As the fall semester approaches, so do the memories of group projects and late-night essay writing — but it's not all bad. Heading back to school has some obvious perks, like seeing your friends again, meeting new people and, of course, the sweet feeling of picking up some fresh school supplies.
If you're a stationery geek, nothing beats buying new notebooks, some sticky notes and a collection of smooth writing pens to start the school year off right. Whether your study vibe is a decked-out planner from Staples or a DIY bullet journal, the BIC Gel-ocity Quick Dry pens could be your smudge-free saviour — and they come in a dozen colours.
Having a successful study year isn't just about school supplies; how and where you get your study on also matters (as does taking time to chill out). For your best shot at a successful semester, check out these seven tips and tricks.
Set Up Your Supply Stash
One of the best parts of back-to-school season is shopping, whether it's for new kicks, university merch or (maybe the most fun thing) school supplies. The pen may be mightier than the sword, but in the stationary aisle, you could find that pens are also mightier than your willpower.
Don't let anyone tell you that you don't need more pens. Every pen has a purpose: from felt tips for doodling to gel for writing or coloured pens for planning. BIC Gel-ocity has a pen for every use, including Quick Dry that are anti-smudge, quick to dry and perfect for taking notes, colour coding your agenda and more.
Create Major Study Space Vibes
The hunchback of study hall isn't a nickname anyone deserves. You can beat the poor-posture blues by setting up a designated study space in your home, complete with an ergonomic chair and sweet personal touches like art, plants and a wireless speaker to blast your study jams.
You're the ultimate designer of your study space, so choose a vibe that fits your style: warm and cozy, clean and modern, or dark and serious. Choose your ideal light source and adjust your workstation height so you stay comfy while working.
Find Your Go-To Study Playlist
If you're one of those students who needs a little assistance blocking out distracting noise while working, study playlists are your new best friend. Whether you go for lo-fi meditation beats, a classical symphony, movie soundtrack or heavy metal, you can choose your perfect tunes and get in the right headspace.
There's tons of inspiration on streaming platforms, plus it could be a great rest-day activity to build your own customized study playlist. Don't forget your headphones if you have a shared space or tend to keep to the library.
Stay On Top Of Things With A Planner
Having the right planning system for you can make a huge difference in keeping up with work during the semester, and it's a personal thing. Some people love picking up a fresh paper planner and look forward to filling up its pages with colour-coded notes, while others may appreciate the convenience of Google Calendar or an app. If you're the creative type, you can go full DIY with a homemade journal.
Getting organized is a huge step toward making your studies a success. Having nice pens, like the Gel-ocity Stic set, makes planning easy and more fun, so you can stay on top of your assignments, classes and other to-dos.
Go Over Your Notes
School is busy. When you have back-to-back classes, labs and essays due all at once, it's easy to lose track of what you learned — even though your hand is still cramped from all of your note-taking.
There's a lot more to note recall than scribbling away like your life (or your grade) depends on it. Your notes are a valuable study resource. There are several techniques you can use to help absorb what you learned in class, like rewriting your notes, coming up with a memory game, or even going for a jog can help you take it all in.
Get The Right Stationery For The Job
Whether you use 1001 sticky notes, colourful tabs to colour code and reference your textbook, or a notebook with just the right line height and width, you no doubt have your own particular style when it comes to hitting the books. No matter what your style is, it also requires the right equipment.
Stationery is only as good as the tools you have to mark it up, which is why the BIC Gel-ocity Stic pens are the ultimate addition to your supply stash. The thin 0.5 mm tip makes it easy to quickly make a note, sketch a plan or doodle an illustration.
With eight colours to choose from (black, blue, red, green, purple, orange, pink, and light blue), you can set a colour per class and even have a few spares to spice things up.
Schedule In Study-Free Days
You've probably heard that planning ahead is the key to success. What the study-hack blogs don't often mention is the need for a little R&R. Getting in a little rest is essential to great performance, both mentally and physically.
Take a look at your class schedule and try to plan time to rest at least once a week. This means no textbooks or notes in sight for at least a few hours — and no guilt about taking a break.
Hit a trail, have a nap, plan some quality time with your pals or partner, meditate, or catch up on your fave reality show. How you spend your rest day is up to you. Studying is essential, but so is rest, and you'll be all the more productive if you're not burning yourself out.
Back to school doesn't have to mean back to bad study habits. With the tips above, and a few BIC Gel-ocity pens, you can get on your organized way to a great GPA with loads of colour and creativity.