Saturday, 7 October 2017

Time management during a stressful period



Stress...

Who doesn’t know this feeling?! I guess it’s normal, especially, if you have a full time job, some important hobbies and your own blog.

Form e the stressful time is usually around September/October. The school year starts again, choir starts again, I might be involved in a show on stage etc. Since I started working in the committee of my choir, I always have work to do fort hem. It’s totally fine, because I really enjoy it. A choir rehearsal also takes up an evening and if there is a show too, it’s more rehearsals of curse. This year I’m only helping at the bar, but of course I volunteered to help out in another choir again ;). That’s typical me, but I had to say yes, because I have always wanted to sing this mass (Latin Jazz Mass by Martin Völlinger). Besides teaching and preparing, I also have a new students coming for university, so I get to be a coach again. And, I have agreed to write a teaching plan for a children’s book. I still want to read and blog at the same time, so the hours of the day are just not enough sometimes. I know, all my decisions and I could have said yes, but actually, it’s not too much for me at all, it’s all thanks to time management.

Time management is vital when it comes to organizing different parts of your life. I have prepared a lot for the school year in the summer holidays. I try to do most of my work at school, so when I get home I can relax and focus on other things. This is very important. At home and on the weekends I set myself time frames for the things I want to do. I always try not to spend too much time working on or doing one thing, short periods of time help to keep the focus. Breaks in between are equally as important. Whether it’s some water, a bit of food or just relaxing, but it makes you stay awake and keep up the motivation.

Planning and organizing are part of my life. I am a big planner and I need this. So I have a lot of to-do lists, files and a set place for my things. It makes scheduling and time management a lot simpler, you can access things easily and you save time.

Sometimes you need a big break, so holidays are definite must. You can refuel and fill up your energy and motivation. Find some time for your hobbies as well. For me this is reading and music. They make me forget everything around me.

Spending time with your family and friends is also very important. You can be yourself and forget about everything else for a while. If something bothers you, you can talk to them.

SLEEP!!! Your energy needs to come from somewhere right?! This is also connected to living healthy. Drink a lot of water, eat healthy and maybe some sports from time to time (this is the point, I really have to work on myself).

Having your goals set and always in mind is a key “ingredient”. It keeps you focus and you should always know what you want. Always know what is important to you! Prioritize! What needs to be done NOW, what can you do later?!

If you have deadlines, don’t leave the task until the end, always give yourself enough time. You never know what happens, you might need more time, so always be on the safe side.

I hope some of my tips are helpful for you. Let me know about your little time management tricks. 

Thursday, 5 October 2017

The Snow Globe – by Judith Kinghorn

Original Cover
My own copy

The blurb:

A beautiful story of enduring love and heartbreaking choices. 
As Christmas 1926 approaches, the Forbes family are preparing to host a celebration at Eden Hall. Eighteen-year-old Daisy is preoccupied by a sense of change in the air. Overnight, her relationship with Stephen Jessop, the housekeeper’s son, has shifted and every encounter seems fraught with tension. Before the festivities are over, Daisy has received a declaration of love, a proposal and a kiss – from three different men. Unable to bear the confusion she flees to London and stays with her elder sister. 
By the following summer, Daisy has bowed to the persistence of the man who proposed to her the previous year. When the family reunite for a party at Eden Hall and Stephen is once more in her life, it is clear to Daisy she is committing to the wrong person. Yet she also believes that family secrets mean she has no choice but to follow her head instead of her heart. Will love conquer all, or is Daisy’s fate already written?

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I was really intrigued by the blurb of this book and the cover is mysterious and interesting.

The story follows Daisy, who suddenly finds herself between three different men. One told her he loves her, the other proposed and the last one kissed her. Daisy is confused and leaves to stay with her sister. Daisy needs to make a decision. On top of that she is surrounded by her family at Eden Hall and family secrets get into the storyline as well.

I had to admit that I found it really hard to get into the story. There were a lot of characters and a lot of things came together, that was confusing for me.

The descriptions of the time and details in the atmosphere kept me in the book. This is really a point I liked a lot about this book.

It’s not an exciting page-turner, but the book has some special moments.


Rating:




Judith Kinghorn on Twitter: @judithkinghorn

Wednesday, 4 October 2017

Book of the Month - September


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The books I read this month:

-       Reach for the Starts – by Colleen Coleman 4/5
-       A Very Vintage Christmas – by Tilly Tennant 5/5
-       Kindness – by Jaime Thurston 5/5
-       We’ll Always Have Christmas – by Jenny Hale 5/5
-       The Honey Trap – by Karli Perrin 5/5
-       Keep You Safe – by Melissa Hill 5/5
-       I Heart Forever – Lindsey Kelk 5/5
-       Christmas at Mistletoe Cove – by Holly Martin 5/5
-       Moonlight over Manhattan – Sarah Morgan 5/5
-       Playing Defense – by Aven Ellis 5/5
-       The Snow Globe – by Judith Kinghorn 3/5

OMG, I read so many fabulous books this month, which makes this decision so hard! I went for the one I ADORED most!

I Heart Forever – Lindsey Kelk

The bit on the back:

Angela Clark is back in a brand new I Heart novel, the long-awaited 7th in the million-copy bestselling series.

Angela, Alex and Jenny are back! Just as everyone thinks they’ve settled down, Jenny’s life changes and Angela finds herself in her biggest scrape ever. The brilliant new I HEART novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Lindsey Kelk.



My opinion:

I was hooked from the start! I wanted to know, how the story continued every time I put the book down, but at the same time I didn’t want it to end. Lindsey Kelk created a fabulous world around these characters, it’s set in New York and it’s just AWESOME!!!
I HEART IT!!!!!! SO MUCH!!!!!


Lindsey Kelk on Twitter: @LindseyKelk