Post Graduate Realness // The Honest Truth

Hello!

First of all, thank you to everyone who sent me lovely comments about my last post! It really hit off more than I expect so there might be a part two in the works… But from a lighthearted and funnier post to something a bit more serious. The aftermath of a degree. 

Big high to big low real quick.

Leaving university comes with a rollercoaster of emotions, which will differ for everyone as no two experiences are the same.You might leave feeling grateful to finally be free of the education system, or celebrating the fact that you won’t have to write another 10,000 word assignment ever again, however everyone leaves with a sense of self-fulfilment and pride as you leave one of the most stressful times of your life with a great outcome and result to carry with you for the rest of your life. But this can often feel short lived. Because...then what. What do you do after all of the years of studying and routine and structure? You go straight to climbing the career ladder “I’ve got a degree, I’ll get a job in a month or so!” is the naive thought many carry when they leave. 

Source - Simple Reminders

Unfortunately not everyone is given their shot straight away and the constant rejection and new application can feel like a new shot to the heart. When I left university I cautiously took a couple of months off from job hunting and just taking in being with friends and family again. Lo and behold, by the time christmas had passed and I was ready to get back on the wagon, our old friend corona had showed up and slowed the process down even more! I recently saw a job advert request that you be graduated in the past 6 months...how could this be possible? Especially after a global pandemic, every graduate deserves the same fair chance.  I cannot stress how important it is to carry on, push through that dark period because your time till come. You will get that dream job and you will get that degree driven happy ending.

Everyone’s timeline and end goal is different.

Like I touched on in that last paragraph, some will fall straight into a job or graduate scheme and others will be left looking for months to come. You’re a twenty something, starting out in the world. Do you panic and immediately start saving for a house? Do you lock yourself away completing 20 job applications a day? Do you live life as it is and enjoy what you have at the time? One of the greatest things about the 21st century in my eyes is the lack of traditional timeline and pressure to hit specific milestones by certain ages.

Source - Chi Bird

Just because your friend’s have been fortunate enough to buy a 21’ plate car, put a deposit down on a property or receive their second promotion of the year none of this has a negative reflection on where you are in your life. Everyone’s journey is going to be different, some might favour the career ladder over the property ladder, some might choose starting a family or some might push to enjoy the last of their twenties in every dingey pub they find in London - it doesn’t matter, so long as what you’re doing is making you happy. 

Comparison will kill your drive. 

Taking these two points into consideration you cannot compare yourself to everyone else your age. The only thing you’ll gain from this is a mental burnout and you’re not going to get very far then are you? It’s much easier to say than to do but allow yourself to just be. So smile for your friends when they get the happy ending you’re still waiting for, go for those celebratory drinks, and then the next day you continue your own journey, the best is yet to come. 

I know this blog post does not relate to everyone that reads these posts, but I hope it helps anyone either in that limbo stage or that knows someone who is. It can be a difficult and at times lonely stage of life, so even if this is just a reminder that sometimes the end is worth the long and lengthy weight. I’ve got a couple of posts I’ve been working on slowly, just waiting for their time to come. If you have any blog ideas you’d like to see written about then comment below! 

Until Next Time.

Shannon xx

Behind The Scenes // Life in Retail

Hello! 

These weekly blogs are coming thick and fast at the moment aren’t they! That’s not to say that the motivation has been flowing through my veins because it really hasn’t but I know that once I reach the end of a post, and publish it to be read, I’ll feel so much better so it’s worth pushing through the grey haze. On that note I’ll move on to the topic of today’s post. 

If you didn’t know already I am a checkouts supervisor for a UK supermarket and have been for nearly three years now - although I am trying to move on, the life of retail just doesn’t want to let me go! With this in mind, I thought I’d share some of the funny, unique, weird and wonderful things I’ve learned throughout my life in retail! 

‘The Customer’s Always Right’ 

Are they? 

‘I’ll Go Check in the Back’

Will I? 

‘I Completely Understand your Frustration’

Do I? 

The public’s perception of supermarket workers and their roles varies and it’s easy to say that not everything is what it seems.Working for any kind of retail based shop has one thing in common, you represent that brand. So everything you do isn’t really you doing it; it’s the company doing it, so you smile at the rude customers, laugh at the same jokes you’ve heard all morning and you master the art of a customer service smile.

Source - Someecards

This being said retail workers often have to take what’s thrown at them without a second thought. I’m sure everyone’s had the experience of not finding a specific item you went to the shop for, it’s frustrating but who’s fault is it? It’s not the worker you asked to direct you to the product. Supermarkets rely on technology more than ever at the moment, considering ‘scan as you shop’ schemes, hi-tech till systems and computers throughout the store, technical difficulties do happen - which I’m sure everyone’s familiar with through countless Zoom sessions…

Source - nolimitdronez

These are only two small examples but most days I experience customers either aggressively shouting at cashiers, making personal complaints when ‘out of our hands’ difficulties occur or when a product they want is out of stock. But the people in the shop are the same as everyone else, they are there to make a living, to put dinner on the table and to pay their bills. So next time you/you see someone shouting and acting out remember, that is someone’s daughter, father, partner. Supermarket workers are human beings - something that is often forgotten. 

However, don’t get me wrong there are some positive aspects of customer service that counteract all the bad. Majority of customers are absolute joys to have in the shop and being in such a social role where you get to meet hundreds of people each day, listen to their stories and learn about different forms of life is highly beneficial and it can brighten a dull day.

These perks were highlighted more than ever during and after the pandemic. Of course those that were more vulnerable; mostly the elderly, were somewhat locked away from the outside world for a long time through the trio of lockdowns and this has become evident in day to day life in my shop. The cashiers or shop floor workers might be the only people they speak to that day so it’s important to really engage and listen to what they’re saying, you might be making their day. 

Source - Hallmark

Working in retail is much like any other job being that no day is the same as the one before and it has its ups and downs. But customer facing roles can be hard because customers are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get! 

Although short and snappy, I hope this was a little enlightening to those who haven’t had the pleasure of working in a retail based role, or those who might be prone to the weekly customer service complaint. Remember to be kind, understand that a job is a job and put yourself in that position. Let me know if you’ve had any of these experiences below! 

Until next time,

Shannon xx 

Starting Again // Gym Confidence

Hello again! 

Here we are people, stage two of lockdown lifting! We made it! Stage two means pubs, salons and gyms back in our lives; three things everyone will have missed significantly. But with the latter being something many feel anxious and uncomfortable, but over time I have managed to slightly conquer this daunting gym fear and I thought I would share some of the little tips and tricks I’ve found help me when my gym motivation is at its lowest. 

Find What Works for You

First day back at the gym and you’re thinking Oh my Gosh I have so much to catch up on and start doing a 45 minute HIIT with 50 exercises nd 5 second rests because that’s “guaranteed results” but the harsh reality is that we are starting from the bottom before we reach the top. Understand that you might not be at the same level you were when you left the gym and take this into consideration when planning a new routine! 

Source - The Fitness Factory

It took me three lockdowns to find a home workout routine that suited me best.I tried Joe Wicks workouts, Chloe Ting Ab workouts but they just weren’t for me. Eventually I gave into the flash sale that SHREDDY was holding, and it changed the game for me! It set out a weekly schedule which you could tailor to what suited you best based on the equipment, room and time you had. I chose to do shreddy10 which I combined with 10-15 minutes on a mobile stepper I had, and this added up to 30-45 minute workouts up to five times a week., and I loved it. So find something that works for you, with you and around you. Your future self with thank you later.

Be There for the Right Reason

It is too easy to hear the word gym and instantly relate it to weight loss, body image and feelings of self depreciation. But when you go to the gym looking for these results, it’s often less enjoyable and can become an unhealthy obsession for the wrong reasons. I recently started following a content creator called EmmasRectangle and she began her gym journey two years ago, whilst she wanted to lose a couple of pounds she set her main goals to strength training and becoming a stronger person inside and out and by doing this, she found a healthy balance between cardio and strength training meaning that any results other than muscle growth were an added bonus for her. 

Source - Music and Sunshine

This is something that has massively changed my mindset for the better. In the past, I would use the gym to burn as many calories as I could and if I hadn’t burned as many as the previous day I’d feel deflated and like I hadn’t worked hard enough - which is ridiculous. Since watching Emma’s videos, I workout with the knowledge that I am working towards bigger health benefits rather than superficial benefits, and if these benefits do come then it is a bonus. I should care more for my lung capacity, stamina and strength than my dress size or how I compare to those around me in the gym.

Workout Like No One’s Watching

The gym can be scary when you’ve been away for a while and you might develop a wave of different anxieties you didn’t have before. When you go to the gym, do you sit on the bike and silently judge everyone else on what they’re wearing, how their form is or what exercise they’re doing? No? Well, then I can assure you that no one is thinking that about you. Truth is they are thinking the exact same things as you! 

Oh my god, I’ve only done 7 MINUTES?! 

I don’t remember this being so hard!

Whoa, that weights too heavy, I hope no one see’s me swap for a smaller one (spoiler alert, they won't)

Am I sweating too much?

How does Joe Wicks make this look so easy?!

So next time you walk into the gym, put your favourite playlist onto max volume, fill up your water, and own it. In all honesty, no one’s probably even noticed that you’ve entered so do your thing, for you and for the right reasons. Remember your warm ups/cool downs and always have fun with it, no pressure, no unrealistic goals, just some time to look after yourself.

I really hope this post has benefitted some of you! Going back to the intense environment of the gym can be a lot for some, especially after doing home workouts alone for the past how mant months! Good luck to those who are returning and even if you're not an avid gym go-er or exercise enthusiast, I hope you got a big of motivation and encouragment from this post to take a little time you care for yourself.

Until next time,

Shannon xx

Life Lessons / A Year in Lockdown

Hello! 

Having made my big comeback I spent the past week planning and brainstorming and also set up a new instagram page for this blog which you can find here! Seeing as we are soon approaching the end of a year long lockdown I thought it would be a good time to reflect upon some of the things I have learned from this rollercoaster of an experience.

Source - WDRFree

Appreciate the Smaller Things

If there’s one thing that has become a prominent aspect of everyone’s lives in lockdown, it’s gratitude. Being unable to spend time with those you love whether it be lunch with a friend, getting merry in a bar or setting that extra place on christmas day, has taught us how much human contact and interaction is detrimental to our everyday lives.

“It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.”

Even a friendly cashier at the supermarket can brighten your day more than you would have allowed in previous months. More than ever I appreciate every second I spend with the people that mean most to me, even if it’s a simple car journey to the shops or watching tv on a Saturday night.

Put YOU First

I think I speak for most if not everyone when I say that lockdown after lockdown and tier after tier slowly chips away at your mental health. The repetitive cycle of all work and no play is extremely draining whether that was frontline working, working from home or undergoing the job application process day in day out. I soon found that doing the smallest things for myself boosted my mood tenfold, and this came in such a variety of ways.

Source - Schurig Center

Self prioritisation might come in the form of a face mask/pamper, dedicated time to read a book or even cooking yourself a nice meal. Even completing the most menial tasks makes you feel like you’ve achieved so much, so put your favourite playlist on and put that pile of clothes away, sit down and plan your meals for the week, or run a bath and pour yourself a glass of wine, because when the going gets tough...the self care gets going!

Try Something New

Whether you continued working through the pandemic or not everyone found themselves with a lot more free time on their hands which resulted in a boom of banana bread recipes, obsessions over Joe Wicks workouts and the never ending Zoom quizzes. This was a perfect opportunity to try that thing you’ve been putting off for ages because you ‘don’t have time’. It took me three lockdowns to get crafty as I have just taken up the hobby of crocheting.

Source - The Independent

In today’s 21st century it was relieving doing something that didn’t involve a screen but kept me stimulated and busy at the same time. Obviously this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but it’s all about finding something that fits you. It could be home workouts, long treks, paint by numbers, anything! It’s so important to take the time out of your busy life to do something with no pressure added to it, and of course have fun whilst doing it! 

Move Your Body

I cannot stress how much of a wake up call I experienced throughout lockdown. How many times have you listened to people tell you that exercise is good for your mood just as much as it is your body, and disregarded everything they say because you’re not a hardcore gym goer? Well it’s true but there’s a nack to unlocking this endorphin boosting experience. Do something you actually love and enjoy.

Source - Opexgyms

You don’t have to jump into the deep end doing 60 minute long boot camp classes on Youtube, a walk around your local park is just as good because whilst you’re walking, moving your body and exercising your lungs you’re still doing more than the person who decided not to! Personally, it’s taken a long time to solidify my home workout routine but I finally landed on the app SHREDDY, complete with meal plans, real time workouts and guided 4-6 week workouts. This is what I have found works for me so it really is a trial and error process.

Hopefully this post was positively reflected upon the past year of lockdown and helps you appreciate everything you've been through. What were some of the times that got you through lockdown?

Until next time,

Shannon xx

Real Talk // The M Word

Hello! 

This blog has seen radio silence for 13 months and my my my, haven’t things changed just a tad. Alongside a digital makover, today I bring you a post related to the reasoning for my disappearance, motivation; or lack of it.

My last post (see here)  was something I am so passionate about and was one of the easiest pieces to write. Then life got a little busier and slightly crazy at work (Thanks Rona) and I just lost the motivation to write and express myself during my free time, I was mentally exhausted. But we’re here, starting again and hoping for the best; but how did I get here?

I’m going to write about some of the things that spurred me on when motivation was at an all time low but I was ready to get back on the horse!

First things first: Remember why you do it! 

Think back to why you do what you do. I love writing and expressing my thoughts in this particular way and I missed it! I created this blog eight years ago as a personal space to both express my passion for writing and share my thoughts on a range of things and this is something I let slip away from me.

Source - Skills You Need

This lull in motivation will catch up with you thought because I soon found myself applying for jobs in my desired creative field and of course a key component to any application is a strong portfolio or presentation of your own work...and mine was a year old because I had let myself fall behind on one of my greatest hobbies.This was enough to make me say  ‘No more!’ and kick started this first post back...even if it has been sat in the drafts folder since November.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail! 

It’s easy to jump head first back into something but that might not always produce the best results. Reading any of these blog posts you might think I just sit down and whip out 1000 words willy nilly but you would be thoroughly deceived. It takes time, preparation and countless drafts but that is okay because perfection takes time but your future self will thank you for it . By preparing and constructing a thorough template, you’ll soon fall right back into the swing of things.

Source-  Cartoon Stock

This may be the first post back but I have four more sitting back ready to go when the time feels right. Because I have these pieces semi prepped and in the ‘blog bank’ I have comfort knowing I don’t need to stress about producing content - maybe just brewing up some new ideas! Everyone needs that safety net when the motivation takes a little holiday.

Easy on the pressure!

Who do you think is your biggest critic? Without being too cliche...It’s you. (a classic saying for a reason). No one will put more pressure on you to succeed than yourself and at the end of the day, there’s no need for it. Whilst diamonds are made under pressure you also can’t rush perfection. 

Source - Your Quote

Give yourself time to find your flow, your rhythm and re-discover the excitement and enjoyment that motivated you in the first place. Whatever it is should be fun, stress free and if it feels like it’s becoming a bit of a grey cloud over you step away, take a breather and go back when you’re ready. 

Of course all of these things are easier said than done, but once you start making active changes which positively affect your way of living you’ll begin to feel a build up of self gratitude and pride it will motivate you to carry on! I hope this has been a thought provoking and motivating post which has helped to enlighten you to the fact personal morale will have its bumps in the road but you can take charge to move forward and keep the movement going whatever the journey is. 

I've got a few posts being prepped and drafted so keep your eyes peeled for those!

Until next time,

Shannon xx