Don't skimp out

I think we've all had our moments of ruthless skimping; when you buy the cheap tea bags over pg tips, despite the fact that they taste like dust, they will do because you're on a budget. You go 'own brand' throughout the majority of your weekly shop, save yourself near twenty quid, then meet up with friends and end up blowing fifty quid on a wild night out. You are left no better off, with a horrible hangover and bland tins of beans to nurse you back to health.

I skimped this morning and still haven't stopped cursing myself. My train to London was due to leave at 11:28am, so waking up at 8:30 I had plenty of time to make my way down to the station. I didn't need a taxi there, (italics)it's only a 7minute drive down to the station so it  wont take too long to walk(idiot!idiot!idiot!). Grabbing my handbag and wheelie case, at 10:45 I embarked on my 'little stroll'. At 11:25 I was running towards the station with minutes left, drenched from head to foot, face moisturiser dripping into my gasping mouth, a river of mascara cascading down my face and my back clammy with sweat. Not ideal for a  4 hour train journey. I had spent the past 40 minutes bracing myself against the bitter wind which continuously whipped rain into my face, reassuring myself that, well, it's good exercise and you've saved yourself £5!! As I clambered onto the train, face numb from the cold, and unable to see anything through my fogged up glasses, I slumped towards the cafe coach. Feeling VERY sorry for myself I purchased a hot coffee to thaw my icy face and a sandwich to ease my now grumbling stomach. 'That'll be £5.05 love'. As my heart sank with the realisation that I hadn't actually saved anything, I felt obliged to advise you this.. Do not skimp. Those cheaper jeans will shrink in the wash. That bargain barbers will butcher your hair. That cubic zirconia ring does not look like real diamond. And if you skimp on a taxi, that taxi driver will laugh and drive past smugly as you squelch towards the station.

The Last Minute Dash

No matter how many hours there are before work, food is wolfed down last minute as you scramble to put your shoes on. Although you know what time the train leaves, you always find yourself doing a little run walk to get to the platform on time.  The last minute dash crops up countless times in our highly scheduled days; to reach the post office before it closes, to get back from lunch break, to quickly write a new post before work (that last one’s for me).

This is a habit I am currently trying to curb (she says sat in her pj’s whipping out a quick blog half an hour before work). It’s tough because time is precious and there is SO much to do, but not leaving enough time for the little things like having a cup of tea and preparing for the day can leave you in a bit of a mess, despite having ticked off the important tasks. Arriving at your destination feeling fresh, confident that you aren’t emulating an embarrassing Bridget Jones blusher moment, and that you don’t smell like you slept in a bin, is underrated.  My LMD (last minute dash) tends to go something like this; take a bite of toast while tying shoe laces, grab make up bag for last minute application in car (not whilst driving though, don’t arrest me), hunt down front door keys (they are never where I think I leave them) and compulsively check that all of the household appliances are off (there’s a bit of OCD in all of us). My dad’s LMD tends to be; wake up (on couch still wearing yesterday’s suit), use one product to both moisturise face and style hair, and grab body spray and coffee to humanise himself on the way to work.

So the next time you crack out that to do list to plan your day, don’t forget to give yourself time to do the little things. That extra 10 minutes will see you arriving at work punctual and on your boss’s nice not naughty list, and will prevent any last minute mascara slip ups from frantically oomphing your lashes in the rear view mirror of your car when you arrive. Allocate yourself some chill time and eliminate that last minute dash.

Clueless!

Feeling more clueless than Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz? Like someone must be using you as a participant in a psychological study because NOTHING makes sense? We all have moments in life when we are faced with impossible tasks, nonsensical assignments and mind boggling decisions. So how do we deal with them?

It's just the third day of my editorial work placement at the local paper (which I'm loving by the way!) and I'm already following leads, writing articles and proof reading pages before they go to print. However, diving head first into a sea of technical jargon I feel like a baby learning how to talk. Being fresh to the world of journalism I've already had my share of making it up as you go along and nodding enthusiastically at tasks I had no idea how to tackle. One thing I've discovered is that with confidence and self belief, the impossible is possible.

Whatever the task or decision, tell yourself ' I CAN do this!' (you may get a few funny looks for saying this aloud so yes, the voice in your head option will do). Stick on a smile, and even if you feel like a monkey with a rubix cube, just have a go and see how you get on.  Don't just close your eyes and hope for the best, open them and have a little faith. Chances are you will surprise yourself (monkeys are actually quite intelligent). And if things are just too much to tackle alone, don't be afraid to ask for some tips or advice; there's no point in wandering aimlessly in the dark when someone can turn the lights on!