TIPS FOR GETTING THROUGH THAT THIRD AND FINAL UNI YEAR OF UNIVERSITY

September is here yet again, and for the first time in three years, it's the first time I won't be going back to any sort of education and most importantly, university. 

I know this post is titled 'tips for getting through that third and final year' but this is also relatable to those few hard working freshers or the people who have suddenly realised year two actually partly counts towards your final grade.

Whilst university really wasn't the hardest time of my life. With year one and two being filled with drinking, having fun and socialising. The workload side of it really can be daunting and not so fun. Naturally though...drinking your weight in beer is going to be a lot more fun than drinking your weight in tea at the library.

Now that I'm some sort of survivor of uni and soon to be graduating I feel have a few little tips to share.

TIP ONE - JUST DO IT. No, I'm not talking about Nike, but they do have a point, just do it. Just open up your laptop and a word document and type. I spent far too long worrying that what I first put onto a page had to perfection, which just made me not type at all. SO, just do it, type away and get into the assignment and communicate with your tutor. This is the only way your word count is going to go down. *I know this sounds ridiculous*. But honestly, getting started is the hardest part so JUST DO IT.

TIP TWO - FIND YOUR PLACE. The best way to get some serious work done is to find your place, the place that you work the best and most. You learn the hard way with this one and with experience you will know if working in your room with a TV, iPad etc. surrounding you is the best or if going to the library away from so many distractions is for you. For me it was the library, so I went pretty much everyday and I am so thankful for it (reality check: at the time I hated it).

TIP THREE - PRIORITISE AND PLAN. I'm a bit of an organiser, I like to know what I'm doing when so when the workload was a little bit full on I would simply prioritise and plan. My priorities in my third year was learning from past mistakes when it came to my work (*COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR TUTORS ALL. THE. TIME. EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT*) and working hard to get a First Class. With this, my social life pretty much died I will admit but I look back and my first and second year were incredible so I had my share of fun *no regrets*. The library was my second home. When it came to planning, I think it's so important to figure out your word count and get organised so you have goals and targets to reach every day and week. E.G. write 600 words today. Simple as that. In every notebook of mine scribbles of goals and word counts would be all over the place and that is really what motivated me.

So there we have it, my top three tips for getting through that third and final year. A little bonus tip for you all is to also remember to have FUN. Although for me uni work was my upmost priority it's still so important to let off steam once in a while, have a few days of when needed etc and to not feel guilty for doing that as trust me, you deserve it.

Sophie xx

LIFE | 2018

Hello, it's me, I'm back. Again. And as if it's 2018?! I'm pretty sure it was 2016 like two weeks ago.

Sooooo, this year I think instead of resolutions I'm going to instead look at how I can improve myself generally and not just focus on one specific thing.

1. First up, I'm going to try and be a better friend. Now don't get me wrong I'm not a bad friend. BUT I find myself very easily consumed into day to day life and not make plans till plans are way overdue. SO, one way I'm going to better myself is actually make plans with my besties.

2. This second one is a tad daunting to even think about but...it is officially the year I graduate. With that, I really want to finish with the best grade I can and wether I go onto to do a Masters or get a job, just do my best to do well in whatever I chose to do.

3. The final one is that cliche one you can't help but hope for when a new year comes but I really want to be happier, 2017 brought a few new low points for me and I really want to spend more energy on positivity than negativity, which I've been guilty of not doing in the past. SO, I strongly believe 2018 although being the year in which I'll no longer be living with my two besties *crys* can and will be a bloody gooden'.

So there we have it my three ways and wishes that'll make 2018 better than the last.

Whats your guy's new year new you mottos?

Sophie xx

HOW TO | FIND INSPIRATION AND PLAN BLOG POSTS

Hello allll, 

Today's post is about how I plan my blog posts and where/how I find the inspiration for them. Which I figured could maybe be a little helpful to other bloggers.

Inspiration

1. I think similar to every other blogger a lot of my inspiration comes from actually reading loads of different blogs and then naturally when you enjoy reading something you want to do your take of it. So mostly, I get my ideas from other bloggers amazing-ness. 

2. Secondly, I find sitting there thinking about what stuff I want to know/read about helps.

3. Thirdly I get a lot of my inspiration for my blog through just living. For example, I do my LIFE series because with enjoying photography it gives me a space to put out those photos(the ones that don't make it to my Instagram...). As well as that, with living naturally you have opinions and stories on things you've experienced and therefore may want to write about that.

Planning
Whilst I have my notebook to scribble down all the ideas I get actually then getting around to taking photos and writing up the post is the time consuming part. So this is what I do to ensure the ideas actually get used!

1. I firstly priortise what posts I want more of, for me STYLE posts are my favourite and the most time consuming so once I have outfits in mind when I have time I make it my priority to snap it and write it up.

2. I'm actually a lil' OCD with having a good backup of blog posts in my drafts (when it gets under 8 posts I start to panic). I know that is a lot but it 100% makes it easier for when/if I'm super busy and don't get around to taking photos for awhile. So a good suggestion is when you have time be as productive as you can so then you don't need to rush them when you don't have time!

There we have it a few little ways to help find inspiration and plan  blog posts!

Till next time x

HOW TO | FIND MOTIVATION

I think it's safe to say that all of us at some point or another cannot find an ounce of motivation no matter how hard you try. Whether it be to get a blog post up, do school work, work out, or to finish a job you've been meaning to for a while, it happens to us all. 

With this, I thought that I would give my top 3 tips and tricks that I've been using over the years to help me find both motivation and inspiration.

1.  Pintrest

While this sounds distracting and for me some of the time, is. It works a treat. Need inspiration for a blog post? Search up some ideas that relate to your blog and create a board all about it. For me personally, I love to pin quotes. It helps motivate me as it puts things into perspective and clears my head. I really recommend trying it out, it might just work for you like it does for me.

2. Working Out

This for most is probably the least appealing idea. It used to be for me too until recently when I've finally started working out regularly. It releases endorphins, and endorphins help. For me going for a run only makes me more inspired and motivated to work out more and really helps to clear my head. & we obviously can't forget the health benefits! 

3. Netflix Binge

This is the exact polar opposite to the tip above and is most likely a lot more appealing to you but it is equally as important to remember to allow yourself time to relax. Most of the time I put work off till later because I find myself too stressed thinking about the amount I have to do, to do any! So, because of this I decide not to stress and instead relax for a while. I set an amount of time to watch Netflix (at the moment it's Grey's Anatomy!) and stick to it. Sticking to it is the hard part but if you do, this method really does help.

I really hope that these three top tips that help me help you too. I'd love for you to let me know if they do!

As a side note, if you fancy checking out my Pintrest click here. & also I'd like to say thank you to everyone that both follows and reads my blog. I'm so grateful and astounded at how quickly it has grown. In order to show my appreciation I'm thinking of doing a giveaway when I hit 500 followers and would love for you to let me know what you would like to see in it!