It's Saturday morning. Whether you went out last night or you stayed in and ate ice cream in bed, goddammit you're tired. Your bed feels like the best place in the world right now because maybe, just maybe, this world that asks so much of you can be turned off for a few hours while you pretend to sleep in...(but we all know you're just hiding under the covers while browsing Instagram).
Sure, you've earned some time off to relax and do a little bit of nothing. But why can't you put that time to use to do something? I've put together a list of 10 things you, yes you, can do right now...to make a difference in your day. You'll thank yourself for it later, trust me.
1. Put on some music.
Studies show that listening to music uses all parts of the brain, including areas responsible for motor actions, emotions, and creativity. In fact, listening to music stimulates the brain more than any other human function. Your roommate may tell you to keep it down while she sleeps... Try explaining that you're just TRYING TO STIMULATE YOUR BRAIN.
Listen to: Sleepless feat. Jezzabell Doran by Flume here.
2. Read an article.
I know your routine...laying in bed, browsing social media, glancing over photos from the night before (even if they're not your photos...or your group of friends). Stop it right now! Go on Twitter and click on something someone posted. Read something with value that will add to your day. (And yes, this article counts.)
3. Meditate.
You're still feeling a little (okay, a lot) of stress from the million things you have going on in your head right now. Take a second and breathe. There's a general stigma attached to meditation - a lot of people know what it is, but the uncertainty of how to do it wards people off. It's an intimidating word, I'm not gonna lie. But it's a lot easier than you think. First, find a 5-10 minute clip on YouTube (I like relaxing music meditation clips best). Then, sit in an upright position, cross your legs, close your eyes. Breathe. Focus on the center of your head, in between your eyes and just above your nose. Your problems won't disappear, but I'll be damned if you don't have a clearer picture of how to approach your problems. Meditation may take some practice, but you may be surprised with how effective it is on your body and mind.
4. Go for a walk.
Get your ass out of bed! It's summertime. We spend all winter long waiting to feel the hot sun on our skin. Stop wishing you were doing more outdoor activities and actually do it.
5. Make a snack.
You know all of those recipe ideas you've been saving for a rainy day? It's hard to ever get around to actually making them with all of the time you don't have. I know from experience that I have about 20 recipes saved that I may never get around to... But why are we limiting ourselves to what we eat? Who knows how easy a recipe will be until we try it? Saturday mornings are the perfect time to whip up some peanut butter bites or sweet potato tacos that you've been dying to indulge in.
6. Reach out to someone.
Social media makes it so easy for us to get in touch with peers that we don't necessarily see or talk to on a regular basis. But if you've been down in the dumps about losing touch with a friend after going away to college or just having to work all of the time...reach out to them. Send a text, a tweet, a comment, a phone call. Your standard "miss you...let's get together soon" does a lot with a little, but actually following through to plan a date together will make you both feel better about each other.
7. Set a goal for yourself.
What do you want to do? Whether you're setting a goal for your personal or professional life, take down notes of everything going on in your head about what you want to do and how you plan to get there.
8. Clean out your closet.
Okay, so this may sound crazy...but my college roommates can attest to this: I'm a freak when it comes to cleaning out my closet. I dump out all of my drawers and pull everything off of the hangers. Then, I organize them by article of clothing (sweaters, jeans, shorts, skirts, blouses, t-shirts, dresses...etc.) It may eat up an hour or so of your time, but you will feel so much better digging up items that you forgot you had. This is also a perfect time to play with your wardrobe and mix different pieces together to create new outfits with what you already have.
9. Set up a wish list.
The best way to avoid impulse buying that dress that you'll never wear is to have a wish list. Now's the time to go crazy. Go on every website you know you can afford and browse until you can't browse no more. For every item you like, either add it to your cart or copy and paste it into a Word document. After a while, if you start to find a pattern in items you keep saving, it'll be easier to narrow down your list to just one pair of printed pants that best fit your needs, instead of feeling overwhelmed with all of the options.
10. Reorganize your beauty products.
Almost every girl I know uses something different to store their makeup. I never realized this until college when one of my good friends would keep her makeup in a decorative silver bowl, which is something I would have never thought of doing. Personally, I have 2 makeup bags that serve different purposes: One is filled with products that I can use on a day-to-day basis. The other is filled with eyeliners and makeup that I use on occasion. I'm always interested to hear how people store their makeup, so please, share this with me: how do you store yours?
xo, Cee
No comments:
Post a Comment