Well, hello to you, my reader chums! I'm a bookworm, I love nothing more than picking up a new read, browsing bookshops and adding to my to-be-read pile. When life gets busy, I go through phases of reading loads or taking forever to finish a book. However, I've found a few ways that keep me motivated to read when life is hectic and I can't find the time.

If you love books and want more time to read, here are my tips on how to read more and stick to your goal in the new year. 

Pick reading windows throughout the day

The best and easiest way to keep you on track with reading is to pick focus times. I love to read in the morning when I wake up to keep me away from screens, and then again before bed to wind me down for the evening. I also sometimes like to read whilst eating lunch as another way to not be on screens. 

You need to choose which parts of the day are your reading windows, as you can plan things around that. Everyone likes to read at different times, and this is your chance to pick focus windows.

Set a goal per month

I set a yearly reading goal, and this then gives me a target every month for the number of books I should be aiming to read. You can do the same or set a goal monthly to suit your lifestyle overall. Having something to aim towards can keep you on track with reading and encourage you to read more. There's nothing more satisfying than achieving a goal.

Buy books you actually know you'll read

This may sound like a silly comment, but sometimes when I'm book shopping, I'll buy books, and by the time I get around to reading them, I'm not as interested as when I bought them, so I'll pick something else on the shelf to read instead. Either buy less when book shopping or be more decisive on what you buy, as you'll be more excited by the next read.

Find your genre

We all have our preferences, and I'm not saying you need to stick to one, but once you find a genre of books you like, you'll know what to shop for - and it may encourage you to pick up more books.

Keep the book chat going with friends

Hobbies shared by many are a way to excite you more, and this is the same with reading. Set up a book group chat, a book club, or ask friends and colleagues what they're currently reading. This book chat will get you excited for new books coming out, know what's current, and inspire you on what to read next.

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

Thank you for reading <3

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! The darker, winter days are here, and I'll be honest, they always have a massive hit on my mental health. I really struggle with lack of sunlight, darker mornings and darker evenings and the constant freezing temperature. I know I'm not alone in this, and many deal with seasonal depression during this time of year.

It's not an easy thing to deal with, whether you're dealing with seasonal depression or feeling low, here is how to prioritise your mental health in winter.

Make the most of daylight hours

Daylight hours are minimal in winter, and it can be hard to utilise them, especially if you work a traditional 9-5 or the weather is awful outside. However, make the most of the daylight hours in any way you can. This could be a walk around the block on your lunch break, stepping outside in your garden with a hot drink in the morning or if you have a more flexible schedule, being outside during daylight hours. 

Keep to a morning and evening routine

Routines always do wonders for my mental health as they give me mini goals to hit and to know what to expect every morning and night. All routines are different; choose one that works for you and stick to three things: food, exercise and joy. This could be some light movement, a delicious breakfast and reading a book. 

Stay active as much as you can 

It's much easier to stay active when the sun is out and it's warm, as it inspires us to do fun things and go for lovely walks. But when it's lashing rain outside and freezing, being active is just as important. You can go for walks in terrible weather, and most importantly, you can make use of indoor workouts, whether that's pilates or a dance routine.

Add joy to everyday

Dull and dreary weather doesn't mean life has to feel that way. The wintertime should still have joy as part of everyday, whether it's baking your favourite cake, socialising with friends, watching a brilliant show or celebrating an occasion. Whatever the day, find the small snippets of joy as much as you can to keep your mood boosted.

Make nourishing, warming meals

Food is the heart of everything, and when we're in hibernation mode, nourishing and warming meals will do you wonders as they're comforting, delicious, and will warm you up.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What do you do to help?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! I'm still in awe that I've bought my first home with my partner. It's a dream I've had since I was a teenager, and I'm loving seeing the progress we make every day with decorating and organising, in the space we're creating.

Buying a house was a long process, and I thought I knew more about being a homeowner until I actually did. If you're new to owning a home, here are 5 things I've learned about what being a homeowner means.

Insurance is essential

I knew there would be insurance costs involved with being a homeowner, but I didn't realise the number of insurance types and their costs. The insurance you need by law is building insurance. 

Other insurances I'd recommend include life insurance and income protection. Building insurance covers the repairs for your home in case something goes wrong, and each policy varies. Life insurance covers your life if you die, and all the money goes to the other person on the policy. Whilst income protection helps if you fall ill or lose your job and can't cover the bills.

The level of adulting increases to the max

I love how we millennials use the term adulting, but owning a house is like level 100. Everything is now up to you: ensuring you pay all your bills, keeping on top of life admin, house maintenance and being sensible with where your money goes.

You need to gather a list of handy businesses for household maintenance 

Jobs can always crop up for house maintenance, such as boiler servicing, a broken shower, leaks, DIY, plumbing and electrical problems. You never know what'll happen, even if your house is in the best condition when you buy it. It's best to gather a list of local people who have been recommended and can help you out when you need, and offer you a reasonable price. 

Not everything can get done overnight - it's a process

I wasn't naive and thought we could have the home exactly how we wanted it straight away, but it's good to be prepared that it's a process and takes time and money. From moving in, it'll take you a while to figure out where you want your belongings, cleaning, decorating and organising. Decorating is something that could take years of planning and doing, and saving for as well. You may have an idea of what you want your home to look like, but don't get disheartened if it doesn't happen all at once. Save for it, plan for it, and your vision will come together.

Being financially secure is important, as there's always something to pay for

Being money-sensible is always important, but especially as a homeowner. Costs can always crop up for house maintenance or something breaking, and as you own it, you'll need to fix it. This is why emergency pots and savings come in handy, so always live under your means in case you have some spare cash for any instances occurring.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What have you learned?

Thank you for reading <3