If you've been following this blog for a while then you may be aware of my blogging habits and how I have sometimes disappeared for a short, maybe a few months, period of time. I'm not going to lie and say that it's easy to manage a blog and three A-levels at once, because it's clearly very not. When I first started this blog I posted when I wanted too and didn't really think of an audience let alone a blog schedule. Last year my blog became more beauty and lifestyle central before I introduced film into it all. There are a lot of posts on my blog that were very rushed and I admit that I'm not happy or content with any of them, knowing full well that they're nowhere near the standard I hold for myself or what I think a true reflection of my blog posts are. This year I'm transitioning my blog into something that I can completely fall in love with, accounting for my readership and myself.

I've tried writing heavily in advance, but then I forgot to post or share them on social media and it turned into this constant cycle of forgetfulness. Before my life being completely taken over by school work and life in general. Anyone remember when I did Blogmas and I had a complete burnout? Yeah I do. I think I'm partly recovering even though it was over a year ago. That was rough. School is rough. Life is rough.  Blogging incorporates so much, writing posts are very time-consuming, let alone coming up with the content, keeping in mind making blog graphics and taking photos, responding to emails and comments. It's a very "active" hobby and passion to have. I've been lucky enough to recently connect with some of you and understand what you'd like to see me post on here and its inspired and motivated me to get this little blog back in check and running properly again.

So, why I have some motivation to do just that I thought I'd write a little list of things I've found out that work for me when I go through these little phases of not being caught up in day-to-day life when it comes to blogging.

1. COMMITTING TO ONCE A WEEK

After Blogmas and trying to post three times a week, and quickly burning out, I've recently tried to post once a week and its working for me. It means I have a commitment to keep up, and it allows me to develop quality content that you guys enjoy rather than stressing to try and get three less quality posts up in one week. Quality over quantity aye. I felt guilty if I didn't get blog posts up on time and I got bored very quickly.

I've ditched the whole 'schedule' aspect and just tried to focus on the quality, because that's the most important element at the end of the day. If I have a lot of blog post ideas and I have written in advance then there will probably be more than one a week, or if there is a time constraint on when you can post a blog post, for example a seasonal one then they'll be exceptions, but I'm not going to put unnecessary stress on myself.

2. BLOG POST MASTERLIST

Oh yes, I have one and I am constantly adding to it and coming up with new ideas. This has helped me a lot and technically my blog posts are planned until Christmas. It's very easy to not blog when you have no ideas, and fall into the pattern or in my sake habit of disappearing for months at a time. I've used Todoist for years, for school and revision lists to now my blog.

3. TODOIST

Leading on from the previous point, I use todosit religiously. I've recommended it to friends and family for near enough everything. It works a treat. I have it on my phone and my computer, it helps to have the priority feature and 'projects'. It's amazing and I highly recommend it.



4. MAKING THE TIME

What's the purpose of making a to-do list if you then don't make the time to get it all done? I always plan my revision around school hours, normally leaving blogging to the weekend where I have the most spare time and I'm relaxed, being able to get things done quicker for some reason. I think its because I don't have the constant stress of school so much surrounding me at this point of the week. Saturdays are my blogging days, predominately when I'm watching TV so I'm multi-tasking at its best. And then I don't have to think about it for a week.

5. FOLLOWING SIMILAR BLOGS

Personally, I get motivated when I follow like-minded people and blogs similar to that of mine. I loose motivation when I get heavily loaded with school work and struggle to find time to write, easily falling out of the blogging mind-set. Seeing fellow bloggers uploading frequently inspires me to do it and vice-versa, it's a wonderful community and I'm very happy to be part of it.

Whenever I feel overwhelmed or stressed, even at the end of a long day at school or on a Sunday morning, I like to take some time to de-stress and relax. We often hear about how important self-care is and how often we should do it, but sometimes it's harder to set that time aside in our busy schedules or even having the effort to do so. Sometimes it's because we don't know to indulge in self-care of where to even begin.

Self-care can involve you doing absolutely nothing if you so wish. Self-care can involve you doing whatever you want to do. Don't force yourself into doing anything you don't want too, self-care only works when you listen to what your body is telling you. I go through little phases every now and again when it comes to self-care, I mix between doing more exercise, journaling, drawing, reading, going on a short walk-whatever. I do it in that moment, when my mind is telling me too. I don't procrastinate about it. Your body needs a break every now and again, it deals with so much in your day-to-day life and it's very easy to become overwhelmed. Self-care has been proven to produce positive feelings, which improve confidence and self-esteem too.

Self-care is important for a few reasons:

- it reduces stress
- it helps your happiness
- gives you some 'me' time
- it can help you refocus

Personally, when it comes to self-care I like to do something everyday and then dedicate my Sunday evening to it too. I find this the most relaxing moment of my week and it helps me de-stress tremendously.

P A R T   O N E

Is there anything more relaxing than an warm bath? Especially at the end of a long day?


 I'm personally not a fan of candles so I rarely use them for lighting or just in general, though I have a few lying around the house. I just turn on some fairy lights in my room to give me the low lighting feel. I normally put on an episode of a series I'm watching on Netflix while I relax in the bath, trying to catch up on my favourite TV shows. In this time I do part of my body skin care routine which consists of body scrub, shaving, moisturise, exfoliate etc... and also apply a clay face mask to my problem area's on my face.


P A R T   T W O

After I get out the bath I do my hair care routine and my nails. Before I dry my hair I spray _____ into it to nourish it and help it grow, be strong and healthy.  I spray heat protector onto it before then gently combing through it and letting it dry naturally for around half-an-hour, in which I do my nails, before then finish drying it with a hairdryer.


Just before I wash off my face mask, using a warm flannel to get off the excess while my hair is drying naturally, I start doing my nails. I start off with some clear base coat to protect my nails and to prevent damage, leaving it to dry while I pick my colour of choice for the week, sometimes two. Once my nails are dried I finish off drying my hair. If I know I have something coming up in the next couple of days I'll straighten my hair or curl it before going onto part three.


P A R T   T H R E E

I'm a huge fan of the app Headspace- it's one of my saviours and really helps me clear my head and gives me some more 'me' time. I only do 5-10 minute sessions in one given sitting, otherwise I find I get a too little relaxed and nod off on the floor or something. After this, I tend to watch another episode of a show while in bed, before doing some journaling and then reading around 25-50 pages of the current book I'm reading (currently the 'Catcher in the Rye') before going to sleep.


I hope you enjoyed this little blog post. What's your favourite self-care tip?

First things first, we can all look after ourselves better. I had a little bit of a rocky start to this year, I had some health problems (all of which are being worked on and some are completely under control now) arise and it really taught me how to look after myself better. Looking after yourself seems like such a simple thing to do but in reality it can be tough to do, and at first I didn't really know where to start. I had this image in my head that I did look after myself pretty good but after a little eye-opening experience I realised that I hadn't been in the slightest.


1. Set hours in which you don't work
This one is particularly important for students or those who work from home, personally in revision season I don't work after 9pm so I can have some time to myself, whereas on normal weekdays its 8pm. I also set out hours in which I'll have family time or spend time with my friends. This really motivates me to get my work done and finished so I can have the time to relax and wind down. There sacred to me and they never change.

2. Meditation
Even jut meditating for 5-10 minutes a day can put you in a really good mood and get you ready for the day or even help you get ready for bed. I personally use Headspace (which is amazing and I highly recommend it!) but there are a lot of meditation tips and tricks an tutorials online and on YouTube. Early morning meditation increases my mood and self-awareness whereas meditating at night helps me wind down for bed and relax. Meditating can make you more positive, energetic and happy.

3. Getting enough sleep
This one I struggled with at first. I use Fitbit to help me track my sleep and it helped me to see exactly how much sleep I'm getting at night, and what type of sleep it is (Light, REM, Deep and how much time I spent awake etc.). Meditating really helped me increase how much sleep I'm getting and I've been in a better mood because of it.  More sleep equates to more happiness, better health and improved decision-making and it helps you to detox and recharge.

4. Journaling
Life can be very overwhelming sometimes and I find it helps to get everything your thinking about onto paper. I jot down absolutely anything and everything, from how I feel to to-do lists or ideas I have. It's also really cool to look back on and remember things that happened, it being a good little keepsake.

5. Yoga.
What kind of tips on how to look after yourself better, would this be if it didn't incorporate exercise? I've become a lot more active and I've turned to working out every other day which I never thought would happen. Yoga is one of the easiest ways to reset your mind and body, you can find numerous tutorials on YouTube or an apps such as Nike Training Club.

6. Happiness.
Smile. Smile more. Just do it.

7. Dance like no one's watching.
One of the first things I do when I get home is dance around my room. It helps me de-stress and improves my mood and helps me get out any energy that's going to stop me from doing my work. It can also improve body image, lead to a better outlook and is associated with a lower risk of dementia.

8. Read More.
Reading has been proven to keep the mind sharp as it ages and reading fiction books can increase creativity and a more open mind. It can also increase sleep and make us more empathetic.

9. Laugh.
Ever heard of the phrase 'laughter is the best medicine'? Laughing benefits our mental and physical health, especially when combined with exercise. It can improve our quality of life and help us connect with those we laugh with and help our relationships. I recommend watching Friends.

10. Declutter your life and room.
Did you know that clutter can stress you out? I find it therapeutic to sort through things and get my life organised. Decluttering and organising things can make us more productive, cheerful and calmer.

11. Exercise in general.
We all knew this one was coming after yoga. Exercise is amazing and my new best friend. I love it. It decreases so many things and makes you so much healthier. It's a pretty good mood lift. Exercise goes a long way to reducing stress. Just a small walk will energize you and motivate you for the day ahead.

12. Get off your phone.
In this day and age we use our phones for near enough everything, we always seem to be looking at a screen of some sort, whether that be a tablet, our computer, TV, or our phone. We're living in a virtual world and forgetting what's most important in our lives. Taking a break from social media and our screens can helps us recharge and give our brain the downtime it needs to work at an optimal level.

13. Self-care, self-care, self-care.
We don't tend to set aside times for ourselves in our busy schedules. We tend to forget that we need to look after ourselves too and not just those around us. You can read about my self-care routine here.

TV and film is such a huge part of my life, especially in this day and age where you can binge-watch a entire season of a show in a day, with the help of on-demand, Netflix, Amazon prime, Hulu and of course other not-so well known streaming services. It's at the click of a button, for the audience to consume anywhere, anytime.

I'm known for getting through series very quickly, especially if I'm in love with them and they've become one of my new favourites within a couple of episodes. Hopefully, through this little list you'll find a new TV show to watch. I'd love to hear some of your recommendations to, so please feel free to comment them down below!

PEAKY BLINDERS

Credit: BBC2

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Credit: TNT

If you like Peaky Blinders, then you'll love Animal Kingdom. It has a very similar presence, but more action packed and set in the modern day. It follows the Cody brothers, J and Smurf, in their freelance criminal family. It's lead, Finn Cole, is also in Peaky Blinders as Michael Gray. The show is jaw-dropping in its plot twists and storylines, which never fail to grab my attention.

GREY'S ANATOMY

Credit: ABC

This is the show I seem to cry the most at. Word of warning- don't get too attached to the characters. This show is a roller-coaster of emotions but Shona is an amazing writer who never fails to amaze me with each and every episode. This is defiantly one for those who want a challenge when it comes to binge-watching with 14 seasons currently available. It's set in Seattle Grace hospital and follows the doctors and surgeons face day-to-day problems with some extraordinary cases.

SCANDAL

Credit: ABC

For the fans of Greys or 'How To Get Away with Murder', you'll be interested in Scandal for sure. From Grey's being centred on doctors, and HTGAWM based on lawyers, this one follows the 'fixers'. Have a problem? Call Olivia Pope. In recent seasons they've followed the 2016 election campaign, and its honestly hilarious but dramatic. It's a little bit harder to get into, in comparison to Greys but it is worth sticking with it for the long run.

BLACK MIRROR

Credit: Netflix

Black Mirror is one of the shows that loves to challenge current debates and issues in our society, in a magnificent way. You can watch one standalone episode from any of the seasons, without having to of watched any of the other episodes (though it may help to understand what exactly the show does and its structure). Each episode takes a issue or debate and shows how our world might look like. I accidentally watched season 3, episode 1 first, before realising that there was two previous seasons, so I quickly went back and started from the beginning because I was hooked. This show is defiantly for those who want something new and exciting with each episode, its truly one of a kind.

(Editor note: I wrote this at the very beginning of the year and never came round to posting it until now, sorry!!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope everyone had an amazing last year, and that this year brings everyone happiness, success, love, and good health!!

I always like to reflect on the year when it comes to an end, look back on past achievements, new and old friendships and just sum it all up in a whole. However, I only ever do this in a positive way, the negative experiences I have learned from and I will take those lessons forward with me in my next step, but I don't see the point in reflecting on the negative, as I feel like it holds you back a bit.




Confidence comes when you're happy- confidence is something I've always struggled with, especially once I hit puberty. I used to be confident when I was younger before all the bitchy-ness began amongst everyone once we got to secondary school, I had a much simpler life back then. This past year my confidence has increased a lot, especially in December. Something finally clicked in me a little bit and I feel very different compared to this time last year. Not everyone is going to be pleased or happy with what you do and you can't change that, you have to accept it and move on, always be yourself and have fun! My confidence came once I was happy with who was surrounding me and what I was doing, I'm so excited to see what this year holds for me as I'll encounter a lot of new experiences this year that will most likely change who I am and let me grow as a person as I reach adulthood.



When to be silent and when to speak loud- have you ever found yourself in a position when you are debating when to stay silent and when to speak loud? I have found myself in this position a few times in the past couple of months. I've learnt that sometimes words aren't always needed and that actions do speak much louder than words. I've learnt when to bite my tongue and stay quiet and move on from situations before anything else ensures that isn't going to make any one happy that's involved.




Don't hold yourself back- I've always been a very driven person who has big dreams. This year I released some films that I had been keeping to myself for some time before getting the confidence to put them out. Filmmaking is what I want to do for the rest of my life and the response I got from my three little pieces, has only driven me further, and made me want to work even harder to get to my dream position in life. I realised through all of this that I was holding myself back, so this year I'm planning even bigger and better projects to be released throughout the year to widen my experience and pursue my passion to my heart's content.

Coming is going, and going is coming- I ended this year with only some of those whom I started with. Friendships come and go as you grow apart from people, but the people I have surrounding me now I wouldn't change for the world. Change is normal and it needs to occur in order for you to grow. Plus, it's not always a bad thing!! A lot of change is coming my way this year and I'm very ready for it and see what it has in store for me.



Cherish those that you love, you never know if you'll seem them again- I'd say this by far the most important lesson I learnt this year. You never know what's going to happen or how long you have left in this world. One day you won't be here so you have to make the most of those around you and the precious time you have on this earth. You never know when its going to come to an end. don't ever take those around you or time for granted.