Being Happy...

I know this is a bit of a random subject, but it's just something I've felt like writing for a while and I'm feeling philosophical :). This isn't a post on "how to be happy" I'm no expert on that! But I just though I'd write about what I feel about happiness. After all, life is about being happy, right?! 

Being happy, it sounds so simple. But I know for many people it's not. Different things make us happy, whether it's the big things in life, or all the simple, little things that all add up to make our lives what they are. I know when I was younger, in my teenage years, sometimes I just felt I struggled to be happy. I wouldn't go as far as saying I was depressed, but I think you're teenage years are a very confusing time; you're riddled with hormones, you don't really know who you are and you're under a lot of pressure to be and look a certain way. If you're in this position, I think you just have to remember that you're situation is not permanent, things will change and get better and those people who put you down will most likely end up being losers later on in life. Horrible people have very few true friends remember.

As I got older I just seemed to wake up feeling happy more often. I'm not sure what changed to be honest, my confidence has improved a lot and I know that if I want something in life then I just need to go out and get it. I've also learnt not too worry too much, things do have a way of working out. I also do try to believe everything happens for a reason. If your boyfriend breaks up with you, just try to think that he wasn't the one. Obviously you don't just get over someone in a day, but it does help to stay positive. 

There are some things in my life that are big and scary, and could get worse anytime soon, and although sometimes I do get really upset about the situation, I try not to panic and live every day being happy. Even if it just means watching your favourite tv programme at the end of a long hard day, if it's something that you can look forward to and will make you happy, then do it. 

I think self confidence does determine a huge amount of how happy we are, of course along with having a loving and supporting set of family and friends. If you are confident you do feel like you can take anything life throws at you. Confidence is something I'm still working on. It's important to love your family and not take them for granted, as they are truly the only people in your life that you know will stick around. As for friends, I find it's better to have a small group of close friends, rather than a large group of extended friends. I know my friends will always be there for me when I need them, and I can honestly see us still being friends when we are old biddies. 

Appreciate the little things in life. That's where I think happiness lies. Take everything a day at a time and try not to overthink things. It will work out :).  Always have hope, even when things are looking really dark. Get rid of the negative things in your life, if they are bringing you down you don't need them. Whether that be a job or a boyfriend or anything else. Look after your body too, that will give you confidence. Hold your head high, you're just as important as anyone else. Embrace what you have and remind yourself what you're good at and what makes you, you. Be the best version of you, not a poor copy of someone else. Everyone has down days when you just don't want to get out of bed. This is normal and sometimes it's just your body's hormones reaping havoc. Do what makes you happy, even if that means taking a risk, you'll only regret it if you don't. 

Being independent can make you happy, I took a risk when I went to uni, I was terrified but I went out there, completely out of my comfort zone, I used to be terrified of getting the bus alone but I got on the train to the nearest shopping centre and went out there and got myself a job. I felt proud of myself for doing something that scared me.  

I'm sorry if this post was a bit deep for some of you, but I want my blog to be honest and have some depth to it for those who need help. It's also quite a reflective post on my part too, as I think some of the things I've mentioned I've managed to overcome in the last couple of years. I promise my next post will be nice and light ;).

Becca 

xx 

Why We Should Drink Water!

So recently I've been trying to drink my two litres a day, and I am happy to say I'm succeeding on most days of the week! Since starting this it has made me realise how important water really is to our health. So I thought I would share the benefits of this simple stuff!

Firstly, you're not hungry, you're thirsty! When you feel a bit peckish chug down a glass of water and see if it helps! Also drinking water before and during meals helps you eat less by making you feel fuller, which can aid in wait loss if that is something you're aiming for.

One of the main reasons I drink a lot of water is to benefit my skin. When I've been having my 8 a day I definitely notice and improvement in my overall complexion and clearness of my skin! I noticed an improvement just after a couple of weeks, so try it and see if you do too!

It helps flush out all the nasty toxins in our bodies, when I drink a glass of water I imagine it flushing out all the bad things. If you feel a headache coming on you should reach for a glass of water, as you are probably dehydrated! Also if you are not getting enough water then your body will begin to store it, making you look bloated! So drink a lot you so your body doesn't need to do this.

I have read many times that you have more energy when drinking water, however I cannot really verify this because I started drinking more water around the same time that I started going to the gym regularly, which is an energy boost in its self, but it should help you feel more refreshed. It is also a great idea to keep sipping water when you are studying or working hard, as it helps your brain function and keeps you feeling refreshed! I definitely think this helps me when I am revising/writing essays.

Did you know your body is 70% water and your brain 90%? That's a lot that needs replenishing so drink up!

However I would definitely recommend just drinking tap water! I won't bore you by going into details, but bottled water is very expensive for what it is and it causes many problems for the areas around the world that it is sourced from. If you don't like the thought of drinking tap water, buy one of those nifty filter jugs! It gives it a "posh" taste ;). Along with the waste plastic bottles that are produced, just buy a bottle and refill for a cheap and eco friendly alternative :).

I know some of you may now be thinking "how do I drink all this water in one day?!" this is what I used to think, but now it's just habit and I even crave it! So here are a few tips:

As soon as you wake up, pour yourself a big glass of water and guzzle it down. It will take you less than two minutes! Your body hasn't had any fluids in hours and its probably dehydrated, if you wake up feeling groggy you probably just need some water to solve that!

If you're a gym bunny like me, drink at least a bottle of water there, you need to make up for all that water you sweat out!

Carry a bottle of water with everywhere you go. I always have one in my handbag, I couldn't function without it now! It also saves me a lot of money as I always have a drink at hand. If your bag is too small you could just keep it in your car or buy a mini bottle :).

Try to drink a glass of water with every meal, this will make you feel fuller and aid digestion.

Sometimes you may not feel thirsty at all, but once you start to drink you often find you are, so try to have a drink anyway!

Personally I always seem to get really thirsty at night, about 8pm when I'm sat watching TV. This is when I usually drink a lot as this offsets the cravings I usually get at this time too! However be mindful not to drink too much an hour before bed, unless you want to keep getting up for the toilet!

I hope this has helped anyone that didn't understand why we need water so much. I cannot recommend it enough, it is literally the cheapest and best beauty and health treatment! It just makes me feel clean and healthy when I drink it.

If anyone has anything they would like to share please comment below! <3

I'll leave you with some yummy looking pictures I took earlier! Add whatever you like if you want a bit more flavour, berries, lemon, cucumber etc. Lemon will give an energy boost too!