Summarize the following:
If your class has assigned seats, this may not be an option. But if you get to choose your seat each time you go to class, try picking one near the front. With your teacher that close to you, you might find it a little easier to pay attention. This might not be the most pleasant solution, but it can be really effective. If your class has assigned seating, ask your teacher after class about moving. Be upfront and tell them you want to move because you’re having trouble staying focused. Fidgeting and squeezing a ball might not sound very motivating right now, but give it a try! It actually helps a lot of people, because it gives them something to do with their hands while they sit in class. You can just squeeze it whenever you feel like it, or make it into a game.  For instance, you could squeeze the ball every time your Algebra teacher says “equation.” It's not the most thrilling game, but it will keep you tuned into the lecture! Some schools don't allow fidget spinners so find out your school's policy on them before bringing one in. Other great fidget devices include kneaded erasers and fidget boxes. The latter consists of a small cube, filled with buttons, switches, and scrolls. As soon as you start drifting off, make yourself do something small, like grab a new pen from your bag, do some neck rolls, or cross your other leg. These little actions may not seem like much, but they can help your brain reboot when you feel your concentration slipping. Even if the subject matter is boring, your notes don’t have to be! Try visual notetaking, which is basically drawing images and diagrams instead of writing words. Or you could take down notes in a humorous tone, like you were telling a story to your best friend rather than jotting down boring facts.  For example, say your teacher is droning on about Benjamin Franklin's exploration of electricity. Your notes could say: “So Ben got the bright idea to tie a metal key to a kite string. Then made his own son fly the kite in a thunderstorm! Poor kid was a sitting duck. He was allowed to stand in a doorway to stay dry while waiting to get zapped, so there’s that.” Taking entertaining notes may even help you remember the material better! It can be hard to pay attention in a boring class, but try to make yourself participate by asking and answering questions or joining in on group discussions. For example, challenge yourself to ask at least 3 questions or contribute 3 discussion statements per class. Not only will this help you focus on the lecture, but it may help you score a few extra participation points.

summary: Sit near the front of the class. Squeeze a stress ball or bring a fidget spinner. Change something up for a quick mental reboot. Take good (but entertaining) notes. Participate in class.


Summarize the following:
Pop a piece of gum in your mouth while you study to increase blood flow to your brain and increase arousal. Pick a mint flavor, like spearmint, peppermint, or wintermint for an extra invigorating bite. Keep a pack of gum in your backpack or pencil case so you always have it with you when you’re studying. Snack on foods that are primarily composed of protein, like nuts, meat, or cheese, which fuel your body longer because they aren’t as easily digested as carbs. For example, choose trail mix, beef jerky, or string cheese to eat while you work.  Avoid sugary foods or drinks, like cookies or soda, along with carb-heavy foods, like potato chips. These might give you a quick boost, but you’ll crash later on. Try to eat every 2 to 3 hours, even if it’s just something small, to avoid low blood sugar, which makes you feel sleepy. Stay hydrated to avoid feeling drowsy or sluggish. Drink a full glass of water at least every 2 hours, which will help the blood flow in your brain and make you feel more alert.  Keep a reusable water bottle with you that you can refill as you study. Avoid alcohol, particularly on days when you're studying or the day before. Drinking alcohol regularly can negatively affect your brain function along with dehydrating you. Drink a mug of coffee to wake yourself up quickly, as caffeine prevents the cells that make you feel tired from reaching your brain. Have the equivalent of 200 mg of caffeine, which is 12 oz (.35 L) of coffee or 24 oz (.7 L) of tea, for example, over the course of 24 hours.  Be aware that coffee and other caffeinated drinks can actually be dehydrating, so you should drink water with them, too. Avoid drinking coffee or consuming anything with caffeine, like chocolate, soda, or tea, within 6 hours of when you plan to go to bed or you may have trouble falling asleep. Don’t consume more than 200 mg of caffeine in a day. Too much caffeine can be very dangerous for your heart and can also worsen existing conditions, like anxiety or depression. While quick fixes are tempting, stay away from drinks, pills, or shots that promise instant energy or that are loaded with chemicals and too much caffeine. Be aware that they can have dangerous side effects, like increased anxiety or even heart problems. If you want to use energy drinks or products, talk to your doctor first. It can be very risky if you have certain health conditions, like high blood pressure or a weak heart.

summary: Chew mint gum to wake up your brain. Eat foods that are high in protein for longer-lasting energy. Drink at least 8 oz (.25 L) of water every 1 to 2 hours to fight fatigue. Consume a single caffeinated drink if you want an instant boost. Avoid energy drinks and pills that contain caffeine and/or chemicals.


Summarize the following:
These are free, open-source programs that you can use to create vector images from JPG files. GIMP is an image editor similar to Photoshop, and Inkscape is a vector graphics editor like Illustrator. Both are available for all operating systems.  You can download GIMP from gimp.org. Run the installer for your operating system and leave the settings at their defaults. You can download Inkscape from inkscape.org. Run the installer for your operating system and leave the settings at their defaults. This method is only suitable for simple images with basic colors, like logos and emblems. Converting high-detail images will take a lot of work smoothing rough edges and getting good colors. Use the selection tool to create a rough border for your image. This will make recoloring it easier. This will remove everything except what you've selected. This will tighten up your selection. Once you've finished cropping the file, you can export it. Click the File menu and select "Export As." Leave the settings at their default and give the file a name so that you know it's the cropped version. After exporting the file, open it in Inkscape. You'll see it appear in your Inkscape workspace. You'll need to select the image before you can trace it in Inkscape. This will open the Trace Bitmap window. This will display a preview of what the vector image will look like with that vectorization method. The "Colors" option will give you the closest approximation of the original image. You can adjust some settings for most of the presets. Click "Update" after each settings change to see the results. The original image will be traced and replaced with the vector image. This tool will allow you to select areas of the vector image and then drag nodes to adjust the size and shade. Click a part of your images and you'll see a bunch of small boxes appear. Drag these boxes to change the shapes for your selection. During the trace, some parts of the image may have been connected when they shouldn't have been. The Break Paths tool allows you to separate these parts by removing connecting nodes. Once you're satisfied with your vector image, you can save it as a vector format.  Click the File menu and select "Save As." Select a vector format from the "Save as type" menu. Common formats include SVG (for websites) and PDF (for print). Save a copy as an Inkscape SVG to be able to go back and make easy edits.
summary: Download and install GIMP and Inkscape. Open GIMP and use the Rectangle Select tool to select the part of the image that you want to convert to vector. Click the "Image" menu and select "Crop to Selection." Click the "Image" menu again and select "Autocrop." Export the file. Load the file in Inkscape. Click the image to select it. Click "Path" and select "Trace Bitmap." Select the different methods and click the "Update" button. Adjust the settings for the preset methods. Click "OK" when you're satisfied with the results. Use the "Edit paths by nodes" tool to make fine adjustments. Use the "Break Path" tool to separate nodes that shouldn't be connected. Save your image as a vector file when you're finished.