8 Tips to a Better Daily Life

     Honestly? I absolutely love my life. Almost everyday of it I do my best to enjoy to the fullest. I loveeee how I'm living currently. Do I still have some toxic traits and habits that bring me down? Hell yea! Everyone does! But regardless, life is amazing. 

    This is recent though! I used to dread getting up in the morning. I used to groan about work and I complained about school every day. I grew to love and enjoy my life and it took some serious sacrifices. I had to let go of a guy who I thought I wanted to marry, I had to stop taking a medicine that I'd been on for months, and I had to make some crazy life changes. 

    Today, I'm writing this blog to hopefully guide you into loving your life as well, but be prepared to make some sacrifices along the way.

1. Find your priorities 

    Somethings are worth our effort, energy, and stress and others just aren't. Growing up, I was always told that school is your number one priority and that doesn't change. Today, I work during school hours, don't stress over missing assignments (I usually still have A's or B's) and am seriously debating going to college after I graduate. I spend my days vlogging, content creating, drawing, and working. All things that I enjoy. 

    I recommend making a few lists, one with things you do that make you happy, another with things that drain you, and lastly a list of things you can't live without. If there's something you do regularly that's draining and you can live without, drop it. If it's not helping, it hurting. This doesn't mean drop out of school and stop paying your bills, but if you have a really draining activity that is unnecessary, why are you still doing it?

2. Input equals output 

    Food, music, words. If you eat crap, you will feel like crap. If you listen to trashy music, you'll probably feel kind of trashy. If you talk bad to yourself, you're going to feel bad about yourself. If you want to have a good life, you have to give yourself good things. You don't need a Gucci purse, but you should absolutely put down that candy and grab some orange slices instead.  

    Eating well, listening to good things, and being kind to yourself will take you so far in life. Not having dessert everyday hurts my heart too, but I eat some dark chocolate or dip strawberries in whipped cream and all is well once again. There are a lot of small things that we probably don't even realize we do that are harming us! Pay attention to your life and how you treat yourself, then make an active effort to do better!

3. Weed out your social life 

    "But I've been following Jenny since third grade..." yea, so have I, but her FaceTuned bikini pictures make me feel like shit about my body so I unfollowed her anyway. She'll probably never even notice. I was friends with this girl for a long time before we got into a stupid argument. I reached out one day and apologized to her and we ended up meeting for dinner. That dinner was the first time in months that I felt bad for finishing my food, was insecure about my weight, and just wanted to scrunch into a tiny hole. Never again have I been out with her.

    It's not easy, but sometimes the trick to a happier life is less, or better, people. Letting go of someone is never enjoyable in the moment, but sometimes the repercussions of your decision are doubtlessly worth the sacrifice. Look at the people around you and figure out who's actually good for you. Limit your life and time to those people and look for more good to add in your life. 

4. Guided journaling 

    I loveeeee guided journals. I have so many, probably too many, and I do them all at the same time. You can get specific journals for subjects or just a general one for personal growth and work through them at your own pace, choosing the activities that you do and don't want to participate in. 

    They're super fun, time consuming, and super helpful for personal advancement. Even if it's not your thing, give one a try and see what you learn.

5. READ! 

    Seriously bro. Every day. At least a chapter. The book doesn't really matter as long as you abide by the input output rule. I personally love mysteries, romance, and cool stories and I throw in a personal growth or self help book every now and then to keep me on track. I try to get in ten pages or a chapter every day, whichever is longer, and squish it into my daily free time. 

    Reading is super good to expand your mind and knowledge, just remember that not every thing you read is true. Either way, pick up a book and indulge some of your time in hearty paper and print.

6. Maximize your mornings

    I used to hateeee mornings. I dreaded waking up. I would stay in bed and hit snooze as long as possible, and sometimes I would even climb back in bed throughout my morning process. Now, I get up before seven, workout, do a full skincare routine, and sometimes even take a little time and clean before work.

    I believe that your morning sets up the entirety of your day. A happy, productive, and enjoyable morning sets you up for a great day, where a slow and groggy morning gives you a rougher day. Create and become consistent with a good morning routine so that every day can have a good start.   

7. Use your body 

    Get up and move it!! Our bodies were not meant to sit on a phone or computer all day. We are meant to get up and move around. Try to take a walk every evening or get up and stretch while you're at work. I sit at a desk most of the day on my laptop, so every now and then I just go up and down the stairs or do a few laps around the cubicles. I'll stop and chat with co workers and if no one's in the hallway I may stretch my arms all around. I've even snuck a cartwheel in when I'm cleaning an office. 

    Just make sure your body isn't stationary all day and if you can't get up and move during work, maybe do some small exercises when you get home. 

8. Affirmations

    I used to think this was fake in everyway possible, but then I tried it and oh how my confidence grew! Think of this; I went from jeans and sweaters everyday with no makeup to now wearing a tank top, snake earrings, and a chain necklace with a full natural makeup look. Growth baby!

    I think, just like input output, what you say to yourself really matters. Encouraging and complimenting yourself has a huge effect on how you really feel about yourself, your self love, and your confidence. There are plenty of recommended lists of affirmations or you can just talk to yourself.

    Just treating yourself better will make every day so much better, but hopefully these tips will have as amazing of an impact as they have on me and your life will become more than you could have ever imagined. You are capable of so many amazing things and I can't wait for you to explore every bit of it. 

I love you (: