life works out. i cannot stress this enough. life always works out. it always turns out in your favor even if it doesn’t go according to the original plan. you may be utterly confused and lost right now, it may feel like everything is falling apart and there is nothing you can do to salvage any of it. but believe me when i say that this is just a transition period. things are constantly changing and evolving around you even if you can’t actively see that. life is changing you to prepare you for what is to come. you are growing and as you grow you are being built into the person that you are going to be. because see, life always has this funny way of working out.
pudiste, puedes y podrás
Motivation is one of the biggest issues for students and it is always great to find a few things that can keep you feeling inspired. Here are my top ten ideas:
start small - set yourself a challenge to work for five to ten minutes. Yes, just five minutes can be enough to get started! If you can get through that five minutes, you will start breaking down that feeling of disinterest and begin to get more into working. A fantastic application that will keep you from using your phone and on a time limit of between 10 minutes and two hours is Forest! However, here are some free alternatives.
plan tomorrow today - I find planning my day - or at least writing down a couple of tasks - before bed is extremely beneficial. In the morning I wake up with intent and get see my main priorities. They don’t have to full-fledged plans or written nicely in my planner but even just small reminders on a post-it note are enough for me to feel more organised.
give yourself a bit of structure - as mentioned, having a plan is a great way to start the day. You might use a planner, a bullet journal or a free printable from me to organise! Set yourself up with 3 key things to finish or do during the day. Give yourself a goal and a reward upon completion. Put time limits on tasks and use a schedule to stay on track.
utilise a studygram/studyblr - basically, the communities on Tumblr and Instagram act as amazing accountability partners! I am constantly motivated by my blog and being able to share my day to day life on Instagram or Snapchat. I definitely have become incredibly motivated and disciplined because of these two communities. If you’re thinking about starting a studyblr, read this. If you’re thinking about starting a studygram, read this. If you already have either, here is how you can use it to further motivate yourself!
set up an inspiring workplace - dedicating a space to work, and only work, is a great way to build a mindset of motivation which kicks in when you sit down. This Pinterest board has loads of inspiration for setups and organisation! You can also add a cute plant, a bright study lamp and some motivational printables for added encouragement!
externalise your short and long-term goals - by making a verbal or written commitment to your goals, you are much more likely to take steps to follow them through. You might want to have a really productive week catching up on all your work, improve your GPA or pass your semester with flying colours. At the start of each week think of the ways you can put your goals into actions. Then at the end of the week reflect on how you did. Track your progress and keep up your motivation by seeing things get a step closer each time!
listen to some music - putting on my favourite songs always put me in a better mindset and feeling more positive. Before a study session or during a break, I will sometimes put on a few songs I’m loving and take a moment to refocus.
don’t force it - if you’re feeling unmotivated to study, try doing something else for a short amount of time. Avoid things that could distract you like browsing Facebook or Instagram. Instead, try tidying your bedroom, organising your upcoming week, read a chapter of a book, or get a drink of water. Alternatively, make an action plan for what you need to do with your next few tasks. That way you’re still making progress with your work but aren’t sitting feeling too unmotivated to actually study.
find some inspiration - there is no shortage of amazing people with incredible stories of success! Podcasts such as The Daily Boost, The Tony Robbins Podcast and The School of Greatness are great examples. Ted Talks are often incredibly insightful and motivating! Search for quotes or stories from your favourite people!
change your mindset - one of the biggest challenges in motivation is adjusting your own perspective. For instance, instead of thinking “I am terrible at this” think “How can I learn this differently to really understand?”. “I made a mistake” think “What can I take away from making this mistake?”. “It isn’t perfect” think “These perfectionist tendencies are only making this more difficult, I can be content with my work”. Having a more positive outcome to each situation should help boost your confidence and motivation!
I hope these few tips are useful and help improve your motivation! If it helps, I would love to hear about it :-)
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hey you!! stop for a second!!! think of all the things you have accomplished today!! you woke up?? fucking superb!! washed your face? i’m proud of you!!! what did you do this week??? walked your dog?? they are so lucky to have you!! made yourself a meal??? you are doing amazing!! remember that life mostly consists of small things, not big ones, and you need to learn to cherish them!! play your favorite song!! do your homework!!! water your plants!! throw away the trash!! put away the clothes you’ve been piling on that chair!!! drink some water!!! you can’t do the big things without doing the small ones as well!!!!
Grammar Friday: Ya and Todavía
What are you all using to create portfolios to showcase your work? Any recommendations?
language learning is basically 95% mistakes with 5% inspiration
i’ve spent the past seven and a half years saying “qué peña” instead of “qué pena”.
me, a whole late bilingual, has been walking around saying “what a ROCK!” instead of “what a PITY!”
qué pena…
쇼핑하다 - (to do) shopping
내일 엄마랑 쇼핑하러 갈 거야
I’m going shopping with my mom tomorrow
사다 - to buy
나는 이 바지를 뉴욕에서 샀어
I bought these pants in New York
팔다 - to sell
혹시 여기서 나이키를 파나요?
Do you happen to sell Nike here?
얼마예요? - How much is (it)?
그 원피스는 얼마예요?
How much is that dress?
사이즈 - size
몇 사이즈 입으세요? What size do you wear?
작은 사이즈 small
중간 사이즈 medium
큰 사이즈 large
특대 사이즈 extra large
입어보다 - to try on
이거 좀 입어봐도 돼요?
Can I try this on?
어울리다 - to suit/match
그건 잘 어울려요!
That suits you well! / That looks good on you!
~ 받나요? - Do you accept/take….?
환금 받나요? Do you accept cash?
체크카드 받나요? Do you take debit?
신용카드 받나요? Do you take credit?
교환하다 / 바꾸다 - to change/exchange
이 셔츠를 다른 것과 교환해주시겠어요?
Can you exchange this shirt with a different one?
새것으로 바꿔주세요
Please exchange this for a new one,
환불 - a refund
환불해주시겠어요?
Can I get a refund?
~ 이/가 어디에요? - Where is the…?
화장실이 어디에요? Where is the bathroom?
계산대가 어디에요? Where is the checkout?
탈의실이 어디에요? Where is the fitting room/dressing room?
어서오세요! - Welcome!
비밀번호를 누르세요 - Please enter your pin number
여기에 사인해주세요 - Please sign here
영수증 드릴까요? - Would you like a receipt?
시즌 마지막 세일 - end of season sale
할인 - discount
깎아주세요! - Give me a discount, please!