8 Reminders We Both Need to Hear

This week I’ve been thinking – a lot. I’m not really sure what’s sparked all of this (deep) thought all of a sudden, but it’s inspired me to share some of my personal reminders with you guys. Some of these things are what I’ve been reminding myself of for awhile now, so I hope that you find them helpful and inspiring in some way.

Being 20-something can sometimes be hard because a lot of us are in transitional stages of life. Starting college, dating, applying for internships, graduating from college, moving away from home, getting that big girl job, getting married, starting a family … a lot of life’s events happen during your 20’s (for a lot of us). And if all of that isn’t already overwhelming enough, we also have a million other distractions in this lovely technological world that we now live in. It’s easy to get distracted from the things that matter most in your life (especially when this busy lifestyle we all live starts to take over), so hopefully, these little reminders will help you as much as they’ve been helping me recently.

1. Slow down. Easier said than done, I know. I am the world’s worst at this, so I really have no room to talk here, but I am striving every day to focus down while working so I can complete everything on my to-do list and then be able to stop working for the day at a more reasonable time to spend time doing something else I enjoy, spending extra time with my husband or family, and just taking a few extra minutes to relax. If I didn’t remind myself of this daily, I don’t think I would ever shut my laptop. I genuinely love my career and enjoy the hustle of it all so much that it’s a struggle to actually ‘stop’ working for the day (especially since I work from home). So, if you are like me or you just so happen to be piling too much onto your plate, I urge you to slow down. If you don’t, life will pass by so quickly that you will look up one day and wonder where all the time went.

2. Do what you love. You control your happiness in life, so find what you love to do in life and then put it into action! If you are unhappy at your 9 to 5 desk job (because I’ve been there trust me) or you have a dream of becoming a lawyer (shoutout to Elle Woods!), a model, an actor, a designer, an entrepreneur … then start chasing after that dream so that you can do what you love for a living. Trust me, it’s totally worth taking the leap of faith!!! Or maybe it’s not your job. Maybe you would just like to travel more or write a cookbook full of your amazing recipes – do it! There is no one stopping you. Book the plane ticket. Apply for law school. Chase your dreams. Do what you love. You won’t regret it!

3. Spend time with your family. Call your grandparents. Take your mom to dinner. Go shopping with your sister. Spend time with your significant other. Schedule a family day. I’m convinced that I’m the biggest family person that has ever been – I love my family more than anything in this world. However, even I get ‘so busy’ that I often let my busy schedule get in the way of spending time with them. And I hate that. This week actually, I spent some time talking to my sweet grandparents, and it was the perfect reminder that I needed of how precious our time together really is. Unfortunately, our loved ones will not always be here, and things can happen in an instance. We must make time for the most important people in our lives because no amount of money could ever replace the time we get to spend with them.

4. Learn to love your alone time. This one is a biggie for me, and I think I’ve actually mastered it, haha! Just like spending time with your loved ones is important – so is spending time by yourself. One of my favorite times of the day is when I’m at home in my cloffice by myself with a candle lit, some simple tunes playing and I’m either writing or styling. It’s my getaway, and I love every second. It’s so rejuvenating and refreshing after you have some time to yourself, so I highly recommend trying this out. If it’s burying your nose in a book, taking a bubble bath or simply binging some Netflix, do what makes you feel relaxed. Don’t ever rely on other people for your own happiness!

5. Take time for your daily devotion. This is so important. We’ve all been there where we’ve slept in for ‘5 extra minutes’ and now we’re rushing out the door – without coffee or time spent God to start our day. I’ve really been trying hard lately to start my day off with some type of devotion that can get my mind thinking and open up some conversation with God. Of course I’m human, and just like many others, I too fall short of this on some days (and then disappoint myself). I can specifically tell a difference on the days when I start my mornings off with scripture and the days when I don’t. I promise you that if you start spending time with God and His word every morning, your days and weeks will become so much more enjoyable and meaningful. I highly suggest Jesus Calling as a part of your daily devotion. It’s one that I’ve used for years, and I absolutely love it. If y’all would like some more suggestions, I would love to do a detailed post on this topic – just let me know!

6. Was it a bad day or a bad 5 minutes that you milked all day? I think we’re all guilty of this. Same goes for if you really did have one of those bad days. It was just that – a bad day. Not a bad life. But I know – when it rains, it pours. And that’s never fun. But let’s get real, us ladies can be a little dramatic from time to time (me being one of the worst LOL). We always think that if one really bad thing is happening in our lives, every other little problem in our lives is just as bad. Not true. Tackle the main problem, and move on. When these dramatic thoughts creep in, try counting your blessings and making a list of things/people you’re thankful for. Literally – it helps. I know because I have done this practice a lot. And then be sure to start the next day off with that daily devotion I was talking about to see if that helps your mindset become a little more realistic and rational – I promise it will help more than you can imagine.

7. Stop comparing. In this world of social media (and especially in the world of blogging), it’s so easy to compare ourselves to others’ lives – THE LIVES THEY SHOW OFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I put that in all caps because it’s important for us to remember that someone’s IG page is just a highlight reel of their life. If someone is showing you the pretty side of their day, they may be covering up the fact that they are experiencing heartache, cropping out that huge messy corner of the room, or choosing the picture with the better angle to disguise an insecurity. And then there’s all those pictures of someone getting a new designer handbag or pair of shoes on the daily. It’s so easy to compare our real lives to someone else’s internet life. Trust me, I’ve been there. It’s a must that you stop comparing right this second or else it will make you go crazy. Be thankful for who you are and what your life is like because we all have things to be grateful for. And always remember that social media often makes some people’s lives look a whole lot cooler than they actually are.

8. Be confident in yourself. Go after what you want in life. Stand up for what you believe in. Tell it like it is. I’ve been spending a lot of time working on this in just the past year, and I’ve seen such a difference in my life and the way others perceive me. If you are confident in yourself, you will be more comfortable when it comes to asking for things that you want and deserve out of life. Now, I will say there’s a huge difference in confidence and cockiness, so be sure not to confuse the two. But overall, learning to believe in and speak up for yourself with confidence will bring you out of your comfort zone and lead you to the life you have always wanted.

Thanks for reading!

xo, P