Making the most of your summer as a student

It's scary to think that this is my final big summer holiday, and I'm no longer going to get a 6-week school holiday a year, or a three-month break from University, instead I'm (hopefully) going to be working a full-time job and joining the 'real world'. As it is my last ever summer, I'm feeling under pressure to make the most of it - in both a professional sense and a lifestyle sense. I'm planning on doing loads of fun stuff with my family and friends, but also doing work experience and giving myself a fighting chance of securing a decent job upon graduation.

Here are my top tips for making the most of your summer as a student:

Network
Networking is so important, meeting people in your industry before graduating will give you a better chance of employment upon graduation as employers will know your name when reading through CV's. If you find the chartered body of your industry, so for me it's the CIPR and PRSA, they often hold networking events/conferences and these are usually open to students as well. Go along, introduce yourself, be confident, ask questions - you never know where it may lead.

Go on work experience
Another important part of giving yourself a fighting chance of securing a job post-graduation is gaining valuable work experience in the industry you are hoping to work in. They're websites such as 'Go Think Big' which offer opportunities to students, but I find emailing companies you want to work with directly is the best chance of getting some experience - make sure you find an email of the MD, or at least a name of someone you can send the email to. Do your research beforehand too - why this company? What do you like about them? What do you want to learn from them?

Have a well deserved break
Uni's hard, so enjoy your extra lie-ins over summer and treat yourself to some relaxation - put on a candle, run a bath, go to a spa.

Go on holiday/travel
Splash the left over student finance on a guilt-free holiday in the sun, when you're working you'll have to book valuable days off to enjoy a holiday - make the most of it while there's three months to play with.

Experiment, set yourself up as a freelancer, start a blog
With more time on your hands, and assignments out the way - why not hone in on your practical skills. Set yourself up a blog, where you can document your summer, give advice or review products. Or why not set yourself up as a freelancer? Start your own business? Experiment with things you've always wanted to do, the worst that can happen is it doesn't go well - and if it doesn't, you learn from your mistakes so when you're in the big wide working world, you'll know what not to do.

See people you miss
Summer is the perfect time to catch up with old friends, and see people you don't normally get chance to meet up with. Go for lunch, spend hours in beer gardens - do things you wouldn't normally have time to do and appreciate it while you can.

Is your social media presence holding you back?

Social media is a huge deal, not only to 15 year old girls uploading selfies and competing for likes, but also for employers and potential employees. Your social media presence could be the reason you do, or don't get the interview and therefore hinder you from securing that dream job.

Employers are nosey, they're human after all, according to onwardsearch.com 91% of employers use social media to check out potential employees and according to time.com, over half of employers have reconsidered a candidate based on what they have found online.

Obviously, all social platforms are different, and all have different levels of privacy. For me, I keep my Facebook on high privacy, and only have friends and family and people I know personally as friends. If an employer searched my Facebook they'd see my prom picture from two years ago and me sharing funny videos - nothing really to see. Twitter, on the other hand, isn't as private - my Twitter is heavily focused around my University degree, my professionalism and my journey into the PR industry (with funny videos and selfies appearing less often). LinkedIn, of course is a professional networking site - and you'd be pretty silly to put anything other than professional updates on there - and if you're reading this and don't know what LinkedIn is - please, go and make an account, its basically an online CV, and you should have one (especially if you're approaching your final year/graduation). Instagram, Vine, Snapchat are all less-likely to be searched by your future boss - but still, having an awareness of what you're portraying on these sites is important - how you come across on these sites, is how people will assume you are - have you seen Catfish?

What shouldn't you be doing online? It speaks for itself that you shouldn't mention drugs, guns, sex, alcohol, etc. More so, you should be careful with spelling, grammar and even strong or contradictory views - shouting about your political opinions for example. Even complaining about work, complaining about your current boss, using social media whilst at work etc all can have an impact on whether you get the job or not. I know someone who was asked to leave his job after posting a rant on Facebook stating strong political views, which the employer deemed as racist. Although, i'm not suggesting you don't post any opinions on the internet, I'm suggesting don't over-do it, and shove your opinion down peoples thoughts, and certainly don't shout about your opinions if they could be considered offensive in any way..

What is the point in proof-reading your CV hundreds of times, ensuring there are no mistakes and that you come across well if your going to have all that ruined the moment an employer clicks on your Twitter?

Many companies, especially in the industry I want to work in, are very very clued up on all things social. They go on courses and study it to find new ways to utilise its use for their clients, and stay ahead of the game. Showing you know how to use social media can make a positive difference to your application for work, show you know how to interact with people, show you know the best way to get your message across - do you tweet in peak times? Do you know not to start a tweet with an @ sign? Do you know the benefit of using a hashtag when talking about a certain topic? Social media can be a hindrance in your career journey, but it can also be incredibly useful.

Tidy space, tidy mind

I am a huge believer in tidy space, tidy mind. If things around me are organised then I feel happier, calmer and like I can give things a good go. As a bit of an organisational freak, I thought I’d but together my five tips for getting and staying organised.

1)    Keep writing lists

Lists are my life, whether it be a to-do list for the day(or week), a list of what I need from boots or a list of when my assignments are due in at Uni - whatever it is, I’ll have a list for it. Lists help me remember everything that needs doing so that nothing can slip under the radar and get forgotten about. It also helps to differentiate what’s important and what can wait. When noting your to-do list, I would add to each point with what needs doing to achieve that point, example: ‘Contact companies for work experience’ firstly, you will need to think of what companies you want to work with, you will then need to find there contact details, double check your CV and tailor it to each company, and then create a cover letter before drafting and sending an email. This way, you can clearly see what needs doing and feel better about starting to work on it with structured things that need doing.

2)    Storage – whether it be make-up, work desk or even your wardrobe

I think storage is a big thing, having enough space to see everything as well as having a structure to it so you know where things are, so for example; my make-up is separated by products e.g. face products have their own draw. Then, my work is separated by what needs doing, what needs to be filed away, as well as assignment briefs/previous work with feedback to refer back to. With having structure to your organisation it means that you know exactly where everything is and you can easily see where everything is along with what you need, it helps me focus.

3)    Calendars

Writing things down is the best way to know what you’re doing, for me personally I’d rather use a little diary and a calendar on my bedroom wall than use my iPhone calendar(I know I need to get with the times) but I just find it easier to write things down and see the whole week/month in front of me. I write everything down, even if its something obvious like when my Uni lecture is, I still write it down just so you can see how busy you are that week and when there is time to fit other things in.

4)    Night-before planning

I also think it’s a good idea to plan for the day the night before, from something as little as setting your alarm so your up in time, to planning your outfit so your not rushing around looking for something to wear. Planning your lunch, and organising your bag the night before will just make the morning run smoother, meaning you’ll leave the house feeling fresher, calmer and ready for the day, iIt also means you can afford to have an extra 10 minutes in bed)!

5)    Bag necessities

For me, it is important to have a big bag with enough room for everything I need for the day. I often have to take my laptop out with me so my bag has to be big to fit this in along with my notebooks, water, lunch, chargers etc etc. I also keep lots of other things in my bag such as; paracetamol, nail files, tissues, hair brush, make-up, perfume, chewing gum – little things which could come in handy throughout the day!

A commuters guide to getting the most out of University

Deciding whether to move away for University or commute? A decision I know all too well. I go to a local(ish) University which is within commuting distance. So when I was deciding whether to live in halls or commute in, I felt I had a big decision on my hands. What if I make no friends? What if I miss out on the 'Uni life'? What if, what if, what if.

I decided to live at home, a decision I (to this day) do not regret. For me, this was the best decision. However, everyone is different, and your decision needs to be yours as only you know what will suit you best and what you actually want to get out of your degree.

Here are my top tips for getting the most out of your University experience if you do decide to commute:

1) Talk to people. As scary as it seems, people are just as nervous as you, talk to them. Find out where they are from, what they are studying - this is the only way you'll make friends and the only way you'll find other commuters who are in the same boat as you. The majority of my friends at Uni commute, only a handful are actually living in halls. I was so shocked to find out how many people do actually live at home during Uni, and that I wasn't the only one.

2) Do a bit more. If you want to get the most out of Uni then sign up for extra things other than your compulsory lectures and seminar workshops. There are so many things you can do and get involved in. This way you will be in Uni more, making more use of the day, more use of the train fare you spent to get there(and the £9000 a year fees) Why not join a society, host a radio show, meet a discussion group? There are even lectures you can go to which aren't compulsory. I study media and once a month our Uni has someone from the media industry come in to do a lecture, find out what else is going on and make the most of it.

3) Use your commute time wisely. Instead of scrolling through Instagram on your phone, why not do some extra reading? My commute each morning is around an hour - that's 2 hours each day I could spend doing compulsory reading, research etc. Make the most of your commute time and it will cut down the work you do in your spare time.

4) Get a job. If your Uni is anything like mine they will have a department purely for student jobs, ranging from working on campus at coffee shops to admin roles. I work as a PR assistant at my University, for me this is a win, win as I am making more use of my time here, getting experience in the field I want to go in to and getting paid.

5) Buy a newspaper or pick up the free metro, keep up to date on current affairs and actually understand what is going on in the world - (ooh wont you feel grown up!)

6) Join a sports group. By joining a sports society it means you will meet people with the same interests as you, you will meet people who aren't in your lectures, who might not even be on your course and it means you can make new friends and meet new people. Also, being part of a sports team or society looks brilliant on your CV it shows team work skills. 

7) Take the train or the bus, for me taking the train is the best option rather than driving. Driving into the city centre can be a daunting and stressful experience, which isn't ideal if you have a day full of lectures. You want to have a clear and stress-free mind.

8) However, remember to take hand sanitiser if you do choose to go on the train. (Germs everywhere) 

9) If you're commuting on public transport make sure you look at all your options. There are loads of deals that you can sign up too so you don't have to pay every day, which works out quite expensive. Paying in advance for a pass will save you money and time as you won't have to keep queueing to buy tickets.

10) Get a tablet or an iPad as carrying a laptop round with you can be really tiring if your in the whole day. Make sure all your work is on your iPad/tablet and you can access it from Uni and make notes in lectures.

Are you a commuter? What advice would you give to fellow commuters? 

Things To Remember During The Hussle and Bussle of Everyday Life

1) Everybody has places to be, everybody has things to do. Not just you, don't tut at the poor lady who is confused at the train station and quite frankly in the way during rush hour. She could be confused where her platform is and the train is due to leave in 2 minutes, don't make it worse by making it obvious how frustrating she is being.

2) The people selling the big issue are just as cold and wet as you, but they have to stand in the rain all day whereas you have somewhere to go, don't walk straight past them avoiding eye contact - offer a smile, you'll never know how much they appreciate not being ignored.

3) You do actually need to eat, sometimes I completely forget that without food my body and brain won't function as well. Just because you've got a gergillian things to do doesn't mean you should neglect a break, some fresh air and an energy boost.

4) Someone, somewhere has it worse than you. This morning all trains in our area were severely delayed - I couldn't get in to Uni, so I'd got up for nothing. Mid-rant my Dad stopped me, "Jodie, all you had to do was go to Uni, someone had to go to an important job - they missed out on getting paid." Which then made me think, what about those going on holiday, those who might have missed their flights? Those visiting relatives, those with hospital appointments? All I did was miss one day at Uni and get out of bed at 6am for nothing. Someone, somewhere had it worse than me. Always think twice before moaning.

5) Real friends don't need to text all day, everyday. Since me and my friends have become progressively busier in our lives we can't possibly speak as much as we used to. But that's ok. If your friends are real they'll understand, and it makes it so much easier and better when you do eventually speak/see them.

6) On this note, don't neglect people. Don't ignore and neglect the people you care about just because 'life' is getting in the way. Make time for those you care about, and those who care about you.

7) Hard work is everything. No matter how hard it seems, how stressed you are becoming or how much you feel you want to quit. Things are not just handed to you, life is competitive and hard work will get you the places you want to be. Always try your best even when you feel like giving up.

How to keep sane whilst leading a busy life

Sometimes life can get in the way, your to-do list is the length of your arm and you are so stressed out you don't even know where to start. Here are my top tips for stopping yourself from going insane when life gets a little on top of you:

Have a routine 
Having a routine can really help keep you organised, for example I know my Uni timetable and the days I am at different jobs and try and stick to this every week if possible. Therefore you can work everything else around this and make the most of your time.

To-do lists
Ahhh, how do people live without a to-do list and a diary? I write everything down, relying on 'remembering' something does not work with me! I have a diary I carry round with me all the time and a desk pad which sits on my desk with a day-to-day schedule and notes for things I need to remember (ooh little miss organised)

What is your inspiration? 
Think of something you are looking forward to in the future, a holiday or a night out. Remember this when you feel like you are running round like a *madwoman* trying to get everything done. This will inspire you to keep going.

Think of the reward 
Every time something I have written gets published or a blog post gets lots of hits or comments I feel very rewarded and happy that I put in the effort(wooo). Sometimes the week gets a bit crazy and I sometimes don't want to write any articles or blogs but when it pays of it is rewarding, hold on to that feeling and it will make you want to do whatever it is you aren't too excited about.

Have in mind the end goal
Think of the end goal - why are you doing what you are doing? Is it towards your a-levels, your degree or is it to get more followers on your blog? Whatever it is, picture the end goal and it will motivate you. Picture yourself opening your results to 3 A's or B's or whatever you're aiming for, picture yourself getting to where you want to be and it will motivate you to do your best.

Get some sleep 
My best friend(sad I know), ultimately the more sleep you get the more energy you are going to have, the more you will be able to do in the day and the more 'up for it' you will feel and less sluggish and lazy.

Keeping one day completely to yourself
This is something I am adding into my routine. If you can, have one day completely to yourself, no work, no Uni work just a day doing what you want to do, seeing who you want to see and not worrying or stressing about the other things you need to do. This will keep you going throughout the week as well as you know that you are going to have your day off soon.

 

How do you keep yourself from going insane whilst leading a busy life? How do you combine blogging with a job or a degree? Any advice I can add into my life and routine?

6 easy ways to be more money efficient post the Christmas spend

January is a hard month, getting back into the swing of things; school, uni, work - not sleeping in until midday, everyday... But not just that, a lot of us spend a substantial amount of money before Christmas, whether it be on presents or even just going out celebrating the season. So January brings a long month and a long wait for payday. Being as today is 'Blue Monday' (google it) I thought I'd send out a more positive post, here are my top tips for being money efficient this January.

1) Make your own lunch to take with you to work - don't buy your lunch, even if it is the meal deal from the local shop that is only £3, it all adds up! Use the food that you have already bought at home, there are various different meals you can easily and cheaply prepare the night before you head out to work - from ham sandwiches (standard) to pasta dishes or rice dishes.

2) Have friends over or go to friends houses instead of going out. Cook for each other and take it in turns rather than spending money eating out. One cook the meal, the other bring the wine. Everyone's a winner.

3) Have a clean out/declutter. Whilst finding space for the presents you've had this Christmas, have a look what you actually still use, what you actually need, and get rid of the 'crap' that just sits in your room. Have a big clear out and head down to a car boot sale, or sell it on eBay - easy money.

4) Write down everything you buy/spend money on - at the end of the week review the list and you'll be surprised how much money you could of saved. Did you really need two of those caramel hot chocolates with an extra shot of caramel and extra cream in one day? (yes)

5) Take a big bottle of water with you out the house - promise yourself to drink it all, this will help you avoid buying tea/coffee/other drinks throughout the day, it's cheaper and healthy - win, win.

6) Look for discount codes online before buying anything/going anywhere. Most the time you can find 2 for 1 offers on google for days out, and many shops have discount codes which certain journalists and bloggers promote. There are also normally offers online for restaurants and bars too - always check.

Moving on, growing up. Teenage Years.

Being a teenager is a wonderful thing, it is a time when you grow, you mature, you have new experiences, you learn, you become inspired, you aspire to big things, you dream of the future, you love, you gain friendships, you make decisions, you learn about yourself, you are deciding who you are and who you want to be, you do good things, you have good opportunities, you get to meet so many new people and there are so many other things brilliant about the teenage years. But as they come to a close I think it's appropriate to touch on the subject of how to cope when it's no longer just you and your friends having fun at school. You're in this big wide world where everybody's growing up, everybody is changing, everybody is in different places, with different people, there is this sudden weight of responsibility on you, you are no longer young enough to need taking care of, you need to start making big decisions which have a massive impact and you start drifting away from the people that you were with daily and lived your teenage years with.

It's such a scary thought, and as personal as this post is to me, I think it is something that everybody can relate to and therefore something I wish to share. I've had conversations about this with so many different people and from what I see everybody can understand, everybody has something similar that they can bring to the table.

At this age I think it is only natural that you grow apart from people that you were once extremely close too. It is a sad time and it is difficult to come to terms with but as you grow up you do change, you mature, you meet new people and everybody grows up in different ways and at different times and through different circumstances. Whether that be they meet new people who understand them better, who change them, whether it be they move away to university so far that you just don't get the chance to see them, whether they get a new boyfriend who you don't really like or approve of, whether you just grow apart naturally and change into different people without realising.

I'm just going to reiterate that. We all change, even if we think we haven't. If you reflect on your thirteen year old self to your sixteen year old self, to your now eighteen year old self or twenty something self - you are so different - without realising you have even changed. Many things will have happened in that 5/6 year period, it is a crazy time where so many things influence you, you learn new things, try new things, meet new people, move to new places, like new people, love new people. Your best friend at 13 may be somebody you don't even recognise now, somebody you wouldn't even say hello to if you saw them on the street - which to some people is a good thing, and is something they are glad has happened, and to others it is sad and difficult. But some people have the same group of friends throughout school so what happens when you suddenly stop seeing each other every day? What happens when people move to other cities? When you meet new people? Get new boyfriends? Does it work? Can it work? Can the friendships survive. What I find a difficult concept is when do you give up? And when do you stop trying to fix it? When does it end?

For me, I've come to a stage where I am just beginning to accept it. I'm just letting life happen. I have decided that I am glad of the way I am and I am so happy with the people surrounding me and life is constantly changing and people are constantly drifting and we have to just roll with it.

There is also a huge responsibility at this time in life. I am turning 19 this year, and last year I made a big decision to go to Uni and study Media and Communications. This is something I had to decide on my own, I had to dig deep into myself and decide what I wanted to do with life, where I wanted to be in the future. I decided on a course which I think will hopefully get me closer to what I want to do for a career and I decided to stay at home and study and commute to University - a decision some people find mad, but was the best option for me.

I have a few more years of opportunities and different exciting things happening to me before I well and truly have to go into the scary reality of real life. At the moment I still live at home and I go to Uni, but I do drive myself around, work for my money and pay my way so I am beginning to see into this big wide world, I have a glimpse of how I will cope and I think I can handle the responsibility.

Being a teenager is a scary, exciting, sad, amazing, wonderful, horrible, hormonal and beautiful time and the thought of only having one more year left, for me, is sad yet exciting.

Maintaining Long Distance Friendships

I've seen many articles and many blog-posts recently on how to maintain a long distance relationship whilst at Uni. Fortunately for me, I don't know much about this as me and my boyfriend are both still at home. However, many of my friends have left for Uni, and are now living in other cities across the UK. Therefore I feel it is appropriate for someone to touch on how to keep your friendships alive and how to maintain long distance friendships.

Firstly, I believe it is VERY easy to keep in contact with people in other cities. There are the possibilities of FaceTime and Skype, where you can actually talk to them as if they are in the room. There is also all the forms of social media including Instagram and Twitter where you can actually see what your friends are getting up to whilst away. In today's society it is extremely easy to keep in contact with people, after all a message will send instantly and a phone call can connect you instantly to them. Really, there isn't much excuse not too keep in contact.

Another point I think is important to emphasise, is that your friend in another city is probably having an incredible time, after all it is still freshers some places. They are probably in awe of the new city they are in, and really excited to be living this new life. Therefore if they haven't been in contact, don't be too put out. It doesn't mean they have forgotten you, it just means that they are excited and having a good time.

On the other hand, maybe your friends are really struggling to settle in, and could do with some familiar faces. As well as social media allowing you to see what they are up to in there new lives, it can also be very misleading, as obviously on social media people choose what they want to post. They wouldn't want to post that they are home-sick and upset would they? If this is the case they would probably really appreciate a friendly text or phone call. Make sure you show your friend how important they are to you, and how you really value their friendship.

Friendship is a really important thing, and to have truly great friends is a blessing. Therefore we should all make the effort to keep in touch, and maintain our friendships with people we've been friends with for years, regardless of where they live now.

(google images) 

Thoughts On A Thursday #5 - Combating Nerves

Many of us are facing new challenges in the coming weeks, whether it's moving away from home for University, starting a new school, starting college or beginning an apprenticeship.

Nerves may be beginning to kick in right now, and even though we're all excited and happy to be moving on with our lives doing something we'll enjoy (hopefully) it still is a big scary thing, no matter what you're doing, travelling the world on a gap year or starting an apprenticeship down the road from where you live. Everybody's challenge is different and personal, and whether small or big, important to each of us.

Nerves are a common part of life, everybody gets nervous, even old people, even people who seem to have it all figured out. Nerves are an emotion which makes us human, and you shouldn't be embarrassed for being nervous or scared.

Accepting your nervous or scared and talking about it with someone close to you is a good thing to do, this way you're sharing the problem, and receiving advice of someone who wants to help you and cares about you. Another thing is thinking of all the positive things about what you're doing, not the negatives. Don't think about what could go wrong, or what you haven't prepared for. Think positive thoughts, at the end of the day you are going to go, you are starting a new job or you are moving away from home, so worrying about it isn't going to change the fact that it is going to happen. The energy you waste on being nervous could be channelled into excitement. Another thing i'd suggest is taking a deep breath and relaxing, don't stress out about it. Just chill out and go with it, whatever you're doing is something you've chosen to do, it's a stepping stone to wherever you want to to go in life, and this feeling of nerves will soon feel a million years ago. Life goes very, very fast and we should learn to embrace every moment, as every moment goes extremely quick. My final thought to share with you is the quote 'Great things never come from comfort zones' which, recently i've found to be very true. In order to achieve something wonderful, sometimes you need to be out of your comfort zone completely as it will open your mind to many new things, new opportunities, new ways of living, new people. Change isn't always a bad thing, it can be refreshing and eye-opening, and ultimately make you a better person.

Wishing everybody reading this good luck in whatever future plans you have, if you are nervous then don't worry as we all are and it is very common. As soon as you're emerged into your new routine and your new life, your old life and old routine will seem strange and weird and again, feel a million years ago!

Thoughts On A Thursday #4 - Fomo & Life Envy

Living in a world dominated by Social Media means that we are constantly exposed with the in's and out's of other people's lives, where they're on holiday, what they're having for dinner, what they're wearing that day etc etc.

With 60 million pictures uploaded to Instagram everyday and thousands of tweets per second on Twitter it makes it difficult for us to be satisfied with our own lives. Watching celebrities go about there stylish, exciting day to day lives in exciting places like Hollywood, Los Angeles, Chelsea - eating in 5* restaurants, visiting 5* luxury hotels, can lead to 'Life-envy' upon opening these social media sites.

Many people feel absolutely fine about themselves, and fine about there lives until they see what there friends or other people are up to on Facebook, a recent article told me. Once you've seen that your Facebook friend has had a brilliant weekend and is loving life, it makes you feel the need to share your most exciting memory from the past few days on the internet - just to prove you are not boring old sod. This comes under the FOMO addiction, which stands for the fear of missing out.

People today, due to the over powering need to check social media, have become connected to this fear of missing out. Even if out with friends, shopping or on a date, people feel an overpowering need to check facebook, twitter, snapchat etc just incase something interesting is happening, just incase there missing out on something, just incase somethings happened that they NEED to know.

The addiction also includes updating social media on what you yourself are up to, the need to share with others that you are on holiday, or eating out because if you don't your internet friends may think well.. what? Why is it that we feel we need to share so much of our lives with the internet? Why does your 789 Facebook friends need to know what your at McDonalds with your cousin? Or that you enjoyed your cup of tea watching Coronation Street.

Will we ever be completely satisfied in our own lives or are we going to continue to be swamped in the importance of others. The scariest thought is that technology is still in its early stages compared to the possibilities for technology to come in the future.

The main point I'm wanting to stress in this post is that i think we should all take a moment to step back, and appreciate life for what it is, we all have interesting and unique lives, each different to the next. You may be jealous of someone else for eating in a certain restaurant or for visiting a certain place, but they might be just as jealous for something you've done. The concept of FOMO is interesting and scary, but we should embrace it rather than letting it take over. Allow it to better ourselves, do better in ourselves, not to appear better on the internet.

Disclaimer: I promise I do not hate technology, I realise that this is the second post i've done on the negative sides of technology, but I do value it too. I just value real life more.

Thoughts on a Thursday #3 - Technology Takeover

You've left your house and you're 10 minutes away from wherever you need to be, you're already running late. You're rummaging round the bottom of your bag trying to feel for your phone. You can't feel it, you start to think back to when you left your house, you start rummaging through your bag quicker. Your heart starts beating faster, you're getting slightly annoyed with yourself and even more panicked. Where is your phone? You can't find it. You've definitely forgot it. You suddenly remember seeing it on the work surface at home in your kitchen, you walked straight past it. What now? What do you do? Can you cope the day without your phone? Can you make it to work/to school/to uni to wherever you're going without it? Or is it so important that you turn back, risk being late and grab it.

For most of us, the connection to our smartphone, iPods, tablets, laptops etc is borderline obsessive. They contain our whole lives, they give us access to our friends, family etc and potentially they are used for our jobs and hobbies. But surely this is normal now right? It's normal to walk down the road and for people to be attached to their electronic device, to have earphones in their ear, to be reading of a screen or talking into their phone.

Technology advances every single day and to some extent, it has become a necessity in our lives;  iPads and computers are used in schools, apps are used to monitor our health and fitness, you can order your shopping online and you can manage your bank account via your phone. Therefore it is easy to see why technology is well and truly taking over our lives, in today's society it is difficult to live without it.

So when is it a little too much? Many will agree that it is rude to text when with other people, it is antisocial to check Facebook or twitter for the billionth time when sitting having a conversation with another living, breathing human being. I know that I feel a bit put out when I'm with my friends and we're talking and having fun and suddenly I realise there not actually listening to me instead there scrolling through Instagram or texting somebody else, and then you feel a sense of unimportance, that your friend would rather interact with this tiny little device than you. It becomes even more overwhelming when your sitting in a room with 3 other people, or in a restaurant and you look up and realise every single one of you is engrossed in their phones. Probably reading a tweet that they've read before, or that they could read later. Then I realise we are wasting valuable time, time where we can learn about each other, share opinions, laugh and have fun. Instead we're all staring into a tiny little screen, looking at things that probably aren't as interesting as the people sitting in front of us.

I am as much interested in technology as the next person, and I am in no way trying to insinuate that we should go back to living without technology. I just think everybody needs to calm down a little bit, and make sure we appreciate whats in front of us before it is too late (a little morbid haha). Some suggestions from me, have a certain time in the day when you do not use you're phone at all, example dinner time, there is no need to have your phone next to you whilst sitting having your family meal of an evening. Secondly, turn your phone completely off when you go to bed, there is no need to be woken up-to texts or reminders. Read your reminders before you turn it off and use a real alarm clock in the morning, this way you are more likely to have a good nights sleep without any interruptions. This is also good for the phone as it allows it to recharge. Lastly, leave your devices alone, there is no need to take your phone with you to go on a run, embrace nature, leave it in another room. I promise you it won't run away!

I know that in todays world technology plays a big, big part, but we must be careful that we still are the ones in control, don't be controlled by a tiny little machine!

Thoughts on a Thursday #2 - #LikeAGirl

This is kind of a weird post as it was inspired by the YouTube advert by 'Always' which I know is a brand which sells girly products and the boys reading are gonna be like eww this is about periods and what not, however it's not. The advert is basically about sexism, about how the phrase 'Like a girl' (run like a girl, throw like a girl) is seen as humiliating, and that being a girl is seen as negative.

Which led me to think about sexism, sexist behaviour and what it truly is to be a woman in the 21st Century. Society has come a long, long way - women no longer have to stay at home washing and cleaning, it is no longer unusual for women to earn their own money. Men and women are of the same status, and although there are some people who still believe men are superior and women inferior, generally as a society we see men and women as equals.

The advert led me to think, what is it about throwing like a girl that is so negative? Running like a girl? Kicking, punching, screaming, acting, etc etc. Is this because us 'girls' are supposed to be weak, and a throw by a girl will be a weak throw, a race ran by a girl will be a slow race?

      

Young girls these days have many strong, powerful women they can look up-to and aspire to be like. With the ever-growing media emphasis on our lives, you do not have to look far to see women in the spotlight doing women proud. Young girls may watch sports channels on the TV and see women performing at the Olympics, showing that running, kicking, throwing like a girl is definitely not negative. They might tune into the apprentice and see women owning business', making lots of money for themselves in their own name, their own way. Or they may turn on the music channels and see Women dominating the charts.

There are many organisations just for women; Girl guiding for example, girl guiding is at the forefront of empowering women and giving young girls opportunities to develop and grow, and give them confidence within themselves. Being a girl, a lady, a woman is certainly not something to be humiliated by, being a woman opens many many doors. Sure, being a man has its benefits, but in my opinion, being a girl is fab, and if anything something to be extremely proud of and happy about. 

I could talk about this a whole lot more but these "Thoughts on a Thursday" posts are not meant to drown you in my opinions, just short and sweet snippets of what's in my mind! Check back next week for #3 ! :) 

See the advert that inspired this post here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs 

Thoughts on a Thursday #1 // 'Growing up'

Growing Up

Today I had my last exam and officially finished my A-Levels, therefore technically I've finished school completely. I know that we are still classed as students until the end of the academic year blah blah, but nonetheless I'm free. I could have potentially finished education forever, depending how well I turn out to do in my exams. This is the beginning of the rest of my life, without sounding dramatic, it really is true. I am no longer in the scheme of having to be educated, it is now my choice - I could go to Uni, I could travel, I could get a job. The world is my oyster. 

Half of me feels accomplished, happy, stress-free, the other half, anxious and apprehensive. This summer is going to be so very good, I have so many good things lined up and I am so excited. However depending on what happens on the 14th August(Results Day) could shape my whole life. I feel very excited for the future, obviously it is daunting. There are many decisions that will have to made, huge watts of responsibility on my shoulders but I am surrounded by very positive people and I have a huge support system in place. Therefore as scary as the future is, I embrace it with open arms. 

Growing up is a confusing idea for me, as at 18 years old, I am considered 'Grown up'. I'm mature, I have a job, I have a car, I can vote, I can get married and therefore I am an adult. I think I am quite mature, and I can understand why 18 is the age of adolescence. I know my own mind and I know what is right and wrong, I know what is fair and unfair. However I do still sometimes get it wrong, sometimes I do feel as though I could have done better, I've maybe gone about something the wrong way. As a child, I assumed adults and grown ups were all very clued up, always knew what to do and would always be kind and helpful. I would look at girls in the years above me at school, and couldn't wait to be like them, couldn't wait to know myself and have it all figured out. I've now realised that this is not the case at all, everybody is human. It doesn't matter what age we are, we all make mistakes, we all have different views and we all have different ideas.

Life is a scary thing, but it is an amazing thing. It is the most incredible journey, and to think we are still in the first stages of life, still teenagers, thats even better. We really do have our whole lives ahead of us and we still have the chance to be whatever we want to be. When I think about how much i've learnt in the past 2 years, it's so exciting to think what i'll learn in the next 2 years, and the 2 years after that. We are all still growing, at no age do we stop growing, at no age do we stop learning. Life is full of growing up and of realising who we are and who we're supposed to be and I cannot wait for the rest of my life!

Happiness

I couldn't agree more with this! As human beings, I believe we like to complicate things, we like to find negatives, as opposed to positives. 

My life: Recently over the past few months, I have had such a better outlook on life. I am so happy and content with how my life is right now. I have a wonderful family, amazing friends and the most incredible boyfriend. I work 3 shifts a week max which gives me enough time to do all my school work, see my boyfriend, and blog often, as well as earning money still. I feel as though everything is in its place and everything is finally going right.

My advice: If you feel like something's not right or somethings jeopardizing your happiness, think are you over complicating it? Over-thinking it maybe? Maybe solving the problem is a lot, lot easier than you think! Maybe there isn't even a problem. Maybe your holding on to something that no longer matters? Has someone upset you in the past, is it still relevant? Are you putting a lot of time or effort into something that isn't serving a purpose, or isn't making you a better person? 

If someone or something makes you happy; have it, do it, keep it. 

Happiness is key.

Do we need our phones 24/7?

Ok, I do own a phone (obviously - a 17 year old girl in this day and age without an iPhone is strange, let alone a 17 year old in this day and age without a phone full stop) and I admit, I carry it everywhere. To school, to the gym, to work, to my boyfriends, even to the toilet.

Why?

It's not just a phone anymore. Its a tiny little computer, tablet whatever you want to call it - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Blogger etc are all in your pocket - accessible at any moment (with WiFi or mobile network of course). Not to mention, texts, calls, whatsapp etc. This poses the question, why would we be without our phones?

What are the benefits of always having our phones with us?

• Never miss a thing, your friends are a phone call or text away, gossip is a tweet away.
• You can remember important moments by instagramming a photograph of it. 
• If you feel you are in an awkward situation, you can pretend to be on the phone, or update yourselves on what everyone you know is up to via friendstream. 
• If there is an emergency you can call someone instantly (signal permitting) 
• You can find information instantly via google or another search engine.

Implications of always having our phones with us?

• We become reliant on them, become lazy, instead of thinking what something means we google it, instead of working out an equation, we use the calculator.
• Our friends lives become in synced with ours, we care more about what their up to than what we should be doing. Honestly, do you care that your friend is having pasta for dinner?.. 
• Memories aren't memories anymore, their pictures - which I suppose means we can remember them more, but does it also mean that we hinder the memory, and how good it could be, because instead we wished to take a picture? 
• Some people today do not know how to act in conversations or in social events because they are so reliant on communicating through their phones.
• Instead of exercising our brains, we exercise our fingers. 'Googling' the answer to a question instead of answering it ourselves. 
• We do not appreciate the time we have with our loved ones, as we spend the time on our phones. 

This video below was the inspiration for this blogpost, which I came across scrolling through Facebook. 

It's definitely made me think about how often I use my phone and whether I really need to.