Well hell to you my reader chums! In today's world with endless social media comparison points, many of us feel as if we're not enough or that we need more to feel fulfilled in life. I'm sharing a post today all about what is considered 'normal' online and how really it's a privilege, especially speaking about travelling and going on multiple holidays a year.

TikTok and Instagram make us feel like we're behind if we're not spending our twenties going on holiday every other weekend or seeing as much of the world as possible. I'm here to remind you, it's not the reality for everyone.

I think many of us (me at times) have forgotten that travelling and seeing the world is a privilege. Not everyone has the opportunity, whether that's financial, illness, parenthood or accessibility and being grateful for that privilege is incredibly important. 

I'm here to share how I am grateful for the life I have and to reinforce the message that travelling the way I do isn't considered normal and is a luxury. 

Travelling the world is a privilege. 

I'm 28 and I've been lucky enough to travel to around 30 different countries and some of those countries multiple times and every single day I'm grateful for the opportunity. As I get older, I realise the privilege of being able to access that many countries and see as much of the world as I have, because many of my family and friends haven't been in the same position.

I get asked all the time 'How do you afford many holidays?' and 'How are you always on holiday?'

The truth is, I've never been someone who had a job that paid a large wage, it's only now as a freelancer, I can grow and increase my income. However, I lived with my parents until the age of 26 and they were generous enough to not charge me rent but suggest I put that money away towards buying my own home that I would have given to them.

I'm aware many people aren't in that position. Either, they had to move out at a young age and deal with the high rental market or they lived at home and the money went to their parents instead. Because of living at home, my living costs were low and even though I wasn't on a high income, I could use my disposable income on whatever I wanted. And that was travelling.

At the time, as I was in my young twenties, I didn't necessarily consider what I was doing a luxury because my friends were also travelling and when I went on my two backpacking trips, I also saw many people my age travelling the world and living their best lives. And even when you're experiencing something incredible, there's always someone online doing something 'better'.

However, now nearing my thirties, I realised that I was in a lucky position to spend my disposable income seeing the world and even having enough money as disposable to do it in the first place. I got so caught up in wanting to see the next destination, I didn't take the time to reflect and realise how grateful I was. 

I'm incredibly grateful for how my twenties have been seeing the world and experiencing things I never thought were possible. It's a blessing and something I'm going to hold onto forever. I still travel and now, living with my partner, we prioritise travel as a couple. However, it's more thought out because I have life expenses and take saving a lot more seriously for our future and what that looks like. 

The heart of this post is to share some reminders:

• It is not normal to always be on holiday
• Stop comparing yourself to those on social media - it is a highlight reel
• Most people only go away once a year and some, not even that
• Travel is a privilege and those who are travelling, either are sacrificing other things for it or have the financial accessibility and means
• Everyone has a different life and we should enjoy what ours is, rather than compare
• You can and will travel if that's what you like to do - keep dreaming, saving and planning, anything is possible

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Travelling is my thing, as many of you know I adore planning my next trip away and seeing the world as much as possible. However, I wasn't always this way; when I was younger, the thought of travelling and getting on a plane, terrified me. I didn't plan to be 'that girl who travels in her twenties'. I thought I'd be the girl who went down a more traditional path in my twenties and it's wild to me how I fell in love with the travel way of life.

I've written about my travel anxiety and fear of planes before but to recap, when I was in my late teens, the thought of going on a plane made me incredibly anxious and leaving my hometown was a massive deal. I used to get panic attacks in public spaces and could barely leave my house. Travelling was a huge step to push out of my comfort zone.

If you're feeling anxious about your first holiday or time abroad, here are 5 ways to make the experience less scary.

Give yourself time to plan and research 

Everyone loves a different holiday. Some consider a holiday as booking a resort trip and relaxing by the pool in the sunshine, whilst others may prefer a jam-packed week, immersed in a new culture and exploring. Or, you may want a little bit of both. Whatever the trip determines the type of research. To reduce stress, give yourself plenty of time to research, look into all the available options, set a budget and figure out what you'd like.

There are many ways to book a holiday, including through a travel agent or direct/third party. Many first-time travellers would choose a travel agent as they organise everything for you, including accommodation, flights, transfers and sometimes, included activities. If you'd like more of a say and authority over the in-between parts of a holiday, booking directly/third-party may be for you. Booking directly means searching for flights and accommodation independently through a flight search engine like Skyscanner or the airline website, and using accommodation sites, including Booking.com, Air BNB, Hotels.com and HostelWorld. Flight engines and accommodation websites are often considered third-party as you're not technically booking directly with the flight provider or accommodation provider.

Ask all the questions in the booking process

Asking questions is how we learn, and when doing something for the first time, everything seems new. Someone who travels often will know the ins and outs of travelling, such as buying travel insurance, what to pack, how to use your phone abroad and finding your feet in a new location. As you may not know anything about those examples or there may be other queries you're unsure of, ask all the questions. Whether that's to your travel agent, the hotel you booked or the airline, being curious is all part of learning and will give you the confidence that you'd be part of your trip.

Make yourself a holiday agenda 

I am a sucker for an agenda. One of my favourite parts of planning a trip is researching everything I want to see and do, and the restaurants I love to try. Granted, there's no need to plan everything down to the minute. However, having a rough idea of what you'd like to do each day can help you pay in advance for certain activities and understand where you'll have space to chill or wander and enjoy your new experience.

Pack some home comforts 

Everything is better with homely comforts. When visiting somewhere new, you may feel a little homesick, especially if it's one of the first times not sleeping in your bed. This can give you anxiety and worry that you're stepping away from your safe place. However, I found bringing home comforts can help ease any discomfort or worry in some way. For example, you may have a specific jumper which makes you feel cosy or a teddy bear you never sleep without. Whatever it is, bring it along for the ride. The more you travel, the more you may find these home comforts aren't needed anymore.

Create a calm airport experience

An airport can be chaotic, especially during peak seasons. Some people aren't phased by the airport environment, whereas others find it incredibly stressful. Wherever you sit in that camp, creating calm in yourself can make for a chill airport experience. 

These are my best tips for a calm airport experience:

• Give yourself plenty of time - arrive at the airport 3 hours before to check your luggage in, go through security, grab some food and do all those steps at your own pace
• Organise all your documents in one place - this will make locating your passport and boarding pass easy at different points
• Weigh your luggage beforehand - you don't want to arrive at the airport with luggage overweight so make sure it's in the limit before you arrive
• Wear something comfortable - you'll be sitting around a lot and comfy clothes can add to the relaxing mode
• Download things to do - whether you're a reader, love podcasts or a film, having some distractions to hand to listen to or watch can help you feel at ease and quieten the airport sounds
• Pay for seats next to each other - long-haul flights generally give you seats with your party but many short-haul airlines don't; when you book your flights, pay that little bit extra to sit with them
• Eat something that makes you feel good - I know many people have a drink at the airport but if that adds to your anxiety, choose a breakfast which gives your body a happy boost.

 Well hello to you my reader chums This year, it's all about protecting our energy, putting ourselves first and what feels right for our minds. I've spent many years of my twenties people pleasuring, putting people's needs before my own and going along with things to suit other people, not myself.

I'm not saying I'm overdoing any of those things as this is a work in process, yet I am focusing on protecting my energy and leaning into what feels right for me. Do you want to do the same? Here are a few ways how to protect your energy and prioritise yourself. 

Saying no when something doesn't feel right to you

It's tough to say no. Saying no is putting your foot down and the people pleaser in us can sometimes be terrified to do so. However, not everything in life has to be a yes. Just because you said no to a certain event, doesn't make you boring or rude. We don't have to go and do something if it makes us uncomfortable. By saying no more often when you know you won't thrive or feel content in a situation, you'll get better at knowing which events are for you and which aren't.

Surrounding yourself with people who reciprocate your energy

I'm slowly getting better at this as it can be so hard to step away from long-term friendships and prioritise yourself, especially if you're the one putting in all the effort. However, by realising which people reciprocate similar energy, you will find each interaction more fulfilling and meaningful and will stop second guessing if you're good enough and if someone wants to be around you. Nobody is ever too busy, it's all about prioritising. Figure out who is prioritising you or caring enough to give you their energy. 

Booking in days/evenings for yourself and hobbies

Protecting your energy isn't only about how you are around others and relationships, it's also about the relationship you have with yourself and how you care for that. With that in mind, book yourself days and evenings when it's all about you. This could be to do a hobby, have a self-care evening or watch your favourite TV show. Dedicating time and making that intention will help you have more love and respect for yourself and your time.

Setting boundaries when people make you feel small

I hate when others make people feel small or not good enough. If this is happening to you, you don't deserve it. We should spend time with people who big us up and care for our emotions and livelihoods, not those who make fun and squash our dreams. If you have those people in your life, learn how to set boundaries or limit time with them. For instance, if you still want a relationship with them, limit how often you see them or communicate. 

Making plans you're excited about 

Again, protecting your energy isn't about everything you're stopping and taking out of your life, it's also what you replace and add into your life. Make plans you're excited about which make your heart soar. This could be morning walks on the beach, a big holiday, hanging out with your best friend or taking up a new hobby. By having regular plans that make you smile, you'll add more positive energy to each day and overall protect your energy away from negativity. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. How are you protecting your energy?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I don't know about you, but it's easy to spend all of my spare time on screens, whether my phone or the TV, especially in winter, to switch on and watch a film, rather than think of a new activity to keep you occupied, be more creative and present.

I'm a creative person and I've always been someone who loves to write, read, bake and sometimes do a little arts and crafts, but never fully committed. Since my partner and I got together, he has opened my eyes to embrace the joy and calmness in art (even if it's not perfect) and we regularly have creative evenings, away from screens.

If you're tired of watching Netflix or looking for fun ideas to make cold, winter evenings exciting, here are some creative activities to keep you busy. 

Scrapbooking your old memories 

I adore a scrapbook. There's nothing more magical than flicking through and reminiscing on old memories and where I've travelled. Everyone scrapbooks and collects memories differently. I love to print out photos and store them in albums and collect items, such as plane tickets, postcards and trinkets and add them into a scrapbook. I've created scrapbooks since I began collecting items in my teens and they're lovely to sift through and remember memories I've forgotten I've had and get excited all over again.

Painting a picture of each other (can do the same with friends)

The joy of painting is to see how everyone interprets different objects and puts their own stamp on them. My partner and I did this a couple of months ago. You can do it as a date night or evening with your friends to paint an image of each other. It'll certainly make for a lot of laughs as paintings can go one of two ways!

Paint a picture of your favourite landscape

Landscapes are golden and lovely to snap in a camera, so why not paint one? Whether you're a mountain or beach person, there must be a landscape you adore. Buy yourself a canvas or use some paper and paint an image of your favourite landscape. I've done this a few times, with my favourite beaches or destinations I've visited. 

Paint by numbers

If you're too anxious thinking about what you should paint or don't know where to begin with painting, paint-by-number sets are a great guide as the thinking is taken away. You only need to concentrate on using the right colours for the right numbers and achieve a pretty photo at the end.

Embroidery starter kits

I find sewing therapeutic and I'd love to improve my skills. If you're a newbie to sewing, many craft shops will sell embroidery kits with a guide on how to sew. Even though it can be tricky, it's great to do something with your hands as it'll sway you away from scrolling on your phone.

Mend any clothing items.

With the sewing theme, we all have clothes that have holes in or we've been meaning to fix at some point - this is your chance! Buy yourself a set of sewing needles and neutral thread and get fixing. If you're struggling, you can always research how to patch up holes.

Design/draw cards for the next occasions

There's always an occasion coming up, whether it's a birthday, Christmas, anniversary or a new baby. Whatever the occasion, sending a card is the norm. To make the event more fun, create your own cards. All you will need are cards, pencils or paints and create a design you love and the person receiving it will too.

Have a bake-off evening with your friends.

I love to bake, it's my favourite activity! Baking in general is a fab way to get creative, whether it's trying a new recipe or decorating a cake. To make it more fun, why not have a bake-off evening with your friends or bake some cakes and decorate them together.

Vision board making

Vision board planning is incredibly fun and an exciting way to map out your future, whether it's your dream wedding, holiday or house. You can do this with big pieces of paper and old magazines, to cut and stick as you please.

Painting candles/plates/mugs

Keep your home design brain on and enjoy painting anything, whether it's candles, mugs, plates or bowls. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. What's your favourite creative activity?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! As many of you may know, I've been a freelance copywriter for nearly two years and love every minute. I can't lie, running a freelance writing business isn't easy and it's not for the faint-hearted, but the rewards outweigh the hardships. I'm writing this on a cold January day and I'm in the midst of a tricky period, like many other freelancers I know.

I want to write an honest post, stepping away from the glossy 'get rich overnight' statements I see all over social media from other freelancers. There is money in running a successful online business and you can 'make it', yet it takes years of hard work, networking and building relevant and useful connections. 

Here's your reminder: being a freelance copywriter is HARD and you're not defined about how good you are by a low/quiet period.

If you're considering starting a freelance writing business or feel alone in a quiet period, here's my guide to the realities of a business owner. 

The realities of being a freelance copywriter 

Running a business can be challenging. It isn't always celebratory moments and highs. There are risks, challenging moments and following up on emails time and time again before work comes your way. These are my top realities and reminders:

You'll constantly be following up on enquiries/previous connections

I don't know how much time I spent emailing previous people I've connected or worked with to check in, see how they are and if they have any opportunities. As a freelancer, you'll see loads of opportunities on social media, in-person or land in your inbox but it doesn't mean they're yours or the time is right to book you in.

With that in mind, you'll spend a lot of time sending emails to enquire and to previous connections, asking for updates or seeing if they have opportunities. I'm terrible in sorting out a better process to save time and follow up on relevant opportunities'. I keep a list on my Trello board of previous enquiries I've had or past projects/retainer clients and email every few months to check in and see if there's any update.

LinkedIn posts 'looking for a copywriter' will have a million replies

If you're a freelance copywriter, you'll understand the pain when you see a 'looking for a copywriter' opportunity on LinkedIn and notice that there are 100+ replies and likes. This can be heartbreaking, especially if it's an opportunity you love the sound of and can see yourself working on that project. 

It is one of the biggest, hard-hitting realities but don't let it put you off. I try and search every morning and even if the posts have an insane amount of replies, I still comment and connect with that person, as you never know, you may get a reply. It is best if they add an email address as you can bring that enquiry away from the platform, but most of the time that doesn't happen.

The freelance panic is REAL.

Freelance panic isn't the one but it is a real thing. Even friends who run their businesses for years still experience this level of panic. It is normal, especially during quiet times, such as January. I would describe the freelance panic as worrying (probably too excessively) that no work will come in again or I'll find no opportunities. 

It's normal to experience this but please try not to let it overwhelm you. You will find work, it's about knowing where to source it and building up a community around you.

It's not normal to always be available.

The reality of running a freelance business is you think you need to be available at all times to gain opportunities and make the most money. This is untrue - yes, being available all the time can help you find work, but it can lead to burnout and losing respect for yourself. You need to have boundaries and limits to how you work, and the right clients will respect that.

You are still being productive if you're not doing client work

There's more to running a business than client work. Consider the admin, dealing with enquiries, searching for work,  accounting, marketing, networking and building a community. Most of the time, the only thing you'll be paid for is the actual client work you complete. This is why it's important to have rates high enough to reflect your work quality, but also account for the days you spend doing all these other tasks. Just because you're not doing client work it doesn't mean you're not productive. Every little thing you do adds to your overall business success.

Getting reviews can seem impossible

One of the ways to gain new clients is to have glowing reviews from previous work by people who have hired you or you've collaborated with. In reality though, gaining reviews is hard. Some clients will be willing and some, will ignore your emails for weeks and still never write a review. Keep pestering and following up with this though as it can help with your credibility and overall recognition as a fab copywriter. 

Avoid guaranteeing enquiries until a contract is signed 

This is a toxic trait of mine but a massive reality as I think many freelancers like myself get over excited when a big enquiry lands in our inbox and we assume it's already ours. I say avoid this as much as you can but honestly, it's hard. You want to book that job and succeed and it feels like every enquiry you get, deserves to be yours. 

How you're not defined by a low period

Low periods in freelancing are normal.

Being a freelancer is a constant rollercoaster and you're not always going to be in a high period and that's okay. 

Even the most successful freelance copywriters have low periods. They'll have moments with open slots in their books and need a new project to come in.

You're not alone and it will get better. It doesn't define you.

The main thing to do is consistently show up in person, search for opportunities and stay active in the community, online and in person every day. 

You are not a failure. You're experiencing a blip right now. It doesn't define your career.

(Kind of an AD - my e-book from my freelance writing business) If you're starting out as a freelance writer, I've written an E-book, 'How to start out as a freelance writer', sharing my best advice and step-by-step guide on what to do. 

I hope you enjoyed consistently this post. What advice would you add?

Thank you for reading <3