The Journey to Becoming A Morning Person: Six Months On

I have a confession to make. I sleep on a bed of lies. You may remember (you and I both know you don't remember, but that's ok) a few months ago I wrote a brilliant self help guide on finding and channeling your inner morning person. I truly believed in everything I was typing. Until I realised I was totally and utterly kidding myself.

I have never and will never be a morning person. Yes, I am now conscious (to put it loosely) during many more hours of the morning than I was back during my days as a student, but I do not enjoy it. Not even one iota of pleasure comes to me from being awake before the sun is up. Some people find it very spiritual and like to tell the world about it via any means possible. But in reality, I'm all: "the sky is not awake, therefore I should not be awake".

I'm not denying that utilising my mornings gives me time to be somewhat more productive and complete a few more thangs on my never-ending to-do list, but at what cost? AT WHAT COST?! Let me unravel some of my feelings for you:

1. Prepare the night before
Technically I still do this, but not quite how I'd once envisioned. My 'preparation' mostly involves throwing together a meager sandwich using a filling that requires the least amount of effort in the world (and then regretting it at lunchtime the next day when I have to scoff yet another Marmite sandwich - see honest food diary) and then throwing on some kind of outfit that probably doesn't match in a hurry each morning based on the weather report I checked before going to sleep...

2. Replace your alarm clock with Sleep Cycle

The sound of waves now makes me grimace and I swear I hear my alarm faintly during the course of the day. Plus, nothing sets you up for a long and mucho busy day quite like discovering that your sleep quality the previous night was a less than desirable percentage score. OH WAIT. I still love the app though so...

3. Let the light in
In the depths of winter, there is no light to 'let in'. Unless you count car headlights, which I don't...

4. Get that H2O and O2
Again, Winter = impossible. IT'S BLOODY FREEZING. EVERYTHING. ALWAYS. IT BURNS. IN A COLD WAY. WHICH SOMETIMES I THINK IS WORSE THAN IN THE HOT WAY.

5. Know your schedule
Knowing my schedule means I'm not so likely to turn up to work looking scruffy as hell so I suppose this is still a valid point.

6. Make time for breakfast
'Having breakfast' and 'making time for breakfast' are two very different things, I have learnt. Most mornings become a fun old game of 'how many Bitesize Shredded Wheat can I shove in my gob at one time so I can hurry this process up and ensure I'm not massively late?'. Not nearly as many as I'd like, is usually the answer.

7. All about that coffee
Oh coffee, you are the only constant thing in my life that I can depend on. Until it's a freezing day and my gloves mean the travel mug you are safely concealed inside slips from my hands and you are dropped all over the floor. A minute's silence for all the caffeine NEEDLESSLY LOST BECAUSE OF WINTER.

8. Pump some tunes
If I hear Jess Glynn's 'Don't be so hard on yourself' one more time I swear I am going to commit. Morning radio stations need to learn to mix it up, there's only so many times a girl can listen to 'Hotline Bling' before things get weird.

I'll tell you what is fun though: voluntarily waking up at 6:30am ON. A. SUNDAY.
HA. SO FUN.
~ Eleanor xo

How to help yourself become a morning person

I never used to be the best at early mornings. Perhaps it's because I've been living the student life for the past three years and it's basically the law to be bad at getting up before 10am. Now, however, I have joined the adult world, filled with 6:30am wake-up calls and very little time in the evenings to call my own (before I make a joke about how hardcore I am at being in my twenties and fall asleep some time around 9pm). The struggle is real, my friends, but here are some handy tips to help you through (and ensure you don't turn up to work with your underwear outside of your clothing...):

1. Prepare the night before
Rushing to get things done in time to get out of the door will only stress you out. By preparing things like your outfit, make up, accessories, bag and any food before you catch your z's the previous night, you'll have plenty of time in the morning to properly wake up and catch yourself up so you're ready to start the day.

2. Replace your alarm clock with Sleep Cycle

There is nothing worse on this planet than alarm clocks. But Sleep Cycle is different. Sleep Cycle uses the censors in your iPhone to monitor how you sleep and is able to pick the best time to wake you based on your time period preference. It becomes a lot easier to rise and shine when you're not shocked awake, and the wide array of pleasant alarm sounds within this app is a welcome change.

3. Let the light in
Getting up and getting going quickly is the biggest favour you can do for yourself, and letting in that all important vitamin D will only help perk you up, it's scientifically proven so you have to believe me.

4. Get that H2O and O2
Breathe some fresh air into your lungs and get a nice cool glass of water down your throat (Nutritionists say it helps kick start your metabolism, you know). Don't you feel more awake just thinking about it?

5. Know your schedule
It's a good way to *ehem* get your head in the game (yasss High School Musical reference) if you look over your agenda for the day and plan what you need to do and where you need to be.

6. Make time for breakfast
It's true what they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It helps kick-start your system and powers it up again after a good nights sleep. There are loads of super quick and easy breakfast recipes online if you're not the cereal type, because being hangry is the worst.

7. All about that coffee
If you don't have time to sit down with a mug, put some in a to-go cup and drink it on your commute. Obviously, I'm not trying to get non-coffee drinkers to sign-up to a lifelong addiction to caffeine, but if you're already on the train, it's probably best to stay on board.

8. Pump some tunes
What's that? You don't have a kick-ass morning playlist on Spotify? Even if you just turn on the radio in your car, blaring some musica will help get that brain in action as you whip and nae nae while sitting at traffic lights. It's good to get your body moving and grooving, even if it does cause your fellow road users to raise their eyebrows at you...

Here's to early mornings and even earlier nights!
~ Eleanor xo

Things I thought were sexy but upon reflection, probably weren't

I am probably the least sexy female on the planet; I eat like some kind of crazed gibbon and I laugh at pretty much everything (serious, sexual or otherwise). Let's all take a short moment to think about what a catch I am *sigh*. I have (so far) had zero luck with guys, can you tell? but university has provided a great stepping stone for me to work on my skills so I'll be ready to go out into the real world and work my magic and fool someone into loving me unconditionally. I am a girl with a plan. But no man. Hmmm.

So here it is: Eleanor's accidental guide to being seriously un-sexy... Enjoy:

1. Chewing gum
I thought I was doing great until he asked me why I was chewing so loud, and then proceeded to mimic me.

2. Low back/backless see-through top that showed off my new lacy bra
He pointed out that I had gotten thoroughly (unevenly) sunburnt the previous day. Like I didn't already know that. Moron.

3. Sneaking him into my house
My sister came home and found us. It was what I can only describe as one of the worst experiences of my life. She didn't grass me up to my parents though; thanks sis, I owe you one.

4. Short pyjama shorts
When you have a booty you gotta use it, girl! So I did. Until I got a text a few days later telling me the shorts were too short. Ok there, Mr Mixed Signals.

5. Wearing (and keeping) his hoodie
It was great; comfiest hoodie I've ever worn in fact (perfect for 9am lectures at uni where you do not give a shit about your appearance - take note, girls). Until we broke up and in the end I had to mail it back to him. There's £3.90 I'll never get back.

6. Talking about Victoria's Secret
I'll probably keep doing this but I just really like the brand.

7. Mositurising my legs
I don't think he was even watching so that was a waste of my time.

8. Instagramming bikini selfies
I was on holiday, hanging by the pool with the sun in the sky and decided to pose for a picture so I could boast to everyone back home in rainy England. Everything seemed cool until my sister messaged me telling me the bikini I was wearing made it look as though I was naked. I can't look at that picture anymore.

9. Sharing a mozzarella stick (you know, like the spaghetti scene in Lady & The Tramp)
This one was not my idea - umm hello, mozzarella sticks are my favourite, why on earth would I want to share one?! Still, we tried it and frankly it just turned into a cheesy mess and he ended up with the bigger half so that wasn't great.

10. Shaving only half way up my legs
I was wearing long pyjama bottoms so I figured only shaving to the knee would be fine. Oh how wrong I was. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how utterly horrific this experience was. NEVER. AGAIN.

What a poor excuse of a woman I am. Learn from my mistakes ladies, it will save you a hell of a lot of embarrassment.

~ Eleanor xo

How to survive Freshman Year

Own it like you're Sharpay Evans

University is pretty much the biggest and scariest thing I've ever done. I know everyone probably says that, but I had turned 18 a matter of weeks earlier and suddenly I was getting shipped off to a town 50 miles away to learn the art of advertising, and most importantly, fending for myself.

The whole experience ripped me straight out of my comfort zone and dropped me into a sea of entirely new people, and entirely new experiences -- and though I spent more nights than I'd care to admit wishing to be anywhere else, I wouldn't change any of the last year; I learnt far too much to be ungrateful for the situations I found myself in.

So, here's a list of 10 things I learnt last year (in the form of advice points, apparently):

1. Talk to everyone
At university, everyone is new so everyone's trying to make friends and fit in; so straight from the off, be open, friendly and positive about everyone you meet. On my first day of university I promised myself I would do just this, and now, a year later, I'm living with two of the girls I met that very first day (and a third is one of my closest friends) - anything can happen!

2. Say YES. But also no.
There are so many new opportunities at university - take them all! But if you want to stay in and watch a movie or have an early night that's ok too! Missing one party will not ruin your university experience. Don't believe all the peer pressure bullshit, please. 

3. Your old friendships will change. It's ok. Let them.
If you move away, you can't expect your friendships with people you left behind to stay the same. It's not realistic and it's not fair. You're living different lives now; you will always be BFFs (because that's what you scribbled into birthday cards and notebooks) but you have to understand that the dynamics will change and you may grow apart. Skype your bestie as little or often as you want - don't totally cut off your old friends, but give each other breathing room and your relationship will feel better for it. 

4. Do not simply eat ready meals
They aren't nutritional and they will ruin your skin and probably give you mood swings or something. Cook every once in a while - I am a terrible cook but I had a lot of fun dancing around the kitchen whipping up some crazy food concoctions. Don't forget your veggies either!

5. Long distance relationships CAN work
Admittedly, this didn't quite work out for me, but a bunch of my friends succeeded in keeping their relationships alive and happy - and why not? If you're committed and you know it's what you want, there's absolutely no reason why it shouldn't work. Unless they're a jackass. Wait, what.

6. Sadness and heartbreak bring out the greatness in you
Sorry for the downer, but this right here is the honest to god truth. Being out in the world on your own will be tough, and you will spend nights crying into your pillow blaring Adele or something equally depressing into your ears. But this is the greatest motivator. And I know this from experience. I went through some really hard times, but I came out of it with amazing grades and amazing friendships. Your heart will heal and the storm will pass.

7. Call your parents!
My parents did a lot for me leading up to university (buying stuff to fill my dorm room, giving me food and rent money, etc.) and though uni is about spreading your wings and flying the nest, don't forget what's important. I skyped my parents every Sunday evening to catch up and it was always so nice to talk to them and see familiar faces - this ritual was super important to me, and it should be to you too (though, not every week if you don't want to)

8. Go home
To relax, to de-stress, to see old friends, or to simply have a bath; there are so many reasons why every once in a while, you should go home for the weekend. Your mum will do your washing and you can lie on a sofa and have your meals made for you - this is a great way to recharge after weeks of deadlines, or hardcore partying.

9. Missing deadlines doesn't make you cool, it makes you look like an arse
Yes, when you miss a deadline, everyone in your class knows about it. And no, they don't all clap in unison because you've become the bad boy/girl partier who's too cool for school, they sigh and mentally write your name on the list of people to avoid working on group projects with. If you have the stamina, by all means go out 8 days a week, but don't ignore your work because you will look dumb and people will treat you like it.

10. Finally, HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!
This is your new life, go out and live it! Make new friends, take some shots, break some hearts (including your own) and take as many pictures as you can on your iPhone because these are the days you will always want to remember (especially when you're old and can't boogie like you used to).

If you're going to uni this year, good luck and enjoy every minute!

~ Eleanor xo