Lifestyle• Self-Improvement

Handling Stress – When Life Gives You Lemons…

16/01/2021

I don’t know about anyone else, but the first few weeks of 2021 have been/were stressful. So I thought I’d write a post to cover ‘handling stress’ incase there ever becomes a time you may need some help for yourself no matter what you’re going through.

Since March 2020, I personally have found myself struggling HARD with my mental health, my thoughts, and how I felt about myself. For 2021 I promised myself that things are going to change. I am sure this is also the case for many of you reading this post right now. Some of the feelings that I had, and you may have are;

  • Not feeling good enough.
  • Can’t be bothered for anything, just wanting to sleep.
  • Feeling erratically emotional.
  • Anxious about everything.
  • And a few more but I won’t dwell into it!

Anyway, here is the post. Stemmed from me feeling like I have no idea what is going on with life and feeling stressed 24/7 and deciding to do something about it.

handling-stress

Handling Stress
What Is Causing It?

The first thing you will want to do is recognise what is causing your stress and anxiety. This is a hard task, I know…
However, grab a pen and pencil and jot down even the smallest things that make you feel any kind of way.

For example; you may feel anger towards someone or something even if it is small. You might hate your journey to work (or working from home) OR you may still be working and feeling unsafe. Write down anything that comes to mind, then take a moment to breathe.

You may see a whole page full of things that make you feel upset. Now, all of these things are floating around your mind every single day. No wonder you feel the way you do! Its now time to think about the following;

  • Can I personally change this?
  • Am I able to receive help for this?
  • Is this thing completely out of my control?
  • What can I do to make this situation better for me?

Taking Action Upon Feeling Stressed

You should now have your list of things that you believe are causing you stress. Now take one thing at a time and think about the ways you can change this to make you feel better. Is it something you can make a difference to? Is there someone you can talk to in order to resolve the situation? Or, is this thing of no fault of your own or anyone else? If this is the case, sometimes you have to just ride things out, not let them get to you, and know you are strong enough to live through however long this thing may take to pass.

Some of the things you can do to take action upon your feelings and make difference to the things that are causing stress are:

  • If it is about a person/people
    – If you are feeling brave, or like there is any point, talk to them! They may not know how you are feeling, or that they have caused you to feel such a way. On the other hand, if you have tried this to no avail, then cut it off. I know it seems drastic, but just push it away. People causing you stress is not worth it when there is no real solution or when you can still live your life to the fullest without them.
  • Feelings towards yourself
    – If you are feeling as though you don’t like how you look, then how could you change this? Don’t just think going on a diet or exercising will improve this, because a lot of the time, unless you really WANT to start working out, eating healthier and all that stuff, in the long run, it’s just going to make you more miserable. You need to learn how to love and accept yourself for the way you are. By all means, do your hair, have a pamper, buy some new clothes! At the end of the day, you are who you are, everyone is different. Only you can change how you feel within your mind about yourself.
    Here are some self-love posts that may help:
    – How To Unselfishly Practice Self-Care
    – Practising Self-Care After Work
    – Importance of Reflection Time & Taking a Break
    – Hello Relish – Practicing Self Love
  • Handling stress caused by a situation you cannot control
    – This is probably one of the most difficult things to do when it comes to handling stress. when you cannot control the outcome or what is currently happening, it can be hard to come to terms with it, or feel okay with it. The only real things you can do is; seek the positives from the situation, even if they are super small. Remind yourself that it is out of your power and that you are strong enough to make it through. Also, remember that nothing goes on forever, it will get better eventually.
handling-stress-reading-a-book

Ways You Can Unwind

Handling stress for whatever reason may have caused it can always be helped by giving herself time to relax, and wind down. Sometimes even ‘sleeping’ on the matter will help. Here are a few ways you can blur your mind for a while, forget what’s going on, and give yourself time to unwind. When handling stress, it is important to remember to put yourself first, when things get too much, time out!

  • Have a slow morning. Spend some time creating a nice breakfast, have some coffee or tea in your favourite mug, then watch or listen to something to take your mind off the world.
  • When getting ready, choose to put on something that makes you feel good, and empowered. Spend a little more time loving yourself and how you look and feel.
  • Communicate with people who will make you laugh, or talk about something different!
  • Go for a walk and practice breathing.
  • Have something extra nice for dinner, or go out for dinner!
  • Take a long bath, listen to a podcast or start reading.
  • Create something, or start creating something you have always wanted to.
  • Organise or tidy your space (even decorate that room you’ve been waiting to finish!)

Basically, do something that will make you feel great. Everyone will have something that they’ve been wanting to do for so long but have been putting it off because they feel stressed. Paint the picture, finish the drawing, write the blog post! Do things for you, and unwind.

The Finishing Point.

I have included this section because one of the main things that ended up helping with my own personal stress management was to finally understand that some things are purely out of my control. sometimes there is no going back, no changing the past or even the future. You may not always know 100% what is going on and how things are going to play out. Your only choice is to take each day, each hour even, a step and a breath at a time.

So that is the finishing point. It all boils down to what you can do. You can manage you feelings and your stress but sometimes it is just going to be hard for a little while, but it will ALWAYS get better.

***

Thank you for reading this post, I really hope it has helped!

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

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Lifestyle

Setting New Year Resolutions/Goals 2021

27/12/2020

We can all agree that 2020 has been something we never expected. For a lot of us this year didn’t turn out to be how we wanted, and it’s been hard! So, I asked on Instagram if any of you were setting New Year resolutions or goals. To my surprise, most of you said there is no point! And I agree, to a certain extent. I never usually set resolutions quite simply because I never stick to them. However, in 2021, I want to make my life different. I want to live differently and I want to do the things I have never done.

Here is a little post about some of the New Year resolutions I will be setting for myself, and some small ideas you could also do to change your 2021 no matter how it turns out.

You may be thinking that resolutions and goals are the same things (they probably are) however, I view them differently.

  • A resolution; something you do and continue to do, like a habit. For example, start running.
  • A goal; something you want to complete or do that may have an end date. For example, write a book.

I haven’t included anything like travelling or anything that you couldn’t do this year due to restrictions just in case… No one likes to get their hopes up! Instead, these are all things that you can do for yourself wherever you are.

New Year Resolutions For You

A list of resolutions for you.

These resolutions will be easy to begin, good to start, and will make small changes to your life!

Don’t choose to do them all, pick a few and try them out.

Personal

  • Start journaling (blog post about journaling)
  • Ten mins of self-care a day
  • Listen to your body more
  • Learn a new skill
  • Get a new hairstyle
  • Meditate more often
  • DON’T go on your phone first thing in the morning

Changes

  • Stop stressing over the people who don’t have time for you
  • Change up your mindset – have a half cup FULL attitude
  • Swap things to become more eco friendly
  • Create a new daily routine
  • Eat healthier
  • Drink more water!
  • Start saving more each month (I have a blog post about how to save here!)
  • Stop buying fast fashion, start thrifting!

Short term goals

  • Write and self publish a book
  • Reach fitness goal, for example; lift a certain weight, learn the splits.
  • Decorate your home/room
  • Reach a certain amount in savings
  • Start a side hustle
new year resolutions - List of goals and changes to make for 2021
PIN IT!

My New Year Resolutions and Goals

Here are the few things that I want to make sure I do during 2021.
2020 made me realise that I want to be more and do more. So, my resolutions aren’t too big, but things that will make me feel so much better, and create a better year!

  • Stop buying fast fashion items from new. Start thrifting more, and buying more high-value pieces. Create a smaller wardrobe full of things I LOVE. Sell or charity shop the clothes I never wear.
  • Actually, start doing yoga. My back has been killing me recently so something needs to change.
  • Cut my hair short and actually look after it. Stop dying it, and make more effort.
  • Talk to myself in a better way. Stop putting myself down.
  • Be healthier (very broad statement but more fruit and veggies and water!)
  • Grow my Instagram and earn money from it. I want to reach 10k by the end of the year.
  • Grow my blog and earn money from it.
  • Create a small side hustle (could be Instagram.) I want to earn an extra £300 a month.

How to stick to them!

The best way to stick to goals and resolutions is to hold yourself accountable!

You could also find someone who is doing the same as you, and you can hold each other accountable that way.

Reward yourself for completing something. Once you have achieved a goal, celebrate!

Share your journey! If one of your resolutions is to bake more, share what you have made online. Create a little community for what you love to do.

Let me know what your New Year resolutions are over on Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKZXJpwAYak/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKUOoqygOx_/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKRjU38gyH3/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKPLdbrAGrl/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKMZNtaglsI/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKJ57LLAW14/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKHR1ABA8Sb/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKEpeH9gvFV/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKCBwctg1tj/
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Lifestyle

Things To Redirect Your Mindset – Mental Health

13/12/2020

Sometimes you may feel as though you are so stuck in your current feeling, that there is no way to get out of it. So, I have written a little post about some of the ways you can redirect your mindset into feeling semi or a whole lot better within some time.
Remember, your mental health is more like a marathon than a sprint… There is no overnight fix, nothing is going to make you feel 100% in five minutes. But there are a few things you can do to stop yourself spiralling into feeling even worse.

You need to learn what works for you. Find out the things that make your mind feel better for now. Discover what makes you feel calm, collected, and ready to tackle the next obstacle. All of the following pieces of information and advice are from my own experience and research. (Scroll to the bottom for the list!)

Redirect Your Mindset

Recognise Your Feelings

The first thing you need to do before you take action is to recognise how you are feeling. You could be feeling; angry, emotional, sad…

You may not be able to understand why you are feeling a certain way, don’t stress about this! There may be loads of reasons you didn’t even know where happening.

Try to think about what kind of emotional state you are in. If you are really worried about yourself or don’t want to be alone, then don’t be! Always seek help no matter what.

If you are on your own, or you need some help, here are some resources below:

Phone Numbers:

  • Samaritans – 116 123
  • SANEline – 0300 304 7000

Once you have recognised your feeling, then you can start to look into how to redirect this feeling into something postive.

For example: If you were feeling extremely angry, then take yourself out of the situation you are in.
If you are feeling sad, try a few things that may boost your mood, even if you have to force yourself to do it. This could be something as simple as listening to music, having something to eat, or a phone call with a friend.

Take A Moment to Breathe

Before you act on anything, take a moment to breathe. This is my favourite thing to do when I am starting to feel overwhelmed… There are tons of different breathing exercises.

I learnt the breathing exercise I use whilst listening to the Headspace App

Breathing Exercise –

Breathe in on count one, breathe out on count two, in on three, out on four. Keep going until you reach ten. Once you reach ten, start again. This helps you to focus, and redirect your mindset into a calmer state.

You could also use your hand to carry out a breathing exercise.
Open your left palm and use your right-hand finger to trace up and down each finger on your left hand. As you go up to the tip of your finger breathe in. When you go down each finger, breathe out. Flow around your hand counting to ten. You should hopefully find your mind is redirected.

Imagine you are breathing in clean, crisp air, and breathing out thick black smoke. Think about the darkness/bad thoughts or whatever it is leaving your body, and the fresh air cleansing your mind.

Try a Few Ways To Redirect Your Mindset

Here are a few ways you can redirect your mindset. I have personally found that these things work for me. You do really have to work yourself up to making yourself feel better sometimes, but it is always worth it. Even if you spend five minutes doing something for yourself, you will eventually learn what works for you.

  • Remove yourself from the space you are in
  • Get some air
  • Stop talking to someone who is making you feel upset
  • Reach out to a friend
  • Practice some self-care
  • Have a shower and get changed
  • Listen to a podcast
  • Follow breathing exercises
  • Cook yourself something different
  • Put on some music in your room
  • Tidy your space
  • Spend some self-reflection time
  • Watch random videos on youtube!
  • Exercise in whatever way you want
  • Clean
  • Paint your nails, pluck your brows, something pampering for yourself.
  • Book yourself in to get a haircut or a treatment
  • Watch a Disney film!
  • Unpopular opinion – Go shopping!
  • Change your bedding
  • Read a non-fiction book
  • List the things you want to achieve
  • Make a daily plan for yourself, even if it’s one thing you want to get done
  • Get a diary and spill your thoughts. Don’t read it again!
  • Daily Affirmations

The list could go on! Please comment below anything you do to redirect your mindset. I would love some new ideas!

Evaluate – What Works For You?

Once you have started to feel better, this may be in a couple of days, or even in the morning. Evaluate the ways you redirected your mindset and remember what worked and what didn’t.

This way you can learn how to quickly feel better before your emotions get out of control.

An important thing to remember is that it is okay to not be okay. If you are really not feeling like doing anything, then that is fine! Don’t stress yourself out more.

Just remember that you are the only person in control but you can always ask for help and advice!

***

Other Posts to Read

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKZXJpwAYak/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKUOoqygOx_/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKRjU38gyH3/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKPLdbrAGrl/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKMZNtaglsI/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKJ57LLAW14/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKHR1ABA8Sb/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKEpeH9gvFV/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKCBwctg1tj/
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Lifestyle• Self-Improvement

Creating a Minimal Mindset – “Do I REALLY need it?”

06/12/2020

“Do I really need it?” The question you have to learn to ask yourself every single time you are about to buy something, acquire something, or when you are decluttering your home or space.
This is the biggest key to creating a minimal mindset, and once you have mastered this, then you’re on your way to having more space, saving money, and having a healthier mind with more room to do the things you want…

It’s also a good idea to create this mindset in order to save the planet by only buying useful and reusable things!

Why would you want to create a minimal mindset?

  • If you are feeling overwhelmed in your space or don’t have enough space.
  • If you have found that you own tons of things you never use.
  • You need to learn how to save more money.
  • You want to boost your productivity.
  • Your wardrobe has so many clothes yet you NEVER have anything to wear?
  • You can never have a tidy space because you have so much stuff in every single corner, shelf, or cupboard.

The list could continue, so to put it simply. If you need a mental, physical and financial change, keep reading.

creating-a-minimal-mindset

Minimal Mindset – MONEY

The biggest difference I have noticed since adopting the “do I really need it?” phrase is that I have managed to save so much money. who doesn’t want to save money? Asking yourself this question not only minimises the stuff you have and don’t really need, but it also saves your bank.

The best way to minimise your spending is to only buy something if you need it;

Things you NEED to spend money on:

  • Food
  • Your home/rent etc
  • Bills
  • Personal health products
  • EMERGENCIES (You never know when you will have an emergency that requires you to splash some cash.)

Things you WANT to spend money on, but you don’t really need too:

  • Clothes
  • Takeaway food
  • New phones/gadgets etc (if you need one, then, of course, this is different, but if your current one is fine, why replace it!)
  • Impulsive buys eg; Random bits and bobs to decorate your space
  • Storage boxes when you don’t really need to store anything you just like the pretty box
  • Pampering yourself (I am not against this, self-care is a must, but if you need to save, cut out something you spend a lot on each month, for example getting nails or eyelashes done…)
  • Eating out when you can eat at home.

Again, the list will probably be different for everyone depending on the lifestyle.

The best way to start minimising your spending is to take a look at what you have first. I find this the best way to save money too.

Once you get paid at the start or end of the month, take a look at how much you have. Now do the following.

  1. Write down the whole number, for example, £1,400.
  2. Take off your monthly direct debits.
  3. Move money you spend on NEEDS into a different account, for example, Food account/House Fund etc
  4. Now have a look at what you have left…
  5. If you have enough put money into your savings. This could be from £50 to £200 if you can afford it.
  6. NOW what you have left, you can either save for the rest of the month, treat yourself, or just leave it!

Once you are aware of where your money is going, you will want to save and you will want to be in control of it.

I have some other posts about saving money here:

Minimal Mindset – SPACE

Probably the most obvious thing when you begin to adapt to having a minimal mindset, is space. The amount you have now and the amount you will have once you have really started to change your ways.

Lots of people view being minimalist by having and owning nothing. For me, my take on it is different. You don’t need to just have a bed in your bedroom, or a tv, or only enough plates and mugs for the people living there. If it makes you happy, then have the things you need to make you happy, of course!

However, its when your space begins to get clogged up with stuff you really don’t need, or use, or have any value for. If you don’t LOVE it, then you don’t need it.

Ways you can save your space and declutter your life:

  1. Choose a room, to begin with. Bedroom/bathroom and so on. I would suggest tackling the hardest one first and working your way down.
  2. Get some bags or baskets to collect the things you no longer want/or are throwing away.
  3. Sort through every cupboard, wardrobe, shelving unit and throw away the rubbish, save the good enough things for donation, and keep the things you are using or need. (If this is clothes, then try to donate as much as possible as long as it is still in wearable condition!)
  4. Now, take a step back when it is all done and appreciate how much space you have left.
  5. If you do not need those storage units anymore get rid of them!
  6. Finally, promise yourself to not fill the space OR get rid of more things to create space.

You may think its not a huge deal to save space, own less, and have less clutter. From my own experience, having less and having a clean empty space makes me feel so much better. Theres nothing like a tidy space for your mind to feel more productive.

Try it out, give your office space a declutter and only have in there what you use. You will see the benefits right away!

To Conclude

It is super easy to change your mindset to save money and to create a better living space. Once you have figured out your spending and what you need to save, you will buy less. Therefore you will have fewer things to clutter up your space that you don’t really need. So remember, ask your self “Do I really need it?” If your answer is no, don’t buy it!

If you want to do more research into being a minimalist, these guys are the real deal – The Minimalists They also have a series on Netflix that really makes you want to rethink the way you live your entire life.

Another good post is this one here – 2O Simple things you can do to Declutter and Live Minimally

You can also find tons of useful posts on Pinterest and Youtube! Remember, you don’t need to commit to being completely minimalist if you want to just declutter and live with less within your own lifestyle. Once you have created your minimal mindset, you never know where it will take you!

***

Thank you for reading! Please comment what you think below, and if you have any other tips of beginning a minimal mindset.

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Lifestyle• Personal Life

Getting a Puppy – The Reality!

23/11/2020

Who doesn’t love puppies? I am sure you either want a puppy or are trying to convince whoever you live with into getting a puppy.

Well, here is a post all about what it is like to have a puppy. The actual reality from someone who has a puppy in a home with other adults and older dogs…

Winnie is our baby cocker spaniel, currently, she is 12/13 weeks old at the time of writing this post. Here is a picture of pure cuteness. Despite the fact she is the devil in disguise she is extremely adorable, and we love her to bits.

getting-a-puppy

The Reality of Having a Puppy…

This isn’t going to be a puppy bashing post. So if you’re here trying to convince someone WHY you should NOT get a puppy, this isn’t the post for you. Sorry!

(Here is a little secret – I am currently writing an ebook about getting a puppy and the ins and outs of the process up to the first night at home, so stay up to date with me for that!)

The following points are all from my own experience and my own point of view since bringing Winnie home. Life is different for all dogs and all dog owners, remember this!
I like to think dogs are actually like people, they have their own personalities, quirks, things that they hate or love… But they’re just better than humans.

The First Night

Bringing your puppy home is so incredibly emotional and exciting. I cried on the way home from picking Winnie up because I just felt so happy we finally had her.

She was tiny, tired, and so perfect. In a blink, I imagined our life with her. She will be with us when we move out, have children, watch us grow as people and we will watch her and teach her everything she will know.

Gosh, it’s very emotional.

She slept almost the whole way home and even when we put her in our living room. The biggest stress for me was the other dogs. One of them quite likes her now and then, the other wouldn’t go near her. Still to this day, he freaks out when she is near and he growls at her a lot.

Winnie actually slept very well for her first night and we were quite surprised at how well she does sleep. She now sleeps all through the night and we never have to get up. But the reasoning for this is due to the fact Winnie was actually poorly, so of course, she slept, and now she is just used to it!

first night with puppy

A Poorly Puppy

Continuing from the last paragraph, Winnie was a poorly pup when we brought her home. Although she had her vet check and there was never an issue before bringing her home…

Winnie ended up having a really poorly stomach. She was fine for a day, but not eating, normal for your pups to not eat when they’re in a new home.

Then she was pooping blood and we ended up taking her to the vet and paying £85 for some tablets, and some special food to fix her.

So, whilst we think we have a super cute chilled sleepy puppy, it was all because she was ill.
Her little belly was all bloated and she was exhausted.

Luckily, after a week she was on the mend. Now we have a normal hyperactive puppy who chews our fingers off.

@winniecockerspaniel

Wakey wakey #timeforschool #cockerspaniel #cockerpuppy #spanielpuppy #TFBornThisWay

♬ time fo scoo – braden🦓

Biting/Teething/Growling

I have to be honest here. I would see people talking about how much their puppy bites and how they think they’re aggressive and my reaction would be “chill, they’re just a puppy!”

HOWEVER.

Now that I have my very own puppy I can strongly say that this phase is not the nicest. I have even questioned if I would ever have a puppy again.

It hurts, the teeth are sharp, they don’t give in, and it’s frustrating! I think all dogs are different in this area.

It happens, and you have to just get through it. It truly is a phase, but how you handle it is important.

puppy-teeth

All The Stress

My biggest stress with Winnie is that we live at home with my parents, and we have two older dogs.
Due to her being a jumpy, annoying puppy, she can’t be left alone and I don’t trust the other dogs with her. (although they’ve only ever growled at her, and never hurt another dog before, its just my anxiety!)

The other thing is that, and maybe it’s just a personal thing, I’m always thinking she doesn’t like me because she bites and growls etc… Ridiculous I know!

But fearing that your puppy may be harder to train, are just some of the thoughts that go through my head, and I’m sure it goes through others too.

With this said, I know its all going to be fine. She is an adorable puppy who is just a puppy! But sometimes I can’t wait for the biting stage to end, and for her to be completely obedient!

Other than that, she’s been great at toilet training, and eating, and being brushed because her ears get so dirty! We have already taught her how to; sit, paw, lie down, and she can nearly ‘leave it’ and she’s getting better at her recall.

Now, at the start of this post, I said this isn’t to put you off buying a puppy but to think from another point of view before you buy one. All of those statements are 100% true, however, its the in-between you need to think about!

All The Love

To conclude, if you do really want a puppy, I promise you it will fill a hole in your heart you didn’t know was there.

It is so lovely to see that you are caring for this baby animal, and everything you do is helping them learn and grow and be healthy, just like a human baby I suppose!

But they just never learn to talk back, they just growl and bark instead…

The cutest thing about puppies is when they sleep, its just so adorable, and you get some peace!

Getting a puppy is a lifetime commitment…

You’ll be in this job for at least 12 years, you have to go through the puppy stage, the teenage regression stage, and the old age phase when you really start to think your time is limited.

***

Thank you for reading this post! The first one I have written for a while…

Don’t forget to follow Winnie over on instagram to continue seeing updates on her!

Here were my other most recent posts!

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Lifestyle• Personal Life

A Little Life Update – The Past Months…

12/10/2020

Well well well, I guess I am back tryong to have another go at this blogging/writing stuff. The main reason why I want to is because I have really been feeling like something is missing, and this is it. Writing, sharing, creating content. So what better way to get back into it than sharing a little life update from me, and to explain in super short notes what has been going on the past however many months it has been. This may be a little personal, you might not be bothered! But for those that are, thank you.

Life Update in Months

Throughout these little monthly updates, I have tried to include something positive or something I am thankful for since these few months have not been my finest…

So a little reminder to everyone is to always seek to find the good in even the worst days. I promise it will make you feel better.

June –

Grandma had a stroke. Whole life stopped for me! I couldn’t concentrate on anything the whole time she was in the hospital (until August) Thankfully she is at home at the time of me writing this, and I have never been more grateful for a miracle. I was at work until the summer holidays which was positive. Also thankful.

little life update

July –

Still in this huge slump. Not having a great time overall! Although work was the one thing keeping me going, working with children does wonders when trying to keep your mind occupied! My family and boyfriend are angels for being able to put up with me (haha).

August –

Grandma finally came home but it was very stressful. Sorting out her care and dealing with my Grandpap who now has to care for her was slightly heartbreaking. However we are slowly getting there, and once again thankful for the progress that is being made! It was the summer holidays now but due to covid not a lot of things to do. However, I did go away to Bournemouth and Liverpool with my boyfriend which was a lovely break.

Happy me in liverpool

September –

Getting better! Started work and loving it. Grateful to have a job that I never dread no matter how tired, poorly or low I am feeling! This month went pretty fast, I can’t even really remember anything else other than working!

October (the time of writing this post) –

The best month so far since the world went into lockdown. My boyfriend managed to convince my dad for us to be allowed to buy a puppy before we hopefully move out next year… So now we are getting a Cocker Spaniel called Winnie (insta here and at the bottom!) I feel like I have forgotten about everything else that was bothering me and really starting to just live in the moment and to live slowly. Whatever was missing in my heart and soul has certainly been replaced with this puppy, so once again, thankful.

Life Update Summary

This year has been hard for all of us, we have all had our own battles to face but this doesn’t mean your own personal one wasn’t important to you. Just because someone else might have also had a bad time, don’t forget that you are allowed to have bad days too. Ride through them, know it gets better, but acknowledge what is happening and how you are feeling too. Otherwise, you’ll constantly be held hostage by your own emotions and how you feel inside your head. You are the most important person to you. Look after yourself first x

Thank you for reading my little life update. If you ever want to talk about anything follow me on Instagram or message me on here.

Some other helpful posts here :

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKZXJpwAYak/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKUOoqygOx_/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKRjU38gyH3/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKPLdbrAGrl/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKMZNtaglsI/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKJ57LLAW14/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKHR1ABA8Sb/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKEpeH9gvFV/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CKCBwctg1tj/

Winnie’s Instagram is here –

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Lifestyle• Personal Life• Self-Improvement

Importance of Reflection Time & Taking a Break

05/09/2020

You may (or may not have) noticed that I haven’t been very active online for the past month or so. Truly, I can’t actually remember the last time I blogged or even felt the need or want to do so. But here I am, back at it again! This is going to just be a little short post that will most likely have rubbish SEO and serve no value. However, I will be talking about how important it is to take some reflection time and really think about your life, health, actions, and so on…

If you are feeling like blogging or social media isn’t your highest priority, then that’s fine! It shouldn’t be, and that is something I have learnt over this past couple of weeks. There are way more important things to be worried about, and worrying about your online status when your mind needs a break is not a good idea! If it’s not fun, or you have to force yourself, then take a break. It’s all good.

Reflection Time

This sounds like you need some time out because you’ve done something bad, its the opposite to that. Taking some time to reflect, or having some reflection time not only helps you to recenter your thoughts, but it enables your brain to take a little break and to spend more of its energy worrying/thinking about things that are taking more priority in your head at that moment. Therefore, you should never feel bad about taking a break away from anything.

Ways To Take A Break

Here are a few ways you can take a break; from big to small. Minimal effort, to a large amount of effort, and anything else you could imagine.

  • Take a break from looking at your screen!
  • Have a few days off from social media, or however long you need.
  • Plan times of the day to go for a walk or do something totally different from your normal routine.
  • Book time away with family or friends, or even yourself!
  • Visit somewhere you haven’t been for ages, or at all.
  • Grab a cup of tea and actually get into reading a book.
  • Write down the things that are important to you, which ones have you focused on recently.
  • Remind yourself of affirmations. (I have a post about that here)
  • Treat yourself to something new.
  • Get everything in line before you go back to your normal routine. By this, I mean to organise your space, calculate expenses, maybe create a vision board.
  • Do a personal challenge: Yoga for thirty days or meditation? Try new things to add to your normal daily life.
  • Create a working brain and a life brain… Keep work at work, and home at home.
  • Book time off to just chill at home, you don’t need to go anywhere different. Be in your own space and enjoy it.

The aim of coming back to blogging – For me (If you’re interested)

I have been away from the blog for some time now, I never wanted it to become too personal but the reason being, simply, is because a family member has been extremely ill, and my mind was elsewhere! However, blogging is something I love doing and still something I am hoping creates a better life for me.

So, the aim now is to start sharing content to help you with self-care/self-help and keep this space real, but positive!

I will be creating more content for my Intstagram so please please please go and check that out! And if you would like to collab email me at writtenbycharlotte@gmail.com.

Thank you so much for reading, if you have read this! I have been away from all my socials so here they are below!

Follow me on Insta!

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Lifestyle• Self-Improvement

How To Unselfishly Practice Self-Care

27/06/2020

How to unselfishly practice self-care. This may seem or sound like an impossible task, and kind of contradictory. If this sounds confusing keep reading!

I write a lot on this little blog about self-help and self-improvement, but what about everyone else? Of course, you should always be looking out for number one (you) and creating the life you want to live and living your best life at that.

However, how can we live our best lives alone? Practising self-help should be done in such a way that it benefits not only ourselves but for others too. Once again, I have waffled on, so let’s just get into it.

What is Self-Help?

Self-help is simply an act of performing certain things that will help your self. This can be physical or mental, but the end goal is to improve your personal self and the life you are living.

I have some posts on self-care here:
– Self-care after work
– Create a self-care plan
– Give yourself a current life review

This amazing, of course, you should always be doing things to better yourself and your life, especially if you are faced with moments of needing to make changes. Lots of people will turn to self-help when they feel as though they have let themselves go, or like they need a real positive change in their lives.

So, as I said, self-help is a must. However, touching on today’s subject, you are not alone in this world, and to help yourself, you need to also help others too.

Unselfishly Practice Self-Care…

If you don’t help others too, what is the point?

You are faced with different people all the time from all over. If you focus on only yourself, you are bound to find someone who wants to add a negative force into the growth you are reaching.

Because unfortunately, that is what people are like.

To avoid/stop this, use your self-help time to improve how you react to others, to in turn, teach them as well. You don’t need to focus on this all of the time, but just be aware of how your actions and learning will effect others too.

unselfishly-practice-self-care

How to Help Yourself, and others AT THE SAME TIME

This post has been a whole lot of words, so here is a list of ways you can unselfishly practice self-care by not only helping yourself but others around you too.

  • Having a bad time? Message your friend and see how they’re feeling. Go out and talk about things and offer each other advice.
  • Educate yourself on how to deal with negative people. If you find yourself in some conflict, try to talk to them about changing their mindset and behaviour too.
  • Don’t hold in all of your feelings. Chances are, there is someone out there who would like to vent how they feel too. Share your emotions. Even if this is online!
  • Share how you practice self-help… If you have found a way to deal with a certain emotion, or you have found something that helps you, don’t keep it to yourself!
  • Educating yourself can be a form of self-care, especially if you are needing to learn more about the world, people and cultures. This of course, in turn, helps you to help others by gaining my knowledge.

Other Ways to Help Others

Of course, unselfishly practising self-care does seem like quite a hard task, and it is! You don’t need to do this all the time, it’s just good to keep in mind. So, if you do want to help others, here are a few more ways you can do this in general.

All of the following points are inspired by the book ‘Lift As You Climb’ By Viv Groskop. Lift as you climb means you should be helping to lift other women too on your journey to success.

  • Share other content to help them grow too! You get what you give. So, help other people grow, and in turn, it will happen for you. Kind of like good karma.
  • Promote your friends business ventures or ideas they have! Support your friends. That’s all.
  • Don’t be negative about things when you do not need to.
  • Answer questions and offer help.
  • Share your knowledge with people who are struggling, even if they are doing the same thing as you.
  • Don’t just try to sell your products to answer simple questions… Just answer them! Then refer to your products for extra help if you need too.

If you have any other ideas I would love to hear what you have to say! So please comment below to let me know what you think.

I know that this post might seem a bit full on and a little confusing. All I am asking is that you Lift others as you Climb… That is all! Help others and yourself.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog to get updates every week!

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Lifestyle• Self-Improvement

Positive Affirmations to Enhance Your Life

22/06/2020

I think a lot of people read things like this and about positive affirmations and think “what a load of rubbish” but HONESTLY I can promise that having a more positive mindset on life and actually visually seeing/reading and saying positive things will change your life.

*Small disclaimer*

I am in no way saying that it is easy to change your mindset and that everything is great ALL the time. Trust me, I fully understand that there are bad days and good days.

I write posts like these because not only will they help you, they help me too. Creating this content also allows me to learn and better my life. Hence why I love to share it with you, I want you to be on this journey.
I also would love it if these little positive posts made some difference in your lives too.

If you ever want to talk about something, or just see the other content I post about lifestyle and self-improvement, then follow me over on Instagram – writtenbycharlotte_

What are Positive Affirmations?

Positive affirmations are basically simple phrases you can read or say, that will defend yourself against negative feelings and emotions.

Affirmations are also used to boost how you are feeling. This website is great for learning more about the science behind it all. – Positive Daily Affirmations – Positive Psychology

So, they can be pretty much anything. From simple sayings to longer phrases. You can choose what you want it to be depending on the use of your affirmation.

For example, if you wanted to build some courage for a new job interview, you could tell yourself :
“Whatever happens, happens. I have given it my all, and the outcome will show me down the path I need to venture.”

Some Examples of Daily Affirmations

It is so easy to create your own to fit in with your life and what you want.

Simply sit with a pen and paper and write down your wishes and how you are feeling. Remember to think positively, and reinforce your feelings with words by writing them down into phrases to say out loud and to follow.

The first five are the longer ones I have created for my self. Don’t forget to PIN IT! Of course, affirmations can be a few words, or whatever you want them to be, depending on where you are right now.

I have created an infographic of some of the positive daily affirmations I believe help me.

  1. I know that good things are coming my way, staying positive and present will manifest the right changes in my life.
    *
  2. Nothing happens overnight but I can spend my nights manifesting the life I want by simply dreaming and thinking.
    *
  3. I trust in my process and believe that everything that comes my way has a meaning.
    *
  4. I will not let the small things defeat me and ruin my day, I will learn to rise above.
    *
  5. I can create the life I envision by following the right paths given to me and choosing to stay positive throughout my personal journey.
Don’t forget to pin this to your relevant boards!

Some smaller Daily Affirmations;

  • I can control my feelings, thoughts and actions.
  • The universe will provide for me.
  • I am smart.
  • Everything happens how it should.
  • I am successful and I will be successful.
  • My heart is calm.
  • Nothing is impossible.

How You Can Use Affirmations

‘Using’ daily affirmations is super simple and you can really do it whenever and wherever. All you have to do is the following things;

Find some affirmations you feel resonate with you, or write your own. Put them in your notes in your phone, or physically write them down (I find writing things down works better and feels more real!)

Either read them in the morning before going about your day, or set them as reminders to pop up whilst you are out at work, or busy doing other things. Sometimes it can be a nice pick me up!

Set your home screen on your phone to a motivational phrase if you feel you really need it that day.

Keep on writing them to fit your current needs. Then wait and see what happens. Stay positive throughout the process and you must really believe that it is working, for it to actually work. Yes, everything is in your head, but isn’t that the whole point?

***

Thank you so much for reading, I really hope this post helps you create some positive change in your life, and enables you to live more positively!

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I would love to know what daily affirmations you follow, or if you have created any of your own. Please comment below!

Don’t forget, I share content every day on social media so make sure you follow me over there;

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