Random Acts of Kindness

Is it just me or do you ever see or hear about someone doing a random act of kindness for someone else and wish that you had thought to do something like that? You watch someone do something kind for someone and it actually makes you want to be kind as well?

Since this week is Random Acts of Kindness Week, I thought that it would be appropriate to discuss how you can take part not only this week, but every day. So many times, we hear about these grand and significant random acts of kindness. I don't know about you, but these intimidate me a little bit. 

Sometimes I witness or hear about some great thing that someone did for another person, and I think, "Woah, that was really nice. I would never even think to do something like that!" or "Wow, I wish I could make an impact like that on someone's day." But you know what, I can. And so can you!

Many times, even the smallest act done in pure kindness for someone else can make the biggest impact on their life. You do not have to do some extravagant thing in order to bless someone. I know in my life, some of the things that have meant the most to me have been the smallest of deeds. 

Speaking of deeds, I think that many people think they need to do something kind for another person in order for it to qualify as a "random act of kindness." I think that these random acts do not always have to be acts. You can make someone's day simply by giving them an unexpected compliment or word of encouragement. I can't even tell you how many times I've witnessed the cashier behind the counter's face light up as I told her that I loved her nails, or her lipstick, or the way her hair looked. 

I think my greatest advice to you as you embark on this journey to do as many random acts of kindness as you can would be to actively seek out opportunities to bless someone. Sure, a moment or two may spontaneously fall right into your lap, providing you the perfect moment to perform a random act of kindness. But most times, you need to be on the lookout for ways that you can impact someone's day for the better. 

Anticipate that someone who is walking to the door with their hands full might appreciate you going over to hold the door open for them. Keep your eyes peeled for moments when you see someone that is completely overwhelmed, and instead of asking what you can do to help, just do something nice for them of your own free will. Take the time to write a note or a letter to a friend or loved one, just because you know it will make them happy.

Starting right now, I challenge you to seek out opportunities to bless someone with a random act of kindness. And don't stop after this week. Continue the movement, and you just might find that you are overwhelmingly blessed in return.

What random acts of kindness have you done?

Where to Start When You Don't Even Know Where to Start

Is it just me or do you ever have those moments when you are SO overwhelmed that you honestly don't even know where to begin? You have so much that needs to get done that even just thinking about all you have to do stresses you out?

I've felt like this a few times over these past few days, and it is not a very fun feeling. So where should you start when you don't even know where to start? Here are a few of my tips to (hopefully) help you feel less overwhelmed, and more motivated to get. stuff. done.

1. Breathe. Yes, this needs to be included as a tip. Not only is breathing vital for living, it also helps you calm down a bit. Everything will get done. It will all be ok in the end. Just take a deep breath.

2. Make a list. We all know how I feel about this one--I am all about lists. But seriously, taking some time to physically write down everything that you need helps in a number of ways. Making a list allows you to actually see what needs to get done so that you can begin formulating a plan of attack. Making a list also allows you to get all of your stressed out, jumbled up thoughts out of your brain and onto a piece of paper. 

3. Go someplace where you know that you can get work done. I've written about this before. Find somewhere that you are the least distracted and the most productive--be it your desk, the library, Starbucks, etc--and go there. This will help you minimize distractions and focus on the tasks before you a whole lot easier.

4. Pick one thing to work on first, and work on it until it is finished. So many times, we see this big list ahead of us and feel like our time would be better spent trying to accomplish as many things as we can at the same time. Stop doing that. Choose one task from your list, and put all of the other undone tasks out of your mind until you finish that first one. What do you do when you are done with that first task? Pick a second...and then a third...

5. Realize that it's ok if you don't finish everything right now. Sometimes, I stress myself out even more by thinking that I have to do every single thing on my to-do list in one sitting. Break down your tasks into the most urgent, most difficult, and so on. Get done whatever you can get done in the moment, and then realize that tomorrow is another day. 

Do you have any tips on where to start when you don't even know where to start? I'd love to hear them!

Make Memories in Everything

Is it just me or do we sometimes think that we only make the best memories when we are somewhere special, like at a sleepover with friends or on a vacation? A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about how you can really have fun anywhere, and today I'd like to kind of expand upon that.

Over the weekend, I went shopping for a Christmas tree with my family. We drove to the store, picked out the perfect tree, and went home. It could have easily been quite the mundane task, but instead, we made some fun memories during that time. 

Also this past weekend, my sister came home from college to visit for Thanksgiving. She had a huge project to work on, and spent most of the short break working on it. I must admit that I am very proud of her because, though she could have locked herself in her room the whole time, sulking about how she wished that she didn't have to do the project, she chose to act differently. She chose to bring the project wherever we were, and we were all still able to have a fun time with her even while she worked on her assignment. (P.S. She finished it a few minutes before she had to leave! YAY!)

There are many instances in my life when things do not go how I want them to, and so I sulk and complain and remain in a bad mood for the rest of the day. But I am really trying to work on changing that about myself. Instead of being in a bad mood and keeping myself from having a good time when I am somewhere that I don't exactly want to be, I am trying to choose to make memories in that situation and have fun. 

Don't let a less-than-ideal circumstance stop you from making memories wherever you are. If you let yourself, you might just find that you are amazed by how many wonderful memories you can make out of situations that you had previously wished you were not in.

Will you choose to make memories in everything?

Keep Doing What is Good

Is it just me or do you ever feel like quitting something because you feel like you aren't getting the results you want? I know that I have definitely felt like this in the past (and still feel like it sometimes now).

For example, sometimes I think to myself, "Why am I keeping up with this blog, putting so much work into it and spending lots of time working on posts, when not very many people even read it anyway?" 

I also have a youtube channel, where I put hours and hours of work into creating/editing music and videos (you can check it out HERE if you're interested). I have worked really hard to build up my channel to where it is now, but I still am constantly wishing that I had more subscribers and such. Sometimes I wonder, "Why am I even doing this? Not that many people see it..." etc.  

Maybe for you, it's not a blog or a youtube channel. Maybe you put in really long, hard hours at work and seem to get no recognition or thanks for what you do. Maybe you continually go to the gym and feel like you still aren't seeing results. Whatever the case, we have all been there, and the "Why am I still doing this?" question never really seems to go away.

While I still do ask myself that question from time to time, I have learned over the years that what I do is not all about me. Maybe the one or two or three people that do read my blog really enjoy it and look forward to reading it every day. Maybe my new song or video will touch even one person and change their life for the better. 

Just because you are not getting the results that you want right now does not mean that you should stop doing something. You should not work any less hard at your job because you feel you aren't getting the recognition you deserve. You should not stop going to the gym because you aren't as thin or fit as you'd like to be. You should not being kind to someone just because you aren't getting that same kindness in return. 

Keep doing what is good simply because it is good. 

Never give up, because you really do not know the effect that you may be having on someone's life. You really do not know how many people you are potentially encouraging. So whatever it is that you're doing, keep at it.

Have you ever felt like throwing in the towel and giving up? I hope that this post leaves you inspired and encouraged to keep doing what is good.

Quote of the Week - Wrong vs. Right

Is it just me or is it difficult to do the right thing sometimes when everyone around you is doing the wrong thing? Today's quote is perfect for this issue, so let's just get straight to it:

"Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it. 

Right is right even if no one is doing it."

This seems like such an obvious thing, but sometimes it helps to have it written out in front of you. Just because everyone is doing something does not make it right, and it does not mean that it is OK. And just because you may be the only one doing something does not make it any less right, and you should not stop doing it because you feel like you're the only one. 

Feeling like you are alone in something can be extremely difficult. It is so much easier to just give in to doing what everyone else is doing. But you can't do that. Why? Because wrong is wrong and right is right. If you know that something is wrong, you need to steer clear of that, even if everyone else seems to be flocking to it. And if you know that something is right, you need to keep doing that and hope that you can lead others to do it too.

Figure out what your morals are, and stick to them. Don't go back on what you believe just because everyone is doing something and you don't want to feel left out. Stand strong, no matter what.

Will you join me in doing the right thing?

How to Get Through the "Tough-to-Get-Through" Days

Is it just me or are some days really hard to get through? You wake up knowing that you have a long day ahead of you, and you wonder how you are going to get through?

For me, those tough-to-get-through days are Wednesdays. I go non-stop on Wednesdays from morning until night, and I usually dread them. But this week, I tried something a little different. When yesterday morning came around, I thought to myself, "You know, today doesn't have to be a bad day. I'm going to try and make it a good one." 

And so I did.

I went into the day with a happy mentality, and instead of trying to take on the whole day at once, I focused on getting through one task at a time. This is something that I highly recommend--get through those tough days one task at a time, no matter how small the task. 

If you have to, mentally walk yourself through your day, step by step (ex: I'm going to get ready for work now. OK, now I am going to drive to work. Alright, let's get through my first class! Now the second...etc.). Doing this helps me break down my day into something more manageable, and I feel accomplished every time I complete one little "task." Doing this also helps me feel a lot less overwhelmed. 

Have those tough-to-get-through days? Try taking things one step at a time. I promise you that you'll make it through! 

Do you have any other tips for getting through the rough days? Let me know down in the comments!

The "Right" Time

Is it just me or do you ever hold off from doing something because you are waiting for the right time? You know, that perfect moment when everything is exactly how you want it to be, and the time is just "right"?

Well, let me tell you something. If you are waiting for the "right" time, you will probably be waiting forever. It is never the "right" time for something. Everything will never be perfectly in place how you want it to be, and the situation will never be "just right."

This is not meant to discourage you, but actually to encourage you. To encourage you to go for whatever it is you are holding off on. Stop waiting for everything to be perfect; the "right" time is now.

The time to try something new. The time to go back to school. The time to start looking for that job you really want. The time is now.

I'll admit that it can sometimes feel scary and even risky to go for what you have been waiting for. But I bet that you will feel so happy when you do. Sometimes, you just have to go for things and trust that it will all work out in the end.

The choice is yours: Keep waiting for that "right" time that will never come, or just go for what you really want. What will you do?

Have FUN today!

Is it just me or do you ever feel like you can only have fun when you're out somewhere or around other people doing something special? 

Today at the gym, I overheard something that made me re-think this mentality. While I was doing some ab exercises, a man passed by and made some small talk with the guy working out next to me. Right before the man walked away, he turned to the other guy and said "Hey, have fun today." It was clear that the guy did not have anything especially "fun" planned for the day, but he smiled and said "You know I always do!"

This got me thinking: why do we need to wait until we are doing something fun in order to actually have fun? Why can't we just have fun every day for the sheer fact that we are enjoying life??

You don't have to wait for some special occasion in order to have fun. You can have fun around the house, at work, at school, in the car, with friends, without friends, etc. if you let yourself. It is all in the way you choose to feel (more in depth blog post on this to come soon). If you choose to, you can have a blast cleaning the house, or driving to school, or working in your office.

Moral of the overheard conversation today? Have FUN today and everyday, no matter what you are doing! How will you have fun today?

Quote of the Week - Reaching Your Goals

Is it just me or do you ever set goals for yourself and then never get any closer to accomplishing them? I know for me, I sometimes wish that things in my life were different, but I never take the steps to make them different.

Today's quote is a great one to (hopefully) motivate you to begin reaching your goals.

"Ask yourself if what you're doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow."

Making and attaining goals can be a bit of a daunting task sometimes. Depending on the goal, you may have no idea how or where to begin, and even the thought of your goals leaves you feeling overwhelmed. 

But when I read this quote, I don't think about how I can reach my goals in the shortest amount of time possible. I think about how I can take even the smallest of steps forward every single day, working towards my goal little by little.

If your goal is to be a kinder person, start out by doing even one kind thing for someone else each day. If your goal is to start your own business, research how you can begin getting there and do one thing off the checklist every day. If your goal is to become a singer, seek out performance opportunities, or record songs for youtube, or write lyrics for an original each day. The results are not going to come overnight. But by asking yourself if you are taking the necessary steps towards that goal every day, and by actually following through with those small steps, you will eventually reach it. 

So I ask you, is what you are doing today getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow?

PAY ATTENTION!

Is it just me or can you tell when someone is not really paying attention to you? You are trying to talk to someone and they are listening, but they are also texting, or constantly looking at their phone, or moving about doing something else? 

I know that I am certainly guilty of this, but recently, I have been really trying to be more mindful and attentive to people when we are talking. I know that it bothers me when I am trying to tell someone something and they are answering texts while giving me one-word responses, so why do I do it too?? It is obvious when someone is only half-listening, or when they are distracted by something else. And on top of that, it can be really annoying and frustrating sometimes. Yet I still do it. I still check my phone while having a conversation with someone. I still run around my room straightening up while a friend is sitting on my bed trying to talk to me. And I don't want to do that anymore.

People want attention. I want attention, you want attention...we all want to know that people care about what we are saying and respect us enough to listen while we speak. Think about how good it makes you feel when you just know that the other person you're talking with is genuinely involved in the conversation, and is interested in what you are saying. I know that it makes me feel really loved and cared for.

While I am not perfect, I have really been trying more and more to pay attention to people when they are speaking with me. I have been more mindful about not touching my phone, I have been trying to make better eye contact, and I have been trying to give genuine responses that show I am listening. I am sure that, just as people notice when you aren't paying attention to them, they also notice when you are. And that difference is huge.

I am taking a stand and really trying to pay more attention to people in my conversations with them. Let me know if you would like to stand with me.

Go With the Flow

Is it just me or do you ever find that you have a hard time deviating from a set plan? Things were set in stone one minute, but the next minute they get changed and you just can't seem to be happy being flexible?

If I'm being honest, I can have quite a bit of trouble with this sometimes. I was especially humbled this past weekend when I was asked to help my boyfriend's brother with his proposal to his girlfriend. The plans kept changing, and then when we finally settled on one, they changed again! I was so frustrated because the new plans that were decided on were not at all what I wanted to do that day. It was cold and rainy and I just wanted to stay home snuggled up with a book or a puzzle. 

But I had to realize that this was a very special day for my boyfriend's brother and his now fiancé, and I needed to just chill out and go with the flow. I needed to put myself  on the back burner, and be flexible.

It is not always easy to be flexible when it comes to changing plans. When I have something in my head that I'm going to do, or a way of doing something that I am used to, I prefer to stay in that comfortable place. I do not like change very much. 

But sometimes, change is necessary, and even inevitable in some cases. Once you learn to relax and go with the flow of changing plans, routines, or traditions, you will find that you can be a happier, calmer person. 

So I challenge you to practice going along with the flow with me. It will be difficult at first, but it will be worth it in the end.

Do you have any tips to help people like me try and go with the flow? Let me know-I could use all the help I can get!

3 Tips to Beat the Monday Blues

Is it just me or are Mondays really hard sometimes? It's the first day back to the "real world" after the weekend, and it is just plain tough to get back into the swing of things. Mondays don't have to be all bad though. Here are some tips I've come up with to help you beat those Monday blues:

1. Wake up with a joyful, thankful heart. If you wake up on Monday dreading the day ahead, you are sure to have a rough day. But if you wake up feeling thankful to be alive, and maybe even a little joyful to tackle a new week, you may find that your Monday isn't so bad after all.

2. Listen to your favorite playlist while getting ready or driving to work/school. There is just something about good music that gets me going, especially in the mornings. When I am feeling especially tired and unmotivated on a Monday morning, I like to put on some fun, upbeat music. Every time I do this, I find that I am automatically in a better mood, and I usually catch myself dancing and singing along. 

3. Plan something to look forward to on your Monday. This can be something little, such as planning to get your favorite drink from Starbucks, or something a bit bigger, like hanging out with some friends after work/school. Giving yourself something to look forward to helps get you through the day, and even gets you excited about getting through the day!

Above all else, remember that Mondays don't last forever. They only come around once a week, so do whatever you can to get through them and then move on! It is just a day, so fill it with joy and happiness, just like you would any other day.  

Do you have any other tips to help you beat those Monday blues? I would love to hear them!

Quote of the Week - Bad Day vs. Bad Life

Is it just me or do you sometimes let a bad day trick you into thinking that you have a bad life? You have an awful day, which sometimes leads you to believe that your life must be bad.

This week's quote addresses this issue perfectly.

"Breathe. It's just a bad day. Not a bad life."

You know those days where everything just feels like a mess? You were running late all morning, forgetting everything, and then for the rest of the day, you just feel like you can't seem to get it together? 

I have had my fair share of these days, and I am all too familiar with that frazzled feeling you just can't seem to shake for the rest of the day. But we have to remember that just because our lives aren't together for a day does not mean that our lives aren't together. Just because we feel like a mess one day does not mean that our whole lives are a mess.

So the next time you have one of those terrible days, try to take a deep breath and remember that it is just one bad day. You do not have a bad life. Bad days happen, but they don't dictate or define our entire lives.

Have any quotes that are worth sharing? Leave them down below!

Just Because...

Is it just me or do we sometimes get a little selfish? We start to focus a little too much on ourselves and what’s going on in our lives, and we forget that there are other people with important things going on in their lives as well. I get it, we are all busy and we all have our own problems, and we all like to put ourselves first sometimes.

But let’s face it, what a sad, sad world it would be if everyone thought only of themselves all the time and never did anything for anyone else “just because.” Those two words, ‘just because,’ seem so simple, but they really mean so much. Imagine if someone bought you a cup of coffee just because they felt like it or knew it would cheer you up. Think about if someone gave you a compliment without looking for one in return just because they really liked your hair that day. How good would that make you feel?  

You shouldn’t need a reason to do something kind for someone. You shouldn’t do something for someone else just to make yourself look better, or to be able to hold it over their head when you need something in return. You should do kind things for other people just because.

Just because you feel like it. Just because you were thinking of them that day. Just because you miss them. Just because you love them. Just because.

What kind thing has someone done for you recently just because they felt like it? Feel free to let me know in the comments, and make sure to pass on the “just because kindness” to someone else.

It's the Little Things

Is it just me or do you ever seem to go through your days sometimes without anything really remarkable happening? Nothing truly huge has changed in your life, nothing worth writing home about has happened during your week, and you just live day to day in a kind of ordinary manner.

While it can sometimes be a good thing that nothing crazy is going on in your life, it is so important to remember that your life is anything but ordinary. You don’t need something “remarkable” to happen every day in order to be happy and grateful with the life that you have.

Sometime last year, I downloaded this app on my phone called Gratitude 365. The app is nothing special, really—it's basically a calendar where, each day, you can write down some things that you were grateful for that day. You can add a picture to make it look pretty, but that is basically the gist of the app. Now, I went through a period of a couple months where I didn’t touch the app at all. But recently, I began trying to use it every day, and I have been getting so much out of it.

The purpose of the app is not to brag about all of the amazing things that happen to you each day. For me, it has become a way to realize and appreciate all the little things that make my days special. I will give you a few examples of the types of things that I write down in my app:

• I got a cup of coffee from Dunkin Donuts today and it was delicious.
• I put in a request to have some of the lights fixed in my classroom, and this morning when I walked into the room, it was noticeably brighter in there!
• I started reading a new book that I absolutely love.

 As you can see, none of those things are out of the ordinary. But without those little reminders that my life is good each day, I have a feeling that I could be quite miserable. As a former teacher of mine used to say constantly, "It's the little things."

So, I challenge you to at least think about three good things in your day, every day, and see how much of a difference it makes in your life. I think you might find that you are quicker to smile, quicker to laugh, and quicker to appreciate the little things.

What are some of the "little things" in your life that you are grateful for each day?

It's Much More Than That - Happiness

Is it just me or do you ever look up a word in the dictionary only to find that the definition is not exactly how you would describe the word? Oftentimes, the "official" definition of a word differs from how we interpret the word's meaning and its relevance to our lives. It is for this reason that I decided to start another "series" on my blog titled "It's Much More Than That - *insert choice word here*".  Every Wednesday, I will choose one word and define it as I have come to understand it.

Today's word is happiness. According to the dictionary, 'happiness' is defined as "the state of being happy." This led me to look up the definition of 'happy' which reads, "feeling pleasure and enjoyment because of your life, situation, etc."

How do you take a word like 'happiness' and restrict it to just one universal definition?? To me, happiness is so much more than just a word; it is a feeling, an experience like no other. Many times, people think of happiness as something to be achieved. "If I only had this new car, I would be happy..."; "When I get this promotion at work, then I will be happy..."; and the list goes on. But I don't think that happiness is something that we need to set as a goal for ourselves, or something that we need to continually strive for. 

I want so much more out of life than to simply experience happiness every now and then. I want to be happy. Happiness doesn't have to be (and shouldn't be) an "if...then..." type of thing. Happiness should just be. I shouldn't have to work for it, and I certainly shouldn't have to depend on other things or people to keep my happiness going. 

To me, happiness is singing in the car at the top of my lungs to my favorite song. Happiness is getting lost in a good book while sipping on a nice hot cup of coffee. Happiness is hanging around the house with my family knowing that I am loved. Happiness is thinking about my life and reflecting on all of the blessings that I have.

What does happiness mean to you?

You Will Never HAVE the Time!

Is it just me or do you ever feel like you don't have time for anything? Life keeps getting busier and busier and then one day you realize that you simply have no time to do anything that you want to do?

I'm going to let you in on a little secret...You will never HAVE the time. 

Life is not going to magically stop being busy. Responsibilities will always be there. There will never be enough hours in the day, and you will always have an unfinished 'To Do' list waiting to be tended to. But does that mean that you should just give up all of the things that you love because you "have no time" for them? Absolutely not.

As hard as it may sometimes be, there comes a point when you have to MAKE time for the people, things, activities, that you love. If that means waking up extra early to squeeze in your favorite gym class, then so be it. If it means setting a reminder on your phone to text a loved one every single day, then make it happen. If it means occasionally rearranging your schedule, or scheduling things back to back with little to no breathing room, or even sacrificing something you really love for something or someone else that you also really love, then do that. 

I can guarantee you that it will be hard, but I can also guarantee you that it will be worth it. So stop waiting until you "have the time," because odds are you never will. If something means a lot to you, you will make the time for it. And you will be so glad that you did.  

What are some things you love that are worth making time for?

Quote of the Week - Be Kind Always

Is it just me or do you ever come across people that seem just plain rude for no reason? It is almost a natural reaction to act rude right back to them, because after all, they did it first, right? WRONG.

This week's quote is a good one to keep in your pocket at all times, because I have a feeling you'll need to think back on it often:

"Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. 
Be kind. Always."

I have learned that many times, people who seem rude, or who give me an attitude right off the bat really have something else going on that has nothing to do with me. Maybe they are going through a rocky divorce, or they have to spend all night awake in the hospital with their sick child. Maybe they just got in a fight with their best friend, or a loved one recently passed away. Maybe they are simply having a really awful day. Does this give them a right to take it out on me, on us? No, but it certainly helps put things into perspective. 

Life is not always easy, and it's certainly not always fun. But what a better place this world would be if we could all be kind to one another always. It is all too easy to get wrapped up in our own little world, thinking only of ourselves. But if we take just a second to think of what another person might possibly be going through before shooting back a sassy answer, we could really learn something valuable.

So the next time you have the urge to lash out at someone or give them attitude right back, try and remember that, odds are, they are going through something in their life that is really difficult. Cut them some slack. And share this quote with others, because you never know when you might need someone to be kind to you when you are not able to be so kind yourself.

Have a good quote? Feel free to share it in the comments!

The Dangers of Wallowing in Self-Pity

Is it just me or do we sometimes like to feel sorry for ourselves? We are having a bad day or going through a rough time, and so we throw ourselves a Pity Party of one.

I have gone through some really tough times in my life, and I know how much easier it seems to just wallow in sadness and sorrow, feeling bad for myself but not really doing anything about it. But as my mom had told me during a particularly rough patch, “It’s okay to feel sorry for yourself for a little while, but you can’t stay there.”

And, like always, she was right. It is certainly okay to mope about for a bit, pitying yourself and your situation, but you can’t stay there. It is okay to cry your eyes out while listening to sad music in your room, thinking “why me?!”, but you can’t stay there. And it is okay to not feel like seeing or talking to anyone for a while, but again, you can’t stay there.  

Wallowing in self-pity is a very dangerous game that no one should ever attempt to play. It’s okay for a little while, but if you stay there in that sad, dark, lonely place for too long, it is very hard to get out.

So what can you do to avoid this dangerous game?

For starters, you can allow yourself a little bit of time to wallow if you need to. Like I said, it’s okay, and sometimes even helps you feel better, but only let yourself stay there for a limited amount of time. When you’re done, do something to take your mind off of your situation. Whether it be watching a funny movie, going out with friends, or eating a big bowl of ice cream, get out and do something fun!

Lastly, make sure that you have someone to talk to when you’re feeling particularly down. For me, my mom is my go-to person for everything. She always hears me out and gives me great, honest advice (and best of all, a nice tight hug when I need one). Whoever it is, just make sure that you have someone you trust to help pull you up out of the self-pity ditch when you’re struggling. We all have hard times, but we can’t let ourselves stay down for too long, and a good friend will always be there to help pick you back up.

What do you like to do to avoid getting stuck on the self-pity train?

Working Out is Hard to Do-Tips to Get You Motivated

Is it just me or is the hardest part about working out actually going to work out? I always find that once I am at the gym I am totally fine, but the physical act of going to the gym is a constant struggle.

I prefer to go to the gym first thing in the morning so I can get it over with and start my day on a positive note. However, getting myself up and out of bed never gets easier. Even once I do get out of bed, I find myself taking my sweet time, looking for any excuse not to go to the gym. Why do I do this? Why is it so hard to just get up and go?! I really wish I knew the answer. But the reality is that it is hard, so I've come up with some tips to get you moving and out the door. 

1. Get yourself into a routine. If you get anything out of this blog post, let it be this point. Creating and sticking to a routine is crucial if you want to work out consistently. I have certain mornings each week that I know I can go to the gym. That being said, I have created for myself a little routine for those mornings that I follow each and every week. My routine goes a little something like this: get up, get ready for the gym, eat a little something, go to the gym for an hour, come home and shower, get ready for the day, etc. I do these same things in this same order every day. Routines can be hard to keep at first, but stick to them, and they will turn into habits! 

2. Set your alarm way earlier than you actually have to be up. I try to do this on a regular basis anyway, but if I want to make it to a 9:30 am gym class and I know I have to leave by 9:15, I will set my alarm for 8:00 or 8:15, even though I know it only takes me about 5-10 minutes to get ready. This gives me some time to lay around in bed on my phone (come on now, we are all guilty of this!) and take my time getting ready.  

3. Lay out your clothes and shoes the night before. This is HUGE. Part of my procrastination in the morning is picking out something to wear. Now, I in no way get glammed up for the gym--in all honesty I usually look like quite the disheveled mess. I like to lay out my gym clothes and sneakers at night so that when I wake up in the morning, everything is all ready for me. I don't have to think about what to wear; I just put the clothes on and go! I also find that once I actually have my clothes on, I feel much more motivated to work out. 

4. Plan to take a class. When it comes to working out, I tend to work harder and get more out of it when I take a class with a really good instructor. Over the past few weeks, I have tried some different classes at my gym and found some that I really enjoy. Knowing that I will be going to work out in a structured environment for an hour really helps get me motivated (and more willing) to go to the gym.

5. Work out with a friend. This one may not be for everyone, but if you and a friend belong to the same gym, try to work out a schedule where the two of you can go together. This not only makes working out more fun, but it also holds you accountable. I actually prefer working out by myself, but I do have some ladies that I see every week in some of the classes I like to take, and something about just knowing that they are there helps get me to the class. 

Do you have anything you like to do to get you up and motivated to work out?