I was honoured when Jessica asked to feature me in her Inspiration Warriors series. If you hop over to her blog today I’m chatting about starting your self-love journey, staying sane when you have a million things on the go, and what I learned from moving to a new country. Jessica is fantastic at asking interesting, probing questions so I highly recommend digging into her archives and reading about the other fabulous ladies she’s featured.

And I’m also excited to announce the Treat Yo’Self Giveaway winner. Jemma is such a gorgeous women with a really fun, creative blog. I’m so excited to be sending this little box of goodies to her in hopes that they bring a smile to her face.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered! I’ll be sure to put together another prize pack again soon.

Love, rainbow sprinkles, & heart-shaped crystals,

I’d never tell you to ignore your feelings or not to give yourself space to grieve and heal when you really need to. But when external forces try to knock us down, we do have a choice over how we react. A bad mood never makes anything better, so if you’re ready to turn a crummy day around, these steps will help you do it.

Feel it.
Set a timer and give yourself 5 minutes to fully and completely immerse yourself in your feelings. Scream, cry, or roll around on the floor – whatever you need to do to express what’s going on inside. But when the timer goes off, pick yourself up and brush yourself off.

Hit reset.
If you can, get back into your pyjamas and crawl into bed. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and then leap out of bed with as much energy and enthusiasm as you can muster.If you can’t get back into bed, just close your eyes and focus on centering yourself. Symbolically decide to start over.

Play the glad game.
Force yourself to think of five things about that this day that are worth being grateful. Write them down or say that out loud to really let them sink in, and don’t let yourself stop until you’ve finished your list. Whenever something nice happens throughout the day, take note of it. Think of ways to actively expand your list. Wear a sparkly hair clip. Order a decadent coffee. Read a chapter of your favourite book. Plan yourself a nice dinner. Instead of getting bogged down in the shortfalls, see what loveliness you can add into your day.

Reflect.
Sit in silence for a few minutes or free write in your journal. Ponder what might be making you feel this way. Is there a worry you’re not acknowledging? Does something feel out of integrity? If you find some answers ask yourself if there’s something you can do to better the situation. If so, do it. If not, move on to the next step.

Drop it like it’s hot.
When you notice a negative thought entering your mind, simply notice it and then let it go. The simplest way I know to do this is to focus on your breath or to shift your mind to a positive thought. Recognize that we have power over what we think and that by not holding on so tightly, we don’t need to get bogged down in them.

Shake it off.
We hold our emotions in our body and movement can be a powerful way to work through them. Go into the bathroom or another private space and close the door. Rock your head quickly from side to side. Shake your arms and then your legs. Swing your torso in wide circles. Jump up and down. Increase the intensity of the movement until your whole body is moving and shaking. Keep this up for at least a minute as you shift the negative feelings you’ve been carrying inside you.

The decision to feel differently can create a powerful mindset shift. It’s an acknowledgment that you’re not a victim of your feelings and circumstances. You have the choice to turn this day around.

Wild love,

Photograph by Fred Goudon.

On some days I feel like I’ve got everything under control. Life is fun and everything seems to flow pretty easily. I’m proud of the progress I’m making and of my ability to balance my many competing priorities.

On others, life feels like a never-ending to-do list. I’m hyper-aware that everything I do represents the sacrifice of something else that remains undone. I am never fully in the moment enjoying where I am or pausing to acknowledge what I’ve accomplished because my mind has already jumped to the next thing, and the next, and the next.

I want to have it all. Do it all. Be it all.

I want to continue building a fun, intimate relationship with my partner. I want to grow my business to serve others while creating prosperity for myself. I want to excel at my day job. I want to spend plenty of time with my girlfriends. I want to feel vibrantly healthy, while also not feeling restricted. I want to go on lots of adventures but also have plenty alone time.

Sometimes my life can feel like a tangled web of competing priorities, but I’ve realized that by getting really clear on what I want and being intentional with my time, I can have it all. I just need to be realistic about what that looks like. Here are some simple strategies for doing it all while maintaining your sanity.

Narrow in on what it is you really want.
It helps to divide your life into categories based on your main priorities. These might be relationships, friendships, family, health, career, and personal development. Or they might not be; that’s something you need to figure out for yourself. Once you have, decide what goals or visions you have for each of those priorities. What do you want each area to look and feel like? Are there certain things you want to accomplish?

Create routines that make space for your priorities.
If writing a book is on your list, block off 30 minutes per day that’s just for writing. If you really want to spend more quality time with your girlfriends, create a weekly ritual of making dinner for one another. By structuring your week around your main priorities, you’ll have to schedule everything else around them rather than the other way around. So you won’t find days and weeks slipping by without paying attention to them.

Ask yourself: is this contributing to where I want to go and who I want to be? Is it best serving my priorities?
There will always be more opportunities than there is time, so be intentional with how you spend your days. Rather than saying yes to every invite that comes your way or endlessly scrolling through Facebook, remember that this is time that could be better spent on the things that really matter to you. These questions can help keep you from getting distracted when it feels like life is rushing past you at a mile a minute.

Savour and celebrate.
When you’re doing something, fully commit to being there and doing it. If you find your mind wandering to your to-do list, remind yourself that you’ve decided to do this thing because it’s important to you. Be present and really enjoy it. Similarly, when you tick something off your to-do list, allow yourself to acknowledge and celebrate this achievement.Go to bed thinking of everything you’ve accomplished that day, rather than getting caught up in the seemingly endless list of things left to do.

It’s true that we can’t be everything for everyone in every moment. Sometimes we need to accept that we need a break or that two things just don’t work together. But when we get really clear on what we want our days to look like and take charge as the chief architect of our life, it’s completely possible to keep a lot of balls in the air without feeling completely worn out by it – in fact it can even be a lot of fun!

How would you describe your biggest priorities? Do you have any tips for staying focused on all of them?

Love, cat eye sunglasses, & hot air balloon rides,

Photograph from Death to the Stock Photo.

The tagline of Jamie’s blog Wolf N Whisky is ‘Weird, Wild, & Wonderful’ and that’s exactly what I love about it. She posts fantastic travel reviews that will take you off the beaten track, introduces readers to interesting bands through her music reviews, and with her keen eye for design, she shares interesting insights into alternative art and culture. And if you’ve ever seen a photo of Jamie, it’s hard to miss her beautiful collection of tattoos. Today she’s going to tell us a bit about them.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
I was 20 when I got my first tattoo, a late bloomer in comparison to my friends. In high school, it was a rite of passage to go and get something done when you turned 18, I decided not to at the time because I wasn’t 100% certain of what I wanted. Funnily enough, of that group I’m now the most heavily tattooed of all of us. My first tattoo was the Auryn (an ouroboros talisman) from the Neverending Story. Super fantasy-geeky, it was always one of my favourite books & films as a child.

How many tattoos do you have now?
I have several large pieces and a full sleeve, currently I have:

LEFT ARM: A 3/4 sleeve of Ozma of Oz by Mo Coppoletta of the Family Business in London, UK.
RIGHT ARM: Underwater Octopus/Pirate sleeve by Ben Ackerman of Tattoos By Ben in Toronto, Canada. The sleeve is covering up some older work and incorporating an Adam Ant Jolly Roger tattoo by Dave Bryant of Lifetime Tattoo in Derby, UK.
LOWER BACK: Large floral Art Nouveau piece by Patrick Cornolo of Speakeasy Custom Tattoo in Chicago, USA,
CHEST: Black & red nautical stars (soon to be covered up!)
RIGHT LEG: A ‘Cattoo’ by Jessica Purplekid, and a Moon Phase Lady by Hilary Jane Petersen both of Tatouage Royal in Montreal, Canada.

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
I think tattoo regret can happen if you’re impulsive, or if you don’t do your research and find the right artist for you.

To be totally honest, I have experienced tattoo regret. Normally I’m very thoughtful in what I get tattooed. I set myself a minimum of a year to think over an idea before actually getting it done. The only piece I never did this for, are the nautical stars on my chest. It’s not even the ubiquitousness of the design, it’s that they’re really not me. That’s the only tattoo regret I’ve ever had, every other piece I adore and it’s because I really thought them through first.

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
I believe they can be both, it’s really up to the individual. Mine are definitely a mix of this. Some have deep meaning, others less so, some simply because they’re beautiful. And meaning can come after the fact. I may have had something tattooed without intention behind it at the time other than desiring beautiful art on me, but later on am reminded of a certain time or place. Tattoos end up taking on meaning, they’re highly symbolic of a personal history, your life story.

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
Oooh man, that’s a tough one, but probably my Ozma tattoo. A lot of my tattoos draw upon my childhood, (even my pirate sleeve, is a direct result of my obsession with the Goonies growing up & the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyworld). I adored the Oz books by L. Frank Baum, such incredible stories and wonderful characters, my favourite being Princess Ozma. I was finishing up University in the UK and it seemed like the perfect way to celebrate completing my theatre degree, as well as a way to commemorate and take a little bit of those magic times with me. I loved getting tattooed at the Family Business and wandering around Angel Islington afterwards with a cup of coffee, always trying to miss rush hour on the tube. It’s funny how things can take on so much meaning, I look at my Ozma tattoo now and there’s a rush of so many wonderful memories that are now tied to this visual trigger on my arm. It’s really lovely.

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
A countless number! Working with Tattoo Hero is a double-edged sword, I’m exposed constantly to the most incredible tattoo artists around the world.

Off the top of my head, currently would love to get work from: Cody Eich, Rose Hardy, Emily Rose Murray, Erin Chance, Alix Ge, Eilo Martin, Robert Borbas, and the list goes on and on.

If you want to keep up with all of the weird, wild, and wonderful things Jamie gets up to, be sure to follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Love, studded bangles, & vintage combat boots,

But after reading this article, Why Are White People Expats When the Rest of Us Are Immigrants?, it got me thinking about the privilege of being able to up and move to a new country with a relative ease, so I felt obliged to comment on it.

The article raises the important point that the words “expat” and “immigrant” are loaded terms, steeped in assumptions about social class, country of origin, and economic status. You don’t hear politicians complaining about “the expat problem.”

Not only were there few barriers to my move to the UK, but there’s a whole class of visas that allows young Canadians to live and work in another countries for up to 2 years. And although applying for a long-term visa is both time-consuming and expensive, the colour of my skin and the country emblazoned on my passport are likely to make the process somewhat easier for me.

But why should these opportunities be available to me but not a similar woman born in a different country?

I understand that borders and laws and nations exist to make life easier. To provide order. To help keep us safe. But inherent in many of these laws are assumptions about who a person is because of the colour of their skin, where they were born, or how much money their family makes. Most of us like to think that we are immune to most prejudice, but the language we use can also perpetuate this kind of thinking.

This series would have a very different tone if it were titled “The Immigrant Diaries” – a word that suggest struggle and often poverty. Whereas the “word” expat suggests a certain romantic and luxurious lifestyle, even though its definition (a person who lives outside their native country) is almost identical to “immigrant” (a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country).

That’s not to say that either word is inherently bad or that I plan to stop using them, only that it’s important to think about the context surrounding our language and to be intentional with when and why we use it.

Certainly moving to the UK has had it’s share of difficulties but never have I had to deal with accusations that I’m stealing someone’s job or that I don’t belong here. When I do mention that I was born in Canada, it usually results in an even warmer welcome.

So today I just wanted to offer this gentle reminder of the privilege that comes alongside being an expat and that there is power in the words we use, so wield them wisely.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the article. Does it make you uncomfortable using the word expat?

Love, handwritten letters, & cross-country train rides,

P.S. What do YOU want to know about living abroad? Let me know and I’ll talk about it in a future post.

Photograph by Sarah C. Stanley.

Sara Doucette, 37, Marketing Associate & Blogger in London

I’ve been lucky enough to meet Sara at a couple of London blogger events. Her lifestyle blog Hello The Mushroom is a fun mix of art, style, travel, and her adventures in London. I especially loved Sara’s recent posts on her morning beauty routine and yoga speed dating (who knew this was a thing?!) Her quirky, feminine style is also complimented by her awesome collection of tattoos, so she was kind enough to take part in Tattoo Talk today!

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
I think I was 22 or so, I had just moved out of my parents house and decided that finally I was going to have one. It was a small triskel on my right shoulder.

How many tattoos do you have now?
I currently have a few scattered around, 22 in total, although some are close to others and might start counting as one. I want to start adding to the existing ones (as in expanding them) as I’m starting to get a bit sick of just having stuff stamped all over.

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
I think the only tattoo I am not that proud of it is one that I did myself when I was learning how to tattoo a few years back. I’ve considered transforming it into something else (not covering it entirely though) for a while but still haven’t had that fantastic idea!

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
I think you can have both. I have tattoos that I drew myself that have no particular meaning, just ideas that I had that I thought would look good on me, as I was drawing them on my illustrated characters. (The hearts I have on my left arm are a good example of that, I was drawing that on my characters and decided I should have them done on myself).

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
I have several favourites. One of them is the cat I’ve got over the hearts. That was an illustration I made of my cat Bhaji. I miss him a lot. :(

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
I’d love to get something done by JK5 - didn’t get the chance the last time he was in London last year but hopefully next time I see him I’ll get something done!

For more Sara awesomeness be sure to check out Hello The Mushroom and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Love, disco ball manicures, & cheesy love songs,

The Internet can create the illusion that everyone’s living a far more fabulous life than you are and at times I’m afraid I contribute to this. Jetting off to Paris for my birthday, curating over-the-top outfits, and Instagramming the decadent desserts that I enjoy probably make it appear that I’m a lot more flush than I am. When in truth, I’m quite tight with my purse strings. I rarely go out drinking, I buy almost all of my clothes at charity shops, and eat most of my meals at home. But that doesn’t mean my life isn’t a wild and fun adventure.

I’ve learned to be quite frugal because I am working to get out of debt and my salary is hardly extravagant. But I’d like to think I’m quite savvy. I don’t let my small budget stop me from living the kind of life I want. I just make sure that when I spend my money, I make it count.

In case you’re in a similar position, where your aspirations don’t yet match your wallet, I’ve put together my top 10 tips for creating a champagne life on a lemonade budget.

Take a good, hard look at your finances. When we’re stressed about money, most of us bury our head in the sand and avoid looking at our bank balance like its the plague. Instead, create a really clear picture of where you’re at financially. How much are you earning? How much do you owe? What are your expenditures? You can only create a realistic budget when you get really clear on your finances. I’d recommend using an app like Wally or YNAB for tracking your spending and creating a budget.

Get intentional with where you want to spend. What do you want your life to look like (or if you’re a desire mapper, how do you want your life to feel?) How can you best use your money to create that for yourself? If you want to feel secure, perhaps prioritizing savings and decorating your home are your most important budget items. If adventure is your top priority, then tucking away pennies for regular mini holidays (or epic annual vacations) is probably a must for you. Do you treasure your weekly brunch with the girls? Can you not imagine life without a fridge full of market-fresh vegetables? Get really clear on what purchases maximize your happiness and contribute most to the life of your dreams.

Decide where you can make sacrifices. Once you know what’s really important to you, it’s time to figure out what isn’t. Could you downsize your living space or get a housemate to save money for frequent holidays? Could you give up your daily latte habit in favour of making your own at home? What about dusting off your library card and cancelling your Amazon Prime account? Even making small cuts could add up to a fabulous bottle of champagne every month, if that’s what you want. Consistently tracking your spending will make it clear where you can curb your expenses but see if you can find a few ways to cut back your spending right away.

Change your money mantra. You’re never going to feel luxurious or extravagant if you’re constantly telling yourself (and everyone else!) how broke you are and every purchase leaves you wracked with guilt. Instead, focus on the fact that you already have enough. Create a list of the areas of your life that are abundant. Count your blessings. Remember that money is energy and where it flows, grows. When you become mindful about your spending rather than swiping your credit card willy nilly, it becomes a lot easier to feel good about your finances. But it’s essential that you also start changing the way you talk and think about money.

Choose the budget luxury. I have a taste for bubbly; it’s definitely my drink of choice. It would be cheaper to always opt for the cheapest lager on tap but a glass of prosecco makes me feel how I want to feel – celebratory and fun. That doesn’t mean I can always afford a bottle when I’m out, but I might start with a glass before moving on to something cheaper. Or I’ll opt to pick some up from the supermarket and invite friends over, rather than paying premium prices at a bar. Buying luxury items doesn’t have to break the bank, so when you do, just be savvy about shopping around and be a bit flexible.

Find the freebies. Sign up to be a mystery shopper. Ask for samples. Keep an eye out for launch and promo events. Search for discount codes. Cut coupons. There are so many ways to get tastes of the decadent and luxurious without spending a mint.

Get into DIY.  Love that exquisitely beaded dress but can’t handle the price tag? Why not buy something from a charity shop and embellish it yourself? Instead of dropping a lot of money on expensive event tickets, get creative and decorate your house for a themed potluck with your besties. You don’t have to be super crafty to get a bit innovative and make what you can afford feel special and luxurious.

Select your treats wisely and savour them. Every once in a while it’s fun to splurge on an insanely pricey cocktail (hello, The Ritz 100!) or a fancy pair of shoes. Choose something that makes you feel excited to indulge in and then savour every moment of it. No guilt-tripping allowed!

Use a cash budget. I picked up this tip from my dear friend Jayne. Figure out how much you’re allocating to yourself each week (after your bills and expenses are paid) and take it out in cash every Monday. Allow yourself to use it however you’d like – even if that means blowing it all on an amazing dinner or a beautiful new dress. But when it’s gone, it’s back to staying in and eating kitchen staples because you don’t get any more until next week.

Get creative about the bigger things. Can’t afford to save for a big holiday? If you want to see the world, you could try WOOFing. Or look for house swap opportunities. Get creative about how to have the experiences you want, without the cost.  And if your current income doesn’t allow a lot of room for saving, you can also think of creative ways to make some extra cash. Host an event, sell your old clothes, or freelance in the evenings to make the money you need.

Just because you’re not earning a six-figure income doesn’t mean you can’t live a life you absolutely love. It’s all in your attitude, so start cultivating luxury in ways that you can afford and you might be surprised how quickly you feel differently about your wallet – and your beautiful life!

How do you support your champagne tastes on a lemonade budget? I’d love to hear!

Love, pixie sticks, & silk sun dresses,

Photographs via Love Wildfox.

Liza Sandanam, 40, HR Consultant and Executive Coach in Sydney Australia

It’s probably no surprise that I’m dying to get Henry immortalized as a tattoo, so getting to interview this cattoo collector was so much fun! On her blog The Small World, Liza blogs about all things feline – fashion, art, collectables, travel and a few anecdotes about her own furry friends. Here she is today chatting about her incredible tattoo collection.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
I was in my early 30s when I got my first of many cattoos. Looking back it’s really strange that I waited so long – I loved body art since I was about 12 years old and was definitely into temporary tattoos and drawing on myself throughout my teens.

How many tattoos do you have now?
I’ve lost count and it’s hard to put an actual number on the work I have now. For example both of my arms are “mixed” sleeves containing the work of multiple artists. There are about 15 different artists on my arms, maybe more – wow I’ve never done that maths before! And that’s just my arms. I should probably attempt to count and cat-alogue them all!

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
I don’t have any regrets so far, none at all. Given that I wanted them for almost 20 years before getting them it seems unlikely I am going to have major regrets – despite the oh-so-commonly-held conservative views about tattoo regret in old age. I have been tattooed by some truly gifted and extraordinary artists from all around the world and I really do think they are incredible works of art. Like my other collections of feline art my feelings about them are fluid – my favourites change and then change back but I truly love them all. Sometimes I wish some of my favourites weren’t in places I can’t see!! I have an incredible piece by Kim Saigh on my lower back and ribcage which only my husband and cats ever see – however given that I’m running out of space for new work having ink in concealed places has to be part of the process!

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
I absolutely think they can be either and in my case I have both. I got my late grandma Rosalie’s name tattooed on my wrist on what would have been her 100th birthday. She passed away at 96 and we were incredibly close – it’s a very poignant piece for me. The comical portrait of my cat Archibald eating a chicken leg is also really meaningful. However most of my pieces are purely aesthetic – I LOVE the process of collaborating with artists. With some of the really stylistic artists I have worked with I often just say “I want a cat” and see what they come up with. With other artists I have been more directive. Each of my tattoo memories are as special as the works themselves and I have become good friends with some of the people who have tattooed me repeatedly.

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
I have agonised over this question for a week and I change my mind every few days! Can I talk about a few? My right arm is a “story” sleeve by three artists – a Maneki Neko (japanese beckoning cat) by Chris Garver, a cat-erfly beneath by Hannah Aitchison and a cat-erpillar beneath that by Kim Saigh. Chris then finished it off with the background to tie all the works together – so he started and ended the finished piece. I love that the same character runs through the three works but that each artist put their own very personal style on it. I also have an amazing piece on my upper back by Kim Saigh, and on my 40th birthday (in NYC) Chris Garver did the snorkelling cat on my arm. It’s an image by children’s illustrator Satoshi Kitamura and it’s one of the first feline images I collected and loved from childhood.

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
Hell yes! There are two artists that I MUST get tattooed by immediately! They are Akuma Shugi from Brighton UK who does the most amazing samurai / manga style cats, and Horitomo from State of Grace tattoo in San Jose CA. Horitomo is famous for his Monmon Cats (books of his collected works are available under that title). Fortunately I’m on lists for both of them within the next year – I can’t wait!

Want more of Liza’s epic badassery? Check out her blog and be sure to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Love, glitter crowns, & furry friends,

We’re taking the train back to London this afternoon, so I’ve scheduled this post to share my new birthday list with you!

My birthday list led to so many fun adventures last year, like taking a trapeze class and raving my way into the morning.

I’ve managed to squeeze in as many things from my list into the year as I could and have been relaxed about letting go of those I wasn’t very interested in anymore and adding to this year’s list those I didn’t get around to due to time or financial constraints.

This year I’ve been conscious of trying to find a good balance of tasks. Some big and some small. Some expensive and some free. Some time consuming and others that I can accomplish in an afternoon.

Here’s what I’m planning to do before my 28th birthday:

Go to a festival.

Take burlesque classes.

Drink absinthe.

Go on a mini writer’s retreat.

Take a cookery class.

Make a scrapbook.

Visit a country I’ve never been to before.

Go wildcrafting in London.

Learn transcendental meditation.

Plant a garden.

Watch The Godfather films.

Go to an equestrian event.

Attend a free coach training weekend.

Read Wuthering Heights.

Run 5k.

Take the Qoya teacher training initiation.

Ferment veggies.

Go to the Edinburgh.

Read Infinite Jest.

Try voga.

Learn calligraphy.

Host a dinner party.

Learn how to cook an artichoke.

Celebrate midsummer.

Take Veronica’s Parlour class.

Go to the seaside.

Create an art wall.

Have you written a birthday list? I’d love to read it, so please share yours in the comments if you fancy it.

Love, polka dots, & raspberry cupcakes,

Photograph from Oh Happy Day.

But speaking from experience, being self-employed is a real grind and comes with a lot of risk. You’re not even guaranteed a pay cheque, after all. And with all that pressure and a never ending to-do list, it’s possible for it to be just as miserable as any office job. Plus there’s usually a long road between getting started and actually quitting your day job.

So whether a freedom-based business is your ideal future or not, it’s time to stop postponing our happiness for evenings and weekends or worse – retirement! We spend at least 40 hours per week at our desks and to truly love ourselves and design our lives, that includes the hours between 9 and 5 as well. To get you started, here are some tips for loving life at the office.

Build a Killer Morning Routine
If you wake up dreading work and you’re loathe to even get out of bed, you’re setting the tone for the entire day. Instead, take a tip from Tony Robbins and leap out of bed as soon as your alarm goes off. We’re the most receptive and impressionable first thing in the morning, so make the most of that time by building a daily practice that nourishes you on every level. I’ve written a whole post on how to do this in a way that works for you and I’m sure that you’ll feel better at work when you’ve started your day in a way that fills you up.

Remember Why You’re There
I think this step is two fold: remind yourself what your job affords you outside of office hours, as well as what you’re creating while you’re there.

Does your job allow you the freedom to pursue your passions in the evenings? Does it give you money to fill your fridge with delicious foods? Are you saving for your dream holiday?

And what about the work that you’re doing. Does it contribute to a larger mission? Is it making the world a better place? Is it allowing you to build new skills or create new experiences? Does it contribute to who you want to be as a person, such as someone who is reliable and hardworking?

If you’re struggling to answer these questions, force yourself to sit down and think of at least 10 reasons why you’re grateful for your job. When you start to have “woe is me” thoughts about being at the office, use simple mantras or phrases that remind you of what your job is allowing you to do. You might even want to find some visible reminders, like photos or quotes, to put on your desk. By cultivating an attitude of gratitude for your work, you’re recalibrate how you think about your job.

Be an Active Participant
How can you carve out a role that is better suited to your skills and interests? How could the organisation you work for improve the work that they do? How could they make the working environment better? If there’s something you think could be done differently to benefit everyone, give that feedback in a polite and constructive way. By helping to shape your workplace and your job, you’ll feel more invested in it and like a more valuable member of the team.

Create Decadent Rituals
My friend Caz knows how to infuse the mundane and everyday with luxury and decadence – in fact she writes an entire website about it. So it’s no surprise that only a couple of weeks into her new job she’d started a ritual of salted caramel hot chocolate runs with her coworkers on Friday afternoons. Some other friends started a cheese club at their office. Once a month someone would buy a bottle of wine and everyone else would bring in a different cheese. They’d knock off an hour early and have a mini wine and cheese party. How fun is that?!

Work doesn’t have to be all spreadsheets and pull-your-hair-out boring meetings. You could take turns bringing in dessert on Mondays or indulge in extra fancy coffees on Fridays. Little treats give everyone something to look forward to and make the office a bit more fun.

Get to Know Your Co-Workers
Make a point of talking to at least one of your co-workers about something that’s not work-related every day, even the ones you don’t know very well. Ask them about their families, their dreams, and their favourite places to go on holiday. Ask them what they do on the weekend and what their biggest passions are. If you feel like the conversation is lagging, probe them to go deeper by asking “why?” and showing genuine curiosity about their lives. People love to talk about themselves, so you’ll become everybody’s favourite around the office and you’ll also feel connected to the people you spend 40+ hours a week with.

Make Lunch a Mini Holiday
You have one luscious hour in the middle of the day that’s all yours, so why not make the most of it? For a few weeks I was reading Roald Dahl books on my lunch breaks. I could get through one every few days and the daily dose of childhood nostalgia really made me smile. Choose to make your lunch break really fun and special. Scribble about your daydreams in a journal. Pack your favourite foods to eat. Go to the park and paint your nails. Work on your side hustle or passion project. Plan a date with a friend who works nearby. Create a routine you love or mix it up and add in new things all of the time so it’s always exciting.

Kit Out Your Desk
I wrote a post about kitting out your home desk for creative explosions, but how can you add a bit of fun and whimsy to your desk at the office? Your work environment will dictate how much you can get away with but even a few framed photos and an inspirational quote will make your workspace more appealing. Pick up a few coloured pens. Decorate your binders with washi tape. Balance a funny action figure on top of your computer monitor. Stash your favourite snacks in a drawer. Make your desk a more fun place to be and infuse it with a little bit of your personality.

Sometimes, learning to love life at the office is just about adjusting your attitude and choosing different thoughts. So when you hear Negative Nancy piping up inside your head again to moan about how much you hate being there, tell her to be quiet and choose a more grateful, loving thought instead. This is your life and you get to decide how it looks and feels – even at work.

Do you have any tips for not just bearing life at the office, but celebrating it? I’d love to hear!

Love, pixie sticks, & glow-in-the-dark markers,

Photographs from Merci New York.