Surviving the Holidays

I love the holidays. I love opening presents on Christmas Day, eating good food on Thanksgiving and spending time with my friends and family. However, not all of us love the holiday season. Many people work through the holidays or don't live near family or friends that they can spend time with. With the cold weather and grey skies, some people feel down during the holiday season and don't want to get out of bed. Thankfully, there are some ways to give yourself a little boost during this time of year.

Give yourself something to look forward to.

Is there an event coming up that you are planning on attending? Maybe there's a new movie or video game coming out that you can't wait for, or maybe you can't wait until the break so you can fly home to see your family. Set your sights on something fun.

Embrace the holiday cheese.

I'm not talking about the food. I'm talking about the cheesy aspects of the holiday that always pop up this time of year. One of my favorite things to do is watch Hallmark movies with my Mom. They are usually horrible, but that makes it even more fun. Sing some goofy Christmas carols, make a paper turkey or sit down and watch a holiday classic.

Look for free opportunities.

If you look in your local paper, there is usually a section highlighting all of the events going on in your state or city. Pick out some that look fun and go to them! There are usually a bunch of free events going on during the season where you can do something new and get some good food.

Amp up the atmosphere.

Put on some holiday music when you're at home. Light a warm fire. Wrap yourself up in a warm blanket and drink apple cider. Do all of the holiday things you've always wanted to do.

Decorate.

Go to your local Dollar Store and go crazy with decorations. Whether it be tiny turkeys, green and red streamers or mini Christmas trees, your house (or room) deserves to be festive!

Pamper your pets.

Your pets deserve presents, too! Buy your furry friend a holiday outfit or his/her favorite treat to put in a little stocking. Give your pets some extra love during the holidays.

Get together with some friends.

If you have friends in the area, call them up and plan a holiday party! Have each person bring a different holiday treat or have everyone wear a tacky sweater. Better yet, if your friends are all alone for the holidays, get together for a gift swap or a potluck dinner.

Practice gratitude.

Sometimes what you need is a little perspective. Take time this season to think about all of the things in your life that you are thankful for. Write it down and hang it up somewhere where you can see it and add to it everyday.

Buy yourself a present.

You worked hard this year! 2014 is almost over, and you survived! Splurge a little bit and buy yourself that gift you have always wanted. You deserve it.

Take care of yourself.

Remember to do the little things this season, like brush your teeth, wash your face and do your laundry. Listen to your body and make sure to take care of it. Take medicine when you need to, settle down with a hot bath and a good book or take that nap you desperately need. The holidays can be hard for a lot of people. If you're feeling down this season, don't hesitate to put yourself first.


How do you survive the holiday season? Let me know in the comments below!

Dealing with Jealousy

When is the last time you were jealous of someone? Was it someone on television or was it someone you knew personally? Has jealousy ever ruined a friendship in your life or caused you to hurt someone's feelings?

Jealousy can be a horrible thing. A touch of envy can turn into a storm that you can't control. Try some of these tips below to stop the flow of jealousy. Don't let it run your life.

Practice Gratitude

One of the best ways to combat jealousy is to start appreciating what you already have. Every day write down 10 things you are grateful for. They can be as simple as getting to pet your cat or having a good commute to work. Start becoming aware of all the good things in your life instead of focusing on the things you don't have.

Work for What you Want

The majority of people who have nice things worked hard to get them. If you want that new purse or want to travel the world, start working for it. That friend you have that got to go to Greece over the summer? Stop staring at her Facebook photos and take action. Take measurable, conscious steps toward your goal. When you work hard for the things that you want, it feels so much better when you finally get it.

You Will Never Be _______ (and that's okay)

Kate Winslet is my favorite actress. I think she is insanely talented and gorgeous. Unfortunately, no matter how much I try, I will never be Kate Winslet, and neither will you. No matter how much you idolize someone, you will never be them. You will, however, always be you. Embrace who you are. Embrace your flaws and talents and realize that it is okay to be you.

People are just People

Let's get real for a minute here: everybody poops. Sorry, but it's true. The actors, models and musicians that you love and idolize. The girl in your class who seems to always get the guy. The guy who just got that brand new sports car. At the end of the day, we really aren't that different.

Things are just Things

A few years ago there was this big trend of wearing these small, multi-colored bracelets that came in all different color combinations and styles. I remember going with a friend of mine and picking up two or three, each of them about $12 each, and sporting them proudly on my arm. Do I still have those bracelets? Yes. Do I still wear them? Not really. The trend is over, and my taste has changed. Things go out of style and things break. Before you shell out $400 on a purse you saw an actress wear on the red carpet, maybe you need to take a few days to assess if you really need another 'thing' in your life.


How do you deal with jealousy? Let me know in the comments below!

When Inspiration Doesn't Strike

This past week I have learned that you can't force inspiration.

No matter how many times I turned on an inspiring playlist or got comfortable with a pen and paper, I always found myself staring at a blank page or an empty screen.

I had no idea how to continue.

I didn't even know how to start.

When inspiration is lacking, I have learned that change is often the answer. Go out of your element. Seek out a new environment. Try a bustling coffee shop or a picnic table at your nearby park. Listen to the sounds around you and observe your surroundings. Don't worry about writing or checking another item off of your to-do list.

Spend some time with yourself. Turn off your phone and spend at least a half hour sitting, standing or walking in a peaceful place.

Take a break from the familiar.

Inspiration will come. It may come slowly or it may come all at once, but it will eventually come. And when inspiration does strike? When you get a new idea or figure out exactly what you've been trying to say? You'll know. You'll feel it in your soul and in your bones.

This weekend, take a few hours to slow down and listen to what life is telling you. 

You have what you need. 

Now go be awesome.

Write Better: Thank You Notes

I love thank you notes. A text message or e-mail is fine, but getting a letter in the mail telling you how awesome you are? Sign me up!

A thank you note is one of the best ways to express your thanks to a friend or family member in a special, unique way. If you've never written a thank you note before, now is the time!

Who do you want to thank today?

Maybe you want to thank a family member for sending you that awesome birthday gift or you want to express some gratitude to a friend 'just because.' Thinking about who you are sending your note to is the first step. Stop for a moment and scribble down a 'gratitude list' of people who deserve your thanks. Choose one, two or three people from the list. Choose them all! You can never tell someone 'thank you' enough.

Speak from the Heart

Don't just sign your name to a random card you pick up at the store - no one likes a generic thank you note. Why are you thanking this person? What do they mean to you? Write it down, and don't be afraid to be sappy, especially if it's for someone older. My Grandma loves getting thank you notes. The sappier the better!

Get in the Habit

I am so thankful that my Mom sat me down and made me write thank you notes after my birthdays and after Christmas. When I was younger it felt unbearable, having to sit there and meticulously write personalized thank you notes to all of these people. Now I love it. I still remind myself to send the little notes out. I love doing it, and my friends and family love receiving them. Get in the habit of writing thank you notes. Expressing gratitude is good for you and good for them. It's a win-win situation.

Need help?

Here is a template you can use to write a thank you note. Remember to fill in the blanks with some heartfelt, sappy, personalized words!

Dear [awesome person],

You are [awesome/great/amazing/the bee's knees/the cat's meow].

Thank you so much for [sending me that gift/doing that thing for me/being awesome]!

I absolutely love [that you helped me with that thing/that gift you sent me] because [it made my life so much easier/I love hot pink jewelry/it reminds me of you].

I am [so grateful/so blessed] to have you as a [friend/parent/grandparent/brother/sister].

I [love you/appreciate you] so much, and I [can't wait to see you again/can't wait for you to visit].

Thank you again! You are [awesome/the best/my favorite person in the world].

[Love, XOXO, Hugs and Kisses, All my love]

[Your Name Here]


See? Writing a thank you note doesn't have to be stressful. Have you ever written a thank you note? Have you received one? Let's chat in the comments below!

Revitalize your Morning Routine

What does your typical morning look like? Do you wake up to the screech of your alarm clock, hit the snooze button and end up late to work? Maybe you like your morning routine but you wish it had a little more 'oomph' to it.

I firmly believe that a good morning routine sets the tone for the rest of your day. When I lay around in bed and don't leave time for myself in the morning, it can throw off my whole day.

A few months ago, before I had a set morning routine, I sat down and wondered what I wanted my mornings to look like. I knew that I wanted to wake up early enough to relax a little bit, put on makeup, pick out my clothes and maybe listen to some fun music or watch a show while I got ready. I wanted something quick and easy that didn't require a lot of thought but that still left me ready to face the day.

Taking care of yourself can be hard. Some of us just don't have that voice inside our heads that reminds us to do all of the things we should be doing like washing our face or brushing our teeth. I promise that once you get in the habit of doing these things day after day, they become second nature.

So sit down and think about what you want your morning routine to look like. Do you want to workout every morning? If so, that might require you to get up a little earlier. Or maybe you want to have more time to sleep. Try setting out your clothes the night before or packing your food for the week ahead of time.

Your morning routine is for you. Don't let anyone else tell you how you should prepare for your day. Some people get up at 4 A.M. and are good to go while others are good with waking up at 10.

Find what works for you. Find your process, write down what you want, and go for it. Write down a reminder and practice it every morning until it feels like second nature.

Before you know it you'll be waking up feeling happy, excited and revitalized.

What does your morning routine look like? Tell me in the comments below!

The Foolproof Formula for Doing Work you Love

I'm about to share something with you. Something awesome. 

You are about to learn the foolproof formula for doing work you love.

Are you stuck in a dead-end job?
Do you hate going to work everyday?
Are you unemployed and wondering what to do next?
Are looking for work that inspires you?
Do you want to wake up everyday excited about your work?
Do you want to inspire and help other people?

If you relate to any of the above, than this formula is for you.

So here it is. The formula that changed my life. Best of all, it's incredibly simple.

What you love to do + What you are good at + What people need help with = EUREKA

What? That's all?

Yep.

Let's break it down.

What do you love to do? 
Take out a piece of paper and write down everything you love to do. Maybe you love to watch movies or write short stories. You might love to play with dogs. Write it down. There is no wrong answer.

What are you good at? 
Now is not the time to be humble! What are you awesome at? What do you do that makes other people revel at your awesomeness? What have you won prizes for? Now is the time to write down all of the incredible things that you do.

Now compare the two lists. There should be a few things that overlap, or a few things that relate to each other in awesome ways. Circle those! Put stars by them!

What do people need help with? What do they want to learn how to do? 
Tap into what you have heard people say in the past. Maybe you heard someone talk about how they need help with their resume or heard your best friend talk about how badly they want to travel the world but don't know where to begin. Take those conversations and worries and write them down. How can what you love and what you're good at relate to what people need?

Here are some examples:

I love to work out and eat healthy + I am good at cooking 
+ People need help learning how to live healthier lives 
= Start a healthy cookbook or blog

I love to travel + I am good at writing + People want to learn how to travel on a budget
= Write a travel book on how to travel on a limited budget

I love to help people + I am good at writing + People need help with their writing
= Work for a Non-Profit in their communications department (This is mine!)

The best thing about this formula is that it is catered to you. The examples above are there to show you the process, but as you can see, getting from one thing to another can be really simple.

If you need help with this process, don't be afraid to ask me questions in the comments below. 

It is also important to remember that this formula can take some time. Maybe you love to take photos but you aren't necessarily good at it yet. That's okay! If it's your dream to start a photography business, take a photography class and keep practicing!

What about you? What does your formula look like? Share yours in the comments below!

10 Ways to Attract More JOY into your Life

Everyone wants to be happy. It's a fundamental desire of everyone on the planet. Finding happiness, however, can be easier said than done. In today's world, how can we embrace happiness and bring a little more joy into our lives?

Be Present

Go out to a restaurant on any given day and what do you see? Cell phones. Instead of appreciating the moment and savoring time with our loved ones, we scroll past Facebook feeds or check out the latest tweets. Here's the thing: it can wait. Put down the phone. Pull out your earphones. You are alive in this moment right now. Becoming present allows you to bring more joy into your life.

Choose Happiness

My mother used to always tell me that happiness is a choice. I never really understood what she meant until I got older and began to understand that we have a choice in how we react in every situation. When you're sitting in traffic, you have the choice to honk your horn and yell at cars or you can turn up your favorite song and dance on your way to your destination. Believe me when I say that the second option definitely makes your day a little brighter. In every situation, stop and take a moment to breathe. Choose your reactions carefully. Choose to be happy.

Be Wary of Negative People

We all have negative people in our lives and in some situations, it can be best to distance yourself from them. I've realized that by distancing myself from the people in my life who make me feel bad about myself, I have become a more happy person. It can be hard to step away, but sometimes it is the necessary option. If you can't get through to your friend and you feel your happiness draining, it may be time to step away.

Know Yourself

Self-reflection is SO important to your overall well-being. Take the time to sit down and think about what you want in life. Where are you right now? Are you where you want to be? If not, how can you get there? Realizing that you're not on the right path is the first step to changing to a new one and embracing a happier life.

Appreciate the Journey

Take a moment to think about how much you've grown in the past year. Maybe you've gotten a new job, started a new relationship, gotten out of a bad relationship, learned something new, started a family...the options are endless! Appreciate how much you've learned about life and yourself in the past year. Put your life and perspective and know that even if things are bad right now, in a year's time you'll look back and think, "Wow, I got through it."

Surround Yourself with Joy

Whether it be the people you hang out with, the television shows you watch or the books that you read, try to surround yourself with happiness. Put up reminders in your room or a note by your computer at work. Set up a reminder on your phone or a cute wallpaper. Take the time out to cuddle with a dog or cat (it brings your heart rate down!) Happiness is all around us. Sometimes all we need is a little reminder.

Do What You Love

This is one of the most simple things to do, but many of us aren't doing it. We stay in jobs we hate or force ourselves to do certain things because we think we 'have to.' Life is too short to do things we hate. If you want to travel the world, travel! If you hate your job, start planning alternative paths and get out of there! When you do what you love, happiness inevitably follows.

Play More

Hide and seek. Frisbee. Swimming. Jump rope. Board games. Running. Jumping. Laughing. All of the things you loved to do as a child. Start incorporating more playtime into your life. Your body and your soul needs it.

Love Yourself

Looking in the mirror and liking what you see can be a long process. Sometimes the little voice in your head tells you that you're not good enough, and a lot of times we listen to it. Start finding ways to appreciate who you are. Maybe that includes spending some time alone and getting to know yourself better. Maybe it's creating a piece of art or taking a new class. Loving yourself is a fundamental step toward happiness. If you need more ideas, check out Gala Darling's 100 Ways You Can Start Loving Yourself Right Now.

Don't Give Up

Unfortunately, attracting more joy into your life isn't always easy. Sometimes we can't get away from negative things or people. Other times our lives are surrounded by such chaos that it can be hard to see the silver lining. The most important thing to remember is to never give up. Happiness is worth fighting for. You deserve to be happy and you deserve to have an amazing life. Keep walking your path. I promise it will be worth it.


What are some ways that you bring joy into your life? Tell me in the comments below!

Write More Awesomely: 10 Tips to Become a Better Writer

Writing, whether it be for a new blog post, your job or an essay for class, can be hard - but it doesn't have to be! Check out the tips below that are sure to make you a better writer (or your money back!)

Practice Makes Perfect

This is true for any skill. The more you do something, the better you become at it. Writing is like a muscle. It's important to keep using it and stretching it out. Try to write every morning when you wake up or every night before you go to bed, or both! The more you write, the easier it will become.

Give it a KISS

In school, all of my teachers used KISS - Keep it Simple, Stupid. If you can say it in 10 words, don't stretch it out to two pages. Let your words be to the point!

What Happens Next?

One of the best pieces of writing advice I received came from one of my coworkers. She told me that after each sentence of a story, the reader needs to be asking "What happens next?" You want to catch your reader's eye and take them on a journey with you.

When in Doubt, Read

Reading makes you a better writer. Whenever I'm having writers block, I pick up a book or read through some of my favorite blogs. I always find inspiration to keep going when I'm stuck, or get new ideas on what to write about.

Revise, Revise, Revise, Revise

This is one thing I have never been good at. I am one of those people who writes something down and calls it a day, but recently I've learned how important revising is. After you write something, try taking a short break then going back to it. Read it through again and see if it still works. Usually I'll find some silly mistakes I didn't see the first time through.

Read it Out Loud

This is another tip when it comes to reviewing your work. When you're going over what you wrote a second time, read it out loud. This is not only another good way to catch any mistakes, but it can help you when writing your first draft, too. Sometimes if I'm stuck on a sentence, I'll start brainstorming out loud and usually I'll find the perfect word or sentence!

Show, Don't Tell

I'm sure we've all heard this tip a million times, but that's because it is so important. You want your reader to stay captivated, and the best way to do that is to paint them a picture. Think about what feeling you want to evoke in your readers and create a compelling story that will have their minds racing.

Don't Be Them, Be You!

Never try to copy the style of another writer. Instead, keep practicing and find your own voice. Finding your voice as a writer can take a long time and is an ongoing process. The more you write, the more your voice as a writer will develop.

Who's That?

Who are you writing for? If you're writing something for your best friend, it might look a little different than what you would write down for an academic essay. Before you start every piece you write, ask yourself who you are writing it for. Every piece you write has an audience, and it is important to keep them in mind with every piece you write. What does your audience want? How do you want them to feel? What do you want them to take away from your piece?

Know When to Walk Away

Sometimes as writers we can be perfectionists. This can cause us to keep working on a piece until our eyes cross. You need to know when to put down the pen or walk away from the computer. Sometimes you have to tell yourself that the story, article or essay is perfect as it is. Know when to hit submit and walk away.

Do you have any writing tips to share? Add yours in the comments below!

How to Find your Niche

In order to stand out from the crowd it can be smart to find a specialty or niche to push you forward and give you an edge in your business. Finding your niche can be advantageous for artists, writers, bloggers, designers, coaches, and more!

Although it can be scary to think about, there are a lot of people out there that are in the same field as you. But remember: there is only one you! Finding your niche can strengthen your brand, and confirm your passion.
 
Try New Things and Retry Old Things
Finding your niche requires you to step out of your comfort zone. If there is something that has always interested you, try it! If there is something that you did in the past that still interests you today, try it again! You may end up rekindling a passion for writing stories, drawing, solving problems, or something else!

What do you love?
Take out of a piece of paper or open a new document. Now start writing down what you love to do. Don't think too hard about it (you shouldn't have to!) and write down anything and everything that comes to mind. On my list I had down books, movies, superheroes, and Hello Kitty, to name a few.

Does that mean I'm going to start a Hello Kitty business? Not likely, but it's important to write down everything. Who knows - the style or color of Hello Kitty could end up inspiring a new design project.

What are you good at?
Still have that list up? Go through and circle the things that you're awesome at.  It's important to do this with a little discretion. A few weeks ago I would have put 'design' on my love list but not circled it. Now that I'm learning more about design everyday, however, I can safely circle it knowing that although I'm not the greatest, I can only get better.

Practice makes perfect.
Once you know what you love and what you're good at, it's time to work it. Write everyday. Draw a new picture everyday. Take the ultimate challenge and practice for 100 days. Keep on going, even when you don't think you're doing well, or when it's hard. Each step is a step forward.

Keep your niche.
Say you finally figured out your niche. Maybe it's writing children's stories, filming black and white movies, or making jewelry out of found objects. The important thing now is to keep going even when it's hard. Keep practicing. Don't second guess yourself. Maybe your niche needs tweaking in the future, but don't throw everything away in one moment of doubt.

Keep going forward, embrace your niche, and take the world by storm!

Take the First Step

In the past few weeks I have struggled with procrastination.  You see, I am a habitual procrastinator, and as you may know, procrastination does not yield inspiration nor does it yield motivation. 

‘Procrastination’ is a term thrown around during High School and College when a student waits until the last minute to finish a paper or lays around when he or she should be working on a project.  The term is met with humor, however has anyone stopped to realize how damaging this can be?  Procrastination is a serious thing, and is something that can detrimentally hurt a student’s chances of success.   As students, it is up to us to stop brushing procrastination aside as something ‘everyone does’.  We need to take control of our procrastination and find ways to combat it.

For me, the most successful way to combat procrastination is also the hardest way: Take the first step.  Today, for instance, I had to make some phone calls for my internship.  I kept making excuses as to why I simply ‘couldn’t do it’, when finally I typed in the first number and called, forcing myself not to pick up the phone until I heard the first ring.  This may seem silly, but it helped me to not hang up the phone before it started ringing, or to wander off and do something else.  For me, hitting that call button was the first step, and I had a much easier time continuing the calls from there.

What are you putting off today?  Whatever it is, take that first step.  With that first step comes clarity, focus and drive.  By taking that first step you are letting yourself know that you mean business.

What steps do you take to overcome procrastination? 

5 Ways to Stay Calm in a Crazy World

We live in a crazy, busy world.  We are constantly working, rushing, racking our brains, inventing, and living with our dials turned to high-speed.  The only time that most of us get to sit down and relax is when we get into bed to sleep, but even that can come with the tiring rush of questions and to-do lists that never seem to leave our brains.

So how do we stop rushing around like we're mad?  How do we stay calm in a world that is so crazy?

• Breathe

No, I am not talking about those quick breaths you habitually take when you are running to your next appointment.  I am talking about some serious, sit down and shut up breathing.  Try it right now.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, take a moment to stop.  First inhale through your nose, letting the air seep down into your lungs.  Hold it for a few seconds, then exhale slowly through your mouth.  Try this a few times and I promise you will feel a little bit more relaxed.

This is especially helpful during tests.  Whenever I come across a question that is giving me strife, I take a moment to breathe in and out, the return to the question with a clear, level head.

• Everything Must Go

The environment that you live in is directly connected to how crazy your life is.  Seriously, the next time you are crazy busy, look at your bedroom.  When I have everything under control, my room is usually spotless.  But right now, during finals week?  Well, you can guess what my room looks like!

It is really easy to think that you don't have time to clean up, but it will make you feel so much better.  In a way, you are tricking your brain.  I think of it like this - If my room is dirty, in the back of my mind that is just one more thing to take care of.  It is one more thing for me to get annoyed about or dwell on.  However, when I take the time to pick up my clothes and clear out the trash, I feel like my mind and body has a fresh start to do what I need to do.

Another way you can practice this 'everything must go' mentality is to do exactly what it says!  Take the time to grab 5 or 10 things from your room that you don't use anymore and put it in an 'Everything Must Go' box.  Take it to Goodwill or another donation site.  Not only does it eliminate clutter that you don't need, but it makes you feel good about making a difference.

• Find a Friend

One of the best ways to calm down is to let all of your feelings out.  Most of the time when you are feeling overwhelmed, all you need is a listening ear to get your stress to fall a few notches.  Go find that friend, the one that you know will sit and listen to you without judgement, and let it all out.  It may help to give the friend a disclaimer, such as: "Right now I am about to complain and stress out to you about everything that is going on in my life, so get ready!!"

Once you let it all out, let your friend give it right back to you!  They probably have some things they need to de-stress about too!

Let out all of your emotions!  Once your done talking out what's going on in your life, take a moment to breathe, and don't forget to thank your listening buddy!  Sometimes you just need to sit with a friend and hash out your life and problems so that you can get right back up and keep on trucking!

• Shake it Out

Florence & the Machine commands it!

There are countless ways for you to practice this.  Turn on some music in your room and dance.  Get a workout video and do it in your living room.  One of my favorite things to do is to search dance videos on YouTube and see if I can follow along.  Next time you are out with friends you can bust out some grade-A dance moves!  Speaking of, go out dancing with friends!  If you're not a dancer, take time to go for a walk down the street or around the block.  It's amazing what you can find when you're exploring outside!

Whatever you do, just go out and get moving.  It will help to clear your mind and it might even tire you out!  Not only that, but shaking it out releases endorphins, and who doesn't love those little suckers??

• Stay Positive

I am a huge advocate of keeping a positive attitude.  It can be so easy to look at the world around us and see how crazy and difficult everything is.  Seeing the light through the trees can be a hard thing to do, but it is so important to your well-being.  Sitting in your negative emotions not only makes your life more difficult, but it can also rub off on those around you, which is never a good thing.

The next time you are feeling overwhelmed, take a moment to appreciate how incredible life is.  Pay attention the beat of your heart and to the intricate way your body works.  Inhale and exhale, and observe your surroundings.  People watch.  This may seem like a way to get back into negative feelings, but think about this: People are interesting.  People are so incredibly interesting and amazing to watch.  I promise that you can find one thing about someone that you find incredibly beautiful, whether it be the way their eyes take in their surroundings, their loud laugh, or the way they seem to fearlessly take on the world.

Life is beautiful, and once you realize that you can (seriously!) bend your own emotions, thoughts and feelings in a way that makes you view the world as an incredible, exhilarating place, your life will be a million times better because of it.

What about you?  What are some ways you stay positive in the midst of craziness?