days.

Step #3: Connect Your New Habit To An Established One:

Motivation rarely lasts. So, what you should do to help make a new habit stick is that you should anchor your new habit to an established one. Unless you do that, you will see your motivation decrease day after day. On the other hand, if you focus on continuing the habit without fail, it will come to a point where it is simply natural. Try pairing your desired action with a habit you already have to improve your motivation.

Tell yourself something like “after dropping kids off at school, I will take a walk around the building.”

Step #4: Take Baby Steps:

Even though you may be eager to build a new habit, the reality is that it will take you time for your brain to see this new habit as natural. So, the best thing you can do is to take baby steps. This way, you will be introducing the new habit in your life slowly but consistently. Just think of things such as waking up each morning 5 minutes earlier or eating one serving of vegetables each day. While these might seem to be very simple, this is exactly why they work.

Step #5: Dealing With Obstacles:

When you think of building a new habit, you are incredibly motivated. However, your motivation tends to start decreasing unless you keep focusing yourself on committing to this new habit every day.

The truth is that you will always end up dealing with obstacles and the best way to deal with them is to prevent them. Some of the most common obstacles include space, weather, time, pain, self-consciousness, and costs.

So, the best approach is to be prepared to deal with them when they come. Let’s say that you decided that your new habit will be to run outdoors every single day for 30 minutes. Everything is going well until the day it rains. Instead of skipping your run, you could plan that you will go to the gym instead.

Step #6: Reward Yourself:

When you want to make sure that you build a new habit, there is nothing better than rewarding yourself when you reach the target. Remember that you don’t need to break the bank to treat yourself. It can simply be doing something you love or going out with your loved one.

Are you working to improve your study habits? UniversityWriting911 is here to help with resources for creating and polishing A+ worthy essays and more.

young african american woman with glasses looking thoughtfully with a book

Productivity Tips

July 3, 2019

How to Plan for a Successful New Semester

When most students think about planning for a successful semester, they immediately think: "that's a lot of work."

While we agree, it's that kind of work that ends up paying off at the end. Bet...

When most students think about planning for a successful semester, they immediately think: “that’s a lot of work.”

While we agree, it’s that kind of work that ends up paying off at the end. Between assignments, breaks, and so many other things, it’s important to consider them all when you’re planning your semester.

In fact, a bit of planning can help make the rest of the semester a success! If you’ve already ended a semester successfully, or you want to ensure you get off to a good start, here’s how.

Here’s how to plan a successful semester:

#1: Put It In Writing:

When you are planning your semester, you need to put it in writing. It doesn’t matter if you use a student-specific planner, agenda, a regular old calendar or a digital calendar or planner. The important thing is to write down your plans.

#2: Annotate All Due Dates And Big Events:

Make sure that you annotate all due dates and big events for the upcoming semester. One extra tip that may help you is to use a different color to signal the due dates. This will allow you to know what’s coming at a glance.

#3: Break Your Work Into Daily Tasks:

One of the main benefits of planning your semester is that you can schedule your own time. If you have to deliver an assignment in one month, you don’t need to start working on it right now.

But you don’t need to leave all the work to be done on the previous day of the due date. When you plan your semester, you can easily dedicate a couple of hours each day, among your daily tasks, to work on this assignment. Just make sure that you have enough time to complete every task without rushing.

#4: Be Flexible:

The truth is that no matter if you create the best plan in the world for the next semester, there will always be distractions and interruptions. You want to reduce stress in college with ease. So, it’s always better to allocate more time than the one you believe you need for each task.

#5: Learn To Say “No”:

Sometimes, we just get carried away. You may like to paint and join a painting class and you also like to dance and you join a dancing class. Before you know it, you won’t have the time to do it all.

So, be sure to prioritize. Before you commit to any other extra activity, make sure that you really have the time and energy that it takes.

#6: Don’t Forget To Say “Yes” Too:

While getting good grades should always be a priority for you, your personal life is also important. So, if you feel like going out for dinner, watch your favorite television show or simply spend time with your friends, don’t feel guilty.

These are the kinds of activities that will allow you to relax and get the extra motivation to keep working hard. We all need a break sometimes.

#7: Keep Monitoring:

Planning your semester is incredibly important. However, you need to ensure that you monitor how you’re actually doing and if your grades are at the level that you were expecting.

By looking at what you have done and the results that you get, you’ll be able to adapt your behavior to improve your efficiency and productivity!

Back to School Tips

June 20, 2019

Diva Spotlight: Briana Williams, Master’s of Science in Community Development

While most college students need student loans in order to get their degree, this isn't the only obstacle. The truth is that life is never easy and at Back to School Divas we like to remind you that pursuing your dreams is 100% worth...

While most college students need student loans in order to get their degree, this isn’t the only obstacle. The truth is that life is never easy and at Back to School Divas we like to remind you that pursuing your dreams is 100% worth the challenge.

This is exactly what Briana Williams did. In May 2019, Briana walked across the stage after earning herMaster’s of Science in Community Development. But why is Briana any different?

Briana is a college graduate who fiercely followed her dreams. This believer in God took all her strength and succeeded.

“I’m celebrating GOD’s accomplishment – for the glory belongs to him! Praise God for favor! In spite of calamity (divorce, being a single parent of two toddlers, and more to name a fed). I’m on my way to my destiny because the favor and grace of God is on my life! #MASTEREDit #THANKyouMASTER”

-Briana Williams

Briana was able to get her Master’s of Science in Community Development even though, most of the time, she was raising young kids a single parent. For all parents out there, you know this isn’t an easy task, especially when you need to focus on so many things at once

We’re so proud to feature Briana as our June Back to Divas Featured Diva! After all, this adult college student used her faith in God and transformed it into something positive for both her and her family. With a college degree, she now has a better chance of raising her toddlers the way she believes is best as she continues on her path to continuous success.

Graduating from college takes a lot of time and effort. When you’re a single parent who needs to provide for two toddlers, life can get a lot more complicated. However, Briana saw this as a challenge. She had to do it. For her sake and for the sake of her young kids. And with her faith, she managed to do it.

No matter the challenge, you CAN make a better life for yourself by going back to school. Leave Briana a comment below and share your journey with us!

Join the Back to School Divas Facebook Group for a chance to be featured!

confident woman holding books while standing in front of college classroom

May 15, 2019May 24, 2019

10 Tips to End the Semester Strong

Are you starting to feel like you might break under the pressure of final papers and exams? Going back to school (especially college) after a long time away is tough! Your brain is in for some real mental exercise, and you need to take care of yourself as you cross that finish line. Here are 10 tips to end the semester strong. You got this!

Take a deep breath

If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed before you even start, don’t worry. Take a step back, take a deep breath, and refocus. It’s easy to feel like it’s all crashing down but starting is the hardest part. You can do this!

Get organized

After you’ve refocused your attention, get organized. A lot of people try to multitask and never get anything done. Don’t let this happen to you. Create a detailed study plan and stick to it so that your organization can guide you through the craziness of finals.

Avoid procrastination

When you have two weeks before anything is due, it’s natural to think that you have “plenty of time.” Yet, when you only have two days left, you’ll start to feel panicked. Avoid procrastinating and avoid panic. It’s as simple as that. Devote a few hours daily to the tasks you need to do, and you’ll get them done in no time.

Eliminate distractions

You hate to hear it, but social media is a distraction. Do you find that you’re on Instagram or Facebook a lot when you should be studying? Delete the apps for finals week! It might be painful now, but you’ll be much more productive. Plus, think of how much of a treat it’ll be when you can redownload them.

Remember self-care

Don’t skip your yoga class, your 8 hours of sleep or hanging out with friends when you really need it. Remember that self-care should extend into finals too. You need to have balance even when things get tough. Take care of yourself and everything else will fall into place.

Reach out

Reach out to professors, to peers, to your loved ones or to anyone else that can help you! When we feel like we can’t do something, we often turn inward and focus on how helpless we feel. Reaching out to others for help can show you that you’re doing exactly what you need to be doing and give you the boost that you need.

Study with a friend

Do you find you have trouble just getting to the library? Get an accountability partner! This person can keep you on track and devoted to what you need to be doing. And it’s less miserable when you do it with someone you want to spend time with anyway.

Prioritize

If you find you’re still overcome (even with your study plan), don’t be afraid to prioritize! What assignment is due first? Focus on that! Work on the other larger assignments as you go as well. Pace yourself and prioritize so that you feel comfortable with your workload.

Give yourself rewards

Money can’t buy happiness, but have you ever eaten chocolate in the library? It’s pretty close, right? Don’t be afraid to splurge a little and treat yo self!

Be positive

School can be tough, but attitude is everything. If you think of it like it’s a chore, it’ll feel like one. You’re earning a degree, and that’s incredible. Stay positive, don’t complain, and you’ll feel that much better throughout the process!

Want even more tips? Join the Back to School Divas Facebook group! We’re more than 1,000 members strong—and full of great advice, joy, and support.

BTSD Community

May 8, 2019May 24, 2019

Diva Spotlight: Sheryl, BA Liberal Studies Class of 2019

We recently shared a post on our blog, Am I Too Old to go to Grad School? This post discussed how going to grad school at an older age can be more of an advantage than a disadvantage. The ability to draw from your personal life and work experiences ...

It takes courage to follow your dreams and go back to school, no matter your age. While it’s always great to get the stats and figures that explain how grad school students come in all ages, sometimes it is more powerful to put a face to it all.

Meet Sheryl. Sheryl is 62 years old and will be graduating with her BA in Liberal Studies with a minor in Human Human Development in May 2019.

A Degree Years in the Making

“I am finally completing my degree after 40 years of stops and starts.”

Sheryl has wanted to complete her studies for many years, but it always seemed as though it was not the right time.

“Marriage, health crisis, children, and just life, all caused many obstacles to completing my studies.”

So, when did she finally decide to go back to school?

After putting the last three of her children through college, she realized that this was the moment to finally follow the dream she’s always had of getting her BA in Liberal Studies. What we find most inspirational about Sheryl’s story is how she didn’t allow herself to give up.

Valuable Lessons for Every Diva

“My most valuable lesson is – It is never too late.”

The truth is, the average age of graduate students is 33 years, and one in five are over the age of 40.

If this is the case, if most grad students are over 30 years old, then why do we keep telling ourselves that we’ve “missed that boat”? Why do we keep pushing our dreams aside? Why do we keep making an agreement with society that a woman’s dreams and goals have an expiration date?

Our Back to School Diva, Sheryl, is living proof that as long as you’re alive, your dreams are still valid!

“This is one thing that I truly did for myself. I am proud and honored to be part of the class of 2019!”

After trying for four decades to get her degree, there had to be something that kept her going and believing that she will ultimately reach her goals.

“Philippians 4:13, ‘I can do all things through Christ’ and Jeremiah 29:11, ‘For I have plans for you to prosper.’”

She’s determined, strong, and believes that her career and educational dreams are valid at any age. Sheryl is the true definition of a Back to School Diva!

Her selflessness in taking care of her family and her resilience in going back to school and completing her degree at the age of 62 when many would have given up, makes us so proud. We hope this real-life story will help to inspire anyone else who may have doubts about whether it’s still possible.

We’re excited to feature Sheryl as our Featured Diva!

BTSD Community

May 2, 2019

Graduation Cap Designs That Will End College with a Bang

Is your college graduation cap going to be like everybody else’s? After spending the last few years in college, you deserve better than that. Your graduation day is significant because it means you’re closer to your Read more

Is your college graduation cap going to be like everybody else’s?

After spending the last few years in college, you deserve better than that.

Your graduation day is significant because it means you’re closer to your career aspirations. After all those sleepless nights studying and working on assignments that felt like they were never going to end, you made it through in one piece!

Basic prepping for the day involves getting the perfect dress, your hair and makeup done, and of course, your gown and cap ready.

But wouldn’t it be great to add a little something special to your cap as well?

What’s the Significance of a Unique Graduation Cap Design?

Five words – Stand. Out. From. The. Crowd.

Back in the 14^thand 15^thcenturies, the graduation cap (sometimes called a mortarboard) was worn mostly by artists and studentsand it represented intelligence and superiority. They were a symbol of honor.

And nowadays? It is still an honor to wear your gown and cap in front of your peers. This is a special moment not only for you but for your loved ones as well. Some of them might have even witnessed you pushing through those sleepless nights.

It only makes sense then to truly honor this day. And of course, one way to honor it is with your look.

The best part about designing your graduation cap is that you can have fun with it. You can put in flowers, your favorite quotes, your moto…let your imagination go wild!

Before you start working on those designs, I think it’s important to give you a few pointers – just to make sure that you go about this the right way.

The Dos and Don’ts on Graduation Cap Designs

Do: Let it Represent Who You Are

We’re starting with this point because it’s important that the design represents you. Your friend’s design may be great and all, but is it who YOU are? And don’t worry about following a certain trend if that trend doesn’t connect to your personality.

Thanks to our smartphones and the internet, this significant moment will be documented and remembered forever. So, you want to make sure that whatever design you decide on truly represents who you are. You don’t want to look back on such an important day and regret what you wore.

Do: Make It Meaningful

Remember that your graduation day is not only about the past few years in college, but also about the future you have ahead of you. So, when you’re deciding on the decorations or designs, make it meaningful, something worth framing and placing next to your diploma or degree.

Don’t: Do It the Night Before

Oh, ladies. This is a major no-no. You’re bound to have major jitters for your graduation. The last thing you want to do is put more pressure on yourself by designing the cap the night before! So, maybe you’re busy and have a ton of things to do before the big day? What you want to do then is to stock up on your decorations well in advance and then little by little, start designing your cap.

Don’t: Include Many Different Themes

You love your family. You love your school. You love your future career. And you love your dog. Surely, it’s okay to include all these representations of what you love on your college graduation cap?

One word – no. The best designs have one central theme. Doing too much will end up looking like you tried too much. Pick the one message you really want to convey and go for it.

Now that you’re clear on the do’s and don’ts, let’s get into some fun college graduation cap designs to give you some inspiration.

Source: Design Press

Whether she had all the support she needed, or she didn’t, this graduate kept it moving and in the end, it all paid off.

Source: Pinterest

Going back to school isn’t easy. You’ll go through a lot of hardships and making it to the other side will at times feel impossible. But you keep at it. You study. You take those long nights. You do what you have to do – You take care of business!

first in the family tree to receive a college degree graduation cap — first generation college grad | graduation cap design | grad cap – My Blog

Source: Pinterest

If you’re a first-generation college grad, this moment is not only yours. This is for your whole family, including your ancestors. You’ve made everyone proud and can wear your cap to show off this pride.

Source: Pinterest

This one’s obviously dedicated to the Beyhive. Maybe Beyonce was her inspiration. Maybe she used to listen to her music when studying?

Source: Pinterest

This one’s definitely one of my favorites because every Back To School Divais a queen. No matter what you’ve been through, never forget that. You should wear your cap-crown proudly.

Source: Teen Vogue

This a quote from Beyonce’s “formation” song. Great quote to live by. Stay gracious. Stay a diva.

Source: Pinterest

This is definitely for the ladies out there with a good sense of humor. In college, you will learn a lot of things. Not just in class, but about life in general. Let’s hope you remember it all…or at least, most of it.

Source: Texas State University

There’s a certain energy that fills the air on graduation day. That excitement has a lot to do with the fact that you’re now closer to your career aspirations. Take in this moment. Be present while also looking ahead at the wonderful future you have ahead of you.

Source: Pinterest

Okay, this may be a little funny, but have you ever had a moment where you feel like you just don’t know what you’re doing? Well, keep pushing until you do!

Source: Shutterfly

Sometimes, all the motivation you’ll need is knowing that there’s a higher power looking over you, guiding and protecting you. If you believe that a higher power helped you get this far, why not proudly display it on your cap?

Source: Pinterest

We’ve all heard about the growing student loan debt. Finances are part of the reason why so many people end up either dropping out of college, or not going at all. That’s why I’m really passionate about sharing scholarship tipswith you divas.

Source: Pinterest

Okay, so maybe this Diva didn’t have the best of times in college?

There a plenty more fun and exciting graduation cap designs that will help you end college with a bang. Hope that these pics gave you some inspiration.

Whatever design you decide on, make sure that it’s uniquely you. Make sure that it’s one fit for the diva you are.

woman wearing red polka dot shirt at cafe on smartphone

April 17, 2019April 17, 2019

3 Ways You Can Use Your Devices To Maximize Productivity

Your digital devices don’t have to be a place for distraction. Take advantage of these productivity tools for students. Did you know that the average person spends ...

Your digital devices don’t have to be a place for distraction. Take advantage of these productivity tools for students.

Did you know that the average person spends four hours a day on their devices?

How much of that time is used being productive? Technology has made our lives easy and interesting but unfortunately, while some people use these technological innovations to maximize productivity, some others just use it to get too comfortable and unproductive. Our phones, laptops, computers, and other devices can either help us to maximize our productivity or make us lazy and unproductive.

As a student, there are tools that you can have on your device to make studying, doing assignments, and projects easier for you. But as helpful as your devices are, they can also be a source of distraction for you especially when you have a lot of gaming apps and social apps installed.

Luckily, there are productivity tools for Mac and productivity tools for Windows for students that can help you get more done, faster.

How To Maximize Productivity With Your Devices

Set Schedules

The first step to being more productive is arranging schedules and setting alarms. Wake up on time, get where you need to be on time, and you’re halfway there, Diva! There are many built-in apps that can help you plan your day, week, and year. Take advantage of your Calendar, Notes, Alarms, and Reminders to keep track of appointments, assignment deadlines, and even to try calendar blocking or other productivity time hacks.

Time Management

There are so many productivity tools for Mac as well as productivity tools for Windows devices designed to help you manage your time. Banking apps make it easier for you to carry out transactions at home and make good use of the time you would have lost going to the bank. Location apps make it easier to locate where you’re going without wasting time asking people around and getting lost. You can even incorporate other time management systems like the 10-3-2-1-0 method into your phone to help you better maintain your schedule.

Performing Difficult Tasks

One major thing that our devices help us with is the performance of difficult tasks. For example, use an app to proofread documents like essays or even emails to your professors so you’re sure to sound professional. Explore apps that help with calculations, language translations, and other things that you might not be able to do on our own. Productivity tools for Mac and productivity tools for Windows can help you manage difficult tasks.

Productivity Tools For Your Devices

Productivity Tools For Students:

As a student, these are some major tools that will help you to be more productive.

Tools for Mac:

Schoolhouse
iRecorder
Knowledge NoteBook
Flashcard Hero
Studyper
Gigi

Tools for Windows:

Word Web
Typing Trainer
My Study Life Chrome
Rosetta Stone Free Trial

Other helpful tools:

Sticky Notes
Office Lens
Microsoft To-Do
Todoist
PDFpen
MindNode
Grammarly

Want to REALLY get productive? Download the Back to School Divas printable planner for FREE and track your to-dos, assignments and meals like a pro.

Sources:

https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/are-you-on-your-phone-too-much-average-person-spends-this-many-hours-on-it-every-day.html

April 10, 2019April 2, 2019

Get Calm with These Mindfulness Apps

Are you familiar with the term mindfulness? It’s gained popularity in the past few years and many people swear they have gotten their lives together, lost weight, learned to be happier and relieved stress by practici...

Still, some people have yet to catch up with the mindfulness train and if you’re one of them, then today our goal is to help you get started! Let’s start living a much more calm, aware and stress-free life by identifying some of the best mindfulness apps to help you get in on it.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a state of being more aware, living in the present moment and being conscious of your feelings, emotions, and thoughts as well as your physical presence.

encourages you to let go of the past and mistakes you have made and focus more on living life to the fullest in the present. It’s a powerful therapeutic technique that can help you feel more at ease.

Focusing on the past or future instead of the present can make you anxious and stressed out which reduces your quality of life and productivity. If you’re looking to cut out those negative thoughts that make you feel stressed, and become more present in the moment, or if you already actively practice and want to enhance your practice, mindfulness apps can help.

Could relief be as close as your smartphone?

Let’s find out.

Calm

The Calm app lets you customize your experience by selecting soothing tracks to accompany your practice: the sound of the outdoors or rain, chirping crickets, or whatever sounds soothe you and puts your mind at ease. Calm features an exercise that helps you refocus your mind when it wanders, build awareness and learn to “snap out of it” when your mind goes into autopilot mode.

There are a series of 10-minute long videos on mindful movements and sleep stories that are read to you in a calming voice, like a bedtime story to put you at ease and help you sleep better.. There are also guided sessions for “daily calm” to help you relax and unwind. It has a wide selection of up to 100 music tracks to relax and sleep peacefully.

The app is free, but you can access even more helpful features with a premium subscription. It’s available on the Google Play store and iTunes App Store.

Headspace

Headspace is one of the most popular and best mindfulness apps available today. Creator Andy Puddicombe makes meditation and mindfulness a breeze with guided sessions based on what you want to achieve from your practice.

The app’s interface is bright and cheerful with animations and even has sessions for kids and short mini sessions to help you incorporate a bit of mindfulness into your daily life. You can track your progress as you meditate more and set reminders for days when you might forget to get a session in.

There are a variety of guided sessions to choose from like sleep sounds, emergency meditations, and short meditations. There is also an option for you to save some of these sessions for when you’re offline so you can access your favorite guided meditation sessions when you are off the grid.

The Headspace mindfulness app is available for free, but to access all of the available courses you’ll need to subscribe to a monthly plan. You can download the app from the Google Play store or iTunes App Store.

Stop, Breathe & Think

As the name suggests, this mindfulness app encourages you to breathe and think by giving you a handy timer for mediations and breathing exercises while a soothing soundtrack plays in the background. What’s really unique about this app is that it tailors each session to you by letting you check in and answer questions about your physical and mental health to decide which meditation or yoga session would work best for you.

There’s a wide selection of sessions—from forgiveness to short stories and acupuncture videos that help you focus on living more in the present. This beginners mindfulness app has a guide on mediation for those who need more help getting into mediation as well. At the end of the week, you get a review of what your week was like, based on the moods you checked in before each session.

You can enjoy using this app for free but for full benefits, sign up for a monthly subscription. The app is available on Google Play store or iTunes App Store.

10% Happier

This app is one of the most helpful mindfulness apps available for first time meditators. It’s based on the popular bestselling book by Tv Host Dan Harris with the same name and provides practical exercises you can follow, as well as sessions and talks by world-famous scientists, writers and psychologists. This app gives you the chance to communicate with a real-life coach if guided sessions simply aren’t doing it for you.

10% Happier takes a no-nonsense approach with its guided sessions on mindfulness, which is great for people who prefer a practical approach. The sessions and talks cover a range of topics including the benefits of practice on your brain and mind, mindful eating, and learning to be kind.

Take advantage of a 7-day free trial period after which you will have to pay for a yearly subscription if you decide it’s the best mindfulness app for you. The app is available on Google Play store or iTunes App Store.

Insight Timer

What’s really special about this mindfulness app is that it’s more like a community or social network of meditators from all around the world. Insight Timer gives you information on how many people are currently mediating with you around the world and even gives you the option of inviting friends to meditate as well. Because you’re so connected to other like-minded people there are group discussions on meditation and mindfulness where users can share ideas, ask questions and learn from each other.

This app offers a wide range of guided meditation sessions—from sessions on self-love to overcoming addictions. You can also time sessions and choose soothing background sounds.

Insight Timer is free to download but you’ll need a premium subscription for access to more courses and content. Because of the wide range of users, there’s a lot of content that can be overwhelming for beginners. The app is available on Google Play store or iTunes App Store.

Which app will you try? Have you ever tried mindfulness or meditation practice? Let us know in the comments!