6 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TRY POLE DANCING

Left: Ballerina Pose // Right: Bow and Arrow Pose

Working out can sometimes feel like a chore. I seem to have a short attention span so if I'm not learning and seeing results I quickly loose motivation. That's why back in 2011 I decided to try pole dancing, at first I didn't know what to expect. After all pole dancing does originate from strip clubs, although it's far from the truth! Many people, like me, use pole dancing as a way to keep fit while learning something new in the process. 

It's an amazing way to stay fit, although everything comes at a price and I'm not talking about the cost. You will be battered and bruised, that's the truth! I didn't want to mislead you. Besides that, there are so many reasons why you should get involved and give pole fitness a try.

1. Teaches the power of bodyweight workouts

Subject to popular belief you don't need to lift weights to gain muscle, lifting your own body weight can go along way. Pole dancing is a great example of this, using your strength to lift, spin and hold pole poses. Simple moves such as climbing the pole is tougher than biceps curls!

2. It's a great workout!
Hate doing burpees, bicep curls and push ups? Well you'll be happy to know pole dancing combines 4 types of workouts. A beginner can burn anything from 290-400 calories per hour, advanced dancers can burn around 700!

3. You become more flexible 

Flexibility is something I've always struggled with, doing pole has helped me become more limber. As you become more flexible you have fewer problems with back pain and muscle soreness, you will also minimise the risk of sprains and be able to move more freely.

4. It builds your self confidence

After you've mastered the basics and strengthen your muscles, you quickly begin to see amazing progress. Your confidence grows as your abilities do, pole dancing has also helped me see my body in a positive way.

5. Great way to meet people

It's great to have friends with things in common, right? Well if your friends aren't that into pole fitness, give it ago alone. I met so many lovely ladies at pole, they are all so encouraging. Sometimes you need that encouragement within a sport to stay motivated and these ladies do it so well.

6. You learn a new skill

Pole dancing helps develop strength, builds stamina and makes you feel feminine. As you progress and improve your skills, you'll become motivated to continue working hard to maintain the level you've reached.

Have I convinced you to give it ago?

If you live around the Nottingham area, try Venus Pole Dancing. It's an amazing environment filled with incredible people all pushing to develop their skills!

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR FIRST WEEK AT A NEW JOB!

Starting a new job can be both daunting and an exciting new chapter in your life, you get the opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills. Last week I started a new position at work, it was an amazing opportunity that I couldn't turn down, although for me I had an easier transition into the role as I already knew the team. For those of you starting in a new role in a new company here's a few tips to help you survive the first week.

1: Make a good first impression
Leaving a good first impression in your colleagues minds is very important, during your first week you're learning the procedures and processes of the position and the company. Ensure you let your employer know they've made the right decision, don't do any of the following:

• Show up late - Being punctual is very important to all businesses.
• Take too much time on your lunch break - Come back on time and be ready to start working again.
• Look too keen to leave the office - If you've got 15 minutes before your due to leave, start something new or keep yourself busy by filing emails so you can start fresh the next day.
• Take personal calls - If a call is very important, notify your boss that it needs to be taken and move away from your desk.
• Ignore the dress code - If you've been told its smart/casual or corporate stick to it, don't show up in jeans! 

2: Ask questions

Don't be afraid to ask questions, it's the easiest way to learn, people normally prefer you to ask and feel comfortable completing a task rather things be done incorrectly. Ask as many questions as you can to fully understand and learn about your role, although this said, think before you speak. Some people believe "there's no such thing as a stupid question", in my opinion there is. Think and consider what you are asking, don't ask questions for the sake of it.

3: Listen & write everything down

Take time to listen and absorb as much information as you can, when being shown a new task listen carefully and make notes to ensure you can repeat the job. Even if you don't need to refer back to your notes, the process of writing them down can make them stick in your mind. Although if you're having a blank moment and need a little help the notes are there.

4: Relax, mistakes will happen
The new workload may seem demanding compared to previous roles or simply different, under any circumstances you've got to remember to relax. When learning anything new, mistakes are bound to happen we're only human after all. The best thing to do is remain calm, resolve the issue and understand what went wrong and why.

5: Offer to help but don't overcommit yourself

During the first couple of weeks in a new job you may find yourself with little to do at times, this could be due to your team still figuring out what your exact duties will be. Don't look at this time as a free period to browse your Instagram feed, use your initiative and ask if any additional help is needed on current projects. This demonstrates your interest in the role, your "can-do" attitude and that you are willing to get involved and help other colleagues with their workload. Although don't over commit and take on 3 times as much work as you're able to handle, this can have the opposite effect and demonstrate you can't get the job done in a timely manner. Be realistic and pace yourself.

6: Build relationships with your colleagues
Building relationships with your colleagues is one of the most important aspects of beginning a new job. Get to know who you're working with and ask questions about their interests and hobbies, you may find you have things in common. Above all else be friendly and don't forget to smile!

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

HOW TO BECOME A MORNING PERSON

Are you a morning person? You know those people who jump out of bed at the crack of dawn ready to start their day? Well ... I'm not awake at the crack of dawn but does 6.45 count? If you wake up feeling groggy and find it difficult to keep your eyes open, it could be your bad habits that are ruining your sleep and preventing you from being a morning person!

I've been struggling for a few months with feeling fatigue and drained of energy. I did some research and started to change a few small things in my routine which helped me get a better nights sleep. As a result, I was waking up feeling refreshed instead of groggy. There are a few factors that contribute to not being a morning person, bad habits that are hard to give up! The main issue that is preventing most people from waking up happy and refreshed is scrolling through an Instagram feed for hours before bed! Although this is the main one for me there are many other things you should consider ...

1. Get more sleep

Well, hopefully you caught onto this no brainer solution! Getting enough sleep is so important for our health and productivity for the next day. On average we need 6-9 hours of sleep each night, if you need to be awake at a certain time why not count backwards to get an idea of your bed time.

2. Maintain a routine

Having a routine is so important. Although it's not only about maintaining your routine on the weekdays you also need to stick to your bedtime as much as possible on the weekends. One late night could knock your body clock out of sink.

3. Create the right environment

Your brain needs to know a difference between your sleeping environment and where you do other daily activities. If you eat, drink and watch Netflix in your bed your brain can't differentiate between all of these activities causing a bad nights sleep. 

4. Turn off the technology

Exposure to the bright light of your iPhone screen isn't good for your eyes, it doesn't allow your brain to shut off. Stop scrolling through your Twitter feed and put your phone/laptop down an hour before shut eye. I'm particularly guilty of trolling through social media after my bedtime, it doesn't do me any good the next day!

5. Keep yourself hydrated during the day

If you're waking up with a headache you could be dehydrated. Drinking a big glass of water before bed can help prevent headaches and that groggy feeling. It's recommended to drink 2/3 litres of water a day, I know if I don't stay hydrated I feel tried, get headaches and my eyes ache. Avoid this by simply drinking water! 

6. Avoid caffeine after 6pm

I wouldn't recommend drinking caffeine in general but for those of you who love a cup of tea, coffee or fizzy pop, try to avoid drinking one after 6pm. This will allow your mind and body time to relax and prepare for a good nights sleep. If you continue to drink caffeine before bedtime your body won't be able to shut down properly which can result in broken sleep.

7. Avoid artificial sugars after 6pm
We all know any products with artificial sugars are a big no no! Although we still indulge in chocolate and sweets to feed the cravings. Eating these types of foods after late afternoon can cause the same effects as mentioned in number 6. Artificial sugars spike blood sugar levels which won't leave your body in a good position to turn off and sleep.

8. Stop snoozing your alarm
When your alarm goes off, get up! Don't snooze it, otherwise you'll experience the effects of broken sleep.

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

COSY KNITS

There's no better feeling when there's a chill in the air than staying cosy in a winter knit. I recently purchased this beautiful cable knit jumper from H&M and it was the best decision. Knitwear is effortless to throw a chic and stylish outfit together. These are versatile stable pieces to take you through the colder months of the year. Most people would say winter is a time for darker colours but I'm a firm believer of light and bright all year round!

During the winter months my style tends to follow a certain pattern, knitwear, chunky scarves and leggings with the occasional dress thrown in!

Outfit Details

Jumper: H&M || Jeans: Primark || Scarf: Dorothy Perkins (similar) || Shoes: Vans

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

REVERSE BUCKET LIST 2015

I stumbled across the idea of a reverse bucket list yesterday on Go Live Explore and thought I'd give it ago. For any of you who don't already follow Alicia's blog, you should! She's very inspirational with her health, fitness and travel posts. 

It's amazing how we are always focused on moving forward and the next exciting chapter of our lives, yet rarely take the time to reflect on what we have done and achieved. I'm not going to lie it was difficult at first to think about everything I've experienced in 2015 ...

1. Celebrated New Year in Sydney, Australia

2. Travelled New Zealand

3. Bungee jumped 134m & 42m - Queenstown, New Zealand

4. Skydived from 19,000ft - Franz Josef, New Zealand

5. Lived on a farm - Margret River, Australia

6. Worked as a calf raiser - Margret River, Australia

7. Worked as a nanny - Margret River, Australia

8. Dyed my hair lilac

9. Travelled the Philippines

10. Scuba dived - El Nido, Philippines

11. Dyed my hair pastel green - Well the sea in the Philippines did!

12. Got my first tattoo

13. Turned 23

14. Got a new job

15. Learnt a new language

16. Took up pole fitness (after 2 years off)

17. Celebrated two friends weddings

18. Was a Bridesmaid at both weddings

19. Had a Holiday in Greece

20. Celebrated my Dad's 60th Birthday

21. Purchased a Fuji Instax Camera

22. Had a holiday in Amsterdam

23. Made lifelong friends

24. Adopted a bunny called Rolo

25. Saw Matilda the Musical in London

26. Learnt to love my body!

This is only a small snapshot of everything I've done in 2015 and what an amazing year its been. Why not try it yourself, you may be surprised by the incredible things you've achieved!

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx