Test out a new hobby

Take time this year to learn a new hobby that you’ve always been interested in! With the hustle mentality that millennials are currently accustomed to, it’s so easy to want to learn a hobby just to monetize it later. While that is completely fine, it’s also just as important to have a hobby just for yourself to enjoy. Maybe you enjoy playing the piano? Or maybe you like writing short stories or doing adult coloring books? Back in middle school and college, I used to dance all the time to relieve stress. It was just a passion, but now I think I want to dabble in calligraphy. I’m posting this here so you can keep me accountable!

Create an emergency fund

Honestly the definition of investing in yourself should be creating your own emergency fund. You’re literally putting money aside for yourself later on down the road if and when the need arises. Keep an eye out on a future blog post where I’m going to be sharing an entire post about the topic of emergency fund, including why you need one and how to create your own. I know that an emergency fund can seem overwhelming because you may think that you don’t have enough to get started, but I promise you’ll do! The easiest way to get over fear is to just do it!

Cross something off your bucket list

If 2020 has taught us anything, its life is too short and to live life to the fullest because you don’t know when your time is near. Before the year is over plan to cross something off your bucket list. Don’t have a bucket list yet? Take a few minutes and write down some things that you would love to do one day. Maybe it’s you want to stroll on the Great Wall of China or to swim with the dolphins? Whatever it is, write it down and make a plan to check one of your items off your list.

Learn how to increase your credit score and how to manage it

Credit is such an important financial marker, and even though it may be a tad superficial, it’s can be pretty handy if you’re planning on buying a car, a house, a plane, or any other big purchase in the future. This year take your credit score by the horns and take control! Not a sponsored post but Lexington Law does a great job at repairing credit if that’s what you currently need. Otherwise take a look at these posts where I share tips on how to grow and manage your credit score.

Save for your financial goals

One of the best ways to invest in yourself is by saving for your financial goals. Regardless if you’re trying to save money for a down payment for your first home or save enough money to pay off your car, you can do whatever you put your mind to it. Make a plan that you can stick with to hit your financial goals this year. If you need some tips on how to save money while not having a ton of income, check out this post where I share how I saved my first $1,000 as a broke college student.

Make your health a priority

Being a healthcare professional, you’ll hear me say this over and over again, but you have to make your health a priority, especially in your 20s. This time period in your life can truly make a difference down the road. And I know that life can get busy and that it’s easy to not prioritize your health, but this year make a conscious decision to make it one.

Exercising regularly and going to therapy can truly make a difference in how you feel and how you interact with others. Don’t feel comfortable heading back to the gym? Set up your own at home gym with some of your favorite exercise tools. Or take an online exercise class from your favorite Instagram fitness instructor! Don’t forget that the best workout is the one that you actually do consistently and that small changes lead to big ones.

Invest in your business or career

Repeat after me: I will put trust in my business/career and invest in yourself and improve my skillset. For you that might be getting your Master’s degree or applying for that senior position that you would be amazing for. For my future pharmacy students, I may be a little biased, but I 100% recommend my own course, From Student to PharmD – especially if you’re worried about what you need to do to get accepted into your dream program. I’ve helped quite a few students make their dreams come true with my program!

Let go of the baggage holding you down

In the new year, we are letting go of everything that is not meant for us, including the baggage that you’ve been holding on to. Healing from a past situation means that you have to look at it head on and deal with it. I highly recommend going to a therapist regularly because they can really help you unload and rediscover that baggage that you’ve been carrying around. You can’t move forward if you have something constantly dragging you down.

Outsource one thing that doesn’t make you happy

Remember that whole spill that life is too short? Yea, it’s too short to be bother with doing the necessary things, like cleaning your apartment or cooking your own meals, if you don’t find joy in them or have time. One thing that I’ve started to outsource recently is cleaning! When I work a 12 hour shift at work, the last thing that I want to do when I get home is clean. Both Titi and I work long hours, so it just made sense to outsource this necessary chore. It has already been a gamechanger for the both of us, and we will gladly continue this habit in the new year. You probably already have an idea of what you’re going to outsource next year!

Go on a solo vacation and enjoy your own company

Another great way to invest in yourself this year is to take a COVID safe solo vacation and enjoy your own company. You can easily get away from your busy life to relax, recharge, and reset for the new year. My person favorite – book an Airbnb in a location near you for the weekend, pack all of your favorite things (including the pup) and create a memory for yourself. Highly recommend booking a spa, massage, or some other beauty treatment for your alone time to add a little spice to your self-care routine.

How will you invest in yourself this year? Leave a comment down below!

The post 11 Ways to Invest in Yourself This Year appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

When you let all of that negative energy in (sadness, depression, anxiety, resentment, etc), it gets comfy and it stays awhile. It can take over your entire life if you let it. A few years ago when I was dealing with anxiety, I used to let everything get underneath my skin. Now I try to let those things go and not let it ruin my day. It’s a daily regimen but I believe in you!

Tips to Letting the Small Stuff Go

Don’t dwell on it – keep it moving!

The amount of time that you waste by dwelling on something that bothered you is keeping you from finding joy in something else. When something happens that bothers you, take a few seconds to understand why you’re upset and then channel that energy back into something that you enjoy. Maybe go for a bike ride around your neighborhood, watch your favorite movie, or eat some brownies.

Resist the urge to complain

Believe me when I say this one is definitely easier said than done, but once I explain it’ll make more sense. So when you complain about something, you’re essentially magnifying the situation and making it seem like it’s a bigger deal than it is. You’re giving the situation leverage to damper your day.

Instead of complaining, try to revert your thoughts onto something more positive and worthy of your thoughts and energy. It’s hard at first, but I promise you’ll feel better and I’m sure the people around you will feel your positive energy.

Bring it down to the basics

This is one that I use at work all the time, but I’m the type of person that reads into things wayyyy to much. When I’m not feeling 100% myself, it’s easy to misinterpret the intent of other’s actions or comments. Sometimes its easy to think that people are out to get you, and for the most part they aren’t!

For an example, “I’m upset because someone had my leftovers that I was looking forward to eating” morphs into “I’m upset because no one cares or thinks about my feelings”. Let’s be real, everyone gets hungry and needs to eat a home cooked meal. So it’s not that big of a deal. A positive mindset is more about how you react to what’s going on around you. The next time you get upset, bring it down to the basics and figure out if it’s really worth being upset over. 9 out of 10, it’s not.

Let Go of Expectations

Man oh man, I’m talking to myself with this one but it’s easy to set up expectations about your day, a person’s reactions, or your experience at a restaurant. When you set up expectations for yourself and for others, it can be easy to be let down and to write it off as a “bad” whatever (experience, coworker, etc). I understand it’s disappointing when things don’t go the way that you planned.

But when you let your expectations cloud your reality, you’ll lose out on the joy that comes with it. Instead of getting upset about what isn’t going right, think about how you can change that and what is going right. There is plenty of time in your day or relationship to turn things around for the better. It’s all about a positive mindset!!!

Forgiveness

You’ve probably heard the saying “forgiveness isn’t for them, its for you”. It’s totally true! It’s easy to get upset when you feel like you’ve been wrong or hurt. For an example, it would be totally justified to scream and yell at someone if they totaled your car. But instead of getting upset, try to put yourself in their shoes and how it would make you feel to be in their situation.

By choosing empathy over anger, you allow yourself to be calm even during a stressful situation. Live your life with forgiveness and compassion on your heart! I’m not saying it’s an easy thing to do, but I will say it’s worth wild.

Ask yourself if it will matter in 5 years

When you are feeling like something is going wrong in your life, ask yourself if it will matter in 5 years. I use this technique all the time when I’m bothered by things at work or by my partner. I’ll tell you that 99% of the time, it doesn’t.

By letting the small stuff go, it will change your life and mindset. You’ll end up being a more positive and nicer person. When something makes you upset or gets you down throughout the day, make an extra effort to change your prescriptive. Don’t let life (or anyone for that matter) get you down!

The post Letting the Small Stuff Go appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

You might be saying in your head, “No Makaela, I’ll never be as confident as such and such person and I never will be.” and I want you to say to yourself, “Yes you can!”

Confidence is a feeling that you have about your talents, your skills, and about yourself as a package. For some people, confidence comes naturally while others it takes time to develop. These tips are simple tricks that you can do on a daily basis to improve your mood and boost your self-confidence.

Outfit Details: Dress-TJ Maxx | Handbag- a gift from South Africa | Necklace- a gift from South Africa | Earrings-Forever21

Tip #1: Speak Confidence and Happiness into Existence

Your mind is a powerful muscle and just thinking about how confident you are can really make a difference in how confident you feel. You may think I’m crazy, but I’m not. It’s a real phenomenon and it’s called positive affirmations. Every time you feel terrible or say something negative about yourself, turn it around and say something positive. Tell yourself that you are beautiful, confident, and strong. Tell yourself in the morning that you are going to have a good day and that you aren’t going to let negative people ruin it. Positive affirmations are a simple trick that you can do to make yourself feel more confident and overall put yourself in a better mood.

Tip #2: Get Rid of the Negativity in Your Life

Another great tip is to get rid of all of the negativity in your life. Do you have friends or family members that always talk down to you or say mean things about you to your face? Now is the time to get rid of those people from your life. You can’t expect to live a positive life and to feel more confident when the circle around you is plotting against those very same things. Or maybe your mind is the problem and you constantly tear yourself down. Throw out the negative mindset right out the window! If you need help understanding why you need to speak positive affirmations, then look at tip #1.

Tip #3: Build A Support System Around You

Curate your support system of people who inspire you, who lift you, and who make you feel confident. You know the quote that says you are the average of the top 5 people you spend the most time with? It’s true! You can’t expect to feel like a million bucks and be successful in life when the people who you hang out with don’t care about achieving their goals or don’t have a positive attitude about life. You are the company that you keep so make it count!

Tip #4: Get Rid of the Fear of Failure or Judgement

Everyone gets nervous or discouraged about applying to a new opportunity or taking a chance in life. Life is all about taking risks, taking chances, and the lure of the unknown. Sometimes we have to push through our fearful minds and do something that changes us for the better.

I’m terrified of public speaking and scared of being judged by others on stage, but this year I hope that I can push through that fear and do more of the things that scare me. Whether that be speaking in public or swimming with the pigs in Jamaica, I want to improve myself (mind, body and soul) and push myself to my full capacity.

Tip #5: Stand Up Tall and Proud When You Walk into a Room

It may sound silly, but just sit back and imagine the most confident person in the world. She stands tall with her head held up and her shoulders back. That’s what you should look like when you walk into a room. Naturally, your posture is going to be hunched over with your back curved. When you stand up straighter with your head held up high, your brain will take that as a sign to also allude confidence in your decision making.

Tip #6: Give Yourself Compliments Regularly

Who is your biggest hype man in your life right now? If it’s not yourself, then you’re doing life wrong. You should be your biggest supporter and should give yourself the most compliments. And it’s a hard change to make it if you’re not already doing this, but try this little trick:

Every time you see a mirror, like in a bathroom or in your closet, say something nice about yourself. It can be literally anything along as it’s something positive.  You’ll be surprised about how saying something nice about yourself once or a few times a day will improve your mood and boost your self-confidence.

“The secret to self-confidence isn’t to stop caring about what others think of you. It’s to start learning how to care about yours. It’s to make your opinion more valuable than any other.” – Unknown

Tip #7: Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

In the world that we live in, full of picture-perfect Instagram photos, it’s only natural that we compare ourselves to those images on the internet. But you have to stop it right now! Those pretty images on the internet aren’t the full story nor is someone’s Instagram feed; it’s a split second in time of only the good memories. People aren’t going to show you the crappy days or tell you about their failures on the internet, which is why you can’t compare your everyday life to someone’s highlight reel.

Photos by Brailey Johnson Photography

One more thing…

Don’t forget that you are human and to not be so hard on yourself when you’re feeling a little down off your chair. Self-confidence is a mental muscle, which means it takes time and loads of practice before you’ll be good at it. Take the tips in this post to make small changes in your life and see what a big difference your mental attitude and surroundings can change your entire mood.

You may also like: My Summer Bucket List,  5 Steps to Becoming a Morning Person, and Repurposing My Old T-shirts with MemoryStitch 

The post 7 Simple Tips to Boost Your Self-Confidence appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.