Dream Believers

Rachel Parker

Setting and achieving your goals

Usually goal setting happens at the end of a week/year. The cliché is that everyone starts goals/changes on a Monday, or at new year. However, there is a huge difference between setting and achieving your goals.
Gyms are regularly filled up in January and February and then as the year goes on it gets a bit quieter. Those with more motivation, determination and dedication stay the longest. Most people will set goals for January/the following Monday but then give up quickly because of small set backs or barriers to overcome. This is something I will admit to have done MANY times, I think most people have experience in this area.
What goals have you previously set? Were you successful? Why/why not?
I’m sure you have read in many different articles, or heard on podcasts, that it takes 21 days to set a new habit (or break a bad one), yet so often we give up within the first 14. The following tips may not be new to you but if you are goal setting and motivated to achieve them, these can really help.
1 – Stretch goals
Think of your goal. Why are you setting it? What would you gain from achieving your goal (or lose by not)?
Think of the big picture. Is your ultimate goal so big it terrifies you? Great! We don’t get far when we stay within our comfort zones.
If your goal is related to fitness/wellbeing, what is your ultimate aim? To reach a certain weight? Do a certain amount of pull ups? Run a marathon?
What is your dream? To run your own business, travel the world, change careers?
Think of the biggest target, THAT is the stretch goal. Now you can break it up into smaller more manageable (and less scary) yearly, monthly and daily goals.
2 – Achieving your goals using SMART rules
Once you have your stretch goal and broken it into bite sized chunks you also need to check that your goal is ‘smart’; specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based.
Specific
Make sure you goal is specific. Rather than I want to reduce single use plastic in my life, work out what specific steps you will take to make that happen.
Measurable
Your goals should always be measurable. It means you can see how well you are doing and celebrate your wins, but also if you’re falling behind it’s good to see how quickly you can pick it back up again or work out a better way of achieving your goal/s.
Attainable
Although I said make a stretch goal that is terrifyingly huge, it does need to be something achievable.
Do not be disheartened though, if you want something enough you will be able to find a way to achieve it. There is always something to help, it could be attending training courses, networking events, getting a business loan, budgeting your finances better to pay for your dream holiday etc. Whatever it takes to get you closer to your goal. You will know if it is something achievable once you start breaking it down and starting your journey.
Relevant
Is you goal relevant to you? Does it align with your morals and values or are you just following a trend? The goals you set should be authentic to you, do not set goals you are not passionate about or that are for unhealthy reasons. Make your life the best it can be, don’t pressure yourself to look or act the same as everyone else to fit in. Be yourself and you will attract the people you were meant to connect with, no matter how long it takes.
Time-based
Give yourself a time limit. This will help with motivation and accountability. Set yourself a timed goal but also targets for each year, month, week and maybe even each day to help you toward achieving your goals.
3 – Write it down
Writing goals down, telling others about them and having reminds that you see regularly all help with accountability. This in turn makes you more likely to keep going and find success rather than giving up at the first hurdle.
Accountability buddies
If writing it down doesn’t hold you accountable, how about finding a friend or family member who can hold you accountable. Regular check ins, motivating you when you have a set back, maybe even sharing the same goal. Accountability buddies/partners/groups can be very useful when everyone is actively playing their part.
4 – Achieving your goals with your routines
Getting into routines always helps me with sticking to a goal for longer. I have routines for most things as I love a good list. Morning routines help to set you up for the day and following things like the Miracle Morning can really help to optimise your day. Evening/after work routines can help to segment your day to allow for work, rest, self care, socialising and working on your own projects by setting aside time in your day/week. Personally I also have cleaning routines during the week so that I have the weekends free from chores. However, you do what’s best for you, to help fit your goals/target schedule around your other commitments.
Over to you
What other tips have worked for you?
How do you keep motivated when things get tough?
What books/podcasts/media have helped you with goal setting?
How do you decide which goals to focus on?
No matter what your goal, I wish you all the best in getting closer to living your dream life.

23 July 2021
Self employment tips – starter pack

Are you considering going into self employment but have no idea where/how to start? Below are some self employment tips for you. Where to start, what to do for the initial set up, useful tools etc that can save you time and money.
During this global pandemic a lot of people are rethinking their values, priorities and work/life aspirations.
For me the first thing you need to do is work out if you will be able to be self employed. It is a huge change from working for others no matter what roles you have done previously. As much as there are lots of benefits to working for yourself, there is also a lot of other responsibilities and things you will need to consider before going 100% self employed.
Self employment tips
A good way to start is to begin your self employment journey as a ‘side hustle’. Start your new business idea while you have another job. It’s a good way to see if you’d be happy being full time self employed, start to grow your network and start analysing what works and what doesn’t.
Once you have decided what your business is going to be, choose a name. Searching for domain names that are available can help to narrow down your choices. Speak to friends and family who you trust to give you constructive feedback on your business ideas. As long as it’s not just shooting them down! If you have a techy friend who can help you out with the online side of things that’s even better.
No matter what your new business, whether it be selling products, services, blogging etc, there are a few things that are good to start you off. Now you have a company name, domain name and a determination to become self employed, here are my 5 self employment tips to keep you on the right track:
1 – Create a website
There are lots of sites you can do this on even if you have no tech knowledge, they will guide you through step by step. WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Godaddy etc etc etc
You do not have to launch your website straight away or share the link with others. Play around with themes, design your logo, choose your menu categories. Make is as user friendly as possible. Subcategories can make searching the website so much easier but make sure you keep them updated.
Don’t feel pressured to get it out into the world straight away. Launch when you feel it is ready. However, don’t procrastinate, overthink or strive for perfection, it will only delay your business taking off.
2 – Social media
You do not need to be on every platform!
Think about the business you are selling. Where would it best fit? Is it something visual? Instagram or Pinterest may be a good starting point. Are you looking to create a community, or to get reviews on your services? Look into Facebook and similar platforms. There are lots of options for social media; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, Snapchat and many MANY more. Choose the one/s most suited to your business, values and goals.
Once you’ve decided, look into the rules of the platform. Read up on what you can and can’t do. Take note of how other businesses interact on it, follow those that inspire you or who you could collaborate with in future. Start building your network.
3 – Get creative
Create a business strategy, goals, budgets and a social media strategy. There are apps available to help you with these as well, most including a free trial too which gives you the chance to try things out before you pay out. Apps like Hootsuite, Later, Facebook Business Suite, Canva, Adobe apps inc Photoshop, Evernote and Trello can be extremely helpful for creating and scheduling content and strategy planning. Find the one/s that you like the most and has the functions most useful to you and that fits into your budget.
Make the items to sell, take photos for social media, create business cards, leaflets and other traditional marketing elements you think will be necessary.
4 – Networking and Marketing
Spread the word of your business to your friends, family, co-workers and others you connect with regularly. Get them to pass the information onto their circles. Guide them toward you stunning new website and social media channel/s.
Join groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, Twitch for advice from those who are already doing what you aim to do. Go out and find your tribe, in person or online. You’ll be surprised how many new people you can connect with.
5 – HMRC for self employment tips
Research into all the extra things self employed individuals have to do e.g. tax returns. What you have to declare, when are the cut offs, who can help. Research into the amount you can earn before you have to declare yourself as self employed. Also, make note of all your business incomings and outgoings in advance so you are not caught out when you are earning enough money from your business. There are also apps out there that can help with the accounting side of things for your business. Quickbooks, Expensify, or you could create a Excel spreadsheet.
Obviously there is a lot more to becoming self employed. Each type of business requires different elements too. These are just my top 5 self employment tips of where to start. You decide where to go from here. If you feel like you are struggling, reach out.
There are apps for pretty much everything (I have not be endorsed by any of the ones mentioned I have just heard good things about them or used them myself). There’s also probably a blog or YouTube video to tell you about each one. Find people who are self employed and/or who understand your struggles and talk. Starting a business is a huge step, even more so if you feel like you’re on your own. It takes a lot of courage and it can be extremely stressful. Make sure you have a support network you can go to whenever you need a boost, some advice or just to rant.
I hope this helps you to get a few steps closer to living your dreams.
Good luck and keep believing.

9 July 2021
First time buyer – initial preparation

If you’ve come to this post then I’m assuming you’ve decided you want to own your own home and are looking for help as a first time buyer. No matter what age you are when you make this decision, my first piece of advice is START SAVING!!! Home ownership is a very expensive venture, the sooner you start saving up the better your options will be.
This will be a blog post series guiding you through the various steps, this post being group 1.
First time buyer ‘help’
There are lots of schemes and programmes out there that supposedly help first time buyers. Make sure you’re reading all of the small print, exclusions and exceptions before going ahead as many turn out to be more hassle than they’re worth.
Savings
Saving money is something I know a lot of people struggle with. The best thing to do is to save something each month from the moment you get your first pay check. There’s always something that you’ll want to save money for, even if it’s not initially to buy a house. Holidays, the latest tech, a new phone, a car, it all costs. Being good at saving money will always be a useful skill. If you’ve been saving for a while it also means you have a nice starting block in your savings if you then decide you would like to buy a home for yourself.
Credit score
Something a lot of people forget about is how much their credit score can affect things. Credit scores will affect the mortgage deals you’ll be offered. It’s a good idea to check what your credit score is and make it as healthy as possible. I usually use the free version of Experian to keep an eye on mine.
Location
Think of where you would like to live. UK? Europe? USA? Canada? Australia? New Zealand?
Research into the house prices in that country/area and any other stipulations linked with it. For example, in London the majority of homes are either shared ownership or leasehold which involves a lot of additional fees added on top of the usual price. Again, the best advice is to keep an eye on all of the small print.
What do you want?
No, I’m not quoting that scene from The Notebook (although it’s now in my head).
Think of what you want/need in your home. What could you not live without? Do you have any deal breakers? What would be the dream? Make a list, or if you’re artistic enough why not sketch it out. Visualise what you want and need and then go searching. It will help you to keep focus and not get lost in the sea of options.
Use your network
Do you know someone who has recently bought in that area? Ask them about their home buying journey. They may have found a great broker, or estate agent that they recommend which can save you a lot of time, effort and money. Use your connections. The more help, advice and information you can gather from your network, the better.
Your first time buyer tips
What else would you say to a first time buyer? Any tips you have that I’ve not discovered yet? What was your home buying journey like, how long did the whole process take?
Hopefully this helps you to get a few steps closer to your dream life, keep believing.

2 July 2021
My London to do list 2021/22
I have recently moved to West London (May 2021) to live with my partner Jez. As with almost every aspect of my life, I have a London to-do list. Things I would like to do in London within the next 12-18 months. A few years back I lived in North London briefly so I have experienced London living before, just in a different area and not as part of a relationship in the city. The first time living in London I didn’t actually do many (if any) of the tourist-y things. I am determined to change that this time around.
This post is going to initially look like a bare to-do list, but as I tick off the activities I will post info about each one. Maybe even doing a separate post about some of them too if it would take up too much space in this post.
London to do list – Foodie sites
Cat Cafes – Java Whiskers, Whiskers & Cream, Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium
St Aymes Cafe
Gordan Ramsey’s restaurant/s
The Cauldron
Coppa Club
Markets – ‘cheesewick’, chiswick flower market, duckpond markets
London site seeing
London Eye
Tower of London
HMS Belfast
Kew Garden
The Shard
Thames river cruise
Sky Garden
Visit China Town, Kyoto Gardens and Little Venice
London to do list – Entertainment
Cursed Child and as many west end shows as I can afford!
Warner Bros Studio tour
London Dungeons
Shakespeare at the Globe
London Transport Museum
War of the Worlds immersive experience
Aquarium
Film inspired ‘attractions’
Harry Potter Walking tour
Leadenhall Market – Harry Potter (Diagon Alley film location)
Notting Hill Carnival
Rodeo Drive – Pretty Woman
Portebello Road – Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Baker Street – Sherlock
The longer I live in London, the more hidden gems I will discover and be able to pass on to you lovely dream believers. Do any of you also live in (or are familiar with) London? What hidden gems would you recommend?
I hope you are all having a fabulous day and are getting closer to living your dream life.
Keep believing.
25 June 2021
Change of Address list
When moving house there is what seems like an endless to-do list. Having to sort out a change of address on EVERYTHING always seems like quite the daunting task too. Well, I am here to hopefully help you with that.
For tips on the move itself, check out this post too.
Bills
One of the first most obvious sections of the change of address list – the bills. Cancelling at the old address and setting up new providers, or updating address details on a company database. Here is my list for bills:
- Council tax
- Energy and water companies
- Internet and landline phone provider (you may also need to get a change of landline number depending on how far you move and if you will be using your landline)
- Mobile phone provider
Employment/Education
No matter your employment status there will be someone you will need to notify. Whether you are in paid employment and need to tell management, have a volunteer work placement and need to inform the organisation and/or team leads or you are out of work and need to complete a change of address for your benefits to continue or just need to update the information on your CV.
Also don’t forget to update your address with universities, colleges, nurseries etc if this is relevant to anyone in your household.
Health
Keeping up to date with your health is so important. To help with this, make sure you have up to date records and register at:
- GP
- Optician
- Dentist
You should also check out hairdressers, barbers, beauty salons, gyms, pubs, restaurants, cafes and social groups too. We have to make sure we have everything we need to keep on top of our physical and mental health.
Vehicle change of address
This is the section that took me the longest time, it seems that you have to do each thing separately through the DVLA rather than being able to change it all at once. I only have one car at the moment so am unsure if other forms would need to be completed for additional vehicles, bikes, vans etc but for my car I had to change address on my:
- Drivers licence
- Car insurance
- Car tax and direct debit payments
- V5C
- Research local mechanics/garages
Shopping
It’s a good idea to keep on top of address changes with loyalty cards and shopping sites too e.g Nectar, Tesco, Amazon, Etsy, Ebay, Paypal.
Other change of address (often forgotten)
- Banks / Building Society
- Credit cards
- Loan or debt repayment organisations
- Newspaper/Magazine or other postal subscriptions
- Pensions
- HMRC
- Voting registration
- and of course, your friends and family.
Have I reminded you of something you had forgotten to add to your own list? Are there any I have missed on this list?
I hope this helps, and that you are one step further to achieving a life of your dreams.
17 June 2021
My Moving Checklist
Moving somewhere new is exciting but is also usually stressful. Especially if you are unprepared or have not moved much before. As someone who has had 16 addresses in the last decade, I have a few tips to share. Here is my moving checklist;
What you’ll need
- Boxes, lots and lots of boxes
- Bubble wrap
- Sharpie pens
- Parcel tape/duct tape (something strong to make sure the boxes don’t come apart in transit)
- Labels – to put on your cables and chargers
- ‘Quick access box’ – things you’ll need as soon as you get to the new place. I always try to keep cleaning equipment, toilet roll, soap and a hand towel accessible on moving day. I also add teabags, coffee, sugar, milk and the kettle into this box. Might be an idea to also keep out your wash bag and a towel handy too. Feeling clean always helps me to relax after a long day.
As soon as possible
- Set the date/s of the move
- Make your own moving checklist including specific jobs you need to do
- Work out how long it will take to transfer your belongings from one place to another and allow yourself plenty of time. If it’s something you will stress over make sure you clear your schedule. Take time off work, maybe even take an extra day so you can unpack without so many time restraints too.
- Get help. Hire a removal team or a van and drive it yourself. Ask friends/family if they can help. I have often had several helpers when the offer of payment in food is introduced.
- Research service providers
- Start setting up energy bills, internet and other utilities before you move. Cancel current bills or change address if staying with your current providers.
- Organise internet and phone line in your new home, set up may take longer than you think
Got pets or young children?
It may be wise to hire a babysitter or ask friends/family if they could look after your animals and children for the day so that you don’t have to mindful of them getting under your feet or injured by moving boxes and things. Moving day is often chaos, you don’t want guilt mingled in with that too because someone has been hurt. Get someone to take them to a park for a few hours, let them play and get rid of some of their energy while you’re doing all the hard work then hopefully you’ll all get a great first night sleep in your new home (fingers crossed).
Got too much stuff?
Either moving somewhere smaller or moving into student accommodation? Research and organise a storage facility for the things you won’t need regular access to. There are all sorts of storage options and types of store rooms so make sure you find the best storage for you and within your budget.
If it’s items you no longer want or need you could also try selling the items online before your move, there are lots of online selling sites such as Ebay, Gumtree, Facebook marketplace, or you could give items away to charity shops or on freecyle and similar sites.
Moving checklist for packing
- The more organised the packing is, the easier the unpacking will be
- If possible pack per room. Colour coding can be helpful too, assign each room and/or person a different colour
- Label boxes as you go
- Label cables as you unplug them, group cables together if they’re for the same thing
- Bubble wrap fragile items and mark the boxes so they are given extra care
- Keep in mind the weight of items as you pack them, don’t overfill and end up not being able to carry them
Moving checklist – The Day
- Wear comfy, breathable clothes (and plenty of deodorant) it’s going to be a long day…
- Cleaning! Clean cupboards, sideboards, skirting boards, glass, toilets, showers/baths, tiles, ovens and hobs, floors, walls, everything – not necessarily in that order. In the house you move out of this is also a good way of checking no items have been missed. Luckily you can do most of the cleaning in the place you are moving out of before today but cleaning the new house will be a lot easier before all your belongings have been piled into it.
- Meter readings – take photos of them for both properties
- Take regular breaks and stay hydrated!!! Whether you are using a professional moving team, have the help of your nearest and dearest or going solo, snack breaks are always a good way to break up the day. It gives you a chance to step back and have a breather.
- Unload items into the new place, doesn’t have to be perfect at this point, just somewhere that’s not blocking your other daily tasks and people won’t trip over it
Final items of the moving checklist
Finish setting up your utility bills in your new home, update/cancel standing orders and direct debits, give meter readings and if renting check through inventory, making note of any damage before you started moving in your items.
RELAX!
After a whole day of transporting your things, cleaning everything and feeling exhausted (no matter how many breaks you’ve had), the last thing I would want to think about is having to cook, especially if I’m hosting people who have helped out as well so:
1. Order your favourite takeaway
2. Get comfy on the sofa (or floor if you haven’t got your seating yet)
3. Put on a film and crack open a bottle of your favourite tipple
4. Enjoy your afternoon/evening – you don’t have to unpack everything on the first day
Why not plan out possible ideas while stuffing your face? Think about decorations, painting etc I love getting creative and thinking of new ideas on how to make a place feel like home.
After the move
- After planning ideas, do it! Decorate, make this place yours; put up curtains, posters, canvases, pictures, shelving, fairy lights, put out beds, sofas, tables, chairs, ornaments, flowers, incense sticks and candles.
- Unpack, but you don’t have to rush it. One of my favourite bits of moving is finding places to put everything, reordering things and doing it differently to the last house.
- Food shop. I always try to eat most of the food I have in the old house before I move and then do a ‘proper’ food shop for the new house once I’ve arrived, you might have more or less fridge/freezer/cupboard space to play with and its also an excuse to eat all the treats that have snuck into my home.
- Thought of something you want in the house but don’t have? Go shopping! Ikea, Amazon, Home Bargains, Argos, Primark, Next, Debenhams… Retail therapy is always a good idea, and this time you actually have a reason!
- Start/continue your address changes, there are so many things that I have made a post all about it, hopefully it helps you to not miss anything.
- Let friends and family know your new address. It’s also a good excuse to send out change of address cards when you use them as invites to a house warming as well. When you feel a bit more settled a house warming is always a great way to start life in a new home 🙂
The most important thing though, is to enjoy your new home no matter how temporary. Make it a place of happiness and make lots of amazing new memories.
Are you moving house or recently moved? How did it go? Any tips/tricks you like to use that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments.
8 June 2021
Our first home checklist
I am the kind of person who looks at property for sale on Zoopla, Rightmove and other sites all the time. Have done for years, even before I decided I wanted to be a home owner. It was something to do that let me and the friends I was dream home hunting with imagine ourselves in different lives. A way of seeing ‘how the other half live’ as they say. To see how beautiful a house could be.
Jez mentioned he wanted to buy his own house by the end of this year. I have been looking a bit more seriously ever since. Nowadays sticking to a realistic budget rather than the multimillion pound, 7+ bedroom properties I used to search through.
What we are looking for
Ideally, the aim is to have:
- 2 bedrooms
- home office space
- balcony (with a view)
- shower and bath
- lots of storage (or space for me to fill with storage units)
- decent sized living area
- decent sized kitchen
- lots of plugs
I am hoping that there will be space for both me and Jez to have office space as we will hopefully both be working from home for at least some of our employed hours. Plus it’s always good to have somewhere guests can stay (or maybe a future nursery ;)).
It will most likely be a flat rather than a house initially. The fact we are looking to buy in London, the house prices are a lot higher. Water features have been discussed as an addition to the balcony chats so it is definitely something in my search criteria now. I’m thinking of making the balcony into a tranquillity area for us both so we have an escape if we need it. It would also be the perfect place for me to read so win-win.
Location
We are looking for a property in London and it needs to be nearer the centre for easier connections to work and hospitals for Jez. We are looking primarily at north/west London. There are certain bubbles of London that Jez has vetoed and some areas we would love to live in, but will be priced out of.
Although I lived in London for 9 months a few years ago, I don’t know the areas well enough to pick purely on location. The system we have in place at the moment is I find places that I think look nice, tick most of the boxes, have a logical floor plan and fit within our budget. Jez then looks at the area, reads the small print and checks his commute to work.
Our first home
The property we buy will be our first time buying. Our first home will need to be somewhere that doesn’t need too much work doing. Other than that, the location and the size of the flat we aren’t really that picky. We have a healthy deposit and most furniture/decor pieces that we will need to get started.
Small changes in the colour schemes of the home will be expected, just to make it our own. Any big repair works or alterations needed would be a possible deal breaker. I would like to be able to find somewhere we can move straight into without too much hassle.
Small print
We are buying in London and lots of properties come up as auction, cash buyer only, shared ownership and leasehold so reading the small print is becoming one of the most time consuming tasks.
Although we started talking about this last Autumn and haven’t got anywhere yet, we are still on track to be moved in this year. I was hoping we could start viewings in January and get everything sorted so we could move in before my 30^th birthday. Sadly though with Covid and the housing market being on a rollercoaster the last few months we’ve delayed plans.
Due to the stamp duty break we have found that the house prices have gone up dramatically. Instead of looking for our home in January – March as we planned, we are now waiting until June.
When will we get our first home?
We will find the home for us when we are meant to, and it will be amazing. These things take time, I know it will be worth it. I’m hoping Christmas 2021 we will be celebrating in our own home, but it may take longer to find our perfect first home. Either way, it’s exciting!
Are you looking to buy your first home? Are you already a homeowner? What has been your biggest hurdle so far?
30 May 2021
My Home office wishlist

Now that I have moved to London and have started making this flat our home, my home office dreams are so close to coming true. My excitement for finally being able to have a home office has meant lots of Pinterest searches and looking at various websites. I have started a check list of my most important elements of home office so thought I would share it with you:
Layout
Firstly I would love it if I could have a home office with a lot of natural light. Ideally a room with a large window, good air circulation and room for making the space my own. My partner works from home a lot of the time and we may end up sharing the room. More reasons to be able to make at least my home office section ‘mine’.
Laptop vs pc
Desktop vs Laptop
The laptop I currently have is the one that got me through uni. I graduated in 2012… During university laptops were easier. Carting them about between home, revision sessions, mates houses, the library and lectures (or to use in the breaks in between). Now I am looking at setting up a home office though, I think a ‘proper’ computer setup might make more sense.
Luckily my partner is very techy so I know I can ask him about all things computers. In fact he recently bought a new setup for himself as he needed the higher specs. If I’m cheeky enough maybe I can nab some of his old elements. I could then just gradually upgrade if and when I need to. That’s a good idea actually…
For what I really need a computer for I’m not sure I actually NEED a desktop computer. I can probably find a decent laptop to work on. That would also then give me the freedom to go and work in a café if I want to (now that they are opening up again). I always liked the idea of having a proper PC and getting back into my gaming. However, they do take up a lot more room. Back to the drawing board on that one I think.
My Home Office Seating
This for me is the most important thing. My back hasn’t been in great shape for a while, but working from home during covid has made it worse. As WFH was sprung on us quite quickly and we weren’t sure how long it would last I decided not to invest in an office chair. Regretting that decision now. Sitting on dining chairs, my bed or on our sofas has not been kind to my spine.
I would love a desk chair with a tall back, adjustable height and angle. A bonus would be if it already had the additional lumbar support but as you can get cushions for this purpose I could always add that later on anyway.
To go with the seat I would also like to get a foot rest so that I can make sure I am always sat in the best position for my back. With the exercises and other things I am starting to put into place I am hoping to counteract most of the unhealthy habits I have had over the last decade or so.
Desk
For the desk I would like something quite basic, as I am planning to have the chair as an investment piece I will be looking for bargains for the rest of the set up unless one really catches my eye. I like the idea of one that sort of engulfs the chair, the corner and U-shaped desks. If I have to have a standard rectangular table though I will not be disheartened.
I prefer to have a clean desk at the start and end of each work day as this seems to help with my mental health as well as organisation. Having a few drawers under the table would be super helpful for this.
My Home Office Stationery
I absolutely love stationery! I used to get so excited when a new school year started because I always bought a brand new pencil case, set of pens and so many other little bits to set me up for the year.
Setting up a home office is another great excuse to buy a matching set of stationery. I will also purchase storage sets to make the desk look beautiful. Having somewhere to tidy away my pens, post its and other bits and bobs would be extremely helpful. A tiered tray to sort through the majority of the paperwork into important, urgent and other would be great too.
The end goal is to make my home office space something even The Home Edit team would be proud of. I have been searching on Pinterest for desk ideas and I am so excited about making a home office and finally having my own creative space.
Decorations
The final step is to make the space feel like me. After purchasing and sorting out the desk, chair, stationery and where it will go within the room. No doubt there will be some kind of pin board, inspirational quotes and some art. Pops of colour will be something I look for as the main elements of my home office will be quite mundane looking.
I will keep mostly neutral tones but I do love it when brights are thrown in with it as well. I think it all depends what styles I find the quotes I want to have in. TJLubrano prints will definitely feature, I loooooove her artwork. Stunning designs andd colours (plus she used to have lots of Disney and Harry Potter artwork which I own too). Recently I have purchased several more of TJ’s prints, this time including some quotes, so I think those will be the first to go on display. Then I can buy other designs and quotes that will fit with the colourschemes and feel of the space.
What about you?
How would you design your home office? What are your key elements? Do you already have a home office? Are there any website/store recommendations you have for me?
As this will be my first ever home office I would love your advice. Send me messages or write a comment and let me know your tips 🙂
Hope you are having the best day and taking more steps towards creating your dream life.

20 May 2021
Working from home – 5 tips for staying motivated

Working from home
This relatively new way of working has become an even more popular since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic. Almost an entire year of being shut in our homes, or at least not able to socialise. Keys workers and many other professionals have been unable to stop going out to work. Many have sadly lost their jobs and tried to survive on furlough or benefits. Those lucky enough have been adapting to working from home throughout. We had a little break of less restrictive rules in between national and local lock downs but the respite did not last long.
With all the weird stuff going on and the additional struggles to cope with, working from home has had additional challenges the last year. It has therefore been a great time to test and work out the best methods on how to do so successfully.
Using this last year as a kind of trial I have come to the conclusion that I would like to work remotely on a more permanent basis in the future. I have been lucky enough to be able to work from home throughout the entire pandemic. Although we are now hopefully at the end of the lock downs, I thought I would share my tips for how I managed to stay (mostly) sane and self-motivated.
1- Get into a working from home routine
Maintain a work day routine. No matter whether you are choosing to work from home or if it is due to the current lock down situation, routines really can help. Whether that’s starting your day with breakfast, a morning run, showering, or just getting out of your pj’s. No matter how tempting it is to stay in your pyjamas, getting up and dressed into some kind of work clothes can really help you get into the right frame of mind for work.
When I have not had the energy to implement my morning routine it has really thrown my day out of whack. It’s amazing how much a morning routine can effect your day.
2- Planning
Knowing your goals for the day, week, month and year can really help with motivation and focus. Plan what you want to achieve within the year, then break that down into monthly and weekly goals. Each morning set out your daily goals and block out your day. Planning out how you will spend your work time is a great way of starting your work day. Block out your day in hour length time slots, one task per slot to optimise focus and include variety. Within your plan include breaks away from the screen and lunch breaks. Knowing the structure of your day down to these specifics will help you to focus on each goal/task one at a time.
3- Exercise around your working from home hours
Before or after work, or even on your lunch break, whenever works best within your routine. When we are cooped up indoors all day it is important to take time to move. During the day make sure you are stretching your legs regularly. Even if it’s just by getting up to go to the loo or to get a drink.
After work you could dedicate an hour block to movement. You could go for a walk around your local area, do yoga or pilates, weight training, HIIT workouts or so many other options. If you need a guide you could download a fitness app, find a virtual class, follow along to a fitness tutorial on YouTube or join a gym (once Covid restrictions permit it). No matter what exercise you do it can help both your physical and mental health. 30 mins every day could make a world of difference to your body in so many ways.
4- Self care
Firstly – be patient with yourself. If you have not worked from home before this may be a difficult transition.
When self care is mentioned it is often thought of as the bubble baths and face mask sessions but at it’s core self care is listening to you body and mind and looking after them. That’s how I see it anyway. Don’t get me wrong, the pamper sessions are lovely, but make sure you’re doing the other self care work too. Getting a chair you will be comfortable sitting in day in, day out. Know what environment you need to focus and work well. Do you need to play music? Sit in silence? Meditate before you sit down at your desk? Listen to your body and try to accommodate it.
5- Social time
Working from home is often a very solitary venture. Even if you are an introvert, having some kind of social time can help your motivation and prevent you feeling isolated. At the moment we are having to stick to virtual socialising but although it is not quite the same, it’s better than no interaction at all and can benefit us hugely.
When we can socialise in person again you could meet someone for a quick coffee. Or you could go out for lunch. It can really help to break up your day. Make plans for your evenings or the weekend. Even if it’s to sit with your furry friend and/or partner on the sofa all day Saturday and binge watch your favourite show.
Having time away from work, out of your house can be a great way to regain energy. It would also reduce isolation and boredom. However, know your limits, listen to your body. Don’t make so many plans that you burn yourself out. We only have 24 hours in a day and you need to be getting enough rest. Find that perfect balance for you, it will be different for everyone.
A natural at working from home
It may take a while to get into a full swing, but using these tips will hopefully help you be able to stay on top of most of the changes and keep up your motivation and energy levels.
What other tips would you give people who are starting to or struggling with WFH?

19 March 2021
My Winter Reads (winter 2020-2021)
This post is all about my winter reads. I have been aiming to read more and do more activities that get me away from screens for a while. My current employment role is mainly spent on my laptop. After work I watch tv shows and films. I know that needs to change. Especially now that, because of lockdown life, when I communicate with friends and family it is also via various screens.
Multiple lock downs, more time at home to sit with my thoughts. I thought now was a good time to start my reading goals properly. With all the additional downtime I decided to go on a bit of a self-development journey.
Therefore, most of the books I have been reading are to do with improving myself, my inner dialogue and my future. Sadly though as I work full time, have had far too much time in front of Netflix and got distracted by all things Christmas for most of December it has been a rather short list this season.
I have plenty of books on my bookshelf still to read. Not all self help but those are my priority at the moment. Once I have learned a bit more about how to run my own business and improve my mental health I will go back to reading the occasional fiction books as well.
Winter reads
The book I’ve read over the winter are:
- The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
- You are incredible just as you are by Emily Coxhead
- Be your own best friend by Chessie King
- You are a badass by Jen Sincero
- Do it scared by Ruth Soukup
Miracle morning
Hal Elrod’s story of what he has been through and how he got through it all is remarkable. This book alone has sold over a million copies. There are multiple other versions of this guide book, a movie and other projects in his authors arsenal.
The Miracle morning has so many versions on offer nowadays but I decided to go for the original. The Miracle Morning is a book about how to improve your morning routines to make the most out of your day. I tried this for just a couple of weeks and I felt so much more energized, more positive and more motivated. I was exercising daily, eating better and was even more productive at work. It was such a positive change.
However, I’m not very good at early mornings or changing my routine. I got out of the routine and have felt lethargic since. Getting up in the mornings is something I really struggle with, but knowing how much better I felt having the additional hour in the morning to complete my SAVERS I know I need to restart it.
This was one of my favourite winter reads, purely for the fact I felt so much better when putting the advice into action. A lot of the other books provided more of a theoretical or mental progression rather than physical things to do.
It’s 194 pages and I would definitely recommend reading it. I’m thinking of looking into some of the other versions of the book, and the other books from Hal Elrod, so may end up writing on those in later seasons.
You are Incredible just as you are
I have been a fan of Emily Coxhead, her quotes and artwork for a while and her Instagram posts always put a smile on my face. It gives me a positive version of the news unlike the actual news. I have also subscribed to her newspaper The Happy News, I love finding out about all the amazing things human have been doing around the world over the months covered in each issue.
Knowing how much I love the content in the newspapers and on Instagram I thought I would buy the book as well. It is only a short read, 174 pages, but it is such a lovely little book. Colourful pages, quotes, activities to fill in along the way and is so uplifting. I think it would make a great gift for someone if you have anyone who needs a little cheering up.
Be your own best friend
Chessie King is another individual I follow via Instagram for her positivity. Chessie’s positivity is focused more of body image and self-acceptance. She has also recently been posting about her pregnancy which is so lovely to see.
Her book covers so many elements within 240 pages. Emotions and feelings. Our bodies. Periods. Contraception. Sisterhood. Friendship. Family. Relationships. Social media. Online trolls. Bullying and lots in between.
The book goes through these topics and talks about how to become best friends with yourself and how/why to accept your body. As someone who has always struggled with self acceptance and body image, this book has genuinely helped me feel more accepting of my own lumps and bumps, stretch marks and wobbles.
You are a badass
After seeing this book on my recommended lists on multiple occasions over the last few years I thought as part of my self-development journey it should one of my winter reads.
It didn’t disappoint. Motivational, gave me lots to think about and the way she writes really engages me. I have some of her other books in my Amazon basket and wish lists.
At 253 pages long, it is the longest of my winter reads but I managed to binge read it in a single weekend. It doesn’t have activities to complete but it does have lots of thought provoking chapters.
Do it scared
I have been gradually catching up on the 100+ podcasts on Ruth Soukup’s Do It Scared podcast on and off over the last couple of years (I go through stages of wanting to listen to podcasts or not). She has some great advice and inspiring guests which all help to motivate me into launching into self-employment. As the podcast has helped me I thought purchasing the book would be a good idea too.
I have completed their online fear assessment and purchased a few of the business start-up kits when they have been on sale. Ruth’s resources have been quite helpful in my journey recently. Thanks Ruth.
The Do It Scared book goes through what she calls the 7 fear archetypes, 7 principles of courage. Then it goes through ways of putting your courage into action, all in 235 pages. Reading how my fear archetypes get in my head, and ways of re-framing my mindset to counteract it, has been really helpful in getting my motivation and optimism back. It was actually the thing that got me to search for a domain name and officially start this blog after years of just thinking about it.
Before the podcasts and these books I had just been thinking of maybe starting a new blog and to work my way into self-employment. Now I’m determined to make it happen. You reading this blog proves that I have begun that journey.
In conclusions
5 books over 3 months. With all the distractions I have let myself succumb to it could have been an even shorter list. Hopefully the Spring list will be a bit more impressive. I am still on a self development journey so the spring reads will feature several more ‘self help’ books.
Have you read any of these? What book recommendations do you have for me to read next?
12 March 2021