SIX INCREDIBLE HABITS YOU SHOULD TOTALLY DEVELOP IN YOUR TWENTIES

True maturity starts when you make an effort to better yourself; As young adults, we do quite a large amount of learning in our twenties. When we were teens, most of us probably thought we'd have just about everything in life figured out by now, only to find out that we were wrong, oh-so-wrong. The truth is, our own personal growth never meets a stopping point, it continuously develops as we strive to learn and better ourselves with every day that we spend here, on this earth. With that being said, I've compiled this list with six of my favorite, 'you should totally do these, too' habits, for those of you who are looking to incorporate some positive elements into your daily routine and increase your self-development. Are you ready to get started? 

HABIT #1 EXERCISE AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK

Love it or loathe it, exercise is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The sweat, the soreness, and that dizzy feeling you get from trying to keep up with your perky fitness guru isn't always a whole lot of fun. But that doesn't mean that you should give up altogether, because exercise has an incredible amount of positive benefits; benefits that will have you feeling amazing both physically and mentally! Not only will regular exercise help you get into better shape, but it will also make an impact on your mental health by improving your mood, boosting your energy, and it should even help you to sleep better! All things that you'll very much need at this point in your life! 
  

HABIT #2 START SAVING MORE OF YOUR MONEY

When it comes to money-saving, the earlier you start, the better! Whether you're living at home with only a few expenses or out on your own with multiple bills, putting a few dollars into your savings each week will be a great start to becoming a more financially responsible you! Even if you're just starting out, and can't afford to save very much, don't be too discouraged. If you can stay consistent with your saving, even small amounts will without a doubt, add up over time! Whatever you choose to save, is better than saving nothing at all.

You may also enjoy this post: 7 Brilliant Money Saving Tips For Young Adults

HABIT #3 LEARN TO COOK SOME SIMPLE MEALS 

Don't worry, you don't have to be a culinary genius in order to cook up a few, delicious meals with some simple ingredients! Learning to cook is an incredibly useful skill to develop, and you should try to figure out how to feed yourself with some homecooked, maybe, kind of healthy, meals that you could continue to make for years to come. With thousands of cookbooks and access to a plethora of ridiculously-easy and free recipes on websites like Pinterest, it won't take up much time or money to whip up something mouthwatering right from home!

HABIT #4 GO AN HOUR WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA (AND MAYBE YOUR PHONE, TOO)

It's very important to take frequent breaks from social media, and allow yourself a little breather here and there, in order to avoid becoming overly reliant on technology. There's no doubt that social media has become quite a huge part of our lives nowadays, which can be both good and bad. There are a lot of positive things about having social media, but some negatives, too. Taking at least an hour to set the phone down and do something different each day will be a healthy reminder that having technology with you 24/7 isn't always necessary.

Some things to try during the hour: Go for a hike, have a nice conversation with no distractions, read a book, go shopping, play with your pet, write about your feelings or just sit down and enjoy some peace and quiet.

HABIT #5 START DRINKING MORE WATER

It's certainly no secret that drinking water regularly has a long list of benefits! It's known to promote weight loss, increase your energy and relieve fatigue. All things that are extremely helpful to those of you who are continuously on the go with work, school, etc! Keep a refillable water bottle with you at all times, for constant hydration. And if the idea of plain water alone, doesn't excite you, try adding lemon or other fruits for an extra dose of energy and vitamins! 

HABIT #6 START KEEPING A PLANNER 

Life can be pretty darn crazy sometimes, especially when you've found yourself right in the middle of learning the art of "adulting" but using a planner is something that can allow yourself some control over the chaotic mess that could be your life at the moment and relieve you of some unnecessary stress! During this time in your life, it's hard to keep track of all the things you need to do, places you need to be. But using a planner regularly will help you keep your life on track and much more organized. You don't have to go crazy with a fancy-pants-planner if you don't want to, something pocket-sized that you can easily throw into your bag, making it a breeze to jot down the important stuff, will do the trick. 

If you think you'll be taking up some of these habits, please be sure to take a moment and share this article with some other folks in their twenties, who could benefit from them as well! Also, feel free to follow me on social media to stay up to date on future blog posts. I absolutely love chatting and making new friends, so don't ever be afraid to reach out! I'm curious, what was your favorite habit featured on this list? 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THIS ARTICLE ON: 7 Brilliant Money Saving Tips For Young Adults

7 Brilliant Money Saving Tips For Young Adults

When you're young, money-saving can seem like an incredibly difficult task, especially when you've found yourself living on low income. But tucking away some of that hard earned cash into your savings with each paycheck can and will make a huge difference in your life if you put forth the effort to stick with it. It's time you learn that and more with these 7 brilliant money saving tips that will help all of you get started down the right path of preparing for a finically successful and responsible future!

"There are still fun things that you can do without spiraling out of control. When you don't take the time to enjoy life, saving will seem more and more like some sort of cruel punishment."

The transition from carefree teen to full-fledged adult can be an overwhelming experience, to say the least. I don't know about you, but from the very moment I turned twenty-one, I immediately felt the pressure to become more responsible for myself and find any way that I could to be less dependent on those around me...But, that's not always so easy, is it? The most common problem that seems to make this transition challenging for so many of us is the fact that we need to have money to do almost anything on our own and with that, it's very easy to get stuck feeling that you aren't progressing enough in life due to the lack of it. Which is why I've compiled a list full of my absolute favorite, money saving tips in order to help you move in the right direction of learning to be more finically responsible and help you prepare for a better future, even on a relatively low income!

disclaimer: Before we begin with this list I would like to remind you that I am most definitely not a financial expert. The tips and advice I have provided are strictly things I've learned from my own personal experiences and nothing else. I've created this list only in hopes that what has helped me could have the potential to help you as well, I am not a professional by any means when it comes to giving financial advice.

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1. CUT DOWN ON SOME LUXURIES 

Alright, so I'm about to play big sister here for a minute, starting this list off with a little bit of tough love but trust me, this tip will end up helping you out immediately. I know cutting some luxuries isn't something you'd especially like to hear. However, resisting the urge to go out and grab that delicious iced coffee every morning or that bag of takeout from your favorite restaurant you get for lunch every afternoon, can and will end up saving you quite a decent amount of cash in the long run. The money that you're spending may not seem like much at first glance, in fact, when prices seem reasonable, it's easy to get sucked into incorporating these types of things into your daily routine but when stepping back and looking at how much you've spent over the course of a month, and seeing how much money could have been put into your savings instead will give you a true wake-up call. 

solution: instead of going out for coffee every morning, take advantage of your coffee maker at home more often as a cheaper alternative and if you're someone who is busy and used to grabbing takeout on the go, try preparing yourself a nice lunch at home the night before you leave the house. And it's important to remember, you don't have to cut these things or any other luxuries out completely, just make them more of a treat for yourself a few times a month instead of something you do daily. It's all about moderation! 

2. SET A NEW BUDGET 

Of course, this step here will vary depending on what all of your personal bills and responsibilities are but setting a new budget to follow will do wonders in your financial life. Budgeting allows you to create a spending plan for your hard earned money, providing you with peace of mind that you will always have enough for the things you need and the things that are important to you. By following a budget or simple spending plan you'll feel so much more organized not to mention, it'll help you stay clear of debt!

3. PUT WHAT YOU DON'T SPEND IN YOUR SAVINGS

Fun fact about yours truly; I'm a total goal-setter! I love setting simple goals for myself, nothing too strenuous, just little things that are actually doable for me. For example, this year I decided to set the goal of continuously saving money, no matter how small of an amount it may be and I definitely recommend that you do this, too! 

With every paycheck I receive, I set aside the amount of money I would need for bills, food, and other necessities. After I've done that, I'll make sure I leave myself with a relatively small amount of spending money for things that aren't necessities and then once I get my next check, I'll place the amount of money I have left over directly into my savings. I personally don't find myself spending too much anymore so I usually don't need to keep a lot for my spending money, however, the amount of spending money you choose to allow yourself depends on how much you're currently making and how much you're wanting to save. Also, don't feel too discouraged if you're not left with much by your next pay, another crucial step is learning that there is no amount too small when putting money back for your future. It doesn't matter if you're left with one dollar or one hundred dollars, everything will add up over time, everything counts!

bonus tip: If you're serious about saving and wanting to take things up an extra notch, another thing you can do is immediately place at least $10-$20 in your savings when you first receive your pay. This is something I try to do whenever I can afford it and it's ended up helping out quite a lot! 

4. DON'T FEEL ASHAMED OF LIVING AT HOME 

If you're a young adult who is feeling pressure from others to hurry up and get out of your parents place as soon as possible, please allow me to explain why living at home is more than okay and in some cases, can actually be the more responsible way to go. If you are fortunate enough to have parents who are supportive and willing to let you live in their home as an adult, then you should definitely grab onto the opportunity. For me personally, I'm still living with my parents, why? Because truth be told, I'm not to the point where I could survive on my own financially and regardless of what people tell me, I know in my heart that going out on my own, would be the worst decision I could make at this moment in my life.

But when you're living at home with your parents, you have an opportunity to save for your future, an opportunity to grow to the point where you are financially stable and can afford to go out and pay rent and all of your monthly bills on your very own without fear of going completely broke. I definitely feel that there is a stigma around living at home as a grown man or woman, but there shouldn't be. As long as both sides are comfortable with it and you're not taking advantage of your folks' kindness, then I don't see anything wrong with sticking around while you try to build yourself up. 

note: I do have an entire article planned out that will be focused on how to be more independent and responsible while still living with your parents. Please be sure to check back for that one!

5. COUPONS, CLEARANCE, SAVINGS! 

I think one of the biggest and most common mistakes we can make as young adults when it comes to money is spending full-price on absolutely everything that we need when there are tons of money-saving options out there. I know that sometimes using a coupon, buying a cheaper brand or looking in the clearance section doesn't cross our minds, but trust me, I know from experience that incorporating things like this into your financial routine, will end up making quite the difference in keeping a little more of that cash tucked away in your wallet!

You can start by checking out the clearance section in every store because you never know what you'll end up coming across. The clearance section can be hit or miss anywhere, so I really mean it. Wherever you go, clothing stores, grocery stores, whatever the case, check out those sections. Going through your local coupon books and saving coupons for restaurants and fast food chains for when you're in a pinch and need a quick lunch or dinner is a great money saver as well. Then, there's my personal favorite, purchasing the cheaper, more generic brands from grocery stores! I know that some people out there tend to shy away from this one, afraid of getting something that is cheaply made or isn't quite the same as the similar name brand product. However, I've made an effort to try more generic brands and have found that a lot of them are about the same in quality and end up saving a decent amount of my grocery money!

bonus tip: If concerned about the quality of generic brands, check on the back of each item for its manufacturer. Often times there are name brands that put out products under a generic name and sell them for a cheaper price than their other products, so you're not necessarily getting something that's been cheaply made! Definitely worth checking before purchasing!

6. USE DEBIT INSTEAD OF CREDIT 

When used responsibly credit cards can have some great benefits but at the same time, using a credit card can often be very tempting and could lead to some unfortunate overspending. The easiest way to avoid overspending and the disastrous consequences that could come along with it would be to practice using a debit card instead. With credit cards, we're totally free to use it as often as we'd like which means it's incredibly easy to spend what you don't have on you. But when using a debit card instead, you're stuck with strictly the amount of money that you know you have and with each penny you spend that amount will go down, and with that in the back of your mind, it should help you to become more mindful of your spending. Plus, if you do happen to go overboard at least you won't miss paying a credit card bill! 


7. ALLOW YOURSELF TO HAVE FUN
Let's be honest, being responsible with your money isn't always the most fun. Sometimes in order to do the right thing finically, you'll miss out on a few things here and there, which is why you definitely need to allow yourself to have some fun every once in a while! There are still fun things that you can do without spiraling out of control. When you don't take the time to enjoy life, saving will seem more and more like some sort of cruel punishment. Avoid that from happening by giving yourself something to look forward to each month. Go out for lunch with a friend, treat yourself to a coffee, buy that video game you've been wanting! If you've been making an effort to be more responsible and save your money, then don't be afraid reward yourself, because ya done good! ...Just don't go overboard with your reward! 

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If you happened to find any of my tips or advice helpful to you in some way, please be sure to take a moment and share this article with other young adults who could use some help financially! Also, feel free to follow me on social media to stay up to date on future blog posts. I absolutely love chatting and making new friends, so don't be afraid to reach out! What has been your biggest struggle when it comes to saving money?

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THIS ARTICLE ON: 5 Effortless Steps To Becoming A Morning Person

Discovering The Source of Anxiety

Anxiety is most definitely something we all find ourselves dealing with to some degree, but when the anxiousness starts to become overwhelming, gradually growing to the point where your every thought turns into a worry and your life is being taken over by constant fear and doubt, how do you take care of the situation? How do you take care of yourself? How can you make a change? Truth is, those are still things that I'm still figuring out. 

"It seems like there are so many things I need to correct in my life, so many things I need to improve on, that I'm just not sure where I need to start first."


Since the launch of When The Wild Things Grow back in November, I've made an effort to speak out about a topic I'm incredibly passionate about, mental health. More specifically, I've made an effort to speak out on anxiety, an issue I find myself dealing with quite frequently throughout my daily life and as of late, the past month or so, I've been dealing with some issues that I've considered to be worse than the usual.

Last night I grabbed my old journal that I purchased back in August of last year. I hadn't journaled in a while, with the way I've been feeling, I haven't really had the energy for it. I began flipping through some of the older entries, admiring all of the beautiful pages I had created in the beginning, but as I continued to glance through, the pages became more sporadic. Some were left unfinished, with blank pages in between, and some were almost blank with no decoration, just long paragraphs in the form of frustrated scribbles...But there was one, in particular, that caught my attention. 

This entry was from late October, a few weeks after my twenty-first birthday. The first page was covered in a piece of ripped scrapbook paper, with a sticker stuck down in the middle of it that read "Life is fragile, handle it with prayer." and on the other side, was a full page I had written about how terrible I was feeling about myself in the previous weeks. I described how I felt lost in my newly found adulthood, I described how I felt like I hadn't found my purpose in this world and spoke about how I was beginning to become doubtful that I had any real reason for being on this planet, to begin with. Not only did I describe my emotions and all of the fears I had inside me at the time, I also described exactly how I've been feeling this year, down to every little detail.

As I sat back in my desk chair silently pondering what I had read, the words suddenly managed to hit me like a stiff punch to the gut. "Have I made no changes in my life? No real improvements from the time I wrote this?" I thought to myself. "Surely I've had to, right?" The more I thought about it, the more I realized I hadn't made much of an effort to change how I'd been feeling, somehow I got stuck in this bubble of insecurity and self-pity with seemingly no way out and after thinking about my situation for roughly twenty minutes straight, I had finally came to the conclusion of why that was.

What seems to be causing the most anxiety for me at this stage in my life has been two things, my "Atychiphobia" which is much more commonly known as the fear of failure and then, the very idea of growing up and becoming an adult. The two, unfortunately, go hand in hand. I've been so afraid of adulthood because, for the majority of my life, I've deemed myself incapable of almost everything and anything. Confidence has never come easily for me, between learning disabilities and lack of self-esteem, I've found myself completely unwilling to try new things, terrified of receiving confirmation of what I already feel is true, "I just can't do it." I absolutely hate to admit that I do this, I hate even more to admit the fact that what once was a little self-esteem issue, has now become a terrible problem in my adult life.

Truth is, I'm somewhat relieved to have discovered the source of where all this anxiety has been coming from, but at the same time, it's going to lead to the very stressful first step of figuring out what I need to be doing about it. I feel so overwhelmed at this point, it seems like there are so many things I need to correct in my life, so many things I need to improve on, that I'm just not sure where I need to start first.

If you would have told me, that roughly two weeks after writing the above, I would be feeling the happiest I've ever been, I'd have thought you were crazy. But, fortunately, it's true! Sometimes it's easy to forget, that so much can change in such a short amount of time. I've spoken about this throughout social media in the past, but I have been working for a cleaning company as my day job and since yesterday, my cleaning-partner and I finished up working at a very large office building that was beginning to be a little too much for us to handle, and were able to replace our time there with a much smaller building accompanied by a slight increase in pay.

With that blessing, I'm also in the process of obtaining the first cleaning job that I will be doing solo, two nights a week. I'll miss having my cleaning-partner during those nights, but I feel this is a solid step in the right direction for me, beginning to feel more like an actual adult and with feeling a little more secure finically, I'll be able to put my focus on one of my biggest goals this year, learning to drive...More on that in the future!

If you were able to relate to the problems I had been dealing with in some way, be sure to take a moment to share this article with some other women who may be in need of some encouragement! Also, feel free to follow me on social media to stay up to date on future blog posts. I absolutely love chatting and making new friends, so don't be afraid to reach out! What has been your biggest source of anxiety?

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THIS ARTICLE ON: 10 Things That Calm My Anxiety

6 Empowering Quotes For Single Women

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I think Valentine's Day can be somewhat of a difficult holiday for us single gals to get through. Even if we've come to complete terms with not being involved with someone, we still can't help but feel a little left out sometimes. But since the day has come and gone, I thought this would be the perfect time to share with you some of my favorite, mood-boosting, inspirational quotes for single women!

Each quote tells a different story, teaches us a different lesson, and I hope that within at least one of these, you'll find something that will help you through something you might be dealing with. Whether that be realizing your true worth or acknowledging that no relationship, is better than the wrong one. Without further ado, let's dive on in! 

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1. “Hope for love, pray for love, wish for love, dream for love…But don’t put your life on hold waiting for love.” - Mandy Hale

This was the first quote to really catch my eye when I went in search of some inspiring words to share with you all and it's remained my favorite throughout this entire list. Mandy Hale shared such an important message with us in this. I think it's very easy for the idea of finding love to become our main focus in life, but it's important we take the time to stop and smell the roses! This is our time to focus on ourselves and live life the way we desire! I mean, seriously, we won't be single forever, girls! We should enjoy this time while we still can.

2. “Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.” - Coco Chanel

I think almost every young woman has had a moment of weakness, where we start to set aside who we really are in order to impress someone else. But the truth is, nothing is worth that sacrifice, not even a relationship. If you're interested in someone who can't appreciate the real you, then politely show them to the door because they simply do not belong in your life, but there is most definitely someone out there who will absolutely love the real you, so embrace who you are now, and practice allowing that true beauty to shine through!

3. "Being single is better than being in the wrong relationship." - unknown 

I had to learn this one the hard way. After the end of my first real relationship, I decided to give dating another shot not long after, but looking back on it, I should have waited. The incredibly short-lived relationship I became apart of caused me so much frustration and insecurity...But from that experience, I was taught the lesson of not being so quick to jump on the first opportunity that came my way.

If I would have waited, I would have saved myself the pain and aggravation as well as my valuable time. You see, being on your own will always be better for you than running around with someone who isn't treating you the way you deserve to be treated. Taking things slow, and waiting for the kind of person you could truly see yourself spending your time with, is incredibly important and until that man walks into your life, take time to enjoy the ride! Being single can actually be kind of fun!

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4. “Be strong enough to let go and wise enough to wait for what you deserve.” - unknown                                                           

We all know it can be pretty darn disappointing when things we once thought were going to be so wonderful for us, end up dragging us down and causing us more harm than good. That can be anything, old dreams we have that just won't work, toxic friendships, wrong opportunities, and yes, romantic relationships. But when you're smart enough to know in your heart when it's time to end things and then strong enough to actually let it go, that's how you know there's always going to be something better in store for you.

5. “She isn't the kind of girl that makes you wonder why she doesn't have someone, you just know that the kind of guy who is good enough for her is rare, and she projects the kind of strength that says she is perfectly happy to wait till he shows up.” - Stacey Ballis

The kind of woman that has been described here, is the kind of woman I find myself striving to be. There really isn't all that much I can say about this, except for that we all should be perfectly happy to wait for that day, when the man who is good enough for us, does show up. 

6. "A woman who realizes her worth is a dangerous woman." - Alicia Ramos 

You may have noticed that this particular quote was featured at the beginning of this article, and that's for a very good reason. It's very easy for us women to forget just how valuable we are in this world, recognizing our worth isn't always something that comes naturally. Sure, there are a handful of women who have no trouble seeing their value which is absolutely amazing but there are also women out there like myself, who have to put in a little extra effort to be kinder to ourselves. 

When we choose to embrace who we are and believe in ourselves while accepting that we're not perfect and working to improve with each day, confidence will undoubtedly begin to build up. When we're able to tap into our inner strength and recognize our true worth, we're capable of absolutely anything.

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If you enjoyed any of these quotes, be sure to take a moment to share this article with some other single women who may be in need of some encouragement! Also, feel free to follow me on social media to stay up to date on future blog posts. I absolutely love chatting and making new friends, so don't be afraid to reach out! What was your favorite quote on this list? 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THIS ARTICLE ON: Why I'm Okay With Being Single This Valentine's Day

5 Effortless Steps To Becoming A Morning Person

Wouldn't it be wonderful, if living the life of a morning person were something that came more easily to us all? Just imagine all that we could accomplish with having some of that extra time each day! But unfortunately, for those of us who are natural born night-owls, it's never been quite that simple, until now!

"The early bird catches the worm."

It's no secret that some of the most successful people out there are indeed morning people. Which makes a huge amount of sense, they're more willing to make the most out of their time and not waste a moment of the life they've been given. Which is pretty darn admirable. So without further ado, today I will be sharing with you five of my absolute favorite and effortless tips that have helped me to rise and shine more often! It will take some time and practice for your new habits to form, but these are definitely things that can and will have you well on your way to transitioning into that early-bird you've secretly always wanted to be!

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1. GO TO BED AT LEAST AN HOUR EARLIER  

Please allow me to start off this list by being a total captain obvious for a second...Getting the proper amount of sleep is VITAL. Not just for this, but for life in general. I mean, as much as we all would love it, we simply cannot spend our entire night up until the crack of dawn, binge-watching our favorite shows on Netflix and then expect to wake up at a decent hour to take on the day like a boss, it just ain't happening. Now obviously, I don't have a way of knowing when your head actually hits the pillow at night, but my best guess is, that since you're reading this, attempting to drift off to dreamland a little sooner than usual, couldn't hurt!

2. SET YOURSELF A NEW ROUTINE 

Setting up a proper morning routine will be very beneficial to you in the process of becoming more of a morning person. Starting your routine in the evening will help you get the proper amount of rest you need in order to make waking up bright and early seem a little less painful. I typically start my routine settling down about an hour or so before bed. I'll make an effort to turn off most electronics, brush my teeth and wash my face, then I'll sit down and find something relaxing to do such as reading my devotional, so I can allow my mind to slow its roll for the night.

Then loosely planning out some things that can help you get up and get moving is crucial. I don't know about you, but if I lump around on the couch after getting up out of bed, I just end up focusing even more on how tired I am. So, you're actually doing yourself a favor by diving into the day! You don't have to overly complicate this process, start out small by making the bed, grabbing a bite to eat, then taking a nice long shower to give yourself a boost of energy. You'll be left feeling less tired and more productive. I mean, that's a total win, right?  

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3. NO SCREENS BEFORE BED  

Don't roll your eyes at me, you know you spend hours before bed scrolling through social media until the very last minute. But trust me, if you put forth an effort to put that bad habit to an end, you're not going to regret it. I had a bit of an eye-roll moment myself when this suggestion first came to my attention. But when I stopped and really thought about it, I came to the realization that with each night I spent scrolling before bed, I had also spent hours laying wide awake after, completely unable to sleep or even relax.

I wasn't allowing myself any of the time I needed to settle down, my brain just wasn't ready to turn on sleep-mode quite yet. If you're serious about becoming a morning person, turn off those screens! Put away the phones, the tablets, and the computers and let yourself have some much-needed rest. All of those tweets from your favorite celeb's will still be there for you to catch up on tomorrow, I promise!

4. LET THE SUNSHINE IN 

When your bedroom is still dark, it's easy to convince yourself that you still have more than enough time to keep sleeping, and that's why leaving your curtains open the night before should be immediately put on your to-do list! Waking up to natural sunlight is such a blessing, I mean, think about it. Wouldn't you much rather be woken up by a fresh beam of golden sunlight instead of the completely dreadful and abrupt sound of your nearby alarm clock? I've gotten to the point now, where I start to wake up to the sunlight before my alarm is even set to go off, which is the most wonderful feeling!

5. SET YOUR ALARM CLOCK AWAY FROM YOUR BED 

When it comes to hitting that snooze button as your alarm goes off in the morning, the temptation can be real. But, the easiest solution to this problem, is to set your alarm clock away from your reach and as far away from the comfort of your own bed as possible! Yes, I totally recognize that this step may not sound very appealing, but girl, I swear it'll help. Let that sweet sound of silence be the perfect motivation to get yourself up and running! No more snoozing, for you!

BONUS TIP: TREAT YO'SELF...TO BREAKFAST!

So for those of you who have read all the way to this point, and are more than ready to take on the challenge of becoming an early-bird, this is an extra step that is super essential to your new lifestyle! Now that you'll be having more time in the morning, breakfast doesn't have to be so rushed. Instead of grabbing a cup of coffee and running out the door, take some time to treat yourself to a proper meal!

Whether your plan is to make yourself a nice stack of waffles, eggs and bacon or even something as simple as a big bowl of your most favorite cereal, planning out and putting together a nice breakfast can be a terrific way to jumpstart your entire day! It's always important to reward yourself for a job well done and we all need that perfect amount of fuel for our bodies so that we can go on to get as much accomplished as possible!

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There you have it, lovelies! After following these oh-so-simple steps, you'll be well on your way to transitioning into a morning person! Life is so short and unbelievably precious. It's time we embrace those early hours and make the most out of every second we have here on this earth!

Don't forget to reach out and get in touch with me on social media! I would absolutely love to know which one of these steps you think will help you out the most! 

Why I'm Okay With Being Single This Valentine's Day

February typically isn't a month that we single gals eagerly look forward to. For me personally, it's almost always been a month that I would deeply dread as all of the heart-shaped candies, roses, and overpriced teddy bears would steadily come out to make their annual appearances. But this year, I'm choosing to change my generally bad attitude towards this holiday and look at Valentine's Day with a whole new perspective.

"Just because I'm not linked to someone romantically at this time, doesn't mean that there isn't love in my life."

Valentine's Day has never been my thing, while the idea of a gushy holiday full of romantic gestures may sound wonderful for those in a relationship, it's not so great for those of us who aren't. I'll be honest here, I've definitely done my fair share of eye-rolling at those couples who can't seem to get enough of proclaiming the love they have for their significant others throughout the day on social media, documenting every little moment as they celebrate.

Now I totally recognize that I'm coming off as incredibly bitter at this time, but I promise you, I've got my mind set on having a wonderful Valentine's Day this year, despite not being involved in a relationship, because, for the first time in my life, I am completely cool and so happy with being single...So allow me to explain why I'm more than okay with spending this one alone, and why I'm  going to have the best Valentine's Day ever.


1. I'M STILL GOING TO CELEBRATE

I've never properly celebrated this holiday before, I've never had the chance due to feeling incredibly excluded from Valentines Day festivities for obvious reasons, but this one is going to be different because I'll be celebrating in my own way. I'm just so over the whole "I hate Valentines Day" thing at this point, I'm only making myself more miserable by dwelling on it, so for once I'll embrace what's to come.

Truth be told I'm still not entirely sure how I'll be celebrating the day, but I do have a few ideas in mind, even if it's something as simple as grabbing take-out from my favorite restaurant and binge-watching all of the Spider-Man movies made. (Andrew Garfield films very much excluded) Seriously, it's time I allow myself to have a little fun, no relationship? No problem! I'm attempting to love myself, so I'll celebrate with just me! 

2. I'M ALREADY COMMITTED TO MY WORK 

I know, I know. It may sound rather cliché since I feel like almost every single gal out there uses her career as an excuse for being single, but at this particular moment in time, it's true. I am fully committed to my work, and I'm not just talking about my boring ole' day job. I'm talking about my writing, my actual dream, the most important thing to me outside of my family.

Between working hard, chasing all of my dreams of becoming a full-time blogger, freelance writer, and author, along with working the job I am now in order to somewhat support myself financially, this stage of my life has been dedicated to figuring out how to make those goals and aspirations of mine actually happen. Not to mention, I'm still trying to learn more about who I am as a person through my work and try to find out what it is I want out of life.

Unless someone undeniably special comes waltzing into my life in the very near future, I don't think that I would have the time for a serious relationship, and I'm completely fine with having this time for me and what I want to do, and no, that's not selfish...We all need a little time for ourselves before we go off and commit to someone else. 

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3. MY LIFE IS SO FULL OF LOVE  

You know, just because I'm not linked to someone romantically at this time, doesn't mean that there isn't love in my life. In fact, I think love will be the one thing I'll always have no matter what. I'm lucky enough to have a whole family that cares about me, from my parents and my brother to my little dog, Posey, who loves me so much that I can't step out of the house for 5 minutes without her acting like I've been gone for an entire year.

Then my incredibly loving mother always thinks of me during this holiday, she puts together a card and some goodies that never fail to make me go all misty-eyed. Being the amazing person that she is, she would never want me to feel excluded, and she sets an excellent example that this particular holiday doesn't need to be about only couples and romance, but it should overall share the message of showing your loved ones that you care. 

4. I WON'T BE SINGLE FOREVER

While I've come to the conclusion that I'd be perfectly fine by myself if God decided that was the way it should be, I don't think I'll stay single forever. I always say that I'm not interested in dating right now, and that's the honest truth. But I also won't be silly and avoid someone who is undeniably my soulmate, when someone special does come into my life, I have to accept that opportunity. 

But I honestly haven't the slightest clue how long I'll be celebrating this day without a man in my life, it could be years or I could have someone with me for the next one, there's just no way of knowing for sure. But as of right now, it's just me, and there's no reason why I can't enjoy the occasion with friends and family instead! 

5. THERE'S NO PRESSURE 

I'm not someone who is very good under pressure, if anything I totally buckle, and when it comes to buying gifts for someone, it majorly stresses me out. It's horrifying. With the exception of close family members, I never, ever know what to get for anyone, and will most likely panic at the thought of getting a gift that they wouldn't completely dislike or already have bought for themselves.

Then, adding in the element of having to buy something spectacular for your significant other, adds a whole other level of stress. I'm definitely not one of those people who believe it's only the woman that should get something for Valentine's Day, there are some amazing men out there that deserve presents, too! But I'm horrible at gift giving, another year of feeling no pressure is something I'll very much appreciate while it lasts.

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This year I'm making an effort to choose happiness, a good attitude can open up a world of opportunity and I'm no longer interested in sitting around like a grouch, grumbling about all of the couples out there posting about what their significant others did for them on social media. Instead, I'll be minding my own business, allowing everyone to have their moment while I enjoy the holiday my own way. Treating myself to a nice takeout meal, and spending some quality time with my wonderful family...Now, what will you do to celebrate?