Stationery & University | Study Tips

[@flysilverbutterfly]

I'm just starting my first year of University and I can already tell that this series is going to be an absolute lifesaver! Thank you so much for this video as it is really helping me to get organised and I cannot wait for the next one! I always love your videos and overall just really enjoy your channel, so thank you so much Jean!

[@maddiespov547]

I saw stationary in the title, and I don`t think I`ve ever clicked a video so fast haha, I`m a sucker for good stationary and organisation. Loved all the tips in this! Although I`m not going to uni for another year, I like to be as prepared as I possibly can be:)

[@lauren499]

As a History student currently in my first year of uni this was so useful - thank you so much

[@backupandround3375]

Agreeing with everything you said, and adding: be kind to yourself. Write down *all* of the publication information for every source you look at *whilst you're still in the research stage*. It will help. I would also suggest keeping a list of all the books/articles you read for each class? Even if you don't make any notes from it at the time. I can't count the number of times I've been writing an essay and, even though it is already way over-planned, I'll come up with another idea whilst I'm writing, based on something I've read. Having that list will help you find it more quickly, and makes writing the bibliography easier, too.

[@SaraStar7373]

YES YES YES! So many times I'll remember a random fact i read ages ago and I can never track it down!

[@pmrh1]

Great tips Jean

[@JeansThoughts]

+pmrh1 glad they were helpful :)

[@robotnic]

This is awesome and I don't even study anymore. Your colour coordinated notes made me think of something I do which I don't even think about anymore, which is a mini bulleting system for taking notes. When I'm describing something that happened or quoting (say on a scene in a film or a book) I begin the line with a billet point or dash, then if I'm paraphrasing I use a wee arrow, and if it's my own observation I use an indented arrow with a tail. Then if I want to look up a detail later I use an asterisk. Funny how we develop these wee shorthands for ourselves without necessarily thinking about it or realising we're doing it. So I find it fascinating to see how other people organise their thoughts. Looking forward to more of these!

[@micaela044]

I'm so thrilled for this series! I'm in "university" in America and love this type of video as it relates to a love not only throughout my masters but as a personal joy as well.

[@micaela044]

+Jean Bookishthoughts I also appreciate your method to research papers!

[@TomesAndTravel]

Thank you for this video, it was very useful for me as a first year languages student! I can't wait for more in the series, particularly your video about scholarship and citations, something which I initially found quite overwhelming :) I'm similar to you regarding taking notes in lectures - I have to write stuff down because it goes in better. I type so quickly that half the time I'm typing at a quicker rate than I can take the information in. And when I'm revising it's the same - I have different notebooks/jotters for each module and write my revision notes rather than typing. It's also true that people using their laptops in lectures often get distracted, even if they don't meant to be - I always see people zoning out halfway through lectures and checking Facebook.

[@maritindbjofrey7712]

This is great! I like how Jean gives really helpful advice to the viewers without any bs. The colored pens have an actual function, it's not just "pretty" or whatever... The semesters when I was most disciplined with my stationery, were definitely the ones with the best results. Now I'm just a two months away from finishing my masters thesis. Help! Okay, I'll shut up now and go back up todays work...

[@SarahMawby]

Love the jotter idea! I'm now doing a PhD and I used to carry around a pukka pad with me when I did my undergrad and masters degrees in order to take notes and you're absolutely right, they're super bulky and not that practical. If I had a time machine I'd definitely go back and tell myself to switch to jotters :)

[@elenareadsbooks88]

Now I want to go back to university! Must find an excuse to get some of these things especially the jotters I love them 😀

[@JeansThoughts]

+Elena Reads Books (ereadsbooks) Intense youtube organisation and boo note taking! :D

[@timberebersole356]

Love this! I am a full time employee at my University and going to school part time. Organization is key when trying to juggle it all! I'm in the States and have been trying to find jotters and have been coming up empty. They look like a great way to take notes! I hate taking notes on the computer too.

[@alyssacrisostomo2875]

Thank you for this video! I just started university this week and I also love stationery! I also agree with you on the whole typing on computers vs writing notes debate.

[@Layla.17]

omg I was seriously considering getting exercise books 'a jotter' when I start my second yr at uni because it seems so much tidier! Now I know i'm defo doing it :D

[@beckez]

I'm glad i'm not the only one who sees the benefits of handwriting rather than typing, I always do it for my essays and I noticed that the quality of my essays have just gotten so much better since doing this! I actually inspired myself to look at the different things which can affect essay quality for my dissertation! and one of the things I'm looking at is handwriting versus typing, hoping to prove that handwriting things is actually a lot better ;) I loved this video, I've never thought of using jotters myself, I just have one small A5 moleskin (I agree moleskin are the best) notebook that I use to take my notes, I write a title everytime its a new topic and I then highlight the title so I can easily see where it ends!

[@teaandcrochet]

Thank you for this! I'm starting university next week and am trying to find what notebooks and organisation system to use, so this was super helpful :)

[@thisismeoffline3882]

I'm doing an MSci Astrophysics degree and this was so helpful, even for me. Thanks!

[@JeansThoughts]

+Noimaginationstation that's great to hear ^_^

[@topdogoldchap]

Love this! So helpful and comforting! I always feel better with lists and thorough documentation around me.

[@JeansThoughts]

+topdogoldchap yes write everything down aha!

[@nicoleisheretolearn]

Good call on jotters!!! I don't know why I never thought of that as a super simple solution, but that's actually a really good way to do things. Great tips :)

[@lindaw8958]

Hi Jean! I really got a lot out of this video, and am looking forward to more. I've been out of school for many years now, and work full time, but I've decided to take some courses in Literature, not for any type of degree, but just for fun. Even so, I take it very seriously and want to do well. The thought of having to take notes and study were making me feel a little overwhelmed after so many years, so your timing (for me) is perfect. I'm feeling much more encouraged! Thanks so much.

[@KittyAndTheBooks]

Very good tips. I did a lot of the same things especially with planning out essays and papers.

[@sarahjayne6138]

I love stationary so I wasn't shocked I clicked, I will definitely use this for higher psychology, as it's defiantly hard to remember where you read the study (which journal, article, case study's etc.). So thank you!

[@RhiannaVarney]

I am in my first year at University and this video was really helpful!

[@nonono6537]

this is so useful!! i'm going to uni this september and i'm super excited!

[@chighibli257]

Thanks for the grammar book tip! I am currently studying Japanese, Spanish, and French, so this will be really helpful for keeping all the different grammar rules straight! :)

[@JeansThoughts]

+chighibli257 oh so glad you enjoyed that one - that book has saved me during language classes, revision and translating - it's so quick and easy and drills it in as well :)

[@freeyourmind16]

So helpful! I was so excited to see this video from you, as I'm going into grad school soon :) thanks so much!

[@TisBethany]

I so relate to what you're saying about typing up notes in lectures! For me if I have to use my laptop in lectures if I've either been stupid and forgot my notebooks or ran out paper etc., I just turn the wifi off on my laptop. Such a simple way of removing all the distractions that come with the internet and I think everyone should try this is they prefer to type up notes yet find themselves drifting off into the realm of the ever so distracting Facebook. :) Great video btw Jean, really helped me as a first year student so thank you thank you thank you :) xx

[@larzie1015]

I am currently learning old English and have a grammar book and a glossary which I add to as I go. Both are invaluable!! Great video, you indulged two of my great loves - studying and stationery :P

[@mapykaksim]

Excellent tips! I'm starting my PhD in the fall. I'm thinking of starting a PhD weekly vlog. I wonder if that is something people would be interested in? Following me through my PhD?

[@SwirlyGirlyReads]

Great video, I watched it with my son who is going to uni this year and he found your tips really helpful, thanks for making it x

[@JeansThoughts]

+SwirlyGirlyReads Oh I'm so glad to hear that :) x

[@nokiddingbrainless]

EXCELLENT. There are few things that give me greater pleasure than stationary and getting organized. This is very helpful! I've just started uni so I will be coming back to this video a lot, I expect. =)

[@SophieReadsBooks]

I have a slight obsession with index markers and all this post it notes, so it was nice to see that my feelings were felt by others! Oh and I love the idea of a continuous notebook with different colours for different books/topics... Going to have to give that a go! Awesome video :D

[@JeansThoughts]

+Sophie Squire Yay you are not alone aha!

[@indubitablyzara]

I really enjoyed this video! I do a lot of the things you mentioned already, but one tip I found really useful was to color code what comes from the reading, the professor, and you, etc. - I compile my reading and class notes together and organize them so that all the information about "x" topic from one day's class is in the same place, but there have come times when I wanted to know whether something came from my head or my professor's mouth/a scholar's pen, so I think I'll find that particularly useful. I also always love chatting about stationery, and this video actually made me excited to catch up on compiling my notes over spring break next week, so that in itself is incredibly useful. ;P

[@JeansThoughts]

+Indubitably Zara it is so helpful when it comes to revision having everything written down and separated right! :) Also so glad I made you excited, I really enjoyed filming the video and going through my stationary aha.

[@kaitlynarsenault3156]

These tips are great! I usually take my notes on regular loose leaf and then recopy them on nicer paper or in notebooks later, but I think I will start using a smaller notebook for each class and spend re-copying time revising the notes :)

[@Maria_Efe]

Great video! I loved seeing the greek writing as well! :)

[@royaevereadsbooks]

LOVE this video Jean, thanks so much for sharing your tips :) :)

[@ametrinemoon]

Chemistry student here. I do the sticky labels, coloured pens. I have essays this time round and I have a separate folder for coursework, another one for assignments and other one for revision. I do write down myself. I found when I am assembling the papers for coursework, I use the numberical system and it use the sticky things on the papers to arrange them. As a scientist, this is handy for us. I used a certain ring binder for each module. When doing assignments, if I finish a question, I tick it off on the paper. I can't work with notebooks and I prefer spiral bound books.

[@wilh2019]

Amazing! Thank you so much! This may need to be adapted for me because I am a biology major and we don't do quite as much reading but I would love to see your style of note taking in another video, especially how you do it in lecture. My notes from lecture are always messy and hard to follow :(

[@lucimmv]

I am about to finish university now, and I am now writing an article, as a final disseration, the color pens tip was very helpfull, I will try it :)

[@ah99019]

Very useful! I'm starting uni n 2 weeks and I'm terrified! Great tips and high quality video! Thank you!

[@SophieIslington]

Gosh I love stationery, I'm going to have to go back to my revision now....

[@Classicluce]

Thank you!! This was so helpful to me! I'm in my first year of a Classical Studies degree :)

[@shannonmccrackenx]

I'm hopefully going starting college (I have to get past the interviews first) later this year and this video really helps!☺

[@megrose4737]

Thank you! This was so helpful Jean! I'm just about to start my masters and I will definitely be using the tips you showed us. I will have to pick up some coloured pens asap! :)

[@JeansThoughts]

+Samantha Lee Yay for coloured pens!

[@caz4772]

thanks for all the note taking inspiration! :) for backing up, i tend to use dropbox.com a lot. you don't have to carry around a hard drive or usb stick (sooo easy to lose!) all the time, and it's so easy to just drag and drop files and save updated copies of your work on there. would recommend!

[@carolinagonzalez8270]

Excellent tips! Thank you very much!

[@lisafagerlind9687]

I don't even go to uni, I'm 16 but I bloody love this! please make more!

[@JeansThoughts]

+Lisa Fagerlind haha glad to hear it!

[@mlledottie1781]

There are numerous empirical studies, which show that using a computer during a lecture reduces the learning profit, even for nearby peers. And I totally agree with your opinion about that. --> Sana, F., Weston, T., & Cepeda, N.J. (2013). Laptop multitaskig hinders classroom learning for both users and nearby peers.

[@heysupratim]

This is probably the only video of the kinds posted on KZbin which does away with the random DIY jazz and creative stuff and focuses on getting a realistic system in place . Thanks +Jean Also , i will be going for my masters this year , could you go over some tips to ace it :)

[@mentatphilosopher]

I wonder if you have considered or know of the "waste book" (the term comes from bookkeeping) method for lecture notes. You basically take a bound notebook with good non-bleeding pens to lectures to take notes in. This is the only notebook that needs to be carried for the day and the notes can be written without care about nice penmanship, keeping within the lines, color coding, and abbreviations can be used freely. The notes are then transferred later to subject notebooks and any additional formatting, reference lookup, etc. can be done. This also provides a revision and reinforces finding the argument and expanding any gaps in what are always hurried notes. The original notes then become waste, hence the term waste book. You never have to worry about your subject notebooks being lost or damaged. It also cuts down on what you need carry to lectures or about on a particular day. Also your subject notebooks can be of any size whereas the size of the waste book is chosen for convenience

[@JeansThoughts]

+mentatphilosopher Yeah I had friends that kind of worked liked that, definitely another fair method. I don't have classes or lectures anymore though so I've missed the boat I think haha.

[@pingy2410]

As this video progressed I realised that you and I are the same in many respects. I'm in the final year of my undergrad and this year I made the change from puka pad to individual jotters and I wish I'd done it sooner. I get mine from a company called Ohh Deer and they are marvellous.

[@JeansThoughts]

+Georgia Stephenson one you go jotter there is no turning back ^_^!

[@Carmen-hh3cq]

This just made me wanna go start summarize all my psychology I have to study for my next exam...And that is saying a lot! I got back an hour ago from volunteering for 5 hours and my neck hurts! hahha (Would probably start summarazing it if my neck didn't hurt so bad!!) Thank you Jean!!!

[@Videogamefan1992]

Great tips! I completely agree with the whole using laptops in class. Since you typically have to type so quickly, it makes a good amount of noise and can be distracting to others. Also, as you mentioned, waaay too easy to get distracted. Half the people with laptops were doing online shopping or checking social media. To me, it's pen and paper for notes all the way.

[@JeansThoughts]

+Christian Pons of course if people need their computers I completely understand but I agree it is so irritating when you turn to your right and someone is buying stuff on amazon whilst the lecturer is trying to deliver their lecture!

[@karinanam5795]

Super cool video and so #studyinspo!!! Thanks!

[@castawaylookingforahome407]

I'm finishing university and I think you gave really good advice! Colour pens work so well for me. When I was 10 years old, I came up with a color system and I've stuck to it ever since. After more than ten years doing it like that, it feels a bit awkward when I see other people highlighting titles in any colour that is not blue or key words in some colour that's not orange...

[@JeansThoughts]

+Castaway Lookingforahome haha I love that! I like when you find things that work and stick with them ^_^

[@LettersAndLeaves]

I know I'm late on this, but this video was so incredibly useful! I love how thorough it is, and I hope you continue with the series :) I also would always, always handwrite notes from lectures, but in preparing for an essay I would type notes from other sources, because in my first-ever uni essay I handwrote them, and it was a disaster because I tend to take VERY extensive notes, and I basically filled one of those jotters to the brim and when it came to write, I was sitting there with tons of handwritten info and no idea how to collate it. So my question is, how do you avoid taking TOO MANY notes when researching? The reason I do this is that I'm afraid to draw any hard conclusions about my argument until I've read everything, and when you're reading something and don't know what you will be saying about it, you also don't know which information is relevant and which isn't. Does that make sense? And your grammar notebook is the cutest thing I've ever seen!

[@sk8terac]

Gosh it's weird snooping around other people's stationery! Like you, I prefer handwriting notes. I swore by it in my undergrad but I use my laptop more now cause I don't want to print out all my lecture slides. However, I use a completely different system! I LOVE ring binders and I take notes on refill pads. It's just much easier for me to walk around with paper and organise it later. It's really important to me that you can reorder things and add pages later down the road - not something you can do with notebooks!

[@onesong89]

I used so many of those little note cards and sticky tabs while writing my dissertation and these days I email various versions of novel drafts to myself from the fear of having to rewrite anything!

[@TweetyBird862]

Great video. Small tip, instead of emailing stuff to yourself you could just use Google drive (or google docs) or Dropbox or something like that. Fantastic way to store documents online. I use them constantly, oh the joys of modern technology ^^

[@booksandstraycats5033]

I am now writing my master thesis almost exclusively on my google drive now and it is amazing! Especially because I have access to my work anywhere on my phone and I can easily send the right links to what I'm doing to my promotor WHILE I'm still working on it and she can easily add comments of herself as well, which saves us both so much time. SO I would definitely recommend google drive as wel :)

[@booksandstraycats5033]

and off course as you said already, it is so much less stressfull to know that I can't accidentally lose all my work :P

[@marianelacabana3850]

omg, thank you so much for this video! i'm gonna start university this year and i was freaking out because i know the highschool is totally different to university, so thank you so much for this video. can you make a video talking about other topics of the university life style or how to divide the times between a job and the university? (sorry for my bad english) thank you again 💜

[@themissinglambsauce]

+marianela cabaña same! your english is pretty good - don't apologize for it. :)

[@marianelacabana3850]

+themissinglambsauce awn thank you so much ♡

[@chloe8480]

This was so helpful thank you!

[@divyaharirao7412]

Hi. Love your videos. Could you please do a video on how you organize your important documents and notes??

[@esthalensherr5698]

Please film a video on using critical scholarship and doing preliminary research, Jean!

[@brigid1196]

I'm the same! I much prefer writing things down in class to typing them.

[@CatherineElizabeth728]

OMG the Greek "Harry Potter" in the background I need it

[@karinanam5795]

By the way, do you know there is a sort of cool colorful japanese pens, that are erasable? The quality is good and it's so nice to see your notes tidy:)

[@arizonajen7577]

Great video! I love stationary and office supplies...it's pretty ridiculous. But, other than the stationary porn (as I would call it) I loved the tips for school. My graduate program started on Monday, so the tips are invaluable for me!

[@mkidd955]

While I'm registered to take psychology for university next year, I'm torn in my heart between that and history... and this video just reignited my wont to study history. Lol

[@iuhhjvhgcfrd]

your writing is so pretty at 5:30 is that how you'd write lecture notes or is it writing up afterwards?

[@JeansThoughts]

+iuhhjvhgcfrd oh gosh no haha that was writing notes from books I was reading for an essay - my lecture notes are a mess ^_^

[@iuhhjvhgcfrd]

***** well it looks lovely! I'm really into the coloured pens, I'm devoted to the pilot v ball rollerballs so I have them in all the colours I can find

[@ayala3261]

Thank you for all the tips =-D

[@JeansThoughts]

+The Art Admirer Glad you enjoyed them :D

[@sierraduran1293]

Great video! I was wondering what your degrees are in and what they are (eg bachelors, masters...)

[@JeansThoughts]

+Sierra Venegas I have a 4 year undergraduate MA in Classical Studies and a 1 year postgraduate MSc in Classics ^_^

[@antoniagremi-liadi1225]

I liked your tips and I'll watch more videos. I saw that you have a Greek titled book in your library. Can you speak or write Greek?

[@JeansThoughts]

It's in Ancient Greek ^_^ I did Classics at university and am currently doing my PhD in Ancient Greek history.

[@amazingamy2836]

hey Jean just wanted to ask: Have u read any daphne du maurier or tracy chevalier because i bet they are amazing...! ps: this question randomly popled in my head...and i wud luv if u replied...

[@JeansThoughts]

+amazing amy Haha no I haven't yet but they are both authors that I definitely want to read :)

[@joychalaby]

+Jean Bookishthoughts Rebecca is a brilliant novel - highly recommend it!

[@amazingamy2836]

+Joy C. totally agreed... just the dark gothic romance to start with that gives u the chills..

[@hayley1072]

I almost had a heart attack when I saw your highlighted book, how do you get past marking books :)

[@JeansThoughts]

+Hayley Dawson I couldn't tell you how to get past it haha I like the way it looks and it is incredibly useful :)

[@mohankashyap3534]

useful

[@arbazqadriqadri1648]

nice

[@imatroll147]

You sound like Amelia Pond :P

[@LonelyGamr]

the book behind you looks like harry potter and the philosophers stone.

[@queenlucysroyalmaid1]

+Robert Alexander it is, it's in ancient Greek. :)

[@JeansThoughts]

+queenlucysroyalmaid1 You got there before me :')

[@queenlucysroyalmaid1]

***** haha only cause I have it as well :)

[@LonelyGamr]

+queenlucysroyalmaid1 very cool. At first im like 'am i readin harry potter backwards' lol its 3am

[@imatroll147]

Is that Harry Potter in Greek?

[@JeansThoughts]

+imatroll147 haha yeah ancient Greek