Shadowing Practice: BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE📚(romanticize school, study habits & halara try on haul) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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This is your official back to school guide, so get your notebooks ready because class is in session.
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We're going to be talking about how to romanticize school, study tips, what to wear, and more.
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My name is Vanessa Bianca, and if you like videos like this, then make sure to subscribe.
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Guys, I'm even wearing my glasses for you today.
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I want to inspire you to be your best, most chic, most intelligent self for this school year.
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Let's start with part one, which is how to romanticize school.
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Number one is to wake up 30 minutes earlier and take time for yourself.
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It is essential to have some peace and quiet in the morning, and I know you don't want to do it, but I promise it'll really make a difference.
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You have to start the day in a good place.
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So take those 30 minutes to open a window to let the air in, make a coffee, do some journaling, just basically settling into the morning and making sure you're in a relaxed state
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so you can be more productive for the rest of the day.
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Starting the day slow is essential because school is a lot of work and you're gonna be really busy.
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So you need to take a moment for yourself.
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You need to ground yourself, let your nervous system have a little break and getting
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that moment of rest before the chaos of the whole day
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starts is gonna let you be much more productive throughout the day and have a little bit more of a clear mind.
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Have a signature study scent.
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This was my best study hack in school.
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I would either light a candle
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or use my oil diffuser Your sense of smell is a very powerful thing
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and it can really bring you back to certain memories
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So you can kind of train your brain to remember the feelings
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that come with that scent If you use a specific candle
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or a specific oil diffuser when you study your mind
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and your body are going to remember that
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So it's going to make it easier to lock in
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and get into study mode I like to switch up my
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scents twice a year I do one for the first half of the year, which is basically my winter and fall scent And then I'll do the second half of the year, which is after January, all the way until the beginning of summer.
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This is a very aesthetic productivity hack.
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Wear a comfy outfit to class.
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There is simply nothing better than an outfit that is both cute and cozy.
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Obviously, you want to look good, but you also want to feel good.
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Especially if you're walking from class to class, you're going to need something that feels right.
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And I want to say a huge thank you to Halara for sponsoring this portion of the video.
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I am really loving Halara right now because they really focus on making comfortable but stylish pieces.
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And on top of that, they're environmentally friendly, so that's amazing.
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I'll have my discount code on the screen for you guys, as well as my description.
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And we had to start with one of my favorite outfits.
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I cannot believe how comfortable I am right now.
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You guys know how much I love an off-shoulder top, and this one is so comfortable.
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It is the perfect texture, so soft and so cozy.
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I just feel like it suits my style really well.
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And I paired it with these jeans that aren't even real jeans, you guys.
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I love the baggy style.
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It feels super 90s to me.
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This whole outfit in general is just the perfect fall back to school look.
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And the thing about these clothes is the texture is so stretchy and breathable.
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So it looks like I'm wearing jeans, but you guys, I could fall asleep in these pants easily.
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Let's move on to outfit number two.
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We're going slightly business casual with very much a girly touch to it.
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I absolutely love this top.
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The fit of it feels really nice.
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It's giving me some pink Pilates princess vibes.
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You could definitely go to the gym in this.
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But it's also perfect to wear literally anywhere, which is the best thing about these outfits.
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Because they look great, but they're so comfortable.
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So you can wear it to class, to the airport, to dinner with friends, literally anywhere.
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There's definitely an outfit for every occasion here and these pants are very much serving work, business, school.
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They are so lightweight and they feel amazing.
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I could totally picture myself wearing these all day to work or school and feeling great by the end of the day.
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We had to continue the Pilates princess vibe.
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This is the perfect outfit for
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when you want to make sure you stay motivated to go to the gym after school
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because you just feel so cute in your little workout set.
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I'm just obsessed with these two patterns.
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It looks like there's two shirts layered on top of each other.
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And there are just so many color options on the website.
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I feel like you can really find anything that suits your style.
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No matter what your aesthetic is, you're going to find something that you really like.
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And that's what I love about all these outfits.
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I feel like I keep finding pieces that really speak to all the different sides of my personality.
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And you know what's my favorite thing about Hilara is they put pockets in their pants.
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I'm so serious, you guys.
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I literally can't live without these pockets anymore.
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I always choose their leggings to wear when I go on a walk because I love putting my phone in there.
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I'm giving this outfit a 10 out of 10.
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If you wanted a workout outfit in a different aesthetic, I got you.
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Obviously, I had to get myself an all-black fit, and this one is so perfect.
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This sports bra literally feels like a crop top, and it fits me so well.
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You could totally wear this as a shirt and then go to a workout class in it.
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And these pants are amazing.
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They're high-waisted.
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They have a little flair.
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Feeling confident in my workout outfit is really important to me because it motivates me to exercise, to be productive.
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And sometimes you order stuff, and it can either be too small or too big, but there are a lot of size options for Hilara, so you can definitely find something that really suits your body type.
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I'm just feeling so good in this one.
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Obviously, this would not be a Vanessa Bianca exclusive if I didn't get the cozy vibes.
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You guys know I had to order a hoodie.
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This is so essential, especially if you wanna have a chill day at school.
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I feel like a hoodie is one of the basics
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that you really need in a closet and you can get it in a million different colors.
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I honestly wish I could have ordered more of these in different colors.
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Honestly, what a perfect and chill vibe.
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As you guys can tell, I'm loving a black off-shoulder moment and this comes with a built-in bra, so I'm feeling very secure.
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This is another one of those tops that feel so fashionable and so soft.
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I'm obsessed with the little thumb holes and it's such a stable piece
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because it really goes with everything in your closet Last
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but not least on my list are these super cozy pants These feel absolutely amazing you guys
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and i'm obsessed with this gray color I feel like it gives off the perfect vibe of comfortable
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but not too casual And just the best part of these outfits is
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that they're so fairly priced Especially for the high quality
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that you're getting them at and I really appreciate that
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because it makes clothing more accessible for everybody If you guys want to shop my pieces, I will have that linked in the description with my discount code
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and thank you so much to halara Make playlists for school
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Using music to romanticize life is one of the best ways
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that you can uplift your mood So here are some ideas of playlist themes
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that you guys can make Getting ready for school, a study playlist, walking to class playlist, an after school playlist There's something very special about having a
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very specific soundtrack for certain moments in your life It really helps you kind of create the aesthetic
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that you want to associate school with It gets you into that headspace, it makes you feel cool, it makes you feel excited Music is one of the strongest ways to create the reality that you want around you.
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Think of it like you're a movie character and this is the soundtrack to your life.
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That is aesthetic to me.
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Watch movies and TV shows for inspiration.
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Sometimes what makes you the most excited for school is to just pretend like you're in a movie.
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If I see a character on screen studying or going to school, it makes it much more aesthetic in my opinion and it motivates me to be like them.
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So here's some of my favorite options.
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Gilmore Girls, Twilight, Pretty Little Liars, High School Musical, Legally Blonde, Clueless, Gossip Girl.
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There are so many different options and different aesthetics, so choose one that really resonates with the kind of vibe that you want to bring to the school year.
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Choose whatever is going to make you feel motivated and ready to learn, because that is what's most important.
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Now let's talk about how to stay organized.
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It can be very easy to get overwhelmed with tests and assignments, and that's going to lead you to burnout, and we don't want that.
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That doesn't feel good.
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So these are some ways that you can keep your life scheduled out perfectly while you're in school.
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Have a physical calendar both at home and at school.
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Scientifically, writing things down is going to make it so much easier for you to remember it.
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So once you get your syllabus, write down on your calendar all the big tests, all the homework assignments, and when they will be due.
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You can color code it to make it super aesthetic.
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You can keep it simple, but I'm telling you, you need a physical one.
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Yes, you can have a digital one in addition to it, but having it physically on your desk both at home
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and at school is a constant visual reminder of what you need to get done, and it's kind of like a subliminal message
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so it's always in the back of your mind and that way you're not going to forget as easily.
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Plan your day the night before.
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It will give you so much more peace of mind to plan your day the night before
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so your mind doesn't get all jumbled up in the morning.
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Planning your day in advance is going to let you time block properly and really prioritize what needs to get done.
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If you just wake up without a plan, there's more of a chance that you really won't get anything done because you're not sure where to start.
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And if you're like me and you get stressed out about having so many things to do, writing it down in a journal
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and just getting all of my thoughts out there is really going to help you
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because you'll be able to let go a bit and just get all those thoughts out of your head.
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Obviously, it's nice to go with the flow, especially on weekends, but if you want to make sure that you're staying on track, then you're going to need an actual plan.
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So reference that calendar, find out what's important, what's coming up soon, and plan your day around that.
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Do your assignments ahead of time.
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Believe me, I have saved a lot of assignments for last minute, but once I got into the habit of doing my homework as soon as it was signed, I had so much more free time.
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I felt good because I was right on track, and then being able to get it done sooner meant I had more time to relax.
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It is way less stressful this way and you're looking out for your future self.
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I know in the moment it sucks and it's annoying and you just want to put it off, but I am telling you the sooner you get it done, the sooner you can take a break.
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It does not feel good to be rushing around and doing your homework last minute.
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And sometimes you got to go through that to learn the feeling
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and know that you don't want to feel it again because that's definitely what I went through.
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But honestly, making this a habit of mine gave me a lot more time to do my hobbies, to hang out with friends.
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I also want to talk about ways that you can make this the best school year.
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Obviously, it's important to romanticize school to make it feel fun
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and staying organized and on top of your assignments is going to help a lot.
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But there are also some other important things that you need to keep in mind for the school year.
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Number one is don't be afraid to take breaks.
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If you're not well rested, then you're not going to perform your best.
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There are some days where, yes, you have to really grind and work hard and maybe do a few extra hours of work, but every once in a while you really need to take some time off.
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Take a nap, watch a movie, make hot chocolate.
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You want to make sure that your break is very mindful
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and you're not just scrolling on your phone because
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that means your brain is still going and you're not really getting a restful break.
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Doing something relaxing and low stimulation is really what's going to re-energize you.
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Rest is productive.
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This is something that I'm trying to remind myself.
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I know other people feel like this, but I feel like sometimes I just really need to be productive 24-7 and because of that, sometimes I struggle to take breaks and take time for myself.
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But you can't have productivity without downtime because they really complement each other.
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So take that time for yourself because I promise you deserve it.
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Surround yourself with good people.
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The people you hang out with makes a big difference in your life.
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If you're hanging out with people that have no goals, no ambitions, that's going to bring down your vibe.
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I think it's best to just cut people like that out of your life.
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You don't need to make it a big deal.
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It doesn't have to be a big friendship breakup.
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It's very normal for friends to come and go.
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It doesn't mean you hate each other.
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You don't have to be mean to each other.
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But if you feel like you need to take some distance and have some time for yourself, then you need to prioritize that.
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It is much better to have one really good friend than five bad friends.
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So if you find yourself hanging out with people that make you feel bad about yourself, that make decisions maybe you don't agree with, then that's a sign that you need to take a step back, maybe make some new friends,
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or even just spend time alone because that is also very valuable.
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Have things to look forward to.
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After a long week of work at school, it is so important to make plans so that you have something exciting coming up after the school weekends.
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Whether you're watching a movie with family, going out with friends.
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The quote that comes to my mind with this is work hard, play hard.
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After all of your hard work, that means you're allowed to have some fun on the weekend.
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Here are some things that you guys can plan.
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A movie night with friends, binging your favorite TV show, baking a sweet treat, going to the mall, buying a new book, or even going bowling.
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Find something that makes you excited and is going to be a good break for you.
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Because I'm telling you, time goes by very fast and you only have so many school weekends, so take advantage and make them fun.
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If there's any other video ideas you guys want to see for me, you can always leave a comment.
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As usual, I will always have my TikTok and my Instagram linked in my description.
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Remember to work hard this year.
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Stay organized.
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Romanticize your life.
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Do not let bad vibes bring you down.
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And I promise this is going to be a really good school year.
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I love you guys and I will see you next week.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE📚”. This video has 196 sentences and 2851 words to shadow. The speech runs for 10:31. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| outfit noun | /ˈaʊtfɪt/ | A set of clothing (with accessories). |
| vibe noun | /vaɪb/ | An atmosphere or aura felt to belong to a person, place or thing. |
| aesthetic adjective | /ɛsˈθɛ.tɪk/ | Concerned with beauty, artistic effect, or appearance. |
| romanticize verb | /roʊˈmæntɪsaɪz/ | To interpret, view, or portray something in a romantic (unrealistic, idealized) manner. |
| playlist noun | /ˈpleɪˌlɪst/ | A list of recorded songs scheduled to be played on a radio station. |
| assignment noun | /əˈsaɪn.mənt/ | The act of assigning; the allocation of a job or a set of tasks. |
| productive adjective | /pɹəˈdʌk.tɪv/ | Capable of producing something, especially in abundance; fertile. |
| cosy adjective | /ˈkoʊzi/ | Affording comfort and warmth; snug; social and comfortable. |
| motivate verb | /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ | To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate. |
| scent noun | /sɛnt/ | A distinctive smell. |
| workout noun | /ˈwɝk.aʊ̯t/ | An exercise session; a period of physical exercise. |
| obsess verb | /əbˈsɛs/ | To be preoccupied with a single topic or emotion. |
| organize verb | /ˈɔɹɡənaɪz/ | To arrange in working order. |
| jeans noun | /d͡ʒiːnz/ | A pair of trousers made from denim cotton. |
| homework noun | /ˈhoʊmˌwɝk/ | Exercises assigned by a teacher to a student which review concepts studied in class. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. | |
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. | |
| wake up verb | /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ | To stop sleeping; to awake. |
| bring down verb | To make (a ruler or government) lose their position of power. | |
| find out verb | To discover, as by asking or investigating. | |
| give off verb | /ɡɪv ɒf/ | To emit; to produce and send forth; to come across in some manner. |
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. | |
| step back verb | /stɛp ˈbæk/ | To stop what one is doing and evaluate the current situation. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Guys, I'm even wearing my glasses for you today.
- Let's move on to outfit number two.
- I'm just obsessed with these two patterns.
- I'm so serious, you guys.
- I literally can't live without these pockets anymore.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | one, which is · year, which is · anywhere, which is |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | your best · my best · the best |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | keep finding · love putting |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm even wearing · you're walking · am really loving |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 64 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, I'm, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: aesthetic /ɛsˈθɛ.tɪk/, breathable /ˈbɹiːðəbəl/, aesthetics /ɛsˈθɛt.ɪks/, thumb /ˈθʌm/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: casual /ˈkæʒ(u)əl/, fashionable /ˈfæʃənəbl̩/, chic /ʃik/, stylish /ˈstaɪlɪʃ/, stimulation /stɪm.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: romanticize /roʊˈmæntɪsaɪz/, prioritize /pɹaɪˈɒɹ.ə.taɪz/, productivity /ˌpɹɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/, scientifically /ˌsaɪ.ənˈtɪfɪkli/, subliminal /səˈblɪm.ɪ.nəl/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like outfit, vibe, aesthetic.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.