Student: Free printable planners + how to plan your day effectively

Student life is busy. You're juggling you degree with all these other things; possibly a part time job or volunteering in a society or team as well as needing time for a social life and your own health. It can be tough. I sometimes find it hard to focus on my day when I have so much on my mind and I find that planning my day out, either the night before or in the morning with my cup of coffee, helps A LOT! 

Here are my top tips for planning your day as a student and I also made some cute printable daily planners to help too. It's my first time sharing anything like this on my blog so if you have any feedback please let me know in the comments.

1. SET SOME GOALS.

Setting mini goals for the day makes the never ending pile of work seem less daunting. On the planning sheets I put together I've put 3 down as thats usually how many I can think of - of course you could just put the one down if you like. The key to setting goals (especially daily ones) is to keep them achievable - what do they say...Rome wasn't built in a day?

2. BREAK DOWN YOUR DAY

Breaking down your day allows me to see how much time I actually have. Lectures often take up most of your time at University and although they're useful and the main reason you're paying £9000, I often feel like my whole day is taken up by a two hour lecture. This of course isn't the case, and when I visualise the amount of hours in my day I seem to get a lot more work done. That hour you have free between lectures? Fill it with a short library session rather than loitering outside the lecture hall. 

3. TASKS

Doing a degree means lots and lots of tasks that seem to pile up very quickly. Reading, research, seminar preparation, revision, dissertation, presentation and group work is all part of the fun! Although it's cliché, writing down and ticking off each task when it's completed really helps me to keep track. 

4. ASSIGNMENTS 

Back in Secondary school when planners were free, my teachers would always force us to write down our homework. It seems that I forgot this little trick when I walked out of the school gate but it's something that I'm going to get back in the routine of doing. I even added  little 'due date' and 'completed' sections for y'all. 

5. HYDRATE AND EXERCISE 

This is definitely something I am trying to improve on. I drink plenty of tea and coffee but it doesn't really hydrate you that well. Drinking water is famous for improving brain power and its just good for you isn't it? Always take a bottle of the stuff with you to the library! As for exercise, I know, I know, it's so hard to keep up when you're in deep with revision and all you want to do is polish off that packet of Rich Tea. BUT taking time out to exercise is proven to make your brain more productive - even if it's just a brisk walk to the library!

Hope these tips helped and feel free to download and print my free printable planners! 

Click here to download

Make sure you check out my Pinterest board full of tips and tricks for students.

DIY Bedtime in a Bag

There's nothing better than finishing Uni work for the evening and making time for a little relaxation before turning the lights off! Making time to plan for tomorrow, moisturise and have a catch up on social media makes me feel organised and ready to take on the next day, however I sometimes lack the motivation or energy to do any of these things. That's until I thought up this cute idea...

I recently acquired quite a few pairs of Boux Avenue 'PJs in a Bag' (Thanks Aaron!) - gorgeous brushed cotton PJs that come in a matching button up pouch! I thought I would use the bag to make a little 'Bedtime in a Bag' pack. 

You could make this as everyday or as luxury as you like. The one I have made for now is mainly my essentials. I included my planner/journal, some beauty essentials like facewipes, foot/hand cream along with any medication I need to take. By adding a candle or a face mask you could save this little hamper for a Sunday night treat or even come up with your own idea - I think a hangover pack could be brilliant!

I actually did a post about a DIY "Pick-Me-Up Box" that may also give you ideas on what you could include in your bedtime bag! 

Wearing matching PJs to your 'Bedtime in a Bag' makes it feel like your own girly sleepover. You obviously don't have to use the Boux Avenue PJs (they aren't cheap and this isn't a sponsored post by the way!) - you could use a makeup bag or even make your own out of some awesome patterned fabric and a few buttons! I feel this could actually be a great sleepover idea but I am 20 and live with 4 of my best friends anyway so its a PJ party all day everyday!

Make sure you check out my Pinterest board full of tips and tricks for students.

Review | In Retrospect Magazine*

A couple of months ago the editor of In Retrospect Magazine offered me the opportunity to be sent a couple of issues of the magazine to review and of course I was delighted to accept this offer. He wanted me to be as honest and true as possible so this is why my review has taken a little while to do - I wanted to have a proper flick through and a good read before I put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard if you will. The magazine has been running since May 2014 and started out in digital format originally but thanks to a Kickstarter campaign the first issue was able to be published on the 1st of December 2014. 

My first impression of the magazines is that they are absolutely stunning and perfect to sit on a coffee table. The magazine covers are beautifully put together and the paper quality is just divine (am I the only one who gets excited over good paper?). I also love the way that the magazine is geared towards all vintage lovers - most of the covers feature a man and a woman. This is reflected throughout the whole magazine where there are articles that everyone would enjoy reading, none of them are too 'girly' or too 'manly' which is often one of my pet hates of magazine culture. 
The design is also very modern and this could be something people love or hate. Obviously if you love vintage you may want your magazine and it's design to echo this, however I feel that the contrast of modern aesthetic with vintage imagery works extremely well. Furthermore the contrast ties in with the magazines tagline 'A Modern Magazine for Old Fashioned People'. 

Now, let's get down to the actual content of the magazine. It is bold, bright and very easy to read, with plenty of topics to be discussed. Again, topics are not directed at one gender, there's recipes, gift guides, style tips and tricks and a little bit of history too (my personal favourite). Another section I love is the 'In Focus' section where writers have discussed topics from 'Feminism vs Vintage' to questioning whether or not the 90's are vintage. 

The pages are full of beautifully displayed writing and imagery - you can see why this magazine is seasonal rather than monthly. It's taken me so long to read them all - again perfect for dipping in and out of. I feel that although I have received magazines from the past year they are all still relevant, not many style magazines can say that. That's the beauty of it, in an ironic kind of way I believe vintage is timeless, and so is In Retrospect magazine. 
I think these magazines, although written by full-time vintage wearers who are obviously experts in the field are suitable for anyone, whether you've being living the vintage lifestyle for 20+ years or if like me you dabble in and out of the scene. There really is something for every type of vintage lover within these pages!

You too can receive back issues of In Retrospect here as well as subscribing to future issues. That brings me to price (it's retro AND thrift for a reason you know?) The affordability of these magazines is just amazing. For a quarterly issue of a magazine of this quality I'd easily expect to pay £10+ but each issue is just £4.50 - even as a student I think I can stretch to that? I also think that a subscription would make the perfect Christmas gift for a vintage lover (or yourself even hehe!).
If you'd like to know more about them they have a fantastic website and also a twitter page.