LIFE: Five Ways To Help Your Mental Health

I don’t ever hide the fact that I struggle with my mental health. It’s like a rollercoaster - up and down, and often unpredictable. When I was at my worst a number of years ago, I was diagnosed with depression and started medication, etc. but I will talk about all of that another time. Thankfully I now understand it enough to know what triggers my depressive episodes, and subsequently how to overcome them. I’m going to share a few simple tips with you over a number of blog posts. Some of these might seem obvious, but I find that it’s often the simple things that make the biggest difference.

1. Make your bed every morning

I know that feeling of not wanting to even get out of bed. Bed is my safe place. Bed is where I go when I need to shut out the world. And I like to sleep away my worries. So this might seem like such a huge task initially, but trust me, it makes the world of difference. Doing something like this when you wake up gives you a sense of accomplishment early on and sets up the rest of your day to be a success. Not only that, but having it made may make it less tempting to climb back in and spend the day there. 

2. Keep your space clean and tidy

Again, I know this can be easier said than done. When you feel really low, you couldn’t care less what the space around you looks like. But when you have loads of negative thoughts spiralling around in your head a messy environment can add to it. And often it’s something else to beat yourself up about. Decluttering, giving everything a space of its own, and freshening up a room can make it feel calm and organised, and subsequently have the same effect on your head. I always think ‘Tidy space, tidy mind’.

3. Get outside for walks

Ok, you might not feel up to walking far, but even stepping outside can help so much. Breathing fresh air into your lungs can be an incredible reminder than, despite your mind’s best attempts to destroy you, you are here. You are alive! There’s honestly nothing makes me feel more alive than getting outside for a long walk in nature. It strips everything away. All my worries and stresses. All the superficiality of looking and dressing a certain way. All the comparisons and expectations. I feel genuinely happy. And since walking is a form of exercise, we can rest assured that there’s a multitude of endorphins pumping around our body which trigger positive feelings within us. If someone asked me to tell them three things that make me truly happy deep down inside, this would be one of them. I cannot recommend it enough.

4. Have your nails done

If you go and get your nails done in a salon then the time to yourself is most definitely going to be a huge pick-me-up, and since I do nails myself, I see that firsthand. But doing them on myself can be quite the chore. However, now that I think about it, when I’m doing my nails I can’t do much else. I can’t go on my phone and I usually put a Netflix show on in the background. So as much as the actual task of doing them feels like a chore, it’s the time out to myself that really helps me. That, and having pretty nails makes me feel more beautiful, which naturally makes me smile. 

5. Walk in the pouring rain

I know I already mentioned walking, but this is different. Admittedly, I’m quite a fair weather girl, I love the sunshine and the heat of summer, and I’m guilty of looking outside and deciding not to do something because it’s raining or snowing or whatever, But being prepared for the rain and just getting outside in it feels amazing. Again, I don’t care what I look like and I know before I even go out that I’m going to get soaked. Having the rain wash over you is like having a weight taken off your shoulders, it’s as if when the rain runs down your face and your body it’s taking everything with it. All your negative thoughts being washed away. I always feel invigorated after doing this, and there’s nothing better than coming home, taking off all your wet clothes, having a warm shower and a cup of tea. 

Like I said, these might seem obvious, and maybe even a little silly. But they aren’t silly if they help, and more importantly, they are readily available to us all. Sure, they might only offer a temporary burst of happiness, but over time they will lift your spirits immensely, and teach you healthy habits for getting yourself out of a rut. I suggest introducing them one by one, as trying to change too much at once can seem overwhelming. And chances are, if you feel overwhelmed, you will end up doing nothing to make yourself feel better.

Overcoming a mental illness won’t happen overnight, but with time and effort, I promise you can learn to understand it and overcome it.

FOOD: Protein Pancake Favourites

Eating healthy really doesn’t have to be boring. Chicken, broccoli and rice and protein shakes on repeat - no thank you! I need variety in my diet, so I’m always looking for new recipes to try. My favourite recently has been protein pancakes - it took me some time to get these right, but now that I have I want to share them with you!

CHOCOLATE PROTEIN PANCAKES

Ingredients

125ml almond milk

2 scoops Arbonne chocolate vegan protein powder

1 tbsp coconut flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 medium eggs

Method

1. Blitz all ingredients together in a blender.

2. Leave to sit for ten minutes.

3. Whisk with a fork.

4. Oil a small non-stick frying pan. I either melt coconut oil or use olive oil spray which has less calories.

5. Pour in one third of the mixture.

6. When the pancake has bubbled quite a lot on one side flip it over. Be sure to go around the edges and check it isn’t sticking.

7. Put on to a plate under the oven to keep it warm while making the others.

8. Repeat two more times.

9. Top with dairy-free coconut yoghurt, fresh or frozen berries and a sprinkle of cinnamon. You can use whatever toppings you wish.

VANILLA PROTEIN PANCAKES

Ingredients

125ml almond milk

2 scoops Arbonne vanilla vegan protein powder

1 tbsp coconut flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 medium eggs

Splash of vanilla extract

Method

Same as above.

And why not mix it up?

Have fun with these. Experiment with different toppings, maybe add some orange or peppermint extract to the chocolate ones (highly recommend doing this), maybe put some fruit/chocolate chips in the pancakes as they are cooking, or make a healthy chocolate sauce like I’ve done below. Just heat 1 tbsp chocolate protein powder, 1 tbsp of cacao powder and 2 tbsps of coconut oil, et voilà! 

This breakfast honestly feels like such a naughty treat and it isn’t - perfect for any of you with a sweet tooth just like me. Enjoy!

LIFE: Quarantine Feels

'Brave girl, promise me, you will not shrink yourself in order to make others feel comfortable.'

Quarantine. Feels. Right. There.

I'm fairly certain most of us are feeling a bit different during this pandemic, completely understandable since life as we know it has been turned upside down. My thoughts have been all over the place - one day I've been loving the calm and appreciating the fact that I get to rest, but the next I've been filled with stress over business and financial worries. I know I'm not the only one feeling this way, and it's important to remember that there's no right or wrong way to be right now. At the end of the day, none of us have ever experienced anything like this before, and we all deal with uncertainties in our own way, we all have our own coping mechanisms.

My way of coping with anything in life is, well, to sometimes throw myself under my duvet and not surface, but mostly to throw myself into work and keep busy. As I work on self-development and learn more about myself, I realise that there's a reason for this, and it's something I should probably explore further at some stage. But for now, I'll do what I do best, and what keeps my mind at rest.

Except. A part of me feels guilty for being this way. Well, I think it's guilt, I'm not really sure. But when I'm aware that some people are struggling to adapt, to get out of bed and get dressed in the morning, I do feel somewhat guilty for feeling the opposite, and for wanting to use this time to be as productive as possible. 

The thing is, I don't often have a lot of time. Sure, it's up to me how much I take on in a day, especially being self-employed, I get to choose whether I work three hours, or thirteen. But I like to make the most of my days so I do as much as I can - work, gym, blogging, reading, etc, etc. And in reference to what I said earlier, there's an element of me keeping busy that's related to how my mind copes with life. But what I'm trying to say is that I have routine, I have tasks I do every day, and some days I'm left with very little 'free time'. 

So I guess that's how I'm looking at my current circumstances, I've now got the 'free time' I often struggle to find and always long for. Which gives me no excuses for putting off the things I always want to do but can never find the time for. The clearing out of my room, my attic, of all the old memories that are doing me more harm than good to hold on to. The books I want to read, the movies I want to watch, the hair and make-up tutorials I want to create, the recipes I want to try. And so the list goes on.

But there it is again. That 'guilt'. I don't feel guilty for doing these things. But I do feel guilty, as someone who has an online space for sharing an insight into their life, that my highly-motivated, goal-chasing nature may come across as boastful or may make others feel inadequate if they aren't feeling the same way.

Let me gently remind you again though, there is no right or wrong way to feel at the minute. Those bury-my-head-in-the-duvet-days have happened, albeit not too frequently, but I've had them too. It is normal for all of this to overwhelm us, to worry - about our health, our work, our businesses, our income. And the worst part for me - to miss my friends and family.

On days when I've felt like that, I've grounded myself by thinking that I may never get this chance again. All too soon I will be back to being 'too busy'. Although perhaps this situation will change my priorities and how I use my time. Nonetheless, I've gone back to using my time productively, despite the feelings of guilt. Because this is my time to do what I want and to cope the best way I can . Sure, I don't have to share everything I do online, and I don't, but my intention of doing so is always to inspire and encourage and lift others up, not to show off or boast. If one person sees me wearing make-up and it encourages them to get out bed that day and put a little make-up on for the first time in two weeks, and subsequently makes them feel better about themselves, then I've done good, I've done what makes my heart happy.

The quote I started this blog post with randomly presented itself to me at just the right time last week. The 'guilt' I was feeling and worrying about was at an all time high. But this made me think about everything I've written here. It isn't wrong for me to use this time productively, just in the same way it isn't wrong for someone to stay in bed all day, if that's how we get by. As I mentioned earlier, we are all different, we all cope in different ways, and no-one should be judged or put down for being who they are.

So promise me this, you will not shrink. Promise me that you will be whoever you are, during quarantine and beyond. I believe as always, that some element of my being is to help others, to encourage and inspire, and shrinking will not allow me to fulfil that. 

Do what you feel you have to do to get through quarantine. Be you, do you, for you. Be brave. This too shall pass.

Friday’s Giirl

x

TRAVEL: Review of The Flint, Belfast

Who doesn't want to share an apartment with your best friend for a night?! This is exactly what Alison and I did last week when we stayed in The Flint, Belfast. We got much more than we expected, and also much more than we paid for!

The Flint is located on Howard Street in Belfast city centre, just minutes from the shops and only round the corner from Great Victoria Street bus and railway station - it actually couldn't be more convenient. It was perfect for us as we were attending a gig in the Ulster Hall which we could walk to in only a few minutes.

When we booked this we booked a studio which included a king-sized bed, a seating area, a dining table, and a kitchen area. But nothing had prepared us for just how amazing it would be!

The hotel is nestled between restaurants and shops, and boasts a small reception area with super friendly staff, who kindly let us check in two hours early and chatted us through everything before giving us the key to room 208. 

The decor of the hotel is simplistic, mixing traditional and modern, to create a quirky, almost industrial kind of vibe. It was AMAZING! Our studio room was like a small apartment, we were genuinely gobsmacked at the size of it, and commented numerous times on the fact that the two of us could live there - it was perfect. 

The room had everything we needed and more - everything I mentioned above, but also a rainforest shower, toiletries, and tea/coffee with A CARTON OF MILK IN THE FRIDGE. A carton. Not those little ones you usually get. Proper milk. They knew how to win me over!

As if this wasn't enough, there was some breakfast included in the price, which I didn't actually know until we checked in. There is no restaurant in the hotel (although there's plenty surrounding it), so instead they provide two brown paper bags which you just pop outside your door by 3am, and you'll wake up to find them filled in the morning. OJ, granola and an apple - the perfect quick breakfast if you're heading out to explore, or heading to a business meeting. 

I honestly didn't want to leave this hotel, I felt like I was living my best life with my best friend in NYC (the dream) and there was such a homely feel to it. We loved it so much that, upon checking out, we actually enquired about booking another date. I absolutely can't fault anything at all.

And lastly - the price?

Are you ready for this?

£59. FIFTY-NINE POUNDS. That means it was £29.50 each. And I can't quite believe that. Hands down one of the best hotels I've ever stayed in, and also one of the most reasonably priced. Oh, and the comfiest bed ever. 

Yea, it wins.

You can book it here >> https://www.the1852.com/

Friday’s Giirl

x

LIFE: 2020 Vision

Earlier this week I realised something. I realised that I want to help other people. 

Why? 

Simply because I don't want other people to feel the way I do.

One night this week I went to bed not feeling great, and by not feeling great I mean mentally not feeling great. Something triggered a feeling inside me which spiralled further and further out of control. So much so that I convinced myself that I was unattractive, fat, ugly. All kinds of negative adjectives about how I look.

I woke up the next morning and I still felt the same. All day I just got on with it, I created distractions and I didn't let it take over my day, But nearing the end of the day I cried. I cried because I don't want to feel like this anymore. 

I've been a, let's say a prisoner, of my own mind for about ten years. Most of the time it's manageable, but more often than people know, I fight battles within my own mind and I don't come out on top.

So it was through a waterfall of tears that I wrote this realisation down...

I realised why I use social media, why I blog, why I do the job I do, and I understood one of the biggest reasons I recently joined an Arbonne team. I have the platform and the power to help people. I have the experiences to understand how this, whatever this is, feels. And subsequently I have the passion and the drive to help others overcome this, while I overcome it myself. 

So this year I have 2020 vision:

To find myself.

To find others.

To help others.

With passion.

With purpose.

With style.

And with a little bit of sarcasm.

Friday’s Giirl

x

ABOUT: A Little Bit About Me Q&A

I think it's important to get to know the person behind a blog, and although social media allows us to share snippets of our daily lives, I thought I'd go a little more in depth and answer some questions about who Friday's Giirl really is.

1. What is your full name?
Loise Boyd. That's Louise without a 'u'. Not Lois. Not Louis. Eugh. It used to drive me mad but I'm over it.

2. What age are you?
30 years old. I wish I could say I'm thrilled by that but I'd be lying. However, it's true that growing old is a privilege, some people never get the chance, and for that very reason I'm very grateful that I've had a great thirty years so far, and I hope there's many more to come.

3. What is your job?
I am a self-employed hairdresser and make-up artist, with some nails thrown in as well. I've been doing this for 3+ years, 3 years in a salon, and prior to that I worked from home whilst I had other jobs. I didn't have grey hairs until I owned my own business, but that said, I absolutely LOVE it and I often find myself thinking 'People are paying me to do what I love.' Finding a career that I loved was so important to me and happiness will always be prioritised over my income.

4. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
I have two big sisters who are a lot older than me, both like mummies to me and I love them both very much. I was, eh...'unexpected' as my mum likes to say. She hates when I joke about being a mistake, but I like to remind her that I was the best mistake she ever made. I'm sure there's many a day she would object to that though!

5. Single or taken?
Single.

6. What's your ultimate turn-on?
Humour. The ability to make me laugh. Not just a giggle, but a tears-running-down-my-face belly laugh. Ones which make you want to bottle up the moment and keep it forever. It's so so important to me.

7. Do you believe in soul mates?
Yes. I didn't always. But I do now. And I think that's maybe because I hadn't met mine. I do believe, however, that it's not always about meeting a partner who you're going to marry and spend the rest of your life with. My soul mate is my best friend, Alison. A soul mate is 'a person ideally suited to another' and that's exactly what we are. We aren't the same, well we are, in lots of ways, but we're also so very different in lots of other ways. Regardless, we come together as one. We just fit. We have fun, we support each other in absolutely everything, we stand up for each other, and we are patient with one another. We are always described as 'friendship goals' because our love is so obvious and genuine. That will never ever change. She is my person.

8. Do you have any male role models?
Such a good question! Yes, I have two.
Firstly, my dad. My hero. There's no denying that I'm a daddy's girl, I think all three of us are. I don't even know how to describe him, I have tears in my eyes just thinking about it. I think I've picked up so much from him over the years. He is ridiculously talented - he is creative and can put his hand to anything, and I have to thank him for passing this on to me. He's the reason I can draw and paint, and in turn is probably why I do the job I do. He gave me the vision I require to create works of art on a daily basis - upstyles, colours, make-up looks. And as for his personality, his selflessness is something I will never live up to. He worked tirelessly for years and years to ensure that he provided for all four of his girls, and still there is nothing too much trouble for him. He is still 'Dad's Taxi' at any time of day and he still gets rid of moths for me in my room when I wake him out of his sleep. He always refused to read 'destructions' when building anything and I believe my hard-working and stubborn nature comes from him. I have a strict work ethic and it's because I watched him work at home day-in-day-out throughout his years of self-employment. I could write for days about him, but I'll finish with our hunour. It's the same with us both - dry, sarcastic, and requires nothing more than a good one liner. We both come across as quite serious but I can assure you that it's so far from the truth at home, we love a good laugh.
Secondly, my 'male best friend'. I say that like that because Alison and him fight over the crown. She's been my best friend for longer though... No, but seriously. There's so many qualities I look up to in him. He's been through a lot and yet he still shows up every single day. He is a fighter. He is determined, focused, motivated and stubborn (in a good way). There's very very few people in my life who share my love for the gym, and because we both train we can keep each other in check, we share tips and tricks, and we're there for each other when we need it most - sometimes it's to lift us up when we are feeling demotivated, and sometimes it can be a harsh reality check if we're getting too obsessive or worrying too much about our weight. Both mentally and physically, he is STRONG. He would disagree with that completely, but I love that. I love that he doesn't know his own strength, and he doesn't know how much I admire that every day.

9. When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Oh goodness, anything and everything. Nurse, teacher, lawyer, I even wanted to go to the army at one stage. It took me a LONG time to figure this out, and I had to go through a lot to get there. But no matter what else I wanted to be I always wanted to be a hairdresser. The issue was that I went to a grammar school, I was smart, and they wouldn't have approved of me leaving after my GCSEs to go pursure hairdressing. So I did what was expected of me at the time - stayed in school and then went to uni, but after a while I figured out what I really wanted and what was best for me.

10. Did you go to university and what did you study?
Yes I did. Believe it or not, I studied mathematics. I love maths!  But I shouldn't have went to uni. And I actually think I'll make this into a full blog post, I feel like it's important.

11. What is something from your childhood that has shaped you into the person you are today?
Definitely the love I received from my family. I had an amazing childhood and having my parents and two older sisters around me definitely taught me how to love. I always say that if you are my friend (or my family) I will love you wholeheartedly. I really hope my friends agree with that. I'd do anything for them.

12. What is your biggest fear?
Death. I am beyond TERRIFIED. And to be honest, I don't want to expand on that because when I think about it too much I get ridiculously upset. But on the plus side, I think it makes me appreciate the present more, and I'm more driven and determined to achieve everything I want in the time that I have.

13. What are you most insecure about?
My teeth. I really hate them so so much. I had braces on as a teenager and I stupidly didn't wear my retainer at all after, so needless to say they moved. I decided that for my 30th birthday I was going to treat myself and do something about it in the hope that it would give me more confidence. I got braces for the second time last year and got them off at the start of summer. I was immediately so happy with how they looked but I don't really feel like that anymore. You'll notice I never smile with my teeth in photographs and I am constantly worrying that people are looking at them when I'm talking. I actually think it hinders me quite a lot because I think I would use Insta stories and social media more if I didn't have those worries. I also shy away from the camera a LOT and this is part of the reason why. I've received criticism over the years for 'pouting' in photographs but the truth is, I don't, I just don't smile with my teeth. And when I have lipstick on, which is most of the time, my lips appear quite big and seem to give the illusion of a pout. I was always too insecure about the situation to ever explain this, but now I don't care, and I'll openly tell people how I feel about it. Ironically, I felt more confident about my teeth when my braces were on and I really miss them for that reason.

14. What is a perfect day for you?
I could say sipping cocktails by the pool in Cyprus and then going out at night. But I know what makes my heart and soul genuinely HAPPY. It's no make-up, it's going for a walk outside - at the coast, in a forest, wherever, somewhere I can take my camera and get pretty pictures. It's having a nice dinner, it's having tea, and it's watching the sunset. It's the little things that set my soul on fire.

15. Where's your favourite place you've travelled to?
New York City. I don't know what it is about Manhattan, but it completely stole my heart. Living and working in NYC would be a dream come true, even for a short time. I love city life - the early starts, the fast pace, the buzz, the enthusiasm. I've been three times now and it kills me leaving every time. That said, this happens everywhere I go. I make friends and I always have such a blast that I never want to leave. Having friends all over the world is amazing but never seeing them is extremely difficult.

16. Describe yourself in three words.

Ambitious. Loving. Stubborn.

17. What are you afraid that people see or don't see when they look at you?
Firstly, I have 'resting bitch face' and that stems from what I said previously about my teeth. I'm afraid that this makes me look unapproachable but I can assure you that this isn't the case. I adore meeting and chatting to new people!
Secondly, I imagine that people think I'm a really serious person. I am, when I'm supposed to be. I take work seriously - it's my livelihood, my business, my name. And the same goes for anything else that really matters. BUT, my best friends get to see me behind all of that. They see me coming out of the bathroom and baring my ass, they see me sitting in the car wearing a snapback and rapping to my favourite 90s RnB songs. I'm actually a really fun-loving person, but I feel like I reserve that for the people closest to me.

18. How do you stay positive and motivated daily regarding life, gym, etc.?
Oh goodness. Another good question.
I don't always feel like the most positive person in the world but I really try to be. I've been through really low points in my life which I'll write other posts on, and as a result of that I try to always look for the good in every situation so I don't end up feeling that way again.
In terms of life, every day I focus on what makes me happy. I love my job so that part is easy, and it's a good job I do because I spend large parts of my day working. Outside of that I ensure my time is spent doing things that I love, things that will make myself or my life better - maybe listening to motivating podcasts or reading positivity books or quotes, or teaching myself something new. I don't waste time watching trash TV or generally doing nothing, it doesn't nourish my mind of encourage me to grow. I try to only follow accounts on social media that will uplift and inspire me, and I have a few favourites that I look to if I am in need of some motivation. I am constantly setting myself goals for the day/the week/the month and I'm a list type of girl, so being able to work hard and tick those off drives me to constantly succeed - there is a such a sense of achievement being able to do so.
In terms of the gym - I am human. So I don't want anyone to think for one second that I don't have moments of 'I don't want to go to the gym today'. But I love the gym, for me it's a hobby, it's somewhere I socialise, and again, it's somewhere that improves my quality of life, both mentally and physically. I know that when I go to the gym I will feel better afterwards so this is what makes it easier to go when I don't feel like it. That, and discipline, you have to get into the habit of going no matter what. Especially if you have goals you want to achieve. Write them down and don't stop until you can tick them off - just imagine how good that will feel! And again, I follow people on social media who motivate me to go to the gym so sometimes all it takes is a glance at an exercise they have been trying and I'll think about how I want to try it - ten minutes later I'm in the gym and ready to go.
Wow. I've written a lot here and I could still write more, so I'll get a post up all about this too.

19. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Honestly, I have no idea. I get overwhelmed with looking too far into the future and with BIG goals, so I always break everything down into smaller, more manageable chunks. I have goals I want to achieve by the end of this year, and next year, but I haven't really looked beyond that. However, here's what I hope for. I hope that my business is still booming, I hope that I've seen a lot more of the world and ticked a lot of places off my bucket list, I'd like to own a house and I'll maybe even have a boyfriend...HA! No matter what though, I want to be happy and to make those around me happy too.

20. What's next for Friday's Giirl?
Consistency. I said in my last post that I wanted to put more into this than I have since I started, and there's still been a significant amount of time between posts. Work comes first and I've given it so much time and focus recently that everything else has come second. But it's all about priorities and I want to give you all more. Now that you know a little bit more about who I am, it gives context to what I want to write about. So here's to sharing my life and experiences, and hopefully bringing some value, motivation and positivity to you all.

See you in the next post.

Friday’s Giirl

x

LIFE : Where Have I Been?

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you may have seen my recent post about being a little MIA from social media, and from life in general, due to taking more time for myself, and in turn hoping to discover who I am and what I want in life. I’ve been considering my location, my work, my relationships, to name a few, but also my blog. 

I started this a few years ago now, I’m not sure exactly when, but I feel like throughout those few years I’ve dipped my feet in and out yet never really fully jumped in. I’ve always got a little overwhelmed by it all - the market has become so saturated and there are so many people who blog for likes, for self-gratification, to be Insta-famous, for the wrong reasons in my opinion. It’s viewed as an easy life, sure you just get sent products to review and you upload the odd photo, and other than that you do nothing. The dream, eh? Successful bloggers work damn hard, they don’t do it for the freebies, they don’t cash in on the amount of likes they get, and I certainly did not start this for any of those reasons - not for an ‘easy’ career, not to not have to go to work, not to wake up to a million followers. 

I’ve quite often felt disheartened by thinking that I’m not good enough or there isn’t a place for me in the world of blogging. But I try to remember why I started in the first place, and it took talking to a friend recently to re-ignite the spark in me that I had lost. Initially I started it because I wanted to help people. I had a real interest in both fashion and beauty and I regularly had girls messaging me asking for advice on make-up products, fashion, I would have even had girls asking me to help them pick out an outfit for a wedding or a night out. I loved to help and I thought I could maybe help a wider audience by creating my own little space online. 

I wrote a little about fashion and beauty and I then introduced some fitness, health and lifestyle as my interests started to vary. I still however didn’t find my place and I’ll admit there has been no consistency to what I’ve posted, although,that said, I don’t think that will change because of my lifestyle. I have varied interests and hobbies, and due to being self-employed I don't have much routine, some days I work two hours, other days I work twelve. And blogging will always revolve around that. 

Why am I telling you all this? Because I still want to blog, I still feel like I have a purpose to do so. I still want to help people, but I feel like my focus is going to change slightly. 

When I do get overwhelmed and disheartened I try to remind myself that although I’m doing this to help people, I’m doing it because I want to, for me. And the best I can do is be myself. Not feel like I have to fit in (to be honest, I’ve always liked to be a little different anyway) or like I have to be a certain way for social media. I’m a little bit of everything - some days I’m confident, some days I’m sick with anxiety, some days I want to go out and socialise and other days I want to be in my gym gear walking in the middle of a forest.

It feels only fitting that my blog is a reflection of that and so it still will be a little bit of everything. But my focus will be less on what I think I should be posting, doing what every other fashion or beauty blogger is doing, and more on helping others because at the end of the day, that’s why I started and that’s still why I want to do it. 

So come walk with me on my journey, come with me as I discover myself, as I make mistakes, as I learn, and hopefully together we can make sense of this crazy life.  

Friday’s Giirl

x