Narcis Blog

Last week I spoke about how I decided to change my lifestyle and started working out, as well as eating healthier. You can check out that post HERE. When I started I didn't feel ready to go to the gym, as I had this stupid idea that I would be the laughing stock there. I can now tell you that nothing like that happen, the atmosphere there is actually quite great. But more about my gym journey in another post. Today I want to focus more on what you can do at home by yourselves! Many of us are sometimes way too busy to be able to go to the gym 3-5 times a week. And some of these workout apps that I'll talk more in detail above offer great alternatives, and it's free!

7M WORKOUT (Available for iOS and Android)

This was the first workout app that I tried and I still absolutely love it! Not only does it offer a 7 minute workout (great if you're a busy boss lady/sir) but it also has a great selection of custom and smart workouts. I started off by using the 7 minute plan (it really pushes you to your limits sometimes) and then slowly progressed to the smart workouts. You see, smart workouts are connected to your phone's health app and determine what your current fitness level is. It's seriously amazing and I would 10/10 recommend!

HEALTH APP

This is the standard iOS health app, and I'm pretty certain that Android and Windows probably offer something very similar on their platforms. I mostly use this for counting the steps that I take each day, and let me tell you, after all that shopping trips you'll feel quite accomplished! Funny story time: me and Ina from Lovely Little Luxuries once actually took the stairs inside H&M just to up our step game. The health app also comes in handy for syncing with your other favourite health apps to keep track of your progress and stats.

NIKE+ RUNNING (Available for iOS and Android)

First I'd admit something, I'm not much of a runner. I only used this app once on my run, as honestly I don't run as much as I should. What's fun about it though is that you can compare your stats with your friends, turn it into a fun little competition. It's a great way to keep yourself motivated. Actually the app itself offers a challenges section where you can set up a distance, invite your friends and race to the finish line (it works even if you're miles and miles apart, great way to keep connected to your pen pals). Within the app you can also access your "personal" Nike+ Coach and get your training program, completed with reminders to push you over your limits.

SLEEP BETTER (Available for iOS and Android)

Not exactly a fitness app but part of keeping yourself and your body healthy is maintaining a healthy sleeping habit. For me personally this is one of the hardest thing to keep care of. It's so easy to stay up working into the night, or even getting caught up with your favourite tv series on Netflix. This app keeps track of your sleeping habits. You just plug it into your charger and place your phone by your pillow somewhere. You have to tell the app if you had a stressful day, if you were drinking or if you were working out. In the morning it will then tell you your sleep efficiency, and you can even add dream notes right away.

NIKE+ TRAINING (Available for iOS and Android)

Before you ask, no this post is not sponsored by Nike (although they should sponsor me, so Nike hit me up!). This is honestly such a great app for working out by yourself in the comfort of your home (or even outside). You can create your own custom program, keep track of your progress, keep track of the Sport Feed for a healthy dose of motivation, you can even connect with your friends. There are four different sections when you are choosing your workouts: Get lean, Get toned, Get strong and Get focused. I mostly stick with Get toned, as that is my goal. Unlike the 7M Workout you'll need some weights for some workouts, however you can get weights for quite a cheap price.

I feel like if you want to take some serious steps towards a healthier life, 7M Workout is great if you're too busy, while Nike+ Training offers a wider range of workouts and is a bit superior, in my own personal opinion.

If you have your own favourite apps to keep yourself healthy, let me know in the comments below.

Wrote by Narcis

I should probably start this off with a disclaimer of sorts. I'm in no way an expert in nutrition nor working out, in fact I'm a beginner. Not that long ago I was thinking about how my eating habits and lack of exercise affected my well being (and my mood at the end of the day). It was at that point that I decided to put in some effort into my body. I felt like that was what I was generally lacking in life. If you read this blog you will know that I'm confident in my looks and never had any confidence issues. The appearance of my body was never at its top game, as honestly I never exercised much.

WHY I WORK OUT?

Since I started working out, I immediately noticed a difference in the way I felt, both physically and mentally. Suddenly I had a lot more energy, felt more confident and even happier at the end of the day. Eating healthier for me is more of a struggle, but cheat days are a blessing and make it a lot easier.

I'm very lucky to have a best friend that is quite a fitness expert. He's been going strong for quite a few years now and he's quite motivational when it comes to that. I mean if going to the gym 3-4 times a week means I'll have a body like that, sign me up now. But, I was very hesitant when it comes to the whole gym thing, considering I suffer from social anxiety. Let's be real here, being in a gym that is filled with unfamiliar faces isn't exactly a dream come true. At the same time I'm excited for that hour I'll spend there with my headphones on and Boss Ass Bitch by Nicki Minaj playing in my ears.

I can't recommend regular exercise and (at least semi) healthy nutrition enough. It has made a huge difference in how I feel on a day to day basis. Not to mention my anxiety has been behaving a lot better than usual since I started.

YOU CAN STILL INDULGE IN SWEETS.

Living a healthy life is amazing but never forget to indulge in that chocolate once in a while! I will never understand people who go on a diet and cut out sugar completely. There is nothing wrong with keeping a balanced diet which should also include cheat days and sugary treats. It makes the transition to a healthy lifestyle a lot more easier, trust me.

This is just an introduction post of a "living a healthier lifestyle" series. Next week I plan on introducing some amazing apps that have helped me a lot and made this whole working out thing a whole lot easier and fun. I will also do some posts about nutrition, healthier recipes and even even my gym journey. What I won't do though, is force this upon you. I was against working out in the past and would probably kick someone in the face if they went all "OMG you have to work out!". I find that to be very counter productive. This is just for everyone that WANTS to exercise and eat healthier but is struggling with it.

OR YOU CAN JUST NOT WORK OUT, THAT'S A-OKAY TOO.

Remember, working out is great but if you don't want to do it, that's your choice and no one should make you feel bad about it! If they do feel free to kick them in the face, they deserve it!

Wrote by Narcis

It's been a while since the last time I shared a little peak into my daily life, and even then it was more focused either on exploring new places in the city or bringing forth the issue of mental health awareness. Which is why I decided to share with you a little recap of sorts, as to what has been going on in my life recently. If you don't care, feel free to skip this blog post and I promise to bring some reviews and skincare routines your way very, very soon, alongside with possibly a few Outfit of the day posts.

A week or so ago I was lucky enough to meet a fellow blogger, who you can find at Rene Dopler, and we hit it off straight away. He even made me walk up a hill to the Ljubljana Castle at approximately 10PM. It was great, really. He was also the inspiration behind the reboot of Narcis and the reason why I decided to step it up a notch around here.
My best friend, who I also sometimes refer to as my sister, as we do look slightly alike, Ana Ina from Lovely Little Luxuries spent the weekend at my place on the Slovenian coast, and the more time we spent together the more I grew to adore her, as she brings out the best in me. Remember people, surround yourself with friends that lift you up when you feel like falling down. We spent the time drinking enormous amounts of coffee, watching Outlander episodes and we even took a nice walk around the beach, where she was kind enough to snap some photos of me. All in all we had an amazing time.
I started a new therapy at my psychologists, it's kind of auto suggestive relaxation exercises. Basically you assume a comfortable position, imagine your happy place and repeat the words "I'm relaxed and calm" 6 times in your head. Of course the exercises get more complex every time, as you add new elements, such as telling yourself that your right hand grows heavier and heavier, etc. So far so good.
A while ago I was also put on new meds that are particularly aimed at my anxiety, and I must admit that they do seem to help, as I noticed quite an improvement in my well being after a few weeks. However they do make me a lot more tired than I usually am, as that is one of the side effects but I would rather deal with feeling tired than having to face another panic attack.
Exams are starting next month so it's slowly time to start revising like crazy, although I surprised myself and started a lot earlier than I usually would, so honestly I have high hopes that I'm going to nail these exams in the head, and hopefully have a nice relaxing summer ahead.
I'm also going to start planning my trip to London soon, as I plan on going there around July, as that's when I'll be done with exams, and I'll be able to actually enjoy my holiday to full extent. So if any of you are from around there, I'd be excited to meet some fellow bloggers for brunch or just a cup of coffee.

And I think that's quite a solid recap, right? No huge news, as I'm not getting married, or having children anytime soon, but I feel like these are all quite important things that happened to me, and made me grow as a person.

As I promised, next week (when I finally get home to my camera) I'll try and put up some product reviews that I've been meaning to do for ages, as well as hopefully my skincare routines, if anyone is interested in that as well.

Until next time.

Wrote by Narcis

In the world we live in today, with every magazine, social media sites and even blogs, we are often overcome by this picture perfect scenario. You open a magazine and you see this perfect woman looking you right in the eyes, and you just stop to wonder why isn't that you. In the world of fashion shows and picture perfect models, we often strive for that beauty standard that is shoved right into our faces in every turn that we make. But why do we let these people force feed us these standards that most of us will never be able to achieve? Why do we believe that all these models are actually that confident, that problem free and have this perfect magazine cover life. We just seem to forget that at the end of the day, they're nothing more but people like you and like me, except they have to look perfect on that photo shoot. Personally, I believe that they have so much more pressure to fit into these beauty standards than we do.

Are their lives better than ours? Or is it maybe worse because they have to be picture perfect at every turn that they make. No one will care if I walk to take the trash out in my sweatpants, or if my hair was messy, but people will criticise these models if they don't always look absolutely perfect. It makes me stop and think that perhaps they have it way worse than we do, and that even though we sometimes aspire to that standard of perfection, we are not forced to fit into it.

People often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and while I do completely agree with that saying, I also think we sometimes fail to see ourselves as beautiful. You can have 10 people say just how pretty you are, but when just one person says you're not, your confidence usually goes down the drain. At the end of the day it should never matter what they say, what should count is what you say about yourself. I think that once we stop forcing ourselves to fit into the typical beauty standards and start discovering the beauty in ourselves, that's when you can become confident and happy in your own skin. I happen to like the way I look most of the time, and yet sometimes I hate it when I put on just the tiniest bit of weight. Sometimes it takes the lightest of winds to break us down, but it takes an entire construction site to build ourselves up again.

We have to stop letting other people decide how we see ourselves, and instead we should focus on noticing our own beauty. Stand in front of a mirror, and find at least 5 things that you like about your appearance. I can tell you mine: I like my eyes, my smile, I like the shape of my face, my (too) skinny legs, and I like my tattoos. It's a lot easier than it sounds if you look at yourself long enough. Just because we are forced to see those picture perfect models, it doesn't mean that anything different than them isn't beautiful.

What are the 5 things you like about yourself?

Wrote by Narcis

(Credit: Death To Stock Photo)

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."

- Robert Frost

The past few days have been quite rough on me, and even though I only have myself to blame, it didn't make it any easier. I called my best mate to join me for some tea at our local pub, and after I told him what was happening, he looked at me and said: "Just hold your head up high and move on". And damn, he was spot on. We have to realise that no matter how hard things get, life will always go on, or in the spirit of Moulin Rouge — The show must go on. But I think we all agree that some things are just easier said than done, and it takes a lot of effort and a strong spirit to move on sometimes. I will admit that right now I'm only trying to move on, but I also think that trying is the first and most crucial step, as long as you keep moving, things will get better and easier.

One thing that makes it all easier is keeping yourself busy. Whether that means reading as many books as you possibly can, binge watching your favourite TV programme, or just being constantly surrounded by your closest friends and family. For me it's all of the above, add too many constant baths, at home facials and writing down blog ideas and I'm good to go. The worst part, if you ask me, about those rough times is that you keep playing and replaying them in your head. You think what would happen if only you did things differently, and you start making alternative scenarios in your head that just make things worse. When you get yourself busy, it's easier to let those thoughts go as your mind is too preoccupied with the task at hand. Keep yourself busy, hold your head up and start doing things that make you happy, and let go of the thoughts that make you sad.

I think it's really easy to let your thoughts wander into those darkest corners of your mind. And while sometimes it's good to go through those bad memories, as they can also help prevent us from making the same mistakes twice, it doesn't help when you get completely eaten up by them. Think them through but after you are done, just let them go and move on. They always say that time heals all wounds, and while I do somewhat agree with that, I also believe that time alone won't do anything, as you have to put in some effort as well. Go back into your old hobbies, start writing or drawing, learn things that you always wanted to but never found the right time, call that friend that you haven't seen in ages and go out for some drinks.

If I'm being honest I can already feel my life moving on, I can't explain it but it somehow feels like everything is falling in its own place. I'm surrounded by amazing friends, I started reading again and I'm studying for my upcoming exams weeks before. Things sometimes really do happen for a reason, you just have to stand up for yourself and kick yourself in the ass a few times before you move on.

What is your go-to recipe for moving on from a rough period?

Wrote by Narcis

It's such a cliche to say that you should make 2015 your year, and that each year comes with new opportunities, but I think it's true. While I don't really believe in New Year resolutions, as they almost always fall in the water and then next year you promise yourself the very same things, hoping that this year you'll make them happen. But what I do believe in is that with each new year, you are presented with new opportunities and if you work hard enough, you just get bigger and better. Which is sometimes just as good, if not even better, than those New Year resolutions, right?

This year I know I'll put more work and effort into this little blog, as well as improving my designs and hopefully open up the Etsy shop that I have been thinking about for half of the past year. So if I would have any New Year resolutions it would be just to work harder towards achieving the goals that I already have set for myself, and my career as well. I will be the first one to admit that for the past few months in the previous year, I have been slacking when it comes to hard work, and it left me feeling unaccomplished and empty. That's not a good feeling, and I don't want it, so this year I will kick it in the butt and work as hard as I possibly can, so that by the time next year comes around, I will have something to be proud of.

You may remember the last post that I wrote for Narcis Blog, about The Difference Between Alone and Lonely, and this year I don't want to be so dependant on other people and their presence in my life. While it's good to be surrounded by people you care about and they care about you, it's also important to be able to stand on your own two feet, without anyone there to hold you. And while that is more often easier said than done, especially when you're generally a very caring person that likes to be surrounded by people you care about, I need to remember that some people have to leave your life in order to make room for new, sometimes even better, people.

So yes, this is the year where I want to focus on myself, my career and my studies. I spent most of my life trying to be a good friend, and be there for other people when they need me and I never let them in when something was wrong with me. I just need to remind myself that it's okay to let people in, and ask for their help when you need it. It's good to give but something you also need to get something in return, and sometimes it's completely okay to be a little bit selfish. I started this year by needing help from my best friend, and I think this was the first time that she saw me cry so badly that I could barely get myself together. Yes, the next day we ended up laughing about it, but it was just something that I needed to get out of my system in order to keep going forward. Now enough with this emotional and perhaps a little too personal ranting, but I hope that I got my point across. Be a little bit selfish, focus on yourself and let people go if they don't fit into your life anymore, let some new people in, or just be alone if that's what you need.

This is the year of you, and it's the year of me. Make 2015 the year that you will never forget, do some stupid choices that you'll regret, but also make ones that you will think back and be insanely proud of yourself. And most of all, never forget that you deserve the finest things in life, even if sometimes you may think that you don't. Stay optimistic but also keep your feet on the ground.

Happy 2015 and stay as amazing and strong as you are because you are the best person in the world.

Wrote by Narcis

I know this is not exactly what one would call the Christmas spirit, but I think that many people feel incredibly lonely during these times. Some people are blessed with great friends, family and partners that they can embrace on Christmas morning, yet some aren't that lucky. Sounds incredibly morbid, I know, but I also think that it's very important that we learn how to live by ourselves. Sometimes I get very personal here, and sometimes some of you seem to like that, and I intend on doing it further down the line, so just stick with me with this one, as it is something that I need to get off my chest, and I hope that some people might find it helpful.

For those who have been reading Narcis for some time now, you will know that I had to learn to deal with a lot of people leaving my life, and even though there are some old friends that stayed, I have also realised that no one has any obligation to stay with you. At any point in time, they can just stand up and leave. And if you can't get up and stand on your own two feet, without that person holding you up, then you are probably screwed, truthfully. Again, I'm going into that morbid phase, aren't I? But that is not the point that I wish to make with this blog post, in fact I want to emphasise the opposite. And that is that we can all stand alone, you don't need that special someone to hug on Christmas morning. Yes, you perhaps may want it, but you will go on even without him or her. Because you are strong, and you can find enough love for yourself to just stand up and be happy, because that is the entire point of Christmas, and for me, the entire month of December.

Me and my friend have this reoccurring joke that I'm only nice during December, and I turn back into being just a little bit mean the rest of the year. And while that used to be true, I wasn't always the nicest person ever, I am more than aware of that, I'm trying to make an effort. I was never mean just for the sake of it, there was always a reason behind it and it had nothing to do with the other person, it was always me. As stupid as it sounds. I was always afraid of people leaving, because I wasn't sure if I could do life alone.

You don't have to, there are always new people that come into our lives, but I just want to tell you, that if you don't have anyone special around you at this time, you don't need him. Look at yourself in the mirror and smile, because you deserve to be happy, and you can bring yourself your own happiness. Do something that you love, just stand up and do it, and if that is impossible (although you are strong enough to do almost anything), then find something else that is more reachable at the time. Surround yourself with happiness, and remember that your happiness should never depend on other people.

I will also admit that I'm writing this mostly for myself, because there comes a time when I just need a reminder, and I think I'm probably not the only one, am I? I'm sorry if this ruined your holiday spirits, but I also hope that it might help someone that is going through a lonely time right now. But remember, there is a big difference between alone and lonely.

Wrote by Narcis

I'm always reading this or that article online, mostly in my field of studies, which is Graphic design and media, but I just thought it would be a good idea to share some of the things that I have enjoyed reading with you guys. For the first time launching this series, I decided it would be a good idea to start of with some good blog reads that I have been enjoying lately. And that are also very informative for other bloggers, as well as anyone else. So let's get crackin, shall we.

I found the article on A Little Opulent about 5 Steps in Photoshop to be of great help, even though I am very familiar with Photoshop, I did learn a few tips and tricks that will come in handy.

Jen of Jennypurr did a fascinating piece on 10 Things I Ask Myself Before I Publish Content, which if you're serious about blogging I would warmly advise you to give it a good read. I definitely need to remember to actually schedule my promotional social media updates to go alongside my newly published content.

I am no photographic genius, even though I did get a very good grade on my final project for photography, so I have found Lix's Shooting In Manual Mode: The Starter Kit Infographic on Photodoto to be a very valuable resource. And I can only hope to improve my photography in the future.

I have also enjoyed reading about some post-grad life, and Rebecca from From Roses did a very interesting piece called Since Graduating I've Learnt. It will definitely make it a bit easier once I finish my degree to at least know what to expect, and how to deal with everything.

And to end it on another student note, I recommend Laura's, from Elelibee, article The University Series: Final Year Organisation. I don't know why but I always find reading and hearing about other people's academic and work life inspiring for me as well. And even though most of my last year will be internship, I will still need some tips that are mentioned.

I hope you find these articles informative and enjoyable as much as I have. And I would also like to apologise for the lack of update on the #SelfLoveMonday series this week, it will continue as usual next week, I promise. This week will be fun though, trust me, I have some amazing content planned, and am looking really forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

Please leave some blog read suggestions below in the comments. I would love some new reads.

Wrote by Narcis

How often have you felt like you had to constantly work in order to feel good about yourself? Or better yet, how often have you felt guilty of procrastinating even though you did work already? I know I'm guilty as charged. A while ago I remember telling a friend of how weird I felt for not having a blog post to write on weekends, when I generally take some time off just to refuel my creative juices. But why do we do that to ourselves? I think in my case, I just enjoy writing blog posts, and once you do something that you love, it's very easy to get absorbed by it. Ever felt like that?

But sometimes we just have to remind ourselves that we do deserve a break sometimes. We don't have to work constantly in order to feel good about ourselves, because we should just acknowledge that we already did enough, and sometimes even more than just enough. I believe this is especially common with freelancers but other working people aren't excluded. I know before when I worked as a barista I was always a bit of a workaholic. And you know what, my bosses quickly figured it out and took advantage of it. I would get calls at 7am on my day off saying that my co-worker didn't come to work and asking if I could step in. And what did I do, you ask yourself? Of course, I said yes. Because I thought that in order to prove myself even further, I just couldn't say no.

Eventually I began working over hours constantly, the morning calls on my days off became more frequent and I just couldn't deal with the pace I set myself up to. We are all just human beings, and even when you do something that you enjoy, you need that time off. You need to take a moment to relax. For us bloggers and freelancers that means disconnecting from most social media and just doing something else for a change. I think it's even more difficult for us to take time off because we're just constantly connected to our work on different social media where we constantly promote ourselves as a brand and our blogs or businesses. It's easy to get lost in it, and forget to just take a deep breath and relax.

I think my biggest tip would be to just close your laptops, computers, whatever. Turn off the notifications on your phone. And just go outside for a drink with your friends, watch something on the TV, take a bath, or read a good book. Do the things that you don't associate with work. Even now I have trouble disconnecting from the internet at times, and even though I don't take my tablet with me when I take a bath anymore (and yes, I used to do that as well!), I still work more than I probably should. But it's not always easy to go against your nature, and I always was a bit of a workaholic. I always felt that need to constantly prove myself and my worth. We shouldn't have to do that all the time though. Because at the end we are good enough as it is, or even better than just simply good enough. We are the best at what we do, just remember that.

Now that you read this, take a 15 minute break from the blogging world, go enjoy your morning coffee and breakfast without being connected to the internet. You deserve a break.

Do you sometimes forget to take a break as well? What tips would you give about the topic?

Wrote by Narcis

As you may have heard already, today is the World Mental Health Day, and there is a #Don'tPanicButton campaign going around. The point of the campaign is to wear a red button, anywhere you please, to show support to anyone suffering from a mental illness, or if you suffer from it as well. That way if you see someone pass you on the street, wearing the Don't Panic Button you'll know that the person is perhaps anxious, or suffers from another mental illness, and you can offer that person a lovely smile, or perhaps even a compliment to make them feel better, and maybe even a bit less anxious. But also be careful because I know from my personal experience that I would probably freak out if a stranger on the street would try to hug me or anything personal like that, so I'd say that a smile would be enough, just a nice little gesture with good intentions.

And if you're the one who suffers from any kind of mental illness, wearing that button might help you make friends that you otherwise wouldn't. I know that if I saw someone with that button I would feel a bit more at ease at going to them and saying hello, because I suffer from social anxiety and therefore making friends isn't always an easy task, and what I love about this campaign is that it would make me feel a lot less anxious if I saw someone with the little red button on their shirt. But most importantly I just love that we're slowly spreading awareness of mental illnesses, each day I see someone talking more publicly about it, and it makes me happy that it's slowly turning into a topic that is talked about, rather than a topic that was considered taboo not so long ago.

So right now I'm putting my red button on my blog, to make it public that Narcis Blog is a place where it's safe to talk about it, and to make people aware that I'm always here to lend a helping hand because I know first hand how it feels like. So please, if you ever need someone to talk to, you can write in the comments section below, or even send me an e-mail via the contact form in the header. I may not be experienced in the field, I'm not a certificated psychiatrist or any kind of specialist on the matter, but I do know a few things from experience, and I know that sometimes we just need someone to talk to. I know that for a long time I wouldn't want to talk about it with my friends, and even though right now I'm comfortable with sharing that with anyone, it wasn't the case some time ago. And talking with someone you know is going through the same thing, and is the last person in the world to judge, is a lot easier than talking to someone you know can never fully understand it.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Zoe from Zoella for bringing this campaign to my attention, and also for spreading awareness on the topic. It is amazing that someone with a larger audience such as hers, is doing something positive with her popularity and fighting for a great cause. Well, perhaps fighting is a strong word, but she is definitely making people more aware and I know she helped me deal with it a lot better with just talking about the things she goes through, and how she deals with it. For more information regarding the topic, as well as someone helpful links, watch her latest vlog here, or her video about dealing with her anxiety.

But also thank you to all of you that support this little blog, it means the world to me and it makes Narcis Blog a little safe place on the internet for me, as well as the Blogging world in general. You're all the friends that I have yet to meet one day. Stay strong, and know that you're not alone in this.

Wrote by Narcis

Lately I have been really obsessed with interior design, and therefore my Pinterest slowly turned into something of a shrine to all the amazing interiors in the world. As everything in my life, I love a simple and clean interior, and you will rarely see my place being a complete mess, although sometimes even I get lazy and forget to do the dishes on time. So today I just wanted to share with you some of the pins I have been absolutely loving, and that are just completely in my style.

001. I just love this very clean reading area. The picture art wall in the background sticks to the monochrome theme of the entire space, and I think they just work perfectly together. I could see myself sitting on that chair with a Murakami novel, some tea on the table and perhaps some healthy snack (or less healthy if I feel like eating something more on the sweet and naughty side). (Source)

002. Knowing myself I wouldn't keep the desk so clutter free as the second picture above shows. But I just love the feel of it, I don't know it just feels so peaceful, doesn't it? Although I would maybe just add some plants, probably something low maintenance, as I don't think I would remember to water it on time. But all in all this seems like such an effective work space, with low to no room for procrastination, and it just works, you know. (Source)

003. I JUST LOVE CLOTHING RACKS. Excuse the sudden screaming and caps lock, but honestly I have wanted a clothing rack for such a long time and I will just have to go out and get one ASAP! This again is very clean and minimalistic, and see how the plant just adds that extra little touch. I don't know why, perhaps because plants provide oxygen and therefore I just associate them with calmness and the sight alone relaxes me instantly. And don't get me started on the amount of daylight this room gets, it's amazing. P.S. The source of this seems to be no longer valid, so if anyone has the appropriate source for this, please let me know. (Source)

004. And here we have the perfect, cosiest place ever. I just love how cosy it feels without having to compromise on the minimalistic theme. It just works somehow, I think it's probably that beautiful fire place and that soft and fluffy rug. I think that does the trick, right? And again the plant and the prints in the background just add up to a more homey feel, and I'm absolutely loving it at the moment. (Source)

005. Again clothing racks, this time a bit less minimalistic, however I still think it looks amazing and I think that actually the large amount of clothes somehow works in the favour of this room. Although I do think it might be a bit distracting to work in the same place where you keep your clothes, however it will probably work best for someone in the fashion business, as I think it just fuels your creative flow. What I love the most about this room is that beautiful ceiling, just look at it! How amazing does it look? P.S. I couldn't find the source of this one either, so if you're the owner or you know who this belongs to, please let me know so I can credit it properly.

006. This is actually something that I plan on recreating in my own apartment, as I don't think it would be too difficult to make it yourself. And if I do actually go ahead and do it, I promise to post a detailed DIY, or perhaps even a video, we'll see when the time actually comes. But I just love this as a little corner to keep either your books, or just where you can throw away your shoes and jacket and just cosy up, knowing that you can stay in that day. And I love that horse print in the background, such majestic creatures those horses. (Source)

I'm going to go back to sipping my yoghurt, get into my PJs and watch some YouTube videos that I have been missing out on. Mostly I will just spend the rest of today lazying up and probably also catch up on some reading, because honestly I haven't read in ages. I need to slap myself on the head for it. Hopefully you enjoyed this little post, and let me know if you'd want to see more of these in the future, or if you hate it you can also let me know to never do it again.

Wrote by Narcis

Even though this series is entitled #SelfLoveMonday, I still think that part of loving yourself is to love others as well. I mean, can you imagine how your life would be if you wouldn't have family, friends and partners to love? Loving yourself is great, and I'm the first one to applaud you for it, I really am, but sometimes we just need someone. It's as simple as that, and even I admit that and I'm usually the first one to say that I don't need anyone but myself. The truth, though, is a bit more complicated. So today, for the #SelfLoveMonday series, I thought I would share with you my current 5 favourite blogs, that I have been enjoying the most for the past month or more. They inspire me daily, infuse me with a daily dose of inspiration and good vibes. And I love those good vibes.

001. XO Sarah. Sarah's blog is an absolute joy to read, and one of the things that stands out about it, is her weekly Fix It Friday series. The entire premise of it is to give feedback and constructive criticism to people's blogs. I tried it just shortly ago, and she really does reply to everyone who commented at the designated time and she tries to point out at least a few things that she thinks you could improve on. I found it incredibly helpful, and it's just such a great, unique idea.

002. Lipstick With Some Sunshine. Tamira's blog definitely deserves to be on this list. Her photography is always on point, very consistent and I found her blog posts incredibly easy to read and enjoyed them very much. The post that stuck inside my head for a long time was her Reflecting piece, and what I loved most about it is how very pristine it sounded, it felt like she was right next to you and just saying what's on her mind. I always love it when people's writing feels so present and just like they're in the same room as you.

003. Cocorrina. First thing's first, I'm the realest. But honestly, if you don't know Corina's blog already, then I'm just shocked and you need to go and do that, like right now. I always loved her blog because she has a very distinct and unique graphic design style. You could recognise it anywhere, if you ask me. But what I really loved lately was her Organised Life series. I always enjoy reading about how other people go about organising their lives and what their processes are, and she honestly broke it all down so neatly and easy to understand, it definitely helped me to keep my life more organised.

004. The Nectar Collective. Another one of those blogs that you had to hear about in the past. You just have to love Melyssa and the lovely puppy Monja by her side. And you're probably also familiar with her Weekly Wishes series, it's a personal goal setting link-up, and sometimes I just browse through a few of the blogs that linked up and it's always great to see what other people are wishing for. I have yet to join in and try myself at the Weekly Wishes as well, it should be fun.

005. Natillie. Can I just say that Natillie is one of the most sweet people you'll ever meet? And if you don't believe me just check out her youtube channel, as she just started vlogging, and it's just impossible to not like her. Her blog is a mix of beauty, lifestyle and thought related content, yet very pleasant to read, as her personality definitely shines through her writing. Her New Blogger Reality Check is very eyes opening and she makes quite a few good points when it comes to blogging in general, not just the beginnings, in my opinion.

There are a few others that I have been really loving lately, but these are definitely the ones I would pick for my Top 5. An honourable mention goes to Georgia's Brew Up Buttercup, because her writing is just so amazing, and I believe she will get to doing some great things in the future. And on that note I would end this week's #SelfLoveMonday, and all I ask for you is to go and be nice to people, show them some love as that will also help you grow as a person, and it will fill you with joy, trust me.

Wrote by Narcis

I must admit that I never felt this nervous about writing a blog post before. I have been thinking and rethinking whether I should even write this or not, let alone publish it for the world to see. But I do believe that anxiety and other mental illnesses should be discussed openly, and not kept inside like some sort of nasty secret. We shouldn't feel embarrassed that we suffer from some sort of a mental illness, should we? I never hear people being ashamed of having a flu or a virus infection. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of when having a mental illness. I personally am slowly getting to the point where I can openly talk about it with people I know, not just my closest friend. And today I did decide to write this down and publish it. I'm done with keeping my anxiety a secret, and feeling ashamed of it.

If nothing else, we should all feel proud that we still manage to have relatively normal lives. We manage to get ourselves to work, on public transport, grocery shopping in overly crowded stores, to universities and high schools. We deserve a medal, not a sense of shame. I say these things because until recently I felt embarrassed of it, I felt like it was just something inside my head, that it was not a serious illness and that I was just being utterly silly for no apparent reason. Well, as you may know, that's not the case. It's not easy to wish away anxiety (or any other mental illness) because if it were, no one would be suffering from it. Instead we have to wish ourselves out of bed, out into the world, to places where we might not feel comfortable, and be surrounded with people that make us anxious. It's not as easy as it may sound to someone without social anxiety, hell, sometimes it even sounds simple to me, yet the truth of the matter is that when it comes down to it, it's never simple.

I have been seeing my psychiatrist for about two years now. And surprisingly enough the first time I saw her it wasn't about my anxiety issues, it was actually due to my lack of temper in some occasions. I was having a rather difficult relationship with my mother at the time, and she insisted I saw a professional about it. Thank god she did. Not only did it help with my temper, it also helped with getting me diagnosed with social anxiety. If I never saw the psychiatrist, I might have never really known for sure what it was. And knowing what it was that I was dealing with, helped me with dealing with it. First step of dealing with anything is to first figure out what it is you're dealing with. From that point onward it was a bit easier, not easy but definitely easier.

Even to this day I still get very anxious when faced with certain situations, for example, it takes me about 15 minutes of preparations and convincing myself to even make a phone call to someone I'm not incredibly comfortable with. A silly phone call! But never the less, that phone call sometimes has to be made, and I will just briefly discuss the things that I found help me when dealing with situations that cause me anxiety.

REMEMBER TO BREATHE. I know you know how to breathe, but when dealing with an anxious situation, when you might even start to feel a panic attack, it's crucial that you remind yourself to breathe properly. And we're talking slowly inhaling and exhaling, taking your time with the breathing and focusing on it, instead of just doing it by instinct. Count to ten, hell if it doesn't work, then count to a hundred, all the way until you feel at least a bit more at ease. When you feel like your breathing has stabilised, you are probably feeling a bit better already.

IF POSSIBLE REMOVE YOURSELF FROM SAID ANXIOUS SITUATION. Of course that's not always an option, but if it is, then by all means get away from there as soon as possible. For example, I tend to do my grocery shopping very quickly, I usually have in mind the things that I need, I get them and then I'm out of there as soon as I can. But sometimes, and this refers to shopping for clothes which I enjoy, I would remain in that anxious situation. Although I usually tend to still be a lot quicker than when I'm in a company of people that make me feel more comfortable. But if you can, remove yourself from that situation, or even from some people that might make you feel very anxious. Just get away.

TRY AND IMAGINE A HAPPY PLACE. This was something that my psychiatrist told me. She said that when I'm feeling like a panic attack is approaching, or just feeling very anxious, that it helps if you imagine yourself in a place that makes you happy. For instance, for me that's Brick Lane on a Sunday. Which is weird since it's usually very crowded there on a Sunday but somehow I felt comfortable and happy there. Weird but it helps me. So try and imagine a place that makes YOU happy, anything applies as the only limit here is your imagination. Go wild, go and be happy and wish that anxiousness away.

CALL A FRIEND. I tend to not do this frequently enough because well, truth be told, I prefer to deal with it on my own. But sometimes, when it's getting really bad and I know that none of the methods above will help, I will call a friend, someone that I trust and I know will be there for me. Sometimes just a talk with someone that you trust and love can make a world of a difference. And not just a friend, maybe your boyfriend or girlfriend, or your parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters. Whoever you trust and are one hundred percent comfortable around. It will get you distracted and hopefully make you feel better.

LISTEN TO MUSIC AND DISTRACT YOURSELF. This last tip is something that my friend told me, and it's what she usually does in anxious situations. It doesn't matter what the distraction is, from music to crosswords puzzles and reading books. Crossword puzzles and music are especially good if you're on public transport and can actually read a book or solve a puzzle, as we know that if you're getting your groceries you can't exactly start reading a book along the way. But anything that could keep your mind distracted from feeling anxious will do the trick.

You know what, I had nothing to be nervous about. It felt good to write this down, and hopefully you guys will enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Okay, maybe enjoy isn't the right word but it felt good. It feels good to just get it out of my system, and if it perhaps helps someone along the way, then even better. To end this I would just like to say that if you ever feel the need to talk to someone, you can chat me up on any of my social media linked in the header, or just shoot me an e-mail and we can talk. I know how important talking about it is, and sometimes it's just easier to talk to someone you don't know that well.

Remember that you are stronger than your mental illness and you're not defined by it. Go and do your thing, no matter how hard it may seem — you can do it!

Wrote by Narcis

Every now and then I start thinking about what the future has in store for me. I think it's safe to assume we all do, don't we? The worst thing, however, is feeling like you're stuck at the same point and the future seems so far away. It generally isn't, the future is in an hour, the future is tomorrow, but the future we dream of can be years away. A while ago I made the inspirational print above, it was meant to be the first print for my Etsy shop, but today I needed a good pick me up, something to tell me to suck it up and own it! That's what Nicki Minaj's songs usually do for me, even though most people would classify her music as trash (usual reference being Stupid Hoe), I find that most of her lyrics though can be very motivational, like a kick in the ass, telling you that you are the best.

The point about this post isn't Nicki Minaj or her music career for that matter, I just tend to get sidelined a lot in my writing, hope you all don't mind. Especially in the #selflovemonday series, which is all about me, and you, it's about all of us that try our bestest to be independent people, businessman and businesswomen. It's for all of us that wake up, look in the mirror and say: today the world is mine, I am going to do my shit and I'm going to do it best. This is what #selflovemonday is all about.

My friend graduated from two majors, and even though we're the same age, I feel like in comparison I accomplished nothing. I couldn't be more proud of her, and she worked hard for it, I just need to remind myself to put more work into both my studies and my future career. I think for me seeing other people succeed is a huge motivation, especially people close around me, and I love surrounding myself with people that work hard, as that will eventually result in me giving it my best as well. There is nothing worse than being around people who do nothing, and aspire to nothing, as the negative energy can easily be transferred to you as well. Always surround yourself with people that will motivate you, inspire you, and people with whom you'll grow, not people who will bring you down. So a special thank you and congratulations to Ana Ina (and I promise to stop using both your names eventually), she is one of the hardest working people I know.

Today I feel incredibly proud of my friend, but I also feel motivated to work harder, to push my limits and grow as a person, personally and career wise. We often neglect the importance of people we surround ourselves with on the day-to-day basis. We often try to make an old friendship work even though the person is constantly bringing us down. I don't know why, but I know I have had my share of friends who never brought me anything good in life. Perhaps never is an overstatement, but their energy didn't pull me forwards but backwards, at least at that point. And that is when you know that you have to cut that rope, say goodbye to the good memories and make room for other people who will come into your life. People that will be better friends, supporters and motivators. We are past the age when friendship was all about just fun and games, because now we need friends that will constantly teach us new lessons, friends that will make us grow and in return they would grow with us as well. Friendship suddenly turned into much more, and it holds much more depth than it did in our teenage years.

My goals for the future are nothing big, or perhaps sometimes too big, there is no in between. I want to be successful in my field of expertise, I want to surround myself with positive and hard working people, I want to move somewhere new where I could start off my adult life. And perhaps I want a relationship that will last, and a cute little puppy to match. I know those are all things that I will have to work for, and my career is a learning process through out and through in, but truthfully I wouldn't have it any other way. It is something that I love, and therefore something that I will continue to work hard for, or well work even harder for. Life is a big lesson, and the future holds more lessons, more growth, and new experiences. The future is not so bad, is it? We just have to embrace both the positives and the negatives that it holds in store.

WE ARE ALL BOSS ASS BITCHES. WE ARE HARD WORKERS AND WE ARE THE BEST.

Do you have a special quote that motivates you when you feel stuck?

Wrote by Narcis

Even though I did write a few things about myself on my About page, I wanted to get a bit more personal. I am quite an open person in my day-to-day life, more or less, so I decided to open up a bit more on the Narcis Blog as well. After all, I treat this blog as a safe, comfortable online place where I can be completely myself. I always enjoy a read through blogger's more personal posts, as it makes it feel like we're a community of friends, even though with someone I never talk to, but that's because I feel a bit insecure at times. And no, that doesn't count as the first fact about me. Let's get cracking, shall we?

01. I WAS BORN 3 MONTHS EARLY. Even though this isn't a big part in my life anymore, it used to be through most of my childhood, as I had breathing troubles due to undeveloped lungs as well as many allergies and I like to think that my eternal youth syndrome, aka me looking about 4 years younger, could also be blamed on that. It probably isn't though, I just have good genes. I am blessed enough that I ended up developing nicely and without bigger issues, as I do see other prematurely born children that are undergoing much more difficulties than I have.

02. I HAVE SOCIAL ANXIETY AND CONCENTRATION ISSUES. For a while I thought that I had a bipolar disorder, because I would often have mood swings that I assumed where due to a bipolar disorder. Which was the reason why I first started going to my psychiatrist, and eventually after almost two years I was diagnosed with social anxiety, bordering on social phobia, as well as some concentration issues. I am now on my medications and am feeling better, however it is still something that I have to battle every single day of my life. It can get quite exhausting and can interfere with my day-to-day life, as for me it's a struggle to go grocery shopping on my own, and it takes a lot of effort to even make a single phone call to a person I am not comfortable with. I will do a more in-depth blog post about my social anxiety, as it may differentiate from other's and I feel like it's a topic that should be discussed.

03. I DEALT WITH PLENTY LOSSES IN MY LIFE. It feels like I'm only touching the negative subjects here, but honestly these are the most important things that led me to where I am today. I lost my brother when I was 9 years old. It was a motorbike accident, which is the reason why even to this day I don't feel comfortable with motorbikes around me. It made a big impact on my life, but it also made me aware of how short life can be, and whenever I feel like giving up on something, I remind myself that I need to live my life to the fullest. The second loss was a bit different but still a loss nevertheless. My parents divorced, albeit not legally, but my father doesn't live with us anymore. I never really had close contact with him, because he used to work on a ship and therefore only spent a month or two at home, while the rest of the year was spent on the sea. Then came the many losses of friendships that I never thought would end, but they did. It all taught me important lessons, and made me who I am today.

04. I NEVER HAD A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP. I don't know why, even though I suppose I am somewhat to blame, or well my kind of messed up mental health, as I don't trust easily and if I'm not comfortable with someone I don't like being touched, which can be quite a problem in the beginning steps in a relationship. I don't mind however, I grew pretty accustomed of being by my own, and in fact even though I am alone sometimes, I rarely feel lonely. I mean there are some days when I wish I had that special someone, however they don't come that often, and most of the time I really do feel better off like this. The day will come when I'll meet someone who I will be comfortable enough with, and then I'll fight for that person no matter the costs. Sounds cheesy, right?

05. MY BIGGEST GOAL IN LIFE IS TO MOVE TO A BIGGER CITY (LONDON, BRIGHTON OR PARIS). This may sound weird to some due to my social anxiety, however weirdly enough I feel quite comfortable in London, for example, it may be because I feel a lot more invisible in bigger cities. And let's not even mention that the bigger the city the bigger the opportunities and I think it's every blogger's dream to live in either London, New York or Paris, am I right? And as weirdly as this may sound, I feel like I belong in London, the other ones are just a bit more affordable, to be honest. At least when it comes to rent, I believe London is one of the most expensive ones. I did live in London for a few months, however due to financial instability I had to move back home, where I decided to get a college degree. Something that I've been re-thinking as of late.

And I think we should stop here, right? I tried to end this on a much more positive note than I started out to, however I don't find any of these subjects to be bad in any way, in fact I am a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason, and even though I would love to have my brother back, for example, I believe that it shaped me into the person I am today, and he would be proud.

But still, I apologise if this is too sad, or appears to be, because I really don't think it is, but I promise Narcis Blog will return to much more exciting and happy topics next week. This weekend is all about good times, as I was invited to Ana Ina's from Lovely Little Luxuries family picnic on Saturday, and Sundays are in general a very relaxing day for me. Hope you're also having a GREAT Sunday, and see you on Tuesday with a much more exciting topic.

Share one thing about yourself that you find most defined you in the comments. Let's get to know each other better.

Wrote by Narcis

For me staying organised is always a bit of a challenge, and it takes only the smallest things to throw me off balance. For example, if I set out to write my posts in advance and schedule them, and if I missed even one of those scheduled points, it would be over. I would feel lost and would then have to try and set up a new schedule, with a different approach. When it comes to staying organised there are no set in stone rules, so don't take this as a typical How To post, yet take it as a guideline or perhaps even just a testing subject, to see if maybe some of the things that work me, with work for you as well. I don't make any promises that they will, so please don't hate me if they don't, I would feel very bad.

01. WRITE THINGS DOWN.

There is an old saying from where I come that goes something along these lines: "Smart people write, and dumb people remember". The translation of course doesn't get the message across just about right. It means that you can't possibly remember all of the things that you have to do, and therefore the smart thing to do is to write them down. It sounds simple enough, right? However I find that most often I simply forget to write it down. Which just goes to prove the point of the saying even further, right? But if I do write it down, I usually never forget it and actually manage to do it. Most of the time, at least. It takes little effort to write things down on a sticky note, or even better, on your to-do list, notebook, etc. Some great mobile apps that help with general organisation are: Todoist (iPhone, Mac, Android), Evernote (iPhone, Mac, Android), Wunderlist (iPhone, Mac, Android), Remember The Milk (Blackberry, iPhone, Android). Personally Remember The Milk is my favourite, but I mean c'mon, how can you not love the cutest cow logo.

02. NEVER EVER SET YOURSELF TOO MANY TASKS.

We all know how it feels to have too many tasks on our hands, whether that be with school or work, sometimes it all just gets a bit too much, right? So why would you set yourself a few tasks too many, if you can easily avoid it? But sometimes we just want to get done as many things as possible in the shortest amount of time, and sometimes that is just not possible and our bodies and brains can't handle it. I know by myself that if I ever write too many tasks on my daily to-do list, I will have to cross some of them out at the end of the day. And that makes me feel like I haven't accomplished anything. Because most of us work like that, the things that count the most are the things that disappoint us, right? The solution is simple, try to keep your to-do list as realistic as possible. Calculate how much time each of the tasks would approximately take and see how they can fit into your daily schedule.

03. KEEP YOUR FOLDERS CLUTTER FREE.

I only have two folders on my desktop, one is for College related things, and the other one is for my blog. Everything else simply doesn't need to be on my desktop. Simple as that. I always feel better when my folders are neatly organised; my pictures folder doesn't have pictures scattered everywhere, but instead their neatly grouped into subfolders (e.g., selfies, graphics, personal, etc.). This not only makes you feel better but it also makes everything so much easier to find. No more browsing through countless of folders just to find that one picture, this way you know exactly where it is.

04. KEEP YOUR DESK CLUTTER FREE.

Just like my desktop and folders, my desk doesn't contain that many items. You will find your standard desk lamp, a box that contains pencils, markers, post-it notes and other needed stationary, and my laptop. And even the laptop sometimes has to be removed if I need that extra space. You could also add a fresh bouquet of flowers, or maybe even a nice cactus (they are easy to maintain). One thing that also helps is some motivational art, I have yet to add some on my walls by my desk but it's always nice to look up to something inspirational, right?

05. GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO BREATHE.

Even though procrastination is the opposite of organised, the two can live happily ever after together, in fact they need each other because without one the other doesn't exist. No one can stay completely on top of their to-do lists without some procrastination in between tasks. We need time to unwind, to sip our favourite cup of tea in peace and catch up on all those youtube videos in our subscription boxes, as well as read our favourite blogs and magazines. To stay organised, you need time to breathe and just procrastinate in peace. Go out, have a cup of coffee with your closest friend and catch up on everything that you missed while you were working on your to-do lists. It will help improve your concentration and you will go through the rest of that list a lot easier.

I think these five things are the most important for me, perhaps I missed something, but if nothing else I think I assembled the ones that work best for me. As I said above, they might not work for you, or they might, it's all about the trial and error process, as it is with most things in life.

To make it a bit easier on you, and perhaps give you a little push into staying more organised, I will also include a printable "organiser", or simply just a to-do list that will make it easier to prioritise your tasks, as I divided it into two categories: high priority and minor priority. It also features a neat section of check boxes, so you can easily mark the tasks that you completed. Just click on the image above and you will be able to download it via dropbox and print it.

Wrote by Narcis

Before you start reading, I recommend making yourself a lovely cup of tea, or hot cocoa, get into your cosy sweater and find your softest socks, and then start reading. I would also add the finish touch by playing some soft jazz music in the background, but that's just me and my personal preference. Today I decided to start the week off with something positive, and even though the content I have planned is not negative, I just felt like doing something different instead. And sometimes you just have to go with your gut, you know? It's currently raining where I live, the feel in the air is very dull and grey, which is why I felt the need to publish something more cheerful and upbeat today! Well, I hope your hot beverage of choice is ready and you are feeling as cosy as one possibly could. I know I am, and I opted for tea, if you were curious.

In life we often come across people that don't like us, I mean it happened to all of us at one point, right? And sometimes that might brings us down, right? But I learned over time that as long as you honestly love yourself, you will be okay and you'll get right back up, even if someone tries to pull you down. They're the miserable suckers in this story, not you! Because you are lovely, you are kind and you are strong! But most importantly, YOU LOVE YOURSELF, and they apparently don't. As someone who loves himself, doesn't feel the need to bring someone else down. I mean we all judge sometimes (or is that just me??) but that's okay, as long as you aren't hurting anyone's feelings with it. I know I personally am a very honest person, so sometimes that might come across as mean to some but mostly people that I spend time with, know that I mean no harm with it and they take it lightheartedly. At least I hope so!

The point is that YOU LOVE YOURSELF. And honestly, I love you too. Because to me there is nothing more appealing and charming about a person than that soft breeze of confidence that you just feel instantly. Sometimes that confidence comes easy, some people are just lucky enough that they have always been confident, but most of us had had to work for it. Some are still working on it. But even if you're starting to love yourself, or you already do, it's important that you keep going. Don't let other people diminish your self worth because you are the only one that can do that. Don't give others that power, keep it for yourself. But you would never want to bring yourself down, so luck would have it, that you will remain confident and you will always love yourself.

But also LOVE YOURSELF FIRST. Sometimes love for others comes way easily than love for yourself, and even though loving others is great and should be encouraged, it's also often too easy to end up loving them more than you love yourself. And that's where things usually go down the hill. I think in all relationships, whether that be a romantic or friendly, it's very important that you love yourself first, before you give love to anyone else. I am one of those people that don't trust easily, and therefore don't give love easily, but when I do it will be wholehearted but there will still come a time when I'll just need a minute or two to show myself some love. Usually that would come in the form of a relaxing pamper evening, with candles and a lush bubble bath, followed by a luxe skincare ritual. There are things that you just have to do for yourself, to treat yourself and relax. Or maybe you just want to have a casual night out with your friends, that counts too.

My tip to loving yourself would be to get to know your body, accept your body as your own and be proud of it, no matter what society and media tell you that your body should look like. They can go and fuck themselves (pardon my language). But also show yourself love by giving yourself some nice treats. Like for me that would be a weekly bubble bath and if I'm feeling rather down, I would resort to buying myself something lovely. Today for example I bought a new scarf that was just screaming my name, and I instantly felt better, disregard the weather. Buy yourself gifts, buy yourself flowers, treat yourself and don't wait for that special someone that will treat you. Getting treated by someone else is lovely, receiving a bouquet of flowers is lovely, but there won't always be that special someone and at that time you need to get yourself some nice flowers, because YOU, MY DEAR, DESERVE ALL THE FLOWERS.

What is your favourite way of treating yourself? Write in the comments the 5 things you like the most about yourself — be as vain as you want.

Wrote by Narcis

7M WORKOUT (Available for iOS and Android)

HEALTH APP

NIKE+ RUNNING (Available for iOS and Android)

SLEEP BETTER (Available for iOS and Android)

NIKE+ TRAINING (Available for iOS and Android)

WHY I WORK OUT?

YOU CAN STILL INDULGE IN SWEETS.

OR YOU CAN JUST NOT WORK OUT, THAT'S A-OKAY TOO.

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."

- Robert Frost

01. WRITE THINGS DOWN.

02. NEVER EVER SET YOURSELF TOO MANY TASKS.

03. KEEP YOUR FOLDERS CLUTTER FREE.

04. KEEP YOUR DESK CLUTTER FREE.

05. GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO BREATHE.

ABOUT AUTHOR

LATEST POSTS

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Contact Form

FOLLOW US @ INSTAGRAM

7M WORKOUT (Available for iOS and Android)

HEALTH APP

NIKE+ RUNNING (Available for iOS and Android)

SLEEP BETTER (Available for iOS and Android)

NIKE+ TRAINING (Available for iOS and Android)

WHY I WORK OUT?

YOU CAN STILL INDULGE IN SWEETS.

OR YOU CAN JUST NOT WORK OUT, THAT'S A-OKAY TOO.

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert Frost

01. WRITE THINGS DOWN.

02. NEVER EVER SET YOURSELF TOO MANY TASKS.

03. KEEP YOUR FOLDERS CLUTTER FREE.

04. KEEP YOUR DESK CLUTTER FREE.

05. GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO BREATHE.

ABOUT AUTHOR

LATEST POSTS

Advertisement

Contact Form

FOLLOW US @ INSTAGRAM

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."

- Robert Frost