8 THINGS TO DO BEFORE JULY!

So, regardless of what the future may 'look' like, personally, I think it’s essential that (if we have not already begun to do so) we start to put certain things in place now for the months ahead and, God willing, the new year! Having a lot of time on our hands and/or having to be at home provides us with such a great opportunity to put ourselves in a position to thrive in ways we haven’t done or better than we currently are...

1) Revise your self-maintenance routine. Make sure you are taking great care of yourself, if you can, to be (and feel) at your best as often as possible. This will give you the energy and positive vibe you need to stay motivated and proactive in pursuit of your goals. When my skin feels silky soft and has a healthy glow I instantly feel a lot more confident and upbeat; somehow I am spurred on even further to achieve my goals!

TIP: keep your routine simple but effective. Whether it's daily or once a week, fortnightly or monthly, it shouldn't feel like a chore.

2) Start learning something new and stay dedicated to completing it. Doing so will have you feeling great about yourself and it could be the key to unlocking that door you’ve been trying to open. One of the things I have chosen to learn is Calligraphy! An old skill that I am going to reboot is radio broadcasting and there's so much I can learn using free online resources. Amazing!!

TIP: Discover new interests by searching your current likes via Google. Random things may pop up that you haven't considered trying before.

3) Pick a few events to attend (an online launch, webinar, an upcoming Masterclass, etc.) – register early, do some research to help you participate and make sure you show up (on time) eager to share not just take.

4) Create your summer capsule wardrobe – let go of everything that is worn, doesn’t fit, that you know you’ll never wear or that you dislike and keep the pieces you really enjoy wearing and the seasonal items which can be mixed and matched together.

TIP: You can also start creating your autumn and/or winter capsule wardrobe (s) using the same method and if your local charity shops have shut down, do an online search for your local clothing bank where you can safely drop off any unwanted clothes.

5) Update your phone book. You may have contacts whom you never call/message, who don’t call/message you, that should no longer take up your storage. It might be time to develop new connections if you find that the current ones always ignore your efforts to communicate or vice versa. Or, you may realise you have numbers for those you've been missing! Give them that long-overdue call! Reconnect and get back on track with each other.

6) Tidy up your social media profiles – do they portray you in the right way? Is there any old content that represents you negatively? Might you have information that is dated? An overhaul could be just what your accounts need to perform better depending on what you want to gain from using them. 

TIP: Follow Ayaz Aftab Hussain for tips on how to get the best from your social media accounts.

7) Evaluate your relationships and make improvements. Who is important to you? Do they know how you feel? When did you last speak with them? Do you want to spend time with them in the near future? Be clear about your intentions, with reasons and be authentic. It’s so important that you know why you have certain people in your life, what their roles are and that you both know where you stand with each other.

8) Make a promise to yourself and commit to it – this can be personal or professional, however, it would be great if it were something that requires you to push forward! Once declared, put all of the necessary bits and bobs in place to hold yourself accountable so that you see it through. E.G. "regardless of any obstacles, I PROMISE MYSELF to refurbish the spare room in my house before the year ends so I can finally have loved ones stay over when the opportunity arises."

SUMMARY: Do yourself a favour by taking an honest look at who and where you are right now. Identify the areas of your life where there is room for development! Career, love, friendships, family connections, personal achievements, etc., and start ticking things off your list!

No matter what, if nothing else, we will do ourselves a solid by trying to stay positive during this time and beyond. I hope you are safe and well, having fun exploring new and exciting things, able to check in with your loved ones via video calls and enjoying nature where possible. 

What changes have you made/will you make as a result of the current times?

God bless, 

Charley x