Self Improvement

It's been a while since I posted anything on here. Lately I've been working on self improvement and becoming a better and more interesting person, so hopefully I'll have a whole lot more stuff to post about soon!
      I am personally not an incredibly self motivated person, and if given my way, will end up laying in bed on pinterest all day everyday. This habit is naturally disrupted whenever I find myself in a relationship, but as of right now, I don't have one of those- so I'm on my own. The reason for my desire to switch has come because I hate feeling like I'm going nowhere with my life. I hate looking around at other people and seeing the adventure they are having- and wishing I was more like that. The main thing though is that awful, terrible question "So what's new?". I get asked this frequently, and I always am forced to say "Nothing". No one wants to hear about  the thing I saw on pinterest that someone else did.So! I have come up with a plan to kick start my life.
       First of all I made a list of things that I thought would help me to be more productive, and a list of things that I enjoy/make me happy. This list also included things I wanted to achieve (Note: All of these are short term goals). My original list was written on a paper napkin while I was at work- but the revised version looks something like this:

This is what my list consists of- each list should be personal, and tailor to your own special needs, to illustrate that- I'll explain why I chose the items I did.

1. Pick 8-12 crafts from pinterest per month; finish 2-3 per week.  From the time I was a toddler, I have loved to build and create things. I'm a very Mcguiver-esque girl, and I like to create beautiful and unique and cheap(er) things with my own two hands. I also have a pinterest addiction. I see millions of cool crafts, and think "wow, that's cool. They're so creative." No more. I will start doing my own renditions of the pinterest crafts, and of course post them here ;) bonus points if I do my own crafts.

2. Start pulling together my steampunk costumes one outfit at a time. Make a list of what I need for each costume, and sketch the design. Start work on large accessories.  My co-workers and I are going to a Steampunk convention in July, and I haven't done much work on my costume yet. I really need to crack down if I want these ready to roll by July, since I'm really going to be doing some major construction/destruction.

3. Have a computer curfew of one hour per day- I have a pinterest problem, I have a farmville problem, I have a freecell problem. Even if there is NOTHING to do on the Internet, I will waste my time there, so I have decided to allow myself a specific amount of time daily, and after that I have to find something else to do. This rule is flexible ONLY if I am using the computer/Internet to achieve something. For example, the time I am spending write now to post on my blog, does not count towards my hour limit. The hour is meant for leisure surfing, not actual work.
4. Pull out some of my stories and write in one at least 15 minutes per day- I love to write. I have been writing since I was ten, and it is something I had always hoped to pursue as a career. Unfortunately, after I met the missionary/the boyfriend and we started dating, I just stopped writing. I was more interested in stuff we could do together and in building the fantastic (two year long) relationship we shared. I want to get back into writing and actually finish something!
5.Try a new work out either daily or weekly- I am one of those pinners who is guilty of pinning tons of exercises I never use. I also tend to get into a bit of a work out rut, and only do five or so of my favorite moves. So, this is designed to make sure I try new things- which will also help me tone up better.
6. Read a new book every week- A great deal of the traffic on this blog, and the requests I get from readers is for book reviews. Unfortunately, I don't read very much anymore unless I'm sick- so I've decided to make time to read by having a goal to accomplish. I am a very fast reader. I can usually do 1.5-2 books per day, so this goal is realistic for me and easy to achieve.
7. Decide what I want to be doing in the next few months and if it involves travel. Look into the idea of a therapy/comfort dog.  I've been having a bit of a rough go of things lately (you can read about that here, if you are insatiably curious like myself) and I've been looking at my options. I don't want to see a therapist, but I've been wanting to learn coping techniques and have been considering getting a dog as a companion to help me stay calm. However, I also have the desire to travel and see and do stuff, and that isn't fair to an animal- so I need to make sure I have a plan before making any big commitments.
8. Try a new recipe every week- I am notorious for food ruts. I will sometimes only eat one specific food, every single day for months. So, this is my way of trying to expand my horizons. You never know until you try, and that new thing may be your new favorite. I'll try everything once, so this should be a good experiment for me.
9. De-clutter my room- My room is clean, it's (usually) organized, it's well decorated. But, I have TONS of stuff. I love stuff. I keep pretty much everything, usually because the things I don't keep end up being important later, and I wish I still had it- so I compensate by keeping everything. It's a problem, and possibly another OCD symptom, I don't know. So, my goal is to go through my stuff, and try to cut back on clutter and things that aren't necessary. like my mini fridge.
10. Clean out closet- I love to shop. When I was in high school I took several college courses in fashion and merchandising, as well as fashion construction and fashion merchandising. I was also on my DECA team in the fashion category- so needless to say, I love clothes. I have an entire closet in my house dedicated to my costumes. I also have a bad habit of buying a new wardrobe when ever a major change takes place (moving, break ups, etc). Due to this, I have lots of clothes that never get worn. Of course, there's a few items that I will keep even though they don't get worn (My debate/DECA suits, white button down shirts, professional heels, dressy casual tops...), but for the most part I want to only have things I love.
11. Post something on my blog every Sunday- I want to keep up with this. When I first started this blog, I was addicted. I was on it all day, everyday- but then the excitement wore off, and I stopped using it basically all together. By forcing myself to have one post a week, I will stay with this.
12. Write the missionary (known as "the boyfriend" in older posts) every Sunday- Awhile back (about 9.5 months ago) the boyfriend left to serve on an LDS mission. He is doing great, and he loves it. For awhile, I was writing him everyday, and he wrote me every week- now though we've had a few struggles and a fight or two and our communication is seriously lacking. I often find myself expecting other people to make the effort, while I do nothing. That isn't fair to anyone involved, so this is me making my effort.
13. Pray twice a day- I am religious, but sometimes my efforts are less than satisfactory, and I definitely could use the daily boost.
14. Meditate/ do relaxing stretches daily-  This is another way to help me stay calm and centered and get some exercises in.
15. Go out once a week-  This can be anything: Lunch, clubbing, mall, gym,movie, etc. The idea is to be with other people (friends, or people you will meet there) and to be doing it for enjoyment or stimulation (going grocery shopping does not count). This is a big one for me, because often times I become a hermit and lock myself in my house, and just don't come out. Often times it is because I have nothing to do, because I am, once again, relying on others to make the first move. Ultimately staying in the house results in me laying in bed on pinterest and becoming depressed.
16.Mental Challenges- The brain is basically a muscle; if you don't exercises it, you lose it. The plan here is to stimulate my brain through sudoku puzzles, word searches, cross words, and difficult reading.
17. Pick one  music video (YouTube) per month, and learn/ memorize the dance.- I love to dance. I'm not very good, especially when it comes to learning actual dances (dyslexia is awesome). So, this is my attempt to get better at something I enjoy, and to have time to do it as well. A few of my inspirations are BOA (she's so awesome), Lady Gaga, Hilary Duff.

Stress Relief

I often find myself stressed out, and depressed. This leads to lots of other problems, mostly health related (my IBS espescially). So, I have found a bunch of different ways to deal with my stress and have better quality of life. Enjoy!

1. Dance it out
2. Go for a walk
3. Play with a pet or children
4. Talk about it
5. Focus on what you can control
6. Smile
7. Breathe deep
8. Ask for a hug
9. Reminice about good times
10. Go to bed earlier
11. Look for oppertunities in the challenges
12. Sit in the sun/ get fresh air
13. listen to music
14. Excercise
15. Shower
16. Meditate
17. Read
18. Call a friend or loved one
19. Watch a movie
20. Do something you love that it relaxing (painting, cooking, yoga, drawing, play an instrument, etc)
21. Write a note or letter to a loved one
22. Eat something healthy, like a smoothie with antioxidents
23. Wash your face with cold water
24. Doodle
25. Sing
26. Count your blessings
27. Make plans to go out
28. Do something nice for someone else
29. Look through a photo album
30. Go star gazing
31. Get a massage
32. Write
33. Look for things that make you laugh
34. Try word puzzles/ sudoku
35. Scream
36. Play a game
37. Pray
38. Day dream
39. Take a drive

 Sometimes life gets really busy. for great ways to calm yourself and reduce stress  even when you're busy, check out this fantastic site

Improve Your Life

I often find myself falling into ruts in my life. I was diagnosed with psychotic depression as a teen, and sometimes I feel like I let that get in the way of me improving and building my life. I spend a lot  of time on pinterest (as anyone who has read my blog knows all too well), and while on there I found a few very cool articles that help in the process of building and improving quality of life and life style.

The first one is called Sixty Small Ways To Improve Your Life In One hundred Days. The basic idea is you take a one hundred day challenge to improve your life. I loved this article because it breaks your life down into eight different sections: Home, Happiness, Learning/Personal Development, Finances, Time Management, Health, Relationships, Social. Then in each category, it gives you different mini-challenges to accomplish in one hundred days. At the end of the One hundred day challenge, each section of your life will have greatly improved. All of these are easy enough, and accomplishable- and yield a big impact

The second one is called The Dalai Lama's Eighteen Rules For Living. This provides some really good tips for a happier, more balanced and peaceful life. Most of us know how wise and happy the Dalai Lama is- and in my opinion, he always has great advice. Most of these tips address our personal mindset, verses actually changing/doing something physical.

The final one I'm going to share today is called How To Be More Interesting In Ten Simple Steps. This one is oriented towards leaving the boring life rut and becoming an exciting fascinating person who enjoys life, and that other people want to be around. There are some really great tips, and all of it is pretty true. It's blunt, straight forward and honest, which I loved.

So those are my inspirations for self improvement! I hope you enjoy them and find them helpful. If you have any self improvement sites or advice to share, please feel free!

Twenty Ways To Find Happiness

1.  Express Gratitude- If we regularly take the time to be thankful for what we already have, we will realize how blessed we truly are, and be less likely to take the things we have for granted. They will seem more precious to us. Also others will be more likely to want to give/do things for us if we show them proper gratitude. Greediness never was happiness.
2.  Cultivate Optimism- Make a conscious effort to think optimistically. If you have an optimistic outlook on life, you are less likely to focus on the sadness, pain and failure, and more likely to focus on the opportunities  that lie in wait. If you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, stop and try to think of something positive or happy.
3. Avoid Over Thinking- Constantly obsessing over something fixes absolutely nothing, and only makes you depressed. Over thinking twists a small situation and inflates it into something big- causing stress. Deal with situations directly instead of letting your imagination run wild.
4. Avoid Comparisons - Comparing yourself to others is toxic. There will always be someone prettier, funnier, smarter, taller, skinnier, shorter, blonder,better built, more muscular, more buxom, richer, more adventurous, more popular ,more something ,than you. That is part of life- and comparing yourself to those around you, or wishing for their lives, will only make you depressed  and unhealthy. Instead, be grateful for what you DO have. Be grateful for your strengths, your talents and your personal strong points. Do not become bitter because you don't have a feature some one else does. No one is perfect, which means that the person you envy has shortcomings too.
5. Do Your Personal Best- Try your very hardest at any task you are given. Try to go above and beyond instead of the bare minimum. You will find that it will boost your confidence to see how much you accomplish, and that others will notice and appreciate that you do more than what they ask, instead of just skimping by. Also, as was stressed by my debate coach, you never grow or flourish by staying at the level you are on. Aim above your own level (challenge yourself),  and you will be amazed how quickly your personal best becomes even better.
6.  Be Kind - You never know what kind of day someone has been having. During one of my depression bouts, my friend took me to a grocery store to help me cheer up. While there,  asked a worker where to find something and he snapped at me. I burst into inconsolable tears, and walked out without purchasing anything and haven't gone back to that store since. In my job, I deal with a lot of rude people, and it's very tempting to just yell at them sometimes- but that won't do any good. It won't make me or them feel any better. Instead, before reacting, take a second to think through your response and decide if it is uplifting or constructive. Try to build others up, even if they don't show appreciation. You will feel better about yourself, and people will tend to be more drawn to you.
7.  Be Charitable- Doing selfless, charitable acts does something amazing for your self worth and happiness. If you want to feel happy continuously, do charitable acts often, and have a good attitude about the service you are providing.
8.  Nurture Relationships- The most important part of our Earth life is the relationships we build with others. It is one of the few things that gets to go with us when we die. Money, fancy houses or cars, social status and jobs are not important in the grand scheme. Spend time with loved ones- your friends and family. Make memories, and always be there for those that need you.
9. Focus On The Big Picture- Don't get so caught up in every little detail.Don't get too lost in the present (but don't neglect it either). Ask yourself "Is this going to be important in the long run?"  I personally believe in a God, and so I ask "Will this affect me after my Earth life is done?" 
10.  Step Outside Of Your Comfort Zone- Taking risks and trying new things is the only way we grow. If we never did anything different we would stagnate. Travelling, moving, eating new foods, trying new sports/crafts/activities, buying new clothes, trying new styles, having adventures, making new friends, learning  a new skill, getting an education, etc.  are all great ways to build your personality and help yourself feel productive. Improving yourself by trying new things gives you experience, knowledge, and memories- which you will cherish as you grow older.
11. Indulge- Make a list of things that you enjoy. You favorite food, smell, place to be, music, sweet treat, stress reducer, personal care, etc. When ever you are in need of a pick e up, or even on a regular basis, pick an item and indulge in it. Don't pick something that will make you feel guilty or ashamed. The idea is to allow yourself a special treat now and then.
12. Forgive- Nothing good comes from anger. Period. If someone has hurt or offended you, you might think you are "getting back at them" by holding a grudge. However, the only person you are really hurting is yourself. People we are angry at may try to make an effort to reconcile at first, but if you continue not to forgive them, they will simply get over it and move on. Sometimes they don't even realize you are angry with them. Anger is only a poison that sucks your own happiness out.
13.  Do Something You Love - We all have things that we really enjoy doing: Reading, painting, dancing, cooking, swimming, running, etc. Make time in your schedule so that you can do some of these things. They will make you feel good about yourself, prevent you from feeling like you are in a rut, and give you something enjoyable to look forward to.
14.  Savor Joy - Slow down and savor moments when you feel true joy and/or peace. If you want true and lasting happiness, you need to be able to recognize good moments in life, enjoy them, and use them to boost your well being.
15. Detox - life is busy. it can be hectic and disappointing and exhausting. Take time to shut out the world, and all your stressors and relax. Your body needs time re cooperate. Humans are remarkably resilient, but even the toughest body/ mind needs tie recharge, de-stress and calm down. Do what ever makes you feel rested and at peace. Do this as often as you can, or at least when ever you need it.
16.  Take care of your body - Our bodies do a lot for us, and we need to be mindful of what we require and what we give in return. A healthy body is important, and while we can't always control how healthy we are, we shouldn't be contributing to its un-health either. Get lots of rest, drink water, eat right, and exercises. These things will help your body run right, and will make you feel better emotionally and physically.
17.  Take Pride In Your Appearance- This does not mean being vain. What this means is to take time to practice good grooming habits. Brush your teeth, take a shower, comb your hair, put on deodorant, maybe body spray, make up etc. Wear clothes that make you look good/fit nicely. When you look nice, you will feel better about yourself. Looking in the mirror and seeing a clean, well groomed person who has taken the time to tidy themselves up, comb their hair, put on flattering clothing and smell nice will boost your personal worth whereas looking in the mirror and seeing someone in need of a shave, who hasn't showered in a while, with messy hair and baggy/ sloppy clothing will make you feel depressed and frumpy.
18. Develop Coping Strategies- The best defense is a good offence. Come up with a plan for how to deal with bad situations before they happen. This will help you fro going into shock, feeling lost or panicking. If you already know what calms you down, you will be able to put the plan into effect immediately, and handle the situation much better. You will also be more confident in your ability to deal with tragedy.
19. Be Clean- If your life is a cluttered, disorganized mess, you will be more likely to feel depressed. If the areas around you are well kept, tidy and organized- you will be more at ease. Your space will feel peaceful, which will lift your mood.
20. Apologize- We all do things we are not proud of. Don't hold on to that. Let the person(s) you offended/hurt know you are truly sorry, do your best to make the situation right, and then move on. They may not choose to forgive you- there is nothing you can do about that- but at least you know that you did what you could.