One of the things that people forget as they get older, have kids, get involved with a partner and so on is that your happiness matters too. It’s not just about the other people in your life, it’s also about you. The good news is that there are certain things that you can do to prioritize your happiness, and it’s time that you start doing them sometimes. Of course, there are going to be times where you have to put this on the backburner, but it should never be forgotten about.
In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the suggestions that we think you should try out in order to put your happiness first sometimes. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.
Start Exercising, It Helps
First, we’re going to recommend that you start exercising because it does help. You might think that the only thing exercise is good for is giving you a stitch, making you pant like a dog, and generally making you want to lay down on the floor and go to sleep forever. However, once you push past this initial stage, everything gets better. Once you have completed your workout you will find yourself feeling more refreshed and energized than you have in a long time. Yes, you’re going to be sweating and panting, but that’s all part of it.
You just need to get yourself into a routine of exercising and then stick to it. There will come a time where you find yourself wanting to exercise, wanting to feel those endorphins rushing around your body, making you feel better. It doesn’t have to be a nightmare, it can actually be amazing for you, you just have to get past that initial block that you have set for yourself that says that you hate doing it.
Take Up A Hobby You Love
Perhaps there is a hobby that you know you love, but you had to give it up for various reasons a while ago. If this is the case, why can’t you get back into it? There should be no excuses, you should do your research into how you can get back into the thing that you once loved, and then you should get started with it. You can find some time in your schedule, even if you think that you can’t. There should always be times for the things that you love or the things that make you happy, even if that means creating time that didn’t really exist in the first place.
Or, instead of going back to an old hobby, perhaps you would like to focus on going for something new. Take a look at and try out a range of different hobbies to try and get your groove back. There’s absolutely no reason that you shouldn’t have something that is yours, that you enjoy to look forward to. Everyone else has one, don’t they? You deserve one too.
Buy Yourself A Little Treat
There is nothing wrong with buying yourself a little treat from time to time. Sometimes, we just need that feeling that we get when we press purchase and we have bought ourselves a lovely little present. For example, it might be something super small like a plushie that you saw and fell in love with, or it might be a new pair of shoes or something like this. The point of this is that you need to have something that is completely impractical and is not used for anything else around the house.
Buying yourself a treat is a lovely feeling, and we don’t want you to feel guilty about it. Of course, you should not be doing this if you are struggling and you are on a super tight budget as there are other things that need to be paid. But, if you have paid all of your bills and you are up to date with everything, why should you not be allowed to get yourself a little something?
Have A Day To Yourself Sometimes
We’re sure that you have had days in the past where you just sat there and wished that you could have a day to yourself. Well, it’s time to start granting your own wishes, because if you need a break, then you need a break. You can’t keep trying to go around this and talking yourself out of it, because eventually you will run yourself into the ground. It’s hard when you know that you have responsibilities and things that need to be taken care of, but it’s harder to reach the point where you are so burnt out that you cannot function anymore.
What good are you to anyone if you can’t function? The reason you’re not giving yourself a break is because you say that people need you, but you can’t not look after yourself for the sake of this. Just take a single day to yourself to do whatever you want to do whether that’s go out, go to bed, have a nice hot bath on your own, or whatever. By the time the day is finished, you will feel so much happier in yourself, and in your life.
Make Sure You’re Getting Outside
Staying inside all of the time is not good for you. We’re sure that there is a good reason for you to avoid the outside world if you do this, but unfortunately it’s not going to help your overall mental health and happiness. The reason that we mention this is because humans thrive on natural light and being outside with nature on a subconscious level. You will always feel a little better when you are outside, because you can really soak in the beauty of the world.
We recommend trying to get outside at least once per day, even if you’re just heading out on a short, half an hour walk. You will likely come to find that you look forward to this part of your day, and that you feel happier when you are doing it.
Do The Things That You Enjoy
Make a list of some of the things that you enjoy, and then make sure that you are making time for them in your life. If you have kids, then maybe some of them you can do with your kids as they might enjoy them too. The ones that you can’t, you can always ask someone to watch them for a little while every now and then so that you can do what you enjoy. Or, if you don’t want to do that, you can wait until they are tucked up in bed to start doing the things that you enjoy. You should never cut out these things from your life, as they are important to your happiness.
Doing things that you enjoy doing is all part of being happy in life. If you are constantly only doing things that make you unhappy or that you are indifferent to, then where are the smiles? Where’s the joy? Your happiness matters, and you need to take control, doing things that make you feel good.
Put Effort Into Relationships
We also think that it’s important to mention that you should be putting effort into relationships. What we mean by this is that whether it’s a family member, a friend, a partner, or whoever else, you need to be putting effort into that relationship to make it work. But, relationships are two sided, and they need to be putting in effort where it counts too and you should not let them forget that.
It’s very easy to get to a point where you can’t be bothered anymore, and you think that just because you are comfortable with that person that it’s going to be okay if you stop trying. It’s not. You constantly need to be trying with them, engaging in conversation with them, communicating with them about how you are feeling and so on. We understand that this can be tough for some people, but you just have to learn. When your relationships are all on a solid footing, we promise that you will feel so much better and happier, not having to worry about this side of things.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you need to do in order to be happy in your life. At the end of the day, we often forget about our own happiness in place of someone else’s, but this is no way to live. You need to be putting your best foot forward for yourself at all times, ensuring that you are happy the same way that you are constantly trying to make sure that everyone else is happy. While it might not come easily at first, stick with it, and remember that you are important too. We wish you all the luck in the world with this.
Over the last few years, more and more people have been thinking about having less meat in their diet - or even entirely giving it up altogether and becoming vegetarian or perhaps taking it a step further and becoming vegan. And the fact is that there does seem to be a good argument for eating less meat (we’ll go into the benefits shortly), but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy thing to do, not least because you might simply like the taste of it. However, if you are keen to try a new diet and to enjoy the benefits of being meat-free (or at least consuming less meat), here are some ways to go about it.
Understand The Benefits
One thing that can be highly motivating when you’re trying something new is to look for the benefits - once you know what they are, and you keep them in mind even when things are a challenge, it’s much easier to keep pushing through. So just what are the benefits of eating less meat in general?
For one thing, it can help to lower your carbon footprint. The more people eat meat, the more animals will be bred for that purpose, and that takes energy, food, and water, which uses up the planet’s precious resources. Then there’s the transport of the meat to stores and homes - when you eat less, that gets less of a problem as well. Plus, eating less meat is better for your health, studies suggest. Diets that contain a lot of plant-based foods are associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, some types of cancer, and diabetes, for example, and by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your meals, you can have a balanced and nutritious diet.
Start Slowly
Transitioning to a diet that includes less meat (whether that’s a lot less or a little) should be a gradual process because you won’t be overwhelmed and you won’t miss meat so much. Instead of trying to eliminate meat overnight, try taking smaller steps towards your goal. That could mean designating one or two days a week as meat-free days, and using those times to experiment with different plant-based recipes.
As time goes on and you become more comfortable with eating less meat and incorporating alternatives into your diet, you can gradually increase how often you bypass the meat choice, until you’re eating an entirely plant-based diet (assuming that’s your ultimate goal).
Choose Good Quality Meat
Now you might not want to eliminate meat completely from your diet, and instead, you could just want to reduce how much of it you eat, which is perfectly reasonable - denying yourself something you enjoy generally leads to then indulging in a lot more of it when you give in to your cravings, which is a very human thing to do.
If that’s the case, opt for the highest quality, ethically sourced meat you can find, and in that way, even if you’re having less meat, you’re having better meat - good examples of what we mean can be found on this site.
What you need to do is look for labels such as organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised, or certified humane (and so on), which show that the animals were raised in better and more sustainable conditions. It’s true that these options might be more expensive, but if you’re eating less meat, the increased price can be offset, and you’ll be able to prioritize quality over quantity.
Add Plant-Based Proteins
One common worry for people when they decide to have a meat-free (or reduced meat) diet is that they won’t get enough protein from their food, and they could become sick as a result. The good news is that there are plenty of plant-based sources of excellent protein to choose from, including beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, nuts, quinoa, and seeds.
If you can add these things to your meals, or even make them the main ingredient, then the protein you miss out on from meat can be made up for with these items. Plus, there are always supplements you can try if you want to boost your protein intake (or any other kind of nutrient, come to that), and that can be a great way to ensure you’re as healthy as possible even without the nutrients that come from meat.
Plan Ahead
If you want to have less meat, planning your meals ahead of time is a great idea - it means you won’t run out of ideas and grab something quick, easy, and meat-based because you have to eat something.
Take some time each week to plan out your meals, including snacks, and even do some batch cooking if you have the time. Make sure you include a variety of plant-based foods so that you don’t get bored, and be as creative as you can with your recipes.
Chances are, you want to get the most out of your garden and home, right? You want these spaces to feel like yours, to, well, just feel like a home! Maybe for each room, you’d like for there to be a bit of a theme, like the perfect living room that director Nancy Meyers would swoon for, a bedroom that feels like a hotel room, a bathroom that’s reminiscent of a spa, or even an adorable kitchen that makes you feel as if you’re looking in a French chateau out in the lavender fields.
So, you’re probably more than familiar with modern farmhouses or even those other rustic aesthetics that are used for kitchens. In fact, there’s even French country, but adding some of that Provence flair just really makes a difference. It’s simplistic, it’s still rustic, it’s elegant, and at the same time, it’s comfortable, feels lived-in, but still magazine-worthy. It’s just perfect; that’s all there is to it. But with that said, where can you even begin bringing these vibes into your home? Well, here’s what you need to know!
Embrace Natural Materials
One of the biggest elements when it comes to bringing the Provence vibes into your kitchen is knowing that there are some rustic hints and natural beauty. That means that you’re going to want to incorporate natural materials into your kitchen design, which is definitely going to be the best way to capture the essence of the region. This is a cakewalk cause there are so many ways to do that; you can choose wooden countertops, open shelving made from reclaimed wood, or a farmhouse-style table for a touch of authenticity.
Provencal elegance. But why stop there? In fact, maximalism, to a degree, incorporates elements such as woven baskets, ceramic pots, and copper accents. All of this helps make it look and feel more rustic but elegant at the same time.
Think About How to Display Things
The displays themselves will really help sell the idea that you’re going with the Provence aesthetic. For example, the style and color of your window blinds and how they’re placed will really make an impact. But it still goes beyond that. You might even want to try and create a charming display of fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and basil in decorative pots or hanging baskets near your kitchen window again, where items are placed matters too. Usually, the countertops are somewhat cluttered, and there are shelves above the counters that show off the stuff, too.
Invest in French-Inspired Cookware
If you google “Provence Kitchens,” you’ll see plenty of wooden spoons, cast iron, and copper pans. You might even want to have some French shapes and colors, such as Dutch ovens, cocottes, and baking dishes (not only to show off but also to help keep the illusion alive when cooking in these). But speaking of showing off, why not go ahead and display your collection proudly? As was mentioned earlier, these kitchens usually have some open shelves, but even some pot racks.
Do you feel as though your home isn’t quite as appealing as it could be? Maybe you feel as though it is giving off the wrong impression and you want to take action on that. Either way, it has never been easier for you to make a change and when you follow this guide, you should be able to see an improvement in no time at all.
Focus on your Front Door
Believe it or not, your door is a major focal point and you should be paying attention to it. Try and make sure that it creates a solid impression and that it is welcoming too. If you have a wooden door then one thing you can do is add a fresh coat of paint. When you do you can then paint it in a navy color or you can opt for olive or even charcoal gray. You can then feel confident knowing that your door is going to add to the general aesthetic value of your home. Don’t forget to polish any letterboxes you have and doorknockers too. If you can focus on things like this then you will soon find that your home looks better as a result. If you want to elevate your home, consider hiring a vinyl siding contractor.
Clean your Drive and Patio
Another thing you can do is clean your drive and your patio. If you have a driveway or a path then most of the time this can benefit from a power wash. Patios and rendered surfaces can also be given a scrub down. You can remove moss this way and you can also pull any weeds too. By doing this, you can then make sure that you get the result you want out of your home, so keep that in mind if you can.
Work on your Boundary Lines
Where your property starts and where it ends is such a big factor in your buyer’s mindset. If you want to do something here then make sure that the boundaries are both obvious and attractive. Give your wooden fences and your gate a new coat of varnish. You also need to repaint the metalwork and make sure that all of the gates function as they should. If you notice any issues then now is the time for you to deal with them, so be mindful of that and make sure that you go over everything properly.
Garden
Making sure that your garden is full of plants is such a key consideration. You need to put some potted plants on the doorstep and you also need to take the time to draw attention where possible. At the end of the day, property exteriors tend to look way more inviting when there is a pop of color, so if you can focus on adding this then it will help you out a lot. If you have a lawn then keep the grass nice and short and feed it so that it stays nice and vibrant. Things like this can work in your favor quite a lot, and this is especially the case when you are trying to sell your home.
Do you struggle to find the right gifts for your kid's friends or put a limit on how much to spend on kids' birthday presents? If you are not alone and have many school friends' parties on the horizon, not to mention family birthdays, it can become pretty expensive to keep buying those gifts, especially when you don't know the child too well.
These tips can help you to manage the birthday party stress and ensure you have a decent gift each and every time.
Set A Limit
It doesn't matter who it is, whether they are having a big party or not, you need to set a strict limit on how much you are willing to spend on each child, or it can get out of hand. While many people say the value should vary from child to child (of course, you will want to spend more on your child's best friend than a class member they don't know too well), the experts agree that anything in the $20 to $50 range is ideal. That being said, the best limit is one you can comfortably afford.
Shop Sales
Avoid last-minute overspending by trying to pick up items you see on sale throughout the year and building a stockpile; this is especially handy if you have multiple children. A few dollars here and there for items on sale is much easier to pay out for than finding the whole lump sum for a present at the last minute. So if you see something that would make an excellent generic gift throughout the year and it's at a really good price point, then snap it up. If you don't use it, you can always donate it or sell it in the future.
Buy Bulk
Buying smaller cheap items in bulk can often be a great way to keep costs down and your supplies topped up. It can be anything and everything from school supplies to buying initial key rings so you have a letter for each friend's name and then a few extra just in case, or you can stockpile treats to build gift bags and so on. What you stock up on is entirely up to you, but having bulk supplies means you will have items for those last-minute invites for surprise parties you didn't know about but need something for. Don't forget about birthday cards here, too; always have a pile of birthday cards in.
Cash
Cash is by far the easier route, especially when you're busy or stumped for ideas. You can put cash away for these scenarios like you would have supplies of presents and gift wrap. Set an amount for each child, say $20, then put money away periodically to help you build an emergency fund specifically for kids' birthdays throughout the year. Honestly, most parents would rather their child get money than toys they might not use, so don't feel bad about giving cash. This way, the child can buy exactly what they want, and everyone is happy.
Managing the stress of kids' birthdays when your child is in school isn't easy and it will seem like there is a party every 5 minutes sometimes. These tips can help you to be more prepared for each one that comes along so it doesn't cause too much stress and worry.
Are you going to be changing careers? Perhaps you are tired of the career that you have or had, and you’re now looking for something new in your life. If this sounds like you, then you’re in the right place. Also like others though, it’s entirely normal to feel overwhelmed or unsure about what your next steps are going to be, but that doesn’t mean that you can give up. Just because something is hard, we don’t have to give up, even though it might feel like the only way.
In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at three of the considerations that you should make when choosing your next career. Keep reading if you would like to find out more.
What Would Make You Happy?
The first consideration that you need to make is what would make you happy. You need to think carefully about the kind of things that would bring joy into your life, and then figure out if there is a way to make a career out of them. The reason for this is because you don’t want to dread going to work all the time. We spend so much of our lives at work, that it’s a huge waste to spend so much of it so miserable.
You want to do something that makes you smile, that challenges you, but that makes you feel good more than anything else. For example, you might decide that you want to become a carer, and sites like care.com can really help you get there.
What Are You Qualified To Do Already?
You may already have some qualifications, and if so you need to think about what they are and what jobs they could help you get. Some people don’t want to go back to education as they didn’t like it the first time, and that’s absolutely fine, but it will mean that you are limited in terms of what you will be able to do. Unless you get a job that provides the training for you and you train while you work because that is also an option.
What Works Around Your Life?
If you have commitments like kids, you’re going to have to figure out a career that works around your life. You can’t just fold on the responsibilities that you already have, so you’re going to need to find a job that can offer you the hours you are able to work, with any kind of flexibility that you need. Don’t be disheartened by this, because there are jobs out there that will!
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the considerations that you need to make when you are choosing your next career. There are, of course, more things that you’re going to have to think about, but these are the main ones that we have come up with off the tops of our heads. The main priority is finding a career that makes you happy, so as long as you focus on that, everything else will hopefully fall into place.
As we power through January, the change of seasons is coming close, and before you know it, the winter will have blown through, and spring will be just around the corner. With this in mind, now is the perfect time to plan for your spring cleaning and dust away the winter, ready for some warmer weather and sunshine.
So, what do you need to do to get your home ready for spring and get rid of winter ready for spring?
Declutter
If you're guilty of accumulating things throughout the year, then now is the perfect time to clear it out and start afresh. Go through your home and identify problem areas and sections that can be cleared out.
Make a master list of each room, then break it down into smaller sections within the room. Decluttering isn't an easy task nor a quick one, especially if you're doing the whole house. Start with the most urgent first, be it the kid's toys, your kitchen drawers, or that bathroom junk closet, and plan how you will tackle it.
Pull everything out of your one section, section not room, and make three piles, one for keeping, one for donating, and one for items that need to be thrown away. Then, once you have cleared it out and put everything you are keeping away, get rid of the items in the garbage and donate the other pile, or even sell things in the donated section if you want to.
The faster they are removed from your home, the better you will feel. Once all of this is ticked off, you can then move on to your next section, as this will help avoid the unwanted items piling up elsewhere in the house.
Clean your HVAC
Over the winter, your HVAC will have come under constant pressure; over time, dirt and dust can build up in the vents and filters. Clear away the winter by cleaning the ducts, replacing the filters on your HVAC, and ensuring there is no debris build-up around the system itself that will interfere with its ability to operate correctly.
If you didn't get a service before the winter, now is also an ideal time to get it checked over, especially if you have been relying heavily on it for the past few months. Service will help you determine your HVAC's condition and alert you to any potential issues or repairs you might face before they become bigger problems.
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning
Nothing screams clean, like removing the dirt from your carpets and upholstery. You can either rent a machine to do it yourself, or you can book a professional Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning service to do this for you.
Your carpets and your sofa and chairs can accumulate layers of dirt that get trapped in the fibers, and if not cleaned, this can lead to visible marks or stains, discoloration, and odors you just cannot seem to shift.
If you're planning on doing a deep clean, then don't leave out your carpets and upholstery, and give them some TLC ahead of the spring.
Deep Clean
A deep clean is that extra clean you give your home on top of your regular cleaning. Those bits you don't necessarily do frequently but can still become dirty over time. You can book a one-off cleaning service to take care of this for you, or you can make a list and tick jobs off yourself.
Cleaning tasks to put on the list can include;
Cleaning kickboards,
Cleaning inside cupboards
Moving appliances out and cleaning underneath them
Moving furniture, i.e., sofas, tables, beds, unit sideboards, etc
Switchplates, door handle fixtures, and fittings.
Cleaning appliances, e.g., oven cleaning, washing machine cleaning, removing lint from the dryer, deep cleaning the dishwasher, etc
Washing curtains or window dressings
Redecorate or Reorganise
Spring is a time for newness and freshness and bringing light into your life. Apply this thinking to your home by choosing this time to decorate your home. Paint some walls, touch up the woodwork, paint over tiles, hang wallpaper, etc. Even just giving one room or your entranceway a mini makeover can instantly uplift your home's look and feel.
If redecorating isn't on the cards for you, why not reorganize your home? Switch rooms around, rearrange furniture, and change up placements or items on the show if you have open shelving with ornaments on display. Look at the different options for each room and see how you can reconfigure it for a new look without spending a dime!
Get Outside
While you're giving the interior a facelift, don't forget to get outside and take stock of your outdoor areas, too.
Firstly, check your roof and gutters for any signs of damage from the winter or blockages and get them rectified first. From here, you can check your drains, clear them out, freshen them up if they need it, and ensure they are working correctly, too.
If you have a garage, you can then check the doors for any signs of disrepair, get it fixed, and give the doors a good clean-up before working your way inside.
Once you have done this, you can then look at any landscaping you have out front or in the back and get your grass or yard areas cleaned up and tidy, ready to be able to spend more items out there if winter has kept you indoors. Remove any rubbish, weeds, etc; use a powerwash to clean any patios or decking, and give it the same care and attention as you would indoors.
These 6 tips are great ways you can say goodbye to winter and welcome spring into your home. Having a good declutter, clearing out anything you don't need, and giving your home a good deep clean in all areas can give you a fresh start. Then look outside for any jobs that need doing and look at areas within the home that can benefit from a freshen-up, a lick of paint, or reorganizing to help you freshen things up.
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