Tumblr has always been an outlet for people to discuss ideas, share jokes (many in the meme form) and support one another. There are many blog subcultures within the site, with things ranging from fan blogs for hit tv shows to social justice blogs fighting for awareness and change in a large array of social and political issues.

A different kind of group has emerged within the blogosphere though. There are a collection of students from all over the world creating a Tumblr universe called “studyblr.” This community revolves around success in academia and includes content like note taking tips, how to make study guides and how to read effectively, as well as mental and emotional help for any issues that may come up from school.

I personally use studyblr every single day, and I can honestly say my grades have improved because of it. I was always a person who enjoyed the process of learning, but the stress of due dates and studying was hard for me to handle, and because of that my grades tended to suffer.

However, when I discovered the community over winter break of my freshman year, I was suddenly inspired to make an effort not only in class work and homework but in my studying efforts as well.

This was mostly due to a popular tag used on studyblr, “#studyspo.” Posts sporting these tags often have pictures of beautifully taken notes of all different styles. I never in a million years thought a picture of schoolwork would excite me as much as it did.

While each blog is usually specific to the student and what he or she is learning, the community revolves around some common tools to enhance their academic careers.

The first, and I think the most helpful, of these tools is the bullet journal. This time-management technique is used to some extent by almost everyone who is a part of studyblr. You can buy a planner, or even a blank notebook, and every day you make a checklist of things you have to do. Throughout the day you add tasks and check them off. Many people, including myself, use this to track other things like how much water you drink or how many hours you sleep.

This journaling method is awesome for two reasons. One, there is something absolutely satisfying about checking things off of a list. I personally find it helps me feel motivated to keep finishing tasks and make my list shorter. Secondly, it is a method of journaling for someone who doesn’t have the time or motivation to journal. I’ve been using a bullet journal for two years, and I can look back on any day and know exactly what I did.

Another big part of the studyblr community, and one that has really saved me time and time again, are the many time management resources. A lot of people use a famous technique called the “pomodoro method.” What this consists of is a series of 25 minute bursts of work, with 10 minute breaks in between. This method has been tried and true, and is one of the most popular time management resources out there.

So with all of this useful information, how can you access it? There are countless singular posts with so many good resources and ideas, and having them all at your fingertips can be a bit overwhelming. This is all fixed with something exclusively used on tumblr called a “masterpost.” A masterpost is a collection of singular posts hyperlinked and organized into different categories so you can find everything you might need in one place. They can be more focused, ranging from things like stress management to study music playlists, or more broad.

One of my personal favorites is the “Studyblr Masterpost” by getstudyblr.tumblr.com. This list has posts on all kinds of different tips for science and math classes, “how to make aesthetically pleasing notes,” and information on where to find cheap stationery supplies and free time management printouts.

So what if none of these methods work for you? Well, rest assured, I have only scratched the surface of the information, help and support studyblr has to offer. The entire community is based on encouragement of others, and they are willing to go above and beyond to help you. You can’t find information on something in particular? If you message a person’s studyblr, chances are they will respond either with their own tips, or recommend someone else’s blog to you. I’ve done this a number of times myself.

Furthermore, perhaps you will be inspired and start one of your own. It may seem a bit weird at first, but when you post a picture of notes you spent some serious time on, and they get a bunch of notifications, you feel pretty great about yourself. I also found myself studying more, because I was really making an effort to make my notes easy to read, and after putting so much work into them, I might as well use them for studying.

But you don’t need to make a studyblr to join in on the fun. You can check out my studyblr at ssstudyup.tumblr.com, or go to the main studyblr page: tumblr.com/tagged/studyblr. I guarantee you it will help you study for your finals, and you might make some study buddies along the way.

Fav Study Apps:

Evernote:

A free cross platform app designed for note taking, organizing and archiving.

Forest:

An app based Pomodoro timer that grows a tree for you every time you successfully complete a 25 minute period. If you stop early or exit the app the tree dies.

Plant Nanny:

A water intake tracker that waters a cute plant every time you drink water. Hydration is key to a successful study session

8Tracks:

A music server that has a great collection of study music playlists. I suggest the Lulatone/Instrumental playlist.

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