Tag Archives: changes

May22

Positive Changes In Quarantine

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Positive Changes In Quarantine

Hello! Although different businesses are beginning to open in Ohio, my boyfriend and I plan on staying in until we are comfortable going back out. At least once per day, whether I’m at home or at work, being bored is acknowledged. And, yes, it’s a boring time. But, I’ve made some positive changes that I’m proud of during this time indoors so it can’t be all bad, right?

… It’s still pretty bad. But I am happy about the following:

Preparing Food At Home:

My boyfriend, Johnny, and I have been eating at home like nobody’s business. Which is a vast improvement health wise and financially to when we were eating out once or twice a week. Of course, we still treat ourselves to Taco Bell every now and then but we have been doing much better about going grocery shopping, preparing meals, and eating leftovers. I could get used to this!

Worthwhile Hobbies:

At the beginning of the quarantine, you couldn’t visit any webpage without being encouraged to take up a new hobby. And, as redundant as that was, it’s true. During my time at home, I have been practicing all of my languages (French, Czech, German, Spanish, and Italian) and I have also began learning American Sign Language. Not only that, but I have read a few books and wrote a ton.

I have enjoyed being able to practice all of my favorite hobbies as well as picking up a new one and it has made my time in quarantine much more pleasant. Although I am normally pretty good at practicing at least a few times a week, I would like to continue moving with the huge amount of momentum I have gained within the past month.

More Regular Sleep:

During the quarantine, I have gotten myself on a pretty solid sleeping schedule that I am very happy with. My new “bed time” of about ten thirty and then waking up for work at seven has made my body feel so much more… regular. Lol, seriously. I feel well rested, I can wake up for work without hitting the snooze, and I have been falling asleep more quickly. I definitely think that I can keep up with that!

More Financially Responsible:

Although I have succumbed to a few online shopping purchases, I have to say, I have been so much more financially responsible since this quarantine. Of course, there’s nowhere to go to spend money BUT I think all of this time off from impulse buys and drinks at the bar is going to make me think twice about how easily I spend money sometimes. Is it the most fun change? No. But, learning how to say no to things isn’t such a bad thing, either!

Yes, the quarantine is boring. However, there are silver linings to the situation everywhere if you know how to look!

Have you made any positive changes in quarantine? How do you feel about stay at home orders being lifted? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb21

Preparing Your Home For The Seasonal Shift

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Preparing Your Home For The Seasonal Shift

While it seems as though seasonal shifts are less predictable than ever in how weather conditions will be felt, it’s important to recognize that preparing our homes for the seasonal shift is worth thinking about. Of course, this is hardly the only responsibility we have around this time. Outfitting ourselves with some new pieces for our seasonal wardrobe, taking care of our health (and skin!), and coping with renewed driving conditions are a handful enough, let alone careful home maintenance.

Thankfully, you needn’t think of this as some kind of chore, rather a relaxed measure of ensuring that you are protected from the weather, that certain maintenance issues do not grow to be worse than they should be, and that you feel safe and secure within your home. Personal changes, upgrades, or developments of your own volition can be applied outside of the guidance below, but the following advice can serve as a good set of markers if you’re struggling to consider what priorities are most important:

Pest Control Preparations:

The Pest Authority is well known for a range of excellent preventative measures to help protect your property against all manner of pests, which can be essential as the seasons shift, as this usually causes the migration of many small creatures far and wide. Being able to ensure that homes with a crawlspace, garage, basement, or other areas that need attending to is fully protected can be an absolute lifesaver. Deterrents can even protect the outside of your property, if necessary.

Insulation Checks:

Insulation checks can be a great idea to carry out ahead of time, as this gives you the chance to fully ensure the thawing of the outside world does not give rise to property damage or damp. Ensuring your window sealants are still very much in place after a harsh winter, that your roofing felt is still in good condition and able to prevent heat from rising up and out of your property (to a wasteful degree, at least), and preparing for the offset of moisture that always comes in the springtime through clearing gutters (so that insulation is not overworked) can be a worthwhile idea.

Driveway Maintenance:

Not all driveways will encounter issues, but in colder climates (such as in Canada) you’ve likely had to shovel snow and grit your driveway for some intensive amount of time. The freezing and thawing regular effect weather conditions can have on your driveway may cause damage and cracks or may allow for smaller peeling to be felt at the sides where the material connects with the small guidance walls.

This is where having your driveway inspected by experts in Concrete Repair comes in handy. The last thing you need is to deal with a flooded or breakaway driveway due to its inability to handle moisture or thawing correctly, as a flawed installation will often make itself known at this time of year.

Exterior Care:

Caring for the rest of your exterior is often conducted for the same seasonal reasons as your driveway, but it’s important to recognize just how much work you may have to put forth here. For instance, mowing your lawn after the intensive winter period may be tricky, and also require the use of weed-killing formulas in some problem areas.

Removing debris from the garden, filling in molehills, and inspecting the covered garden furniture are good winter lawn care tips to think about before the weather turns cold. This is also a good time to consider shopping around for new furniture if yours has seen better days as you might be able to score a better price for them. Shopping on websites like jbfurniture.co.uk can provide plenty of inspiration for new furnishings to welcome spring with. Power washing the garden path and your decking can also help remove grime that may have built up over the colder months. Simple cleaning habits, such as using disinfectants on your shed or greenhouse windows to prevent molds can be a great idea.

All gardens are different in their own way, and so it may be clearing fallen branches for one person or clearing the gutters out for another. Doing the latter isn’t always a straightforward process – luckily Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning Little Rock and other companies hold lots of information on their websites that should help you tackle it with confidence. This may not always need doing though, based on your surroundings, but if you do have a garden and you have experienced winter, odds are you’re not going to get away with minimal care over your green space. Every effort helps.

With this advice, we hope you can better prepare your home for the seasonal shift!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep25

Beautiful Yet Simple Additions To Your Home

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Beautiful Yet Simple Additions To Your Home

A home is not a finished piece. It is always something that is dynamic, that can change, that can be improved depending on your tastes and practical needs. This seems quite obvious to most of us, but it can often be hard to figure out which is the best way forward, and what action might help us towards the best result. Thankfully, these measures are more than possible to consider when we’re reminded of the potential we have available to us.

This is the eternal issue with home renovation – there are simply too many options! Without design cohesion as a careful application, it’s incredibly easy to forget everything and make each room look as though it’s part of an entirely different house. In a home, less is often more. That being said, let us consider how you might better your rooms with a simple addition, speaking of the three most important rooms in the house:

Letting The Outside In:

Often, the best home changes are those that are fundamental to how you view things there. For example, lighting and nature. Painting the walls a lighter shade, bringing in a nice warm light to cover an area of the room, and perhaps placing a potted plant or two can help the room feel much more airy, light, and natural.

Letting the outside in, then, is a natural extension from this. You may decide that the use of sliding doors will help you keep your living room open in the summer, allowing you seamless access to your garden or patio. This can be a perfect means to help you entertain more comfortably or to simply sit within your living area while reading books on cool summer evenings, watching the sunset as it slowly starts to descend. It’s hard to think of anything more peaceful than this.

And, of course, let’s not forget about some scenery from your sliding glass doors! Beautiful arrangements of flowers, greenery, or even a full fledged vegetable garden will create a nature window as wildlife comes to visit. You can enter a search for “home and garden store near me” to find the flowers, furniture, and accessories to make your yard pop. If you don’t have a green thumb, be sure to consult with one of the employees to learn about plants that even the most inexperienced gardeners can make thrive. Who knows – you might just find your new favorite hobby!

A Front Door Arch:

There are some who have large pillars outside the front of their house, a grand water feature, or perhaps a huge driveway with trees lining either side to give the home a grand sense of appeal. However, all of this, while impressive, is not necessary for you to upgrade how your home exterior looks. In fact, something as simple as a new front door arch can be a great idea.

Using brickwork to trace the arch pattern, you may fill the heightened gap with stained glass or something else adhering to your tastes. Not only can this arch look incredibly beautiful, but said extra lighting can bring some true vibrancy to your entrance corridor. It’s a simple measure that can often look quite incredible, as well as replacing the front door to a heavy, potentially even custom wooden design to keep you safe and secure always.

Faux Ceiling Beams:

If you have high ceilings in your property, it can look as if there’s plenty of blank space high up there with no decoration to show. But, fear not, because there are measures of giving this large blank space a bit of personality and a whole load of texture. Faux ceiling beams can be a part of this. Installation, professionally done, can help a room gain so much more character and look as if the exposed wooden construction of your home is more handcrafted and a little less formulaic than it might be compared to homes on your street.

The Fireplace:

A fireplace can turn a cold and unwelcoming room into a space that invites you in to lounge on the rug with your pets. When you choose the right fireplace stone to fit your desired design, the end result can be remarkable. It will make quite the stark difference, particularly in the winter and in the larger rooms. Of course, a fireplace is dictated by where the ventilation such as a chimney is located in your home. However, these days it’s not uncommon for fireplaces to be blocked up and snuffed in order to prevent water build up or issues with the weather.

Fireplaces create an atmospheric focal point for a room and can be a selling point when you choose to move house. They are, however, not a one size fits all addition and you will want to select an option that matches your style and will still fit into future changes in the space. You can start looking at a website like Nostalgia UK (or a similar business in your local area) to gain inspiration on the right fireplace for your home. You will also want a professional team for installation and to ensure its safety. A fireplace can help you enjoy a lovely sense of comfort – and it can really tie a room together. If this is a renovation that you would like to have done in your home, check out these Expert Fireplace Renovation Tips to help create a warm, cozy space that encourages conversation and relaxation.

Decluttering:

Sometimes, the best addition is a subtraction. Decluttering your home is a great means of helping it gain some renewed life. For example, do you have plates on your wall, hung as decorations? If this is just to fill space, then why keep it? Do you have a floor rug that you almost trip on every time? How about a spinning wheel in the corner of the room that is always being knocked over by your kids? Of course, we’re not here to dictate your tastes at all, nor to make you feel that you have to somehow prove yourself in order to decorate how you want. And yet, simply feeling okay with throwing something out, storing it, or selling it on can help you avoid cluttering your home for no reason.

Keeping things simple is the name of the game. Administer these changes and be amazed at the fresh new take it will have on your home!

Featured Image By: Pexels – CC0 License

Jun21

Picking The Best Location For Your Move

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Picking The Best Location For Your Move

Moving house is stressful enough without then discovering that you have made a terrible mistake with the location you have chosen. With the expense of the move, you will have two choices; either stay put and try to make the most of an uncomfortable situation or put the house up for sale (or contact your letting agent if renting) and start the moving process again.

Of course, we need to clarify what we mean by making a terrible mistake. As examples, you might have moved next door to awful neighbors. The neighborhood could be deemed unsafe because of the local crime rate. And you might discover the location is impractical for your needs. So, if you’re currently thinking about moving, check our previous article on the subject; https://lifewithlilred.com/2017/11/03/looking-for-a-house-savvy-tips-for-your-search/, and then consider the following tips to help you choose the right location.

Commit to research online:

Be specific in your Google search, and try to learn as much information as you can about the location you are considering. Type in ‘things to know about living in (location),’ and you should come up with websites such as this one, https://onthegomoving.com/10-things-to-know-about-living-in-ballard/. In this example, you can find out information on the housing market, cost of living, and many more details on the location in question, so look for the same when you’re searching for info on the area you are considering.

Look at local news sites for the area too, as you will learn a lot this way about crime rates, social problems, community activities, and more. You should also search for crime rates. By visiting sites such as https://www.crimereports.com/, you can quickly and easily look up crime statistics for the various neighborhoods in the location you are thinking about moving into. Social media can also be most helpful as plenty of communities have their own “talk of the town” style pages. This is an excellent way to put feelers out for your new location. Then, use Google maps or similar, and get an up close and personal look at the neighborhoods in the area. Providing they are up to date; you will get an understanding of the facilities in the area, the cleanliness of the streets, and get an idea of the distance between certain locations, such as the house you are considering and the local shopping mall.

While online research is beneficial, it is nice to voice your questions and concerns to an actual real estate agent when considering renting or purchasing a property. Your agent will be able to give you the ins and outs of the area you are interested in while also pinpointing properties that meet all of your requirements. If this is the approach you prefer, simply enter a search for “letting agents knightsbridge” (or your local area). Moving is, of course, a huge change and you want it to be as successful as possible. Having an expert in your corner can give you more confidence in your decision with the most up to date knowledge.

Explore the area on foot and by car:

You can learn a lot of information online, but the best way to discover more about the location is to visit it. Using your car, you can get an overview of what it might be like to live in the neighborhood by driving around the locale. You can also monitor how long it might take to get to your place of work, your children’s school, and any other places of interest.

As you explore different locations, keep in mind that tours might be available in some communities. For example, if you are considering different master planned communities, you might be able to schedule a time to check out the amenities offered like pools or golf courses. You can also get a good feel for a neighborhood by publishing posts seeking recommendations on social media. You don’t want any surprises when you move!

You should also spend some of your time on foot. Without appearing like a prowler, casually spend time near the house you are considering. Listen for any noise from the next door neighbor, such as shouting, music, and barking dogs. Check the state of their property too, as well as that of surrounding properties, as you will get an idea of who lives there by the general upkeep of their houses.

And, look for signs of crime as you’re walking. If you spot a lot of graffiti and other signs of vandalism, you might assume that the area isn’t particularly desirable. Pop into the local police station too and get their professional opinion of the area.

Finally:

When moving home, the location is just as important as the property you will be moving into, so follow our tips when you’re looking to move. Hopefully, you will then make the right choice, and consequently, be very happy for many more years to come.

Featured Image By: Pixnio

Dec21

Coping With The Stress Of An Unexpected Situation

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Coping With The Stress Of An Unexpected Situation

Studies have shown that most of us feel stressed out at least some of the time in our typical day to day lives. We get stressed about work issues. We worry about our family and our relationships. We panic about financial problems. We’re stressed out by constantly being connected to social media and our emails. We worry that we’re eating too much or not enough of the right things. We know we should be exercising more, but we just can’t find the time. We work long, hard hours, we rarely give ourselves a break and when we do we use it to scroll through Instagram feeling envious of other people’s perfect lives.

That’s when things are going well. Our stress levels often reach their peak when something unexpected happens. Unfortunately, unexpected situations can’t always be avoided. Things break down and need repairing. People lose jobs or get sick. We find ourselves facing legal issues or problems with our children. You can’t prepare for them, but you can learn how to cope with the stress that they bring, allowing you to deal with them better.

cope1

Just breathe!

Research:

When something unexpected happens, it’s the unknown that causes us stress. Not knowing what’s going on, or why, or what will happen next causes undue concern, sleepless nights, and panic. Research your situation, employ the right people to help you, look for a lawyer and real time court reporters if you need to. Learn as much as you can, and don’t be afraid to ask for help understanding if you need it.

Speak to Someone:

You’ve probably heard the saying “a problem shared is a problem halved”. Well, it’s often true. We’re frightened and stressed out because of a lack of knowledge, but we almost talk ourselves into getting more stressed out if we deal with it in our own heads.

Speak to someone about your worries and concerns. This might be a professional that can offer you help or it could just be a close friend. Either one will give you a soundboard to get things off of your chest and offer you advice. Sometimes just vocalizing our problems makes them seem smaller.

Look At Your Options:

We often get stressed out because we feel trapped. Something unexpected happens, and we can’t see a way out. We panic, we focus on the negatives, and all we can see is the worst possible outcome. But, chances are, you have got options. Speaking to someone and learning more about your situation will help you to see them. Don’t be too proud to ask for help from the people that love you. They’ll need your help too one day, and you’d hate to think that they wouldn’t ask for it.

Concentrate On What You Can Change:

We can’t change everything. If something has happened, it’s happened. You can’t change it, and you can’t fix the past. So stop worrying about it. Focus your energies on the future, the things that you can change, and you’ll feel much better.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Dec9

New (Short!) Glitter & Black Nails

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New (Short!) Glitter & Black Nails

Hiiii everyone! After a disastrous trip to LT Nails last month, I changed salons to Elysian Nails and had a most pampering few hours getting my nails worked on. And *gasp* they’re short! It was due time to give them a cut down and begin the growing out process again so now I have cutesy tiny daggers instead of my normal long claws. Annnnd, my new nail tech, Sam, convinced me to change my color palette up so check out my New (Short!) Glitter & Black Nails:

short

Ahhh! So crazy, right?! Originally, I was just going to do a glitter nail for the accent color and my normal all black everything for the rest. But, Sam (Who is such a doll!) encouraged me to try something new. We both agreed that the glittery white is perfect for an Ohio winter, especially since it was snowing fairly hard out while we were tucked away in the salon. And, for good measure, Sam let me have a black accent nail on a different finger, no less! Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

Elysian Nails definitely proved to be worth the hype, because it got amazing reviews on Facebook and every opinion giving platform that I could find. The salon was decorated beautifully, it was spacious, and all of the nail techs were as nice as can be. The prices were good, the service was fabulous, and I can’t wait to go back next month. 🙂

What color of nail polish do you have on right now? How do you deck your nails out for the holidays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Nov29

Boosting Your Career Through Life Long Learning

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Boosting Your Career Through Life Long Learning

After finishing school or university, the thought of picking up a book and learning something else can be the furthest thing from your mind. It’s understandable – you’ve done what you need to do to make it in the working world, so why continue learning? But, life long learning can offer a lot of benefits, and could be essential if you want to reach the top of your career. Need some further convincing? Here’s how life long learning can benefit your career:

Turns informal training formal:

Many careers begin by learning on the job, which can be a great way to gain skills and practical experience. However, the job market continues to be competitive, and even if you have years and years of experience – some employers will want to see some formal qualifications. Explore the different ways that you can validate your skills – an Experienced Worker Practical Assessment is extremely valuable in the construction industry, while a formal qualification in a language can look great on a CV. Getting that validation of your skills can be a major achievement and will help you a lot when it comes to trying for new opportunities.

Keeps your mind and skills sharp:

You might know everything there is to know about your profession now, but you can never predict when changes might happen. Take marketing professionals, for example. Fifteen years ago they barely did anything online and now everyone is finding themselves needing to know about Facebook and digital marketing in order to do their job. Regular training will help keep your mind and skills sharp to help you stay relevant in your field. Keep an eye on upcoming training courses and make sure you continue to learn as you progress in your career.

Just as changes in the way you do your work can’t be predicted, emergency situations at work can also happen when you least expect it. Having first aid and CPR training is a wonderful skill to have both in and outside the workplace and can be lifesaving. Talk to your employer because they might even comp the class after you find a location when entering a search for “first aid courses near me“. Never underestimate the value of being prepared for any situation that might occur. Yourself, coworkers, and complete strangers will be so thankful you did.

Leads to new opportunities:

Training and development is an important part of your career, and they’re often linked. If you’re interested in improving your career development, then undertaking some training courses can show that you’re passionate, committed, and interested in building your experience. Most employers have workplace training programs, so discuss it with your manager or HR department to find out what’s available to you.

Could help you switch careers:

Even if you love what you do right now, there’s no guarantee that you’ll still love it in five or ten years’ time. Having some additional strings to your bow isn’t a bad thing – your other skills and talents could be used to run a great side hustle or even help you move within departments at work. Taking on additional learning can help you find out where your interests really lie to help you do more of what you love – on a formal or informal basis. Make sure you’ve considered your options carefully before deciding on a career switch to ensure that you’re ready to take the leap.

If you are considering a career change through furthering your education, it’s a good idea to take things one step at a time. Perhaps you’re fascinated by the justice system and criminal behavior – choosing to study Criminology could open doors to rewarding careers in law enforcement, victim support, policy development, or research. Starting with just a class or two allows you to explore this engaging field while ensuring the change is feasible financially and personally fulfilling. Going back to school and starting from scratch is a major decision, so plan carefully to achieve both your short and long term goals.

Learning throughout your career is a great way to stay interested in what you do and stops things from becoming stale. Whether you choose to learn a new skill, a new language, or something else altogether, find ways to embrace learning throughout your working life and enjoy all of the benefits it brings.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Nov8

A Little Touch Up Here And There

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A Little Touch Up Here And There

Sometimes our bodies just aren’t the way we want them to be. We think to ourselves, I’d love to change this or I wish I looked like that. But can we always have what we want? No, we can’t. What we can do, however, is figure out ways that we can have a couple of touch ups here and there. Something to give us a little confidence boost when we need it! So, what little touch ups are we talking about you ask? We’ll list them below just for you. Even if some of them don’t suit you, it should actively get you thinking about the things that you actually can change!

I Can See Clearly Now!

Let’s face it, you can’t, can you? If there’s one thing that affects a majority of you reading this, it is going to be your eyesight. Some people are born with poor eyesight, some start to lose it during their teenage years, or even due to injury. When your vision becomes bad and you do have to rely on glasses, it can be one of the most annoying things! One option would be to consider looking at the types of lasik treatment to see if your sight can be corrected. Most of the time, there’s nothing that a good laser can’t fix, you just need to make sure that you’ve got the funds to be able to do something like this. The correction is usually permanent, however, so you could finally see clearly and live a life without glasses! You might also find that you only need one eye corrected, so it might not cost you as much as you think.

If you are experiencing an issue with your vision, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor ASAP. Even if you think the problem is minor, your doctor will be able to give you a solution whether it be a  treatment for myopia or simply eye drops for dry, scratchy eyes. You will leave your appointment feeling and seeing much better!

I Want A Washboard Stomach!

Ugh, don’t we all. When you see those girls with the completely flat and toned stomach, the nice rounded bum, and legs for days, you just can’t help but be jealous of them. But they’re not born with it, so don’t think it’s in the genes. It’s all about the hard effort they put into it, both inside and out of the gym. And you could easily do the same, if you put your mind to it. If you want that washboard look and you want it quickly, you should try and get yourself a personal trainer. They’ll whip you into shape, give you something to commit to, and give you all of the diet tips that you could ever need for a rockin’ bod.

Basic Beauty Hacks

Sometimes we just have to go back to basics if we want to be a better version of ourselves, and that starts with basic beauty tips. From making sure that you have a great skincare routine, to ensuring that you don’t eat a fatty diet that could bring out impurities. As for makeup, you should definitely start watching a few YouTube tips to know what makeup looks good, and where to put it. You can completely change your look with the power of make up!

Get Some Work Done:

There are so many options for getting cosmetic work done in order to enhance the way you look and feel. From little touch ups to more drastic changes, the medical world has come a long way in recent times. More and more women are coming around to the idea of getting a bit of work done, and there is nowhere near the stigma there once was surrounding this sort of procedure.

This is why it is such a great idea to visit a med spa, where you can combine some touch ups with a relaxing and tranquil spa experience. Being able to relax and destress is a big part of feeling good about yourself, and having strong body confidence can positively affect this. For this reason, getting some work done to boost the way you look can be a good option if it’s something you’re considering. This work can encompass several different services, including botox, special facial treatments and ultherapy. If you’re interested in this or are thinking of learning more, you can browse the websites of different med spas like Original Skin to see which treatments you might be interested in.

There’s bound to be a med spa near you but please be sure to do your research. The services you receive there are meant to enhance your appearance and you will want the best results. Simply enter a search for “Med Spa Colorado Springs” (or your local area) and pay close attention to the credentials of the practitioners as well as customer testimonials and reviews. If you are feeling uncertain, continue shopping around until you find a location you are fully comfortable with. If you want to get a little touch up here and there to make sure you look and feel your best, then more power to you!

Everyone has something that they wish they could change about themselves. And, with many great options out there, swapping out your desired change for a confidence boost is easier than you think!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Aug5

Making New Friends As An Adult

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Making New Friends As An Adult

Hey everyone and happy Sunday! As I make my way deeper into my twenty somethings, I find that I have had an increasingly difficult time making new friends. I work for myself, I’m no longer forced to be around anyone because I’m not in school, and, sometimes, talking to new people can be down right scary! Although Lil Red might seem like a confident gal, I still have issues with social anxiety. And, racing thoughts of whether an attempt at small talk will be a hit or miss can leave even the most confident in a tizzy.

But, then, I started utilizing the “what have I got to lose” mindset. The literal worst that can happen is that someone gives you the old “let’s get coffee sometime” and you never do. But, if you’re successful, you could have a brand new friend to get to know and spend time with.

I’ve began putting myself out there more and more lately and, I’ve got to say, it feels great! I’ve been attending different clubs of my interests at the local libraries and have even suggested a hang out with my favorite barista at Starbucks – and it worked! I have also been trying hard to maintain wonderful relationships with my old friends, because a phone works two ways.

I want to continue spending my free time in a meaningful way, and putting forth a better effort to make new friends has definitely helped me achieve this goal. Within just a few months, I feel like my anxiety in unfamiliar situations or speaking with a stranger while out and about has decreased significantly.

I started out small, by striking up a Facebook conversation with the people that I admired from afar and worked my way up from there. And, now, I have a plethora of both new and old friends that I would feel comfortable initiating a hang out with. I’m proud of myself for setting this goal and sticking to it, because meeting new people can be hard. But, once I got over the initial scare factor, it turned out to be an exciting adventure in my life and I’m looking forward to continuing to meet more new potential friends!

Making new friends as an adult can be challenging, but there are ways to make the process easier. One of the best things you can do is look for opportunities to meet new people. This could mean joining a club, taking a class, or even going to concerts like a Ravehub – anything that gets you out of your comfort zone and interacting with others. Another great tip is to be open and friendly when meeting new people. Smile, strike up conversations, and be yourself! People are more likely to want to be friends with someone confident and easy to talk to.

Does anyone else experience difficulty making new friends in adulthood? What are some of your tips for putting yourself out there? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul4

Body Issues: Learning To Overcome Insecurities And Love Yourself

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Body Issues: Learning To Overcome Insecurities And Love Yourself

A study found that 63% of female participants identified their weight as the key factor in how they felt about themselves. Despite the rise of positive body awareness, such as Ashley Graham’s #BeautyBeyondSize, thousands of women feel the anxiety to keep up with celebrities and social media. The good news, is that there is never a ‘better time’ to start loving and taking care of yourself than right now. Here’s how you can learn to overcome insecurities and love yourself:

Make Healthy Changes:

What better way to boost self-confidence than to achieve long-term goals. Rather than setting impossible goals such as ‘losing 20 pounds in a week” or “achieving a tiny waist in three months”, aim to start a new fitness routine and incorporate organic foods into your diet. When you eat right and exercise on a regular basis, your hormones will slowly fall into balance and help you to feel your best.

Consider A Makeover:

While a proper diet and fitness routine can help you lose the unwanted weight, thousands of women still struggle with extra baggage. Despite the “taboo” of plastic surgery, 17.5 million procedures were performed in 2017 alone, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. If you’re tempted to get liposuction or a tummy tuck to reduce loose skin, you’re not the only one. In fact, nearly 2 million individuals opted for immense services like boob jobs, liposuction, and rhinoplasty. So, whether it is a total “Mommy Makeover” or a simple lip injection, your plastic surgeon will guide you and address the most common body issues.

Of course, any kind of plastic surgery is not a decision that should be made lightly. There is always going to be a risk when you go under the knife. Before you schedule any consultations with a surgeon, it is highly recommended to read their reviews online. For example, enter a search for “liposuction cardiff” (or your local area) to see if former patients were happy with their results.

Always remember that there is nothing wrong with wanting to improve your appearance and using plastic surgery to do so. This is a topic that will always be somewhat taboo but if you feel confident about your choice then other people’s opinions are meaningless. The most important thing you can do is find an excellent surgeon to help you in the safest way possible so don’t be afraid to shop around. Enter a search for “plastic surgery houston” (or your local area) and schedule consultations with as many practitioners as you need to find the best fit for you.

Dealing with the Root of the Problem:

We all have our moments of highs and lows, but what’s important is that we see beauty in many shapes and sizes. So, to help you focus on dealing with what makes you feel insecure, you must first look at what triggers those emotions. Here are some ways to discover more about your interests, insecurities, desires, and most of all, yourself:

  • Writing a blog or your own personal journal about what you love about your body.
  • Stand in front of the mirror and look at yourself in a positive way. Like really look at yourself and voice out your favorite attributes.
  • Seek support from counselors, family, and friends to help you battle the insecurities and solve the underlying issue.

The reality is that no amount of diet, weight loss, or even plastic surgery can fix poor body image and low self-esteem. Those who struggle with negative body image must discover the underlying issues and learn how it is influencing the way that they feel about themselves.

Changing the way you look may seem like a tangible way to alter what you disliked about your body. But, the only way to heal from low self-confidence is to address the issues and face them head-on. Only then can you truly learn how to overcome your insecurities and love yourself.

Featured Image By: Unsplash