How to Romanticize Studying: 14 Tips & Tricks
Let’s be real — studying isn't always fun. From endless reading to never-ending to-do lists, schoolwork is overwhelming. But what if you could flip the script?
Ready to channel your inner Rory Gilmore or Hermione Granger? Here are all the ways we can romanticize studying to make it not only bearable, but even fun.Read more
What is the Pomodoro Technique? The Best Methods & Practices
The Pomodoro technique is an effective time management tool that’ll help you “ketchup” on your work and squash your to-do list!
This popular study method was invented in the late 1980s by Italian university student Francesco Cirillo, who wanted a better way to complete tasks more efficiently. He found that short work sessions followed by quick breaks made him more productive and less stressed.
The Pomodoro technique gets its name from the Italian word for tomato. It comes from Cirillo's tomato-shaped kitchen timer, which he used to keep track of his work and break intervals.
But what is the Pomodoro technique? And what are the best practices for optimizing your productivity when using this time management system?Read more
The 16 Best 75 Medium Challenge Templates & Trackers
The 75 Medium Challenge is perfect if you want to up your fitness levels and improve your well-being without committing to the rigid structure of the 75 Hard Challenge.
With less pressure and a few cheats, the 75 Medium Challenge will motivate you to change how you view your nutrition, fitness, and self-care. Plus, it'll fit into your busy work or study schedule, providing flexibility in your routine.
To help you get started, we've rounded up the best and most popular 75 Medium Challenge templates and trackers, including PDFs, printables, journal inserts, and more!Read more
The 24 Best Notion CRM Templates for Personal & Client Management
Notion makes it easier than ever to build and maintain meaningful relationships with your network. Get automatic reminders for birthdays and follow-ups, store and locate your contacts quickly, and so much more with this powerful app!
Whether you’re a business owner, realtor, or individual looking to manage your network and friendships, we’ve curated the best Notion CRM templates for every industry and use case!Read more
The 10 Best Lofi.co Alternatives
Once a go-to site for focus, relaxation, and organization, Lofi.co announced it's shutting its doors on May 22, 2024.
Whether you're one of 26,000 monthly users leaving Lofi.co, or you're simply on the hunt for a fresh, new virtual space, we've got the answer. Keep scrolling for the 10 best Lofi.co alternatives!
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Flocus: All-in-One Aesthetic Focus Dashboard
Flocus is your one-stop shop for staying focused and recharging your mental battery. Make yourself at home — the Home dashboard features an ever-growing collection of bespoke backgrounds, dynamic greetings, ambient sounds, and a bold clock.
Then, flip over to Focus Mode when you're ready to get down to business. Set customizable Pomodoro timers, jot down your current task or focus area, and tune into built-in lofi playlists.
Picture-in-picture means you can work with Flocus world to keep you company in the corner. Need to escape from your hectic day? Take a breather in one of over dozens of soothing ambient worlds.
Why we like Flocus:
- Customizable focus timer, lofi playlists, and motivational quotes
- Dozens of aesthetic ambient worlds and themes
- Welcoming Home dashboard with dynamic greetings and quotes
- Quick-switch between home, focus, and ambient modes
- Picture-in-picture lets you switch tabs while keeping Flocus in your corner
LifeAt
If you're familiar with virtual spaces, you've probably heard of LifeAt. Boasting a vast collection of dynamic spaces, ambient sounds, and custom timers, LifeAt is perfect for work or play.
Stay organized with LifeAt's built-in to-do lists and unified calendar that syncs with Google Calendar. Thanks to its integrated notepad, you can also make progress on your latest WIP directly through LifeAt.
Need to chat with your classmates or colleagues? Co-work through LifeAt with video, audio, and text chat. You can even sync your virtual spaces and join public co-working rooms!
Why we like LifeAt:
- Includes dynamic virtual spaces, personalizable soundscapes, and custom Pomodoro timers
- Create to-do lists and sync your email calendar
- Co-work and share virtual spaces in private and public rooms
StudyWithMe.io
StudyWithMe.io, by yours truly, is ideal if you'd prefer an easy-to-navigate, aesthetic virtual space. It features a a custom Pomodoro timer, aesthetic backgrounds, and a Spotify widget for getting in the zone. Sign up for a free StudyWithMe.io account to sync your timers and backgrounds across devices!
Why we like StudyWithMe:
- Features an aesthetic simple layout
- Choose from a dozen illustrated backgrounds
- Set Pomodoro timers with custom alarm sounds
- Make a free account to sync across devices
Lofi Cafe
Lofi Cafe gives pure retro vibes with its analog aesthetic and warm, grainy visuals. Channel flip between your favorite ambient YouTube channels, ranging from cutesy anime cats to rain-soaked coffee shops.
Each video is accompanied by a different playlist, with genres like chillhop, lofi, and jazz. Lofi Cafe is also great for focus — GTD with its built-in Pomodoro timer.
Why we like Lofi Cafe:
- Features a retro analog TV aesthetic
- Flick between popular ambient music YouTube channels
- Comes with a built-in Pomodoro timer
I Miss My Cafe
I Miss My Cafe recreates the hubbub of your favorite cozy café. Mix your own café commotion with adjustable sliders for the sounds of chatting baristas, clanging cups, rain on window panes, and more.
Or, tune in to I Miss My Cafe's personal Spotify playlist for the perfect coffee shop soundtrack. I Miss My Cafe includes accessibility options like dark mode and features a Pomodoro timer for focused work.
Why we like I Miss My Cafe:
- Curate your ideal café ambiance
- Adjust sound sliders to change your soundscape
- Tune into the I Miss My Cafe Spotify playlist
- Toggle dark mode and set a Pomodoro timer
I Miss My Library
I Miss My Library is heavily inspired by I Miss My Cafe — it features a minimalist library background with sliders to create your ideal library atmosphere.
Choose from 6 sounds, including turning pages, a crackling fireplace, and rainy weather. I Miss My Library includes a to-do list so you can get down on your daily chores and tasks.
Why we like I Miss My Library:
- Mix and match sounds for your ideal library aesthetic
- Features 6 sound sliders for mixing your library soundscape
- Includes a to-do list
I Miss My Bar
Check out I Miss My Bar if you long to enjoy a drink with friends in a bustling setting. Recreate your favorite watering hole with 7 sound sliders, including street ambiance, serving drinks, and a full room of bar patrons!
Why we like I Miss My Bar:
- Recreate a bustling bar setting
- Adjust 7 sound sliders for your ideal ambiance
I Miss The Office
Visit I Miss The Office if you WFH and miss conversing with co-workers. Pick up to 10 colleagues to fill your workspace. Click on different office objects to generate different office sounds, like gurgling water coolers, squeaking chairs, and whirring photocopiers.
Why we like it:
- Fill an office space with up to 10 virtual colleagues
- Click different office objects to mix and match sounds
- Engaging minimalist office animations
Magenta Lofi Player
A unique Lofi.co alternative, Magenta Lofi Player lets you mix and master your own lofi beats in an interactive 8-bit living room!
Click different objects to mix your lofi soundtrack — add other instruments, adjust the BPM from your desk, and turn on the TV to change the melody. Everything in the room changes the scenery or adds a musical element, helping you create a rich lofi soundscape.
Why we like it:
- Mix and master personalized lofi music from an interactive 8-bit living room
- Click different instruments and objects to create a layered lofi soundscape
- Adjust the vibe and color of your virtual room
- Share your custom mixes with your friends
Lofi YouTube Channels
Is YouTube your go-to Lofi.co alternative? From Lofi Girl to The Jazz Hop Café, here are some of our favorite lofi channels:
List of Channels Here:
Which Lofi.co alternative will you choose? Any others to share? Sound off in the comments below!
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The Best 18 Notion SEO Templates (Checklists, Dashboards & More)
Optimizing your site for search is always a work-in-progress that involves a ton of moving parts, from analytics setup and keyword research, to monitoring live page performance and maintaining your content library.
Struggling to stay on top of everything? Notion is one of the best apps for centralizing your SEO efforts and overall project management. Go as granular as you want with powerful database features, and embed your Looker Studio reports right in Notion!
Whether you’re starting a new site or optimizing an existing one, check out our roundup of the best Notion SEO templates, made by SEO experts and content creators!
The 49 Best Aesthetic Mac Widgets (macOS Sonoma)
When it comes to customizing your Mac, what probably comes to mind is wallpapers, app icons, screensavers – but Mac widgets can take your desktop setup to the next level, both functionally and aesthetically. With the click of a button, you can easily access Mac widgets with the click of a button, no matter which window or app you’re currently in. Get a glimpse of the weather, time, date, and photos – and even complete the look
If you’re looking to take your Mac customization to the next level – check out our curated round-up of the most aesthetic Mac widgets to add to your desktop setup! For more Mac customization tips, don’t miss our full guide on how to make your Mac aesthetic.Read more
18 Film Emulation Presets (Free & Paid)
The love of film photography will never be lost — we all strive to perfect the timeless look of film into our modern digital photos. Enter: Film emulation presets. They’ve become a vital tool, allowing photographers to recreate the unmistakable look of famous film stocks from Kodak, Fuji, CineStill, and more, into their workflows.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a hobbyist photographer just getting started, let’s dive into some of the best film emulation presets to get started and transform your digital photos with the robust, yet classic qualities of film photography.Read more
132 Shadow Work Journal Prompts: Questions for Growth & Healing
The journey to self-discovery is intimate but life-changing, and it often requiring us to delve into the quieter parts of our inner worlds. Shadow work is a concept popularized by psychologist Carl Jung, and involves digging into the hidden and unconscious parts of our personalities — parts we often suppress or ignore.
It can be uncomfortable, but shadow work can uncover hidden insights about our deepest desires, fears, and even self-identity. Exploring our “dark side” and confronting it with shadow work is incredibly effective, and is really step one on the path to personal growth and healing.
Whether you’ve just heard of shadow work journaling, are seeking deeper fulfilment in life, or just want to get to know yourself better, we’ve curated over 100 shadow work journal prompts, all organized and categorized for you to get started. Let’s jump in!Read more
13 Tortured Poets Department Filters & Presets (Lightroom, VSCO & More)
From Red, all the way to Rep, Lover, Folklore, Evermore, and Midnights, Taylor has brought us her latest era: The Tortured Poets Department — and along with it, a soft vintage sepia aesthetic that’s as calming and atmospheric as the Anthology tracks.
Apply Taylor’s latest aesthetic to your photos with these TTPD presets and filters! They add her new signature soft sepia, or even black and white (if you’re The Albatross), textured treatment to your photos.
Whether you’re looking to enhance your photos with a simple soft and glowy finish, or bring some of Taylor’s artistic look to your moments, check out these Tortured Poets Department filters and presets to give your photos Taylor’s new unmistakeable look.Read more
