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Before the lockdown, I used to wake up early, go for lectures (I was always already on my way to lecture by 8am), and I used to get all my sh*t done but quarantine brought out the lazy part of me. There were times during the quarantine that I just wanted to laze in bed all day haha. It can be so hard to stay productive while quarantining and so here are tips to help you be more productive even while quarantining.

GET UP AND GET DRESSED

I must admit that it can be so hard to want to get dressed during quarantine but getting dressed gives you that work mentality. It makes your brain think in the work direction. Quarantine has seen me wearing my PJ all day lol but I find that getting dressed does motivate me to get things done and getting dressed does help prepare me and my mind for work. Getting dressed plays an important role in productivity. Getting dressed improves the overall mood throughout the day and it increases productivity.

CREATE A WORK SPACE FOR YOURSELF

By saying a work space, I mean a space where you can work with little to no distractions (A space away from distractions of any kind). If you create a workspace in the children's room for instance, you will probably end up not doing anything lol. An at home work space, is a perfect way to boost your productivity during the lockdown. Having a workspace helps get you into a work mode, it helps you focus, it increases productivity and it helps minimize distraction. I have tried getting things done in my work space and I have also tried getting things done on my bed or just any random space but I have found that doing stuff in my workspace helps me work better compared to doing things on my bed or in random spaces.

GO FOR A MORNING WALK

Morning walks are refreshing. Walking for a few minutes every morning can give you just the boost you need to start your day. Staying in the same space everyday can make it difficult to be productive and staying in the same space everyday can also make you lose motivation to work but going for a morning walk does help clear the mind and it helps me start the day on a clean note. Most times, I come back from my morning walk ready to tackle everything on my to-do list for the day.

CREATE A TO-DO LIST AND PUT A CHECK MARK ON THE COMPLETED ITEMS

A to-do list always comes in handy. There is something about to-do lists that make you want to get things done. A to-do list is always a source of motivation for me and getting to tick or put a checkmark on completed items make me feel so happy. I love making to-do lists, I create to-do lists regardless of the quarantine and they are a major source of motivation for me to get things done. Here is my to-do list for today. Sometimes, I write my-to-do-list on my planner or on a piece of paper, other times, I design my to-do-list using my laptop. Here's my to-do-list for today and I designed it myself using my laptop💃💃

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

The importance of getting adequate amount of sleep can never be overemphasized. Basically, when I don't get enough sleep, I find myself feeling sleepy and unnecessarily lazy throughout the day. Getting adequate amount of sleep does help you think better, be more agile and be more productive in general. I never had a sleep routine in 2020 but I'm definitely making one in 2021. I never used to dedicate time to sleeping but this year, I decided to up my sleeping game, so far it has been wonderful and I wake up every morning feeling extremely refreshed and ready to start my day on a high. 

CREATE YOU TIME

Even when trying to be productive during quarantine, it is important to take time out for you. If you are trying to get every other thing done while neglecting yourself, then you'll most likely not achieve anything at all. You can't achieve anything if you are not in good shape and creating time for you does help make sure you are mentally, emotionally and physically okay. Spending time with yourself helps you unwind, be more relaxed, think more clearly and it also helps you be more productive. Productivity goes hand in hand with being mentally, emotionally and physically okay. I find it so hard to be productive when I am not in good condition mentally or emotionally. If you are looking to be more productive this quarantine, you have to create time for you.

TAKE BREAKS IN BETWEEN WORK

I've seen people work their asses off in a bid to be productive. During the quarantine, I once worked for 12 hours straight without taking a break and afterwards, I felt like I was going to collapse. As important as it is to be productive, it is also important to take a break and rest. Taking breaks in between work helps you regain your strength, unwind and helps you be more productive in general. I take 30 minutes break in between everything on my to-do list and the break makes me come back feeling even more refreshed and ready to work.

SOME POSITIVE ASPECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media is a great way to raise awareness, bring communities together and help the less fortunate. 

Before the use of the internet and social media, we all seemed so far away. America, Japan, England, Finland and so many other countries were all divided by oceans, lands and borders but with the use of social media and the internet, we are able to raise awareness for issues that would otherwise be limited by location. By using social media, we can reach each other, spread information, reach like minded people who can help spread awareness among their communities and so on.

We are able to keep in touch with our loved ones, arrange online catchups and even play virtual games during this lockdown.

Zoom has become the number one go-to video chatting application for social catchups to business meeting. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter also deserve honourable mention for helping us keep in touch and meet like minded people who are able to help and support us. Some of the most trusting and inspirational people I know were found via social media!  

Finally, although not specifically social media, as an avid gamer, I find the use of online resources helpful in finding gaming partners. There are various places online to connect and even chat with gamers worldwide. I have met so many people through my love for Animal Crossing and The Sims. I am on various community groups on social media where I can chat about games, get information, tips, advice and even swap friend codes.

Of course this is all done from a safe distance and, as an adult, I am aware of the danger of meeting other's online. If you have a teenager or even a child who frequently games with other's online, it's suggested that you keep an eye on their activity. Have a chat with them about online safety and take interest in what they are doing without being overly critical.

Social media can be a welcome distraction from the outside world or a devastating realization into the world around us.

Social media has acted as a means for me to distract myself from the on-goings around me but it's also been there to remind me of the harsh realities of the world around us. Without it, I doubt I would be kept as informed as I am. I avoid the news at all costs, and have long since stopped trusting state funded news reports. So various social media platforms and online sources have been a direct link to COVID-19 news, election updates and even any new information being spread in regards to mental health services in my local area.

In regards to acting as a distraction, by frequently visiting social media and getting to know others online, I have been able to build a small support network. The support network is usually biased and helps distract me just by chatting about things other than what's on my mind!

What are your thoughts on social media and its impacts? Do you feel that it's a positive, negative impact or a bit of both? How do you use social media and how do you protect your mental health when using it? 

This is a guest post by Nyxie from Nyxie's Nook. Check out her blog for more content!

STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS

This is such a big one. In a world like this, it can be very easy to compare ourselves to others but in order to bring out the best version of ourselves, we need to stop comparing ourselves to others. In life we only see a small amount of what someone is going through. Someone can look so happy, fulfilled, beautiful and all round amazing but the same person is going through a whole lot. Basically, we see only about 5-10% of what a person is going through and no matter how hard we try, we will never be able to know 100% what someone is going through. Not all that glitters is gold and not everything we see is what it seems like it is. We only know ourselves and what we are going through and the fact that not all is really as perfect as it seems, the fact that everyone has problems regardless of how happy and wonderful they may look, seem or appear is a great reason why you should never compare yourself with others. Also, we are all running different races. Everyone's race is different, everyone's journey is different and everyone's destination is different too so instead of comparing yourself with others, focus on your own race, let yourself know that no one is perfect and let yourself know that you are best being you. 

DECLUTTER OFTEN

Ever heard the phrase "A cluttered environment leads to a cluttered mind?" I can't function properly when there's a clutter be it an environmental clutter, a clutter on my phone, or any clutter at all. Decluttering helps clear the mind and it also help you to be more productive. If you want to be able to think more clearly, be more productive and have a clearer mind, you should definitely give decluttering a try. I declutter my devices (phone & laptop) once every week and it is always super helpful. Decluttering also boosts mental health and I find that I feel better, my mood brightens up and I get all jazzed up when I declutter. Decluttering does wonders for me, my mental health and my overall wellbeing so you should give it a try!

BE YOUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADER, SUPPORT SYSTEM OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT

Whether you accept it or not, the most important person in your life is you and if you really want to be the best version of yourself, you have to be your biggest hype man/woman. Success and being the best version of yourself will always seem far fetched if you are your biggest critic. There's nothing wrong with giving yourself constructive criticism but when the only thing you are good at is criticizing yourself then you are subconsciously writing your own death sentence. Be your biggest cheerleader, celebrate your success no matter how little it is. Believe that there is absolutely nothing you cannot do. Being your biggest cheerleader might not be anything near easy but it is possible and if you are looking for ways to be your biggest support system/hype man or woman, positive affirmations can really help you be your biggest cheerleader. 

BE NICE TO PEOPLE

Pretty much everyone is broken. Everyone has something that is bothering them and you being nice to someone can really make that person's day. Believe it or not, there is this sense of fulfillment that comes with being nice to people. When you are nice to people, you open doors for concrete relationships, you will be happier as being nice to people and making other people happy has a way of making you feel happy too. Doing something nice for someone automatically makes you feel better so do your best to spread joy, kindness and cheer everywhere you go! 

TAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF

Life has it's ups and downs, we can sometimes end up taking things really hard on ourselves, we can end up putting too much pressure on ourselves and all but learning to take it easy on yourself even when the going gets tough can really help improve your overall wellbeing and mental health. Whenever you feel like you aren't doing too much or you aren't performing as expected, instead of beating yourself up, take it easy on yourself, you are doing so much better than you think! 

LEARN TO HAVE FUN 

We only have one life to live so why should we make sadness a part of our daily life when we are supposed to be having as much fun as we can because we never know when we are gonna say goodbye. In my goals for 2021, one of the goals I mentioned was that I wanted to stop taking things too seriously as taking things less seriously will definitely add a little humor and fun in my life. I take things a little too seriously but this year I have started to take things less seriously and be a little more humorous. I also want to up my "NOT GIVING A FUCK GAME". I want to care less about people who only wanna dim my light cos it's shining in their eyes. It's not like I have ever cared about those kind of people, it's just I want to care even less about them. The less I care, the merrier, happier and more fun it'll be.

FOCUS ON THE GOOD IN EVERY SITUATION

As easy as this might sound, this is by far one of the hardest things to actually do. It can be so hard to ignore the bad and just focus on the positives but focusing on the good in every situation does have a way of making the bad seem less important. Deliberately choosing to see and acknowledge the positives in any situation has really helped me. Beautiful things happen when you choose to focus on the positives regardless of how bad the situation is. If you encounter any negative experience this year, try your best to focus on the positives instead of the negatives and you'll realize that there is power in choosing to focus on the positives.

WORK TOWARDS ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS

Creating goals are a thing but goals never come to reality without your efforts. So many people are guilty of creating goals without working towards achieving them (I used to be so good at creating goals without working towards achieving them). If you did set goals at the beginning of this year just like I did, work towards achieving your goals. Your effort counts. Your goals are like dreams, they are heights you are trying to reach and no goal would be achieved by just sitting and folding your arms so get up and put in the effort!

BY ALL MEANS PRACTICE SELF LOVE & CARE

I am a big advocate for self love & self care but I don't practice self care as much as I should. Being an advocate for self care doesn't make a difference unless you actually practice what you preach. Self love and self care is very important. You can't really move mountains if you don't love or care for yourself so this new year, make self love and self care a compulsory thing. 

BONUS TIPS

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ANYONE'S OPINION

Do whatever you do for yourself. Do whatever you can to make *you* happy. This year, do not do anything to please anyone at the expense of your own happiness. Do everything to make you happy!

AVOID TOXIC PEOPLE

Avoid people or relationships that will harm you or your mental health. This year, your mental health and wellbeing should be your priority so avoid people or relationships that could lead you down the dark path. It can be hard to avoid toxic people. Sometimes a toxic person can be a close family member, a best friend or someone you can't afford to cut out just like that but even if the toxic person in your life is a close/loved one, make sure to avoid them as nothing should be allowed to harm you, your wellbeing or your mental health.

• “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain.

New years are a fresh start. A fresh slate. You have a chance to rewrite your destiny, improve yourself and make this year your best year yet so do not waste that opportunity!

I do hope you enjoyed reading this. What are some tips you are using to help you be your best self this year? Which of my tips would you use? Let me know in the comments.

Until next time,

Ruth xo

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

There is nothing we can't do. All things are possible. Fear is a limiting factor. The fact that you are scared of something does not mean that you can't achieve that particular thing. There are steps we are scared of taking, things we are scared of doing, etc but what if we did try to put two and two together and overcome our fears. Everyone has something they are scared of, even I am not exempted, I have fears too. Fear gives you an "I CANT" mentality. Fear is human, it is one of the basic human emotions and so you shouldn't beat yourself up if you find yourself being scared of something as fears are part of life and even the bravest people have fears too. Fear is not the end of life. Fear is only a factor that tries to limit you and your actions and if you are looking for ways to overcome your fears, you have come to the right place. For me, FEAR has two meanings and here they are:

F - Face

E - Everything

A - And

R - Rise

FEAR also means:

F - False

E - Evidence

A - Appearing

R - Real

I gave two acronyms of fear and both acronyms play an important role in helping us overcome our fears. Most times, fear is false evidence appearing real. Fear makes us see things in a scarier way than they really are making it a lot more difficult for us to go for what we want but even when there is false evidence appearing real, it is very important to face everything and rise! Here are some ways to overcome your fears. 

FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY YOU ARE SCARED OF

This might sound absurd but some people have fears but have a hard time, finding out what exactly it is they are scared of and you can't overcome your fears without first knowing exactly what you are scared of so take your time, think and find out what exactly you are scared of.

BY ALL MEANS DO THAT THING YOU ARE SCARED OF

Facing your fears by doing the exact same thing you are scared of isn't anything near easy. I have been there and I know it can be super difficult but trying to overcome your fears by doing the exact same thing you are scared of can really help take your fears away. Avoiding your fears will only make them seem scarier but when you face your fears head on, your fears will start to fade. For example, let's say I'm scared of heights. To help overcome that fear of height, I'll deliberately put myself in situations where I'll need to do something that has to do with heights because the more you do something you are scared of, the braver and better you become at doing that same thing. 

HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH YOURSELF

This is a crucial part of overcoming fear. Having a discussion with yourself does play a big role in helping you overcome your fears. When you find yourself being scared of something, have a discussion with yourself, ask yourself if those fears are worth it. Ask yourself if you want to continue being scared, ask yourself what triggers those fears and after asking yourself those questions, work towards overcoming your fears and take steps that will help you overcome your fears.

LEARN YOUR TRIGGERS

This is very important although you will agree with me on the fact that fear is part of life and sometimes you don't need to be triggered by something before you start to feel scared (I have found myself feeling scared without any particular reason) but in overcoming your fears, it is very important to know what causes or brings about those fears. Only when you know the source of a problem would you really be able to deal with it so learn and identify your triggers.

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

Positive affirmations are amazing and they can help you overcome your fears. Whenever you start to feel scared, say positive affirmations yo yourself. Let's say you are scared of not succeeding or making it in life. Whenever that fear of not making it in life pops up, you will tell yourself that you are a success and not a failure. You will tell yourself that you know you can do it. You will tell yourself that you can make it. Personally, I feel like there is a positive affirmation for every fear. Positive affirmations can change our outlook on life and even help us overcome our fears. 

SEE A THERAPIST

I often advice people to see a counsellor or therapist if fear has become a part of their everyday life or if the fear has taken over their whole life. Fear is normal but in a situation where fear has started to take control of a person's life and daily activities, it is important to see a therapist. Meeting a therapist can change your life for the better and it can help you overcome your fears.

WRITE DOWN YOUR FEARS

Writing down your fears is a great way to overcome your fears. Writing your fears down is like taking a hefty load off yourself. While writing down your fears might not immediately take your fears away, writing down your fears will help you process your fears. When you put your fears on paper, you get some space from them. Writing down your fears helps you acknowledge your fears and it takes fear away from your mind where your fears have power over you into the light of the day where you have power over your fears.

Fear is the greatest enemy of progress. Fear makes reality seem scarier than it is and the fact that you are scared of something doesn't mean you can't do that thing and also, the fact that you are scared of something doesn't mean it is as risky as it seems. Fear can stop you from living the life you want but it is time to do away with your fears and rise. Fear does have a way of magnifying things making them look scarier than they really are but most times, after conquering a particular fear, we often find out that it wasn't as scary as it seemed and just in case you are wondering, overcoming your fears is worth it.

I hope this post has pushed you to take steps to overcome your fears! What are your fears? What tips do you use to overcome your fears? Let me know!

Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash

I am not yet a professional blogger, I am still learning a whole lot of things and I know so many bloggers just like me are still learning too. I aim to be a professional blogger but right now, I am still a newbie. I don't know everything and I am not an island of knowledge but the tips I am about to share with you are tips I use when writing blog posts for my blog. Different bloggers have their writing styles and different bloggers use different tips for writing better blog posts and if you are looking to write better blog posts, this might be of use to you.

1) Proofread your blog posts before publishing: It can be very tempting to write a blog post and just publish without scanning for errors and re-reading but it is very important to re-read your posts as many times as possible before publishing so as to avoid errors of any kind be it broken links, misspelt words, etc. We are humans, we are prone to making mistakes and that is why it is very important to take your time to analyze your posts before publishing. I have come across some bloggers who have countless errors on their blog posts and for me, reading a post with countless errors is a huge turnoff. It is extremely discouraging. I am not trying to be judgemental. Even I am not perfect, I make mistakes too but if writing an error-free blog post/content means you need to hire a proofreader, hire the damn proofreader.  

2) Always carry a book and a pen around: Most people underrate the importance of always having a book and a pen at all times. Carrying a book and pen with you at all times can save you the stress of thinking about what topic to create a blog post on. As a blogger, you never know when inspiration will come. There have been times where I was just sitting down or doing some random stuff and boom... a killer blog post idea comes to mind. If I am with a pen and a book when that blog post idea comes to mind, I quickly write it down but when I am not with a pen and a book, I do my best to remember the topic until I get home or get to a place where a pen and a paper is available but often times than I would love to admit, I end up forgetting the topic and all effort I make to remember proves futile.

3) Write when you feel like it: Ever wrote a blog post when you weren't in the mood to write or when you weren't feeling like writing and ended up asking yourself why you wasted your time? Almost everyone, if not everyone, has felt like they weren't in the mood to write at one point or another. As a blogger, there will be times where you won't feel like writing and I advice that if you ever feel like you are not in the mood to write, do not write, just do something else and wait for a time when you are in the mood to write. I always write my blog posts when I am in the mood to write as I find that writing when I am in the mood makes me write better. When I write when I am not in the mood, I do not give it my best and it always ends up looking like a forced effort.

4) Do not try to copy another blogger or another blogger's work: Some bloggers are guilty of this. When blogging, it is very important to be 100% yourself. Copying another blogger's work is so shallow and I dislike the idea of copying another blogger's work but some bloggers do this. It really sucks to put your whole into a blog post only for someone to copy it. It is important to not copy another blogger's work. Make sure your blog and your blog posts are a reflection of you. Be yourself and your audience will love you for who you are.

5) Do not write extremely lengthy posts: Lengthy posts are great, they are considered more informative. Also, lengthy posts are wonderful for SEO. I don't have a problem reading lengthy posts but I have a big problem reading posts that are too lengthy. It is okay to be super expressive in your posts but posts that are too lengthy are a very big turnoff for me. If I had to choose between reading a 5000 word post and a 1000 word post, I'll definitely choose the post with 1000 words. I don't know if I am the only one that does this but before reading a post, I always scroll down to the end of the post to see how lengthy it is and often times, if I find that the post is too lengthy for my liking, I don't read it. Everyone is not like me but believe me so many people do not have the time to read extremely lengthy posts so I advice you keep your posts lengthy but not too lengthy.

What are some tips you use in writing better blog posts? Which of the above tips do you relate to the most?

GET A DOMAIN FOR MY BLOG

This is number 1) on the list because it is very important to me. I have been blogging for a little more than 1 month now and just before the year came to an end, I decided to get a domain for my blog. Getting a domain for my blog will take me one step further to achieving my blogging goals.. I know you might be wondering why I didn't decide to go self hosted instead. I will go self hosted a little later. I don't want to go self hosted yet because I want to spend a little time on blogger/blogspot and I also want to learn more about blogging, SEO and going self hosted before I actually go self hosted. Not that I can't learn the aforementioned things if I go self hosted first (some bloggers start off with self hosted websites) but I want to be on blogger for a little longer and take things kinda slow. What works for everyone might not work for me and so I want to take things gently and move to wordpress.org (a self hosted website) when I feel like I am prepared and ready to do so.

GIVE MORE TIME TO MY STUDIES 

This is just as important as my first goal. I want to give more time to my studies this year. Nothing good comes easily and if I want to be known as a scholar, I have to devote more time to my studies and so I have decided to put more time and effort into my studies.

BLOG CONSISTENTLY

This is a big one for me because school can be extremely stressful and juggling blogging with school work and being a counsellor can be thrice as stressful. I want to be able to blog consistently regardless of the fact that I am a very busy person. I want to post at least once a week this year!

I know this goal seems pretty realistic lol.. It's not an extremely high target and I know I might get to 1000 twitter followers even before mid-year but I am cool with that. Twitter is the major source of traffic and engagement for my blog. Tho, I intend to work on other social media platforms and make them a great source of traffic for my blog, I want to build my twitter first as I find that Twitter is a great platform for bloggers and by far my best social media platform for blogging related stuff.

BUILD MY CONFIDENCE AND SELF ESTEEM

I am pretty much a very confident person and my self esteem is great too but I guess there can never be a limit to building confidence and self esteem. I want to build my confidence and self esteem and become more confident than I am now.

MAKE MONEY FROM MY BLOG

I don't know about you but I feel like it is never too early to start making money from a blog and this year I wanna get my first paycheck. It is never too early to start making money from a blog, it's just growing your blog to a stage where you can make money from it requires a lot of hardwork and I am so ready to put that hardwork in! I am ready to go into anything from sponsored posts to link insertions and everything that suits me and my blog.

I WANT TO LEARN SEO

Oh my God! This is such a big deal for me lol. I feel like SEO is hard and that mindset has prevented me from even trying to learn anything about SEO but I have decided to learn SEO no matter what. This year, I won't let the popular phrase "SEO is hard" stop me from learning SEO. I think I might get an SEO eBook tho but we'll see.

I WANT TO STOP TAKING THINGS TOO SERIOUSLY

Things get to me a lot more than they should. I must admit that I take things way too seriously. If someone insults me or acts rudely and I don't react as much as I want to, I keep thinking about what that person did and it bothers me seriously. I want to make myself learn that some people only try to dim other's light to make themselves feel better. I want to make myself learn that not everything and everyone is worth my time and energy and I want to learn to stop taking things too seriously. 

If you are like me and you set goals at the beginning of each year, tell me what your goals for this year are.. Also what are your thoughts on new year resolutions? Would it be a New year goal or new year resolution for you?

Staying home was fun! I was happy to see my family members again, I was happy to be home. The 2 weeks went by so fast and by the time I knew it, it was time for me to go back to school again. I prepared to go back to school and on the day I was to leave for school, I got the information that the school was closed due to the pandemic and so all students were to stay at home.

I stayed at home thinking everything will be just fine and the pandemic will be over in a few days but the pandemic kept spreading. The number of infected cases/people kept rising and soon after the government declared the Lockdown. Now this is where things took a turn for the worse. Things went from busy streets to completely isolated streets.

No one knew what 2020 had in store. If we knew what 2020 had in store for us, some would have rather preferred to skip the year 2020 which is something we can't do lol but 2020 came with life lessons that hadn't been learnt in the whole of my life and so I am thankful for the fact that I learnt those lessons.

I stayed home doing almost nothing from March to May/June. During the quarantine, I knew I wasn't going anywhere so I subconsciously developed this quarantine routine where all I basically did was sleep, wake up, do the house chores, eat, have my bath, read for a bit, surf the internet and repeat then one day in May/June still during the quarantine (I can't really remember the exact month), I received a mail from one of my lecturers that stated that we would start having our lectures online.

Few days after I got the mail from my lecturer, we started our online lectures (Now taking lectures was added to my subconscious quarantine routine) and I found that taking courses online especially science related courses (I am a science student. The course I am studying in the university is science related) wasn't as easy as I thought. Online lectures require 100 times more focus, devotion and commitment than normal lectures require but I made up my mind and I decided that I will  not let the stress of taking lectures online stop me.

That aside, there is this feeling that develops when you stay home all day for days on end quarantining and it's not a good feeling. I don't know if it's just me. I don't know if I am the only one that feels this way but I feel like staying home all day for days on end, using up just a small portion of time for your daily routine and just quarantining makes your mind start to wander. The inner critic wakes up, negativity comes in and different thoughts start to find their way into your mind.

I am a strong girl and I know it because my life has never been easy. I have been insulted by people who are close to me, I have been compared to others and all but somehow, I always ended up being confident, outgoing and at the top of my game but quarantining made things super difficult.

During the quarantine, there were times I did everything I could to shut my mind up and silence the inner critic. I always feel like I am good enough, worth it and all but there were times when quarantining dragged me in dark places and at some point, I felt like I wasn't good enough. Before the quarantine, I had never felt like I wasn't good enough but there's a first time to everything right?

I am so much of a never give up person. I can be super resilient. I faced my battles head on, I was determined to overcome whatever I was facing and I am more than excited to say that I made good progress! Issues regarding mental health are not easy to deal with. Overcoming mental issues go way beyond the little list some people give. When you ask people or check the internet on how to overcome mental issues, you hear/ see things like develop a positive mindset, exercise, say positive things to yourself and all.. No doubt these things work but most times they are portrayed to be super easy. They are not easy at all. They are not easy. I am not trying to scare you but that's the reality.

Quarantine taught me to appreciate the little things. For example, before the quarantine, we all saw being able to go out and have fun as nothing. We never thought that being able to go out was a big deal but right now a lot of people realize that being able to go out, move freely without being quarantined is something to be grateful and thankful for.

During the quarantine, I realized that I had been spending way too much money and I wasn't saving at all. I learnt that saving money is giving yourself a saving grace. I started saving money after the quarantine and I am very glad I started saving money. Saving money comes out really handy. Saving money gives you something to fall back on when things do not go as planned. Saving money helps you stay on your feet when unexpected occurrences that require money pop up. A lot of people did learn how to spend less this year (me included).      

No one expected COVID and many people are guilty of overspending. Some people can't go one day without spending excessively. At the time COVID came, a lot of people were not prepared and so many people had not been saving. Even some people who had white collar jobs and were earning a lot of money started living as peasants because they weren't saving. I really learnt that saving money is bae!

I lost a friend this year. I lost someone I used to talk to. He wasn't my closest friend but he was my friend. I still have our chats on my laptop. I couldn't sleep the day I heard he passed. People die everyday but it hits harder and hurts differently when it's someone close to you. Knowing that someone I knew very well died made me thankful for being able to sleep and wakeup everyday. Most times, we do not realize what a great privilege it is to be alive and well, and losing a friend made me realize that life is a gift and it is important to make judicious use of that gift. He was a 20 - something year old who was always vibrant and full of life. I learnt to value everybody in my life. Life can be really strange. Someone is here today, so happy and all and tomorrow or a few moments later, they are no more. I reread our chats after I got the news that he passed and his death felt so unreal. He was such a fun and goofy person. When I heard the news, I couldn't believe he was gone and right now, I still can't believe he is gone.

This year made me list my priorities. This year made me decide on what was important and worth my time and it also helped me do away with the unimportant things. The list of lessons 2020 taught me is endless and I know everyone learnt tons of lessons from 2020. I am more than grateful for everything, lessons learnt, hardships endured, quarantine and everything in general.

I turned 18 this year. Honestly, I was super excited for my big 18 even before my birthday came. I mean I was gonna be an adult lol. Ever since the beginning of this year, I had been talking about my big 18th birthday. I was really excited for my 18th but when the day finally came and I clocked 18, we were on lockdown and I wasn't able to throw a party, go out or even have people come over. I was very determined to have a blast on my 18th birthday but quarantine huh... Lockdown and quarantining ruined my plans but in all I am happy. Yes I'll never be able to celebrate my 18th birthday again but I'll be able to celebrate my other birthdays even the ones that are bigger than the big 18! Even though I wasn't able to do all the big things, I enjoyed my birthday and I am super happy about that. Birthdays come once every year and so I made sure to have fun and enjoy regardless of Lockdown and quarantine.

On the 25th of November this year, I created this blog. I wanted a medium through which I could write, inspire and motivate people. I also created this blog to make it my little corner of the internet where I could share anything and everything and honestly, I have been loving it!

For me, 2020 is a year to remember. It taught me a lot of lessons which I would be forever grateful for. I had very few but important goals at the beginning of this year. I didn't achieve all my goals but I am glad I was able to achieve some of them. Some people loathe the year 2020 but I don't. Life cannot always be filled with roses, there are thorns too. I am grateful for life, everything I have and I am grateful for the fact that I came out stronger and better! I want to share a few things I learnt this year.

THINGS I LEARNT IN 2020

1) The fact that you feel super okay mentally and emotionally right now doesn't mean you are always going to feel okay.

2) Value every important person in your life be it family, friends and anybody that is close to you. Life is too short to not value people that are close to you. You sure don't wanna be someone who doesn't value people in their life until they loose 'em.

3) It is okay to cry.

4) Normal lectures are way better than online lectures.

5) Resilience is key.

6) Allow yourself to feel your feelings. It's okay to feel whatever you are feeling.

7) We should learn to appreciate the little things in life.

8) Things cannot always be rosy. Thorns are part of life.

9) While alive, make every moment count, live to the fullest, do not let anything or anyone take your happiness away.

10) It is very important to save money.

11) It's okay to be sad.

Some people loathe the year 2020 but I don't. Life cannot always be filled with roses, there are thorns too. I am grateful for life, everything I have and I am grateful for the fact that I came out stronger and better!

with love, Ruth.

I love you 2020. Thank you for everything!

ALL THE BLOGMAS POSTS IN A ROW

Day 1) - 25 super captivating blogmas post ideas

Day 2) - 7 things to be grateful for this Christmas

Day 3) - Amazing self care tips to practice this Christmas

Day 4) - The Christmas tag that is perfect for Blogmas

Day 5) - Ways to show kindness this holiday season

Day 6) - How to have a more organized Christmas

Day 7) - My TBW Christmas movies on Netflix

Day 8) - Christmas interview with Jenny

Day 9) - Extremely cute Christmas date ideas (Quarantine Edition)

Day 10) - Things that make me look forward to Christmas

Day 11) - How to keep your mental health in check this Christmas

These are all the blogmas posts I made this year. Which blogmas post is your favourite? I really love the fact that I participated in BLOGMAS this year. Although I am a new blogger, you guys have been amazing. Thank you for taking time to read and comment on my posts. You all rock! 💖

Merry Christmas x!

If you find yourself struggling with your mental health during Christmas or during this holiday season in general, you are not alone. Mental health issues like, depression, anxiety or even grieving the death of a loved one can be triggered during Christmas for a whole number of reasons. Christmas might be a lot different this year and celebrating Christmas during the pandemic can be even more stressful and so, here are few ways you can keep your mental health in check this Christmas.

HAVE A CHRISTMAS THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH!

The importance of having a Christmas that works for you and your mental health cannot be overemphasized. Christmas is lovely but it can come with so much pressure and having a Christmas that works for you (a Christmas that is just perfect for you) can really help keep your mental health in check. Each person deals with pressure in different ways. Some people handle pressure nicely while others find it difficult to cope with pressure but whichever category you fall into, it is important to note that you do not need to have a Christmas that takes up all your energy, you do not need a Christmas that is too over the top. An over the top Christmas will lead to more stress and pressure thereby leaving a negative effect on your mental health. Have a Christmas that preserves your mental health. Christmas can be very stressful and all but Christmas can have a really negative effect on your mental health if you take on too much!

BREATHE

Take time out for yourself. No amount of time spent with yourself is too small. Give yourself a break from everything and spend few minutes of your time with the best person in the world *yourself*. Studies have shown that giving yourself a breathing space and spending time alone reduces stress, improves mental health, gives you opportunity to plan your life and boosts self esteem so give spending time with yourself a try this Christmas. Plus you do not have to do anything extra while spending time with yourself. You can:

• Read a book
• Watch a movie all by yourself
• Meditate
• Reminisce the good times and think about the positives

REACH OUT/TALK TO SOMEONE

If you start to feel anxious, stressed, lonely, isolated, depressed, or anything at all, talk to someone. It can be very hard to talk to someone about these feelings but it is very good to communicate your feelings to someone (not just anyone tho, I advice you talk to a trusted person. For example: a trusted family member, friend, a counsellor or call a mental health emergency number). Talking to a a trusted person about how you feel can help you feel better and it can help you feel more positive about the issues you are having. If you feel like you do not have someone to talk to, or you want to talk to a counsellor, you can talk to me here!

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEELINGS

It is very important to acknowledge and feel your feelings. Christmas season can be a time of sadness, grief, anxiety, depression for some people. For example, Christmas season can be a time of grief for someone who recently lost his/her loved ones or someone whose loved one died some time ago around Christmas time. It is important to note that it is normal to feel sad, grief, and it is okay to cry, feel your feelings and express your feelings. Feel your feelings but do not let yourself be too overwhelmed by them. 

The above are a few ways to keep your mental health in check this Christmas. What are the ways in which you keep your mental health in check during Christmas and which of these resonates with you the most? Let me know in the comments!

Merry Christmas x!