The right lighting can lift your mood.
Use lighting to make yourself feel better.
Remember natural light is the best lighting so in the day time keep your curtains open so that some sunlight can come in. I also suggest getting some fairy lights for your room because they are honestly so wonderful when they come to boosting your mood.
Ask a friend what bible verse you should read.
This is a great way to step into your bible if you are struggling to be motivated to read it, plus it really opens up a channel between you and your friend. Which I know sounds scary and it might not seem like something you would want to do but it’s so rewarding.
It will tell you so much about your friend and then for all you know you’ll find it to soon be one of your own favourites.
If you ever want small kids to like you stick out your tongue at them when their parents aren’t looking and then smile at them.
Pull funny faces at them without saying a word and when a parent looks to you pull a straight face and give a mock look of innocence.
Kids love this and it works 85 percent of the time to get them giggling.
So we all know what a routine is.
It’s getting up, eating breakfast, go to school/job, come home at five, dinner, sleep. Repeat.
That’s not what I’m discussing today though. Today I’m discussing a fundamental routine which is a term I made up just now – which is a very small and short routine that serves the purpose of bringing you closer to an end goal.
For example if you have the goal of writing a book in the next three months, then your fundamental routine can be to wake up an hour earlier during the week days, make yourself a cup of coffee and write 1000 words every morning before starting your day.
I myself currently have a night routine that serves as a way to reach my end goal of healing my physical and mental health.
The reason I suggest you create a fundamental routine in your life is because it’s something that helps you pace out a large task into small accomplishable pieces. It also, through repetition, turns into a habit which will help you sustain positive changes in your life.
So I want to break down the process of creating one of these routines so that you yourself can use it as well. I know I normally only share writing advice on this blog with the occasional life lesson here and there but I decided that anyone who wants to achieve something can benefit from this advice. Even if they are a writer.
To me it was a big thing to honestly reconsider my priorities and coming to the conclusion that my health need to be at the top. I am stubborn person who wanted to keep my writing at the top despite the fact that my physical and mental health have been keeping me away from writing since the beginning of this year.
So I asked myself, if I had all the time in the world what is the most pressing thing for me to do now?
The pressing thing for me was to re-establish some form of stability that no amount of pain can shake and which can heal me emotionally and be good for me physically.
So my priority became getting enough time with God as well as physical rest.
If your priority is writing then you can write consistently.
If your priority is eating healthy you can consistently eat a good breakfast.
And if your priority is rest and healing then you can consistently pray and get a goodnight’s sleep.
So think about it. Write some ideas of what you can do down.
Ask yourself how often is it necessary to do this small action, for it to have an actual effect on your life.
Once a day? Twice a week? Once a week?
I decided that I need regular rest which to me means every day. I need to let my body and my mind rest and let go of tension every day. So I can start tomorrow fresh and with a relaxed body. (Stress causes my Pain to get worse)
Once you know how often you want to do it – ask yourself, what exact time (and day) will suit you best?
Some people I know wake up very early to read their bible – that works for them. Others I know will go jogging right after getting home from their job –because that’s their open slot.
So the trick is to know yourself and how your life generally plays out, and what your routine will require.
I can’t do mornings because I wake up very badly, there are a ton of distractions, and the cold of the morning makes my pain worse. So it’s better for me to take a moment to read my bible at night, when it’s quiet, and then get enough sleep – only waking up when it’s a little warmer outside. Plus if I unwind before bed the quality of my physical rest will be better which is ultimately what I’m aiming for.
Simply saying that on Mondays you will be getting up early to jog can work but I believe that putting a couple of tiny objectives before the big one will help you reach that point in a unhurried and directed manner. Does that make sense?
This is very simple because it’s just saying that if I’m trying to achieve X I will have to do 1 2 3
For example: If I’m trying to achieve jogging every morning I will have to get up, get dressed, drink a glass of water and then I can go jogging.
Your sequence can be as celebrate or simple as you want it to be.
My wind down routine consists out of taking my meds, putting on my PJ’s, cleaning my face and teeth, making a hot water bottle and something warm to drink then getting into my bed so I can do some in-depth bible reading and pray in peace.
Alright so you don’t honestly have to go work out your routine by the minute but I think having a set time to start your routine will help you not forget about it. Then if you want you can go and decide in which order to do your small details.
I start my routine at 09:30 pm by drinking my meds and putting the kettle on boil.
From there off on I just go through the motions of preparing for bed in the order of getting dressed and brushing my teeth before getting back to the kettle to make my hot water bottle and warm drink.
You can also create a set end time for your routine so you know not to drag your actions out. I personally don’t because I end my night reading bible and if I spend an hour too long reading bible it will honestly do more good than harm.
Go for it. Do your routine with certainty instead of hesitancy and let it become a habit in your life. Each time that you go through your routine remember that you are laying down a block for the foundation that is your future – even if it is simply the near future.
So go be positive while I go take a little nap… I’ll write to you again soon.
How you smell matters.
Did you know how you smell affect how people perceive you?
Did you know smell is the sense that is the most connected to your memory?
Did you know that it’s better to not stink?
Go to a store. Get soap, cream, perfume or deodorant spray that you like. Wear it. Often.
Learn to walk in both high heels and trainers.
It’s good to not box yourself into only one small corner of life. So let yourself learn to walk in more than just one condition.
Perhaps you’re not a high heel kind of woman or a suit wearing kind of man but it will do you well to learn to be comfortable in those situations as well.
Vica Versa you might be a city kid in which case it will be good for you to learn to walk on dirt roads and to handle things in a more down to earth kind of way.
Learn to do both. You never know when it will come in handy.
When you’re preparing for a productive day – dress the part.
A massive part of productivity is the mindset. Ask any online entrepreneur- you get way more done on the days that you feel like it.
So the massive trick is to learn how to kick-start this mindset and what I find works is to put on the right clothes.
Whenever I prepare for a productive day of writing I put on my decent jean and a nice T-shirt, because that way I feel ready to charge the day head on. Be mindful about putting on what you’ll need for the day so when you start your job you can tell yourself you are one hundred percent ready for it.
