I hope that my dramatic title caught your attention. I lied...a little. I do still care, I mean, I'm Eve Johnson. Over-thinker is my middle name. I am, however, learning to care less. I have come to the realisation that a lot of the choices I make and things I do have a lot to do with what other people think, rather than just going with it and doing what I want to do. I have let the worry of what people will think hold me back. I have always feared someone's opinion changing of me if I do certain things. I am learning to think more about myself (in a non-narcissistic way) in order to really live my best life (yes, cheesy, but it's the truth!)

I have so often let little worries get in the way of me doing things. So many 'what ifs'. So many times I have started things and let fear stop me from pushing forward. I mean, my YouTube channel is a great example, I think I have started a YouTube channel about 4 times in the past because it's something I have always wanted to do, but have put all of my videos on private due to me being in complete fear of people's judgment or what it could mean for my future, instead of just going for it and seeing what happens. I think it's so easy to fall in to the trap of letting fear dominate your life and your decisions; what if I sound dumb? What if they don't like me? What if I fail? Instead of thinking; what if I can have a positive impact on someone or something? They might actually like me for being me! What if I succeed? Life is all about making choices. Sometimes you make the right ones and sometimes the wrong ones. That's how it is. Trying is the most important thing. Grow, don't rot. Keep moving and trying things. I am so determined to do things in my life. To go places. Take risks. I cannot settle for boring. 

I am learning not to care as much. I am working on not caring too much about people's opinion, because the only people I need and want in my life are those that push me, that encourage me, comfort me, celebrate with me and care for me. People who judge and hold us back are not good for our progress. 

So, I'm going for it a little more. Worrying a little less. I will always be someone who cares, especially about people's opinion, but I don't want that holding me back. 

Worry less about failure, worrying about it only holds you back. We are all going to fail at some things. Failure actually shapes us as humans, it can make us; stronger, smarter, more compassionate, more sensitive, or less sensitive, more resilient, less arrogant, more switched on, more determined. etc. etc. We can choose to either let failure stop us or inspire us. Failure has the potential to give us the inspiration to be better, to learn, to grow. Always remember that everyone fails at some point at something, everyone is on their own journey and will overcome their own obstacles; big and small. Stop let fear hold you back from just having a go; fear of what people will think, fear of not being good enough, fear of failing. Have a go. Just go for it. You may win, and you may lose, but at least you won't be asking yourself 'what if?'

Caring is so important, but don't let that stop you from growing to reach your potential and living your fullest life. ♡♡♡♡

Self promo - follow my instagram @evejohnsonzin xx

"I am going to be happier" / "I'm going to be more positive" / "I'm going to stress less" these are all things we say A LOT. Things that are really easy to say, but much harder to actually do. It is important, however, to acknowledge that it's brilliant that you've acknowledged the importance of trying to lead a happier life. Mental health is as important as physical health. I am not coming on here acting as if I have all the answers, I don't. I realise that everyone is in a different boat. Your mental health is such a unique thing, and I realise that for some of you, changing your mindset is not simply flicking a switch and that my tips and experiences may be absolutely useless to you. That's ok. That's not a problem. We are all on our own journey. As long as you are taking your own personal actions in order to work on your situation, that is okay.
The intention of today's post is to help you think of some ways to work on being happier. I am on the whole, a very happy person, however, sometimes I find myself feeling overwhelmed by the tasks surrounding me, the expectations I place on myself and just the small little stresses of life. I have made it a task of mine to work on this. I have been thinking long and hard about it. I lead a very good life, I am very lucky. I have a job that I love, a home where I am happy, great family and great friends. I know how fortunate I am, but sometimes the little stresses of life can overcloud that and take away from that. At the end of the day, life is very short. We don't know what is around the corner for us, so why not live in the moment? I have made it my mission to avoid 'sweating the small stuff' and to look around me and just how beautiful life is. I love life, and I'm happy. 

Some ideas and tips...

Scheduling - this makes the world of difference for me. Sitting down and writing down a day-to-day schedule for the week ahead is so helpful to me as it allows for me to remove the schedule from my brain. Having a schedule set down with all of your tasks for the week and noting when you'll complete them is so helpful in de-cluttering your brain and decreasing stress. It gives you structure. I always ensure when I put these together that I only spend a certain few hours completing my tasks, allowing for time for doing things I enjoy, e.g watching Scandal (this is bringing me A LOT of joy atm!), going for a walk, spending time with friends and/or family etc. Knowing that you are going to have downtime each day gives you something to work towards, rather than it feeling like you have to spend hours on end working, this gives you something to look forward to. It's so important to have time off every day. 

Get outside - I cannot emphasise how much I think going outside can make you feel fresher, happier and more relaxed. I get so much joy out of doing something as simple as standing outside with a cup of coffee (coffee is another thing that I LOVE). To be able to hear the birds singing and to feel the breeze on your face is just so lovely. I feel like I am able to really clear my mind when I'm outdoors, it's somewhere I often come up with my best ideas. 

Make time - Stop not doing things you enjoy because you have 'no time'. Oh yes, you DO have time. Find it. You won't regret spending parts of your week doing things that bring you happiness.

Move - Sitting at your desk for too long or even just sitting on the sofa doing nothing can make you feel miserable. Get moving - even if that just going to tidy your room (ohhh, yes - remember: tidy environment = tidy/clear mind). 

Think about it - Am I wasting time stressing? Am I worrying about nothing? In the grand scheme of things, is this really worth getting upset over? Get some perspective - think about it. Take action.

Smaller to-do lists - Who else does this... you have 10 things you have to complete in the week, and so for tomorrow's to-do list you put 8/10 of the tasks down...just to get it out the way? When in actual fact, often this is too overwhelming - you don't know where to start and end up getting 10% of what you needed to get done completed. Smaller to-d0 lists (1-2 things that need to be done) are far more realistic and attainable, and you'll probably feel better afterwards because you've achieved what you set out to achieve. 

What brings you joy? - Find something that makes you feel happy. This could be as simple as taking the dog for a walk, watching your favourite tv programme, attending a Zumba class etc. 

Practice positivity - This can be hard, but it's as important as eating healthily and exercising. Be kinder to yourself, give yourself more credit for what you are achieving and try to look at situations in the most positive way possible. 

Appreciate - Think about what you're grateful for. What do you have in your life that brings you joy? Sometimes, we have to take a look around and appreciate what we have and where we are. 

Slow down - Sometimes it can feel like life is moving 100 miles an hour, it's so important to know when it's time to stop. Just stop. Take a break. Life is not about a race. You can't achieve everything at once, it takes time. Give yourself credit for what you have achieved and the places you've reached. Sometimes you need to just take time off to just breathe, to rest and to let it all sink in.

HI EVERYONE!