The 6 Steps to Starting and Keeping Good Habits

Elli3 Comments

We all have those days where we feel too tired to do our daily chores, to work, to exercise.

However much we hate to admit it, keeping up these habits is actually really important to our overall health.

Keep reading to learn the steps to keeping up good habits!

1. Start Small.

When beginning a healthy habit that you want to keep up in the long run, you might want to jump right in and start doing the rough work immediately.

However, if you’re planning on doing this every day, sometimes you can get demotivated or bored even after just a little while.

My best advice for keeping healthy habits is to start with something small, and work your way up.

If you want to exercise more, start with a small ten minute workout every day, and slowly work your way up to twenty minutes, thirty minutes, and so on.

You know you can do it if you try, but it’s better for your body and mind to take it slow and get used to this new routine before it gets hard.

2. Create a Schedule.

Most people love creating schedules, so hopefully this is a fun part of the process for you!

Create a daily, weekly, or monthly list of what you’re going to do each day. I like to include time frames into my schedule for how long a task will take, but this option is up to you!

A great idea is to hang it up in your office, bedroom, or any place in your house that you visit the most. If you see it every day, you’ll be reminded of what your goal is!

Decorating this schedule is a fun idea, too! Make it motivating by adding quotes, using different coloured pens, or just make it into something that will keep you smiling.

3. Have a Vision.

When I say ‘have a vision’, I mean that you should have a clear idea of where you want to be in a week, or a month, or maybe even a year.

Write down where you want to be after doing this habit for a certain amount of time, and what your goal is.

Ways you can express your vision are by writing about it, drawing a picture, or even creating a vision board!

4. Get Started.

Now it’s your first day of starting this routine. You’ve woken up early to get a head start, and are excited to see how this habit will help with your mental and physical health.

However, after doing this for a couple of days, it starts to seem less simple than you once thought.

Whenever you want to give up, remember your goal and vision, and tell yourself that you’ll thank yourself for starting this routine in a month.

I know that this is the case with me, where I’ve always had trouble keeping up an exercise routine. However, lately I’ve been starting to find fun ways to do it, which leads us to the next task.

5. Change it to Your Preferences.

If you’re not enjoying how your routine is set up, then the best solution is to find a way to make it more entertaining and fitting for you.

If you’ve been going on the treadmill every day, but have realized that doing this is boring, then either find a way to make this more fun, like listening to podcasts or music, or change the tasks altogether and start jogging around your neighborhood instead!

If you realize you have more short-term concentration than long-term, and it’s difficult for you to concentrate on finishing work or chores over a long period of time, then start doing them in short intervals.

Finding and fixing your weak spots will make your habits stronger and more likely to stay in the long run.

6. Celebrate!

After setting and completing a goal, be sure to celebrate! Do something fun that feels like a reward for reaching your vision.

However, this isn’t the end. If you finish doing the task just because you’ve reached your goal, then how are you going to keep yourself where you stopped?

Keeping up habits can be hard and frustrating at times, but remember to keep your eyes on the prize, and you’ll be proud of yourself when you hit your goal.

6 Fun Ways to Sort Out Your Bookshelf

Elli4 Comments

Is your bookshelf looking a little boring these days?

There are many different and easy ways to have an aesthetically pleasing bookshelf for your Pinterest-worthy room!

#1: By Author

By far the most used, yet most boring, form of sorting books, is sorting by author!

Sorting books out by author is used by libraries and most book stores, and is the most efficient way to locate books (If you can remember the name of the author, that is) because all of the books in a series can be put next to each other.

It’s good to sort your books out like this if you have a large bookshelf, and have trouble locating the books easily.

#2: Alphabetically by Title

This is another good way to sort books if you have a large bookshelf.

If you have trouble remembering the author, you’ll find it easier to locate the book you’re looking for if they’re sorted by title.

However, you won’t be able to put books in a series together, since their titles start with different letters, which can be unfortunate.

#3: Sorted by Colour

This is a really fun way to organize your books!

Sort out your books by colour of the cover, so that they are in rainbow order when put on your bookshelf.

From reds to blues to browns to whites, they’ll all be sorted in a colourful and appealing pattern.

If your books have more than one prominent colour on the cover, either just sort it by the most space taken up by a colour, or have a special section for multi-coloured covers.

#4: Unique and Fun

Stacking books on top of one another, making some face forward, and putting decor on your shelves are all great ways to make them look fun!

Horizontally, vertically, and diagonally organized books make your shelves look more unique than just having books lined up next to each other.

You can also add bits of decor or knick-knacks along your shelves next to and in front of your books to add a unique touch of colour.

#5: Sorted by Genre

Sorting books by genre can easily separate your dystopian sci-fi books from your unrelated romance or horror books, and can lead to a nice, neat and organized looking bookshelf.

I prefer this method myself because my bookshelf isn’t that big.

All of my classics, fantasy, dystopian, and non-fiction books are separated into different parts of my shelf.

#6: Hardcover and Paperback

I use this method on my shelf, as well!

Put all of your hardcover and paperbacks on different parts of your bookshelf to give it a clean and interesting look.

This way of sorting out books that’s appealing to the eye, since all of the smaller and larger books are separated from each other.

There are so many ways to organize your bookshelf, so make sure to pick the right way, one that you like, and fits the look of your room.

Have fun decorating!

Image: Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

My Thoughts on the Moral of ‘Animal Farm’ – a Thought Provoking Classic

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Animal Farm by George Orwell is a beautifully-written, captivating story about how power can change anyone (people and animals) for the worse.

Genre: Dystopian Fiction, Satire

The animals on the farm of Mr. Jones’s have had enough. Believing that animals are equal to people, they decide to rebel against Mr. Jones, and clear out all of the humans from the area. Once they’ve completed their goal, they’re proud of what they’ve accomplished. All they have to do now is make a life for themselves, on their farm.

The pigs, the most intellectual of all the animals, begin to take charge in organizing the farm. But as time goes on, the pigs’ power over the rest gets a little bit out of hand. So much so that the reader begins to wonder; was the revolution really successful?

When I first began reading Animal Farm, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that it was written in the 1940s, and that it was a loved and memorable classic by the people who read it.

When I first opened the book, and there were animals that were talking, I thought that it was just going to be cheesy, about animals saving the day. So I didn’t read it.

Until recently, when I picked up the book again, and decided to give it a second chance.

The thing is, if I hadn’t given up on the first page the first time, I would have understood that this book has a much more dark and memorable moral than what I got from first impressions.

This book has a lot more to it than animals suddenly showing consciousness and rebelling against their owners.

It’s about manipulation and power, and how greed can easily take over someone’s mind, if they aren’t conscious of it doing so, or if they think their motive is for the better.

The animals rely on their intellectual leaders to keep everything orderly and safe, to help create and build the utopian society that they all dream of living in.

But what is it with power, that even the most seemingly innocent of creatures that hold it can easily be taken over by a drive to control?

A form of reality is told within a book that is seemingly fairy tale, and as you read chapter after chapter, you begin to realize that something is off; someone is pulling at the strings.

Animal Farm is thought-provoking page-turner, and I highly recommend it!

How to Deeply Clean Your Bedroom – Ultimate Guide

Elli1 Comment

You’re sick and tired of having to put up with the cluttered space, but are too overwhelmed by how hard it is to start.

You want to clean and organize your room, but where on earth do you begin?

This list has every step that it takes to deeply and efficiently clean your room, even if it feels like it’s not possible.

Committing to Cleaning

While you may be in the mood to clean right now, do you know if you’ll end up finishing the job? Make sure your schedule is completely clear, since cleaning your room is a large commitment.

Remember that you also want to be in a good state-of-mind when you clean your space, or else you might get stressed too quickly from the amount of things it feels like you have to do.

Luckily, this guide is organized in a way that will make sure this process isn’t too overwhelming to you.

Getting Started

Before we jump into getting to the hard part of cleaning, let’s clear up your room first.

  • Gather everything that isn’t supposed to be in your room, and put it where it’s meant to go. This includes plates, bowls, orange peels – you get the idea.
  • Open the window. Let some fresh air in to energize you and put you in the cleaning mood!
  • Rid yourself of distractions. Ignore social media, turn off your phone, and forget about anything else that might take your focus away from cleaning.

Step #1: Make Your Bed

Before you even begin cleaning your room, be sure to start off by making your bed.

Your bed is usually the centerpiece of the room, and if it’s messy, then the whole room feels messy.

Make your bed, and organize all of your pillows and sheets to make it look neat and tidy.

Step #2: Compile Your Things

Let’s be real – doing this project one step at a time can take forever, and can be more difficult to sort out.

So how about we just jump into the thick of things and get started?

Take everything out of your dresser, closet (though you should ignore the clothes for now) nightstand, desk, from under your bed, and any other storage spaces in your room. Place everything on the floor in a pile.

This pile might be big, or it might be small. It doesn’t matter – we’ll get through it either way.

Take everything out of boxes and smaller storage, as well. Every little thing counts. Make sure not to break anything as you’re doing this, and treat all of your materials kindly so that you don’t wreck them.

Step #3: Sort it All Out

Now we get to sort through all of the items that you’ve just put into a pile.

Take a deep breath, and begin. Pick up items one at a time, and sort it into one of the following sub-piles:

  • Keep
    • Any item that you can’t live without, or love too much to part with, should go into the keep pile.
  • Doesn’t Belong
    • Items that you want to keep but don’t belong in your room go in this pile.
  • Sell
    • This pile is for things you don’t want to keep, but might be able to earn some money off of by selling.
  • Donate
    • Donating items is a great way to give back to others and know that your items are going to someone who needs it. Keep in mind that some places don’t allow certain items to be donated, so make sure you do your research. Also, make sure you only donate good-quality items, and dispose of the broken or dirty items in a different way.
  • Recycle
    • Things like used paper, cardboard, and other items, varying at different areas, are all recyclable. Sort all of the things you want to recycle in another pile. Remember to always be environmentally friendly when throwing things away.
  • Garbage
    • Put the items that you want to throw away in the garbage.

Everything that you’ve sorted should now have a home in a sub-pile. If not, create an ‘other’ pile.

If you’re questioning whether you need something, remember that if you haven’t used it in a month, a year, or not at all, you probably won’t need it in the future either.

Step #4: Boxes and Bags

Now that you’ve got all of your organized piles, find some boxes or bags to put your donate, sell, garbage, and recycle items in.

Go throw your recycle and garbage into the proper bins. Move everything that doesn’t belong in your room to its proper place elsewhere in the house.

Get your ‘sell’ and ‘donate’ boxes and move them out of your room to a place in your house where they won’t be blocking the way.

You’ll notice that your room is much more clean already, with all of that unneeded stuff out of the way.

Now your room only has one pile left, what do you do next?

Step #5: Clean Surfaces

If you surfaces are covered in dirt and dust, you should probably clean it off before you go any further.

Cleanse all of the spots that collect dust and grime by dusting and wiping it

Clean around your window frame, in the drawers, on your shelves, polish, and wipe any glass decor that you have.

Make all of your room’s surfaces as spotless as you can for that fresh, modern look.

Step #6: Organizing Your Keep Pile

Where will each object in your keep pile go, now that you’ve decided what you want to keep?

Look at all of the storage spaces that you have in your room. As an example; your papers, binders, and pens would probably go somewhere in your desk, while your small items would go in a box or your nightstand.

Pile them into these categories (I know, more sorting) and make sure that there is also enough space in your storage to put these items.

Step #7: Putting Your Stuff Away

Finally! It’s time to put all of your stuff away.

Going from one drawer to the next, put everything away in a neat, efficient fashion.

Sort things however you like. Try to make it aesthetically pleasing, and make sure it’s easy to locate the things that you need.

In my desk, I use a system where I put things that I frequently use where I can easily access them.

Step #8: Sort Your Clothes

Now we need to tackle clothes!

  • First, clean all of your dirty clothes so that you can see all of them at once together.
  • Take the clothes from your closet and dresser, and lay them out on your bed or a clean surface.
  • Look at which ones fit you and which ones don’t. Do any off them have stains or are ripped? There’s no point in keeping clothes that you can’t use anymore.
  • Sort the clothes that you like from the ones you don’t.
    • If you haven’t used a piece of clothing for over a month you probably wouldn’t use it again. However, don’t completely follow this rule if the reason that you haven’t worn the clothing is because it’s the wrong season to wear it.
    • Donating the clothes that you don’t like is a great way to give them more use, and is good for the environment. (Try to only donate clothes that are good quality, or follow the donation rules of the place you’re giving them to)

Fold all of the clothes that you’ve decided to keep and put them neatly away in your closet.

If you want to make your storage look even more tidy, there are many different ways to sort your clothes; you could do it by color, size, season, brand, and more!

Step #9: Clean Your Floors

A lot of dust and dirt had probably collected on your floor from when you put everything on the ground.

Be sure to clean all of that up by sweeping and vacuuming!

Step #10: Decorating

Since you’ve finished sorting through all of the stuff in your room, now’s the time to decorate it!

Any old paintings or pictures on your wall that you don’t want anymore? Replace them with new ones!

Pin up pictures, posters, calendars and whatever makes you feel happy.

Decorate the surfaces of your furniture with throw pillows, lighting, plants, and more!

Now your room is clean and organized, and you won’t have to stress about having to clean it anymore, because you’ve already done it! Make sure to keep it that way.

7 Ways to Get Over Book Hangover

Elli2 Comments

I’m sure most of you avid readers out there know what book hangover is. For those of you who don’t;

Yes, book hangover is a real thing.

Allow me to describe the stages of book hangover:

  • Shock.
    • You just finished the last page of an amazing book, and now you don’t know what to do next. You just… sit there. Staring at its cover. The story’s adventures all come flooding back.
  • Emptiness.
    • You then proceed to go on with your day. But you have this pit in your stomach. A feeling of emptiness. The only thing that will fill it is to read more of the story, learn more about the book. You need more.
  • Denial.
    • You look up everything you can about what you’ve just read. You learn more about the author, parts of the story that had slipped from your mind, and facts about the characters. There has to be something new to learn, right?
  • Make it Real.
    • You buy and make everything you can that’s related to the story. Things varying from posters to fact books. You even create a painting of your favorite quote from the book. If it’s a part of your life, why not express it? Real life then begins to feel boring.
  • I’m Fine.
    • You keep trying to convince yourself that you’re fine. You’ve gotten over it. It doesn’t matter to you any more. You might even believe yourself. But at one point, the wall you built comes crashing down, and you spiral back into your thoughts about the book again.
  • Regret.
    • You regret not having read the book slower. If you hadn’t read the book so fast, you would still have more to read now. Why did I stay up so late reading, when I could have saved so much of the story for today?

Book hangover can be hard on some people, since you’ve become so emotionally attached to a book and invested so much time into it. The fact that the characters’ story has just ended is a lot to take in.

To help you through this, here’s a list of things you can do to get over book hangover:

Write About It.

Get out a pen and paper and start writing about how you feel. Why did you love the characters so much? What was your favorite part of the story?

Pouring your emotions out on paper can help you look at your thoughts in a new and organized perspective. You can figure out why you’re feeling this way.

You can choose whether to keep these notes to yourself, or to share them with other people, like close family and friends.

Maybe you could even blog about it.

Do Something Adventurous.

Get out of the house and do something adventurous.

This could be a Netflix and chill night with your friends, joining a club, volunteering, or just going for a walk.

Prove to yourself that real life is way more enjoyable than the story. There is so much more you can be doing instead of sulking around. Create your own story. Have fun.

Face Your Fears.

Fear of heights? Go to a rock climbing gym.

Scared of clowns? Dress up as one for Halloween.

Try to challenge yourself. Take (healthy) risks that make you a better person. You want to be as brave as your favorite character? Become as brave as them.

Most importantly, make sure you learn something from your experience.

Get Someone Else Interested.

Share the book with your friends and family, and get them to read it.

This will make the loss of the story a little less hard, since you’re able to share you opinions on it with someone else.

Come Back to Reality.

Though it’s hard to come to terms with, the book you just read is fiction (most likely). The world, the plot, the characters, they aren’t real.

But you are.

Make the world a better place, and be a real hero in a world full of fictional ones.

Reflect on How You’ve Changed.

You were definitely different when you started the book to when you ended it. Were any of these changes caused by the book itself?

Has a character made you a better person? How so? Have you discovered a new passion? Have you learned something new?

Think about how the story has changed you for the better.

Move On.

It’s time to let go of the book.

You can’t keep holding on to something that won’t come back.

The story will always be with you, but right now it’s holding you back from new experiences. Make peace with it and move on. Find a new book.

Book hangover is the worst part of reading a good book. You know it’s going to happen, but you prefer to ignore it.

But eventually, it fades away. The pain will end, I promise!

Pros and Cons of Assigned Reading (From a Student’s Perspective)

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Schools are always assigning books for their students to read.

Usually it’s for a novel study, where they have to summarize the story and state what it means to them.

But is assigned reading really helping students improve, or is it just putting more pressure on them on top of the rest of their schoolwork?

Pros

#1: Engaged in What They’re Reading.

One of the reasons that students might not like reading is because they find it hard to stay engaged in a book.

However, when you are reading an assigned book, you have to pay more attention and write things down as you go.

Students will focus more on what they’re reading instead of zoning out and rereading paragraphs over and over again.

#2: Learning About Classic Writing Styles

The most common books that schools assign are classics.

Old classics can be difficult to read, but there are a lot of ways that students can learn from them.

There is a lot of information in them about what life was like at that time, and how the society ran. You also learn about what readers looked for and valued in books.

Reading assigned books can make you more well-rounded when it comes to old literature.

#3: Time Management

Since reading can take a while, students have to figure out how to manage their time correctly in order to finish it by the deadline.

Finding breaks in your schedule and bringing books along with you when you go somewhere are great ways for students to utilize their time.

If you want to learn more ways for how to get through a book quickly, click here.

Cons

#1: Difficult For Non-Readers.

Some students don’t read very often, and wouldn’t be used to having to read a large book before a deadline.

If you don’t enjoy reading that much, then how are you going to stay engaged when reading an assigned book, one that you have to remember the details on?

#2: Classics Can Be Boring.

Assigned books have a reputation for being boring.

They have hundreds of pages with tiny words, the old, hard-to-follow writing style, and long, descriptive paragraphs.

There are times when they aren’t, of course, when the reader is fully engaged in the story on the pages. But that isn’t very common, especially for students now.

It’s pretty easy to just lookup a summary of the story line instead.

More recent and modern stories are the best choices for students, since the language and writing style is easier to understand, and the characters are usually more relatable.

#3: There Isn’t Enough Time.

Homework, extracurricular activities, outside-school projects, friends, family, and work.

Can you see where I’m going with this?

If someone has all of these things going on, it can be pretty difficult to find time to read and write about a large, 400 page book.

Some students may even lose sleep, which is important for them to get when they’re doing all these activities every day.

In the end, this debate about assigned reading is more about opinion than fact. Some people hate assigned reading, and some people love it.

What has your experience been with assigned reading?

7 Ways to Stay Calm During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Elli1 Comment

By now, we all know about the infectious COVID-19 outbreak that’s spreading across the world. Everyone is in a state of panic, and have a right to be worried about how this will affect our society.

Schools are taking breaks, Disneyland is closed, and even entire countries are shutting down. This disease is taking a toll on the entire world.

Though this disease is nerve wracking to think about, it’s important to take care of ourselves by staying calm, healthy and happy.

Where do I start, you ask? Here are some ways for you to keep your mind and body relaxed, as well as keeping up with your social life.

#1: Don’t Take More Than You Need.

To support each other, we need to make sure that everyone is getting what they need to stay safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.

This means that you shouldn’t take more necessities than you need to help you and your family.

Make sure you get enough hygiene products like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and shower products, but don’t overload your cart with unnecessary extra items.

When you take more than you need, you are keeping others from staying healthy. If everyone isn’t able to stay hygienic during this time, it can lead to more spread within your community. Thinking about others as well as yourself in this situation is important.

#2: Help Others.

There are a lot of different ways you can help people at home or in your neighborhood.

Do your neighbors need supplies and are unable to get them themselves? Ask what they need, and go get it for them.

Is your younger sibling nervous? bored? Spend time with them and help them feel safe at home.

Make sure you and your family all feel safe and are taking care of yourselves, and remember to keep in touch with friends if they need someone to talk to, as well.

Be there to help and support people when they need it, even if they just want to talk.

#3: Continue Healthy Habits.

Don’t, I repeat, don’t, ignore your health. Find ways to exercise and keep your body healthy.

Go outside for a run if it’s safe, eat healthy meals, and drink enough water. If you have a treadmill or any other exercising equipment at home, be sure to take advantage of it and use it.

Watch and follow along with fitness videos online, do your daily workout routine if you have one, and save those chips that you’ve been eyeing for later.

#4: Keep Up With Hygiene.

I can’t stress this enough; Stay. Hygienic.

Wash your hands. And by wash your hands, I mean wash your hands. Do it often, as well.

Take regular showers, always use hand-sanitizer in public if you’re around a lot of people, and avoid close contact with strangers or people who were recently in a large crowd.

If you are showing multiple symptoms of the virus (Runny nose, fever, coughing, etc.) be sure to follow the instructions of your area’s health authorities.

#5: Calming Your Mind.

Staying calm and level-headed is essential in situations like these.

Try meditating if you haven’t already. I try to meditate at least a few times a week, and have noticed that it’s helped calm my anxiety significantly.

Do yoga exercises every day to reduce stress levels. Listen to calming music. Smell candles. Get some time in for instrument practice. Whatever it is that makes you feel happy.

#6: Go Online.

Stay connected by going online to see what’s happening in your community, and to keep you entertained.

Look through the latest news. I know that you wouldn’t expect me to say this, since this may lead to a build-up of worry, but you should stay up-to-date with what’s going on in your area.

Knowing what’s happening will help you plan, prevent, and protect yourself. Plus, it will make you feel more in-touch with the world, especially if your area is shut down.

Do what you normally do online. Go on social media, look through the news, and keep posting on your blog if you have one.

If you don’t have a blog, it would probably be a fun experience to start one! I’ve felt that blogging reduces my stress, since I’m finding ways to share my thoughts and interests with other like-minded people.

#7: Stay Entertained.

It may seem like there isn’t much to do to stay entertained at home at first glance, especially if you’re used to going out.

In reality, there’s actually a lot of things you can do.

  • Read. I’ve just started reading the Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, so I’ll definitely have something to read for the time being.
  • Board Games. A good way to spend time with your family is to play board games with them.
  • Video Games. If you enjoy video games like I do, then you’ve probably already been doing this a lot, so not much will change.
  • Movies/TV Shows. Bring out your favorite movies and TV shows as something to watch with your family and friends.
    • If you’re looking for a TV series to watch, then I here are my favorite recommendations that I’ve watched on Netflix for you to look into (if you haven’t watched them already):
    • Sherlock (BBC) for mystery lovers.
    • Gilmore Girls if you enjoy drama and comedy, and are willing to risk crying of happy-ness.
    • The Office; be ready to cringe, cry, and laugh within the span of one episode.
    • Stranger Things, to add a nice touch of action and horror to your day.
    • Glee for the music geeks and aspiring singers.
  • Hobbies. Create a painting of your emotions. Write about the newest drama. Bake delicious cookies for your family. Continue doing your favorite hobbies.
  • Socialize. Keep in touch with your friends and relatives through social media, and call or text them whenever you want to talk.

Be sure to continue life as normally as possible, even if you have to do it inside your house or area. Don’t forget to stay calm, stay safe, and wash your hands.

How You Know You’ve Found the Perfect Book

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Photo by Nong Vang on Unsplash

You’re searching through the bookstore, taking a look around, thinking you won’t buy anything.

Then, a book catches your eye. You were drawn to it because of its cover and title.

You grab it and read the description. ‘It’s worth a shot,’ you think, so you buy it and put it on your bookshelf. Later that day, you decide to start reading it.

Then, out of the blue, it’s over. Sadness flows through you. You’ll never get to see the characters again, and even if you reread it, it won’t be the same. There are no more surprises.

You sit there with the book in your hands, remembering the adventures, trying to come back to reality.

Eventually, the emptiness fades away. But that book will always have a place in your heart.

#1: It Grabs Your Attention Immediately.

It doesn’t take long before you are fully invested in reading the book. You’re only focused on the words on the page, and the world around you seems to disappear.

Maybe you fell in love with it since the first sentence. Your mind can’t engage in anything else except for this amazing story.

#2: There’s NO Way You’re Stopping.

How long has it been since you’ve eaten? And weren’t you planning on running all of your errands today? What about going to the gym?

None of this seems to matter when you’ve found the perfect book.

The book draws you in, as if it were magic. You just keep turning the pages.

You even make plans to stop, ‘right after you finish this chapter,’ or ‘after you’re done this page’. But something big happens in the story, and you just need to know the outcome.

#3: What Time is it Again?

Time begins to fly really fast.

You were so sure that it was only 12:00 pm, but all of the sudden when you look at the clock, it’s 2:00 pm.

But you just shrug your shoulders and keep going.

#4: It’s Always On Your Mind.

You finally decide to get up and go do something productive with your day.

But no matter what you do, you can’t shake the book from your mind.

You keep trying to predict what will happen next, while you’re at work or at school. No matter how hard you try to ignore it, questions and answers are always forming in the back of your mind.

#5: You Slow Down.

You’ve been trying to get through the book for so long now. But then you realize you’re on the last few pages.

So you begin to read slower. You savor this moment, where you still don’t know what will happen, where you can still enjoy the characters’ company.

And then it’s over. Now what will you do?

#6: Remembering the Good Times.

The book is over. You reread the last sentence, and then slowly close it.

You sit in the same spot, staring into space.

When will you ever find a book as good as this one? Will there ever be another good book out there?

Life begins to feel really boring at this point.

All of the memories come back to you now. Your favorite parts of the story, times when the book had a big twist or reveal, which characters you liked the most…

If you have a favorite book, then you’ve probably gone through some, if not all, of these stages.

Finding a perfect book can give you a new perspective on how you live your life, and even change you for the better.

I’ve learned a lot of things from reading, and wouldn’t be the person I am today without the guidance of the characters that I aspire to be.

‘A Dog’s Purpose’ by W. Bruce Cameron, the Perfect Story for Dog Lovers

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A Dog’s Purpose, written by W. Bruce Cameron, is a touching and heartfelt story that any dog lover will embrace.

Genre: Fiction

Description:

When Bailey passed away the first time, he was reborn as a different dog. He wonders why he came back, and sets off to discover the meaning of his life. He then meets his owner, a young boy named Ethan, and the two are inseparable. They have a rare connection that anyone would be lucky to have. Bailey passes away, believing that he has discovered his purpose. Until he’s reborn again, when he realizes that he’s far from finished.

Have you ever wondered what goes on inside of a dog’s head? A Dog’s Purpose explores the idea of what dogs are really thinking, and what they go through in their lifetime.

If you haven’t read this book, then you should go grab it from your local bookstore or library and start reading it today.

A Dog’s Purpose will find its way into your heart, and stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it. There’s something really beautiful about this book, as it demonstrates the deep connection between dog and owner.

I immediately fell for Bailey the dog, which caused problems for me every time he passed away or was hurt. It can be a difficult book to read if you’re sensitive to the sad parts in stories.

A Dog’s Purpose is an easy read, and the story flows very smoothly. It’s understandable, and has an interesting plot line that keeps you engaged throughout the entire book.

Many likable (and not so likable) characters are integrated into this story, both human and canine. Bailey is treated poorly and neglected by some of his owners, which is unfortunately similar to what some pets go through in real life.

Bailey is a caring and selfless dog, that loves his owners unconditionally. He always wants his owners to be happy. If you have a dog, you’ll probably be able to relate to this story.

This story shows the true dedication that dogs have toward helping people, and will make you look at your pet in a new way.

How to Read a Book Quickly (Tips and Tricks)

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I enjoy reading and writing – a lot. It’s one of my favorite hobbies.

But sometimes I forget that I have more important things to do than read that book that has been sitting on my shelf for weeks.

Thus, I continue to order books from the library, even though I know I won’t have time to get through them before they’re due. They end up lying around my house, waiting to be opened.

Whether you have too many school textbooks to get through, or just need to start that interesting-looking novel, it can be difficult to find time to start a story, let alone get through it entirely.

Below are a list of tips that will help you find time to read, while still keeping your schedule on track!

#1: Schedule Your Time

If you like keeping a clean and organized schedule, you should try this simple and common trick.

Divide the amount of pages in a book by the number of days you get to read them. If you have to read 600 pages, and have 12 days to read them all, then you should read 50 pages per day.

This trick can help you stay organized and keep from feeling overwhelmed. You can also think about the amount of hours that you’re willing to spend each day on the book.

If you’re reading a 300 page book at 60 pages an hour, it will take you 5 days to finish it when reading for an hour a day.

#2: Bring a Book Everywhere

Whether you’re waiting for an appointment, sitting on a bus, or even in the bathroom, these are all great times to bring a book with you. You’ll see how much faster you can get through a book if you utilize all of your free time each day.

I try to bring a book with me everywhere, and it can be handy when you’re feeling bored or waiting for someone.

You can also download an app with audio books, so that you can listen to the stories from your phone. I do this when I’m exercising.

Reading books whenever you can will help you stay entertained and focused, along with making use of your free time.

#3: Set Goals

You want to read the book faster, right? Set goals for yourself to work toward to.

Find ways to make your goals fun, so that you’ll enjoy reading, and won’t feel like it’s a chore.

You could test your attention span by summarizing what you’ve just read after each chapter, or see how far through the book your friends are and try to beat them. The possibilities are endless!

Make sure to create reading goals that work with the rest of your schedule, and are comfortable for you – don’t try to read 100 pages an hour if you usually read 60. Most importantly, make sure that you’re still enjoying and processing information from the book, and not just glancing at the pages!

#4: Stop Early

A simple fact; if you don’t enjoy a book, stop reading it.

If you’re daydreaming, and reading feels like a waste of time, then the book probably isn’t enjoyable. It’s best just to move on to the next. A boring book takes the joy out of reading.

Of course, there will be times when you’re forced to read a book for school or work. Here are some ways that you can stay engaged:

  • Take notes. Jot down important topics and connections that you have to the story to stay focused.
  • Read it with a friend. Being able to talk to a friend about what you’re reading and to recall what you’ve learned is a great way to stay motivated. This is an especially good tip if you are reading this for school, as you and your classmate can study together.
  • Read aloud. Whenever you find yourself drifting off, try to talk aloud to yourself. Keep repeating information that doesn’t make sense to you until it does.
  • Be free of distractions. When we’re bored, we look for more interesting things to do. This could be like checking social media, talking to a friend, or getting up to go do something unrelated. Make sure you are in a quiet place that is clear of distractions. If you have nothing else to focus on except for reading the book, then you’re more likely to read the book.

#5: Join a Book Club

In book clubs, there is usually a scheduled time where you have to finish a book. If everyone is relying on each other to finish it, do you really want to be the one to let them down?

This tip might just give you the push you need to practice reading more often. It’s also helpful if you don’t know what book to read, since most book clubs give assigned books, or ones that you all choose together.

You could always ask a friend or family member to join you, since it can sometimes be a bit daunting to be with a group of strangers. If there isn’t a book club in your community, why not make one with your family and friends?

#6: Test Your Limits

Books should usually be read at your own pace and enjoyed thoroughly, but you should try reading at a slightly faster pace once in a while.

Time how fast you can read a page and still retain the information. Try to slowly increase this speed the more you read. Doing so will eventually help you process the story’s information quickly.

You can also compete with others to see who can finish the book first over the course of a few days. Competition is always great motivation.

#7: Reward System

We don’t all feel like just reading the book is enough of a reward.

Find ways to reward yourself for reading.

Anything from giving yourself a piece of candy after finishing a page, to going out to a party or to see your friends after you’ve read the whole book. Whatever it is, it will motivate you as long as it’s something you’re willing to work for.

#8: Learn Something New

A really interesting thing to do is to try to learn something from the book each time you read.

No matter the genre, there is always new information within its pages that’ll interest you.

Maybe you’ve learned a valuable lesson from that one story, what the differences between these certain plants are in this textbook, etc. Even just a new word.

Whatever it is, take advantage of it and write it down. Keep reading until you’ve learned something that interests you.

Have you tried any of these tricks? Let me know in the comments!