The most important thing I learned my first semester in college 

~ myjewel12 ~ Leave a comment

It is a week before my finals and the semester is coming to an end. There are A LOT of things I have learned from my first semester in college that I will definitely take into consideration in the spring but the MOST important thing to be successful in college is to have ORGANIZATION.

Being organized will save your life. It is SO important. Not only does it help reduce stress and all nighters but it also makes everything easier. I will be honest and say that I did the worst thing any college student could do: I slacked off. It’s embarrassing especially when you’re a freshman. I mean I should have no reason to b slacking off but for whatever reason I did. I though college was going to be fun. I thought it meant I was an adult and blah blah blah.

I’m not proud of it. But I have learned, and I’m not saying that I’m failing my classes. I mean that I wasn’t putting my all into it like I should have. I wasn’t studying as hard as I thought I was or should have been. And I realize that I wasn’t as organized as I should have been.

I cannot stress this enough. Organization is a college student’s best friend. Especially if you have a million other things going on in your life, like working a job or volunteering every week. Maybe you own a business or make a living on the side. Maybe you write books on wattpad (*wink*). I don’t know. You’re busy! If you try and plan out your days ahead of time then you will feel SO MUCH BETTER. Of course, nothing ever goes according to plan but if you write down some kind of idea for the upcoming week or write a to do list of all the things you need to do then you can use that as a guide to get everything done. Here is a list of things you could do to stay organized.

  1. Get a planner: This is the best way to stay organized. If you carry a planner in your bag, color code it, write down everything you have to do, it can honestly save you. However big of a planner you want or need, whether small or big, they come in all different sizes. Some are custom made, some are just standard planners like notebooks. You can get creative with colored pens and stickers so it becomes like an arts and crafts project. I’m so serious when I say it can really help. It comes with calendars that show holidays and sections to just write down notes so if you have any appointments or if there are any holidays you can fit those into your schedule.
  2. Make schedules: This can go into your planner or your calendar. You can write it down or type it on your phone. Make a rough schedule of what each day of the week would look like. From what time you have classes to what time and how long are your breaks. What shifts you work, how long it takes you to get home by train or bus. It gives you an outline of how much time you have for homework or studying, if you have assignment do on a certain day, etc. Of course you can’t forget factoring in a time to eat or just take a minute or two to just relax. I know that this may sound ridiculous to some of you and what you plan may not go at all according to plan but it let’s you know what you have to do and how much time you have to do it.
  3. Put your phone to good use: Everyone is practically glued to their phones all the time. Every time I get on the train to go to class, all I see are people with their heads down, earbuds in, looking at their phone. Yeah, I’m guilty of doing this too but occasionally I like to get a gauge of who exactly is sitting next to me or across for me just so I don’t feel completely isolated. But instead of checking Facebook or Instagram you could use that time to organize your calendar or write your to do list. Maybe you have a list of groceries you need to buy on the way home. Open up a new document and type away! Also, use reminders and alarms on your phone to keep organized too. Set alarms ahead of time to go off if you need to email an assignment to your professor or make that important phone call for a job interview because life gets messy and we tend to forget the most important things that we know we have to do. If you set a reminder ahead of time then you are set!
  4. Use Google and Office calendars: A lot of your email websites have awesome features that can make organization a lot easier. If you have a google account or outlook account you can link all of your information to your mail and calendars and put all of your appointments there. They have special features that let you color code and such and you can put different time slots for each day. You can download the app onto your phone or tablet and have everything automatically reconnect so if you forget to add something it will do it for you.

 

 

There are probably a million other tips out there that you could find but the most important thing is to always stay organized because it will be your life savior.

I hope you liked this post! Let me know if there any other college tips you would like to see! ❤

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 Tips when prepping for an exam

~ myjewel12 ~ Leave a comment

So, if you’re like me, you probably go crazy prepping for an exam and stress over what to study, what not to study, what to focus more on, when to study, etc, etc. Basically when your professor or teacher tells you a week ahead that there is an exam, your mind goes into “Okay, it’s time to freak out mode!” And if you’re not . . . well, good for you. -_-

But in all seriousness, some if not many people always have trouble finding the right study methods when preparing for an exam and it often takes them many attempts to find that right way of studying that gives amazing results. I know I do and so here are some tips I have found to be useful if not effective over the years.

Tip #1: Study ahead

This has got to be one of the most important things anyone can tell you when studying for an exam. Many of us (yes, I’m guilty, don’t look at me like) tend to wait till the night before a test to start cramming and say “Alright, let’s get this done!” If anything, that is the WORST decision anyone of us could possibly make. Not only is it not effective in remembering anything, it produces a lot of useless stress when you try to cram everything all at once into your head. You pull that all-nighter, not getting enough sleep making you tired, drowsy, cranky, and you can’t concentrate on what you are even reading at times.

Studying ahead makes your life SO much easier for you. You can study little by little, review what you can and if there is something you don’t understand or thought you understood, you have the opportunity to go and ask your teacher or a classmate for help. Not at 3:00 AM in the morning when everyone is probably asleep. Where you could also be sleeping. You’ll be able to wake up refreshed and confident that you got this test in the bag.

Tip #2: Make study guides

Sometimes when we are studying from our notes or textbooks, we can’t focus on the words written or typed in ink. We get drowsy, bored, hungry, and find ourselves distracted by other silly things. What’s the point in reading something if you can’t find the energy to keep your eyes open? Making study guides forces you to remember what you are writing down. You unconsciously find yourself remembering what you had written without even meaning to and it’s great way to organize your notes and thoughts the way you want to.

Tip #3: Make flashcards + Use colored pens/highlighters

So I decided to put these two together because they really go hand in hand.

Making flashcards is a great way to memorize vocabulary especially but other things too. History events and dates, names, rules in chemistry and formulas in algebra, etc. They are easy to carry and you can make them into whichever size you wish, whether using the entire flashcard or cutting them into halfs or fourths. Buy punching a single hole into each corner of a flashcard, you can also loop them together in bunches with a ring hole and take them with you on the bus or in the car, etc.

You can use colored pens and/or highlighters to make note of important things you want to remember and associate each color with a certain topic, so that on your test your brain will remember certain things because of the color they were in. They also add a pop of color to your page and make studying less boring (I love how my papers look like rainbows :D).

Tip #4: Find a quiet place free from distractions

The best place to go study for a test is anywhere where it’s quiet. This could be a certain place in your house where no one goes and you know you won’t be disturbed or a quiet corner in the library where you can devote at least an hour or two a day to studying.

Tip#5: Free yourself from ALL distractions

This means not only your friends but also your beloved devices, especially your phone. We all want to hang out with our friends after classes but unless you’re studying with them then it’s best to use that time before a test to study and then celebrate after how amazing you did. Turn off your cell phone when you sit down to study so you don’t get distracted by Instagram or a new text message and lose yourself in your phone. You can catch up on all you missed after you study, or while you’re taking a break.

Tip #6: Eat right and sleep well

Make sure you’re getting the right kind of brain food when studying. Thinking takes hard work and we can’t help but get hungry. Instead of reaching for that potato chip or piece of candy try to opt for cashews and peanuts or fruits and veggies. Carrots and cucumbers are always great and apples and blueberries are easy to snack on too. Stay away from anything and everything full of sugar, that means your favorite juice or soda. Stay hydrated with water throughout the day and while you study so it’s easier for you to study. Be sure to get plenty of sleep the night before and all nights really. As students in high school or college, our sleep schedules are always out of whack, especially if we spend too much time on homework or we work long hours, but try to put yourself on a sleep schedule that you know you can sleep properly. So if you’re sleeping 6 hours one night, make sure you keep it that way the next night instead of three hours.

Hope you guys enjoyed these tips and let me know if any of these worked out for you! ❤

4 ways to take a break and relax when you’re feeling down

~ myjewel12 ~ Leave a comment

Everyone has that day when they aren’t feeling it. You know what I mean. When you’re overcome with that unexpected feeling of sadness that jus bubbles up into a whale of depression you just didn’t see coming and don’t know how to overcome.

We’ve all been there one way or another.

But that doesn’t mean we have to let it knock us down.

Here are some ways you can stop feeling mellow and start feeling yellow. (I know, I know.)

1. Read a good book.

There’s nothing like getting that good book you have been waiting to read after a long week of study, work, and no play. This is the perfect time to stay cocooned under the warm blankets with a good ‘ole book, laid back with that big mug of warm cocoa or chamomile tea. The classic way.

2. Go exploring.

If you’re the type that can’t sit still for more than five minutes, especially if you work in an office where you have no choice but to be sitting round all day, then this is the perfect time to have YOU time. Go exploring. Take a walk. Visit a neighborhood you’ve never been to before or treat yourself to a nice meal at a fancy restaurant. Or have long-waited girl’s night out (or guys) and make it ten times more fun.

3. Cook a great meal with friends.

This is a really great tip, especially if you don’t have the time to really sit down and take the time to really prepare yourself a warm, hearty meal. Working that late shift, running to the store on your break to get that pre made sandwich (ew) or fast food (eh) just to make sure you eat something (As a college student, I totally get this). Now is the perfect time to test your culinary skills and become a chef in front of your friends. Whether cooking or baking, you can make something you’re familiar with or try out a new recipe, a new taste, a new cuisine. Transform your day off into a getaway to Italy or Spain.

4. Treat yourself.

Remember those boots you were ogling on your way home last night? Or that purse you saw in the store window? Yeah, I know, it hurts. But it doesn’t have to! If all you’ve been doing is working or studying, then treating yourself to that new pair of boots or cute dress can make you feel happy and elated, and even restore you with a new sense of confidence. A reward for all of your hard work doesn’t sound so bad especially if you have been carefully budgeting yourself and have the money to spend. (No, I am not encouraging you to go shop till you drop. If you like and it’s inexpensive and you actually have enough money to get it and you can afford it then why not?).

Hope you guys found these tips and methods useful and let me know if any of these work for you or if you have or know of any other ways. ❤

A little introduction to: a little sprinkle

~ myjewel12 ~ Leave a comment

Hello lovelies! So I just wanted to introduce myself and my new blog and give you a little brief on what this blog will entail. I’m Amani. I’m 18, currently a freshman at college, and a very passionate writer. My dream is to become a writer and have my books published one day. My inspiration for starting this blog was mainly to have a starting point in my career and also reach out to many bloggers, writers, authors, and everyone really and establish a name for myself so while I will be covering a wide variety of topics on here, such as fashion, food, nutrition, tips for everyday life, etc, I will also be keeping you all updated on my Wattpad account where I write stories (although I have one book still in the process of writing) and notify you of when I have uploaded new chapters/stories. Please go check out my page and feel free to leave a comment, I am open to criticism I love hearing what people have to say whether good or bad because it can really help improve and shape me as an author. Also, if you have an account you should totally follow, and if you don’t you should make one as there are a lot of amazing authors on there and it is a great place to meet writers and read great stories.

Alright! That was my first blog post. Hope you guys enjoyed reading it (although I’m not sure you did but I hope you did) and I hope you stick around for what is yet to come! Bye for now! ❤