I’ve been trying to reduce my screen time, but it’s not always easy. Especially on the weekends, when I have a lot of free time, I’m always getting the urge to scroll on my phone for hours, and honestly, I often give in. Which is exactly what I don’t want.

So, I started thinking about how I actually want to spend my weekends instead, and I sort of came up with the perfect no-doomscroll weekend plan. And in case you’re also struggling with reducing your screen time, I decided to share my perfect no-doomscroll weekend with you.

The Ultimate No-doom scroll Weekend

Slow mornings

I love a good slow start to my weekend. On weekdays, we get up, follow our morning routine, and work through our to-do lists. But on the weekends, I prefer a completely different routine and pace. Imagine waking up slowly and spending a little extra time in bed. Then, getting up, making your favorite breakfast, and actually taking the time to enjoy it. Maybe you’ll read a few chapters of the book you’re currently reading. Just really enjoy the peaceful and quiet morning without feeling like you have to rush anywhere. Eventually, I’ll start getting ready for the day, but there’s no need to rush. I just want to enjoy those slow weekend mornings and give myself some time to relax before the day really begins.

Walk

Then, once I’m ready for the day and wearing my favorite comfortable outfit, I’d go out for a morning walk. Just getting some fresh air without rushing. I’d slowly walk through the neighborhood or nature and take my time. And, of course, I’d make some time to pet all the cats I see along the way. I prefer to walk in silence, but if listening to podcasts or music is your thing, then do that. I’d rather just look around me and observe what’s happening. I love people-watching and seeing what everyone else is doing with their weekends. I also prefer to leave my phone at home when I go for a walk. It makes it so much easier to be present and actually enjoy my surroundings without feeling the urge to check my phone every few minutes.

Thrift store or Book Store

Then I would become a little bit more active, but still keep things very relaxing and chill. I love going to thrift stores and bookstores because I always feel at peace when I’m there. I can just browse around without feeling like I have to buy anything. At the bookstore, I would look at all the beautiful book covers and search for new books to add to my TBR. At the thrift store, I always check out the physical media section, which is also a great replacement for scrolling on your phone. Maybe I’ll find a fun movie on DVD or a good book that I can read someday. There’s something really nice about taking your time and browsing without having a specific goal in mind.

Movie Night

I love watching movies, so a movie night is a must. Maybe I’ll watch an older movie from my own DVD collection or a new one on a streaming service. First, I’ll make sure I have enough snacks and drinks so I don’t have to get up from the couch during the movie. My phone will be in a different room because I definitely don’t want to be scrolling on my phone while I’m trying to watch a movie. Without my phone next to me, I can truly focus on and enjoy the movie without any distractions.

Baking

What is better than buying cookies from the supermarket? Making them yourself and eating them while they’re still warm and gooey. It’s such a fun and enjoyable activity, and it will definitely distract you from reaching for your phone. So, basically, it’s a win-win situation because you’re not doomscrolling, and you also end up with delicious cookies or whatever else you’re baking. Plus, your whole house will smell amazing—unless you burn everything, of course.

Cozy activities

And there are so many things you can do during an offline weekend. There are so many cozy hobbies that don’t require your phone. Puzzle books like Murdoku are a big hit these days, and I really enjoy doing them. There are also cute coloring books, board games, and 1,000+ piece puzzles. Or maybe you could simply do some more reading. And you can definitely invite your friends over for a cozy afternoon without your phones. Play some board games, bake something together, or just sit around and talk. Honestly, that sounds like the perfect afternoon to me.

Self-care & Self Love

And, of course, when you’re not scrolling, you’re saving a lot of time. That means you finally have time to start journaling, get some extra sleep, or maybe take a nice hot bath. Put on a face mask, paint your nails, or make some fun plans for the upcoming week.

There are so many little things you can do with that extra time, and they can make your weekend feel so much more relaxing and enjoyable.

Photo:  Cup of Couple

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I think fall is the perfect time to reflect and see if there’s anything you want to change in your life. I did that recently, and I realized one thing: I’m always rushing. I’m never really slowing down, not even on the weekends. And I think it’s time to change that.

I think it’s time to slow down this fall and create a healthier, more balanced lifestyle for myself. In this blog post, I’m sharing the ways I’m slowing down this fall.

Ways I am slowing down

1. Spending more evenings at home

Honestly, I’m the kind of person who already enjoys being at home, but I want to be more intentional about it. I want to make my home feel extra cozy. I’m adding some pillows, blankets, and candles, and then I can simply sit down and read a book or two. I’m not staying home just to watch movies or TV shows all day. Instead, I’m creating a safe and cozy space where I can relax after a long day or a busy week.

Sometimes, I’m the kind of person who feels like she has to be productive all the time. But there needs to be balance in your life. So, I’m basically forcing myself to slow down and give myself permission to relax without feeling guilty about it.

2. Taking my time in the mornings

They always say that the way you start your day sets the tone for the rest of the day. I know a lot of people will recognize this when I say that everything seems to go wrong when you have to rush through your morning. So, instead of rushing through my morning routine, I’m going to do things completely differently this fall.

I’m actually going to slow down and take the time to enjoy a cup of tea in the morning. And instead of looking at any screens, I’m just going to sit down and maybe read a chapter or two of my book. I’m also going to take a few minutes to do some breathing exercises and meditate. I want to start my days feeling calm and relaxed instead of immediately feeling like I have to rush into everything.

3. Going on more walks

It’s something I’ve been doing for the last two months now, and it feels great to start my mornings with a morning walk. It’s so relaxing, and it’s nice to get some fresh air after sleeping for a couple of hours. It helps you slow down, and it’s also beautiful to notice all the little things around you before the rest of the neighborhood wakes up.

And I love walking during the fall because it’s not too hot but also not too cold. Sure, it might rain, but raincoats and umbrellas exist for a reason.

4. Cooking more slowly and simply

One thing I always do is not take enough time for my meals. I just throw something together and then eat so quickly that I finish the whole meal before you can even blink. It’s not healthy, and it’s not very enjoyable either. I don’t hate cooking—in fact, I kind of love it—but for some reason, I’m always rushing.

I want to be more mindful when I’m making my meals and maybe even try some new recipes. I want to enjoy the whole process instead of thinking of cooking as just another task I need to get through. I want to slow down, actually enjoy preparing my food, and take the time to sit down and enjoy my meals too.

5. Reading instead of scrolling

Doomscrolling is something I’m very familiar with, and I hate it. It’s so interesting how I keep scrolling when I would much rather read a book instead. It’s just so addictive. But I’m trying to break that habit, and instead, I want to have more time for myself and slow down.

Seriously, when you stop scrolling on your phone, you’ll realize how much time you actually have. You’ve just been wasting so much of it on your phone. I don’t hate social media, but you need to be more mindful of how you use it before it starts using you.

6. Leaving more space in my calendar

My workdays are always planned out until I basically go to bed, and even on the weekends, I constantly make plans. Every Saturday, I make sure I have something to do, and honestly, I don’t remember the last time I just stayed home on a Saturday. I want to do that more often.

Maybe I’ll go outside for a walk, then come home, make myself a cup of tea, and read for a little while. I don’t always have to be somewhere or do something. I want to make more time to do nothing, simply relax, and slow down.

7. Paying more attention to the little things

Maybe you can relate to this, but when you’re always busy and rushing through your days, you miss a lot of beautiful moments. I’ve had days when I was doing nothing, and suddenly, I started noticing all those little beautiful things around me. I also started to enjoy the present moment a little more.

It’s kind of sad when I think about it. I was always rushing around and so focused on getting things done that I missed so many of those beautiful little moments that make life amazing.

Foto door Şeyda Efe

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I’ve been trying to drastically reduce my screen time. Basically, I am now allowing myself to use my phone only when it’s necessary. This means I suddenly have a lot more free time, which is obviously great. But it can also happen that you get extremely bored. When you’re so used to scrolling on your phone and suddenly stop doing it, you might have no idea what to do instead.

So, I made myself an Anti-Doomscroll Menu. And since I’m sure I’m not the only one who is trying to reduce their screen time, I’m going to share my list with you.

The Anti-Doomscroll Menu

Cozy Vibes

• Watch a movie: Pick a movie you love, grab some snacks, and settle in for a cozy movie night.
• Read a book: Get comfortable with a good book and let yourself escape into another world for a while.
• Take a nap: Get under a cozy blanket, set an alarm if you need to, and give yourself permission to rest.
• Make hot chocolate or tea: Make your favorite warm drink, add some extra toppings if you want, and enjoy it slowly.
• Have a cozy breakfast: Make a delicious breakfast, grab your favorite drink, and take your time enjoying a slow morning.
• Light a candle: Light your favorite candle and enjoy the warm glow and cozy atmosphere it creates.
• Get cozy under a blanket: Grab your softest blanket, get comfortable on the couch, and simply enjoy some quiet time.
• Listen to an album from start to finish: Put your phone away, press play, and enjoy the entire album without skipping any songs.
• Rewatch a comfort show: Put on an episode of your favorite comfort show and enjoy that familiar feeling of watching something you already love.
• Have an early night: Get into bed a little earlier than usual, put your phone away, and give yourself a relaxing evening before going to sleep.

Creative Vibes

• Color: Pick up your favorite coloring book or some colored pencils and spend some time coloring without worrying about being perfect.
• Journal: Write down your thoughts, feelings, ideas, or anything else that’s on your mind.
• Draw or paint: Get creative and draw or paint whatever comes to mind, even if you don’t consider yourself artistic.
• Bake something: Pick a delicious recipe, spend some time baking, and enjoy the amazing smell while you wait for your treats.
• Try a new recipe: Find a recipe you’ve never made before and have fun experimenting in the kitchen.
• Make a playlist: Create a playlist filled with your favorite songs or make one for a specific mood, season, or activity.
• Do something crafty: Get out your craft supplies and make something cute, fun, or completely random.
• Take photos: Grab your camera or phone and go around taking photos of little things that catch your eye.
• Write something: Write a short story, a poem, a blog post, or simply put your imagination onto paper.
• Start a little DIY project: Pick a small project you’ve been wanting to try and spend a cozy afternoon making something yourself.
• Make a vision board: Collect pictures, quotes, and ideas that represent the life you want and create your own little vision board.
• Try a new hobby: Pick something you’ve always wanted to try and give yourself some time to see if you enjoy it.

Fun vibes

• Do a puzzle: Pick a puzzle you like and spend some quiet time putting all the pieces together.
• Play a board game: Choose one of your favorite board games and enjoy a little friendly competition.
• Do a crossword: Challenge your brain with a crossword puzzle and see how many clues you can figure out.
• Play cards: Grab a deck of cards and play a classic card game by yourself or with someone else.
• Build something: Get creative and build something with LEGO, a model kit, or whatever you have at home.
• Do a quiz: Find a fun quiz online or grab a trivia book and see how much you know.
• Learn something random: Pick a completely random topic that interests you and spend some time learning about it.
• Organize your bookshelf: Rearrange your books, organize them by genre or color, and rediscover some old favorites.
• Make a bucket list: Write down all the things you’d love to do, places you want to visit, and experiences you want to have.
• Try something you’ve never done before: Pick something new and exciting, even if it’s just a small activity you’ve never tried before.

Reset Vibes

• Have an at-home spa day: Turn your home into a little spa, light some candles, put on relaxing music, and spend the day pampering yourself.
• Take a long shower or bath: Take your time, use your favorite shower products, and enjoy a long, relaxing shower or bath.
• Do a face mask: Put on your favorite face mask and take some time to relax while it does its thing.
• Wash your hair and use a hair mask: Give your hair some extra love and turn your hair-washing routine into a little self-care ritual.
• Change your bedsheets: Put on some fresh, clean bedsheets and enjoy that amazing feeling of getting into a freshly made bed.
• Declutter one drawer: Pick one drawer and get rid of anything you no longer need or use.
• Clean your room: Put on some music and give your room a good clean so you can enjoy a fresh and tidy space.
• Decorate your room: Add some new decorations, candles, flowers, or anything else that makes your space feel more like you.
• Rearrange your space: Move some furniture around or change things up to give your room a completely different feel.
• Do your nails: Give yourself a little manicure or paint your nails in a color you love.
• Put on your comfiest clothes: Get into your softest pajamas, sweatpants, or favorite cozy outfit and get comfortable.
• Have a slow morning: Don’t rush out of bed; take your time, make a nice breakfast, enjoy your coffee, and ease into the day.

Go outside Vibes

• Go for a long walk: Take your time, enjoy the fresh air, and let yourself wander without worrying about getting anywhere quickly.
• Explore somewhere new: Visit a neighborhood, town, park, or little spot you’ve never been to before and see what you discover.
• Visit a bookstore: Take your time browsing the shelves, discover new books, and maybe treat yourself to a new read.
• Go to a café: Find a cozy café, order your favorite drink, and enjoy some quiet time by yourself or with a friend.
• Go thrifting: Browse through thrift stores and see if you can find some unique clothes, home décor, or little treasures.
• Visit a farmers’ market: Walk around the stalls, discover local products, and pick up something delicious to take home.
• Get a coffee to go: Grab your favorite coffee and take it with you while you go for a walk or explore somewhere.
• Go to a museum: Spend a few hours looking at art, learning something new, and enjoying a change of scenery.
• Take yourself on a little date: Get dressed up, go somewhere you love, and treat yourself as if you were taking someone else out.
• Go for a drive: Put on your favorite playlist, grab a drink, and go for a relaxing drive with no real destination in mind.
• Sit somewhere outside and people-watch: Find a nice spot, grab a drink, and simply watch the world go by for a while.

Friends/Family Vibes

• Have dinner with friends: Cook a delicious meal together, order your favorite food, or simply enjoy a cozy dinner and catch up.
• Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while: Reach out to an old friend or family member and spend some time catching up.
• Have a sleepover: Stay up late talking, watching movies, eating snacks, and enjoying each other’s company.
• Bake with a friend: Pick a fun recipe, bake something delicious, and enjoy your homemade treats together.
• Cook dinner together: Choose a recipe you both want to try and turn cooking dinner into a fun activity.
• Have a movie night: Pick a few movies, grab some snacks, get cozy, and enjoy a relaxing night together.
• Play games together: Bring out your favorite board games or card games and have a little friendly competition.
• Go for a walk and talk: Take a relaxing walk together and use the time to catch up and talk about everything and nothing.
• Invite someone over: Have a friend over for coffee, dinner, a movie, or simply a cozy afternoon together.
• Have a phone-free hangout: Put your phones away and focus completely on spending quality time together.Foto door Polina

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Manifesting should be a fun process, and I think a lot of us who are trying to manifest certain things put too much pressure on ourselves. I have to admit that I do this sometimes too. Nobody is perfect. But I think life and manifestation should be a fun journey, and it can be. That’s why I created a manifestation game to help you create your dream life.

I’m not lying when I tell you that playing this game has helped me a lot. Every time I catch myself in a bad mood, I play this game, and within a short amount of time, I feel better. I can be a totally different person within an hour.

In this blog post, I’m explaining why this manifestation game could change your life and how to play it.

Why this manifestation game could change your life

If you’re familiar with manifesting, you know that thoughts create your reality. So, when you think about things you don’t like, you will attract more of that, and when you think about things you do like, you will create more of that in your life. Your feelings are simply showing you what you’ve been thinking. If you’re feeling good, then keep going. If you’re feeling negative emotions, then you’ve probably been thinking negative thoughts.

So, as soon as you notice that you’re having negative thoughts, you can start playing the manifestation game. But honestly, you can play it all the time if you want. It’s actually kind of fun to play! It’s going to put you in a better mood, which is always great. And you’ll start thinking about the things you like, which can then help you manifest more of those things into your life (depending on how often you do this).

What is the Manifestation Game

Step 1: Start Small

The first step is very easy. I would recommend taking a couple of deep breaths. This can already make you feel a little bit better. Then, instead of forcing yourself to think about your dream life and pretending that everything is perfect, start extremely small.

I like to start with things that I already have in my life. I start thinking about the little things I love. For example, how much I love my reading chair and how much I enjoy reading in that chair. Maybe I’ll name something I ate that day and really liked. Maybe I saw something pretty. I just start thinking about those things non-stop.

At first, it can be a little hard to get that positive momentum going, but after a while, it gets easier and easier to name the things you’re grateful for. What can also help boost your mood and build that positive momentum is thinking about why you love something.

For example: I love my reading chair so much because it’s so comfy. I feel so relaxed when I’m sitting in it, and I think the chair is so pretty.

Step 2: Dream big

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I know, I know. It’s only September, and here I am already talking about winter depression. Summer is (almost) over, the darker days are coming, and even though I love the cozy months, they can also be a struggle for me and many others. The colder months also mean a lot of dark days without much sunshine.

A lot of people struggle with winter depression, so I thought I’d write a blog post about this topic and focus on preventing it rather than waiting until the winter depression starts creeping in.

How to Make Winter Feel Less Miserable

Create Your Ultimate Cozy Ritual

One of the reasons why I can still appreciate the colder and darker days is because they’re the perfect time to get cozy and enjoy all those little cozy things. And you can start now! Put some blankets and pillows on your couch, buy some candles, and stock up on cozy drinks like tea or hot chocolate.

Every day, make a little bit of time (or a lot!) for some cozy time. Put your phone away and eliminate other distractions. Just focus on yourself and enjoy the moment. Turn it into a little ritual that you can look forward to every day.

Go on a Daily Sun Hunt

Okay, the sun might not be shining all the time, but going outside during the day is still important. So, if you have time in the morning, go for a walk. I started doing this a couple of months ago, and I’m honestly loving it. It’s nice to get some fresh air early in the morning, and it doesn’t have to be a long walk. Mine is usually around 15–20 minutes, but it still makes me feel a little better.

There’s also something really nice about going for a walk when everyone else is still inside and/or sleeping. It’s so quiet outside. But you can also go outside during your break at work or school. Just find a little bit of time during the day to get some fresh air and daylight.

Make Winter Food an Event

The colder months also mean hearty meals like soup, stew, and all kinds of comfort food. But it’s also a great time to start baking more often and trying new recipes.

Soup is something I could eat all the time, and I love finding new recipes to try. You have something fun to do, and in the end, you get a delicious comfort meal to cheer yourself up. Make cooking and baking an event rather than just something you have to do.

Stop Hibernating, Just Make Socializing Cozier

When winter depression starts to hit, you might want to stay home all the time. You’re most likely not in the mood to go out and meet your friends. But seeing your friends and family is important. Socializing can help you feel happier and less lonely.

If you’re really struggling, ask your friends for a low-effort hangout. You don’t have to go out and do something exciting. Have a dinner party, play board games, or have a movie night. Sometimes, you just need people around you without having to put in a lot of effort.

Pick a Winter Hobby

You’re probably going to spend more time indoors during the colder months. If you love spending time outside, this can be difficult, but the trick is to find a hobby that makes you feel good and helps you forget about the time, and the fact that it’s cold and dark outside.

For me, that’s reading. It takes me to another world where winter depression doesn’t exist. But your hobby can be anything: building LEGO, journaling, watching movies, baking, gaming, painting, or whatever makes you happy.

Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To

During the colder and darker months, the days can sometimes feel endless, and you might wonder when things will get better again. One thing that can help is planning at least one fun thing each day, and it doesn’t have to be anything big.

When you don’t have much time, it could simply mean getting your favorite snack and enjoying it completely. When you have a little more time, maybe you can watch your favorite show. And when you have a whole day to yourself, you could plan a fun reading day with your favorite snacks, meals, and drinks.

Just give yourself something to look forward to, something that brings a little excitement to your day.

Lower the Pressure

I also feel like a lot of people see the colder months as the perfect time to get fit, learn a language, read 100 books, start a new hobby, and completely reinvent themselves. I’m not against self-improvement, but sometimes we put way too much pressure on ourselves, and it’s completely unnecessary.

Do what feels good to you. You don’t have to follow every trend you see on social media. You don’t have to become the “best version of yourself” this winter. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is simply make your life as easy and comfortable as possible.

Give Your Body Some Love

And, of course, don’t forget to take care of your body, too. Try to eat nutritious meals, although there’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying some junk food from time to time. Move your body, get enough sleep, and talk to a healthcare professional if you think you may need vitamin D or other supplements.

Most importantly, listen to your body and give it what it needs. Sometimes you just need an extra nap. Other times, going for a walk or moving your body can help you feel more energetic. There’s no perfect routine—just pay attention to what makes you feel good.

Photo by Shashi Chaturvedula on Unsplash

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We all know what hormones are, and you’ve probably heard that there are a few happy hormones that can actually make you feel better. These hormones are serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. And the good news is that you can boost all of these hormones naturally, which can help you feel a little bit better. In this blog post, I’m going to explain what these four hormones actually do, and I’ll give you a few examples of how you can boost them.

Serotonin

Serotonin plays an important role in mood, emotional well-being, sleep, appetite, and digestion. A healthy serotonin system helps regulate many processes in your body and brain. Serotonin is often associated with feelings of calmness, stability, and contentment. It isn’t as simple as saying “more serotonin = more happiness,” because the relationship between serotonin and mood is much more complicated.

Interestingly, most of the body’s serotonin is actually found in the gut, where it plays an important role in regulating digestion. So boosting your serotonin starts in your gut. Eat the right foods, get enough daily sunlight and move your body.

Dopamine

This is the most known hormone at this point. Dopamine is strongly connected to motivation, reward, pleasure, and learning. It helps your brain recognise when something feels rewarding and encourages you to repeat behaviours that you find satisfying.

For example, when you accomplish a goal, eat something you enjoy, receive a compliment, or complete something you’ve been working toward, your brain can release dopamine. It can give you that feeling of “Yes, I did it!” and motivate you to keep going.

Dopamine isn’t simply the chemical that makes you happy. It’s also heavily involved in anticipation and motivation, the feeling of wanting to achieve or experience something. But make sure you get the right dopamine: Setting goals and achieving them, massage, Learn something new, listen to your favourite music.

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is often called the “love hormone” or “bonding hormone” because it’s strongly involved in social connection and bonding. Your body can release oxytocin during experiences such as hugging, cuddling, physical affection, childbirth, breastfeeding, and positive social interactions. It can help strengthen feelings of trust, closeness, and connection with other people.

Oxytocin isn’t only about romantic relationships, either. It can also play a role in friendships, family bonds, and social connection.

Endorphins

Endorphins are chemicals produced by your body that act as natural pain relievers. They can be released in response to things like exercise, laughter, excitement, and physical stress.

This is one reason you might feel amazing after a good workout. Your body releases endorphins in response to physical activity, which can help reduce your perception of pain and create feelings of pleasure or even euphoria.

That post-workout feeling people sometimes call a “runner’s high” is partly associated with changes in endorphins and other brain chemicals.

And these are your four happy hormones. If you start naturally boost them, you will feel a different.

Photo

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A long time ago, when I first discovered manifesting, I bought a book called Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks. The book teaches you how to manifest your dream life, and it includes more than 20 different manifestation techniques. One of them quickly became my favorite: The Book of Positive Aspects.

This exercise completely changed my life. In this blog, I’ll explain what it is, what the benefits are, and how it can help you manifest everything you want.

What is The Book of Positive Aspects?

The Book of Positive Aspects is pretty simple, and you can do it almost anywhere and anytime. All you need is a pen and paper, but I reckon you could also use your phone instead.

All you have to do is pick one subject, and it doesn’t matter what it is. It can be your job, a person, an item, or even food. It really doesn’t matter. Write that subject down at the top of the page. Then, simply write down all the things you like about this subject.

If you choose your job, for example, you could write: The people I work with are kind, my job pays well, or I do something that I love. Keep writing until you fill the whole page. Don’t try to force it; just let everything come to you naturally.

By doing this, you slowly become more positive. If you were feeling a lot of negativity at first, you might notice that you start to feel much lighter. You can do this for as long as you want. Once you’ve filled a page, start a new one with a different subject.

How does this help with manifesting?

Thoughts are the things that are manifesting. If you are having a lot of negative thoughts, you are going to feel that in your body. You experience stress, anxiety and so on. And negative thoughts aren’t the enemy, they are helpful in figuring out what you DO want and what you LIKE. But when you start writing the good things about a certain subject down, you shift your focus and your thoughts become more and more positive. 

My Own Experience

I remember one of the first times I tried this. I was feeling stressed and anxious, so I simply picked one subject. I don’t remember what it was. At first, it wasn’t easy to write down the good things about it. That’s why I would recommend starting with a fun subject—something you already like. This makes it much easier.

Once you’re done, you’ll feel much more positive, and it will become easier to find the good things about a more challenging subject. After a couple of minutes of trying, I noticed that it became easier and easier to name all the positive aspects.

So, every time you experience a lot of negative emotions (meaning you have a lot of negative thoughts), try to take a few minutes for yourself and focus on all the good things about something. You can do this without writing anything down, but I would recommend using a pen and paper. It helps you stay focused.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

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First of all, I want to say that I’m starting something new on my blog to add more personality to it. I’m going to try to write more personal blog posts and share my opinions on different topics. This time, it’s all about physical media.

Physical media includes VHS tapes, DVDs, CDs, magazines, and books. But my favorite types of physical media are DVDs and CDs.

Streaming versus Physical Media

When I was growing up, we still had VHS tapes and later moved on to DVDs. I loved going to the store and renting a DVD for the holidays. It was something we did every single year. Everyone could pick one or two movies, and then we would watch them together. I loved it. It was exciting.

Then, eventually, illegal downloads became a thing, and slowly streaming became more popular. These days, streaming is huge. When it was still up-and-coming, I was pretty excited because I thought it meant having easier access to a lot of movies and music. I mean, I’m even listening to Spotify right now while writing this (without a subscription).

But over the last couple of years, I have become more critical of streaming services. First of all, there are so many platforms, and it can feel overwhelming. If you want a subscription to all of them, you have to pay a lot of money every single month. I have only had Netflix, for the record, but even with Netflix, I have my issues.

When you want to watch a certain movie, it’s possible that it isn’t available on the platform at that moment. They can also remove certain titles whenever they want. You are paying to use the platform, but you don’t actually own anything.

The other day, I read the news about Sony and their decision to stop producing physical media. Everything will become digital, and they also removed a lot of movie titles. I even heard that, even though you paid for a certain movie, it could be removed and become unavailable. Paying for something digitally basically means that you still don’t own it.

With physical media, it’s completely different because you pay for it and then own it for the rest of your life. They can’t take it away from you. That is why physical media is top-tier. And that is why I started my physical media collection, which includes DVDs and CDs.

Physical Media is Fun

Remember when I said that I loved going to the store and finding a DVD to watch? Well, I get that same feeling again from buying and owning DVDs. Streaming movies was cool at first, but now it doesn’t excite me anymore. Physical media is more fun because you can actually hold it, look at it, and it’s so much fun to add more items to your collection.

I love going to thrift stores and finding something special. The other day, I went to a thrift store and found a lot of amazing DVDs that I love. (You can watch my physical media haul down below.) Sure, sometimes you don’t find anything at all, but when you do find something, it feels amazing.

Plus, if I want to listen to music right now, I just have to turn on my CD player, and that’s it. I don’t have to use my phone or laptop to play music anymore, which is great since I’m trying to reduce my screen time. And there are so many reasons to go back to physical media.

How do you feel about physical media? Or do you still prefer streaming services?

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I think we can all agree that some people really do overconsume. And the problem is getting bigger and bigger. One moment, Labubus are incredibly popular, and everyone is buying them. Then, two months later, everyone has moved on to something else.

And that’s a problem because it’s bad for the environment. Overconsumption has a terrible impact on our environment because, most of the time, everything ends up in the trash. We just throw everything away when the trend is over. I’m not perfect either. I’m on social media too, so I see all of the trends, and I also get the urge to buy all of those things. But these days, I’m trying to stop overconsuming, and in this blog post, I’ll share my tips on how I’m doing that.

What is Overconsumption

But before I give my tips, I want to explain when something becomes overconsumption. Because simply buying something you love isn’t always overconsumption. I think there are two aspects to it.

The first is buying something just because it’s trendy. Maybe you don’t even care about it, but you don’t want to feel left out. We humans are a bit like sheep; we tend to follow each other. That also means that when a lot of people are talking about buying Labubus, more and more people suddenly want to buy one too.

The second aspect of overconsumption is buying way too many of the same thing. I’ve seen people own 30 Stanley cups, dozens of Labubus, and these days I also see a lot of people buying bags full of NeeDohs. You don’t need that many of the same item. Because if you suddenly decide you don’t like them anymore, you’ll have to throw them away (or hopefully donate them). That’s a lot of waste.

The Difference Between Collections and Overconsumption

I also think there is a difference between owning a collection and overconsumption. Let’s say you’re a fan of Pokémon, and you started collecting Pokémon items from an early age. Over the years, you slowly add more and more pieces to your collection. That’s a collection; it grows gradually over time.

For example, I love physical media, and it’s become a collection of mine. I enjoy finding DVDs and CDs, but I’ve been collecting them for a few years now. With overconsumption, it’s different. Some people buy 30 NeeDohs in one shopping trip and call it a collection. But I think a collection has a certain value to you. It means something. Maybe you’ve been a Pokémon fan for a long time, and your collection reminds you of those good old days.

How to Stop Overconsumption

I have two tips that can actually help you stop overconsuming. Stopping overconsumption also means your home will be less cluttered, you’ll save more money, and you’ll learn to make better purchasing decisions.

Spend less time on social media

I like social media, but it’s also one of the main causes of overconsumption. One influencer shows something they love, and before you even realize it, everyone wants it too and starts buying it. Then, a month later, everyone has moved on to something else. It’s one of the reasons why I spend less time on social media. I used to see all those videos of people showing off what they had bought, and suddenly I felt the urge to buy those things too. Now I spend less time on those apps, and I don’t feel that urge anymore.

Put it on a wishlist

My best tip is this: when you see something you like and want to buy, put it on a wishlist instead. Create a wishlist on your phone or make a separate folder with screenshots of the things you want to buy. Then wait. Maybe wait a couple of weeks or even longer. Sometimes I even wait for months. If I still really want the item after that, then I’m allowed to buy it. But the funny thing is that, most of the time, I don’t even want it anymore after all those weeks or months.

And that’s how I stopped overconsuming. Do you have any other tips?

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

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Imagine your dream life right now. What kind of job do you have? What kind of house do you live in? Imagine every single detail of your dream life. Are you feeling excited? Good! Because you can have it all if you want to.

I’m sure you’ve heard of manifestation by now, whether you practice it or not. By using your mind intentionally, you can transform your entire life. It is possible for your dreams to come true. In this blog post, I’m going to show you how to manifest your dream life.

Manifesting is very easy

And I’m here to tell you that manifesting is actually easy, and it’s something you do all the time, whether you realize it or not. A lot of people don’t even realize they’re manifesting everything in their lives, from the good things to the bad. You are always manifesting, and you do this through the thoughts you have.

Have you ever had a bad day when one bad thing after another kept happening? That probably happened because something or someone annoyed you, and you started focusing on that negative experience. As a result, you attracted more situations that annoyed you or made you feel bad.

Your thoughts create your reality. The good news is that you don’t have to worry too much about having negative thoughts. If you have around 50,000 thoughts a day and only 10 or so are negative, nothing bad is going to happen. It all comes down to what you’re focusing on with the majority of your thoughts.

How to Start Manifesting your Dream Life

So, now that you know your thoughts create your reality, how can you create your dream life?

Most people simply react to what is happening around them. Let’s say someone doesn’t like their life. They don’t have much money, they don’t like their job, and their colleague is annoying and stresses them out all day. So when they go to work, they probably start thinking about how they don’t want to be there and how they don’t want to see their colleague. Then, when they get to work, their colleague reminds them how much they hate their job, and the cycle continues. They are just reacting to the things happening around them, which means they will keep manifesting more of the same.

If you actually want to manifest something different from your current reality, you have to start thinking differently. In this case, that person has to start thinking about their dream job and having enough money. And you have to do this consistently throughout the day. Because if you only think about what you want for 10 minutes and then spend the other 23 hours and 50 minutes thinking your life is terrible, nothing is going to change.

Become aware of your thoughts. Meditation can help with this. Every time you notice a thought that doesn’t align with what you want to manifest, calm yourself down, bring your awareness back to the present moment, and then redirect your thoughts to what you want to manifest. Ask yourself why you want to manifest it. As long as you keep focusing on it, you’re moving in the right direction.

And that’s how you manifest. You simply change your thoughts and focus on the things you want to manifest. You don’t have to use every manifestation technique. You can if you want to, and if it helps you focus on what you want, then go for it. Don’t stop.

Photo by Faustina Okeke on Unsplash

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