How to manage your study time while working


Youtube is a platform where you can find any type of videos and the "how to manage your study time" is one of the most popular.
The fact that most of them go directly home after a day at school is amazing but, what happens with that group of people that won't go home right after school but to work?
For those who work, managing their study time is an odyssey and I can tell you that because I am one of those.
I'm an English teacher at an institute, which means I have to go and teach after finishing with my classes at uni almost every day.
Honestly, a couple of months ago I used to get home exhausted and I had to struggle to stay up for revising or doing any homework. Now, I have productive days and the few hours I use to study are enough to get straight A's at the university.
round analog watch with black leather strap on top of white wooden surface
So here are some tips I've learned the past few months to manage my time while having a part-time job that drains my energy.

1. Exercise and stay hydrated

I know this is something sort of cliché, besides, I used to think that drinking water had nothing to do with my productivity. However, after I started exercising and the duty of drinking water, I've realized that it actually helps when it comes to having energy and feeling awake during the day.
Since your brain is 70% of water, staying hydrated will help you when it comes to productiveness and concentration, plus, it will also help you control your emotions and mood.

2. Find what works better for you

Some people feel like they learn better at night and others are more comfortable or secure in the morning.
I discovered I'm a morning learner so I began a routine where I went to sleep early, 10:00 or 11:00 pm, and woke up at 4:00 am to study so I could have better results during my study sessions.
Identify what type of learner you are and schedule a routine that you're sure will help you.

3. Follow your schedule

Set realistic amounts of times to your tasks and complete them during that period, like that, you'll be able to complete everything and to be aware of what you've done and what you've got to do next.

4. Set your "to-do" list before actually sitting down and starting

turned on laptop on table beside mug with chairIf you're the type of person that works with lists, do not sit down and start by writing your list.
When you wake up in the morning and after you've done your morning routine or the previous night right before going to sleep, sit down and write what you have to study and what you have to do, thereby when you arrive home from work, you'll know what to do and will start right away.

5. Stay positive

I know this may sound dumb, but we lose plenty of time thinking about all our assignments and about how we don't want to do them, that in end we'll lose time that we could've used to be productive.

6. Do not procrastinate

When it comes to studying, procrastinating is a minus that won't ever leave us. To stop with temptations like checking your social media or watching funny videos on youtube for hours.
That's it! I hope these tips will help you!
Lots of kisses,
Dani.

Best first lines in books

The very first line of a book we start reading will determinate if that book will change us forever. Some books have those lines that catch the reader and make him think that he made the best decision by buying that book. 
Here are some of my favorite "first lines" from all the books I've read. 
1. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" -Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen. 
Pride and Prejudice was the first classic I read. I remember being a teenager and reading this line, for me, it was chocking for reasons I couldn't understand then, but that now I do. The irony this line holds. The critics of a society where the author lived, sick of the same things and the same "women are made to fall in love and clean the house", all of this together make this my favorite book ever. 
Resultado de imagen para stuckamongbooks
2. "It was a pleasure to burn." -Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury. 
This is my current reading and this first line, even the paragraph, is just amazing as it shows us from the beginning, what are we going to find in the rest of the book. I think I'm in love with this book without even finishing it. 
3. "Mother died today. Or maybe, yesterday; I can't be sure." -The Stranger, Albert Camus.
This one was another shocking line for me. I read this book for my "universal literature" class and I just thought "how can a man don't know when his mother died?" but as I continued reading and I investigated about "Existentialism", I could understand better what was going on. And, for me, that's what makes this book so special. 
4.“A writer never forgets the first time he accepted a few coins or a word of praise in exchange for a story. He will never forget the sweet poison of vanity in his blood, and the belief that, if he succeeds in not letting anyone discover his lack of talent, the dream of literature will provide him with a roof over his head, a hot meal at the end of the day, and what he covets the most: his name printed on a miserable piece of paper that surely will outlive him. A writer is condemned to remember that moment, because from then on, he is doomed, and his soul has a price." -The Angel's Game, Carlos Ruiz Zafón. 
Resultado de imagen para stuckamongbooksI couldn't just write the first line of this book. The whole paragraph, even the whole page is so amazing and beautiful that it will stay in my mind and heart forever. Zafon's narrative is one of the most beautiful I've ever read and these "first lines" will be on my top for a very long time. 
5. "In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, he told me, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” -The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald.
I read this book a couple of days ago and, let me tell you, these first lines are on my top. The way Fitzgerald introduce this story is incredible, plus, these lines will change the life of lots of people. It's not only the way is written but the message it holds since the beginning of the book.
To be honest, I wanted to put more books but, I'm horrible when it comes to choosing things. First lines are important for me and have plenty of favorites. Maybe, if you want, I can write another post with more quotes. You just let me know!
That's it for today's post! Don't forget to pint this post in case you want to read my favorite first lines again!
Lots of kisses,
Dani.

How to stay motivated

It's hard to stay motivated in school and it's even harder when you're studying something you don't actually like. 
My dream was to study English Literature, but since in the city I live there isn't a single university with that major, I had to choose something else.
I discovered a university in the Capital that taught Hispanic Literature and even though it wasn't what I wanted it was close enough but I couldn't study it anyways because of my parents.
I was feeling lost, depressed and anxious every time I had classes and when I arrived home I didn't want to do homework. I just wanted to stay in bed and wait until the next day came to feel the same emptiness I was feeling that day.
One day I decided to search for some tips to finish this major and stay, at least, a little bit motivated with school.
So today I will share some of those that actually worked for me and that, hopefully, will work with you too.

1. Stop thinking about what you can't do and start doing what you can.

Something I've learned about studying something I don't like is that I can't change the situation but get used to it.
And to handle this situation I read something that has to do with English Literature every day, I study how to write better essays and improve my reading analysis. I try to do as much as I can to keep in touch with the things I wish I could be doing.

2. Make your notes as pretty as you can.

I'm not saying that you should have those amazing notes with incredible lettering in the titles and colors everywhere, but you should find what fits you well.
You have to read your notes every single time you're studying, i.e. every day, and maybe, if you see them a little bit prettier or with your own style and words on them, you'll have a little bit of fun while revising. 

3. Make your workplace your favorite area in the house.

I'm a K-Pop fan, I adore sunflowers, I live for books and my favorite colors are red and black so on my desk, I have some books beside my textbooks and a fake sunflower, my wall is decorated with pictures of my favorite artists and quotes that I know will motivate me when I need it the most.
You should do that, create your own place where you can be yourself, where you have things you love and where you can feel motivated any time you feel like doing nothing.

4. Set realistic and specific goals.

Set daily goals but set realistic daily goals.
Don't write things like "study 2 lessons" or "write notes". Be specific and realistic like "study lesson one for math exam" for example or "write Tuesday's Literature lecture notes" thereby you'll be able to do everything you got to do and do not struggle on your way to finish your tasks.
That's it for today! I hope you guys liked it, don't forget to save this post in case you need to come to it again!
Lots of kisses,
Dani.

Three French cities I'd like to visit

 It's been two years since I first started to study French and there isn't a day when I don't think about visiting France someday and even living there. Every day I search for France pictures in social media like Tumblr, We Heart It and Pinterest, and every time I see them my heart aches a little cause I have to continue saving money to get there someday or start looking for scholarships from now.

Paris

First of all, I know it's kind of "cliché" and there's plenty of people out there loving this city, but one of the first cities that stole my heart was Paris. I remember being in Tumblr and seeing all these aesthetic pictures of couples in front of the Eiffel Tower or in romantic dinners. They made me wish to be them or, at least, to be right there where they were, plus, let's be honest, who wouldn't like to wake up in an apartment near the The Eiffel Tower because, to be honest, I can see myself waking up and seeing the Eiffel Tower first thing in the morning, eating a fancy breakfast at one of those fancy restaurants and hanging out with my friends to some libraries or bars. 

Nice

The next city that I'm going to mention I found it while I was looking for exchange programs to France, which are pretty expensive by the way, and I saw it among the options. Nice is a city in t I'm from a Caribbean country so when I saw those beaches I totally fell for that city. The architecture, the views, and the articles and blog posts I've read made put this city on my top.
The tropical life of the people that live in this city is so "goals" that I want to cry, okno. But, seriously, who wouldn't like to live near the beach and have fancy meals with friends?

Versailles

Honestly, at first I didn't know if putting Versailles was a good idea since I just wanted to visit the Castle there, but, my French teacher showed us some beautiful places to see in Versailles while we were talking about tourism in France and I noticed it actually is one of the most pretty and antique cities and it only doesn't have the Castle.
The Gardens, The Grand Trianon and the town are places worthy of admiration, in which you can have lots of fun and learn more about French culture and history, which is what I like the most.
I'm dying to go to this city, admire all these ancient things and have a great photoshoot there too!
And that's it for today! I can't wait until I save enough money to visit this beautiful and fashionable country.
Don't forget to save this post in case you want to come to it again!
Lots of kisses,
Dani.
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