I've possibly had one of the best summers of my life so far and this was off the back of turning the dreaded thirty in February as a single girl - I KNOW. After the initial scraping-myself-off-of-the-floor-pre-thirty-meltdown (with the help of WhatsApp and my friends talking me through the processes of untying my shoelaces, taking my coat off and pouring a glass of wine - which are surprisingly hard to focus on in the throes of despair) I woke up on the day, toasted myself (no, really - brut for breakfast? Hello.) and decided that, really, 'what's the big deal?' and took these steps to a fantastic summer:
- Said 'Yes' -
Hen parties in different countries? Yes. Festivals? Yes. Drinks after work? Yes. Badminton? Yes. Weddings? Yes. Gigs? Yes. Rugby match with just your mates' Dad cos your mate can't make it? Yes. Dates with people not usually on your matching radar? Yes (even if they turned out to be a liiiiiittle bit psycho, YOU LEARNT). Travel abroad with work? Yes. Putting yourself in situations that test your normal boundaries? YES! My savings might've taken a bashing but the fun and experience gained is completely worth it.
- Exercised -
Let's face it, when you're reaching 30 there are lines where there weren't, there's more, er.....body, where body never used to be and the metabolism that once was 'okay' is now....tired. So things needed to change, and the benefits are outweighing any negative: skin is better, sleeping better, confidence is higher and that metabolism is a-workin'! Pull out the yoga mat, whack on Davina, go for a run or get your twerk on, there is literally something to suit everyone. And NO, YOU CAN'T THINK YOURSELF SLIM.
- Had 'Me' Time -
I'm looking forward to some cosy winter nights in with Netflix and a pinot noir as the nights get darker and people start to hibernate, but in the snatched time this summer between work and basic living I've made an effort to spend some time alone, and I'm not talking procrasturbation. Reading, baths, walks, coffees, cinema, shopping...as cliché as it is 'Treat yo'self!' but just do it alone.
- Styled It Up -
Nothing better than making yourself feel good by looking good. 'And what have you come as today?' was uttered at me one day at work and although I think it was a snide comment, I took it as 'you don't look the same everyday' - a small change can really impact people's usual view of you, par exemple:
Buttoned up smart chiffon shirt from M&S - 'Going for an interview? Huh huh.'
Dark plum lipstick - 'Oooh, who you meeting later?' *wink*
Work friendly LBD & gold statement necklace - 'Going out tonight?' *raised eyebrow*
NO, I JUST WANT TO LOOK NICE!
- Cared Less -
Not about the important things, oh-no-no - just about the unimportant things. The embarrassing thing you said about 5 years ago at that party, that comes back to haunt you as you fall asleep? Stop it.
The look a colleague gave you earlier which potentially means they don't like you but you didn't do anything, so why don't they like you, why!? Sometimes, people don't like you, like you sometimes don't like other people, it's just life. Fancy a tattoo but your parents don't like them? If you like them, it's all that matters. Do it. (But not on your forehead, c'mon now, I did not tell you that was okay.)
There are loads of ways to make yourself feel better but these are a few key things that have seen me through 2014. Maybe they'll help you too - thirty or not, everyone deserves to be happy in themselves.
- Said 'Yes' -
Hen parties in different countries? Yes. Festivals? Yes. Drinks after work? Yes. Badminton? Yes. Weddings? Yes. Gigs? Yes. Rugby match with just your mates' Dad cos your mate can't make it? Yes. Dates with people not usually on your matching radar? Yes (even if they turned out to be a liiiiiittle bit psycho, YOU LEARNT). Travel abroad with work? Yes. Putting yourself in situations that test your normal boundaries? YES! My savings might've taken a bashing but the fun and experience gained is completely worth it.
- Exercised -
Let's face it, when you're reaching 30 there are lines where there weren't, there's more, er.....body, where body never used to be and the metabolism that once was 'okay' is now....tired. So things needed to change, and the benefits are outweighing any negative: skin is better, sleeping better, confidence is higher and that metabolism is a-workin'! Pull out the yoga mat, whack on Davina, go for a run or get your twerk on, there is literally something to suit everyone. And NO, YOU CAN'T THINK YOURSELF SLIM.
- Had 'Me' Time -
I'm looking forward to some cosy winter nights in with Netflix and a pinot noir as the nights get darker and people start to hibernate, but in the snatched time this summer between work and basic living I've made an effort to spend some time alone, and I'm not talking procrasturbation. Reading, baths, walks, coffees, cinema, shopping...as cliché as it is 'Treat yo'self!' but just do it alone.
- Styled It Up -
Nothing better than making yourself feel good by looking good. 'And what have you come as today?' was uttered at me one day at work and although I think it was a snide comment, I took it as 'you don't look the same everyday' - a small change can really impact people's usual view of you, par exemple:
Buttoned up smart chiffon shirt from M&S - 'Going for an interview? Huh huh.'
Dark plum lipstick - 'Oooh, who you meeting later?' *wink*
Work friendly LBD & gold statement necklace - 'Going out tonight?' *raised eyebrow*
NO, I JUST WANT TO LOOK NICE!
- Cared Less -
Not about the important things, oh-no-no - just about the unimportant things. The embarrassing thing you said about 5 years ago at that party, that comes back to haunt you as you fall asleep? Stop it.
The look a colleague gave you earlier which potentially means they don't like you but you didn't do anything, so why don't they like you, why!? Sometimes, people don't like you, like you sometimes don't like other people, it's just life. Fancy a tattoo but your parents don't like them? If you like them, it's all that matters. Do it. (But not on your forehead, c'mon now, I did not tell you that was okay.)
There are loads of ways to make yourself feel better but these are a few key things that have seen me through 2014. Maybe they'll help you too - thirty or not, everyone deserves to be happy in themselves.
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