Spending Ban - Things to Stop Buying

I bit the bullet and put myself on a spending ban! My shopping habit was getting out of control and as I result I was watching my personal savings dwindling down to nothing - so I decided to do something about it! 

I'm not sure how it happened but I slipped into the bad habit of online shopping. A clothes order here and a new pair of shoes there meant spending hundreds of dollars a week on unnecessary stuff! I had gotten so good at refining my wardrobe and cutting down what I owned all in the name of minimalism. Check out my minimalism series here.

Yet suddenly I was allowing myself way too many splurges and couldn't help but click on an ad whenever I saw a sale! It was getting pretty bad guys! I was no longer prioritising saving money toward my future and instead was filling my wardrobe with more items than I needed. So I am going to share the main things I recommend you stop buying if you are going on a spending ban!

5 Ways to 'Adult' Better

We all want to be the best version of ourselves and kill it in all aspects of life. We want a clean house, promotions at work, a strict workout schedule, time to read, healthy meals prepared daily etc. but instead feel like you're never good enough in any aspect of life. 

It's something that seems like a big joke and can get tiring hearing about but it is true that 'adulting' can be extremely difficult at times. It feels like when many areas of life are going well, there is always one part struggling along or taking a backseat. You might be receiving praise and admiration at work but all those extra hours mean you haven't gotten your butt to the gym in a week and have been sustaining yourself on a diet of coffee and frozen meals.

In this article, I am going to be touching on 5 simple yet effective strategies for 'adulting' better and achieving your goals.

Productivity Tips - How To: Make More Time in Your Day

"There are not enough hours in the day" is something that you probably hear constantly or maybe you even say it yourself! The truth is that we all have the exact same amount of hours in the day and yet some of us are able to achieve so much more than others (think: Beyonce). 

It's a hard pillow to swallow but the tough truth of this dilemma is that it all comes down to how you organise your day, how well you prioritise and your productivity levels. Let's break this down a bit into bite-sized life hacks that can see you soon becoming the master of your own time and getting those to-do's crossed off at a rapid speed.

Your Guide to Saving Money - Easy Ways to Budget

Properly managing your money is one of the fundamental parts of 'adulting' and can impact many areas of your life! Put simply, money is a resource that allows you to experience the things you want, partake in activities you like, eat the kinds of food you love etc. 

The amount of money you have directly helps or hinders you from reaching your full potential - scary right?! So it is of utmost importance to take care of your finances so that you can lead your ideal lifestyle. Here are some key ways that you can save money and my easy tips for budgeting.

5 Hеаlthу Foods to Implement into Your Diet [Guest Post]

Wе all knоw that in оrdеr to bе fit, we need to еаt hеаlthу foods. Yеt, with аll thе different сhоiсеѕ аvаilаblе, ѕоmеtimеѕ it соuld bе hаrd to identify whiсh thе hеаlthу foods tо еаt аrе. 

Bеlоw are ѕоmе оf thе hеаlthу fооdѕ to incorporate into your diet if уоu wаnt tо lead a healthy lifestyle аnd оbtаin орtimum nutrition.

5 Easy Ways to Eat Healthier

At times it can seem near impossible to eat healthily and not just due to lack of willpower. Although healthier food options are becoming more available, fast food remains more prevalent and a lot cheaper! 

Despite healthier options costing a lot more, like a $12 salad compared to a $5 burger combo, I truly believe that eating healthy saves you money in the long-term and your health is worth investing in. Instead of taking shortcuts today that cost you in the long-run, spending the time and money maintaining your health will serve you well.

With an obesity epidemic on the rise in Australia, it is becoming more critical than ever to focus on what we're putting in our mouths. Making conscious decisions now could save you from a future of diabetes, high blood pressure or diseases of the heart, liver and lungs.

So I have compiled a simple yet effective list of easy ways to eat healthier that help me on a day to day basis.

5 Tips For Healthy Grocery Shopping on a Budget

Do you ever have the best intentions to eat healthily and find yourself still eating junk?! 

Grocery shopping is usually when healthy eating all falls down because you; buy the wrong foods, forget a critical ingredient to a healthy meal so end up ordering Uber eats, buy seemingly healthy snacks that turn out to be terrible for you and a whole other host of grocery store mishaps that affect your best intentions for healthy eating.

So there is no doubt that it is an integral part of your weekly routine to take the time to plan out your meals properly, write an all-inclusive grocery list and go out to source the right ingredients for your diet that week. In a world trying to make us fat and marketing messages that skew our perception on what health is, I have pulled together a few quick tips that make healthy grocery shopping easy!

Airplane Productivity + How to Get More Done in the Air

Sitting on a plane for up to 13 hours can seem like a waste but like with anything it’s really what you make of it! So, in this post we’re going to be discussing how you can make the most of your time spent up in the air. 

I’m preparing for my impending 13 hours in plane rides to and from Bali so want to set myself up for success where I use that time productively. You know, to cross off a few items on my to-do list and such. So here is a rundown of some potential things you can do on your next flight and what my itinerary is looking like.

I love feeling on top of my work so my ideal flight to a beautiful location is spent wrapping my head around what I need to get done, getting on top of important tasks and feeling clear in my mind that everything is in order.

How To Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet!

New year! Who dis? I know saying things like ‘this is my year’ is almost as cliché as ‘new year, new me!’. 

However, I am a big believer in making each year better than the previous one and this is entirely possible considering we are constantly evolving and learning.

I’m always looking to become a better version of myself and a new year is always the perfect opportunity to set goals, kick any bad habits, implement good routines etc. The clean slate is there for everyone and a lot of us choose to use it as an opportunity for a fresh start.

Here is how you can make 2019 your best year yet!

My 10 New Year’s Resolutions + Did I Achieve My 2018 Resolutions?

I thought it would be interesting to not only share my New Year’s Resolutions for 2019 but also update you on how I went with my resolutions this year! 

This year is a little different to last where I wrote a post all about helping you tackle those goals you have swirling around in your head and putting them into tangible and achievable resolutions. If you are struggling with setting goals or making SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) resolutions then you should head over and give it a read HERE.

If you’re looking for some resolution inspiration and interested in what I have in store for 2019 then keep on reading. I am SO SO excited and motivated about all of my goals. I’m chomping at the bit to get a start on them!

Things To Do Before 2019 - Make The Rest of 2018!

2018 is coming to a close and now is a better time than ever to get your affairs into order! 

Today I’m coming at you with a list of important tasks to get you ready for 2019 so that you start the new year with a clean slate, feeling refreshed and organised for the year ahead. Get a start on this stuff now so that you don’t feel behind the eight ball when it hits Jan 1st and you’re hungover.

These are some things I have done in the past week that have made me feel confident, excited and prepared for 2019.

Beauty, Life and Health Articles (Top 8 in 2018)

I spend my entire year writing content for this blog so when I look back at the 70 articles I wrote this year - it is extremely difficult to pick out my favourites! 

Because I write for the blog 1-2 times every single week, inevitable I end up putting so much time, care and consideration into writing each article that I find most of them to be quite special accomplishments I am proud of. Each post has a key message or lesson to take away from it and I try to make my articles as informative and helpful as possible.

With that being said, I have scrolled through the content from this year and pulled together a top 8 in 2018 list for beauty, life and health articles.

Simply click the title of the blog posts that intrigue you most. Happy reading! 

1. The Ultimate Guide To My 15 Favourite Travel Experiences

I'm very fortunate to have already seen a lot of places in my adult life and wanted to countdown some of the top experiences I have had so far. I've narrowed it down to 15 favourite places that I fell in love with while travelling.

23 Lessons I've Learned in 23 Years

Today I turn 23 years old and while I still feel like I have no idea what I'm doing, I thought it would be interesting to share 23 of the lessons I have learned in my 23 years on this planet. 

I did this type of article last year when I turned 22 and I have set a challenge to myself to not repeat any of the things from that list so head over there and give it a read first.

Now let's get into the 23 things I've learned. 

Real Talk - I’m Incompetent at Washing and Drying Clothes

So I like to think I’m pretty well adjusted at this whole “adulting” thing. That is until it rains in Brisbane for a week straight and I’m faced with a mountain of washing asking the question “what do I do with this stuff” and simultaneously “what kind of snacks are in the cupboard?” because I’m perpetually hungry – but that’s beside the point.

This is a loaded question, not only because there are SO many snack options, but because by “mountain of washing” and “stuff” I mean some of it has been in the washing machine already and has sat in a basket for 3 days…so… it smells like mould. I consider my options – throw it all out and start a new wardrobe or re-wash it? I decide to try the latter. What’s the worst that could happen right? I end up walking around smelling like mouldy clothes? Probably.

It’s still raining so I call my mum and (cry…just kidding it’s not at that point yet) I ask her to use her dryer. I then load up my car with all these wet clothes and towels en route to my family home. I wind down the windows.  

When I get there is when the challenges really begin.

About My Company – JDC Marketing Explained

October last year I launched my freelance consultancy company - JDC Marketing. Just recently, our website had a makeover and is now sporting a brand new look. 

The main difference? I'm now putting my face to it. What was previously a relatively unbranded company has now come closely under my wing and clearly seen now as my baby. Not only that but we have had a brand re-focus where we are less about in-person consultancy and more about providing valuable free resources for any small business owners who visit the site.

I wanted to take the opportunity to properly introduce you to my company, because it's a a relatively big chapter of my life at the moment and will only increasingly become more important to me. I feel like I've left you in the dark a little about what the company does and what it's all about so here we are - introducing JDC Marketing 2.0.

I'm all about...making the life easier of a small business owner. 

*all pictures in this post are clickable to relevant resources.

5 Ways to be Successful in University (According to a Tutor)

Okay so we’re a few weeks into your fresh new subjects at University and I’m here to deliver 5 tips on how to have your best semester yet! 

As you might know, I became a sessional academic this semester and started teaching a subject on ‘Social Media Management’. So while excelling in University has always been a passion of mine and I managed to graduate my masters with distinction…having this different perspective as a tutor has given me some further tips. Alright, let’s get into them.

Don’t cut down on your time at the Uni bar 
Yep, you heard that correctly. I spent a lot of time at the Uni bar, especially in my first years of University. The social aspect allowed me to make friends in my classes and have someone to lean on for notes if I was sick or to clarify a concept I just couldn’t get. Not only is the social aspect great for your learning but blowing off steam and enjoying yourself means you can better concentrate when it does come to sitting in class and learning – it doesn’t have to be all work and no play. With that being said, I hope you’re not spending all day erryday there because your brain cells and too precious to kill with excessive alcohol.

The Best Content of 2018 on Weight Loss, Career, Finances, Depression / Anxiety, Productivity and Self-Love

You don’t want to miss this post – it’s like the glossary of JBS highlighting only the BEST content so far this year for weight loss, productivity, career, finances, depression / anxiety and self-love! 

We work through a lot of content together here on JBS don’t we?! Posting so regularly means it’s super easy for you to miss a post so I have gathered all my faves from the first half of 2018, categorised them, have given you a scenario in which it might help you currently and linked ya!

I got you girl - you’re bound to find some answers with whatever you’re struggling with somewhere in this plethora of content.

How To Avoid Burnout and Stop Feeling Not Good Enough

Do you ever have a huge goal in mind? Something so huge that is seems unachievable…until it’s done. Then you just move on to the next thing, the next goal…without acknowledging how you succeeded in reaching the goal you just did or stopping to celebrate your accomplishment. 

I like to compare this to being on the money bars, swinging from success to success until you eventually fall off in an exhausted heap and have to climb your way back up again (also known as burnout). 

If you’re not going to stop and pat yourself on the back then who will? For me, without that positive reinforcement for a job well done I’m unlikely to feel fulfilled and I risk burnout. This is because without stopping to tell myself “hey, good job” (which I’m the first to admit, I rarely do stop and do this) then I always feel like I’m not doing enough or performing to a high enough standard.

The risk here is that the bar just keeps being put higher and higher so that every time you reach it, it moves from your grasp again. This constant state of struggle can fuel insecurities and keep you in a constant state of feeling “not enough”.

I’ll give you an example of this in my own life. When I graduated my bachelor from University, I hardly stopped for a moment to celebrate my success before I was already enrolling in my masters and aiming higher. Now it’s not a bad thing to want to be more and do more but it can be detrimental to burnout achieving so much only to throw yourself right back in there with no stopping to smell the roses.

So what do we do? In this post I’m going to be talking through some ideas of things we can do to celebrate our successes instead of keeping us in a state of being perpetually unsatisfied with our achievements. I’m not only writing this for those of you who struggle with the exact same thing but also for myself, as I am still learning to deal with this personality trait of mine.