Learning to be your authentic self and why it's so important

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Many of us go through life without expressing who we really are. This could be down to fear of not fitting in, being alone, or the judgment of what others may think of us, and honestly, it makes me sad. All of us deserve to live our life as our authentic selves and express who we really are - it's human nature. 

Self-discovery is a process and every day, we learn more about ourselves, it's all part of the journey that is life - and it means, with every step, you'll grow and shape into the person you're meant to be.

If you're struggling with your identity or scared to express how you truly are, here are my best tips on learning to be your authentic self.

Learning to be your authentic self

Self-acceptance

The first step to coming to terms with your authentic self is to accept who you are. These are your flaws, your favourite features, what you love, what you hate, and really what makes you, you. We're all individuals and it's important for us to express that part of ourselves as there is no point in being a clone of one another.

With self-acceptance, you'll be able to come to terms with who you are, learn to be okay with it, and love yourself more. And then, you'll be comfortable enough in yourself to express your authentic self to the world and those around you. Life is a journey of self-discovery and it's important to also note, you don't have to figure out and accept yourself overnight, it's a process.

Think about the people you surround yourself with

Who we surround ourselves with can have a big impact on the way we view ourselves and our life, and that's why it's important to surround yourself with people who support you, rather than bring you down. If you're surrounded by positive people and those who will love you for being who you truly are then you'll be able to learn to be your authentic self and live freely with your identity.

The right type of people will never judge you for being your authentic self and will want you to embrace all that is you. 'You're never too much for the right person' - this quote goes along these lines as someone who loves you whether platonically or romantically, will never think you're too much for being who you truly are.

Growing your self-confidence

With self-acceptance, comes confidence as you can start to live your life fully as you. Because you're aligning with your true self, confidence and happiness will naturally pull through, but it also means it's a great starting point on building your self-confidence more and learning to love yourself. Self-confidence doesn't happen overnight but expressing who you are, will give you the opportunity to follow up that confident path easier - trust me. It's easier to feel comfortable in your skin when you're being your authentic self, rather than conforming to what other people want you to be.

Expressing yourself in how you dress and look

Fashion is a funny old thing. Growing up, I always wanted to wear what was trendy or in style to fit in with everyone around me and look 'cool', but really it made me more unhappy as I wasn't being truly me. As I've gotten older, I've started to wear the clothes that were more me and look more like myself if that makes sense.

By expressing yourself through your image, you will also learn to be more confident in who you are and love your true self also. If you're nervous about this type of expression, start it off gradually making small changes to your clothes/appearance until you can fully embrace your true self in an exterior manner.

Pursuing your true passions

I always say to do what makes you happy in every aspect of life and that includes your hobbies and career. Not all of us are born with an 'I want to be this' attitude, but we all have those hobbies or activities which make our hearts soar - and that's what you should be focusing on. By pursuing your true passions, whether they're in work or play, you'll learn more about your authentic self and start to enjoy life a whole lot more.

Doing it anyway

We all have doubts about ourselves and question what we do, it's only natural and a part of human nature. However, part of being your authentic self and not caring what people think is having that no caring attitude and doing it anyway. This could mean quitting a job that isn't bringing you happiness, wearing a risky outfit, or cutting yourself out of a friendship group. The thing that is preventing you from being the real you, do it anyway.

Live for your beliefs and values

Not everybody has the same beliefs and values in life and that's okay, but it doesn't mean you need to change yours to fit in. The right sort of people will surround you for your beliefs and values and it's important to stick by them as they feed into who you are and what your authentic self is about.

We all have different backgrounds and upbringing and these are factors that shape who we are and we shouldn't have to change or be embarrassed by it. Learn to embrace it and accept your beliefs and values are a part of you to be able to live your true self.

Creating a safe space for others to be their true self

I'm one of those people to try and assure everyone that I can be a safe space for them as I would never want anyone to feel like they can't be themselves around be or express who they really are. We're all unique and deserve to live our lives that way, and that's why it's important to create a safe zone for your family and friends so they don't feel like they have to be someone else around you. They should be able to come to you being who they are and expressing their feelings with no judgment. 

Obviously, we can't all get on with everyone and that's okay, but for the important people in your life, ensure that when they're with you, they know you'll support and reassure them in every possible way.

Why is it so important?

Being your authentic self is important for many reasons. It's important firstly because as humans we deserve to learn to be all that is us and love exactly who we are. But also, once you're on the level of loving your true self, you'll find you live more authentically in everything you do and only do things that align with the values of what you really want.

Being your authentic self can help you have a more positive mindset for your life and goals and will help you radiate towards everything that is right for you. Life is way too short to not live your full potential as you. You are unique, you are amazing and you are beautiful just by being you. There's no point trying to be someone else, that spot is already taken.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Do you have any other tips?

Thank you for reading <3

Book review: Find Me by J.S Monroe

Well hello to you my reader chums! I love a good thriller novel; the pace, the thrill, and the unexpected turns always fill me with so much anticipation of what will happen next. I recently picked up the book Find Me and was hooked from the first page.

This post contains affiliate links.

Whether you're looking for a new thriller or need a fast-paced read, here is my full review of the book, Find Me.

Book review: Find Me by J.S Monroe

Plotline

The plot is focused on the two main characters, Rosa and Jar. Five years after Rosa's funeral, her boyfriend Jar still can't accept her death. It has been five years since she walked to Cromer pier in the dead of night and jumped. Her 'suicide' attempt made sense to many since the recent passing of her father but not to Jar. Jar sees Rosa's face everywhere, on trains, on the face of the cliff, and is obsessed with the fact she is still alive. And then, he gets an email from her about finding her. Then Jar begins to question and figure out what is real and what isn't.

The plot is one of those storylines that keep giving more, in every part and chapter and the way the story is broken up. I love how the breakdown of the book structure is; shorter chapters for a snappier storyline and the combination of different perspectives.

Characters and relationships

This is always the best part of a book, delving into new characters and learning to get to know them. Find Me is told from many different perspectives as the book goes on including from a third-person perspective, diary entries from Rosa, Jar himself, and another character, Martin. The book has a lot of different characters which unveil over time as the answer to what really happened to Rosa bubbles to the surface.

Jar is my favourite character. His dedication and love for Rosa is something we all dream of in a partner and that passion is shown through all of his actions and the lengths he goes to figure out what really happens. Rosa is a character I also fell in love with as I can imagine we'd be friends in real life. The way Jar describes their relationship when they meet at Cambridge University is heartwarming and that love is continued underlying in every part of the novel.

Amy and Martin are also two significant characters. Amy is Rosa's aunt and Martin is her husband. Amy is the one who is also obsessed with the fact that Rosa isn't really dead and cannot believe it, and does everything she can to stand by Jar's side. Their relationship is an unusual but friendly one as they both share the same interest in finding Rosa.

Overall thoughts

Overall, I loved this book in every way. It had a bit of everything including the mystery of what really happened. The love story between Rosa and Jar and also the shock factor. When I thought I knew the answer to the plot, there was another turn and I had to rethink what I thought I knew.

The book has that enticing and gripping intent to the writing, leaving you on a cliffhanger at every given moment and craving for more answers after each page. Rosa's diary entries are just the beginning of figuring out what really happened to her.

Ending

Obviously, I won't give away the ending but I loved the ending. In the last few chapters, everything was pieced together and came to a close in a brilliant, and thought-out way. The book ended on a good note and I definitely recommend giving it a go if you're interested in the next best thriller.

If you're looking to get yourself a copy, buy yours here.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have you read this book?

Thank you for reading <3

Top tips on starting your journey to body acceptance

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm very passionate about body confidence as I believe we all deserve to love our bodies and appreciate what we have. Everybody is beautiful and it doesn't matter your shape or size, you are glorious in every way, and your body is there to keep you healthy and alive.

I've had a long journey with body confidence and learning to accept and appreciate the skin I'm in, and I think a lot of us go through the same thing at whatever age we are in life.

Recently, I've been reading about the term 'body acceptance' rather than 'body confidence' and 'body positivity' and honestly, I love it and think it's a lot more achievable, relatable and better for people's mental health to aspire towards their journey of appreciating the skin they're in. And, it aids towards people of all shapes and sizes, rather than praising the bodies that are only in mainstream media.

Body acceptance quote

What is body acceptance?

Body acceptance is on similar lines of body positivity but instead of enforcing the idea that every single moment of the day, we need to love what we see in the mirror and appreciate what we have, it's about accepting that this goal isn't realistic or attainable. Nobody is going to look in the mirror every day and adore every part of their body, there are going to be times where we pick out our least favourite parts or hate those bits, and that's okay.

Body acceptance means looking in the mirror on the days you don't feel great about your body and acknowledging that fact and think about what is causing these thoughts and feelings and how you can work on it, and begin that journey. It's also about accepting that there will be days where you'll love your body and days where you're not the biggest fan, and that's okay.

Why is it more important than body positivity/confidence?

The body positivity movement began as a way to celebrate bodies who weren't represented heavily in the media such as plus size or those with disabilities and gave them a space to learn to love and appreciate the skin they're in (as they should). However, since the movement became more of a mainstream topic and everybody jumped on board, it then started to have more of a focus on the bodies already represented and celebrating those, rather than everyone - taking away from the initial point of the movement.

The term body positivity is important and a great way to think about our bodies as we should all love them, but by only showing one group of bodies to promote the movement and especially those bodies who are already praised in society has taken away the effect of giving the bodies who are constantly shamed on, the celebration they deserve.

We all deserve to be positive and confident about our bodies but by not being inclusive of everyone, the movement has kind of taken a backpedal and that's where body acceptance comes in. Body acceptance I think is more important than body positivity and confidence as it's a journey. It's not just about loving your body and then you're done, it's a constant mindset on growing and learning with your body and learning to appreciate different parts when you age, and knowing it's okay not to be in love with your body all the time. It takes the pressure away from being this 'body confident and body positive gal' that we're all told we should be 100% of the time and allows you to change your mindset and work within realistic goals.

Tips on how to accept your body 

Whether you're starting your body acceptance journey or need some advice, here are my best tips on accepting your body.

Change the way you talk to your body - There's a lot of things in life we need to unlearn in terms of the unhealthy way we approach many situations as an adult, and the conversation with our body is one of them. Diet culture and social media is something that has been rammed into us for years so we're often feeling guilty about what we eat, if we gain weight or not gyming it every day. And this is why, when it comes to body acceptance, we need to change the narrative. Instead, of saying 'I ate lots of bad food on holiday so I've gained a bit of weight', say 'I really enjoyed my holiday and everything I ate and my body is just a representation of that joy, and I'm okay with how it looks,' By reinforcing positive messaging and accepting how our body changes, you can learn to be on the path of body acceptance. It can be as simple as saying 'I'm okay with the jiggly bit on my leg and I accept that it's part of me.'

Don't pressure yourself into wearing things you're not comfortable in - Clothes is one of the things that can be tricky if you're not comfortable with your body and the skin you're in. But don't put pressure on yourself to fit in smaller sizes or wear things because everybody else is. Put the clothes on that you love to wear or you feel your best self in and use that positive language towards yourself about how you accept what you look like - and that it's okay to wear exactly what you feel like.

Practise daily affirmations - Daily affirmations are something I've spoken about to boost your positive mindset and confidence in your body but they can be used in the same way for accepting your body. Instead of saying every day 'I love my body how it is', change it to 'I accept my body and all that is me' - as then you're not putting pressure on yourself to love your body but practising that self-acceptance which can lead to self-love as well.

Follow more realistic social media accounts - Social media can be a wonderful thing but it's often a very toxic place for comparison and seeing these 'perfect' and unattainable images every single day. Something I've done and that I'd recommend to everyone is following accounts that bring you joy, but also the accounts that have more of a realistic approach to life and their body. I follow many girls that talk about the normal and natural parts of a body such as stretch marks, cellulite and hip dips - and it makes me feel so normal as I scroll through.

Try your best not to compare - Comparison is the killer of all joy and can be one of the hardest cycles to break because as humans, we naturally compare to everyone around us. But instead of looking at someone and thinking how amazing they are, just remind yourself of a few things. One, they're just like you. They have up and down days and what you see on social media is only a small fraction of someone's day. And two, that you should accept them for what they are but also what you are because you're both wonderful beings in every way.

Body acceptance is something we all deserve to feel and whether you're new to your journey or powering through, I'm proud of you. All bodies are good bodies.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other tips do you have?

Thank you for reading <3

Why it's important to leave toxic friendships

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm very lucky to say I have the most incredible friends in the world and I'm forever thankful to surround myself with powerful, inspiring, and supportive women who are always there for me, boost me up when I need it and are always cheering me on.

Minnis Bay thanet

However, I haven't always been so lucky with friends and over the years, especially when I was a teen, I had more toxic friendships who didn't have my best interests at heart. And, through getting older and realising my worth, I've also realised that I didn't need their friendship in my life.

Whether you have a toxic friendship or you need the boost to leave that friendship, here is why it's important to leave toxic friendships.

To help your mental health

I always say if something is affecting your mental health then it's not worth your time and effort and that goes with anything from your job to friendships. Your mental health should be your number one priority in life and everything you do and how you live should prioritise what's good for your mind. A happy mind is the best way to lead a happy life.

If a toxic friendship is taking up a negative space mentally, causing a spike in anxiety, or making you feel worthless, then it's not worth having. Leaving a friendship can be hard, especially if you have a long history, however, it's crucial if it's affecting your mental health. I can assure you, by taking a step away from a toxic friendship, your mind will start to feel a lot freer and you can fill it with happy and positive thoughts, rather than the toxic energy the friendship was bringing. And, it'll give you the opportunity to heal.

To give you the space for better friendships

If you're spending a lot of your free time pursuing toxic friendships, whether that's talking or making plans with that person or group, then you lose a lot of your time to pursue better and healthier friendships. It can be hard to walk away if you feel it'll make you lonely, however, it's better to be lonely and know you did what's better for you than staying in a toxic situation.

Once you take the step away from the toxic friendship, then you'll also realise how much free space you have in terms of socialisation. And, you can use that to start to find other friends, whether that's at work, online, or friends of friends. There may be someone you've wanted to message in a while, but we're worried about what your friends thought or didn't feel you had the time to pursue another friendship, and now that'll give you the chance. Plus, however, you feel in yourself will always radiate what you put out into the universe. For instance, if you're now feeling better for the relationship with yourself and more pore positive, this energy will radiate out and you'll attract like-minded individuals.

To realise your worth

Knowing your self-worth, realising your good enough and that you deserve better is the most important thing. You don't deserve to be mugged off, to be taken advantage of or bullied by people you call 'friends.' By walking away from toxic friendships and being out of a negative environment, you'll have the time and energy to focus on working on yourself - and it'll make you realise how you deserve more.

You deserve to be surrounded by like-minded people who support our decisions, offer helpful advice, cheer you on, and most importantly ae loyal to you. Good friendships are incredibly important and they'll also reassure you that you deserve the best.

To put your time into better things

Time is a powerful and important thing, we only get so much of it and that means, you don't want to waste it on things that bring you negativity and sadness. This means, by leaving a toxic friendship, you'll have more time to pursue things that make your heart and soul happy and you never know, these new activities could lead to better and bigger friendships.

To feel happier about yourself and your life

Negative and toxic environments will take their toll on your mental wellbeing, how you feel about yourself, and your life. And that toll will prevent you from feeling happy in yourself and in your life.

However, by leaving a toxic situation, you won't be surrounded by that level of negative energy and can spend your days focusing on the positive energy, how you feel about yourself, and your life. And, I can assure you, you'll start to feel freer and happier. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. What else would you add to this list?

Thank you for reading <3

Let's talk about privilege and sustainability

 Well hello to you my reader chums! If you've been following me for a while, then you'd know over the last few years, I've been trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle and make those eco-friendly changes where I can in my day to day life, whether that's when I travel, in my beauty routine or how I dress.

Looking after the planet is very important to me; I want to live in a world knowing we're doing our best in caring for it so the earth has a future for the next generations to come. However, in making all these changes to my day-to-day life, I've come to more of a realisation of the privileged position I'm in to be able to do this.

Let's talk about privilege and sustainability

What is privilege?

Privilege in any sense is an advantage in life, whether that's your wealth status, gender, race, or class. Unfortunately, how society works is that some people hold privilege over others - and it's important to be aware of that, and how you can use that status for change.

The term privilege can be quite subjective but to me, it means I'm very fortunate to be in a position where I am privileged, as a lot of people have it worse than me. In terms of privilege and the purpose of this post, I'm wealthy in the sense I have a roof over my head, I travel freely, and can afford certain luxuries in order to choose a lifestyle I desire - and I'm very grateful for that.

How does my privilege affect lifestyle choices?

This leads me to this point, having money means more freedom and opportunity as it's one less (huge) thing to worry about. I'm not rich in any sense and have experienced being extremely poor with no luxuries in sight at all. However, my point being is that I have a taste of financial freedom and can choose the way I live my life because of that.

Sustainability is a privilege. In an ideal world, we'd all live a sustainable lifestyle and could invest in reusable items, organic clothes, and food, but for the masses, this isn't feasible. Many people live on a low wage bracket, more than we realise and that means they live in making ends meet and buy what they can afford. They do not have the financial freedom to make the lifestyle choice of being more eco-friendly.

Having financial freedom means the wider your opportunity and choosing the life you want to lead. It comes from a place of privilege me even saying that. A lot of people don't have the luxury of choosing their dream lifestyle because they have a family to raise, are single parents, have lost their job, or work more than one job just to cover their bills - and I can say this as my family was once in the position. If I look back to those days, my parents couldn't choose to be more sustainable by investing in organic cotton clothing, buying from local produce delis, or into eco-friendly beauty/house products. We bought what we could afford in the cheapest of shops - and that was okay. We had to live and many people are like that today, and shouldn't be shamed for choosing the non-eco option when it comes to their lifestyle.

Having privilege now is important for me to be aware of as when I preach about 'everyone should be more sustainable', I say it to interest those who have the means to go about leading that lifestyle. I can guarantee everyone wants to help the planet and do their bit but not everyone has the option to.

How can those with privilege lead the way with sustainability?

Living sustainability will most likely always be a thing of privilege, however, it's those who have privilege who can lead the way with that and be the one to make a change. I would love it to be more of an accessible thing for everyone but in this current climate, that won't be the case.

So, what can we do? I've written many posts about how to live a more sustainable lifestyle and there are lots of changes we can make - simple things you wouldn't even think about.

The first thing to do is research. Research when you're buying your clothes and beauty products from, read up the history of where you're sourcing food from, and how you travel about. See how anything you buy is made and the ethics about how it's made and how/where it has been imported from. Investing in local produce, reusing things as much as possible, and sharing transportation are a few key ways to start. It's about the ethical procedure behind certain industries and what they evolve to become - and how we can lessen that impact. For instance, fast fashion is not only unethical in how it's produced material-wise, it's also unethical by who it's made by. the people making those garments are paid a tiny amount for their job that isn't liveable. Then, you can look into ways to minimise the negative effect you have on the planet.

By those with privilege leading the way to make these environmental changes and investing in the products to make a lesser impact on the world, we are the ones helping with the worldly change - and it can lead the way and ultimately help those who don't have the accessibility to this way of life. I mean this in the sense that by taking actions into our own hands, we will lessen the impact on the earth and have a future for everyone in this world. We need to be the change we want to see - and help those who don't have the accessibility or opportunity to make the change they desire.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What is your opinion on this topic?

Thank you for reading <3

How to deal with anxiety in the workplace

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Anxiety is something I've dealt with for most of my life but it became more of a prominent issue in my teen years and then throughout my adult life, where I've learnt to cope with it a lot more.

Anxiety is something that I've experienced in all areas of life including the workplace. Over the years, it has gotten better, but I've had many jobs and it has always been up and down, but there are some techniques that I've found to help with work anxiety.

Dealing with anxiety at work

If you're experiencing anxiety in the workplace and unsure how to deal with it, here are my best tips on coping with anxiety in the workplace.

Prepare for meetings

Anxiety is all about staying in control as change and uncertainty are often the things that can trigger or cause it. However, it isn't feasible to always be in control, we can't control how life will pan out sometimes and that's okay. Saying that there are ways to keep it at bay and have some level of control over your anxiety in the workplace, and one of those ways is preparing for meetings.

This is a tip that has really helped me. I'm one of those people who get really anxious for meetings and speaking up in front of people, so having some level of preparation can keep those thoughts at bay. This can be listing some initial ideas I've had prior to the meeting, looking at the agenda and writing out what I need to say, or simply practicing what I'm going to say to myself. All this prep helps me speak with more confidence as I have the assurance my mind is less likely to go blank if I have points written on paper.

Take the time out when needed 

Mental health days are important and this is something I've only taken seriously this past year. Before, I felt guilty taking time away if my anxiety was bad or I wasn't feeling right as physically I looked normal. However, the effect my mental health was having meant I couldn't work at my usual pace - and really, my work and overall outlook at work would be impacted.

This is why it's so important to take the time out for yourself. A job isn't worth your mental health and I can understand that's quite a privileged statement to make as some people can't afford to take sick days or to quit when things get hard. However, taking time out doesn't necessarily have to just mean sick days away from the office, it can mean, stepping outside on your break, talking to your manager to pull you out of a meeting or asking to be put on other tasks. Obviously, this is all just ideas as each working environment is different to the next - but what's important is you have the time away to look after yourself, in whatever form that can be.

Write a positivity log

This is something a colleague mentioned to me quite recently as my anxiety has been bad at work and I thought it was a genius idea. Anxiety often stems from not feeling good enough and that's why things such as affirmations and being kinder to yourself can help.

With a positivity log, it's a great space to fill out all the nice things colleagues or managers have told you about your work or yourself, and when you're feeling anxious or not good enough at work, you can read it as an important reminder.

Talk to your boss about how you're feeling

Your boss or manager is there to ensure you're happy and content in your role, and that means if anxiety is causing you a problem at work, speak to them. They may be able to offer you different ways to help cope with your anxiety or simply, just be someone to chat to so you don't feel alone. Help is different for everyone when it comes to anxiety so don't be disheartened if they suggest something and it doesn't work for you, keep trying as you can find the thing to help you cope with it.

Keep hydrated

Keeping hydrated is very important for every part of life. But a healthy body is a healthy mind and although it's not necessarily going to help you deal with anxiety, it will help your body feel nourished and taken care of as you pace through the day. 

Practice breathing exercises

I know the worst thing to hear when you're anxiety is bad is 'just breathe and you'll be okay' but it can help, if done right. There are so many breathing techniques that you can use and mediation apps which help enforce that. My favourite is the 5 rule, which a colleague actually told me about. It's to look around and spot 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste. This should help to ground you and bring you back to the present.

Map out your day

With anxiety, excessive thoughts fly about all over the place and that doesn't help when you need to focus on the task at hand. One way to conquer this is to make a to-do list of things you need to get done that day, what your main priorities are and then also noting in the meetings you have too. With a plan of the day, you'll have a clear focus of what to do and then, you'll have less time for thoughts to sway.

Find a way to get into your zone

We all have that one thing that helps our anxiety and gives us clear focus. It could be shutting the world out with music, working with someone else or going out for a clear walk. Try and figure out whatever that thing is for you and implement it as much as you can to lessen your anxiety in the workplace.

Know those bad anxiety days are okay

Again, this is one point I've only been able to stomach recently. I always felt so guilty when my anxiety was bad or I was triggered easily as it affected my work and the performance I gave. However, when living with anxiety, it's normal to have good and bad days, and on the bad days, it's important to look after yourself with a little bit more tender loving care and asserting the ideas that it's okay not to be okay.

Remember your progress 

When I'm having an anxious day at work, something I like to focus on is my progress. I've come a long way in terms of my anxiety and I'm sure you have too. It's important to acknowledge that and know you're on the healing journey to becoming your best self.

Use essential oils

I love essential oils, they can do so much to help your anxiety. Although you can't always bring essential oils in the workplace with you, you can have a diffuser up in your home at all times, circulating the scent around and giving you a sense of calm. If you're looking for what essential oils to buy, this essential oil guide is for you.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other tips do you have?

Thank you for reading <3

5 daily habits that'll help you feel more fulfilled

 Well hello to you my reader chums! As I've gotten older and dare I say it, wiser, I've learnt more about myself, about life, and really, what's truly important. Status, wealth, and having 'things' aren't the source of my happiness and honestly, I think that's the same for a lot of people. The source of my happiness is the love I have for myself, the people I have around me, the little things in life, and pursuing activities that make my soul happy.

Broadstairs beach Kent

With learning to change my mindset and discovering what really is important, I've also learnt to feel more fulfilled every day, and that I don't need to be dressed to the nines and surrounding by an exciting setting to feel fulfilled. Don't get me wrong, I love adventures, dressing up, and hanging out with friends in a more social setting, but what I mean is, there are things in life that can help you feel fulfilled without all the flashy elements.

Whether you're feeling a little unhappy with your day-to-day life or looking to feel more fulfilled, here are 5 daily habits to implement in your every day.

Doing some form of exercise

Since I've gotten back into an exercise routine at the beginning of the year, I've felt so much better, mentally and physically, and it gives me some sense of fulfillment. When you exercise, it gets the blood around the body, reduces stress levels, and stimulates the production of endorphins which are the body's natural mood elevators.

I'm not saying you need to run a marathon but finding a form of exercise that suits you will be beneficial to your everyday routine. Whether that's doing a hit dance workout, practicing yoga, going to the gym, for a run or simply, taking a stroll around your local area. Exercise is good in all forms and as long as you're getting your body moving, it'll do you the world of good.

Getting outside at least once a day for some fresh air

Similar to the exercise point, fresh air is so important for your mental wellbeing. It has been proved that getting some fresh air can help improve your blood pressure and heart rate, strengthen the immune system and help to digest food.

Whether that means utilising going out for a walk, or if you don't have the time in your day to make full use of the fresh air, try and pop out in your garden for a couple minutes or out of your front door. It doesn't have to be for a long time, but taking in a fresh gulp of fresh air can give you a moment to pause and take in the surroundings around you.

Mediating/affirmations

I wish I knew more about affirmations and meditating growing up, and the benefits that both of them have brought to my mental wellbeing, and helping me become a more confident individual. Meditating doesn't have to be a very long practice, you can do it for 5/10 minutes when you wake or spend a good hour doing it after work to unwind, it's down to you. But what will help, is to let you remain in a positive headspace, be at one with yourself and practice the art of calmness.

Affirmations go hand in hand with mediating, in terms of they can help you think more positively about yourself, your day, and life in general - and help you align with your true self. I love to practice affirmations regularly as they really help reinforce a positive message into my mind. The way I do it is to hold my crystals, and chant my affirmation for the day with my eyes closed so I'm really able to focus on the words. The daily practice has really helped me feel more fulfilled as it means surrounding myself with positive and calm energy.

Reading or listening to a podcast - educating yourself

One of the biggest ways to feel more fulfilled is by learning and growing every day - and that can come through educating yourself. I have a big love for learning, I love to learn new things and grow my knowledge on a lot of things. As they say, knowledge is power, and the more knowledge I have, the more I can help others.

There are a few ways to educate yourself and widen your knowledge, whether that's reading a book, listening to a podcast, reading a blog, watching a documentary, or learning a new language. The list is endless but spending an hour a day on this can really help give you a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment, as you're building to become a better and more well-informed version of yourself.

Writing a gratitude list

The art of gratitude is ever so important. I like to think I've always been a very grateful person and feel very privileged in the life I've led so far, however, since I've actually actively begun practicing gratitude, I've become even more grateful. It may sound so simple but writing three things you're grateful for every day can really reinforce positive messaging into your mind, especially if you're having a bad day and suffering from your mental health.

It's also great to keep a log as when you are having a hard day, you can go back through and read through the list. Realising the good things in your life will help outweigh the bad and overall, help you feel more fulfilled.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other daily habits would you recommend?

Thank you for reading <3

How to save money whilst travelling

 Well hello to you my reader chums! It's no secret that I'm a bit of a travel addict and prior to the pandemic, all I would be doing in my spare time is either planning my next adventure or jetting off on my next one. Travel thrills my soul, it makes me happy and opens my mind to the wonders of the world.

money saving tips for travelling

A misconception about travel is that it's expensive or not everyone can afford it. And, although parts of travelling can be expensive and you do need some money to do it, a lot of travelling can be done on a budget. The majority of my trips are done on a budget as that way, I have more money to stretch across to more trips and I can travel more often.

Whether you're money conscious or looking to travel more with a budget when things are back to normal, here are my tips on how to save money whilst travelling.

Set a daily budget

I've never gone travelling or on a holiday without having a daily budget. It has always helped me travel within my means and have the assurance of knowing what I have to spend each day - and over the course of the week. It also helps prevent me from overspending or dipping into the next day budget as I know, I'll be limiting myself for the rest of the trip.

A daily budget is there to help you figure out how much money you can then put towards food, transportation and activities for instance - and is a method I've found to be the most effective. When setting a daily budget, you'll want to take into consideration your budget for the entire trip, how costly the place you're travelling through is and how you're looking to spend your trip. All of these factors would weigh into how much the daily budget should be. For instance, on city breaks in Europe, my daily budget is generally around the £50 mark, whereas in Asia, that budget will probably be less (not including accommodation as I usually book that in advance.)

Opt for street food options 

I love street food; it's one of the best ways to get a true taste of a country without spending a shed load of money. Street food is available wherever you travel, however, is more prominently cheap in places such as South East Asia where you can get a meal for about £1. Saying that I've been to cities in Italy and all over where the street food was a hell of a lot cheaper than any restaurant I've been to.

It won't only save you money, but it can also help you immerse in the culture, talk to local vendors and have a different eating experience.

Walk as much as you can

I can understand that not all destinations are accessible by foot and some people may struggle with a lot of exercise due to health conditions, however, when you're able to, walk as much as you can. Many locations are pedestrian-friendly and a lot of tourist sights can sometimes only be in walking distance to each other that you don't need to splash out on transport to get from one place to the other.

Also, walking around can give you the opportunity to explore different parts of the area, you probably wouldn't have seen if you hopped in a taxi from off-the-beaten-track streets to restaurants.

Or, utilise public transport rather than private

If you're not a fan of walking or aren't able to, public transport is your best friend. Although it can be hard to navigate in a new place initially, once you get the hang of it, it can be a blessing - and another way to see the destination in a different light.

Public transport varies in prices depending on where you're travelling to, however, in general, it's significantly cheaper than taxi hopping - and a budget-friendly option.

Rent your own vehicle

Another transport option is renting your own vehicle. This all depends on where you're going and who you're travelling with. For example, if you're travelling with a family, it may be more cost-effective to rent a car, rather than paying for public transport for you all. Or, if you're solo tripping in Asia and you're looking to explore further afield, then hiring a motorbike maybe your cheapest bet (as they're very cheap to hire.)

Shop around for tours/excursions

Similar to how you try and save money prior to booking the trip by searching for flights and accommodation, you want to do the same with tours or excursions. You can book tours prior to your trip, however, if you're travelling and looking to book whilst there then this point is for you.

A lot of tourist centres will be available around your destination (depending on where you are of course) and the beauty of booking things when away is you have the advantage of people. Whether you meet them in hostels or on the go, they can recommend the cheaper tours they went through and who to book with. Recommendations and research are key when shopping around.

Haggle at markets

You can't beat a haggle when shopping in a market, whether it's for clothes or trinkets. I'm pretty sure haggling happens in a lot of locations, but it is something you should ask about before attempting to haggle.

Trying to lower the price of the asking price may not save you hundreds, but it's a couple of pounds you can put towards something else and still buy what you're after.

Self-catered accommodation

There are many benefits to self-catered accommodation. Firstly, it's usually the cheapest accommodation type as you aren't paying for additional food charges. But, in the spirit of saving money whilst travelling, self-catered options, give you the opportunity to buy in foods and store them, which can save you money in the long run. For example, you can purchase a box of cereal for breakfast that'll last a few days instead of having to buy breakfast every day and that'll only be a few pounds.

It also gives you the chance to make lunch or dinner or buy lots of snacks which you can store and then pack with you as you roam around.

Take advantage of free things to do

Wherever you go in the world, there will always be free sights and things to do available. Before you head off on your trip, do a bit of research and make a list of the free activities that you're able to do - and put them in place on the days money is running low or your budget is smaller.

Also, one of the best free things to do is simply explore: walk around your area and off the main tourist path to see what you can find and discover - you'll make many different stories that way. The best things in life are free as they say.

Eat away from the tourist traps

This is probably quite an obvious point, however, where the main sights are, restaurants and shops around that are usually the most expensive. When on a budget, sway away from the tourist trap path to the quieter and family-run restaurants - not only will they be cheaper, usually, the food is a lot more authentic.

Be money savvy in every sense

All of the above tips are great methods to save money but the main thing is to have a money-savvy mindset. Think about the areas you don't need to spend, where you can spend less and if you really need it and I can assure you, it'll do wonders.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other money-saving tips do you have?

Thank you for reading <3