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?

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?

BLOGLOVIN / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER

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. 

~

What have you been reading lately?

Twitter is about connecting and talking to different people. We share snippets of our lives in 240 characters (or less). Instagram is about sharing pretty photos with a heartfelt caption. It's all about the aesthetic and "doing it for the 'gram". Snapchat is figuring out how many weird filters you can use before your friends hate you.

Blogging encompasses it all. People pour their hearts and souls into their blog. Some people live and breathe blogging. Some have made it their full-time job.

We shouldn't be jealous. We should be applauding them. We should be shouting their content - content we love - from the rooftops so everyone can read it. This is my rooftop shout. 

Every week, I will be sharing my ten favourite reads. You better keep an eye out. Your blog might make it onto this list, too.

#01: How To Become A Full Time Blogger - Gemma Louise
I have admired Gemma for a long, long time. Her web design is beautiful and second only to her writing. This girl has a way with words and I'm not surprised that she's managed to work up to being a full-time blogger. It just goes to show how hard-working and dedicated she is! My advice: Read her post and take her advice. Blogging is a lot more than just sitting around and sipping on lattes.

#02: Getting Ahead In Any Line Of Work - Claire
Claire is an old friend of mine. We met through blogging and haven't looked back since! She's another blogger who tells you what you need to hear when you need to hear it. She has tips that are invaluable, especially when you're trying to get into your chosen line of work. There's nothing quite like going the extra mile and putting in some proper effort, right?

#03: Don't Feel Pressured By Blogger's Beauty Standards - They're Unrealistic - Chloe
I don't know how many times I've looked at a blogger's Instagram page and been hit by the green-eyed monster. It's easy to compare your life to another when you're looking at the highlight reel. Remember: That's all we see because that's what brands want us to see. Bloggers work very, very hard to get what they have, but they're also real people, too. Their 'normal' is not our 'normal', and that is ok.

#04: 7 Things To Do In Your Twenties That Will Make You Successful Later On In Life - CGD
Fun fact: You can't sit back on your laurels. Ever. You need to work to get anywhere in life. Career Girl Daily is a wealth of knowledge with tips and tricks on staying productive, podcasts, and interviews highlighting power women. If you haven't heard of them, you definitely need to check them out!

#05: How I'm Balancing Working With A Baby - Hannah Gale
I've had a slight girl-crush on Hannah since the dawn of time. I've developed an auntie-like crush on her son, Atti, too. You feel like you really get to know people when you read their blog for several years straight, which is exactly what I've done. Honestly, Hannah has killed it and continues to be a complete blogging badass mother, too. I could be biased because I have a son of my own, but balancing being a parent with anything else is hard.

#06: 16 Self-Care Tips To Try Today - Zest of Alice
I've noticed quite a few self-care blog posts floating around the blogosphere as of late. I'm feelin' them. So often, we put ourselves at the bottom of the ladder and we're the ones who suffer. Fair? I don't think so. I'm guilty of neglecting self-care, so this blog post is a well-timed kick in the ass. We all have a duty of care to ourselves. Now it's time to honour it.

#07: Newsletters of Note - Sophie
I'm sick of logging into my Gmail account to see a) no new emails, or b) emails that are the latest scam or spam. It's disheartening and makes me want to ignore my inbox for one million years. After reading Sophie's blog post, I can say that my inbox should be filled with delightful newsletters (at the very least!).

#08: Scheduling In Law School - Libby
I know, I know. Victoria, you aren't in law school! You're telling me. I, however, can appreciate a good schedule. I like knowing what I'm going to do and how other people plan their time. I'm nosey, sue me (please don't, I'm sorry). Still, if you're considering going to law school or wanting to know what the classes are like, you should check out Libby's blog!

#09: But Can You Tell Me Again? - Kate
I feel Kate's post at a soul-level. I'm a new (ish) mother too and this ish is hard. Back in the day, you got a gold star if the baby was fed and had a clean diaper on. Now, you should be cloth-diapering, breastfeeding, not co-sleeping but baby-wearing, have just the right amount of stimulation without TV and god forbid you even think about baby led weaning. Just like a new job, we have to trust that we're doing the right thing (and ask questions when we're really lost). Fun and games.

#10: How To Wake Up At 5am - Daniella
I get up at 5:45am and that's early enough for me, thank you very much; however, I cannot deny that Daniella has some good tips. In fact, I might use some of them on Monday morning when my alarm(s) are screeching at me from across the room. Good morning.

#11: How To Stop Catastrophising - Above The Law
I haven't reached the 'catastrophising' phase...yet. I hope you haven't either. Hopefully, we can learn to manage it when it does hit us like a tonne of bricks. Because it's coming. I'm sure of it.