Octavia Butler's "Essentials Of Success", Listed In One Of Her Notebooks.

April Challenge: Self Boundary Setting

I can't believe it's April already! So for this month I'm going to work on making my life more structured, mostly because I've been so relaxed with myself this past month. I read The Secret History, became obsessed, and started backsliding into really unhelpful behaviour patterns (and of course my therapist is on holiday, so I can't talk about it with her). I've given myself March to wallow in it, but now it's time to be a big kid and get over myself.

1. Bedtime

For the past few months, I've been going to sleep literally whenever, but my wake up times have been chaotic. In an attempt to wrangle that into some semblance of consistency, I will be making my bedtime midnight. No exceptions. I've also done this thing a lot where I lie down, thinking I'd get ready for bed later, and then immediately fall asleep. No more of that. I'm going to avoid this by not allowing myself to lie down until after I'm ready for bed.

2. Intuitive eating

One of the bigger things that bothered me last month was that, somehow, reading that book triggered my disordered eating patterns. This month I'm going to have to set more goals with eating enough, even though I'm in that frustrating part of the cycle where I don't really want to. So here's the plan: I'm going to make a weekly meal plan focussing on getting enough protein and fibre, and then I'll do it, because I told myself I would.

3. Self study

I've got a pretty tough thing going on, what with trying to learn 3 languages and an instrument while studying. Giving enough time to each thing so I can actually progress means I'll have to be focussed for at least 1 hr 45 min a day, not including the two hours every other day I've set aside for my actual uni work. Maybe I'll try a rotation of languages instead (that will cut the self study time down to 45 min), especially when my assignments are closer to due. I'm not sure. Anyway, I'll try the first option to start with.

4. Exercise

I've been in an energy crash all of March, so I haven't exercised this whole time. I need to get back into it now. I've wanted to take fencing classes since I was 14, but was always too sick to... until now. So to accommodate for the fact that the class is 2 hours long, I'll bookend it with rest days, and the rest of the week do half an hour of whatever I feel like. Until the next semester of the fencing class starts (when I'll join), I'll replace it with stretches designed to help with fencing.

Moodboard

Clueless Season 1 Episode 6 -  Making Up Is Hard to Do (1996)

thank you! ❤

youtube videos to help you with your glow up (pt. 1)

14 psychotic genius ways i use chatgpt to 1000x my life by simonesquared

46 beauty habits your future self will thank you for by simonesquared

how to glow up like a victoria’s secret model by girlworld

rebrand your identity in 2025 by krizia official

when the law of attraction doesn’t work, cheat by leo skepi

disappear and transform: a full 90 day guide by vickita trivedi

how to become confident and unbothered when you are insane by amber akilla

my 2025 master plan for success by tam kaur

how to change your life with chatgpt by nika erculj

daily wellness routine by fernanda ramirez

10 healthy habits that will change your life by sophia diloreto

let’s get motivated by rebecca jay

how to rebrand your life in 2025 by alessya farrugia

24 life changing hot girl habits by adete dahiya

the ultimate guide to confidence by alessya farrugia

the night routine that changed my life by alessya farrugia

the morning routine that changed my life by alessya farrugia

how to quickly get out of a rut by alessya farrugia

how to actually glow up by alessya farrugia

I can hear the birds on the roof!! it truly is spring!♡

"How to Life" Masterlist

Cleaning and Tidying

Make your bed in the morning. It takes seconds, and it's worth it.

Reset to zero each morning.

Use the UFYH 20/10 system for clearing your shit.

Have a 'drop-zone' box where you dump anything and everything. At the beginning/end of the day, clear it out and put that shit away.

Automate your chores. Have a cleaning schedule and assign 15mins daily to do whatever cleaning tasks are set for that day. Set a timer and do it once the timer is up, finish the task you're on and leave it for the day.

Fold your clothes straight out of the tumble dryer (if you use one), whilst they're still warm. This minimises creases and eliminates the need for ironing.

Clean your footwear regularly and you'll feel like a champ.

Organisation and Productivity

Learn from Eisenhower's Importance/Urgency matrix.

Try out the two-minute rule and the Pomodoro technique.

Use. A. Planner. (Or Google Calendar, if that's more your thing.)

Try bullet journalling.

Keep a notebook/journal/commonplace book to dump your brain contents in on the regular.

Set morning alarms at two-minute intervals rather than five, and stick your alarm on the other side of the room. It's brutal, but it works.

Set three main goals each day, with one of them being your #1 priority. Don't overload your to-do list or you'll hit overload paralysis and procrastinate.

If you're in a slump, however, don't be afraid to put things like "shower" on your to do list - that may be a big enough goal in itself, and that's okay.

Have a physical inbox - a tray, a folder, whatever. If you get a piece of paper, stick it in there and sort through it at the end of the week.

Consider utilising the GTD System, or a variation of it.

Try timeboxing.

Have a morning routine, and guard that quiet time ferociously.

Have a folder for all your important documents and letters, organised by topic (e.g. medical, bank, university, work, identification). At the front of this folder, have a sheet of paper with all the key information written on it, such as your GP's details, your passport details, driving licence details, bank account number, insurance number(s), and so on.

Schedule working time and down time alike, in the balance that works for you.

Money

Have. A. God. Damn. Budget.

Use a money tracker like toshl, mint, or splitwise. Enter all expenses asap! (You will forget, otherwise.)

Have a 'money date' each week, where you sort through your finances from the past seven days and then add it to a spreadsheet. This will help you identify your spending patterns and whether your budget is actually working or not.

Pack your own frickin' lunch like a grown-up and stop buying so many takeaway coffees. Keep snacks in your bag.

Food and Cooking

Know how to cook the basics: a starch, a protein, a vegetable, and a sauce.

Simple, one-pot meals ("a grain, a green, and a bean") are a godsend.

Batch cook and freeze. Make your own 'microwave meals'.

Buy dried goods to save money - rice and beans are a pittance.

Consider Meatless Mondays; it's healthier, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly.

Learn which fruits and vegetables are cheapest at your store, and build a standard weekly menu around those. (Also remember that frozen vegetables are cheap and healthy.)

Learn seasoning combinations. Different seasoning, even with the exact same ingredients, can make a dish seem completely new.

Misc

Have a stock email-writing format.

Want to start running, but find it boring? Try Zombies, Run!.

Keep a goddamn first aid kit and learn how to use it.

Update your CV regularly.

Keep a selection of stamps and standard envelopes for unexpected posting needs. (It happens more regularly than you would think!)

Things To Do On Sunday

brain dump all the tasks that need to be done and do all that take less that 30 minutes

review your calendar

make a plan to work on upcoming projects that week

plan your outfits

do laundry

clean your space

practice some self care

get to inbox 0 (and cancel all unnecessary subscriptions)

write a to-do list for monday

check bank account + look @ your budget

make a meal plan + meal prep

xoxo, sally

pic1 | pic2 | pic3

⋆˚࿔ Weekly self-care checklist

Self-care night. Candlelight bubble baths, hair mask, manicure, face mask, home-cooked meal, a good book or your comfort show, some journaling... allow yourself some rest <3

Organise and use your planner/calendar. This will help you reduce stress by helping you stay structured and focused.

Update your Spotify playlists. Nothing is more annoying than being on the go, trying to relax to your music, and constantly having to skip songs that don't resonate with you anymore!!

Sunday reset is a non-negotiable!! laundry, fresh sheets, cleaning your make-up brushes, decluttering, etc...

Catch up on some sleep. Take a nap or choose a night to go to sleep extra early. (I recently read this article on sleep dept... VERY interesting!! -> Click here)

Plan a weekly girl's day!! maybe a picnic, some shopping, a movie night, or perhaps just a coffee date? make some plans and catch up with your girls <3

Go on a long morning walk; maybe you'll be able to catch the sunrise too!!

Buy yourself some flowers. You deserve them. <3

As always, please feel free to share your own suggestions and tips in the comments!! ♡

love ya ･:*₊‧౨ৎ

Random Beauty Big Sister Advice 💐💋🪩

Here are my random big sister beauty advice! Enjoy!!!

Fix your posture

Some of you did not get pinched in the shoulder blades when you were slouching growing up and it shows

Every time you sit or stand up take the time to roll your shoulders back. Just do it as a little reminder everyday (multiple times) and your posture will improve.

If you can’t hold it without it becoming uncomfortable or tiring you need to do some core workout (a lot of inner core specifically) because that means you muscles aren’t strong enough to keep your spine strong. Which also means you can be more susceptible to injuries.

As much as you hate it healthy is 100x prettier than unhealthy.

Almost all the beauty standards are based on your health.

Proper diet and exercise will make your skin glow and your hair shiny.

Under eating or eating junk shows on your face and hair.

Muscles are sexy

I swear to you there is no way for you to become “bulky” by picking up weights.

You need to strengthen train for that toned look.

In order for your muscles to get really bulky you have to be in a pretty heavy calorie surplus be hitting a very high protein level. You also have to have the gene to build bulky muscles and the bone structure which is not as common in women. You can’t really do it on accident.

Even women who can put on muscles really fast are not bulky they are built. It’s giving she hulk and it’s hot.

To look put together you have to do the 2/3rds rule.

Only one part of your outfit can you neglect. Either your hair, makeup, or outfit. But it should never be your hair.

Learn to do really quick easy hairstyles and you will never have bad hair. I am almost always in Dutch braids because they are simple and I can do them quickly.

Also adding jewelry always gives your outfit more flare.

Learn how to alter clothes always have cute clothes.

You can find really simple tutorials to turn that body tank top into a fitted tank so easily.

Usually you just need a needle thread and scissors but if you have a machine you can do so much.

Do your nails

If you don’t like color or fake nails make sure they are always filled and clean.

Nails can be extremely cheap or extremely expensive you just gotta find what works for you.

Get a good nail oil as well for extra care.

Your body is not the problem you just don’t know how to dress and compliment her.

Stop looking at girls whose body is nothing like yours for outfit inspo.

Depending on your proportions things can look vastly different on different people.

Figure out your body type and shopping gets so much easier.

That’s all for now I might continue this series slowly but I just ended my spring break and classes have started so if I disappear don’t worry I’m just being an academic weapon.

Xoxo💋

2025 : #11 - 6% Mentality : why u are holding urself back ?

✒️..It’s January . You’re all fired up about your New Year’s resolutions, right? “This is my year,” u say. “I’ll lose the weight, make the money, start the business, crush my goals.” But BFR : By the time February rolls around, you’re back to your old habits. Your gym membership is collecting dust, that diet is long gone, and that academic cb idea is still just a thought in your head. You’ve been here before iiikr

🏷️[ inspiration: dr.Michelle Robbins refers to her study of 1,000 people, showing that 94% gave up on their resolutions by February but how the 6% managed to succeed ?]

So 94% of people will abandon their goals before they even get started. Let me repeat that 94%. The odds are stacked against you, but there’s a small group—just 6%—who will do the work, face the grind, and get what they want. What separates them from the rest? They know the truth, and they do it even when they don’t feel like it.

Let me give u truth. If you want to be part of the 6%, you need to change how you think, act, and approach your goals. u need to stop being weak.

ONE take charge or shut up.

Your brain is not your friend. It’s a coward. Your brain wants comfort, safety, and the easy way out. Every time you try to do something hard—like losing weight, hitting the gym, or getting out of debt—your brain will whisper, “You deserve a break. Skip the gym. You’ll start tomorrow. One donut won’t hurt.”The reality is that tomorrow never comes. And if you keep listening to your brain, you'll never see any change. The 6%? They don’t listen to their excuses. They take charge. They override their feelings. They don’t give a damn about comfort or instant gratification—they’re thinking about where they want to be a year from now.

You need to make a choice: Are you going to let your feelings control you? Or are you going to start controlling your feelings? Take charge. You don’t want it bad enough if you keep letting your brain win.

Two get specific or quit.

Enough with the vague promises. “I’ll work out more.” “I’ll eat healthier.” Bullshit. That’s not a goal—that’s a wish. You might as well wish on a star and hope things magically change.The 6% know that vague goals don’t work. They get specific. Instead of saying, “I’ll lose weight,” they say, “I’ll eat 1,800 calories a day and hit the gym for 30 minutes every morning at 7 AM.” Instead of saying, “I want to be a high achiever,” they say, “I’ll study 2h and rest for 30 min until I get it” ..Your brain loves specifics. It’s easy to stay motivated when you know exactly what to do. But when you’re vague, you have no idea where you’re going, and no one gets anywhere with no direction.

You need to stop with the “I’ll try” and start with “I will.” If you can’t commit to specifics, then stop whining about why things aren’t working. You get what you decide to get, not what you wish for.

Three focus on the 10

You’re busy. I get it. WE ARE IN A SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE IS BUSY..You’ve got a million things on your to-do list. But guess what? Most of that stuff doesn’t matter. You’re wasting time on things that don’t move the needle. “Check emails. Scroll Instagram. Clean your room.” Sure, they make you feel productive, but they don’t move you closer to your goals.You need to stop being busy and start being effective. The 6% know how to focus. They don’t waste time on trivial shit. They get to work on the 10s—the things that actually matter. If your goal is to get in shape, that means working out. It doesn’t mean cleaning your kitchen or sending one more email. If your goal is for example become an academic weapon is not watching how to study for exam in the last night ..

Get real with yourself pookie Stop pretending you’re busy. Look at your list. What’s the ONE thing that moves you closer to your goal? Do that first. The rest? It can wait. If it’s not a 10, don’t waste your time on it.

Forth small steps big results.

Let’s not sugarcoat this: If you want to succeed, you have to make sacrifices. There’s no shortcut. But the thing most people don’t get that You don’t need to change everything at once. You don’t need to completely overhaul your life. Start small.Take one step at a time. If you’re trying to lose weight, drink one glass of water before every meal. That’s it. But don’t stop there. Once that becomes easy, add something else: Maybe you walk 10 minutes every day. Or swap out soda for water.

The 6% get it: Small actions snowball. They build momentum. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to show up consistently.

The Challenge: 30 Days of Realness.

Pick one goal. ONE. And commit to it for the next 30 days. No excuses. Write it down. Be specific. Take charge. Get rid of all the distractions and focus on what matters. Every single day, make progress—even if it’s just a little.But if you’re not serious about this, don’t bother. If you’re not willing to do what it takes—if you’re too busy making excuses—then stop pretending you want to change. The 6% don’t have time for excuses. They do the work, even when it’s hard, even when they don’t feel like it.believe in urself and be disciplined !!

So, get off your ass, stop whining, and start doing. Because if you keep playing the same game, you’re going to keep getting the same results. But if you’re ready to be part of the 6%? You better bring your A-game. And you better be real with yourself.

@bloomzone 📇