How to Juggle Blogging and a Full Time Job
3 June 2015
Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
I wouldn't be anywhere if I didn't plan everything. I have a day-to-page planner which means I occasionally plan my days out by the hours. I feel much more at ease with the smooth running of my blog when I can visually see what I have going on throughout the week. It's easy for tasks and ideas to get lost in the back of my memory, so it's vital I plan just about everything I do; from the moment I wake up to the hour I go to bed.
Carry a notebook and camera
I always have a notebook as I'm always writing posts. Whether they're freelance jobs or for Anika May, I like to have drafts written out while I have spare time so I'm not worrying about writing up a post the day it must be published. There wouldn't be as many posts on Anika May if I didn't write while I was on the go, and my iPad comes in handy for bumpy train rides too. I don't carry my DSLR everyday, but I always have my iPhone which has a high quality, perfect for getting those spontaneous shots.
Photography
I'm always taking photos of things and writing posts around them. I may photograph an outfit or product I'm obsessed with and have it saved on my computer for weeks before I draft commentary on it. Similarly, when I do have drafts written up, I take the photos before I plan to set the post to go live. It's another task that's no longer weighing on my brain and it's important to take advantage of the sunlight while I can.
Scheduling
Some bloggers believe in scheduling posts and other don't. For the good of Anika May, I prefer to have posts scheduled in advance as I'm quite busy outside my blog. When I'm away from my computer, I don't always have the resources to publish posts immediately so I can schedule them to go live while I handle working full time. I don't tend to schedule posts for more than a week in advance, as a lot can change in that time and always go over features before they go live.
Don't panic
Panicking about getting tasks done is it's own form of procrastination. If I'm worrying about Anika May my job becomes very difficult and visa versa. It's all about finding that balance between the both and easing the pressure on both ends. Blogging is a hobby I will always enjoy and never give up, making that passion one of the best shapes of motivation to work hard and achieve my goals.
Exploring Oslo: The Outfits
1 June 2015
Aker Brygge, Oslo, Norway
Monday 25th May 2015 - Day One: After arriving on Sunday night, I wanted to hit the ground running on Monday morning with a fay full of non-stop adventuring. The weather was comfortable, despite hitting a little rain later on in the day. The first stop was The Vigeland Park which is also full of sculptures. It was then strolling past Oslo Central Station and Oslo Opera House to spend the sunset in Aker Brygge by the Oslofjord. The day took a lot of travelling which I absolutely loved, as I have never travelling on a tram before, despite visiting Manchester countless times.
Dress // Primark
Cardigan // made for me
Shoes // Evans
Watch // Marks & Spencer
Bag // TK Maxx
Sunglasses // Next (similar)
Jacket // Next
Beanie // Urban Outfitters (similar)
Scarf // thrifted
Tuesday 26th May 2015 - Day Two: The second day started at 7am at Universitetets Botaniske Hage Tøyenhagen, also known as the Botanical Gardens in Oslo. The clouds were out today so I knew I had to start with my jacket which is reversible, making it extremely easy to add that extra pop of colour to an otherwise basic look. Electric blue is one of my favourite colours, because I think it's the colour that suits me better than most shades. My slip-on shoes were extremely handy for trecking between the gardens, the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, the Royal Palace and Grünerløkka.
Top // Primark
Shoes // Evans
Watch // Marks & Spencer
Bag // TK Maxx
Sunglasses // Next (similar)
Jacket // Next
Beanie // thrifted
Scarf // thrifted
Wednesday 27th May 2015 - Day Three: The third and final day was spend at the Holmenkollbakken ski jumping hill which was amazing (don't worry, photos coming soon.) I absolutely loved the views and it really showed how beautiful Oslo can be. The sun made yet another appearance which was great for the last day. Despite the warmer weather, being high up brings a strong breeze so I threw on my oversized check shirt, and original piece from my airport ensemble. The closing day's look was all about comfort as I knew I had a good few hours of sitting down slowly approaching.
Dress // Primark
Watch // Marks & Spencer
Shirt // thrifted
Sunglasses // Next (similar)
Working in a Big Corporation
30 May 2015
Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Managers should not be feared.
At my age and with my first job, it was natural for me to be intimidated by the leaders around me. They have more knowledge and experience, they know how the building and the business works. But it's also important to remember everyone had to start somewhere. It's very rare managers automatically assumed this position without building up from somewhere. Managers vary depending on the company or area of work - but there is no reason to fear them. I'm lucky to have a very kind boss, but I know this isn't always the case. Standing up to whoever's in charge for what you believe is right isn't against the law, plus it shows your workmates you're not weak or to be pushed around.
Asking questions doesn't mean you're stupid.
Every employee has to ask questions at some point, even those in charge. When I first started, I went through a form of training but this was an entirely new area of work that I wasn't familiar with. I work in investments and barely scraped a maths GCSE. So it become logical to just ask about what I didn't understand. It's better to have peace of mind while working, rather than worrying about what mistakes could be made due to fear of speaking up. Don't look as mistakes as a bad thing, they can be the best way to learn.
Notebooks are my best friends.
When I first started, there were a few other newbies around me so I didn't feel too nervous. However, not one of them brought a notebook. I was the only one who did and tried not to feel flustered by being the odd one out. Fast forward by two weeks, and half of the new employees were asking to photocopy the notes I made during the first week of training. Write down as much as possible, you never know when the jottings will come in handy.
Make some human friends.
Working all day can easily become tiring so there's no reason why there can't be some element of fun or entertainment. I got tired of sitting without saying a word, so I struck up a conversation with an employee sat close to my desk. It wasn't long before the whole office joined in and time passed before we knew it! Socialisation is good for the mind and is a great way to get work done without getting too distracted from the job.
Evenings are everything.
Finishing work at five in the evening isn't the greatest thing, but I know it could be worse. After getting home at about 6pm, I'm exhausted. But remembering the evenings are very valuable and precious motivates me to shower and blog in my spare time. It was only once I started working that I noticed how quickly the weekend moves compared to the weekdays. It's important to take time to relax, but having a shorter amount of time after work certainly keeps me organised and efficient.
Dream big.
Working full time has given me more motivation than school ever did. After seeing where some of the highest people in the company begin, it helps me to aspire to lead a successful career in my own time and try to take in as much as possible. Working also motivates me to blog more often and communicate with others in this ever-growing community.
Why I Love Spring
26 May 2015
Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Living in Yorkshire means there's fields at every corner. Where I live in particular, there are plenty of farms which means springtime brings out the most adorable lambs and calves. The sight every morning is heart melting as they roam around, tripping over their own limbs and chasing birds. During the night, the babies make plenty of noise in search for their mothers but it's not difficult to get used to.
Spring often brings rain storms which I love, when I'm inside. Sitting with a page-turning book while watching the clouds darken the sky and the rain fall is relaxing and enjoyable. The sounds is great to fall asleep and wake-up to and creates the perfect excuse for lighting candles.
I suffer with extreme hay fever that never seems to be under control. During the springtime, I can enjoy the sun and nice weather without falling into a full-on sneeze fit and sporting bright red eyes. Hay fever doesn't kick in until summer which makes the season ideal for me. Bees don't usually make an appearance until summer either, which means I can walk around freely without the panic of a tiny buzzing insect. Bees and wasps terrify me, most likely because I have never been stung.
The flowers are in bloom and we being to see colour every where after the basic colours winter brings. Blossoms are such a stunning colour and look magical when falling from the trees and blanketing the ground. The weather during the spring can be quite hit and miss, but it's great for movie nights and bonfires. It's an excuse to grab as many blankets as possible and curl up feeling cosy all night long. It's not too hot and most of the time not too cold. There are often some nice sunny days during April and May and I see spring as the build-up for what summer is about to bring.
What do you love about this season?
[Photo 3 credit]
Oslo Ready
23 May 2015
Tomorrow evening I will be jetting from Manchester Airport and hitting Oslo around 9pm - no doubt heading straight to bed. I then have a few days to explore the streets of Norway and learn about a breathtaking city along the way. There are so many different places I want to visit, Oslo is just the beginning. My 'One Way Ticket' board on Pinterest is slowly filling with photos of places I have never even heard of (alongside the occasional Eiffel Tower shot) and it only ignites my desire to travel around the world. Trying new food, traditions and even outfits is on my bucket list. And hopefully travelling as much as possible, around my job, will tick a few off those items. I'll be tweeting, pinning and reblogging throughout my trip too!
I'm one of some very frustrating people that leaves packing to the very last minute - which I have done this time round too. Unfortunately, I'm not the best packer, so travelling home should be interesting. But one thing I do love is going somewhere new, just visiting the airport alone is exciting.
The weather in Oslo is s little uncertain, but that doesn't put me off in the slightest. I know I still want to visit every tourist spot, but still find unique areas that will photograph beautifully.
See you in Norway!
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