For years, I felt that I was too skinny. I resorted to a plan of gaining one pound per month. That plan never worked. Whatever half a pound I gained for the whole year, whenever I got a virus, I would lose several pounds. Needless to say, I felt pretty unattractive in my less-than-100-pound body.

If you feel unattractive, you’re not alone! We all have insecurities, both men and women. However, to begin to truly value the woman that you are, you need truth in your inner being.

Here are 9 tips to overcome when you feel unattractive:

1) Determine the root causes of your feelings of unattractiveness.

Who/what has formed the mindset that you have about yourself? Who played a part in this framing? For me, my insecurities about my body stemmed from insults I received in my adolescence. I still remember one such incident and it was such a long time ago!

If you have no clue, please ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you. I believe He will show you.

​2) Cry out to God for His healing.

Perhaps, your feelings of unattractiveness have become so deep-seated that you need God’s supernatural intervention. You need Him to heal you deep within. He wants to do that for you. Just be totally vulnerable with God. He already knows your pain.

3) Search the Scriptures for the truth to counter the lies.

What does the Word of God say about beauty? What does God say about your worth?

One of my absolute favourite verses is …

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

Another is …

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

Are you embracing God’s truth about you?

I would further recommend that you research and write down all the verses about your self-worth according to the Word of God and read them aloud daily. Additionally, take one verse or a portion of Scripture per day and meditate (ponder or ruminate) until it moves from head-knowledge to heart-conviction.

​When a woman truly knows Jesus, it changes her inwardly. Watch the power of God work in your mind as it is being renewed with the Word!

4) Take practical steps.

Besides the Word, the Lord is also very practical and He will instruct you to take good care of your body. Believe me, it saddens me that so many Christians have little self-control when it comes to proper diet and exercise.

​Here are some questions to ask yourself:-

• Has the Lord been instructing you to exercise?
• Has He been guiding you to get more sleep?
• What has he been saying to you about your busy lifestyle?
• Does your diet have too much refined sugar?
• Have you been drinking sufficient water?
• When was the last time you enjoyed the outdoors?
• Do you need to see a dietician?

​By being obedient to the Lord in these areas, you will begin to feel better about yourself. Of course, it will also change how you look – glowing skin, a spark in your eyes, better mood, more energy, etc.

​According to research, the following activities release feel-good hormones:

• Exercising
• Cooking
• Listening to music or making music
• Going outside
• Laughter
• Meditating (on God’s Word)
• Playing with your pet
• Getting a good night’s rest
• Managing stress
• Pampering yourself (e.g. getting a massage)

​5) Prioritize becoming like Christ.

Character growth is true lasting beauty!

I’ve come to realize that what makes a woman feel really attractive has little to do with her external appearance at the end of the day. I remember being at a conference and there was an interview with an elderly couple (both probably over 80). The husband was saying that his wife was more beautiful than when they first got married! He looked at her with such tenderness! So, my sister, sit at the “feet” of Jesus and learn of him. Allow Him to transform you inwardly.

​6) Evaluate what you can and cannot change.

​The Serenity Prayer:

“O God and Heavenly Father, grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed; courage to change that which can be changed, and wisdom to know the one from the other, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

​What you cannot (or should not) change:

• The colour of your skin (if you’re into bleaching, throw those damaging products out please!)
• Your height
• Your bone structure

What you can change:

• Your attitude
• Your self-care
• How you spend your time
• What you think on

7) Have a gratitude list.

Celebrate all God has blessed you with!

I may not have a perfect body, but I do have beautiful eyes and a lovely smile. Many years ago, I read about the hormones that are released when a person smiles. So guess what? I started smiling to myself in the mirror! You must try it!

​My challenge to you …

Take a pen/pencil and a sheet of paper and write down all your “assets” in the following area:

• What you like about your body
• What you like about your personality
• What compliments you receive from others
• Which areas you have seen growth in the last few years
• What you are grateful for concerning your health

Write any and everything that comes to your mind.

​Like me, I’m certain you have “flaws” that you wish you didn’t have, but it’s better to place your focus on the “assets” that you do possess.

​8) Be patient with yourself.

Healing and growth to love and accept yourself will not take place overnight. The process may take years. You may feel like you’re back to “square one” at times, but overall, I’m sure you will experience growth in this area. So, be patient with the process.

9) Go on a social media fast.

If you are prone to comparing yourself with the photoshopped & filtered “beauties” on your social media pages, then you may need to:

1. Unfollow some of your celebrity influencers;
2. Unfollow friends and acquaintances;
3. Take a weekly break or even come off of social media for an extended period;
4. Temporarily or permanently deactivate your accounts.

“And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.” Matthew 18:9 ESV

​Although I’m not saying you’ll be going to hell for envying someone else’s beauty, at times, we have to be radical for our own mental health.

​
God has your back!

Summary

Do you feel unattractive? Do you know what has been the cause of it? If you have already overcome in this area, what tips have helped you to feel beautiful in your own skin? Please share in the comments.

To recap,

Here are 9 tips to overcome when you feel unattractive:

• Determine the root causes of your self-hatred or feelings of unattractiveness.
• ​Cry out to God for His healing.
• Search the Scriptures for the truth to counter the lies.
• Take practical steps.
• ​Prioritize becoming like Christ.
• ​Evaluate what you can and cannot change.
• Have a gratitude list.
• Be patient with yourself.
• Go on social media fast.

Thanks for stopping by!

#madeforlove

With love & laughter,

Kimberly Garth

Other Helpful Resources:

10 Signs a Guy is Romantically Interested in You

5 Qualities that Attract a Man to a Woman

What to do When You Like a Guy

Recommended Books:

Secret Keeper: The Delicate Power of Modesty by Dannah Gresh

His Needs, Her Needs Participant’s Guide: Building an Affair-Proof Marriageby Willard F. Jr. Harley

10 Things Every Woman Needs to Know About Men: Understand His Mind And Capture His Heart by by Sabrina Alexis & Eric Charles 

Recommended Reading Device (LOVE IT!):

The post 9 Tips to Overcome When You Feel Unattractive appeared first on Petals Bloom.

Those are all great.  However, when this year comes to an end, you want to know that you’ve grown in some other areas as well. 

Here are 14 epic New Year’s resolutions for a better you for this new year:

1) Set aside “think” time.

My husband finds it strange that I can just sit and stare.  I’m usually doing some serious thinking and I love it!

Here are some reasons to have regular “think” times:

• Gain clarity on issues; 
• Solve a problem:
• Meditate on God’s Word and determine how it should be applied to your life.
• Help you to be still and know that He is God.
• Listen to God;
• Allow God to get your attention; and 
• Provide room to design your future plans for any area of your life.

2) Forgive yourself and others.

When you look back at last year, you might have made some poor decisions that now make you cringe with regret.  You said words that should have never left your mouth.  Perhaps, you’ve hurt others or even yourself by your inability to break an addiction.  With a new year before you, it’s time to forgive yourself.

Additionally, are you holding onto hurt? Is there someone that you need to forgive? Refusing to forgive someone will do more harm to you and your fellowship with God than to the other person(s).  If you’re having difficulty, ask the Holy Spirit to help You.  He’s always willing.

3) Choose true repentance.

Forgiveness and repentance go hand in hand.  If you are truly sorry for an action, then you need to make changes to have a different outcome the next time a similar situation arises.  You cannot keep thinking the same way, making the same decisions and hope for a different outcome. True repentance involves a change in attitude which would then cause a change in action. 

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV

4) See a Christian counselor.

Whether you think you need one right now or not, it’s good to have at least one appointment yearly with a biblically-grounded counselor.  Most of us are not aware of the destructive effects of disappointments, careless words, fears, trauma and the like have on our souls.  As such, it is important to see a professional counselor who can bring light to the dark hidden areas of our lives.  

I saw one last year and it was great.  To be honest, before my appointment, I thought… “what will I talk about with her?”  Then the Lord brought to my mind a fear that was plaguing me for months! I’m so grateful that she helped me gain clarity and freedom from that fear.  From then on, I decided that seeing her would be an annual tradition.

5) Write a short journal entry every day.

I cannot discount how emotionally healthy this practice is.  If you’re an emotional mess, than you need to start journal. If you don’t want to end up in an emotional wreck, then start journaling to prevent it.

Related article:

10 Easy Tips to Start Journaling today

6) Start an emergency fund.

As a single woman, you may not have anyone to rely on financially (except Jesus) when an emergency arises.  About two years ago, I realized that I had no emergency fund.  

I thought it was a worthwhile goal, so I made sacrifices and implemented measures to build an emergency fund for myself.  Within a few months, I had reached my goal. 

Make a plan to store up an emergency fund for a rainy day.  You can initially save for your total monthly expenses for three months and when that target is achieved, you can aim for six months of expenses.  Check out www.daveramsey.com for tips.

7) Plan a weekly social media and smartphone fast.

You may not realize that you are a social media or smartphone addict until there is no internet; your devices are unavailable to you; or you decide to do a fast.  As a Christian, you should not allow anything or anyone else to control you …even if it seems harmless.  Believe me, it’s very freeing!

In order to give social media and your devices their proper subservient position in your life, you need to be intentional or they will overtake your life. 

Tips for social media/smartphone boundaries:

• Choose a day when you will not use your phone for a specified time (like 6am-6pm). I like Sundays for that.
• Only check your emails/messages/comments (and the list goes on) every … hour(s).
• Remove all notifications so that you will not be tempted to look and respond.

The more you do it, the easier it gets.  

8) Ask God for the opportunity to share the gospel with others.

When your favorite store is having a sale, it’s natural to tell others.  If something incredible happens to you, you’ll be bursting to share it with others.  This is natural because it completes your cycle of joy. 

In the same way, as a follower of Jesus whose life has been transformed by His power, your joy will be made complete when you share Him with others.  It’s not that you are trying to earn His favour, but it will add a dimension of joy to your life that you may not have been experiencing before.

9) Disciple other women.

I have disciplined over one hundred women and without a doubt, the young ladies who have grown the most were the ones who helped others grow.  If you want to grow in your relationship with God, help others to grow also. Please note that discipleship is not equivalent to mentorship or coaching. 

Discipleship involves teaching others what you have learnt while sharing your life with them in an authentic way.  It involves being transparent and vulnerable with others so that they can also grow.

As one of my disciplers said to me, “if you keep on taking in and not give back to others, you will become spiritually constipated.”

“…In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35 NIV

Check out helpful resources at www.cru.org and www.navigators.org.  There is no need to reinvent the wheel.

10) Evaluate your key relationships and have a plan to invest in them.

At the end of most people’s lives, there is one common thread. They often wish that they had spent more time with loved ones.  While you possibly have more years ahead of you, take their advice and see what you can do in this new year to have better relationships with your loved ones.

Tips:

• Schedule dates with your parents (or guardians), siblings, nephews, nieces, etc.
• Write little notes throughout the year expressing gratitude, what you admire, a special memory, etc. to important people in your life.
• Make yourself available to celebrate key events in their lives.
• Attend family gatherings.
• Choose a few older relatives that you’ll visit this year.

11) Seek help to break an addictive habit.

Be determined that you’ll be free this year from whatever habit that has kept you as a slave.  The main thing that often keeps people bond to addiction is secrecy. Think about a trustworthy friend and confide in that person.  I would suggest another female.  

Ask her to pray and hold you accountable.  Together, you can research, chart a course of freedom and enroll third party help like Covenant Eyes.  Freedom is totally worth the courage it will take to be transparent with someone else.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 NIV

Related articles:

How to Beat Porn Addiction and Other Sexually Addictive Behaviors | 10 Practical Tips

12) Surrender your life completely to God.

It’s really interesting that so many Christians are sincerely afraid of God’s will for their lives.  If you surrender the area of romantic relationships to God, you think that God will choose the most ugly boring man for your spouse.  If you surrender your career to God, He’ll send you to the most desolate regions of the world where you would be on the brink of starvation.  

From where does every good and perfect gift comes? It comes from God (James 1:17).  Who created all that is this universe with such intricacy, beauty and intelligence? God did (Genesis 1:1)! Who gives us all good things to enjoy? God does (1 Timothy 6:17).

The enemy has deceived us into thinking that God is not good and that He’s a killjoy.  Nothing could be further from the truth. A life of surrender will cause you to live your best life now.  Anything but a surrendered life means that you’re leading your own life. The leading of a fallen human being (you) cannot measure up to the leading of the  Almighty God. 

It’s time to experience true freedom and adventure by surrendering completely to Him.

13) End any unhealthy romantic relationships. 

You’ve wasted enough time on him.  Time to end it and move on. Whether it’s a boyfriend, live-partner, or situationship, make a clean break in this coming year.  It’ll be hard at first, but it will get easier.  God has much better in store for you.  

Related articles:

6 Guys to Resist

Are you in an Unhealthy Relationship? 8 Signs

“Situationship” or Relationship … 5 Reasons It Should be Clear

14) Take a weekly sabbath.

Once a week, take time to take it easy and rest.  If God rested, you can rest too. While you’re resting, He can take care of things.

Summary

New Year’s resolutions are not meant to control you but help you to make necessary changes in your life.  It’s an opportunity for a fresh beginning. One year, I resolved to read 24 books. When I accomplished it, I grew because I read books that changed me.  All that reading has probably impacted this blog. 

Here are the 14 epic New Year’s resolutions for a better you this year:

1. Set aside “think” time.
2. Forgive yourself and others.
3. Choose true repentance.
4. See a Christian counselor.
5. Write a short journal entry every day.
6. Start an emergency fund.
7. Plan a weekly social media and smartphone fast.
8. Ask God for the opportunity to share the gospel with others.
9. Disciple other women.
10. Evaluate your key relationships and have a plan to invest in them.
11. Seek help to break an addictive habit.
12. Surrender your life completely to God.
13. End any unhealthy romantic relationships. 
14. Take a weekly sabbath.

What are your New Year’s resolutions for this year?  What changes or developmental goals do you have this year? Please share by commenting below.

If you’d like to get weekly email tips to help you grow personally and relationally, subscribe and you’ll also receive your free “Emotional Maturity versus Emotional Maturity Checklist.” Thanks for stopping by!

#madetolove

Like, share & subscribe!

With love,

Kimberly 

Recommended books:

“Disciplines of The Beautiful Woman” by Anne Ortlund

“The Master Plan of Evangelism” by Robert E. Coleman

“Petals Bloom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”

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Firstly, let’s look at what you may try to add to your daily routine. Here are the possible average times for some activities on a typical day of the week:

• Time with God = 1 hour
• Work = 8 hours
• Sleep = 8 hours 
• Cooking = 2 hours 
• Eating = 3 hours (unrushed breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• Classes and studies for career enhancement = 5 hours (3 hours for classes)
• Time with loved ones = 2 hours
• Entertainment (YouTube, Netflix series, etc.) = 2 hours 
• Exercise = 30 minutes 
• Household chores (like washing dishes) = 30 minutes 
• Mental-development (like reading, watching news, etc.) = 1 hour 
• Reflection & journaling = 30 minutes 
• Church involvement (prayer meeting, Bible study, etc.) = 2 hours 
• Commute time = 2 hours 

TOTAL time needed: 37.5 hours daily!!!

Wow! You have a challenge because you have only 24 hours per day.

Realistically, not all of the above activities occur everyday. For instance, you may attend classes twice per week totalling 10 hours and prayer meetings are generally one day weekly.

But the fact remains that too many of us have over-packed schedules.

Consequences when you’re over-extended for a prolonged period of time:

• Burnout; (Read “9 Tips to Prevent Burnout”)
• Key relationships become distant;
• Relationship with God becomes cold;
• Your health begins to deteriorate;
• Life loses its appeal; and 
• Lots more…

Therefore, you need to find ways to effectively achieve a realistic work-life balance. It is possible, but it will require being radical and disciplined. But at the end of the day, it’s your decision the kind of life that you want.

Here are ten ways to realistically achieve work-life balance:

1) Decide your priorities.

You may have “a million and one” goals in life. However, with a limited amount of time, you need to set your priorities.

In his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change”, Stephen Covey suggests dividing your activities into the following four quadrants (see diagram):

• Q1: Urgent and Important
• Q2: Not urgent and important 
• Q3: Not Important but urgent 
• Q4: Not urgent and not important 

He suggests that you focus most of your time in quadrants 1 and 2 but particularly quadrant 2 because this quadrant involves activities that are proactive and preventative. When you prioritize activities that will ultimately help you to succeed in life, you’ll spend less time in crises, outing fires and wasting time.

2) Use a schedule to plan your life.

A key ingredient to effectively achieving a work-life balance is having a reasonable schedule to guide your life. You don’t need a rigid schedule that accounts for every single minute of the day. Life is not predictable and you’ll only be stressed out if your schedule is inflexible and has no breathing space.

Benefits of a written schedule:

• You’ll know when to say “yes” and when to say “no”.
• Your day can be better guided with knowledge and order.
• Writing a plan has the power to make you more likely to remember your commitments.
• You’ll be able to see if you’re being unrealistic with your time.
• At a glance, you can determine where you can be flexible when unforeseen circumstances arise.

Tips:

• Make it adjustable because changes are inevitable. If you’re writing a hard copy, I’d recommend using a pencil. 
• I read in a book that if you estimate that a task will take 30 minutes, multiply by three and assign 90 minutes to the task. Or better yet, record the task time over a period of time. 
• Slot in breaks.
• Don’t forget to make allowance for commute times.

3) Simplicity is key.

God knows that 24 hours is sufficient for each of us to accomplish what He wants us to do daily. If you are constantly stretched, then you may need to further simplify your life. Spend some time with Him to be guided about your priorities in this season of your life. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; [6] In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

You may need to live contrary to the norm. Do less and intentionally own less. The more you own and the more time commitments you have, the less time or capacity you will have to realistically achieve work-life balance.

4) Find ways to get more from your time.

Since you cannot get more time, you need to make the most of the time that you do have.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17

Here are some suggestions:

• Find and eliminate time wasters. Try to record your activities and their associated times over a week to see where your time is actually going.
• Don’t respond to every message and email immediately. Batch your responses by scheduling appointed times for responding. You might actually accomplish more when you’re less interrupted by intrusive notifications and a compulsion to respond to everyone immediately.
• Try to use “down” time effectively. For instance, for a long commute, you can use the time to think and reflect; listen to self-development podcast; listen to a book; or listen to the Bible.
• Avoid multitasking and give full attention to the task as hand. You’ll probably finish it faster and better. Check out this eye-opening book “Switch on Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking and Health” by Dr. Carolyn Leaf.

5) Invest in time-saving tools for your trade.

I got a flat tire on a Sunday morning on my way to church. We stopped at a tire repair place. Within five minutes, the tire was removed, repaired, re-installed and the four remaining tires (including the spare) were filled with air. I was so impressed with their level of efficiency. The main reason is that they invested in good equipment that made the job fast and easy. Good tools make work lighter and saves time.

For instance, if your work requires a considerable amount of computer work, you need a computer with quick processing time. Otherwise, a two-minute task can cost you two hours.

6) Set workable daily goals.

You need to have an ongoing list of tasks to do. Each day, select the tasks to be worked on for that day. Be careful that you don’t add to your daily list more than you can chew or you might feel like a continual failure. When you’re reasonable with your goals and most of your tasks are being accomplished daily, you’ll feel a sense of victory. 

Tips:

• Divide your tasks into high, medium and low importance.
• Devote your best time to your “high importance” priorities. If you have more energy in the morning, use those key hours to accomplish your most challenging mental tasks.
• Divide large, seemingly insurmountable tasks into smaller, less intimidating tasks.

7) Make time to refresh and reward yourself.

You need to set aside unhurried time for having fun and simply relaxing. If you’re always on the go and you don’t set aside time for being refreshed, you’ll eventually realize that you have no real life. 

Tips:

• Set aside one evening weekly to do an activity that you enjoy.
• Reward yourself in a way that’s meaningful to you.
• Intentionally unplug from technology every day to make time for you.
• Plan to have one day weekly to rest from all forms of work.
• Take an annual vacation, even if it means staying within your country.

8) Learn to say “no” to others and to yourself.

There are times to say “yes” and there are times to say “no”. Don’t let guilt cause you to continually over-extend yourself. Sacrificing sleep and rest to serve others or achieving a worthwhile goal may happen from time to time, but those periods cannot last indefinitely. Otherwise, you’ll be heading for burnout (read “9 Tips to Prevent Burnout”). We must remember that God has wisely placed limitations on us as human beings for a reason. Neither you nor I are gods. 

People might be upset with your boundaries, but they’ll get over it … eventually.

You also need to say “no” to yourself when you’re tempted to waste time or commit to another activity for which you have no time.

9) Don’t procrastinate.

In your schedule, ensure that you devote sufficient time to your most important priorities whether you’re in the mood or not. Commit yourself to the task. If you lack motivation, pray and ask God to help you. If you allow feelings to control you, you will never reach your full potential. One of my teachers would always say, “procrastination is the thief of time.”

10) Know when it’s time to move on.

I’m not a quitter, but I also believe that you cannot allow your employer (or any human authority) to “kill” you , slowly but surely. It might be better to get a lower-paying job and downsize your life than to sacrifice your health and your key relationships. Be self-aware and know what your job is doing to you, even if you love it.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Questions to consider:

• Would you be content with “food and clothing”? 
• What price are you willing to pay for career success?

Related articles:

9 Tips to Prevent Burnout

The One Thing That All Successful People Have in Common

10 Life-Changing Reasons to Begin Journaling NOW

10 Easy Tips to Start Journaling today

Summary 

You want your work to flourish but not at the expense of your personal life. Hence, realistically achieving work-life balance becomes an important conversation that must be had. Some ways for achieving that balance are deciding your priorities; using a schedule; simplifying your life; investing in time-saving tools; setting reasonable goals; making time to refresh and reward yourself; learning to say “no”; resisting procrastination; and knowing when to move on.

What other ways have you found to be helpful in achieving work-life balance? Is it even a possibility? Please add to the conversation by adding your comments below. I mentioned being self-aware in the last point and my “Know Yourself” questionnaire will assist with that. When you subscribe, you’ll receive the questionnaire in your inbox. As a subscriber, you’ll also hear more about my life and receive weekly tips about successfully living this life as a follower of Jesus Christ. Thanks for stopping by!

Made to love!:)

Like, Share & Subscribe!

With love,

Kimberly

Recommended Books:

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change” by Stephen Covey

“The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness” by Jeff Olson 

“Switch on Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking and Health” by Dr. Carolyn Leaf

“Petals Bloom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”

The post 10 Ways to Realistically Achieve Work-Life Balance appeared first on Petals Bloom.

You have more things to do than hours in the day to do them. Sometimes, you wish that the day contained about 36 hours rather than a mere 24 hours. There’s so much to do with so little time in which to accomplish them. 

Weekends are just as cramped with activity…grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, socializing, volunteerism, events and church activities. When someone asks you how you’re doing, you willingly divulge all the things that currently occupy your time. You want them to know that you’re a productive woman.

My life was brimming with activity. More work opportunities came knocking on my door because I got things done. I loved being busy because it made me feel significant. But it came at a price.

Then one day, I got very ill with a virus. My resistance became extremely low. My body couldn’t shake the virus and I would suffer a relapse once I began working again. I was burnt out and I didn’t even see it coming. Consequently, I had to take a prolonged leave of absence to give my body a much-needed rest. In order to prevent a second burnout, I had to make several lifestyle changes.

Ladies, here are nine tips to prevent burnout in your life:

1) Devalue busyness.

I once heard the phrase, “Jesus was never in a hurry.” Incidentally, that never crossed my mind before. For the most part, I was always in a hurry impacting lives for Jesus. The compliments and praises were like drugs propelling me to do more. Plus, I love the thrill of accomplishing every task. 

If someone had told me that my real significance was in my work, I would have denied it. I sincerely thought it was in Christ. But the strange thing is that I was so busy achieving that I neglected my relationship with Jesus.

Signs that you’re always in a hurry:

• You usually eat and “run” with little time to sit and enjoy a meal.
• Spending extended quality time with God is rare. 
• Your mind is always racing and preoccupied with all that needs to be done.
• When people are talking with you, you zone out. You believe that you’re paying attention, but everyone knows that you haven’t heard much of what they have said.
• It takes a while for your mind to settle down before you fall asleep. As a result, your sleep is not restful. 
• You wake up feeling tired.
• You walk quickly all the time.

Ladies, you need to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. If you don’t, you’ll miss out on the real joy of living. Besides, you may end up with some serious health issues; lose your desire to know and follow Jesus; and damage other key relationships in your life.

2) Establish margins.

Have you ever noticed that a ruled page has margins at the top, bottom and both sides? If your writing extends to all the margins, your notes tend to look cluttered, unattractive and confusing. Also, if someone handed you an article where every inch of space is occupied with writing, graphics and pictures, you probably would not be drawn to read it. It needs white space to be inviting. 

The same is true for every area of your life. You also need margins and white spaces for an orderly sane life. If your schedule is too packed, you need time margins. This means that you should not have an activity for every waking moment of your day.

When your expenditure is more than your income, you need financial margins if you don’t intend to be stressed. If a marginless life goes unchecked, burnout will be knocking at your door. Check out the book “Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives” by Richard Swenson.

3) Set aside one day of rest weekly.

In the Old Testament, it is written that God rested on the seventh day. 

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:2-3 

If God is all powerful and doesn’t need any physical rest, then why did He do it? Besides the theological implications concerning Christ, I believe He wanted to establish a principle of rest and dependence on Him. When we decide to set aside one day weekly to rest, we are saying that:

• We are limited humans;
• We need to depend on God to accomplish all that we are unable to do for ourselves; and
• We recognise our need to be refreshed and re-energized by Him.

Suggestions:

• Choose a day of the week to rest.
• Don’t do any errands or chores on that day.
• Make all the necessary preparations on the days leading up to it.
• Select activities that would revive you – spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and physically.

For instance, I cook on Saturdays to ensure that I have absolutely no cooking to do on Sundays. When I return from church on Sundays at midday, I eat; relax; take a nap; and do some reading. I also try to refrain from using the cell phone and internet until 6pm. 

Try it and let me know if you feel better prepared to face the week in front of you. When you wake up on Monday morning, you should feel rested and equipped to tackle the week ahead. Give yourself a weekly rest of an entire day and you will be able to prevent burnout.

4) Sleep more.

I was watching the evening news some years ago. During the health watch segment, I heard that if a person sleeps for eight hours regularly, she will be less susceptible to contracting viruses. At that time, I would catch nearly every virus that was circulating. So I decided to try it. Would you believe that years passed before I caught another virus? That advice worked wonders!

Other benefits of restful sleep:

• Helps reduce stress.
• Enhances your ability to remember.
• Increases your brain capacity to be more effective and productive.
• Strengthens your body against diseases.
• Prevents heart attacks.
• Improves your mood.

Tips:

Train yourself to go to bed at a decent hour so that your body will get up naturally without an alarm clock.

Bonus: If you have a regular sleep routine, it places less stress on your body and keeps you looking younger longer. Which woman wouldn’t want that benefit?:). Sleep more hours and you’ll be more equipped to prevent burnout.

5) Simplify your life.

The more you have, the more time and money it requires to maintain. When I was living in my parents’ house, my main responsibility was my room although I also had house chores. Now that I live in my own home, the work is never done! That’s just the reality of owning more.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 

I wonder why a message of “godliness with contentment” has lost its significance these days. We, as Christians, have become unhealthily preoccupied with acquiring and accumulating that we are no longer content with a simple life.

In our focus on getting rich, we lose our health, our families, our values and our faith. In essence, we have “pierced ourselves with many griefs” for things and accolades that will be buried with us in our graves.

It is very tempting to live a life in competition with your neighbors, colleagues, friends and relatives, but it is worth it at the end of the day? In your acquisition of wealth, what price are you willing to pay? When you lay on your dying bed, would you be happy or filled with regret?

I visited one of my friends some years ago and her parents owned a huge property with a beautiful home. In their old age, they were going to move into a small cottage about a quarter the size of their home. Interestingly, we all will have to downsize eventually …into a coffin or an urn.

Questions to consider:

• Do you need to downsize?
• Is your house cluttered?
• Do you have clothes that you’ve bought months or years ago that you have not worn at all or worn only once?
• Are you heading to “ruin and destruction?

Ladies, simplify your life so that you can have more time for others and not things. You’ll have more time and energy to spend time with Jesus and invest in key relationships in your life. 

Have you noticed the new trend of “tiny homes”. These homeowners have realized that a simpler life affords them more freedom, more adventure and less stress. Also, you’ll prevent burnout when you live in simplicity.

6) Say “no” to good things.

“Good is the enemy of the best.” You can fill your life with lots of good things to the detriment of what is best. You need to sit quietly before God and prayerfully determine what are the best investments of your time. Which season are you currently in? How should you be using your time?

You only have twenty-hours in a day and you cannot afford to waste it on “good” things. Many of us have a problem saying “no”, but having your own plan beforehand will help you to say “no” when you should. I once heard, “if you don’t have a plan for your life, someone else will.” So please have a plan for your own life. 

By saying “no” to good but unnecessary opportunities, you will be able to protect yourself from being overburdened by too much activity that will only zap you of all your energy and your purpose. It will help prevent burnout.

7) Focus on your most important relationships.

We have an enemy of our souls and he doesn’t care about you. He will deceive you into believing that your real worth is in your career advancement, your popularity, your ministry, your beauty, your talents, your wealth, and the like. Prosperity (even in ministry) can often cause us to lose focus on our relationship with God.

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Deuteronomy 8:11-14

You need to always take time to periodically stop and evaluate who and what has your heart. Time is man’s greatest treasure because it is the rarest. Once time is lost, it is lost forever. You can lose money and earn it again, but that will never happen with time. 

Questions to consider:

• If God is your greatest treasure, can you go for long periods of time without connecting with Him?
• Do you carve out time to spend with your loved ones?
• Is it a chore and an unwelcome inconvenience to spend time with God?
• Do you miss spending time with God?

God Himself fuels our lives. In the absence of consistently connecting with Him, we run the risk of slowly but surely damaging our lives.

As a result, we will lose focus; make poor choices; lose our excitement about following Jesus; become deceived and so much more. As a result, a full and meaningless life will escape us. To prevent burnout, we need an ongoing real connection with Jesus and make time for our family and close friends.

8) Enjoy your hobbies.

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” God is not a killjoy, but He’s the one who has made us with the capacity to laugh, smile, compete, and seek adventure. 

Set aside time weekly to do something that breathes life into you. I get excited just thinking about having an extended time to sit and read. If it’s outdoors, that’s like icing on a cake for me! 

What hobby refreshes you? Do you need to visit a lake, the mountains or the beach more frequently?

Regularly carve out time for at least one hobby every week and it’ll help to prevent burnout. 

9) Set aside time to think.

“Think” time is not a waste of time! I heard an interview with Nelson Mandela about his time in prison. I never would have expected him to say that in prison, he got time to think and that changed his life. 

One of my favorite things to do is to just sit and think in absolute silence. This sort of disconnection from all distractions is very therapeutic. It will help to calm you; solve problems; improve your creativity; be in tune to your emotions; and discern what God is saying to you.

Tips:

• Place your phone and other devices far away from you…preferably in another room.
• Turn off all notifications on your devices so that you will not feel tempted to look.
• Try to be in a place where you can be physically alone.
• Sit in silence, enjoy your solitude and think. 
• Start with a short amount of time if it’s uncomfortable for you at first.

Think time will refresh you and help prevent burnout.

Related articles:

10 Easy Tips to Start Journaling today 

10 Life-Changing Reasons to Begin Journaling NOW

Doing This Changed My Life

The One Thing That All Successful People Have in Common 

Summary 

Everybody seems to be in a “rat race” today. If a person is busy, she is considered to be productive. However, busyness and productivity are not one and the same. Before you reach the point of burnout, you can make decisions and take precautions that would prevent burnout. 

These nine precautionary measures will help you to prevent burnout- devalue busyness; set aside one day weekly for rest; establish margins; get sufficient sleep; simplify your life; say “no” to good things; focus on your most important relationships; enjoy your hobbies; and finally, set aside ‘think’ time.

When I experienced burnout, my co-worker recommended the book “The Overload Syndrome: Learning to Live Within Your Limits” by Richard Swenson. It was so enlightening that I bought and read his other book called “Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives.”

Have you ever experienced burnout? What are you currently doing to prevent burnout in your life? Please comment below.

If you’d like to receive more tips to help you to grow in your relationship with God and others, click subscribe and you’ll receive my weekly emails. In addition to my weekly tips, you’ll also get your free “Know Yourself” questionnaire. I love hearing from my subscribes, so feel free to email me. 

Thanks for dropping by!

Made to love!

Like, subscribe & share!

With love,

Kimberly 

Recommended Books:

“The Overload Syndrome: Learning to Live Within Your Limits” by Richard Swenson

“Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives” by Richard Swenson

“Petals Bloom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”

The post 9 Tips to Prevent Burnout appeared first on Petals Bloom.

You’re a student and money is tight.

You’re building your emergency fund. (That was me last year)

You’re about to buy a car or house or make some other major investment.

You’re temporarily unemployed.

Regardless of your current circumstance, you don’t need to sacrifice your beauty due to money constraints. I’ve been through spurts of financial challenges where I’ve had to become resourceful without sacrificing beauty.

As the old adage goes, ‘necessity is the mother of invention.’ Tight budgets are just opportunities to create and to discover.

The 2 main keys for maintaining your beauty on a budget are:

1) Using products that you already have.

2) Buy products which provide multiple uses throughout the home.

There are countless money-saving beauty tips for any woman. Below, I’ll just list 8 money-saving tips that I’ve used when my budget was tight:

‘Beauty on a Budget’ Tip 1: Baking soda as an exfoliator

Most homes have baking soda. You use it to bake; to clean your bathrooms; to clean your vegetables; and to absorb strong scents in your refrigerator (just to name a few).

To add to this awesome list of uses, baking soda can also be a great exfoliator. Just add a little to your facial cleanser and you’re good to go. Then, gently exfoliate your face. We should not be harsh with our faces.

‘Beauty on a Budget’ Tip 2: Aloe vera as a mask

If I had to choose only one plant to own, it would definitely be an aloe vera plant. It’s a household plant (or a garden plant) in many homes in the Tropics. An ‘aloes’ plant will serve many purposes. Some persons like its aesthetic appeal, while others use it for internal and external health benefits. For me, I find that it does wonders for my face. Here’s how I use it…

Remove the outer green ‘skin’ of the leaf to access the gel part. Then, use the slimy part of the gel on your face. I have found it particularly useful to combat acne. Before I go to bed, I usually apply it onto my clean face and then I wash my face (again) in the morning.

Warning: If your skin is very sensitive, test it on a small section of your skin before applying it to a larger area. In that way, you will discover any allergic reaction to the aloe vera.

The store-bought refined aloe vera gel can act as a substitute for your makeup base. I tried it recently and it worked extremely well. Maybe I’ll just replace my makeup base with this gel altogether. I’ll be saving heaps!

‘Beauty on a Budget’ Tip 3: Honey for a flawless complexion

Depending on where you live, honey could either be cheap or expensive. Honey has countless uses. Several years ago, when I returned to my home country after three years, my body’s response was a breakout. I was stressed because of the changes.

Then I began using a mixture of honey and lemon which helped to restore my face to its former glory. You can also apply honey without the lemon. When you’re doing household chores, you can apply honey on your face.

‘Beauty on a Budget’ Tip 4: Cocoa butter as a scar remover

When I was a teenager, I was plagued with the dreaded Chickenpox (known medically as Varicella). Unfortunately for me, my skin scars easily and I was left with dozens of blemishes. My face was a sight to behold, but not a pretty one.

Cocoa butter came to the rescue! It probably took about two months to notice the marks fading. But they slowly but surely became a thing of the past. You could imagine how grateful I was in those self-conscious years.

Raw cocoa butter could be purchased cheaply. I usually purchase cocoa butter blocks in a local beauty supply store. It can also be used to prevent dry skin and to heal chapped lips. Due to its oily nature and strong scent, I apply it at nights.

‘Beauty on a Budget’ Tip 5: Vicks VapoRub to prevent acne inflammation

I recall as a little girl, my mother would apply Vicks VapoRub on my chest, back and forehead whenever a cold had took over my little body. Our home always had a bottle of Vicks VapoRub in our medicine cabinet. Now, it has found its way among my beauty products.

Whenever I see an acne appearing, I apply Vicks VapoRub on the spot. I find that it prevents the acne from becoming inflamed.

‘Beauty on a Budget’ Tip 6: Apple Cider Vinegar and baking soda as a spot treatment

Three weeks before my wedding day, I had a facial done by an aesthetician. She observed my acne scars and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, so she advised me to apply a paste made with Apple cider vinegar and baking soda on my marks for ten minutes daily. Sadly to say, it did not happen. I was just too busy at the time. However, I’ve been doing it now. Together with the cocoa butter at nights, I have seen a visible reduction in both the acne scars and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation .

Before I have my morning devotional times with God, I apply it on my face. While I converse with God, my face is being pampered. I only plan to use this paste from time to time as the need exists.

‘Beauty on a Budget’ Tip 7: Coconut oil … a miracle oil

You can’t go wrong with having coconut oil in your cupboard. It can be used to remove makeup; to moisturize your skin; to shave; to steam your hair; and of course, to cook. My mother adds it to her hot chocolate drink. With so many uses, it’ll be worth purchasing a large bottle. Try not to don’t skimp on quality.

‘Beauty on a Budget’ Tip 8: Get every drop out!

When you’re on a tight budget, you can’t afford wastage. Every drop of your product counts! I try to ‘milk’ every bottle. Some covers are flat. You can simply tilt the bottle upside down so that gravity does the work for you in releasing every drop.

However, some bottles cannot stand without the extra support. I purchased two Big Foot Bottle Emptiers many years ago and they still serve me well. Unfortunately, I don’t think that they are being manufactured anymore.

But don’t despair, alternatives are here.

Last Drop Bottle Emptier & Drainer

Zero Waste Cap

Flip-It Bottle Emptying Kit for Bath and Beauty

BONUS: Water, water, water…for everything (nearly)

Well, I couldn’t leave this one out. It’s cheap, generally plentiful, and improves your skin. If you really want beautiful skin, you cannot skip this step. You’ve got to drink lots of water to continually cleanse and hydrate your body.

During my undergraduate years, drinking water was irregular until my mother gave me an article about all the benefits of drinking water. Afterward, I was determined to make it a habit.

I gradually began to reduce my consumption of sugar-filled drinks and replace with water. And guess what …. I actually began loving water! We can train ourselves to do just about anything. God, our intelligent designer, made us with that awesome ability.

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

Final Thoughts

You can try some of the above money–saving ‘beauty on a budget’ tips. Remember, you can use what you already have and/or invest in items that offer multiple uses like baking soda, an aloe vera plant (or gel), honey, cocoa butter, Vicks VapoRub, apple cider vinegar, and coconut oil. A bottle emptier is also a worthwhile investment.

These are tips that have working for me, but each person’s body is unique. What might work for me, may not necessarily work for you and vice versa.

If you choose to try any of the above, you do so at your own risk. I would also advise testing in a small area first to prevent any serious allergic reactions. But don’t skip drinking water though:)

What other beauty on a budget ideas have you personally used in your beauty regimen? I’d love to hear your ‘Beauty on a Budget’ money-saving tips and tricks.

If you haven’t already, check out the related article in the Pretty Single Series “Beauty in a Minute | 8 Quick Tips.”

Have you subscribed to Petals Bloom already? Gasp…you haven’t?!? What are you waiting for?:) When you subscribe, we can have a direct conversation. I love seeing responses from my subscribers as we build our relationship.

You’ll receive weekly email tips that just might help you grow in your relationship with God and others. As an added bonus, your FREE ‘Know Yourself’ questionnaire will be delivered straight to your Inbox.  Thanks for stopping by!

Comment, Share & Subscribe!

With love,

Kimberly

“Petals Bloom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”

The post Beauty on a Budget | 8 Money-Saving Tips appeared first on Petals Bloom.

Can a simple daily habit of journaling change your life?

Do you find yourself becoming short-tempered?  Are you becoming moodier and joyless?  But the thing is…you have no clue what is causing these emotions.

Sometimes, you can be so busy doing life, that conversations and events occur that disturb you and you’re totally unaware of their impact.  Slowly but surely, your joy begins to dissipate little by little.  

Next thing you know, you’re a little down in the dumps and you have no clue how or why it has happened.  You’ve lost touch with yourself.

To avoid the pitfalls of a super busy life with no time to think and no emotional self-awareness, you may want to consider journaling.  Without a doubt, journaling can help you to stay emotionally healthy as you take time to reflect.  

I began this practice a few years ago and it has made a world of difference in my own life. As a result, I generally feel happy and emotionally healthy!

Here are some reasons why you may want to begin journaling NOW:

1) Know and understand yourself .

Journaling will help you to be better acquainted with your emotions.   To write a journal entry, you will need to stop from all your activities, sit down, think and then write.

These simple steps are powerful in helping you to reflect on your day and be in touch with your thoughts and feelings.  

You can ask yourself the following questions:

• “What happened today for which I am thankful?”
• “How am I feeling right now?” (Happy, joyful, frustrated, sad, disappointed, anxious, satisfied, fulfilled, angry, jealous, resentful, etc.)
• “What events or conversations have influenced the emotions that I currently feel?”
• “Has someone wronged me?”
• “Did I hurt or offend someone?”
• “Who do I need to forgive today?” (The incident might have occurred today or in the past)
• “What help do I need from God?”
• “What is God saying to me?” (About His character, about yourself and/or about your circumstances)

These are not exhaustive.  You can ask yourself any question that comes to your mind. I’ve found that sometimes I cannot recall what happened during the day that made me feel wretched.

I’m only aware that my emotions are ‘off’. In those times, I immediately ask the Holy Spirit to show me and He comes to my rescue every time.

You cannot address an issue if it’s hidden. It needs to be brought into the light.

2) Dealing with toxic emotions.

By journaling, it will help to release pent up toxic emotions. Let it all out through your writing. I recommend journaling to God because I like writing to someone and I know He can handle it.  

No other human being needs to know. All of us have baggage, but it can get heavier and heavier as the days and years go by.

Deliberately unpack your baggage everyday. As such, daily journaling helps you to manage stress better. It will also help you to gain clarity concerning why you have those toxic emotions.

In time, you will begin to make connections. Who or what has caused them? Why are you feeling this way about what happened? What is the root cause of your reaction?

3) Healing and freedom.

When you begin to admit and release your hurts and pains through journaling, you will begin to feel better. Ten years after a failed engagement, it dawned on me that I had some unresolved hurt and anger.  

In the book “Love the Life You Live: 3 Secrets to Feeling Good Deep Down in Your Soul”, the Les Parrott recommends taking time to write about a disturbing experience.  

Subsequently, I took the time and penned a letter about how I felt. I was totally transparent as I wrote. Afterward, I discarded the letter, but it helped me to experience another level of healing.  

Research has shown that writing your feelings helps you gain freedom from the past. You can even address the letter to a person with whom there has been a grievance and then you can subsequently destroy it.

The contents of the letter will be between you and God. That’s the power of journaling in action!

4) Prevent you from hurting others

Sometimes you just want to vent, but venting directly to the person (the object of your frustration) may not be helpful at all.  Hence, it can severely hurt a relationship.

How many times have you wished that you had held your tongue when you were angry? When your senses returned, you realized that you made a big mistake. Let’s face it – words hurt and can do a whole lot of damage.  

Why don’t you try journaling about it instead? In that way, you get your emotions out without hurting someone else. Choose self-control instead and use another means to release your anger.

Proverbs 17:27-28 says, ‘the one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.’

If you still feel a need to express your feelings to the person, then ask God for wisdom on what you should say, how you should say it and when it should be done. Timing is crucial!

‘Even a fish wouldn’t get into much trouble if he would keep his mouth shut.” – Miscellaneous

5) Improve your ability to speak

Another benefit of journaling is that it will improve your ability to clearly articulate your thoughts when you speak. When you journal, you become more aware of your internal ramblings.

As you form your thoughts and feelings into words through your journaling, you will become a better oral communicator.

Do you have challenge with expressing your thoughts? Then, journaling might be a good starting point for your growth in this area.

6) Track your growth

You can have a good laugh or cry when you reread your past journal entries. In time, you can see how you’ve grown and changed. As such, your journal entries can serve as an encouragement to you.

Additionally, you will observe the ways in which God has answered your prayers.

7) Enhance your writing skills

This goes without saying …whatever you practice often, you will eventually master.  Think about how much easier it would be for you to write emails, reports, course assignments, etc.  

When I was doing the coursework assignments for my Masters degree, it was less stressful for me to produce hundreds of pages of academic writing because I had the habit of journaling daily.

8) Develop content for a blog or book

You never know how the content of your journals might be used for a future writing project (like a blog or a book). Your journals can earn you money in the future. Does an autobiography tickle your fancy?

9) Pass on a legacy

After you’ve passed from this life, your journals would probably be left behind. In essence, your journals can serve as an inspiration to your family, friends or even the world.  

For instance, “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl” was the compilation of journal entries of a young Jewish girl during World War II. She never knew at the time of her writing, that her diary would later be a blessing to the world.

10) Internalize your learnings

When you write, your capacity for learning is greater. If you journal after you read or study the Bible, you’ll probably remember the lesson more. Not only will you be able to recall the essence of the story or principle, but it will likely cause a change in your mindset, your values and future actions.

Also, you can do a book journal. After you read a book, you can further solidify your learnings by journaling about the book.

Summary

Above, I’ve shared 10 reasons why the habit of journaling can change your life. There are many other compelling reasons for journaling beside those outlined.

It’s an extremely important tool to help you to debrief your day and stay emotionally healthy, along with the other awesome benefits. Read the article ‘10 Easy Tips to Start Journaling TODAY’ to make it an regular enjoyable habit.

Also, join my 21-day journal challenge and get your FREE journal printable.  Comment below and let me know if you have personally found journaling helpful and the reasons why you do it or why you would like to start doing it.  Let’s have a conversation.

Don’t forget to subscribe! You’ll receive your FREE ‘Know Yourself’ questionnaire which is a good resource for your journal entries. Also, you will receive my weekly emails to help you in your journey with Christ.

As a subscriber, you can interact with me through email. I personally answer all emails.

I hope you find the rewards of journaling like I have. Happy journaling!

#madetolove

Subscribe, Comment, Share!

With love,

Kimberly

Recommended Books:

“Love the Life You Live: 3 Secrets to Feeling Good Deep Down in Your Soul” by Les Parrott

“Anne Frank: The Diary of Young Girl” by Anne Frank

“Petals Bloom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.”

The post 10 Life-Changing Reasons to Begin Journaling NOW appeared first on Petals Bloom.

Have you been wanting to journal for a while, but you just can’t get started?  Has journaling consistently been a challenge for you?

Like you, consistent journalling had evaded me for years!  I’d start and stop, start and stop (sometimes even stop for years!). To help you to start journaling immediately, I have a list of what you need at the bottom of the post.

Then finally, about three years ago, on January the 1st, I actually restarted journaling and I haven’t stopped since.  Yippee! Well, to be honest, I have missed a few days here and there, especially when I was traveling, but I would consider that a significant improvement.

Let me share with you what has helped me to begin and maintain this habit.  If I can do it, you can too.

Here are my tips for starting a habit of journaling:

1) Keep it short and sweet!

I remember that at the start of my job training, I had to keep a journal.  I was excited to get started. As a result, I would write pages upon pages for one journal entry … like I was writing a book!  Well, I certainly couldn’t keep that up. At the end of my nine-month training, my journal was looking rather sparse.

When I restarted three years ago, I decided to keep it to only one page of my journal notebook.  Since you’re forming a new habit, it’s best to start small.  

Or, you may end up giving up the whole practice altogether because it just takes way too long.  You can try to devote 5-10 minutes per day for journaling.  When your habit has been cemented, then you can write for longer.

2) Write to God.

You can choose to write to God … so you can tell him all your troubles. And thank him too.  He’s the only one who has the power to do anything in any case.

3) Have a writing guide to start journaling.

It’s always good to have something to guide your writing.

Here’s a loose guide for you:

1. Things that happened in the day that made you feel thankful.  It’s always good to cultivate a grateful heart.  Regardless of what happens in a day, there’s at least one thing for which you can be grateful.
2. Next, express your concerns to God.  We know that He already knows, but it can be extremely healthy to pen your thoughts to Him.
3. Write your notes on what you are learning from the Word.
4. You can write your requests to God.  Basically, this is writing your prayers.
5. Close.  I write, ‘Love, Kimberly’.

It’s like a love letter to God. Easy like peasy!  Get my FREE printable journal and access to my resource library (at the bottom).

4) Be honest and gracious with yourself.

Express how you are feeling at that particular moment.  You don’t need to pretty it up. Also, when you’re now starting, you may miss a few days since the habit is pretty new.   Don’t throw in the towel and say, ‘next year I’ll try again’. Just start again when you remember.  Be gracious to yourself and get back on track.

5) Write something every day.

You’ll probably be more successful in developing this habit if it were to be done daily instead of every other day or three times a week.  A daily commitment is key. When I’m extremely tired, my journal entries tend to be super short but that’s OK. Just write something … even one line.

6) Say goodbye to perfectionism.

Your language doesn’t have to be perfect.  It doesn’t have to be in paragraph form. As a matter of fact, you can use a bullet list if that tickles your fancy. You can even draw if you so choose.

7) Choose the best time of day.

This may seem inconsequential but don’t underestimate the time of day when you write.  You can journal at the start of the day by reflecting on the previous day and thinking of the day ahead.

Alteratively, you can use it to reflect and debrief at the end of the day.  I’ve done both and I prefer the nights.  Do whatever suits you. But do try to be consistent with either one to form a routine.

8) Select a medium to start journaling.

I’ve used both hardcopy versions of journals or digital journals .  Which is the best for you?

A traditional journal book is best for you, if you:

1. Love the feel of real books.
2. Prefer to actually write, using a normal pen or pencil.
3. Like to collect journals.
4. Feel comfortable that your journal is in your physical space and not online.

Then this is the one for you.

You can get one like this journal notebook.  

However, I have created a free journal printable for you. Print it out and make copies. However, I have made it editable so you can save the trees and simply write in it. It is in my free resource library and you can get the password to it at the bottom of the post. Let nothing stop you from your desire to start journaling today!

A digital journal is better for you if you:

1. Want to save money. You can use a Word document (Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, free Open Office Text Document or free Google Docs) or a note-taking app (Microsoft OneNote, Apple Notes or Google Keep) that is already on your device or can be installed for free.
2. Travel frequently and you want to travel as light as possible. It can be installed on devices that you already carry around (your tablet or smartphone). One less item to pack when you’re traveling.
3. Find that your handwriting is utterly illegible when you’re tired. Typing might work for you if you plan on reading your journals in the future.
4. Want to insert pictures, audio or video to further enhance your memory of a moment.

Get your free editable journal in my resource library.

For the techies like myself, you can get a dedicated journal app.  You have the option of securing your private information with a password or fingerprint.  

9) Start immediately.

To get you started NOW, get my FREE journal printable (get access at the bottom of the post).  You have the best of two worlds.  You can either fill it or you can print it and write on it. You’ll also have an added bonus of receiving my weekly encouragment.

10) Enroll the help of a friend.

You and a friend can start journaling at the same to encourage one another.  Or, you can ask your friend to hold you accountable. It is said that it takes 21 days to form a new habit.   Sign up for my 21-day journal challenge and I would be very happy to ‘hold your hand’ as you establish this habit.

What you need …

A desire to journal.
An intention to journal.
A hardcopy journal notebook, a program, a journal app or my printable journal (which is also editable) from my resource library.
A pen/pencil/stylus/tablet/phone/computer.

So there you have it…10 tips to quickly and easily start a life-changing journaling habit!  Get my printable journal and access to my resource library (see below). I’d love to hear your tips, the benefits you’ve found or even the setbacks of journaling that you’ve encountered.  Let’s have a conversation (use comments section). Thanks for stopping by!

With love & laughter,

Kimberly Garth

Free printable journal here!

Get the password for the library with the printable journal by filling out this form:

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