1. Treat yo'self. I might take this to the extreme, and I fo'sure could do with curbing my 'treat yo'self' attitude, but I firmly believe life is for living. So buy that new dress, spring for a cab, or upgrade your medium latte to a large. Life is far too short, and none of us know how long we have left on this mortal coil, so enjoy it while you're still here.
2. Don't underestimate the importance of savings. In complete contradiction of the above perhaps, but if you can put a little aside every month out of your monthly pay packet, you'll reap the benefits. No more anxiety when you have an unexpected bill/car repair/broken boiler. What's not to like about that?
3. Love yourself. There's so much pressure, on women especially, to look a certain way. Who gives a shit, though? Love yourself; whether you're skinny or fat, black or white, brunette or blonde. We are all so unique, and beautiful in our uniqueness.
4. Make time for what matters most to you. Whether this is spending time with family, curling up with a good book, or dozing off in a hot bubble bath. Whatever matters most to you, prioritise it. One thing I've recently realised is that life is short and you should live it how you want to!
5. Don't be ashamed of your interests. Why do people feel the need to shame us for liking so-called 'trashy' magazines, or cleaning (#hincharmy), or running? Let everyone have their own interests and enjoy them in peace! Love One Direction? Shout it from the rooftops! Passion for stamp collecting? Share it with the world. Don't be ashamed of your interests, passions or hobbies.
6. Lock your doors. I might be influenced on this point by the fact that I'm currently watching a True Crime documentary, but it's an important point. I never used to lock my door, unless I heard reports of an inmate from the nearby prison on the loose. That was until I heard of someone going around the neighbourhood, trying doors, and entering unlocked properties. To do what? I don't know. But whatever it was, he was up to no good. I got a new lock that automatically locks behind me, and I feel so much more secure in my own home now.
7. Stand up for what you believe in. We're a lazy generation when it comes to this point. But I'm trying to change this in my own sphere of influence. I support animal charities monetarily in rescuing injured or abused animals. I foster abandoned kittens for Cats Protection. Animals are important to me, and are all too often so badly treated. They don't have their own voice to speak up, to stand up, so I'm doing it for them. Find out what you believe in, what's important to you, and do what you can to stand up for, and support that, cause.
8. Get to know your neighbours. We're also a very lonely generation. But getting to know your neighbours, and not necessarily just your immediate neighbours, could start to negate those feelings of loneliness. And you never know when they might come in very useful!
9. Avoid debt. I'm all for treating yo'self, but I have also come to realise it is so not worth getting yourself in debt over. If you're already in debt? Minimise it; pay it off as quickly as possible. Avoid the temptation by cutting up your credit cards.
10. Make time for family and friends. This can be really hard to do when you're jugging a job, running your own home, enjoying your hobbies etc. And it can be really hard to do when you're struggling with depression/anxiety. But it's so worth it. Remember that your friends and family are so important, and time spent with them is time well spent.
11. Don't be afraid to take a step back. Whether it's finding blogging a chore, your job getting on top of you, or struggling to keep up with commitments. Just say no. Take a break, take some holiday or, if necessary, sick leave. Outsource some commitments - I hire an ironing lady once a month and it's a massive weight off my shoulders.
12. Stop listening to that nasty voice inside your head. We all have one, right? The one that tells us we don't deserve nice things, we're fat or ugly, or everyone would be better off without us. But that voice is wrong. Don't even give it the time of day. When it starts to make itself heard, say "not today" and focus your mind on something positive instead.
13. Ask for help. There is no shame in asking for help. But many of us feel too ashamed to ask for help, so we don't. Just know that so many people around you will be more than happy to help you, with whatever you need. So ask!
14. Don't mollycoddle your sons. Every man I've ever been with who is basically a slob has been mollycoddled by his mother. Mothers, remember, one day your son will marry. Do their future wife, or husband, a favour and teach them to clean up after themselves. Please!
15. Stop causing drama online. Why are there so many people intent on causing drama on social media? It just ruins the platform for many of us. Don't do it. Simple.
16. If you have a problem with someone, tell them. Linked to the above, if you have a problem with someone, tell them. Don't post shady shit obviously aimed at them on social media. Speak to them about it. You'd be surprised how often the person in question doesn't even realise they've caused offence. You could repair a broken relationship this way. You definitely won't the other way.
17. Make time for mindfulness. Ugh, Aimee, take your own advice. Please!! Mindfulness is something I have come to find incredibly helpful over the last year,or two. It can be hard to find time to do it, but you'll reap the benefits if you can squeeze in even 5-10 minutes of mindfulness a day.
18. Don't make work your priority. Even if you love your job, I think it's important to realise; it's just a job. Don't live to work, work to live. Prioritise everything else that is so much more important; friends, family, hobbies, passions.
19. Stop impulse buying. Supermarkets know we do this, so they make it impossible for us to resist. Who else is guilty of spotting something by the till that you really don't need but find yourself popping in your basket anyway?
20. Don't copy other people's work. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It's not. Like something someone else has posted? Take inspiration from it. Don't take it! Bloggers, creatives, everyone works hard to create things. Be it art, literature, cake. Don't copy them. You're insulting them. And you will be found out.
21. Celebrate your birthday like a queen. You only get one birthday a year, and you only get a finite number of birthdays in your lifetime. So celebrate like a queen. Make it your birthday month. And remember, calories don't count when it's your birthday!
22. Stop counting calories. I've tried this in the past, and it only leads to obsession. Eat healthy, exercise more, and be mindful of the foods you're putting into your body. That's the healthiest way to live.
23. Eat the cake. That being said, don't limit yourself. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, life is too short...not to eat the cake.
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24. Don't dwell in the past. Therapy is teaching me how to live in the moment, and how to let go of the past. Whether you partake in counselling, utilise self-help books, or find some other way to do this; let go of the past.
25. Smile. Smile. At everyone. You'll never know what someone else is going through, and a smile could make their whole day.
26. Love freely. It doesn't matter whether it's your cat, your husband or yourself. Love freely. Never be ashamed of who, or what, you love. And bask in that feeling of love. Love is simply amazing. And we need more love in the world.
27. Make the world a better place. Whether it's picking up plastic from the beach, supporting charities monetarily or with your time, or helping the elderly/vulnerable in your neighbourhood. Do what you can, when you can, to help make the world a better place.
28. Do something scary, today. We all like to live in our comfort zones. Why wouldn't we? It's comfortable, right? But it's not really living. Push yourself and do something scary today. Now that's living!
What is an important life lesson you've learnt in the last year?
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