Tumblr is one of those websites that I tried to avoid at all costs during the school year. I could get sucked into scrolling through my feed for hours, reblogging cute puppies and adventurous shots of places I’ll probably never visit, until it’s suddenly midnight and I haven’t started studying. So, how in the world does the word “studyblr” (study + Tumblr) make any sense??
Note: This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure by clicking here.
I learned about studyblr’s a while ago, and if you haven’t heard of them before, they’re part of a huge community of Tumblr users who post about all things studying, from notes and desk spaces to study techniques and highlighter suggestions. Just google “studyblr” and check out a few of the top blogs, and you’ll understand exactly what I mean. After scrolling through a few blogs, I became strangely motivated to get off Tumblr…and study. What?? So naturally, I created my own studyblr that night (I also have a personal Tumblr if you’re into that).
I’ve had my studyblr going for about a year now, and here are some huge benefits I’ve noticed in having one:
- Every day I’m reading posts from real people who are going through the same struggles as me: feeling stressed out about a test, getting piled with homework, staying up till 3am finishing a project, etc. and there’s something nice about having a community that totally understands you!
- I actually enjoy taking notes now because I’m constantly finding new ideas for making my notes prettier and more organized.
- With so many studyblr’s out there, you’re bound to find a few that focus on your major and even have tips for succeeding in it.
- Everyone is so nice! I’ve had some great convos with girls wanting to learn how to code (my major is Computer Engineering, hence the Caffeine and Coding URL I chose) and I’m finding other girls like me all the time.
So have I convinced you?
You don’t need any special skills to start a studyblr, just the motivation to be successful in school! I’ve also noticed that the community is full of students from high school through grad school, so don’t feel like you’re too young or too old to join in!
The Beginner’s Guide To Starting A Studyblr
Of course the first thing you’ll need to do is create your blog. If you already have a Tumblr account, you can do that by clicking the person icon at the top of your Tumblr feed and selecting “Add New” next to “Blogs”. Note that if you do this, you’ll only be able to follow people from your main account!
If you haven’t used Tumblr before, head over to their website and create an account.
Choosing a name
One of my favorite things about Tumblr is how creative you can be, and the lack of judgement you’ll get from other users. If you really like waffles, you can add waffles somewhere in your username, and no one will care. For studyblr’s, a lot of people just use their name and add “studies” at the end. Others put something that has to do with their major (I added “coding” to mine so people knew that my posts might have something to do with that) or other interests. You can always change it later if you don’t love it!
Once you’ve decided on a URL and finished setting up the blog, you’re ready to start posting! But first, you should probably pretty up your new blog.
Finding a theme
There are tons of free Tumblr themes out there, and my favorite place to find themes is Olle Ota Themes. They have gorgeous, minimalist designs in every style you could need, like three column, single column, and gallery style.
To add one of these themes (or any others you find) to your blog, head to your URL and click “Edit Theme” in the top right corner. Then, click “Edit HTML”, remove all the code in there, and replace it with the code given to you on the theme website. Update and save it and your new theme should be installed! In the Edit Theme window, you’ll have tons of options to change up, like font colors and images. Play around with those until you get something you love!
Finding blogs to follow
To be honest, I didn’t really put much effort into searching for the “perfect blogs” to follow, and I managed to find some great ones just by searching “studyblr” on Tumblr and following a bunch of the recommended blogs! Here are a few I’ve been loving to get you started:
Getting your first followers
Like any social media platform, it’s fun to have followers and get tons of likes on your posts! I’d suggest making an introduction post and letting people know who you are, what you’re interested in, and what you plan on posting about. It doesn’t hurt to add a photo of your notes or desk! This was my first post, and I gained over 50 followers the that day because of it!
Be sure to add #new studyblr to your post! Speaking of hashtags…
How to use hashtags effectively
Unlike Instagram, where a hefty use of hashtags can come off as spammy, Tumblr hashtags are a necessity and totally okay to use on every post! Of course, you still shouldn’t add hashtags that are completely unrelated to something you post (that pretty much ruins the point of hashtags), but here are a few that I use on all of my study posts:
- #studyblr
- #studyspo
- #studying
- #productivity
- #organization
- #onmydesk
Get creative with them, and add anything that’s particular to your photo (like the subject you’re taking notes on). Searching hashtags is also a great way to find new studyblr’s to follow!
Some other tips for getting started!
- Talk to people! If you stumble upon a blog that you really love, let the owner know. Or if you find someone in the same major as you, ask them what their tips are for doing well in it!
- Make your own pictures and give advice when you can. Followers will think of you when they see your URL pop up instead of just a jumble of words, and this is honestly the best way to get new followers!
- Don’t spend all of your time on Tumblr, but fit in a few minutes throughout the day to take a break and see what the people you follow are up to. You’ll be less likely to binge scroll during prime study time if you let yourself get on for shorter times more often!
studybeee | hideandstudy | studyyoustud
FAQ
Do I need fancy stationery to become popular?
Noooo you do not! You’ll see tons of the same highlighters and pens on a lot of studyblrs, but you don’t have to have the same products to get followers. Just be you, take fun pictures, and post helpful content! If you’re looking for some stationery to get you started, here are some of my favorites:
- Mildliner Highlighters: If you love color, these things pack great quality at a reasonable price. It’s hard to find colors like these in other brands, which is why I just stick with Mildliners! They come in packs of five, or you can get 15 for around a dollar a piece.
- Sharpie Pens: These are my go-to pens right now. I love that they’re not insanely thin, but still dry fast and glide well!
- Staedtler Triplus Fineliners: I know a lot of people like to color-code their notes, and these colored pens are a great starter pack with 10 different colors!
- Washi Tape: I found a seller on Amazon that does 3 rolls of super cute and unique washi tape for $9, and honestly this stuff lasts forever so that’s a deal! I personally have this set with a leaf, raspberry, and succulent print. There’s also a mixed pink/yellow floral set, a mixed blue/yellow floral set, and a flamingo/swan/dolphin set!
What’s that app everyone is using on their laptops?
Momentum (a browser extension for Chrome that shows the time and a picture when you open up new tabs)
What’s a bullet journal?
It’s kind of like a DIY planner/to-do list/doodle book/whatever else you want to make it, and it seems like a lot of studyblr owners are using them! The journal consists of dotted paper, which lets you create whatever layout or designs you want! I have the Leuchtturm1917 notebook in black, and honestly it was worth the $20 because it took the place of a planner and other notebooks!
Do you have a studyblr? Link to it in the comments!