celebrate small victories

One thing that I've learned about myself is that I have periods of overworking myself and then (longer) periods of pure laziness. And it's quite an issue because it would be better if I could balance the two. It's still in the works. But a way to get myself to do something productive—even for a short period of time—is to treat myself occasionally. Especially if you have a mindset like me, where you think that it's bad that nothing productive is getting done, which only promotes more slumps. But even if you get something accomplished and it has been more than what you've been doing usually, then it is a small victory. It's not a bad thing to pat yourself on the back once in a while. In fact, just the right amount of self-appreciation can boost your confidence and work ethic. However, there can also be a negative side to treating yourself, don't get me wrong. It is definitely possible to treat yourself too much, which produces even more laziness and self-deprecation. But there can be trial and error as long as you find the perfect amount of self-care in terms of work ethic. If you are struggling with productivity as well, I wish the best of luck to you. You can do it.

j.j.

self-image

As it may have been evident, I've taken a long break from blogging. I didn't have any particular reason for doing so. In fact, I didn't even intend to. It just kind of happened. However, during this time I have done a lot of contemplating about things that go on in my life. I hope to use these ideas to make blog posts. Starting with this one. People aren't who they seem to be. I think everyone has an image of themselves in their heads and the people around them perceive them to be different than who they think they are. Perhaps not entirely different, but aspects that are slightly altered. For example, some might think that you are shy and antisocial but in your mind, you are proud of yourself for talking to three people in a day. Everyone in the world will have a different opinion on who you are and what I've learned is to not think too much about what they think. What matters most is who you think you are. Sure, you can certainly take advice from other people. But when it comes down to it, you have to make your own judgments about your own self. Nobody can take responsibility for your actions, appearance, personality, or beliefs. By following your own self-image and working to achieve one that you are satisfied with, you have to be true to yourself and not give in to society or other people's ideal image of you. It may be hard to follow what you want sometimes, but it can be done!

j.j.