26 Thing's I've learnt at 26.

So, this is officially my first post, and I feel like it's a nice one.

I've changed so much in the last five to six years and wanted to share 26 things I've learnt at 26 to see if any of them resonate with other people on the blogosphere. I would love to read your comments, so feel free to let me know your thoughts.

1. Go at your own pace. 

Like many of you, I've found myself in situations where relatives and family friends have asked me:
"When are you getting engaged?"; "Will you be getting married in the next few years?"; "Where are you going to buy a house?"; "Have you talked about babies yet?"

...in most of these situations I've found myself repeating these questions to myself and worrying if these are ideals that I should be aspiring to at this point in my life. Well they're not, and one thing I've learnt this year is that you really need to just go at your own pace. It's OK if you're thinking about these things, but equally it's okay if you're not.  Go at your own pace, life isn't a race - it's a journey.

2. Celebrate your interests. 

I spent so many of my junior years hiding hobbies and wearing clothes I thought would make me cool. Looking back, I can see I had my own style (might not have been the coolest) but why on earth did I hide it?

I love knitting, blogging and crafting and I (often) prefer nights in with my boyfriend over drunken nights out. That doesn't make me boring - that makes me who I am.

3. You are what you eat. Really. 

I'm a curvy size 16-18 and far from a health freak but I've noticed a real difference in my hair; skin; energy levels and mood from living off a healthy diet. I've slipped off track recently but plan to get back to healthy eating and exercise soon.

4. Don't hang onto bad friendships.

The friends who make you doubt yourself. Those who put you in the shadows to put themselves in the spotlight. You don't need them, and five years down the line you won't be sorry they're gone. That's a fact.

5. Don't let people treat you badly. 

Ever. There are billions of people in this world, so why settle for the ones who make you feel underappreciated?

6. Don't judge others. 
The rule I go by is: If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all. You gain nothing by judging others - and at the end of the day we're all trying to do our best to get by. So what's the point?

7. Listen to your mother - she's right, 99.9% of the time.
You know what I'm talking about... 

8. Believe in yourself, and make your dreams happen. 

No one is going to give you your dream job/body/life out of nowhere. You have to believe in yourself and make it happen. (You go girl).

9. There is value to be had from planning. 

A life plan might be a bit excessive, but spending a few hours on a Sunday catching up with ironing; preparing clothes and meals for the week ahead; getting a head start on work really makes the world of difference. Stress - be gone.

10. It's OK to splash out on good bed linen from time to time. 

Be cosy. Have a lie in. Enjoy your time in bed.

11. Do what makes you happy. 

Do you love collecting conkers? Spend your weekends rehearsing for bake off? Perhaps you like to run? Or maybe your thing is shopping? Whatever it is, as long as you're not killing anyone, do what makes you happy. Life's too short.

12. Go for regular haircuts.

Going for a regular trim DOES make your hair grow faster. It's okay to spend money on your hair - you work for your money and you deserve it.

13. Find the products that work on your hair and stick to them.

If you're like me and use a lot of heat on your hair, find a good heat protection serum and use it as though you have an endless supply. I'm banking on this helping my hair retain its condition

14. It's bad manners to have a bad manicure. 

I can't remember who said it, but I certainly agree that it's bad manners to have a bad manicure. What's £20 every few weeks to keep your claws looking flawless?

15. Pay your bills. All of them.

Always remember to pay to your bills. When you have your finances in order everything else just seems to work.

16. Surround yourself with positive people. 

17. Smile more. It will make you happier. 

It's true. Smiling is contagious - and will make you feel better about the day ahead.

18. Make time for family. 

Life is hectic and being an adult is hard, but always make time for your family.

19. Not everyone will like you. 

We all want to be accepted, but the truth is that not everyone will like you. This is okay, because you know how amazing you are, and understand that not everyone will be your cup of tea - as much as you won't be theirs.

20. Don't showcase personal drama. 

Posting a status that throws shade at your ex? Having a dig at someone who annoyed you on twitter? It's not worth the drama. They're not worth the drama. You don't have the time. Take a step away from your phone/laptop/tablet, take a deep breath, and continue with your day.

21. Look after number one. 

I think it's a great idea to set yourself goals. In fact I would actually list that can be split between both your professional and personal life. Goals provide direction. Just remember to keep them realistic and attainable.

22. It's OK to be wrong from time to time. 

You're 26. You're not the Dalai Lama. There will be plenty of things you don't know at this point in time, and when you find yourself in this situation just ask someone nearby. (Or Google it).

23. Go for Quality not Quantity when it comes to friends.

I have few friends (who are mainly my sisters), but I wouldn't swap them for 200 friends if I had the chance. It's unlikely they would understand my love for crochet and serial killer documentaries. My friends (and sisters) accept me for who I am and are the best bunch I could ask for.

24. Things can always get better. 

When you're living pay-check to pay-check, wishing you had money to start saving for a mortgage, and wallowing in self pity because you've nothing better to do remember that things can always get better when you work at them. If you can't fix your issues find a way to work around them.

25. Learn from your mistakes. 

We all make mistakes, I personally have made plenty of them. But that's growing up. Learning from your mistakes will make sure you're on point and ready for stuff the second time around.

26. You're amazing and you're destined for great things. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. 

Peace out x