Thank You For The Tag @h0n3ym00n333

People aren't homes, they never will be. People are rivers, always changing, forever flowing. They will disappear with everything you put inside them.

~ Nikita Gill

The Full Potential Challenge

Ever wonder what your life would be like if you lived up to your full potential? Would your body be healthier? Your skin clearer? Bank account bigger? I think about these things all the time, and, judging my a previous post, you guys do to. Below is a chart designed to help all of us live up to our full potential. I’ve broken it down into time frames to help keep you from getting overwhelmed. Write the chart down and hang it someplace where you can see it all the time. I will be starting this challenge tomorrow, 9/8. I’ll check in with you guys every Sunday to track my progress. I have specific goals in mind for myself, and you guys should make some too! I really want to know how you guys are doing. Tag your progress posts with #sbfpc so I can track it and take a look. Let’s get to it!

EVERY MORNING

Stretch. First thing. Really give your body enough time to wake up. Touch your toes. Roll out your shoulders. Do not hit snooze!

Do your full skincare routine. I have mine detailed here, but do whatever works for you and your complexion. Be gentle and consistent. 

Brush your teeth and floss. I used to be a big floss-skipper too, but you’d be amazed at how dig of a difference it makes. Rinse with a whitening mouthwash. I use one by Crest, and I notice a major difference in my teeth’s overall whiteness in just a few days.

Give yourself enough time to get ready. Whether you’re a wash-and-go kind of girl, or someone who spends an hour doing a full contouring routine before class (and either one is fine!), make sure you aren’t rushing. If you need to wake up a few minutes earlier than normal, so be it. Rushing sets an awful, stressed-out tone for the rest of the day. Allow yourself to be relaxed before taking on the day.

Eat something. I’m not going to say eat a big breakfast, because some people (myself included) just can’t eat in the morning. But you should eat, or at least bring a little something with you to work or school. If you can’t eat a full breakfast, grab a fruit! You won’t be as hungry come lunch time, making you less likely to gorge yourself.

Shower. You can do this at night, in the morning, whatever. Again, this is something you should allow some time for. I don’t wash my hair every day, but I do condition it every day (from the ears down). Scrub yourself with a delicious-smelling body wash. If you shave, make yourself as smooth as a dolphin, dude. If you don’t, then don’t and don’t ever ever ever let anyone make you feel bad or weird about it. When you get out of the shower, wrap yourself in a fluffy towel and totally slather your sexy self with lotion. Top to bottom. Do it as soon as you can post-shower so it can really sink in. 

Put leave-in condition throughout your damp hair and comb it through.

Put on an outfit that makes you feel good! So important!

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Take a look at your daily to-do list. Knock out the most pressing stuff first. Take pride when you cross things off your list.

Make your bed! Oh my god, make your bed. Do it. Do it. Do it. 

EVERY AFTERNOON 

Follow the “touch it once” approach. This is a truly life-changing thing. When a task is in front of you, no matter how big or small, just do it right then and there. How many times have you gotten a work email or homework assignment and thought, “Eh, I’ll do it later”? And then later never comes? Once something pops up, do it once. Squash it and be done. Cross things off your list and feel like a badass.

Try to go for a walk at lunch. Even one little lap around the block or campus will reenergize you like nobody’s business. 

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Be present. This is so hard for me too, but you have to make a major effort to be present in whatever you’re doing. Be engaged and plugged-in and just exist in the moment. Give 100 percent.

Be friendly to friends and strangers. A smile goes a long way.

Eat something. Eat what you packed for lunch (see below) and take a break from working while you do it. You need “you time”!

EVERY EVENING

Take your makeup off as soon as you’re in for the night. Wash your face with your full routine and let your skin have a break. 

Workout. You can also do this in the morning. Whatever works for you. Make a great playlist and go hard af. Get your cardio in. Get your strength training in. Earn every freaking sweat bead forming on your forehead. Earn your shower!

Knock out your homework. Life is infinitely better you don’t have anything hanging over your head. Half the time, the energy and emotion you spent dreading/putting off your work is ten times worse than the work itself.

Make a list of what needs to be done tomorrow. It’ll set you up for success the next day, and you won’t forget anything!

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Lay out your clothes for tomorrow. This will save you SO MUCH TIME in the morning omg I can’t even tell you how important this is.

Eat something great. And once you’ve decided to be done eating for the night, be done. Brush your teeth so you can’t eat again.

After brushing, do a whitening treatment. Whether it’s classic baking soda, a Crest white strip, or a laser. Do something. And floss! Retainers in too, ladies 0:)

Relax! Take a few hours to do what YOU want to do. Scroll through Tumblr, binge on some Netflix, FaceTime gossip with your friends, anything. Do whatever makes you happiest. 

Shut the electronics off an hour before you want to go to bed. Put your phone on sleep mode. If you stare at the screen, it will keep you awake and alert and you won’t be able to fall asleep. A good night’s sleep is crucial for weightless and general happiness lol

Do a quick sweep of your room and see if there’s anything you can put away real quick. A clean space is a happy space.

Crawl into your bed (aren’t you happy you took the time to make it?!) and read a book by lamplight for a while. When you start to feel sleepy, go to sleep. Don’t push it. You kicked ass today and you deserve rest. 

EVERY WEEKEND

Do something with your friends. It just has to be one thing. Even if you’re just hanging out at the coffee shop, spending time with your squad will make you a better, happier person.

Drink water. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water!!!!!

Do something just for you. Set your laptop up in the bathroom and watch a Netflix marathon while you take a bubble bath. Buy an old school bottle of Mr. Bubbles ($3 at Target!) and really just soak. Relax. Light a candle.

Do something creative. You can read a book, write, blog, draw, code, anything. It just has to be something that speaks to your passion.

Track your progress. Just do this once a week so it doesn’t become all-consuming. And remember that non-scale victories are just as important as shedding pounds.

Take the time to be grateful. Tell your friend how much you admire her taste in music. Mention to your mom how much you love her cooking and how happy you are that she takes care of you. Thank your teaching after an especially interesting lecture. When you do something awesome, take a moment to admire yourself. Be grateful for even the little things.

Anything I missed? Reblog + add yours! Don’t forget to tag your progress!

fuck nihilism all my homies confront the meaninglessness of life as an opportunity for something wonderful and and believe in the beauty of creating meaning yourself through relationships and sticking your hands in the dirt.

RIP Judy Poovey, you would have loved "brat" by Charli xcx.

Just a tired old cliche…

I’m 23 years old and just waking up to the fact that I will never achieve what I thought I would. The person I am now is so vastly different from that smart and talented 16 year old with so much potential.

tumblr user @raenprabhaker // tumblr user @ritikajyala //Alias, Regret // Taylor Swift, “this is me trying” // Comment by Pinterest user Inatoli // Taylor Bickett, “Quarter Life Crisis” // Taylor Swift, “right where you left me” // my notes app diary // tumblr user @jb-blunk // Alias, Regret // Taylor Bickett, “Quarter Life Crisis” // tumblr user @ritikajyala

Me when my professor asks me to elaborate:

-Antigone, by Sophocles

The original academic validation role model

Can you make a guide on Hermione Granger? How to study like her

How to study like Hermione Granger

Hermione is one the original academic it girls. You can't not admire her tenacity and her ambition. She knows how intelligent she is and she always works hard, regardless of what those around her are doing. Here's a guide on how you can study like her!

Read more. Hermione always has her head in a book, she's renowned throughout the series for the amount she reads and her love of books. To help you better understand your subjects start reading around them and also reading a wider variety of literature in order to expand your vocabulary and understanding of the world around you.

Stay organised and on top of your schoolwork. Hermione planned months in advance and created study guides for her exam preparation. Whether you are also making study guides, consolidating your notes or making new study resources make sure you stay organised and prepared for exams or upcoming tests.

Participate and pay attention in class. While Hermione is often made fun of for also being so enthusiastic in class, it always pays of. Try engaging more in your class, answering questions and engaging in discussions. It will help you remember the information and learn more as you consolidate or learn new facts.

Try teaching others. Hermione always helps out her friends and you can do the same! This is a great way to help learn and highlight important concepts, develop your understanding and discover areas which you may be struggling with.

Actually want to study and have a clear reason for doing so. The reason Hermione does so well in school is because of how passionate and invested she is in her learning. By determining why you actually want to study and what is motivating you, you'll have much more energy and enthusiasm to study.

Find or create a cozy environment to study in. Whether you make your favourite drink or light a candle, make sure your study space a nice area to be in and a place that is soothing and allows you to properly focus.

Join clubs or groups with a similar philosophy as yours. Hermione was incredibly passionate and wanted to extend her knowledge and help to the world around her and so should you. Joining a club/group can help you improve your communication skills, meet people and give you something to discuss in interviews etc. Try and find something to join (or even start!) that you are incredibly passionate and enthusiastic about.

If you find yourself struggling with work or understanding a topic, try and work it out yourself first in order to help you consolidate your knowledge and get better at working independently. Don't be afraid of turning to teachers or classmates but try and work it out independently first.

Do all your homework as soon as you can, don't leave it till last minute as you'll only end up rushing it or it being worse than if you had done it with time to spare. Plus getting work done early gives you the chance to relax and do things with friends or family! Hermione always did her work as soon as she possibly could and that helped her to stay on top of her classes and work.

Be more curious! When something interests you in class or your studies actually in-depth research it. That way you'll have more than a surface level understanding of the topic and may even become more interested in your studies! Hermione loved learning everything she could about her subjects and so should you.

Read and learn ahead of your current class work to help you get ahead and better understand the subject material. Just like Hermione read all of her textbooks before her school year even started, so can you in order to get ahead.

Don't overload your schedule and try and avoid burnout. As Hermione shows, it's important to have a school-life balance. Instead of overwhelming yourself remember to take breaks from studying, hang out with friends or family and have some downtime. Not only is it better for your mental health but it will also help you do better in your studies long-term.

Thank you for reading and I hope you find this helpful! All my love, mj.

(I would just like to clarify that I do not support or condone JK Rowlings views in any way shape or form. Trans lives and trans rights deserve to be protected and trans identities are completely valid. If you are able please consider donating to some of these charities helping to support trans people and fight back against transphobia: Donate to The Marsha P. Johnson Institute - The Marsha P. Johnson Institute (flipcause.com) (black centric trans charity), SRLP (Sylvia Rivera Law Project) (offers legal, social and health services to the trans community) and About - Trans Lifeline (grassroots hotline which offers support to the trans community). There are so many wonderful trans centric charities I really recommend researching and these are just a few!)