My sister is ten years younger than me and therefore i’m just old enough to have a good perspective on what’s important at her age, but not that old that I have forgotten what she’s going through and why she does what she does. She is the one that has been blessed with the musical ability in our family, and yes I am very jealous! Over the years she has won various trophies and awards for her participation in local events and we are all very proud. It just so happens that recently she took part in a local arts festival and had to play the piano as part of a duet, and also solo. If you bear in mind that she is now 14, you can imagine what a nightmare it is to get her to do anything, let alone to practice her piano pieces. The piano teacher had been on the phone a couple of times in the previous weeks telling her she needs to practice more and she promised she would.. and then painted her nails instead. She performed her duet at the event with her friend (who is a few grades above my sister and has been playing piano for about 5 years longer) and they did well. They came second in their category. My sister was not happy with this as she expected to come first, even without much practice, and therefore she decided that she wasn’t going to do her solo piece. Basically the moral of the story is that you cannot get what you want without making an effort. Also, it is hard to make an effort when the basis of your existence at 14 years old is all about NOT making an effort. I think she’s learned her lesson.

I’ve had a few different office jobs over the past five years where I have been sat at a desk behind a computer, and over the past five years my back has been getting more and more painful. There may possibly be a link here. It is important to make sure your office furniture, and in particular your office seating is adequate for the amount of time you sit there.  In my current place of work I was impressed as they asked me when I started, and again a while later, if my work station was adequate and if I needed any adjustments; such as a screen platform, a foot rest and a different chair. I have since been thinking that I would like a cushion and a throw over my chair to make it more comfortable and I have started the process of “testing the water” to see if anyone has a problem with this. I have introduced my huge woollen pashmina, wrapped it round myself in the office and also draped it over my chair. No-one has said anything bad, and actually a colleague borrowed it when she was cold. I’m going to bring a cushion in next week and see how it goes with that. Might be a step too far, but at least I get to shop for a cushion!

I’ve lived in some weird and wonderful houses and flats in my time, and had various pieces of furniture in different houses. Some of it I have had to give away or store as it is simply too big for certain homes I have gone to. I was heartbroken when my favourite piece of furniture and bargain of the century (my huge squashy armchair) was too big to move with me to my most recent place, and now it sits at my parents house unloved and covered in my mother’s clothes. It also poses a problem that now when I have friends over there is no-where for them to sit as that chair used to house two people comfortably (no it’s not a sofa it’s just a really big chair, and yes it is that good!). A solution to my limited seating problem had to be reached, and it had to be reached quickly due to the impending arrival of the friends from Uni, and that solution eventually came in the shape of two giant leather bean bags which I purchased at the weekend. They are fabulous because not only are they comfortable enough to fall asleep on, they are easily shoved in the cupboard when I don’t need them, in order to create space! Excellent!

There are some people who know what they want to do with their life from an early age. Some want to be a Doctor, some want to be an Archaeologist, some want to work at Mcdonalds and be an Air Hostess (yes that was me before I discovered I was a “homebird” who cared about the nutritional value of what I ate!) These things can change obviously, and the vast majority of people I know just muddle through doing things they are quite good at, myself included. After she finished University one of my best friends decided that she was going to take some time out and go on a voyage of discovery. She had done a Psychology degree but was not sure of her direction or purpose. After much research into various locations including Japan, Canada and Australia she decided that she was going to go to Africa on a specialised wild animal experience where she was working at an Animal Sanctuary, living in a tent and caring for the wild animals etc. She looked at various Africa Holidays after she decided on the location, and made sure she chose the package that was right for her. The research was invaluable and is my number one rule for anyone planning a similar experience. The moment she got back she told me she had found her calling.. she wanted to work with animals, so she started to volunteer at a local Vet’s practice. Two years later she is in her final stages of becoming a Vet Nurse and is incredibly happy with her job. Are you one of these people who are not happy with your current direction? Consider taking a leaf out of my friend’s book. She says it was the best thing she ever did.

There are various things you can do with a tiny budget to bring your house into the 21st Century. A couple of little tips would be to add a colourful throw and a couple of cushions to your sofa for an instant pep up, to clear the clutter from each room and just have on show some striking ornaments or focal pieces, or even to create a focal wall in a dull room with some designer wallpaper. These are all fabulous tips, however my newest trick is to pay attention to the little things such as the handles on your kitchen doors, wardrobe, bedroom and living room doors, and to keep your eyes peeled for pretty and individual kitchen door handles, curtain rail ends, and various other handles and knobs which will add a bit of sparkle and individuality to each room. It might be just a little change but it will add a big difference to the feel of the room. If you’ve got a metallic or wooden bed with high head and foot boards and prominent corners you can even add decoration to them. Curtain rail ends are good for this as (depending on the bed) you can just remove the original corner decoration and stick the decorative fixtures on. Simples!

So i’m going to reach the grand old age of a quarter of a century this year and i’ve been feeling my age.  There are various things you should do before you reach certain ages and i’ve been contemplating various crazy ideas to make me feel alive and giddy (bear in mind i’m not the most adventurous of people).  From now on i’ve resolved to go to a different country every year and also to upgrade my wardrobe, which i’m sure is on every girl’s list, but I need something a bit out of the ordinary to say “yes, I did this”. Aside from having my tongue pierced, going on an extreme sports holiday or quitting my job to go backpacking I wasn’t having much luck.. until I was driving home and spotted a stripy hot air balloon on the horizon.  So i’ve decided that it’s quite an accomplishment (also bear in mind that i’ve got vertigo), and something I’ll definitely remember in another 25 years, so i’m going to go on a hot air balloon ride. Imagine being hundreds of feet in the air and looking down on the beautiful countryside. Yes I will be terrified but i’m never going to jump out of a plane or do a bungee jump so I reckon it’s the closest I’ll get.  What do you plan to do before your next birthday?

The main thing you need after a long day at the office, a particularly long shopping trip or after day out with the family is to relax. So when you come home and the house is a tip you end up spending your time clearing up and rushing around when the only thing you need is your own little haven to retreat to and relax. I would recommend choosing a room in your house (your living room if possible) and turning it into the only place where clutter and stress are not allowed. If you do choose your living room, ideally you will have a centrepiece, if possible a fireplace which you can arrange yourself and your furniture around to create a place where you can truly relax. If you are creating this space from scratch, make sure you look at a variety of fireplaces to ensure you pick something which fits your room in size and style. A fireplace is always nice but not essential if you do not have access to such an area. You might want to create a focal area using a large piece of art or a plant etc. Once you have this focal piece you need to find something comfy to sit or lie on (a squishy sofa, beanbag or chair is perfect), and surround yourself with cushions, throws and the like. Basically whatever makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. Add a chill-out CD, a glass of wine, shut the door and gaze into the fire. It’s as if stress never existed!

Working from home can be a huge bonus, or a massive hindrance depending on the environment you have to work in. I remember all the distractions and the ‘non-work’ I did whilst I was at University, mostly due to the fact that my workstation was not adequate for its purpose. It was basically myself, sat on my bed or on the communal sofa with a laptop on my knee and my books strewn around me. I managed, and I came out with a good grade, however I can’t help thinking that I could’ve got a first class degree if I had some space, some fit-for-purpose office furniture and of course spent less time socialising! If you have the opportunity to work from home, make sure that you set aside a specific area to work in; your “office away from the office”. This is essential in getting your mind trained into “work mode” as soon as you sit down. Make sure that your home office is clean, uncluttered and that your furniture is comfortable and large enough for everything you need. You might want to try putting some fresh flowers on your desk and making sure you have good lighting by getting a fabulous lamp to put by your desk. Add your pyjamas and fluffy slippers (as everyone else who works from home does!) and you’ve got the perfect set up for a productive and enjoyable day!

So you go to work and then go home, tea, Coronation Street, Eastenders, tidy up and then bed. Every day. And at the weekend you mooch around, do the washing and ironing, go round to a mate’s house, go to the pub, go home. Same pub, same house, same routine. You’re stuck in a rut.

Basically you need to add “a lick of paint” to your life and find some excitement. So here are a couple of ideas that you can do to make a difference and brighten up your days;

-Join an evening class. You know how five years ago you were going to join a cookery class or an Indian head massage class but never got around to it? Well do it. None of us are getting any younger and you never know who you might meet and what skills you might learn.

-Go to a different pub. One you’ve never been to before. You’ll probably bump into new people you know or might never have met and it’s guaranteed to mix things up a little. If it’s rubbish move onto a different pub.

-Arrange a day out with your oldest friends to catch up and get to know each other again. Everyone neglects their old friends as they get new interests and jobs, so it will allow you to reminisce and remember where you thought you would be by this age. And hopefully encourage you to do something about it if you’re not quite there.

-Make some cakes or brownies or pick some flowers and take them round to an elderly relative who you haven’t seen for a while. It might not change your life but it will make a great deal of difference to theirs and will make you feel really good.

-Make a list of places you know but have never been to within reasonable travelling distance and make plans to visit them.

Obviously the list is endless.. all you need to do is recognise that you are stuck in a rut and ask yourself “am I happy to keep doing this for the rest of my life?”. If not do something about it!

Here are a few ideas to make your day and add a “lick of paint” to your life;

-Pick a few people in your life that you respect for a certain reason (perhaps for their ability to get through a bad time or their cheery disposition!) and arrange to go out for lunch or a drink with them.  They should inspire you to develop yourself and give you ideas on how to do this, as well as lifting your mood and expanding your social life.
-Be organised. Even if it is just clearing up the clutter in your favourite room and making sure you keep it tidy. A tidy home equals a tidy mind and will let you concentrate on more important things. Organising your home will also save you time if you maintain it because you will know where everything is!
-Wear a bright colour such as purple, yellow or red. These colours are said to symbolise luxury, energy, passion and power.  There are common colour stereotypes we are all socially accustomed to (such as dark colours symbolising misery, red symbolising passion and white symbolising purity etc), as well as vast amounts of psychological evidence that states that colour affects your mood. You are making a positive and confident statement to the world and yourself by stepping out in a bright colour.