WRITER'S BLOCK?

Now the summer months we have all been waiting for have finally approached, work for some may be as hectic and stressful as ever. The work load is gradually building up and some days it's even easy to forget that you haven't eaten all day. If you're anything like me dealing with stress and so little time for yourself is definitely a struggle and that's when I am most likely to get writer's block. For the past month or so I have been struggling to find inspiration and motivation to write up new blog posts that I enjoy writing and also what I think others will enjoy and find useful. So, as I'm sat here with the worst writer's block going, I thought what better to do that write up a blog post about the struggle us bloggers or writers tend to face now and then and how to try and help motivate yourself getting back into the swing of things. 

CHANGE IT UP

                                                                                                                                                                   
We all go through phases where we like to change the style, colour theme or even back drops of our blogs and I also find that doing this is probably one of the most motivating things that will help encourage you to writing up more enjoyable blog posts. Feeling comfortable and happy with the layout and design of your blog is so satisfying as it reassures you that all the hard work and effort that you have put into your blog is finally coming together. I recently bought a template from an online company named Pipdig who sell blog templates, to me this was possibly one of the best decisions I had made as it meant having to fight with html coding was no longer. Unless you're an IT genius this could be very useful! I have also found that changing the back drop of my blog posts motivates you to experiment with different layouts and props to get that perfect blog shot. One of my favourite backdrops at the moment is a simple white washed plank of wood and occasionally a marble slab (shock).

PLAN AHEAD

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Planning blog posts in advance is another way to avoiding writer's block. I am definitely guilty of leaving things till the last minute and not planning ahead which is one of the main reasons I'm sat here writing this post. I try to encourage myself to carry a note book nearly everywhere in my hand bag as it's so useful just to jot down any ideas or even write up a small plan. This is perfect if you find you have a free moment just to brain storm and see what needs to be done in order to prepare for writing up a blog post. Do I need any more props? Do I need any cooking ingredients? Or even if it's just finding time in your busy schedule to write it up. 

THINKING OUTSIDE, INSIDE AND AROUND THE BOX

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

With the increase in bloggers it is and can be really difficult at times to find any sort of motivation to write up a blog post that is somewhat different and more unique to what has already been published. It's so easy to just follow trends within the blogger community and of course, I'm sure we've all been guilty of doing this and there's absolutely no problem with it. But finding originality in a post I find is always more rewarding. To do this I always think of the type of post I would like to read. Not only does this give you a more unique post but it also helps you gain more knowledge in a certain area. For example, during the Summer months I always love to read posts about skincare, new make up trends and healthy recipes. By doing this you are able to see the type of posts that you could introduce into your blog and write more about something you find interesting and therefor be more motivated to write about it. 

FINDING INSPIRATION

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Being able to find inspiration to motivate you to write a new blog post allows you to make your blog the best it can be. Somewhere that you enjoy and also somewhere you are constantly being reminded of the hard work you have put into each and every post. To find inspiration I am constantly on Pinterest pinning any home decor images (they are great for blog backdrop ideas) and beauty images as I'm then able to look back onto my boards when I'm lacking motivation and ideas on what to write my next post about. I also find that looking through magazines has helped me a lot as it gives me so much inspiration and an inside to all of the latest trends. Every month I am always far too excited to receive my cosmopolitan magazine as not only are they really addictive to read but you also receive them a couple of weeks before the release date giving you an advantage in being able to look into new trends before anyone else. This is great if you want to know next months make up trends and any new beauty releases to write up a blog post in advance.

TAKING TIME TO BREATH

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

My last tip to overcome writer's block would be to make sure you are taking time out to do things that you want to do. Let's face it, we all get those moments where we'd rather be out and about than writing up a blog post. And that's absolutely fine! By taking a days rest or a day spent with friends and family you are able to take a break from all things stressful which will give you a clear mind to writing up your next blog post.


I hope you've enjoyed this more different blog post and have found any of these tips useful! Do you ever find yourself fighting writer's block? And how do you overcome it? I would love to know! And on the plus side, it's almost Friday!

SUMMER SKINCARE FAVOURITES

As I've recently decided it's about time I binned the make up wipes, I've been on the constant look out for skincare products that will help improve my skin to make it look more healthy and clear so I thought I would show you all a handful of the products that I am really enjoying at the moment. I am the age of 20 so I do still tend to get the occasional spot here and there but especially around my time of the month I tend to break out more, so looking for skincare products that won't irritate my skin is highly important. My skin is also dry to combination, so I find that using skincare products for normal skin types during the day helps reduce any build up of oil throughout the humid days and then using products targeted to dry skin during the evenings so I am able to give my skin more time to absorb the products and a nourishing treatment as I find that during the summer months my skin tends to dry up. 

When I began my search for make up removers I did struggle to find products that weren't overly scented. I first heard about the Taaj Himalaya Micellar Water in a blog post by Zoella back in 2012 and funnily enough came across it in TK Maxx at a really discounted price so of course I had to pick it up! This product works really well with my skin as I find it removes my make up but doesn't dehydrate my skin. It does leave a slight residue on the skin which I tend to just rinse off with water. I find that this micellar water would work perfectly with all skin types but especially sensitive as it contains ingredients such as chamomile, green tea and rosemary which are famous for their soothing and anti-irritant properties.

The next product I have been loving is the No7 Cleansing Balm which I tend to use in the mornings to freshen up before applying make up and after removing my make up just to get rid of any dirt left on the skin and to give a thorough cleanse. This product is targeted to those with dry to very dry skin which I personally prefer as it give me more of a nourishing treatment. I really love this product as it feels really hydrating and leaves my skin feeling soft and firm however it works really quick so I'm not having to wait for it to dry when I'm in a rush. After removing my make up and cleansing my face, once to twice a week I like to use a treatment such as a face mask or pore cleanser, for this I have been loving using the No Clogs Allowed by Soap & Glory's skincare range as it really does help remove any blackheads on my face. This can also be used as a mask as it helps deep cleanse the skin or can just be used on more targeted areas. I have really been enjoying this product as I find it does help my skin look more clearer which makes no make up days stress free. 

Another of my favourites is the Superdrug Vitamin E SPF15 Moisturising Cream, although at first I was pretty sceptical about this product working with my skin with it being sensitive to spots, I was really impressed when I first used this! It is a really light moisturiser that is perfect for summer as it absorbs into the skin really quickly, leaves my skin feeling soft and also has SPF15 in it. And not to mention, the scent of this range is beautiful! I definitely would recommend this range to any skincare beginners!

The last three products I have really fallen in love with are the Instant Lip, Instant Eye and Instant Lash by a Instant Effects. The Instant Lip has to be my favourite out of the three as it gives the slightest amount of plumpness to your lips, I love to use this before a night out or sometimes just before bed to get the full effect. As you can see by the packaging, I have been using this quite a lot and would definitely recommend for those of you who are wanting a quick but only subtle natural lip plump. The next product from this range is the Instant Eye, this product is targeted to help remove the appearance of dark circles and fine lines. I found that this product after 3 to 5 uses did minimise the colour of my dark circles which helped brighten up my eye area. I have been constantly on the look out for a product like this as my dark circles are probably the worst feature of my face! The last product is the Instant Lash and I like to use this before I go to bed as it give it time for the eyelashes to absorb the product. From using this I have noticed a slight increase in the length of my lashes but if you keep up with a routine you will definitely see a result! 

I really do hope you've enjoyed this post and have had a lovely weekend, I would love to know what skincare products have you been enjoying or if you have any recommendations? 

Lots of love,