It's OK to hurt

So, I was responding to a story by Aimée (check out her blog and Instagram because she is the sweetest), and it really sparked sudden inspiration to write a blog post. If you had told me this time last year, that we would end up in a global pandemic, resulting in a third national lockdown, I would not believe you. It's truly a bizarre situation that sounds like it came straight out of a wattpad novel. But here we are. We're living in very strange times and everything is all up in the air. Our Prime Minister seems to be struggling to control....well anything to be honest, we've made barely any progression since the first lockdown in March BUT we're expected to just pretend like it's not changing everything. Here is the truth that too many people seem to be glossing over. Things have changed and it will never be the same. Extremely hard pill to swallow. The toughest steak to chew. The hardest carb to digest. We're expected to just carry on as normal, as if things aren't changing rapidly everyday. This blog post is essentially just some encouragement and advice on how to cope with that. 

Disclaimer: How YOU deal with this pandemic is completely up to you. We are all going through the same experience but from different angles and lenses. Don't feel pressured to deal with things a certain way, because it seems like that is the way to do it. Don't feel silly for struggling more than the person next to you may be. Don't feel like you have to be "productive" and carry on like nothing is happening, if that isn't helping you get through it. Even though what I'm about to tell you really changed things for me and did wonders, doesn't mean you have to do it. This is your own experience, so handle it the way you think is best. 

So, I've got the hard truth out of the way, but lets get a little deeper. We all have a vision of what we want life to look like and how we think it will go. This pandemic has truly taught us that no matter how much we think we are in control of our life, ultimately we aren't. We don't get to choose how life goes but we do have this wonderful ability to adapt. Adapting is one of the most powerful things we get to do in life. We can turn a terrible situation into a good one, simply with our mindset. It's all about perspective. Looking at the same situation with a different lens and using different tools to navigate life is truly the best way to still live the life you want, even if it wasn't the original plan. Life can still be fruitful and amazing, it may just be a little different. However, I would argue that there is an important step you have to do before you can adapt, and that is grieve. 

Right now, we are watching the lives we built and envisioned crumble and fall apart, and it is truly beyond our control. Businesses are going bust, people are losing loved ones, mental health is becoming harder to maintain. It's not an ideal situation at all and we really need to stop pretending like it's not a loss. It's a HUGE loss. I've been excited for a graduation since I was in school and suddenly I'm being told that the reality is, I won't get that experience. I won't get to walk across the stage in a cap and gown, receiving the degree I worked so hard for. People are getting married to the love of their life but when they planned to have 200 guests, now have to pick like 15 people or however many it is. People are becoming parents and their child isn't even able to meet grandparents or have play dates with other babies. People are losing family and friends and they can't even have a proper send off. IT'S TRAUMATIC. What we are experiencing is traumatic. It may not be as traumatic as other things that society has dealt with but it is a tragedy. It's traumatic to be scared of catching or passing a deadly virus just in a supermarket. It's traumatic to not see your friends or even family for almost a year. It's traumatic to lose the life you thought you would have. I'm in my early 20s and I've seen my friends more over FaceTime than I have in person. I've had to spend my final year of university online and haven't been to a single social in almost a year. It's tough and we have to let ourselves grieve. 

Allow yourself to grieve the life you're not living. Allow yourself to grieve the life you may never get to live. Now I'm not saying you can't live an amazing life, and that life won't eventually be fun again, but the reality is that it won't be the same. There will be a new normal and it all goes back to adapting. But before you can embrace change, you have to mourn the past. You have to let yourself be angry at what is happening. You have to let yourself cry. You have to let yourself think. It's OK to hurt. In fact, it's healthy to hurt. It's healthy to feel things. Don't feel like you have to just carry on and go with the flow. Let yourself mourn. We're mourning losses. Everyone is mourning something and the only way we can see the light at the end of the tunnel is to walk through the darkness. Being positive isn't about avoiding or denying the negative, it's about feeling it but choosing not to stay there. 

In the first lockdown, I went through my grieving stage and it was everything I needed. I let myself cry (a lot), I allowed myself to be frustrated and angry. But then I picked myself up and said, now you've grieved, where do we go from here? Once I let go of what I lost, and let go of the hurt that was built up, I was able to embrace change. I used my time wisely because I gave myself time to do nothing. I grew and developed because I let myself learn more about myself. I took the time to understand my mind and character. I overcome all of my insecurities because I took the time to understand why I felt the way I did in the first place. Don't skip the grieving process. 

Now I can find joy in the little things. I find joy in just waking up in the morning, despite the fact that I know I won't be leaving my house. I get excited to FaceTime my friends and laugh until my stomach hurts, even though I can count on one hand how many times I physically saw them last year. I get excited to write in my journal at the end of the day and list my daily gratitude, despite life being nothing like I imagined it to be at 21. This lockdown has been great for me, and it's not because I haven't experienced negative things in this pandemic, it's because I grieved. Don't get me wrong, like everyone I have my moments of frustration here and there. Just last night, I was in bed feeling down because I haven't hugged my friends in so long. I miss physical intimacy and being able to be next to someone that I don't live with. However, the positives by far outweigh the struggles. 

You don't have to be OK right now, but know that you will. I know this third lockdown has been SO difficult for many people and I really do feel it for everyone. If I didn't grieve, I'm sure I would be right there with you. It's frustrating to be here again. Life can feel repetitive and it feels like we're going absolutely nowhere. It's OK to feel like that. If you get anything out of this post, it's to let yourself grieve. 

I don't know when life will be "back to normal" but it will eventually. For now, just let go of what you need to let go of and keep holding onto what you can and need. Hold onto knowing that as long as you have breath, you have purpose. Hold onto the memories that are to come and hold onto the little things that give you happiness. 

Sending all my love to every single person reading. Please share with someone you feel needs to hear this too.

Thanks for reading, 

Have a great day x 

Let Go and Let God

During this time of self-isolation, God has been revealing so much to me about my life and my character. At the start of lock-down I prayed to God and asked him to change me, so that I would leave a different person to how I was when all this started. It is so important to regularly evaluate yourself and make the necessary improvements so that as Christians we look more like Christ. Even if you're not a Christian, self evaluation and improvement is important. Change is good and everyone should aspire to grow. One thing God has been really showing me is how important it is to let go. I knew this prior to the lock-down and one of my goals for 2020 is to 'Let go and Let God'. I've always been someone who worries and stresses but I made it a goal this year to change that. God works in mysterious ways and I had no idea that He was going to use quarantine as a way to help me achieve so many goals. Today I thought I would share some of the things God has shown me about letting go. 

4 Tips For Working From Home

I made my first IGTV video a few weeks ago, sharing some tips for being productive at home. It didn't get many views, which is what I expected, but the advice given was pretty useful if I do say so myself. For that reason, I decided to go back to my comfort zone and share that same advice with my blog readers. For the first couple weeks of self isolating, I found it pretty difficult to study from home. I'm basically a permanent resident in my campus library, so not being able to go there and work took adjusting to. Luckily I found what works for me and I have been able to submit assignments early! If you want to know what I do, just keep reading.

AD | How To Get Motivated: Changing your Atmosphere

As a student, I understand the struggles of feeling unmotivated. Sometimes your to-do list is full but lack of motivation makes it very difficult to cross things off. I have shared many motivaion tips on this blog, however they have been mainly focused on you. Today I want to share my tips on how to get motivated, just by changing your atmosphere or environment.

This post is in partnership with Photowall - a Swedish wall art company. The product mentioned was GIFTED however, all opinions are 100% my own.


My first tip is to work in a clean space. Working in a clean and clear space really helps you to stay focused and be productive. There is nothing worse than a cluttered desk. I find that when my environment is a mess, so is my headspace. I find it much more difficult to think and stay on task when I am surrounded by chaos. Make the effort to clean your room if you work at home, or find a spot that doesn't look like a disaster. Cleaning your room before studying can also be motivation in itself. Once you've started being productive, it isn't hard to keep that train going.

My next tip is to eliminate distractions. Distractions are subjective, so first you need to figure out what distracts you. For me, I can't be around my friends or family while studying (unless we're actually working together), because I'll end up chatting and things won't get done. I work really well by myself, so 90% of the time I'll be working on my own in the library. Another distraction is upbeat music. I always have my headphones in when working, however I rarely play upbeat music, as I find it very distracting. I like to listen to instrumentals and classical music a lot of the time because it's super relaxing and there aren't any lyrics to sing along to. I'm really good at blocking people out, so I don't mind being around people in the library, however I know people who have to work on the silent floor because seeing people just walk around is a distraction. Work out what takes your focus away from studying or working and try to eliminate it. If it's social media, turn your phone on aeroplane mode, if it's people around you, work in silent areas or completely seclude yourself from groups of people. I loved working in my uni accomodation in first year, because it was just me, myself and I. If you're like me and work independently, utilise that space. You have a desk and a private room. USE IT. Don't feel obligated to go to the library just because that seems like the most productive place to work. You can get just as much (if not more) things done when you work where you're most comfortable.

Speaking of comfortable, that is my next tip. Work in a comfortable atmosphere. When I say comfortable I don't necessarily mean fluffy pillows and blankets (unless that's your vibe), I mean working somewhere you feel is best for you. This is kind of an extension from what I just mentioned. Being comfortable is only going to benefit you and your productivity. It's very unlikely that you'll get much done if you're feeling uncomfortable and things feel "off". Don't go to the library if everytime you go, you feel anxious and don't stay at home if things aren't peaceful. Take yourself out of uncomfortable or awkward situations.

My final tip is to have visual reminders of your goals or visual motivation. I have a giant vision board in my room, and everytime I am in my room, I am reminded of my goals for the year. On my 2019 board, one of my goals was to get good grades at uni. Anytime I felt unmotivated to study, I would see that section of my vision board and start working. It's amazing how such a little thing like that pushed me to pick up a pen.
This year I decided my visual motivation would be a quote. I am such a huge fan of quotes. Fun fact, words of affirmation is one of my love languages, and the fact that I study English is enough to tell you that I love words. There is something so powerful about language. I get so motivated by reading quotes, so it made sense to have one on my bedroom wall. The quote I chose was "She gets what she wants because she works for it". I think that quote is so simple yet so powerful. When Photowall contacted me and said they wanted to work with me, I was really excited and knew exactly what I wanted. Photowall are a Swedish wall art company, that create unique and creative designs. They make canvases, wallpapers, posters and so much more. You have the choice of measurements and even the photo. They have a range of premade designs, however you also have the option to print your own image, which is what I did. I found the quote from one of my Pinterest boards and it came out exactly how I wanted. I'm in LOVE with my canvas and it has already kept me motivated since I received it. If you would like to get your own canvas or any other product from Photowall, I have a 25% off discount code to get some money off! The code is chellebelle2020 and is valid for ONE MONTH.

Photowall - https://www.photowall.co.uk/

You can get one for yourself to motivate you to work hard, or maybe you want to get something for your mum, since mother's Day is fast approaching. Whatever the reason, I hope you make good use of the discount and enjoy vamping up your room!

So those are my tips for staying motivated, just by changing your atmosphere. I hope it was helpful.
If you have any other tips, let me know in the comments.

Again, a big thank you to Photowall for working with me on this blog post.

Thanks for reading,
Have a great day x

How to stay Organised: Spreadsheet Method

Back in November, I mentioned how I use a spreadsheet to keep myself organised during the semester. I got a couple of requests to share this method. This is not the only method I use to keep myself organised, however it has been a super helpful addition to my life, since I started using it in October. Hopefully this helps someone else, who may come across this post.

C H O O S E  Y O U R  P R O G R A M
I'm really unsure of what else to call this method, so spreadsheet method will have to do. Any spreadsheet program will work for this, however I choose to use google sheets rather than Excel, simply because it is so easy to add and check off wherever and whenever. I am an avid user of google drive, so I have my spreadsheet on me literally at all times. It makes it really convenient to keep on top of things.

P I C K  Y O U R  C A T E G O R I E S
What is it that you want to keep organised? Write down some of the things you want to keep on top of and make a little key or side note of each category. For me, a lot of my categories are uni related, however I also have some more personal categories too. My categories are:

• Study session - Anytime I have arranged to study with someone or catch up on a missed lecture
• Assignment - Deadlines for assignments 
• Exam - Dates of exams 
• Contact - Reminder to email or contact someone 
• Dance - Anything dance related, whether it be events, committee meetings or times to choreograph/teach
• Workshop - Dates and times of workshops 
• Shift - Days and times I am working
• Ministry - Anything to do with church responsibilities 
• Meeting - Any sort of meeting or appointment 
• Other - Extra reminders that don't fit into the other categories. E.g. errands 

C O L O U R   C O D E 

Once you have chosen your categories, assign a colour to that category. This is what will allow you to track everything. Make sure to make it clear which colour is associated with what category. I keep a key table at the side to remember the colours. My colours are:

Add caption

Besides the categories themselves, I also colour code the dates, to show their positions. If the task/event has been newly added to the spreadsheet or there hasn't been any sort of update to it, I keep the date blank. If it is in progress, for example exam revision or assignments, I colour the date in light green. If the task has been completed, or the date has been met, I change the date to be dark green. If the event was cancelled or an appointment has rescheduled, I colour the date red until it has been met. You obviously do not need to follow this exact colour pattern, however it is just what made the most sense to me and allows me to see what I have done and what is still progressing. 

F I L L   I N  Y O U R  S P R E A D - S H E E T 

And just like that, life is a bit more organised! Now you've set up your spreadsheet, all that is left is for you to fill it out. You have full control over what goes on your spreadsheet and how often you update it. I choose to split mine into months, however you can record things weekly if you prefer. I just find monthly sections are less overwhelming. 

You can even make individual spreadsheets if you prefer. I have a very similar spreadsheet for blogging, which is a little more minimalist. I record blog posts I want to post each month and then decide on dates I want to post them. Once I start writing them they become light green and once they are published, they turn dark green. Do whatever fits best with your lifestyle.

I hope this was a helpful blog post. If you make your own, please send me pictures because I'd love to see them!

Thanks for reading,

Have a great day x 

How To: Start Your Own Blog

If there is one question I have been asked the most over the last 3 years, without a doubt it would be "I want to start a blog, but how do I start?". When I started this blog, I didn't know anyone who had their own. It was during the time where YouTube was still at it's peak, so everyone was watching videos rather than reading blog posts. I'm terrible in front of a camera so I knew blogging was the best way to go, for me personally. The only problem was that I didn't have anyone I could ask questions. I kind of had to rely on the advice of already successful bloggers at the time, through vague Q&A responses or just figure it out myself.

I'm fortunate enough to have built a tiny community over these 3 and a half years. I'm so grateful and proud. I'm definitely not the best blogger but I've certainly learnt a thing or two about blogging and I thought it would be beneficial to share some of those lessons with you all.

Like I said, I'm not the best blogger however I hope this post will help get you started.

University Dos and Don'ts: First Year

A huge congratulations to everyone who got their results yesterday. I hope you got what you wanted and worked hard for. If not, it's not the end of the world! I definitely didn't get what I wanted, but God still had a plan for me. Don't beat yourself up if you didn't get what you expected.

Now that you have your results, the majority of people will know what university they will be attending/if they will be going to university at all. I thought this would be a good time to share some DOS and DON'Ts for your first year.

Disclaimer: 
This advice is based on my own experience. Some of the don'ts are things that I did and learnt weren't the best thing to do, and the dos are things that I did and benefited from. I am definitely not a model student, dishing out advice because I think I'm so great at this uni thing. The advice is there to help you out if you're feeling a bit anxious about your first year. Use it as a guideline, not instruction.

How To: Get Through Anxious Moments

This is a post I planned to get up last week as it was mental health awareness week, however I ended up getting caught up with work and then being way too tired to write when I had time for myself. Mental health is a subject that should be discussed as often as possible, so despite it no longer being mental health awareness week, I wanted to get this post up regardless.

Today I wanted to share some tips that I have used over the years to get me through anxiety attacks and anxious periods. I'm still learning how to cope with it, however these are some steps that have worked for me and will perhaps work for some of you reading this right now.

These tips can be used in combination of each other or on their own. I hope they are some help to you lovely people. Please remember that it is important to talk to those around you when you feel anxious or are in a panic. As hard as it can be, you have to let people in on how you're feeling in order to get the help you need. I bottle my feelings all the time and I'm working on taking this advice but I know the difference it makes when I do open up. Don't be afraid to tell your loved ones. 

#1 Say 3 Things You Are Grateful For Out Loud

Whenever I am feeling anxious, I tend to let whatever it is making me feel that way consume my thoughts. This is the worst thing you can do. Someone once told me to think of three things I am grateful for and say them out loud when I feel trapped. This has been a method I have been using for a long time now and it really does help. It doesn't solve the issue but it makes sure your mind doesn't drift into dark territory. Remembering the people and things I have in my life reminds me not to let the problem defeat me. If you don't want to say it out loud (say you're in public), just keep it in your mind. It really does help to say it out loud though.

#2 Write Down Your Feelings

I actually have a journal now that I use to write down my feelings when I'm anxious. I used to write it on a piece of paper and rip it up, which is still a brilliant method. You feel so much satisfaction when you rip all the negative thoughts up and throw them away. However I now write everything in one journal as I find it nice to read them back sometimes. It's not nice to read the awful feelings I felt, but I love seeing what God has brought me from. It's great to see how the situation has been resolved and where my head is at in comparison. Some people can be triggered by this though, so if you find this is yourself, stick to the paper and tearing method. I promise you, it's so relieving.

#3 Control Your Breathing

This one is more so for if you're having a panic attack or anxiety attack. I'm very fortunate that I can count on one hand how many times I've had a physical anxiety attack but unfortunately there are people who deal with this regularly. Because I haven't had that experience, I can't say this method is 100% effective, however this has helped me in the few situations I have been in.
Close your eyes and take deep and slow breaths. Allow yourself to find a state of peace. It can be a scary time but focus on yourself. Try not to worry about those around you, just focus on clearing your head and regaining your energy.

#4 Push Through The Feelings

This is something I have learnt recently. I used to run away from my feelings and try to keep myself busy in order to avoid them. SOMETIMES, this works but most the time it just delays the feelings. The best thing to do sometimes is to push through the emotions. It's like the old childhood book 'We're going on a bear Hunt'. You can't go over it, you can't go under it. You have to go through it. That's the reality. Sometimes you have to allow yourself to feel and cry. A lot of the time, you feel better once you just let it all happen.

#5 Read Positive Things

EVERYBODY knows somebody who posts depressing quotes back to back when they're annoyed or upset on their Snapchat. Don't be that person. It's OK to post quotes, but don't feed yourself on negative words and then project that to others. Not only does it not help you, but it irritates everyone else. Making yourself more upset by searching for negative words isn't going to stop you feeling the way you do. Instead, read positive quotes and affirmations. I found one on Pinterest this week that made it to my bedroom wall. It was a poster that said 'Remember- The God that created the most beautiful sights on earth also created YOU'. I loved it so much that I have it at my desk on a post it. Read things that tell you how strong you are, how much purpose you have, how much you appreciate your friends and family etc. Don't cut deeper into the wound, start treating it so it can heal.

I hope this was some help. Try to be patient with yourself and allow your mind to reset when it needs to. It is important to look after your mental health.

Thanks for reading,
Have a great day x

How to manage your time as a student

First year is almost over and it's bittersweet. Although I'm super excited for a long summer, I've been told by so many people that second year is so much more intense than first, so I'm low-key holding onto it for as long as I can. Before I actually started university I didn't realize how busy it can be. I don't know if it was just me being naive but I definitely thought I would be less busy at uni than I was at sixth form. In some ways that is true but time at uni is honestly so different. It's quite strange.

Anyway, I had a lot going on particularly last month, which is what gave me the idea to do this blog post. I thought I would share how I got through a jam packed month and give some advice for anyone at/going to university. This can be applied for any students of any level but I wish I had these tips before I started my degree. Hopefully this will help any freshers starting this year.

Disclaimer: I definitely don't have it all together and I'm in no way saying I have the secret formula for time management. I had my stresses and panics this semester like all students do. It is inevitable to fall behind sometimes and it's perfectly OK. This is just what works for me and hopefully it will work for you too. The best way to find what keeps you organised is through trial and error. Remember that everyone is in the same boat. Don't be afraid to ask for help if things get too much. 

How To: Bible Study

I have been wanting to do this post for AGES but I kept putting it off because I know half my audience aren't christian or religious. However I really felt to do it. Maybe my page-views won't be very high with this post but I want this blog to be authentic and reflect who I am. Not only that but it's not important how many people read this. If just one person appreciates it, that is enough.

Today I thought I would share how I usually do my Bible Study. Of course there is not one way to study the bible, however this has been the most effective way for me. I've been using this technique for about 2 years and it's quite a popular method of Bible Study. The method I use is the S.O.A.P method. In this post I will be going through it step by step. Let's get started!

For this method of Bible Study, all you need is a few things. The first thing you need is a Bible. Whether it be online or a physical bible, is completely up to you. I alternate between my actual Bible and the app on my Tablet. It's nice to have a physical Bible as it gets you used to finding certain chapters and sometimes it feels more like a study, however online is also super convenient as you can find different versions and make comparisons.
The apps/websites I use are:

• The Bible App 
• BibleGateway.com
• BibleStudyTools.com

The second thing you will need is a notebook. You can use plain paper if that is all you have, however I think it is important to keep a study notebook. Keeping all your study in one place is not only super convenient, you can see the way God has worked in your life. I was looking back at my own Bible Study book from 2017 and it was so cool to see the way God has moved in my life, but also how much more God speaks to me now in comparison to back then. I started this method almost a year before I got baptized and you can definitely see the growth.

Then of course you need a pen and also a highlighter. You don't necessarily need a highlighter, however I have found it helps to remember scriptures.

So first thing is first, what does S.O.A.P stand for? S.O.A.P is an acronym that stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. I will be going into detail for each section. It is a really clever way of studying the bible, whilst being able to apply it to your own life.

The first thing I like to do when doing Bible Study is write the date. This just allows you to track your growth when you look back at notes. I then either Title the page whatever the topic may be or clearly write the book I am studying. Following this, the first Step is 'S'.

'S' as I said stands for SCRIPTURE. This is where you will read the chapter(s) you are trying to study and pinpoint the verses that stand out to you. Whether it be a scripture that is speaking to you in some way or just a scripture you like. If I am reading a particular chapter, I will write the verses that stand out in anyway. It may not always be several, it could just be one verse. If I am studying a topic, such as 'Love Thy Neighbour', I will write down any scriptures throughout the bible that apply to that topic, that I may find interesting. I like to highlight them, if it's a scripture I feel I need to learn in that season. After you have written down all your scriptures you can move onto the next stage.

The next stage is 'O' which means OBSERVATION. This is where your actual study will go. What does the scripture mean? What is it really trying to say? What symbolism can you find? Is God speaking to you through that word? What are the key words that jump out to you? This section will often be the biggest as it is the studying section. The great thing is that God's word is full of secret messages and it never gets boring. You could read the same scriptures 100 times and get different revelation. This is your space to just write anything and everything down. You can really go into detail about how you feel about the scriptures you wrote earlier, and completely dissect them. Once you have spent some time analysing the word, you can move onto step three.

The third step is 'A' which is APPLICATION. This is where you take God's word and figure out ways it can be applied to your life, or even the lives of others around you. For example, if you were studying Luke 10:25-37 (The Good Samaritan Parable) and one of your observations was that the Samaritan went out of his way to help someone who probably wouldn't help him, within your application you could give yourself the challenge to do the same. Or you could challenge yourself to encourage your friends to help people they wouldn't usually. Your application should be how you are going to make those scriptures or observations relevant in your life. In some cases it may not be how to make them relevant but how they are already relevant. Once you have done this, you can move onto the final step.

The final step 'P' is PRAYER. This could just be a thank you to God for giving you understanding of his word. It doesn't have to be specifically related to the study. You could ask God for a better understanding of what you studied, or you could ask God for help with the application. For example, about a year ago I did a study on Stress and Worrying. In my application I wrote about wanting to go into a mock exam with confidence and my prayer section was me asking God for guidance and strength to be faithful and to worry less. You can make it super personal or quite general but you want it to link to your study in some way. It's really cool having your prayer written down because you can see how God has worked in your life. It could be on a certain issue you prayed about or even a person you prayed for who was struggling with that issue. It's so amazing to see how good God has been and observe the growth. It's honestly incredible how much God has done in so many areas I prayed about and for literally just months ago.

So this is how I do my Bible Study. I don't have a regular schedule but I'm trying to sort one out by the new year. Eventually I will get to everyday but I think it's wise to work my may there rather than throw myself into daily study and be disappointed if I fail.

I hope this was helpful for some of you or even just interesting to read about. Do you use a different method of studying? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading,

Have a great day x

4 Reasons Why You Should Go to Open Days BEFORE Applying For University

Hey guys! Hope you're having a great day. I'm back with another post on this beautiful sunny day. I don't know if it's hot where you are but it definitely is in the UK and that is very rare. I have my cold water and my music playing, whilst I'm sitting in the sun, so I'm pretty happy right now. I thought I may as well take my laptop out with me and do my first uni post of the summer.

If you are new here, I am actually starting university this September and I plan on sharing all my university experiences with you all. From moving preparations to story-times (if anything interesting goes down). I have done other uni related posts which you can read after this post!

Being fresh out of year 13, I thought I would do a post related to the actual application process. One really significant and beneficial part of applying for university is going to open days. Today I am going to share with you the reasons why you should go to them before you begin your UCAS application.

Here we go!

Gives You An Initial Idea Of The Course

I found that going to Open Days before applying to Universities made things less overwhelming and gave me some sort of idea what I would be studying if I attended that particular uni. I knew what course I wanted to do already but I know that this isn't a decision made by everybody during the early stages of applying. By visiting Universities before you start your UCAS, you have an idea of what each university specializes in, what modules are taught, course options etc. My first open day was actually 2 days after my last AS exam in year 12. I am glad that I went that early on, as I considered doing a joint honours which I didn't really know was an option just by looking online. After talking to course leaders, I found out that I could do a joint honours and learnt about the benefits of it. 

Open days really invite a fresh perspective and new options that you wouldn't be exposed to if you didn't go to open days. 

Get A Real Feel 

If you are like me and have always wanted to move away from home for university, this is important. Going to Open Days allows you to get a real feel for the new city or location that you could potentially be living in for the next 3-4 years. You will never know whether a region feels right for you unless you visit. I went to cities that looked amazing in pictures, but it didn't feel right when I visited in person. It was still very beautiful but I just didn't get the vibe I wanted. This made it so much easier when it came to the UCAS application as I could already eliminate certain options and narrow my choices. 

Things I considered were the culture, population, town centre and distance from home. My mum drove for all of my open days so we were able to see how far it actually was from home (Important). 

Speak To Real Students

For me, one of the best things about the open days I went to was the opportunity to speak to some of the students. The university staff and course leaders are ALWAYS going to try and paint the university in the best way possible, for obvious reasons but the students are more likely to be completely honest. This is exactly what you need. I went to one university and I spoke to one girl who's flat we went to look at. I loved that she was super honest about her first year experience and she gave me loads of advice. She talked about the work load, the small flat she was able to work with and what it was like to live in the town. Speaking to people who really understand and remember what it is like to be in your position is really beneficial. I hope to be a massive help to future students once I'm in first year. 

Saves Time

I know that it is pretty common to visit universities throughout the year (which is totally fine- I did it too), but doing it early saves you so much time. TRUST ME when I say this. You are going to need all the time you can get in year 13, so make the most of it. One thing I found was that no matter how much work I did, it never felt like I had enough time to do everything I wanted to do. By visiting universities the summer before year 13, or between Sep and Dec, it allows you to have more time for your actual A-levels/course. 

There are so many benefits to going to open days before doing your UCAS application. Hopefully if you take my advice on board, you will be pleased with your experience and carry a lot less stress. 

Thanks for reading,

Have a great day x 

How To Have A Study Day

Happy Easter!! Whether you're like me and celebrate Easter for its true meaning or you just spend the day as you usually would, we can all appreciate the glorious day off. Even better, if you're a student, you can appreciate a glorious 2 weeks off. Although it is VERY important that you spend time for yourself and relax, it is also a good idea to study, for those exams that are quickly creeping up on us *shivers*. Pretty much every other day, I get asked "How do you study so much?", "How long do you study for?", "Where do you find the motivation to study for hours?". I have done a fair few study posts, however I haven't talked in detail about study days. If you know me, then you will know that I can spend up to 8 hours studying in a day, and gain a lot out of it. Since I get the questions above so often (usually on a study day too), and we have 2 weeks off, I thought I would share with you, HOW to have a study day.

Step 1: The first step to a successful and productive study day is to write out a To-do list or list of priorities. It can be very easy to plan a day of studying and have no idea where to start or know what needs to be done. Spend some time writing out the things you want to get done, so that you can visually see your tasks. I like to write a massive list of things to do and then allocate days for each task. This may intimidate some people, so the other option is to only write out tasks for that particular day.

Ideas for your list may be:

- Go through flashcards and get someone to test you
- Write a practise essay
- Highlight class notes
-Fill in gaps for class notes/catch up on missed lessons 
-Mind map a certain module

PRO TIP: Choose your focus subject wisely. Time is falling between our fingers like sand and its doing it pretty quickly. Spend time working on areas that you are weaker at. Of course you shouldn't neglect the areas you are strong at, because you should have a balance, however there is no point spending hours on something you already understand well. Figure out the areas and subjects you are struggling with, and work on that.

Step 2: Speaking of areas, find an area you can work well in. Your environment is very important, and it is essential that you pick a location right for you. I know people who can work well with noise, and people like me who can't. I don't always work in the library, as I get distracted by other people, however I know many people love the library. Its all about where you enjoy working. I tend to work in my room or the dining room.

PRO TIP: Make sure whatever room you work in is well lit, to avoid you getting too cosy and falling asleep (speaking from experience).

Step 3: Have the essentials with you. Before you actually start studying, make sure you have all your resources in the room with you. If you keep forgetting things and leaving the room to get them, not only do you lose time, but motivation to actually start. If you have to write a list of things needed and check it before beginning, then do so. You should also make sure things are prepared. One thing I always forget to do is charge my tablet or laptop in advance. I would recommend you do this.

Examples of resources you may need:

- Pencil Case 
- Laptop
- Flashcards
- Memory Stick
- Planner
- Earphones 

PRO TIP: Try to mainly use printed materials, if you get easily distracted on the internet/with a laptop. Print past papers and mark schemes in advance, use textbooks etc.

Step 4: Plan out your time. What I mean by this is decide how long you want to spend studying that day. BE REALISTIC. I can do up to 8 hours, however if revision is not something you usually do, don't decide you're going to study for 12 hours. You have to be realistic, based on how well you focus, how long your list is, what other things you have to do that day etc. If I know I have work the evening that I choose to have a study day, I wake up earlier, do at least 3-4 hours of study and then leave about 2-3 hours of free time/ time to get ready for work. Whether you just make a general time plan for the day or individual time frames for every task you do, map it out effectively. Schedule in breaks too. When I work for 3 hours, I don't have a break as I know I am capable of doing it without one, however 6/8 hour days, I always schedule at least an hour to chill.

PRO TIP: Begin your study day with your highest priority as this is when you're the most alert and awake. If you don't get to tick everything off your list, at least the most significant things are done, right?

Step 5: Get to work! Here are a few ideas of things you could do.

- Make Flashcards
- Go over Flashcards
- Re-write notes
- Watch Online Lectures/Videos
- Further reading
- Past Papers/Essay Questions
(Try them timed and in exam conditions)

PRO TIP: Do things catered to the type of learner you are. There is no point writing out notes and highlighting them if you don't work well this way. Play games if you learn this way, watch videos, read. Do whatever works for you. It doesn't have to be the conventional way.

These are my steps to having a study day! I hope it has helped. If you need tips on motivation and productivity, check out my other blog posts!

6 Ways To Get Motivated To Study: https://chellebelle2016.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/6-ways-to-get-motivated-to-study.html

How To Be Productive: https://chellebelle2016.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/how-to-be-productive-study-edition.html

Thanks for reading,
Have a great day x

6 Ways To Get Motivated To Study

This is a question that I get asked a lot, so I thought I would write a blog post on it. Mock season is coming up for everyone so I thought it would be appropriate to write it now. For me it is this upcoming week but I know that most colleges do it before the Christmas break.
Just like everyone else, I have days where I feel super unmotivated and lazy, and it is perfectly OK to feel that way sometimes. Believe it or not, I am not studying 24/7 and when I feel super unmotivated, I give myself a break. However there are days where I feel out of it but I know I need to give myself a kick up the butt and hit the books. These are just a few of the things I do in order to get motivated to study.

1) Remember my goals

For me, goals are a huge attribute when it comes to my work ethic. I believe in setting myself goals, whether it be daily, weekly, monthly or even annually. I make sure to document them somewhere and refer back to them whenever I need to. In fact, I document my monthly goals here on my blog, which you should definitely read if you haven't already. Goals not only hold you to account but when you reach them, you feel so good about yourself. I love the feeling of working towards something and being able to meet it. Big or small, goals are important. I may set small goals that will help me reach my larger goals. For example, my BIG goal this year is to get into my first choice university, so I may make smaller goals like getting a certain grade in coursework or to write a certain amount of essays in the week, which ultimately contributes to meeting the larger goal.

TASK: Purchase or find a Journal/Notebook that you can document your goals in. Not only will it actually keep you organised but in the future you can look back at it and see how far you've come.

2) Follow Study Grams

This is something I discovered only a few months ago. It actually motivates me so much. You're probably thinking, what in the world is a study gram? A study gram is basically a community on Instagram dedicated to studies. It may sound stupid to some but for someone like me who loves academia, it is the most inspiring thing ever. It features a bunch of accounts and feeds created by actual students around the world. They include amazing looking notes (seriously, I get so jealous at some people's handwriting), pretty stationery, coffee and teas etc. I always feel the urge to actually study whenever I see them on my feed, its so weird how it helps me. Anytime I find myself being lazy and scrolling through Instagram when I should be studying, I see at least one in my feed and instantly open a book. Type into Instagram #studygram, #studyinspo or #studynotes to know exactly what I mean. It is so addictive, following all these accounts. I followed at least 10, the first day I ever knew of its existence.

My favourites:

@sherstudy
@studylustre
@study.relief
@studycationery
@emmastudies
@mylittlejournalblog

These are just a few that I love, I have soooo many more. I can even do another "Instagram feeds you NEED to follow" but study edition. Some of them are studying specific and others are associated, so they may be planning ones (because I love a good planner) or bullet journaling etc.

3) Buy new stationery!

My "favourite" thing about going back to school after the summer time is being able to use all new stationery. Yeah I know, what a nerd, but its true. Its actually sad how much staplers and notebooks make me happy. I feel like once my pencil case or bag starts to lack, so does my motivation to study. I've found that I make nicer notes and generally try harder when I treat myself to new stationery. Whether it be buying new pens, new highlighters or a new pencil case, once I get them, I feel so much more motivated to study, since I get to use them. I tend to get all new stuff for every term.

4) Study with a friend

I find it so much easier to study when I study with people (unless they're really distracting). You can help each other out on topics you're unsure of, test each other on exam questions, rant to each other about how much you hate exams (@charlotte loool). It is so much easier to study when you have someone with you who is in the same boat as you. Around exam season, I love going on little study dates at the library or a coffee shop because it gets you out and socialising, whilst doing what you have to do.

5) REWARD YOURSELF

I'm still learning to listen to this one but It really is important. Its so easy to complete something and then move on to the next task without actually paying attention to your achievements. You're far more likely to feel unmotivated to revise if you're constantly going through the list of things to do all day, everyday but not rewarding yourself for it. Take a break, go out with some friends, buy yourself something nice. If you treat studying like your own little competition, its not as boring. Once you've met your deadlines for the week, treat yourself to the weekend off or buy yourself a pizza, because why not? Acknowledge your hard work and you'll feel encouraged to keep working hard.

6) Just forget it Kid

Sometimes, you try so hard to study but its just not going to happen. You try your best and you don't succeeeeed. You try everything you can but its just not going to happen. Sometimes I am so tired that I don't even want to think about picking up a pen, so I don't. Take care of your physical and mental health. Don't push too far. I have had to learn this the hard way so take it from me and just forget it kid!

So these are ways that I have learnt to get motivated to study. There are so many other methods. I'm sure there are people with much better ideas than me but these are just some things I do. I hope they are somewhat helpful.

Thanks for reading,
Have a great day x

My Top 6 Beauty Tips

I was inspired by Lauren Victoria a fellow blogger (that you should totally be following) to write about some beauty tips that I follow. She did a post called 10 Beauty Tips I Swear By and I enjoyed it so much that I thought I would share some of mine too! I have only been into makeup and beauty for about three years but in those three years I have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly. If you know me, you know my glow up was REAL. I definitely had an awkward phase haha and leading up to my love for beauty I have experimented tons.

I've made mistakes, I've been in denial of some of those mistakes, but I've also found what suits me and what needs to be a part of my beauty routine. So without further ado, here are my top 6 beauty tips.

1: Drinks Lots of Water!!

You're probably giving the dirtiest look right now but I'm telling you, its so important. Its one of the most cliché pieces of advice but will always be relevant. Water makes EVERYTHING better. Your skin, hair, body, mind. EVERYTHING. When I don't drink enough water in the day I definitely notice the effects. I feel more tired, my skin is so much more dry etc. Water is key. SO DRINK IT!

2: Wash your Face at least Twice a day

I know the feeling of not wanting to get out of bed when you go to fall asleep and realise you still have your makeup on. I know the feeling of being too exhausted to do anything let alone your skin care routine but YOU MUST cleanse your skin. Not cleansing your skin or taking off your makeup can lead to acne and build up of bacteria. Make sure to wash your face every morning because you actually sweat in your sleep and even resting on your pillow for 6+ hours will cause a build up of germs. At night, I know it is tempting just to grab a makeup wipe and be done but makeup wipes actually only take off dirt/makeup from the surface of your skin and you need to go deeper. Try to attempt cleansing your skin every night, even if you don't do any other part of your skin care routine.

3: Do your tail first

One of my favourite parts of doing my makeup are my brows. I have been experimenting LOTS when it comes to brows over the years. Shape, colour, products, you name it. I have found one tip I will ALWAYS live by. Outline your brows as you usually would, but when it comes to filling them in, start at the tail. By doing the ends of your brows first, you're left with only a small amount of product left on the brush. This makes feathering out the front and making hair-like strokes so much easier and it looks so much more natural. I don't remember where I found this technique or when but all I know is that ever since I have been doing it, my brow game has got so much stronger!

4: Use Foundation to carve the brows

Another brow trick I have is to use foundation to carve them out. Most people use a light concealer to carve out their brows but I'm not a huge fan of the highlighted look. It often just looks way too harsh and unblended. I only really carve out my brows if I have a full face of makeup on but when I do, I like to use the foundation that I am using that day. That way my brows look neat and clean but don't look too much. If you struggle with brows, definitely give this a go.

5: Highlight in circular motions

This is more of a recent technique that I have picked up but I know I'll definitely stick with it. I used to apply my highlighter straight onto my cheekbones in an up down sort of C shape but after a while, I noticed that it looked really harsh and unblended so I decided to try a new technique. I pick up the highlighter on my brush but instead of sweeping up and down, I start just above the apples of my cheeks and I use circle motions in a C shape. It looks so much more skin-like and blended. I have even been getting more compliments on my highlight since doing it, so clearly its working out.

6: LET YOUR SKIN BREATHE

This is one of those tips that I think is super important and kind of essential. Make sure you let your skin breathe. Not only from makeup, but skin care products too. By applying too many products on your skin and often, you can clog your pores. Have days where you wear no makeup or as little products as possible. I used to do a full face of makeup just to wear in my house all day (still guilty of this sometimes) but now I prefer just to wear moisturiser when I'm chilling at home. Even as I write this, I only have moisturiser on. I have had makeup on all week so today is my day to let my skin breathe. Let it replenish and heal itself after a week or few days.

What are your top beauty tips?

Thanks for reading,
Have a great day x

Sixth Form Advice (Year 12 Edition)

So, I've had a few requests to do a blog post on starting A-levels. It seems like some of you guys are quite nervous, so I'm here to put you at ease (or at least try to). So I am answering the questions that you guys want being answered, I asked you guys to message me questions that you have and I also have some things of my own that I wanted to mention.

We'll start with your questions first.

1) Is the difference between GCSE and A-levels really as high as everyone says?

YES! I knew it would be difficult but honestly I didn't get what everyone meant when they told me that A-levels were a huge jump from GCSE. Now I understand. You can go from being an A* student to getting U's if you don't put in the work. Its not like GCSEs where you're completely spoon fed information and sometimes can ace an exam with no revision. If you don't study, you will fail. That being said, if you work hard you can do it. Don't fall into the trap of thinking work load will be small because you're going from 12 subjects to 3/4. The workload is actually far larger even with only three subjects. This brings me on nicely to the next question.

2) How do you manage your time effectively and stay on top of work?

My biggest tip I have for you is to start revising from the beginning. Make your flashcards and posters from the start of the year. I did that to begin with but stopped around Christmas time (what an idiot) and let me tell you, I got STRESSED. After every lesson, make sure you go over everything and understand all the content because during the exam period, teachers don't have time to be teaching you things over and over again. Keep everything organised into binders or folders and divide them into each topic so during exam season you already have the resources to study from. I wish I knew this sooner.

In terms of managing time, make sure you have a planner/agenda. I wrote EVERYTHING in mine. Even little things. When you're busy it is so easy to forget things so make sure to write it down and always look at your planner everyday because I once forgot to look at mine for a week and realised I had a presentation due the next day that I hadn't even started. I ended up having to do it in my free and completely winged the speakers notes to go with the slideshow. So check your planner! Also, use your frees. I'm working in pretty much most of my free periods. Do homework so you get a bit more time to yourself at home, do some revision, go through class notes. Really use your free time effectively. Its so tempting just to nap on the sofa (guilty of that) but honestly, using your free periods will make a huge difference to your stress levels and even your final grade. To be honest I could do an entire post on time management and work load, so I'm going to leave it here before it gets too long.

3) How long did it take you to get used to sixth form?

I got used to sixth form life very quickly. Mentally I still couldn't process that I wasn't a high school student anymore. It felt strange to tell people I left school, but actually getting used to sixth form wasn't difficult. I guess for me it was mainly because I already knew most people as I stayed at my school's sixth form. Everyone's experience is different but I was fine.

4) How did you avoid getting stressed?

You literally can't. Stress follows you when you're at sixth form. You think you're done with all the work for the evening and then remember another one you didn't write down. You think you're done with work in your free and go to relax but your mentor screams EPQ. Stress is real in sixth form. I thought year 11 was intense but man. The good thing is that I've learnt how to handle it now. I've kind of figured out how to minimise it as much as I can. My advice would be to remember that grades aren't everything and to take it one step at a time. Its very easy to see your long list of tasks to do and want to crawl in a hole. Break the list down and do everything in chunks. Don't feel like you need to do 10 things all at once. Sit down and plan. Its all about organisation really.

So those were the questions you guys wanted me to answer and now I'm going to answer some that I think are important that weren't asked.

5) How do you make new friends at sixth form?

Now, like I said I went to my school's sixth form so I knew pretty much everybody, however there are external members that I was first getting to know. When you're in secondary school, you make so many friends that become your best friends and it can be hard to make new ones after being with the same people for 5 years. Making new friends can be difficult but it really doesn't have to be. My advice on making new friends is to talk about your summer, prom or sixth form. These are all good ice breakers and conversation starters. If you did NCS you can tell everybody about your experience, you could talk about prom or even share your thoughts about what you think sixth form will be like. These sort of conversations really break the ice and will hopefully lead you into a beautiful friendship.

6) Do you get a lot of support when it comes to the work?

You get support from teachers and mentors where it is needed. You'll never be left completely alone, especially if you're learning something new. However you are expected and going to have to do your own work and research outside of lessons and school hours. That might be simple things like reading textbooks and watching documentaries. They won't spoon feed you all the information that you need like back in school. They'll sort of be like the backbone. They'll provide you with a foundation but you have to build upon it.

7) Is it all work or do you have fun at sixth form?

No. Sixth form is not just all about work. It may seem that way but you actually do have fun. You get to go on trips and do fun things too. I went to London for the day with my politics class to visit parliament and then we spent a couple hours on oxford street shopping, we went ice skating during the Christmas season, we the £5 challenge where we were each given a fiver and had to turn that into a profit. Sixth form isn't all work and stress. So look forward to it!

My final advice to you is to get involved. When it comes to year 13 you can really show yourself off and put all you've done on your personal statement and mention them at interviews for universities and apprenticeships. I was a mentor for younger students, I helped out at school discos and school events etc. All these things that you may not want to do at the time will really pay off so say yes to opportunities.

If you're starting sixth form now or in the future, I hope this was helpful and answered some of your questions! Make the most of it because it will be gone in a blink.

Thanks for reading,
Have a great day x

How To Be Productive This Summer (Summer Revision/Work)

I know what you're probably thinking, why would I work in the summer? Hold up, hear me out. This blog post is specifically for people going into year 11+. The year that you are going into is going to be a tough one and you're going to want to be prepared. Now I'm not talking about hours worth of studying. Heck no. It's summer time! Who has time to sit down at a desk and literally revise. What I'm going to be talking about is keeping your mind alert and constantly refreshed so you're not thrown into the deep end once its time to go back.

I thought I would share with you things that you can do this summer that will benefit you a lot when you start sixth form or year 11.

First Tip: Wake Up Early

Wake up early? No its summer! That's probably what you're thinking, right? When I say wake up early, I don't mean 6am or what not. Have a lie in but don't sleep until mid day because then half the day is literally gone. I like to wake up at about 9am as I get a nice lie in but I also don't miss half the day. By waking up "early" you have more hours in the day to be productive and get things done. If you want to, you can even get some stuff done in the morning and get it out the way. It doesn't have to be everyday obviously. I mean lets be real, I've already woken up at 12pm this summer holiday.

Second Tip: Have a good breakfast

Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Think about it, you're sleeping for 6-8 hours, sometimes even more (especially in the summer holidays) and the whole time you're asleep, you haven't eaten. That means your body NEEDS food once you wake up. I know that when I'm awake, I eat every 10 minutes, so not eating for more than 8 hours would be mental. Eating a good breakfast is going to one, make you happy (who doesn't like food?) and two, allow you to concentrate for much longer,

Third Tip: Write a list of what needs to be done everyday

I love lists. Without them, I would be so unorganised. I would recommend sitting with your breakfast and writing out a list of everything you want to get done that day. For me, I do politics so I may put on that list to watch the latest PMQ, so I'm up to date with whats going on (which I definitely need to do actually...). If you're a literature student, you may put that you want to read a chapter of one of the books you'll be studying etc. It doesn't have to be anything major but something that will benefit you. I'm currently in the process of applying for university, so each day I've been trying to find open days to book and things to put on my personal statement.

It really is a great feeling when you look back on the list at the end of the day and everything is ticked off.

Fourth Tip: Select Specific Times

This is an extension of the third tip. Once you've written your list of tasks, try to match it with specific times. So write down how long you want to spend doing it and what time you're going to start the task. This saves you from wasting the day without realising and then trying to cram it all in before bed. For example, you may decide to read for half an hour at 1pm but have a long break to yourself until you do coursework at 4pm. I've found that doing things this way has made me super productive and this is actually how I managed all my revision during exam season.

Fifth Tip: Log Out of Social Media

If you're anything like me, getting notifications distract you. I'll be typing on my laptop and may see the glow from my phone on the other side of the room. That glow will then distract me and I end up checking it. So, what I've been doing lately is logging out of any social media apps that I get notifications from whilst I'm doing something. For me, I get a fair few notifications from Instagram and Snapchat, so I usually log out of there for a bit until I am done. If you can work without being distracted by your phone then you can obviously skip this tip but I would advise it, as it makes such a difference.

Sixth Tip: Reward Yourself!

Once you've completed a task, reward yourself! You've been productive so now its time to reward yourself. Go out with some friends for a couple hours, watch a movie, eat. What I love to do at the end of the day is watch YouTube videos. I love just sitting in bed with the ipad watching vlogs or makeup tutorials. It's my time just to chill. I've been doing it a lot these past few days and I look forward to my daily dose of YouTube.

So these are my tips on how to be productive this summer. The aim isn't to over work yourself but to keep your mind working. I've studied so much this year that I wouldn't do that to myself, its just hopefully going to make September bearable. I hope it was helpful. Let me know if there are specific posts you want to see.

Thanks for reading,

Have a great day x

Dear Year 11.

Before I start I just want to say Happy Father's Day to all the amazing men around the world who have supported anybody in anyway. Whether you are biologically a father or not, you are a credit to the world and today is your day. My thoughts are with all those that sadly can not be with their father today for what ever reason. Happy Father's Day to the Mum's fulfilling both roles, you're amazing.

Today I wanted to do a short advice post and this is particularly to the year 11's who have or are about to finish school. I was in this exact same position a year ago and I want to give you my very best regards for your future but also give you a bit of advice.

First of all, congratulations. You did it. You made it through this tough year. You have been challenged and pushed to your very limits and now its over. Bittersweet huh? It is now the end of your high school journey and another chapter in your life has ended and a new one begins.

This summer will be the best summer of your life if you choose it to be. Almost 3 months of whatever you want to do. Travelling, partying, anything but studying pretty much. This is the summer full of opportunities. Opportunities to be with your closest friends for potentially the very last time, opportunities to try things and do things you never thought you would, opportunities to meet new people and introduce all new characters in your new chapter of your story. My advice to you is to grab those opportunities with both hands. Challenge yourself and experience as much as you can. You have 12 weeks to live your life. Once September starts and you begin college/sixth form, you will be so happy you made summer the best you could. Especially if you do A-levels.

Try things you wouldn't usually, go to places you've never had time to go to. This summer could be the best summer of your life. If you choose it to be. This is YOUR summer.

Congratulations on the end of your journey. Try not to stress too much about results day until the day comes. Don't try to hold back the tears at graduation or prom because it won't work. Just enjoy every moment with the people you have spent almost everyday with for 5 years.

This is it. Happy Summer!

Thanks for reading,

Have a great day x

How To Be Productive (Study Edition)

I am getting closer and closer to my AS exams, so I've been studying harder each day. Last week I had mock exams which are FINALLY over, so I actually had time to write a blog post this weekend. I thought it would be helpful if I gave you some tips on how to be productive when it comes to studying and the exam season.

Now let me just put out there that I'm not productive all the time. I procrastinate like every other human being from time to time, however I would definitely say that once my head is in the books, I know how to use my time effectively.

1) Lists: 

I make lists for everything, especially when it comes to the education side of my life. I find that I am more likely to complete a certain task or piece of work early on when it's written down and available for me to see. You can write it in a planner or piece of paper, which is what I prefer, or you can write lists on your phone notes or on an app. The fun part of writing lists is definitely being able to tick it once it has been completed! I always feel so proud of myself when I see a bunch of check marks in my planner.

I prefer writing my lists in pretty notebooks or planners just because I'm such a stationery junkie and I get excited writing in nice books. 

Another tip I have is to prioritise your tasks. This will just ensure that the most important things definitely get done, so if you do loose motivation to do anymore work, at least the essentials are finished. For example I'll put a red dot next to homework that teachers have set and that have deadlines but put a black dot next to extra revision that I've set for myself, this way if I get tired after completing the red dot tasks, I don't feel as guilty for not doing every task. Did that make sense? I hope so. 

2) Healthy snacks and water: 

As tempting as it is to eat a bunch of junk food (trust me I understand), attempt to eat healthy food/snacks. You could have a fruit salad, a smoothie, a low fat yogurt, whatever you want. The reason for this is because anything with a lot of sugar or salt will make you feel more drowsy and tired after a certain amount of time, which means you won't be as productive as you can be. I tend not to eat too much when studying as I like to see food as a treat, but of course if you've got to eat, you've got to eat. 

I would say to drink water and stay hydrated when studying. Drinking water is important anyway, however when studying it keeps the blood circulating around the brain and keeps you alert. This is obviously a huge advantage when it comes to studying for a fairly long period of time. 

3) Get rid of Distractions

Distractions are the worst thing for interupting productivity...obviously. So what's the solution? GET RID OF THEM! Mobile phones, TV, siblings, the lot. Anything that distracts you needs to go. Leave it where you can't access it or go somewhere super quiet. I like to sometimes go to the library to study or most the time I have a specific spot in my room that I like to sit and study in. If your atmosphere is calm and peaceful, you'll have a good train of thought and you'll get more work done.

4) Take Breaks

Ok, i'm not the best person to talk about this because I don't do it enough...but I do know it's helpful. I guess really this one is for me to take on. Taking breaks allows your brain to regenerate and make you feel a little less stressed. Take breaks and then get back to work. I'm rubbish at this so I need to practise what I preach. I forget most the time because I just want to get it done and studying in itself is a distraction for me. If you're not already good at this, we're on this road together! I'll let you know how things go for me from now.

5) Find Motivation

My final tip for productvivity is to find motivation. There is no way you're going to follow any of these tips unless you're actually motivated to work. Find your motivation and roll with it! Whether it be a future ambition like your career, short term goals like going to an upcoming party or being money motivated. Find whatever inspires you to work hard and always remember that whenever you're finding yourself feeling unmotivated!

I hope these tips helped!

Thanks for reading,

Have a great day x 

Getting The Most Out Of Life.

Life is precious. Every single second of it and I for one think we should get the most out of it. I'm one of those people who just hates negativity and I'm always trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel. It's not always easy but it's become a part of who I am. Everyday I wake up in the morning (looking very similar to a baked potato may I add) and thank God for waking me up to see another day.

I just got back from Tenerife a couple of days ago and whilst I was soaking up the sun on my balcony (sorry to my friends who secretly hate me....scrap that, hate me because I got a tan) I was just pondering about the life I live. I was just smiling to myself, looking out at the view because I just feel so blessed. When I was much younger I used to get so jealous of other girls and other people my age who could afford nice things and were blessed with the good looks but to be frank, I'm not sure why I felt that way. I wouldn't want any other life than my own.

I have a supportive and loving family that are all so close and so joyous, I have all the necessities like shelter, food and clothing. I mean I swear people forget that there are people without those things right around the corner, let alone on this planet.

It's taken me a couple of years to really learn how to get the most out of life and I'll tell you now, once you do, life is never the same. In a good way that is. I'm very fortunate that I found myself, at such a young age. It takes most people much longer to find this amount of happiness and appreciation for their life so I feel blessed to have found it when I was only 16! I'm not saying my life is perfect, it most definitely isn't, but i'm happy the way it is.

My trip to conary islands inspired me to write this blog post today. I write this on a freezing, grim day with a smile on my face regardless. Here I bring to you, the things I did/do to get the most out of life.

Now, if you know me personally, you know that I love to read. What you may not know is that I haven't always loved it as much as I do now. I used to think it was such a chore. Teachers would makes us have set reading periods in primary school and I hated it. I didn't find any of the books interesting and my attention span was about 2.3 seconds. For ages I just didn't like reading, but now I love it! I get so much enjoyment out of it. It opens up your imagination and gives me new ways of thinking. Being able to read is such a valuable skill that we sometimes take for granted. I just finished 'Me Before You' yesterday and it was such an amazing read! Took about 9 days I'd say because I just didn't want to put it down! I completely understand when people tell me that they don't understand how I can read such thick books because a few years ago you'd never see one in my hands. As soon as you find your style and what interests you, it becomes so easy to read. Whether it be fictional or non-fiction, books and reading is a must for me.

Attempting to be healthy always makes me feel my best. Attempting being the keyword there. In the summer i'll be super good, eating chicken salads, fruit and granola, smoothies, you name it. However any other time of the year i'm pretty on and off. I love the feeling of eating something I know is going to benefit me or doing a workout and seeing some form of result after. I'm not sure what it is but I just feel...good when I try to be healthy. Especially in the summer, if I have a healthy breakfast, I feel so motivated and productive.

Some people may not believe this but I feel like what we allow ourselves to be exposed to, effects how we live. Whether it be what we watch, listen to or come into contact with. Recently, I had a good ol' spotify clear out. I made and saved positive and uplifting music and deleted music I felt wasn't for me. Ever since I've given my life to God, cursing just seems to bother me more, so I deleted music with any swearing in it (not that I had many anyway). Now I feel so much happier. If you feel that you're listening to or watching things that aren't any good for you, just get rid of it. There's nothing to loose but so much to gain.

Now, my friends are probably sick and tired of me banging on about this (so i'm sorry) but it's something I love. I love to travel. Whether it be within my country or abroad, I just love exploring the world we live in. Meeting new people, learning about history and different cultures. The scenery and architecture in foreign countries is just incredible. Being with my family or friends in a new place is my favourite thing. I think it is so fulfilling and exciting to be able to explore the world. Of course this can cost a lot of money to go abroad, however if you start small, you can make it. Use trains and the bus to travel around your city or to other cities and save up for bigger places.

I am a strong believer in prayer. I am a christian as most you already know and I feel that without my faith, I wouldn't be who I am or have the life that I possess. I believe that prayer is very important and my life can not be fulfilled without it. I pray everyday, for myself and other people and even just to say thank you. I believe that God hears all our prayers, even if it feels as if he doesn't.

Finally, I have found happiness from blogging. I started blogging almost a year ago and I love it so much. I started this blog for myself, to document my feelings and also for people to hear my opinions and advice. I was pretty nervous when I made my first post. People at school started to read it and would tell me that they read them at school. It came as such a shock to me as I genuinely didn't think anyone but my best friends would read them. I love writing and expressing myself on here and always being able to be myself. I'm not like a "proper" blogger with a large following, amazing quality pictures,  a scedule and a fancy design but I don't mind because its something I love to do. Ever since I have started this blog, so many people have told me how my words of encouragement have helped them in some way and that they appreciate my blog posts. It just makes this all so much more rewarding! If you want to start a blog, YouTube etc, just go for it.

So those are the things that I do to get the most out of life!

Thank you for reading,

Have a great day x