HOW TO SET YOURSELF UP FOR A PRODUCTIVE DAY

Setting yourself up for a productive day can be tough at times, it can be easy to either chain watch Netflix or sleep all day. When you do manage a truly productive day you can feel like you're on top of the world with everything you've achieved. I have to admit, I'm no stranger to avoiding those pesky weekly chores for as long as possible but sometimes you need to get stuck in to ensure you have a productive day. Here's how you can achieve this.

1. Get enough sleep

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. The more sleep you get the more energy you'll have for the day ahead, although an excessive amount of sleep can result in fatigue. I find if I go to bed around 9pm and have 8 hours sleep I feel great in the morning, although if I turn in about 11/12pm and still have 8 hours I wake up feeling tired. Find out what sleeping pattern works for you.

2. Eat the right food

Food is fuel, if you're putting greesy and highly processed food that burns energy quickly into your body, it isn't going to keep you motivated and fuelled for the day. Shortly after you can feel tired and hungry again. You need to ensure you choose the healthier options that slowly release energy throughout the day, keeping you fuller for longer.

3. Stay hydrated 
Remember to stay hydrated, drink 2-3 litres of water throughout the day. This will keep your brain and body awake and active, if you don't drink enough you can start to feel drowsy and laziness kicks in. If you have problems keeping track of your water intake each day, why not buy a litre plastic bottle so you know you need to drink 2-3 full bottles per day. The other option is using something like an app to track your intake, I use one called "Water Balance", every time you drink you update the app and it shows you how much more you need to consume.

4. Get out of bed

This is a no brainer, in order to have a productive day you first need to get out of bed. I'm not one of those people who can lay in bed all day but I know a few who believe a day in bed, is a day well spent. Staying in bed simply prolongs your day and laziness can kick in. I find the best way to wake up and start my day is by having a shower and putting clothes on. Once you're up and ready, then begin to check emails and scroll through social media.

5. Exercise in the morning
Fitness has been proven to improve your mood, setting you up for a good day. For me, a productive day always includes a little fitness, I find that if I exercise in the morning I have more energy to tackle the day ahead.

6. Write down your goals for the day

Understanding what you want and need to achieve in a day is so important. Take a moment to note everything down. I find that writing something down can help embed it into my mind.

7. Get out of the house
Even if your productive day is meant only to include things around the house it's still a good idea to get some fresh air. Take a break at some point during the day and walk to the local coffee shop, breath in the fresh air and clear your mind. 

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

8 STEPS TO A POSITIVE LIFE

Many people want to live a happy and positive life, yet rarely make changes to have this lifestyle. I used to be a negative minded person, I would surround myself with toxic people and dwell on past events which I couldn't change. I finally came to my senses and realised I needed to change my lifestyle to be generally happy in life. It's surprisingly easy to change your perspective on life, I've listed 8 steps that will help you change yours.

1. Be comfortable in your own skin
The first step to living a truly happy life is learning to be comfortable in your own skin. Remember that nobody is perfect, everyone has flaws and insecurities about their body. You have to learn to accept who you are and love yourself. If you aren't comfortable in your skin, it can become your biggest concern everyday, thinking of ways to change yourself. You can't change who you are but you can change your perspective of yourself. Think positively and enjoy your body how it is.

2. The past is in the past

Don't look back and think "What If", the past is in the past for a reason because its behind you. There has been so many times I've reflected and thought should've, would've, could've. Yes this keeps your mind occupied but it's not a productive use of your time. Focus on the present and look forward to the future, dwelling on what could of been will only make you question every step in your life. Everything happens for a reason, so let it go. Letting the past be the past will let you look forward to a positive future.

3. Show kindness

Show kindness everyday in anyway you can. Smile at strangers, say hello to your colleagues, listen to others, basic little acts of kindness can make a huge difference. Show respect and be polite to others, the expression "treat others how you would like to be treated" comes to mind. If you show kindness to others you will receive the same treatment.

4. Live in the moment

Learn to appreciate the here and now. Pay attention to what is happening now, enjoy people's company and take in your surroundings. Don't spend all your time planning to far ahead, if you live so far in the future you can forget to enjoy the present.

5. Be happy

Happiness is something everyone should practice on a daily basis. Some people say happiness isn't a choice, I believe it is. So smile, laugh and enjoy life. 

6. Believe in yourself

You can achieve so much if you believe in yourself. If you don't believe in yourself, who will?

Believing in yourself can take years of practice, for some reason we find ways to think and act negatively. Next time you approach something in your life, believe you can achieve it! 

7. Distance yourself from toxic people

Some people come into our lives, make a huge impact and are here for the long run. Others come into our lives and aren't a great fit, making life difficult and creating conflict. If you want to live a happy life, you can't surround yourself with negative people who are not encouraging the lifestyle you want. It can be a difficult choice to make, I've had to say goodbye to my oldest friend because we grew apart. I felt like I was a different person around them, life is too short to have to adapt to every person in your life. Toxic people can truly break you down, you should distance yourself as fast as you can.

8. Forgive and forget

Holding grudges and refusing to let go is one of the major things that will influence how you live your life. As I said above the past is in the past for a reason, letting go of mistakes can help you become a better person. Perhaps someone hurt you, learning to let go and ensuring it doesn't happen again will make you a stronger and happier person.

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

MY ULTIMATE TRAVEL WISHLIST

Recently I've had a huge case of wanderlust, maybe it's because I'm obsessively stalking travel bloggers on Instagram or reading about friends trips. Either way I'm eager to jump on a plane and jet off to discover somewhere new. There are so many beautiful places to explore and I'm making my way through all of them one country at a time. I decided to jot down my top 5 destinations, although I change my mind so often this list will have changed by tomorrow. 

1. New York, USA

The concrete jungle where dreams are made of, this has been at the top of my travel wishlist for years! Perhaps it's my obsession with American movies based in this amazing city. One thing I will definitely be doing is going to see a Broadway Musical.

2. Maldives

Laying on a white sand beach and swimming in crystal clear water, you wouldn't hear me complaining. 

3. Grand Canyon, USA

The Grand Canyon has been another one on my travel wishlist for a few years. It's amazing to see it in person, particularly when the colours change at sunrise and sunset or so I've been told.

4. Northern Lights, Iceland

The mixture of clashing colours in the sky would be beautiful to see in person.

5. The Great Wall of China

This needs no introduction, being one of the seven wonders of the world its a must see!

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx