Beep, beep, beep, snooze.

I lived my life by the 'ten more minutes' promise.

'Just ten more minutes and I'll get out of bed'. 

'Just ten more minutes and I'll exercise.'

'Just ten more minutes and I'll start working on that blog post.'

I was a morning person because I woke up super early but I lacked the motivation to get things done. I was the half-caffeinated version of myself - permanently. I blamed everything under the sun: not enough hours in the day, too cold, too hot, "I'm a single mum, damn it!'. The list goes on.

Then, one day, the excuses ran out.

I had landed myself a real life, adult job. One that had responsibilities, people to answer to and clients to disappoint if I slacked for one second. 

So, how did I become an annoying, sunshine-y morning person without one drop of caffeine flowing through my veins?

01. Utilise your phone settings.

It sounds silly, but playing around with my alarm settings helped me turn into a morning person. Recently, I discovered iPhones have a 'bedtime' setting in the alarm application. I use this every day so I can wake up to the sound of birds chirping instead of a foghorn alarm that makes me want to punch someone. I also set my alarm to start ten minutes before I have to get out of bed so I can: a) wake up gently, b) press 'snooze' once, and c) scroll through Instagram at a ridiculously early hour (hi, 5am Instagram users!).

02. Prepare

Source: Shanna Camilleri / Unsplash

Set aside an hour at night to prepare for the next day. Prepare your breakfast, lunch (and dinner!), pack your work bag and organise what you're going to wear. It's 'just another thing to do' in your already busy day but it makes your morning run smoother. It's easy to be a morning person when you know all you have to do is get up, shower and eat your (pre-made) breakfast. Can I get a 'hell yeah!'?

03. Create your routine

Routine, routine, routine. I swear by my morning routine. I love waking up and knowing exactly what I have to do for my morning to be as productive and stress-free as possible. Some people like to drink coffee, some like to exercise, some just roll straight into getting ready for the day. Find out what makes you feel good and do that first. Always. I scroll through the news or read a chapter of my book before getting out of bed. It makes me feel 'connected' to the rest of the world and I have a great arsenal for conversations with work colleagues. Win-win.

04. Make your bed

It's like brushing your teeth at nighttime. It's a signal that the day is about to begin and you need to go kick some ass! An unmade bed is a) messy, and b) just an invitation for you to crawl back under the covers. I don't know about you, but I hate messing up my bed once I've wrestled my 1,622,325 blankets into place.

05. Eat breakfast

Source: Brooke Clark / Unsplash

Fuel your body with what it needs in the morning and it will thank you. I'm not hungry at 5:30am, so I'm eating breakfast at my desk. I've found that eating breakfast is much like making my bed and working out, it's just another signal that it's time to work. Being time-poor is no excuse as there are many breakfast ideas that are quick, easy and tasty to boot.

06. Set rewards

I'm a person who is motivated by extrinsic and intrinsic rewards. I like knowing that I'm getting something for something. By getting up earlier, I know I can take my time with my hair and makeup and still be able to spend some quality time with my son before he goes to daycare. 

This goes hand-in-hand with my extrinsic reward: coffee. I'm a coffee-lover. I drink it like it's going out of fashion, which is why it's the perfect 'reward' during my working week. If I'm early to work every day of the week, I'm allowed to splash out and buy a coffee. If I'm late, I can't buy a fancy coffee that week. Simple, but motivating. Choose something that motivates you and I bet you'll be a morning person in no time!

That, my friends, is how long it has been since I have been on this blog post. There was a flurry of privacy statements, disclosures, additional pages being created and then...life went on. As it does.

I bet you're sitting there wondering what could be so great that it has brought me back to the blogosphere and warrants its own blog post.

Well, my chickadees, I've only gone and landed myself a job! (!!!!!!!)

This isn't just any job. This is one I had been asking for for about a year. It was only recently that I sat down and had a proper chat with the universe and told her what I wanted. We cut a deal - so to speak - and this career opportunity landed in my lap not two weeks later.

Now the paperwork has been signed and I have had my (mini) induction, I can say that I work as a legal secretary. Who would have thought? I've only gone and landed myself a proper, real-life adult job. 

Needless to say, the last month (or so) of my life has been a bit of a whirlwind, so I'll just take you through a bit of a quick life update.

CAREER

By golly, I have one of those now. I officially started a week and a half ago, but I had a significant amount of that off (already). I don't want to say too much about my job for privacy reasons, but I love it. I love it so much. 

I was a bundle of nerves on the drive to the office, but they disappeared as soon as I walked in the doors and met the rest of the team. Everyone was so nice, helpful and patient with all my questions. 

I'm relocating to my new office (in a different part of the city) this week, so I'll be meeting a new team and - essentially - going through the last week and a half all over again! Eeeep.

HOUSE

Gee whizz, I also have one of those! (Kind of). I currently rent a one-bedroom unit under the main house. In essence, there's a two-level house - I rent the lower half and someone else rents the upper half. We have our own areas and 'common areas' we're allowed to share as dictated by our tenancy agreements. I've given my son the bedroom and turned the lounge into my bedroom, essentially turning it into a studio-esque unit, but I love it. 

I've lived here for two weeks so things are starting to come together - slowly - but I'm enjoying this process. Surprisingly, I like moving around furniture and being on hold with various companies because I'm dealing with things relating to my own house. I've never had a space that is 100% my own before so I'm excited, terrified and just all around happy to be home.

EDUCATION

As you know, I'm currently studying to become a registered legal executive. I completed one paper (of six) and sat the final exam. Now it's just a waiting game. However, study waits for no exam result as my next paper starts tomorrow! It's called Law Office Practice and the content is exactly as the title suggests. I've started skimming through the material and have already learned the difference between barrister and solicitor and barrister sole, and how an office assistant differs from a legal executive.

Again - needless to say - I'm really enjoying my studies and I can't wait for this semester to start! I'm working in public law and studying private law, so it'll be interesting to see if I can recognize any overlap, especially as this semester is all about how one practices the law.

HEALTH

I'm probably at my all-time low when it comes to health and overall well-being. I have been shifting house and adjusting to a new work-life balance, so I have been making the occasional poor food choice. I'd take a salad and fruit/veges to work and be a whole foods goddess for seven hours of the day and come home and wreck my effort in .5 seconds. 

Whoops.

I'm very happy to report that the 'junk food' in the house is almost gone and it will not be returning. 

Exercise has also taken a bit of a nosedive. I was attempting the Nike 'start up' fitness plan, but that also got pushed aside as I made way for my new life. However, sitting down for seven (ish) hours a day is going to change my metabolism, so I need to make exercise a priority. Maybe I'll start by wearing my Fitbit every day so I can see what my day looks like from a fitness standpoint, too.

LOVE

WELL. I don't have much to report on this one. I downloaded a dating app - Bumble - and have been on a few dates. One was terrible, one was good. I've been single for two years now so I'm definitely ready to get out there and ~*mingle*~. Watch this space.

FAMILY

My son is sixteen months old and runs everywhere. I swear, this kid does not have a 'pause' button. He is the light in my day and the purpose in my life. He is everything. He handles daycare like a champ, eats whatever I put in front of him, loves to watch Octonauts and enjoys a cuddle on the couch. What more can I ask for?

Mostly, I'm just excited about where my life is heading. 

I have a feeling this is just the beginning of many, many good things to come.

So, give me a life update of your own! What have I missed?

I've talked about why I've started this blog, how I've come to be on this journey and why I love the law. Now, I've decided to start a study session - and you're invited! Every (second) Monday, I'll be writing a blog post dedicated to a particular area of law. This idea was inspired by Daniella of The Law Student Diary as she has a category on her blog dedicated to study notes, too. 

I am, by no means, an expert in any of these topics. I just want to share what I know with other people in the hope that you a) learn something, b) understand why I love it, or c) this helps my study as a form of revision. These notes will be written from my class notes, so it's entirely my own understanding with a little bit of fact and case law thrown in here and there. Proper citations will be given where possible.

Here's our first topic: Introduction to Law

Law is made by a law-maker, recognised by a community or nation, and is binding and enforceable. It is not singularly moral, scientific, ethical or based on religion. It is not decided to favour one person's view of what is right or wrong or any 'club rules'. It simply is and we shouldn't let our perceptions of what is right and just cloud our understanding of what the law is. 

I've heard many, many people say that certain laws are stupid or restrictive, but the fact is: they wouldn't exist if they didn't have a purpose. Laws are necessary for communities to function effectively. It regulates the relationships between community members and the community itself. Some legislation operates more effectively than others, but just imagine what it would be like if it didn't exist at all. Would you knowingly break the law? I don't think so. We stick to the law because (deep down) we recognise its value and we're scared of the consequences.

There are three main types of law:

• Public 
• Private
• International (not part of my study)

• Law of contract
• Tort law
• Consumer law
• Property law
• Family law
• Trusts and inheritance
• Company law

Public law concerns the actions of the state and the relationship between state and individual. Primarily, in the rights and duties of the individual in relation to the state. This is different to private law because cases can be brought by the state on behalf of all members of the public. Public law includes:

• Constitutional law
• Administrative law
• Criminal law
• Tax law
• Environmental law

These are regulated by substantive law and law of procedure. Substantive law explains your rights and obligations. It is the actual content of the law. Law of procedure, as you can guess, sets out how to enforce those rights and obligations.

If you only take away one thing from this post, it should be this: Ignorance of the law is no excuse, as found in the Crimes Act 1961. Section 25 states: 'The fact that an offender is ignorant of the law is not an excuse for any offence committed by him or her'. An "I'm sorry" and batting your eyelashes won't win you any favours in the eyes of the law, sorry. You need to front up, own it, apologise, and never do it again.

Easy enough, right?

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Somewhere near the bottom, between 'cleaning my room' and 'drafting that college essay'. Am I right?

Self-care was one of those things I'd 'get around to someday'. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that 'someday' never came. It took hitting rock bottom for me to realise I actually mattered and taking care of myself isn't selfish. In fact, it allowed me to be a better, shinier version of myself which helped my relationships, college performance and overall happiness.

Being a millennial in college is hard. We're expected to have a full-time course load and a part-time job and we usually create a side-hustle because our part-time job doesn't allow us to be as creative as we hoped. This all comes before actually having a semblance of a life, such as friendships, dating, learning how to cook and how to manage our finances. Sometimes, I feel like us millennials were just thrown into the deep end and told "good luck!"

It's not surprising our practice of self-care fell by the wayside as we tried to figure out how to be an 'adult' in this big ol' world.

01. Write

Create a blog, Twitter account or Instagram handle. Write. Allow yourself to feel your emotions and move through them in a constructive way. Somedays, I feel a certain way and I can't figure out why until I start writing. The whats and whys flow out of me and it all feels much more real when I see it written out in black and white. 

I started blogging as a way of creating a journal for reflection. That way eight years ago. I've met some of my best friends and had some great experiences through blogging. I wouldn't change it for the world. It has helped me grow as a person, connect with other like-minded people and made me realise that self-care isn't selfish.

If writing online isn't for you - invest in a journal, buy an adult colouring book or start a bullet journal. Find a way to express how you're feeling in a way that feels valid for you.

02. Exercise

But I don't have time to exercise! I barely have time to sleep. I feel you. The thing is, Elle Woods was right when she said: "happy people just don't shoot their husbands". This example may be a little extreme, but exercise releases endorphins and they make you happy. Exercising doesn't have to be a scary crossfit workout or the latest 'make you want to die' exercise. It can be as simple as going for a walk around the block or playing in the park with your dog. I've found that getting outside is half the battle but I always feel 100% better for having done it.

03. Do what you love

I love to read, blog, play The Sims 4 (no shame), exercise and bake, so I make time for those activities. Yes, there are things I 'should be doing' but I would not be happy if I only did those things day in, day out. It's all about balance. Find a hobby, join a book club or gym or social sport, or attend a night class. Hell, put aside some time to just do nothing. 

04. Relax

Easier said than done, especially when you're following a hectic college schedule. Sometimes, you have to force yourself to stop. Even if it's only for half an hour every day. You need that time to reflect, celebrate your accomplishments and recharge. 

05. Go tech-free for a day

Wait, what? We're millennials and students. I'm 90% sure I've never gone a whole day completely technology-free. It's just not in our nature, but it could be in our best interest. I don't know about you, but my phone is constantly going off, I'm always receiving emails and my Fitbit watch is constantly telling me to move my ass. I'm grateful for everything that I have and I appreciate technology absolutely, but it gets overwhelming. And distracting.

Put your phone on DND for a day. Don't watch Netflix. Ignore your inbox. The world won't implode, I promise.

06. Talk it out

College is a unique place to build friendships. Most of the time, you're surrounded by people with the same core interests. Try to talk to someone new in your major classes, even if it's just about how you're perpetually late or how you can't survive without caffeine. Heck, you're in the same class so talk about why it interests you! (Or how you're only in this class because it's a requirement and oh my god, make it stop.) 

New or old, friendships (and romantic relationships) are great modes of practising self-care. They're the people who are supposed to build you up, take care of you, and be your sounding board when you need them. Sometimes, it just takes a simple coffee date with an amazing friend to take you back to your perky, sparkly self!

07. Take time out

I'm an introvert (or ambivert) so being around people 24/7 (especially the same people) really drains my energy. I'm a fairly social person and absolutely love connecting with friends and new people, but it is mentally exhausting. By the end of the week, I'm wanting to spend some time by myself. I don't do it to be rude, I do it to survive. Sometimes being with friends is the answer, sometimes being by yourself is the answer. 

Personally, I find curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee to be the perfect recharge. Find a technique that works for you and make time for it every week! A friend of mine exercises every day as her way to recharge whilst my sister loves taking baths (especially with Lush products). 

There's no right or wrong answer to self-care. It's all about what works for you.

How do you practice self-care? Are you an introvert or extrovert? What did you study in college/university?

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That mum should be breastfeeding because 'breast is best'. The 'top dog' of a company still has to answer to a board of directors and corporate. A self-employed person 'works too much' but 'should be working' if they take a break during the week. Hell, my assignments have received a lot of critiques.

Humans are flawed. Fact. Some of us are perpetually late. Some of us take on too many commitments. Some of us interrupt conversations. Some of us can't function without our daily cup of coffee (or ten). How do you feel when you're called out on your behaviours?

Not very good. When we face criticism we see it as an attack on our personality and our very being. Some of us think the person is 'out to get us' and dwells on the criticism into the wee hours of the morning. I've never been that person.

Receiving any form of criticism is never fun, but it's an opportunity to develop through positive action. 

Want to know how I do it?

01. Get out of your head

Receiving criticism sucks. Let's face it. No one likes being told they need to improve in an area, especially if it is one close to their heart. In university, I had to do weekly readings for my creative writing class. We were given a topic and expected to have a piece to read aloud. In front of 10-15 others. It took a long time, but I taught myself to get out of my own head. 

They weren't critiquing me, they were critiquing the material in front of them. It wasn't a reflection on me. I hadn't failed. I discovered worrying about potential criticism held me back. I wasn't motivated. I didn't enjoy writing. It dulled my creative spark. It took most of the semester for me to realise that constructive criticism was a positive thing and I could use it to improve.

02. Own it

Owning the criticism is harder to do. It's actively acknowledging your flaws and admitting it to the world. However, owning the criticism means you can turn it into positive actions. I'm perpetually late. I often underestimate traffic delays, how long it takes to find a car park and how difficult it is to situate the stroller, baby and his accompaniments. Needless to say, I'm almost always twenty-minutes late. Or I was. 

Now, I leave twenty-minutes before I think I need to leave and I end up being on time. About 90% of the time. In regards to the other 10%, I end up calling the other person to say that I'll be late. Owning the criticism took a long time. I'm stubborn, so I don't like to admit my flaws. Until one day, I had a light-bulb moment. I didn't want to be stuck in a perpetual cycle of being late and - subsequently - stressed. 

The simple step of owning the fact that I'm perpetually late enabled me to take positive actions to improve myself (and my relationships).

03. Reflect and reassess

This ties in with the 'owning it' factor. You've admitted there's something you can work on. Now what?

Reflect on your actions and try to pinpoint the areas that need work. Mine was time-management and organisation. Yours might be needing to relax. When you look back at your actions, don't think about it as looking back on failure. Think about looking back as a way forward in your life.

From your reflection, create small goals or everyday tasks that will contribute to an overall positive effect. You'll be well on your way to killin' it in no time!

04. Find a mentor

Find someone in your office, university or friend group who is willing to be a mentor. Ask them questions. Every single question you can think of. Ask them how they got to be where they are and their struggles along the way. You'll learn that everyone faces criticism and it's often the reaction that is the deciding factor in your life. Learn everything you can from them.

Maybe it was your mentor who was offering the criticism. Ask them why this particular area needs work, what you can do to improve and how success is measured. I'm sure they'll be more than willing to help you improve. After all, your success is their success, too.

05. Change up your routine

I'll admit, I'm one of the lucky ones. I'm a part-time student and a full-time solo mum. At the moment, my life is in the home so I have the privilege of being able to adapt my lifestyle in a variety of ways. Some people aren't so lucky; however, a small change to your routine can be all you need.

Try waking up ten minutes earlier and sitting in silence. Morning meditation and yoga can do wonders for the body and mind. Drink a hot coffee without running around the house like a headless chicken. Get up half an hour earlier and do a quick workout, read a book or have a proper breakfast. These are all small, positive steps that are guaranteed to make you feel better and be more productive during your day.

A happier, calmer person is a more productive person. No one can complain about that.

06. Work smarter, not harder

Some people will take criticism as an attack on their work ethic. Sometimes it is, but 90% of the time it is not the case at all. You don't have to work harder to receive praise. Review your work process and see if there's any way you can achieve more without burning out.

How do you deal with criticism? Have you ever had to critique someone else's work? How do you deal with stress?

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This year, I entered my fifth year of study. (Ew). I started with a Bachelor of Arts then swapped to a Bachelor of Communications and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations. Now, I'm studying to be a registered legal executive (paralegal) in New Zealand. Needless to say, I have a tonne of study tips to keep you sane during finals week (and make it easier) (hopefully).

I know some of you have already completed finals and are busy celebrating, but I received an alert about my final. In thirty-five days. It seems a long way off, but those days will disappear in the blink of an eye. Plus, being in university (or college) is about making a consistent effort to really learn the materials in front of you. I hope this helps!

01. Know your learning style

There's nothing worse than having a pile of information in front of you and having no desire to read it. I've always found college-based books that are just pages upon pages of text boring. I need something to break up the page and keep my brain focused. I'm a visual learner. I love highlighters, coloured pens and pretty study spreads. I'm an auditory learner, too. Once I explain a topic to someone, I understand it and when I understand it, I remember it. Funny how that works, right?

Pick up some highlighters, stickers, coloured pens and bright paper. Make flowcharts and diagrams and brainstorm your topics. Read a section and have a 'brain dump' page to test what information you retained and what you need to work on. Form a study group. Create pop quizzes for the start of every session and test each other. Create flashcards and make it a pub-quiz style learning session. Alternatively, just read and write notes on every subject in your own words.

I took this test and found out my learning style within two minutes! It's worth doing if you're in a study rut and nothing seems to be working. It might make studying for finals more enjoyable and less of a stress-fest.

02. Be organised
This is so obvious, but it needs to be mentioned. Carve out chunks of time for studying and really dedicate yourself. Have all your materials laid out beforehand with a list of what you need to achieve in the allotted time. Find an environment that engages your brain. Some people study at home, some in a cafe and others in the library. I've found I need to switch up my environment otherwise I get bored and distracted.

03. Use the Pomodoro method

I started using this timer in my third year of university and it completely changed my attitude towards study! The traditional style is twenty-five minutes of work and a five-minute break, but you can tailor it to suit your attention span. I use it for everything. It's great for blog writing, email responses, general 'to do' tasks and studying. It is adaptable to any environment and has helped me stay sane during those frantic late-night cram sessions.

Source: Bruno Cervera / Unsplash

04. Create SMART goals
I discovered the SMART method whilst undertaking my Bachelor's Degree. It's an acronym for smart, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-tabled goals. Most people are motivated by extrinsic rewards, so crossing something off a to-do list is a great idea. I am notorious for creating hefty to-do lists and only ever achieving half of them in a day. It gets disheartening and frustrating. After a lot of evaluating, I have decided to manage my workload so I work smarter, not harder. This month, I'll be creating a list of five urgent things I need to do and working my way up in quantity.

05. Utilise your phone
People tell you to get rid of distractions like your phone, laptop or tablet when you're studying. I'm telling you to incorporate it into your study in a meaningful way. I have downloaded apps for my to-do lists, daily goals and habits, budgeting, music, and flashcards.

Here are some of my favourites:
Focus: Focus Timer Reborn and Forest
Lists: Any.do and MyLifeOrganised
Language: Duolingo
Flashcards: Cram and Quizlet
Meditation: Headspace and Calm
Music: Spotify
Brain: Peak, Elevate and Lumosity

I generally start my study time by doing the set tasks/games in my 'brain' apps. I've found that it wakes me up and clues my brain into the fact that it's time to work. Next, I do a 'brain dump' of everything I remember from my previous study session. It gives me a focal point and helps dictate which areas need more work. After I empty my brain, I set up my timer, select a study playlist and read, highlight and note-take until the timer goes off. During my five minute break, I stretch, reply to social media mentions or grab a glass of water.

06. Make healthy choices
I've found that choosing healthier food options and exercising regularly helps me stay focused during long cram sessions. I'm sitting down all day whilst studying, so exercising helps me feel balanced and gives me an excuse to get outside. Eating healthy makes me feel good. If I choose proper whole foods throughout the day, I don't get an energy slump or nasty sugar cravings. And I get to eat pizza with a clear conscience if I've eaten clean for the last few days. It's all about balance, right?

Source: Penchant Styled / Unsplash

07. Know when to stop
I was so, so guilty of saying "just a bit more" when I really had to knuckle down. Did those few extra minutes help when it came to the exam? No. My brain was tired and my body was tired. Sometimes, you just need to know when to stop studying. It's all part of the 'work smarter, not harder' thought. I believed that achieving x amount of hours during the day meant that I was ahead of the game. Until it came to the exam and I found the last twenty minutes of my cram session meant nothing because my brain didn't retain any of it.

~

How did your finals go? What is a study method you swear by? Have you ever used a specific scent to help you study?

Am I too old to say that?

How are we in May? This year is flying by with lightning speed. I'm not quite sure where the last four months have gone! 

Last month, I set some goals for myself. I really liked the idea of having them written down somewhere so a) I can hold myself accountable, and b) I can refer back to them. I need to have progress markers and I found this was an effective way to measure success.

 - Will Rogers

Let's get cracking, shall we?

01. Read two books. I enjoyed it the first time, so I want to keep this momentum going!

08. No phone before 7am. I have a bad habit of scrolling aimlessly until 11pm. I've made peace with that. It is what it is. On the other hand, I am not happy with my seemingly automatic response to reach for my phone as soon as I wake up. 

What are your goals for May? What exercise do you enjoy? Do you have any study tips for me?

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Recently Read is a bi-weekly feature of The Paralegal Club and it aims to showcase some of my favourite blog posts from the week. Due to it being bi-weekly, the posts themselves may be two weeks old, but I've only stumbled upon them whilst researching for this blog post. It's a mish-mash of everything! Food, fashion, law, lifestyle posts or just a good ol' journal entry. I love it all! 

If you're a blogger and want a chance to be featured, please head over to my contact page and flick me an email!

#01: 5 Strategies for a Healthy Lifestyle When Working from Home - Laura Platts

Laura's blog, The Workher, has been put on hiatus, but she still has some amazing content for women entering the workforce. I wish I had found her blog sooner! I have been studying from home for the last two years, so I have a pretty set routine for myself, but I found her post reinforced my own logic and was a very friendly pat on the back. It will definitely help anyone working or studying from home or thinking about attempting the transition! 

#02: Why You Need a Morning Routine - BecauseGirls

I thrive on routine. I am dependant on it, right down to my bowl of oatmeal and cup of coffee in the morning. I've found what works for me - now you can do the same! BecauseGirls gives you a neat list of things to try in the morning to help with your routine and set you up for the day.

#03: How To Know If Online Courses Are Right For You - Kayla Karrandjas

90% of my life is online. It was strange and jarring at first, but I've found a nice routine and it really works for me. I've found I'm much more flexible with my time, routine, and general daily life. I'm not rushing around and panicking about being stuck in traffic for a class that lasts fifty minutes. It's heaven!

#04 & #05: Where Should You Go To Law School / Another Law School Will Let You In Without Taking The LSAT - Above The Law
Picking the college that is right for you is stressful. I've heard the LSAT prep and test is stressful. I don't know if anyone is thinking about going to law school, but these posts are definitely worth a read!

#06: Career or starting a family? As women, can we do both & are we holding ourselves back? - Sophie
My goodness, it's like this girl reads my mind! A few posts back, I talked about having some pretty lofty goals for myself. Most of them are career-driven. I have a few friends who talk about wanting to climb the career ladder but are hyper-aware of the biological clock. They're in conflict with themselves and they're bringing it upon themselves! Can we have it all? Check out Sophie's post and chime in on the conversation!

#07: Studying Playlist - Fit Future Attorney
I've just started listening to music whilst studying as well and I think it really helps! My go-to is Vitamin String Quartet, but check out this blog post if you're needing inspiration!

#08: Motherhood: Self-Care isn't Selfish - Megan Gilger
I feel like on a soul-level. I'm a mother, so my wants and needs are always at the bottom of the ladder. The amount of sacrifice that goes along with being a parent is extraordinary and something you won't understand until you're in the position yourself. It isn't just giving up the random online splurges, triple shot flat whites or lazy Sunday lie-ins, but it's about giving up your absolute essence (temporarily) so you can help this tiny, helpless baby thrive in his (or her) new environment. Self-care is something I'm trying to practice more, so this post really hit home for me.

#09: The yummiest banana and coconut bread - Nicola
It's like I turned twenty-four and a flip switched in my brain. Suddenly I'm Betty Crocker and I have all the time for baking. I don't think my son will be complaining about that! I'm a huge fan of banana bread (any bread #breadlife) so I think this will be my next endeavour!

#10: The Last Phase of My Twenties - Sophie Cliff
It was my birthday this week, so I have a certain affinity for 'my life is changing but I'm going to enjoy it to its fullest' posts. This is the post I'm talking about. Thirty is an age that is taunted and daunted by a lot of people. Hell, I had a quarter-life crisis at the ripe ol' age of twenty-four! Sophie, however, has put such a positive spin on things that you just have to go have a read. Even if you don't turn thirty for another six years. 

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What have you been reading lately?

April 25th.

It's a day to honour all New Zealanders killed in action and the servicemen and women who managed to make it home. The day itself marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.

The Gallipoli Campaign led to thousands of people losing their lives: French, British, Australians and New Zealanders. Although New Zealanders fought on the other side of the world, we fought for something we believed in. A sense of duty had been instilled and is still referred to in this modern day. We will remember them. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps showed great courage, endurance, and discipline, which are characteristics that live on and are instilled in our forces today.

Allies landed on Gallipoli on 25th April. British and French landed at Cape Helles whilst the ANZACs landed in the middle of the peninsula, several kilometres away from their intended landing place. They encountered Ottoman forces on the hills and clifftops above and were unable to make any significant headway. They battled to maintain control of the beach, but it resulted in significant and unavoidable bloodshed.

Anzac Day is celebrated in a particular way, consistent with a form of military funeral. The day is marked as a public holiday, so anyone in New Zealand can attend services and pay their respects. Many people in New Zealand attend a dawn service and the parade. During the dawn service, family members of the servicemen and women march to the local war memorial, usually joined by other members of the community. The service includes hymns, prayers, dedications, a minute silence and the national anthem. Alternatively, family members of the servicemen and women wear their medals and march behind banners for the Anzac Day parade. They, too, are joined by other community groups including armed forces, cadets, the Red Cross and other armed forces veterans. They march to the war memorial and perform another ceremony, which includes laying wreaths at the foot of the memorial statue.

The red poppy is our symbol for the remembrance of the war. People wear the red poppy for the week leading up to Anzac Day as a way of symbolising remembrance of the war, not just on Anzac Day but every day. The poppies are sold to support current and ex-service personnel, which includes the police and their families. They were the first flower to grow on the battlefields of Flanders in Belgium during World War One, which makes them an apt symbol for remembrance.

Yesterday, I made Anzac biscuits as a way of commemorating the time and showing my respect for the soldiers. It was a small act, but one I shared with my son, so it is one I will treasure. Anzac biscuits are made with cupboard staples, including rolled oats, flour, brown sugar and coconut. During World War One, the biscuits were sent by wives and women's groups to the soldiers abroad because the ingredients do not spoil quickly and keep for ease of transportation.

When I was in primary school, I joined Girl Guides and attended dawn services. The emotion in the room was overwhelming and eye-opening. I have never felt so connected to other New Zealanders as I did in those moments. I didn't attend the services this year (my son and I were sick) but I'll be taking him to services in the future.

You're never too young to show respect for your countrymen and women.

~

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I know people who eat on the train, heat up oatmeal in the work kitchen or count coffee as "breakfast". These "people" used to be me. I didn't have time for breakfast. I was "too busy" to take time out to nourish my body with proper food.

My day would consist of coffee and a banana (because I was #busy), a salad for lunch and approximately 1, 879 calories for dinner. I worked as a kitchen hand, so it wasn't unusual to buy a punnet of chips as my "dinner" and have "second dinner" when my shift ended. I would be sore from standing on my feet all day and tired from studying so I would skip working out, opting for Netflix and chill instead. Needless to say, I was the epitome of health and wellness.

I was permanently tired, my skin was constantly breaking out, and I just felt 'blah' in myself. I wish I could say this was my wake-up call. That happened when I found out I was pregnant.

Suddenly, it wasn't about me anymore and my habits changed - starting with having a healthy breakfast whilst fitting in this "busy millennial" lifestyle.

How did I make it happen?

By using quick and nutritious breakfast recipes (if you can call it that).

01. Chia seed pudding

Do you only have fifteen minutes for breakfast? Good, because I have something that can be ready in ten. This was my ultimate 'go to' breakfast when I was under a serious time-crunch. Chia seeds have major health benefits which is an automatic tick in my book. I would dash into the kitchen and mix some chia seeds, milk, and cacao powder to create a deliciously chocolate-y pudding for breakfast. I would top it with fruit (usually banana, strawberries or raspberries) and go! Seriously. Choose a large (ish) container, mix in your fruit and go!

02. Smoothies

They're the hero of the breakfast world. Have a bunch of random stuff lying around? I'm 89% sure it'll be brilliant in smoothie-form! During summer, I become somewhat of a smoothie addict. I made them for myself. I made them for my son. I made them for my family. My 'go to' smoothie includes a banana, some strawberries, Greek yoghurt, spinach, chia seeds, vanilla paste, cinnamon and ginger, and some oats, just for good measure. It sounds like a lot, but it's just a matter of finding the ingredients and throwing it in! My son's smoothie consists of weetbix, almond flour, milk, a dash of yoghurt, zucchini, banana and some peanut butter or spices, depending on how I feel. Sounds delicious, right?

03. Overnight oats

I bet you saw this one coming from a mile away. I'm a bit of an oatmeal fanatic (especially in autumn and winter!) so that one was always going to make the list. Are you ready for this? It has six ingredients and is super simple! For my overnight oats, I mix oats, cacao, peanut butter, chia seeds, milk, and a dash of plain yoghurt. Pop it in the fridge as you go to bed and you'll wake up to a smooth, creamy, delicious and nutritious breakfast! I mean, have you seen these overnight oat recipes? *drools*

Want to know the best thing about all of the brilliant breakfast ideas in this post? They're all portable! You have absolutely no excuse to skip breakfast. It doesn't have to be some calorie-laden junk fest or some super restrictive (and boring!) affair. That doesn't count as a breakfast. 

Your body needs proper nutrition and fuel to function. Coffee and bananas are great for a while, but that won't help you perform at your peak.

It's all about balance and what works for your body. We're not all made the same. Some people can handle a lot of carbohydrates (curse you!) whilst other bodies can metabolise fat better. It's all about being in tune with your body and giving it what it wants (in moderation and with healthy options). I'm all about the 80/20 life.  I developed a sweet tooth after having my son. Suddenly, I love chocolate, so I add some cacao to my breakfast and away I go! My sweet tooth is satisfied and my diet hasn't been obliterated before 9am. Win-win.

After all, a lifestyle change lasts much longer than a fad diet ever will. Believe me.

What's your breakfast 'go to'? What's your standard coffee order? Are you a brunch person or a happy hour person?