Well hello to you my reader chums! I officially went freelance this year and I'm loving every minute of it. I've been dreaming of freelance life and being my own boss since I was younger and I'm proud, I've finally taken the step and living the dream.

Freelancing life, although exciting and fun, also comes with both ups and downs. If you're new to freelancing, here are my tips on how to deal with the ups and downs of freelancing. 

Embrace the high and low periods

One thing I'm learning about freelancing is it comes with high and low periods. The highs are busy, a full schedule and exciting, and the lows, are quiet and self-doubt is inevitably a constant presence. But, that's what freelancing is about and learning to embrace that does wonders in helping cope with the highs and lows of freelancing. I've learnt to use the quiet times to focus on building my business, creating my own personal brands's social media and working on passion projects. Whilst, in the highs, I embrace the excitement of the new projects and busy schedule.

Write a positivity log

Running your own business is hard and as much as I love it, it can be filled with self-doubt, financial struggles and uncertainty. However, a positivity log is a wonderful thing to have in the low moments. This log should include all of the positive reviews and feedback you've had of your work which you can read when you're feeling doubtful or down about your business. 

Create a weekly schedule

I love to be organised and one of the reasons I love working for myself as I can create my own schedule. Managing lots of clients and projects means an organised schedule is key. Every Monday morning or the Friday before, I plan my workload so I know what to expect each day and what I'll be working on. If I have a bigger project that lasts for several months, I'll add it to the calendar over those months and how much time it'll take.

Make a priority list

Deadlines are key to staying organised when the workload is high. The best thing to do is to have your priorities in check and prioritise the jobs with the fast-approaching deadlines or those that have the most importance.

Schedule in breaks

You can't be your best self if you're working on empty. This is why breaks are crucial for your mental health and more effective results. I find taking breaks harder when my workload is hectic and easier when work is quiet. By scheduling breaks in advance, you'll know when you're going to take some time away from the screen and it'll motivate you to be more productive.

Check-in with your mental health every morning

Looking after your mental health is key to feeling the best in yourself and doing your best work-wise. Checking in every morning to see how you feel can help you work your schedule around you. If I wake up feeling energetic, I'll create a more productive schedule, whilst if I wake up anxious or not feeling myself, I'll put more low-key tasks into my schedule - and more breaks.

Reflect on your progress regularly

Working as a freelancer, it usually is all systems go and often, I forget to sit back and reflect where I'm at. This is why it's important to book regular reflections, such as every month or every few months to see if you're working towards your goals.

Enjoy the process

To put it simply, freelancing is a wild journey and it's crucial to have fun and enjoy the process. 

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

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Singapore is a beautiful destination for city lovers, reminding me of London and Dubai. It's definitely different from many of the surrounding countries with its exquisite skyscrapers, modern cafes and activities.

It's one of those destinations with a luxury appeal, boasting things to do that are unique, expensive and more for a holiday rather than a budget trip. If you're new to Singapore, here is everything you need to know before visiting Singapore.

It's expensive

Singapore is no doubt one of the most expensive places I've visited with a similar price tag to Dubai and London. Ensure you have that in mind when you're travelling here as you can't really expect to get things for cheap like in other Asian countries. Accommodation, food and activities are expensive, and even though there are ways to reduce prices, it's still overall costly.

Public transportation is easy

I love a smooth public transportation location and that's Singapore. Its subway system is extremely efficient, clean and affordable and the best way to get around Singapore, and its further out attractions. It's easy to follow and navigate, especially if you get lost.

English is very common

Most Singaporeans speak good English meaning it's easy to talk to the locals, ask for directions or generally have a chat. Also, I found signs, maps and any information written in English, making it easily accessible for English-speaking tourists.

It's a walkable city

I always find walking around a city is the best way to see it and in Singapore, walking around is a beautiful experience. It's a great way to find the quaint streets, unique shops, cafes and gorgeous photo points. Plus, lots of the main attractions are located together, meaning you won't need to walk that far.

It's a safe place

I felt incredibly safe in Singapore because it felt very similar to Dubai with its clean and modern appeal. I didn't walk around feeling unsafe as it has that fantasy feel, like Disney World, is the best way to describe it. Plus, with all the laws in place there, the crime rate is pretty low.

You can drink the tap water

One of the most annoying things I find about travelling is not being able to drink tap water, so in Singapore, this is a game changer. It means as long as you have a water bottle, you can fill it up on the go, rather than keep buying plastic water bottles.

There are lots of free attractions in Singapore

Despite the hefty price tag, Singapore has plenty of free attractions to see and do throughout the day and night. For example, in the Gardens of the Bay, you can walk around for free and enjoy a light show at night. The Singapore Botanical Gardens is a great spot for a mooch and picnic. While the Marina is pretty in the day but comes alive at night with a light show.

Eat at the Hawker Centres

I'm obsessed with food markets and Singapore's Hawker Centres are the one for delicious and affordable food. They offer a variety of cuisines from Thai, Malaysian to Italian. Hawker Centres are scattered throughout the city and make a great alternative to restaurants, especially if you're on a budget whilst in the city.

Be aware of unusual laws

Singapore has many unusual laws that you could be fined for, such as chewing gum, smoking in public places, feeding pigeons, jaywalking and many more. Make sure you read the list before you head on your trip.

Book attractions to avoid queues

Like any destination, Singapore has high and low seasons in terms of tourists, however, it's also one of those places that always seems to be busy. Due to this, with main attractions, it's important to book tickets in advance as this can help you avoid queuing for ages to get tickets.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other pieces of advice do you have?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Backpacking is a dream come true and has to be my favourite experience to date. I love the freedom of travelling around new countries, meeting new people and trying new food. Experiences and memories are what life is all about and I would love to go backpacking again and embrace life once more.

If you're new to backpacking or looking for some money-saving tips, here is how to stay on a budget whilst backpacking. 

Set an overall budget

Travelling can be pricey, depending on where you go, whether that's Asia, Europe, America or elsewhere. Due to the price difference of each place, you'll need to do your research about how much roughly it'll cost and create an overall budget for your backpacking. For example, I went backpacking in south and southeast Asia, across seven different countries for three months and spent £6k. A large chunk of that was the flights as I didn't go to landlock countries and had to therefore fly to each country. Although, if you can travel to places by public transport, it'll reduce your costs.

Have an everyday budget

It's easier to stick to a budget when you have one in place. Alongside an overall budget for the trip, it's useful to have an everyday budget. With that, you'll want to consider your location, average food prices, transportation and whatever activities you're planning. It's also important to know, your everyday budget may fluctuate. For example, if you're planning to spend one day on the beach and another sightseeing, the daily budget will differ. With that in mind, set a base average and increase depending on your plans.

Book pricey experiences in advance 

The most touristy activities will cost the most and with this in mind, book these in advance. This can go two ways depending on what the activity is and where you're travelling. For example, certain experiences may offer deals online, directly through tour providers such as Klook. Whilst other activities, you can book through locals and they'll give you a cheaper deal.

Eat locally 

Food is the heart of travelling and one of my favourite things to do when seeing a new location. To save money, avoid tourist trap restaurants and fancy places to eat, and instead eat locally. I often find the more local places to eat, the better. They know how to cook traditional food and don't change it to please tourists' tastes. The best thing to do is buy street food or ask locals about the best places to eat. If a restaurant is packed with locals, then you know it'll be cheaper and taste fab.

Avoid alcohol

Alcohol will be the biggest regular expense when you're backpacking if you choose to drink or go partying. Although, if you're travelling on a budget, try and avoid it as best you can as it can rack up your bills and cause you to spend more than needed.

Walk or use public transport

Part of travelling is getting around on an everyday basis and you want to consider this as part of your daily budget. To save money, walk as much as you can, especially if all the things you want to see and do are close together. For further out activities, utilise the public transportation system, including buses, trains and trams. In some cities and countries, public transport is cheap as chips.

Utilise cheaper accommodation

Just because you're having the time of your life backpacking, doesn't mean you need an expensive accommodation to match the mood of the trip. There are plenty of cheaper travel options from hostels, couch surfing, and camping to private rooms with shared bathrooms. Shop around for the best deals and find yourself a bargain. When I was travelling southeast Asia, I stayed in decent rooms as cheap as £7 a night.

Allow for a safety fund 

Not everything will go to plan and that means, activities can cost more, food can cost more or a day can go wrong and you may have to pay out a lump sum. Due to this, have a safety fund for each location, allowing the budget to spend more just in case. For example, for Sri Lanka, we put an extra £50 each aside in case on the trip with my partner.

Haggle the best you can 

Haggling is key for markets and if in Asia, tuk tuk rides. To save money, haggle down on every instance because often prices are increased for tourists and you pay a lot more than needed.

I hope you've enjoyed this post. Have you got any other tips?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I loved Singapore, to me it was a combination of London and Dubai with its modern skyscrapers, quirky cafes, clean streets and fancy restaurants. It's a gorgeous destination to spend a few days in luxury, especially during a long-term backpacking trip.

Singapore is also renowned for being ultra-expensive and before visiting I was worried, I would spend too much money or couldn't afford it. Although, I managed to travel as much on a budget as possible in a pricey city.

Book into a hostel

Accommodation in Singapore is very overpriced, especially hotels and Airbnbs and I thought, it was going to be impossible to stay on a budget. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't exactly cheap compared to the other destinations I was travelling to on my backpacker trip, but it was affordable overall. Hostels are significantly cheaper than any other type of accommodation and usually consist of pods. 

Eat in the Hawker centres 

The restaurants and cafes in Singapore can be very expensive, similar to London prices. To eat on a budget, the best option for food are the Hawker centres across Singapore. These Hawker centres are food markets of locals cooking up a variety of different cuisines. Every market differs from the next and they're scattered all over the city.

Create a day budget and stick to it

I always say the best habit to get into when travelling is having a daily budget, as it'll help you share your money accordingly and stay within your total budget. For every day in Singapore, pick a suitable budget to include food, transport and whatever activities you're planning to do.

Walk as much as possible

My favourite thing about being in a city is mooching around on food and discovering the hidden streets, quaint shops and hipster coffee shops. Although Singapore is pretty large, there are many areas in which you can easily walk around and find the main attractions on foot, saving you money along the way.

Take public transport

For the sights, you'd like to see further out or if your accommodation is away from the centre, public transport is your best bet. Despite the hefty price tag the city has, public transport is affordable, clean and simple to get around. Its tube system has to be one of my favourites I've been on as I love how easy it was to access and get around.

Explore the free attractions

Singapore is packed with plenty of free things to see and do, whether you love a mooch or evening activities. From the Marina Bay light show to wandering through Chinatown or Little India to exploring the street art scene, there are many free attractions you can do on your trip.

Book attractions on Klook

Klook has to be my new favourite travel app to book tickets and tours on as they always have brilliant deals to save you a few pounds here and there, and the tours are always epic. To save money on some of the most popular attractions in Singapore, test out Klook and I can assure you, you'll love it as much as me. It's one of those apps I'm relieved I found!

I hope you enjoyed this post. Is this the first time in Singapore?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm exceptionally passionate about the planet and using products and items for our bodies, that care for their natural flow. Over the past few years, I've learnt more and more about the impact our environment has on our bodies, hormones and how we feel overall. It's one of the reasons I've invested time and energy into learning about the best products to use in my everyday life.

This is where period care comes in. I've been using my menstrual cup for a few years now as well as a variation of different organic sanitary products, and I'm always intrigued to try more.

AD - This post contains gifted products.

I  have been sent various products from organic period product company Daye to sample on a gifted basis - and honestly, I'm in love. I gave my sister some of the products and we both agreed how much we loved them. The sanitary pads are comfortable, do what they say on the tin, are ultra-thin and have no fragrance, which I love as I know they're natural.

Another thing I love about the Daye brand overall is their passion for raising standards in gynae health by creating innovative products, suited to our bodies. I'm hugely passionate about gynae health and women having the right products and advice to care for our needs and problems. 

If you're looking to swap to organic period care, here are all the reasons I made the switch.

It's better for the environment 

I'm a bit of a sustainability nerd and love to do my bit to help the planet, from using reusable products to investing in organic period care. Organic period products are created with sustainable materials, meaning when disposed of, they're either biodegradable or flushable, it all depends on the brand. Daye has introduced the first flushable tampon wrapped as an example!

More comfort and ease 

For years growing up, I found mainstream period products caused irritation, itching and discomfort. I didn't realise there were organic options of alternatives away from the 'advertising' spotlight which reaped benefits for me and my vaginal health. Using organic period care has resulted in comfortable and less painful periods. I've found with a menstrual cup, it's actually reduced my period pain and sometimes, I don't even notice I'm on my period. Whilst, organic sanitary pads are more comfortable and don't feel as bulky or cause any irritation. Daye has developed the world's first CBD-infused tampon, designed to help 90% of women who suffer from period cramps.

Assurance of natural ingredients

Our health is the most important thing and as someone who believes in embracing the natural way of life as much as possible, this rings true with what I eat and the environment around me. I love how with organic period care, I have the assurance of the natural ingredients included in them. This means every time I use period products, I'm not putting any toxins into my body or causing any unnecessary illness and irritations.

The ethics of organic period care companies

As the environment is crucial to me and my values, I love how with organic period companies, their ethics have the environment and health as a priority. Organic products are created using sustainable materials, either biodegradable, flushable or using materials which are easily recyclable. All of these purposes impact the environment positively. 

The price point

I thought swapping to organic period care would mean paying an extortionate amount of money for products, however, I found, the price point wasn't dramatically different. And as I have the privilege of being able to afford it, I can invest that money in products I love and know do me the world of good. Also, products that can be reused such as a menstrual cup may cost more initially, but in the long run, you save money as it's only purchased once and used on multiple occasions.

I'm in love with Daye and definitely recommend them if you're looking for a more eco-friendly alternative. Alongside pads, they offer CBD tampons (customers say it has pain relieving features), the world's first diagnostic tampon and their NEW period pain clinic.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What period products do you use?

Thank you for reading <3