Maryam Hagi Lifestyle

Mindless scrolling & Brain Rot!

What is “brain rot”: a modern phenomenon?

I have recently heard of a new word. “Brain rot”. I am sure you have probably heard of this term too! If we had to work out the meaning, we would surely think of a strange image of a rotten brain! Brain rot can be defined as an overuse and a consumption of low-quality content, for example, on social media apps. Imagine someone mindlessly scrolling on apps such as TikTok. One might argue, what is the problem with mindlessly scrolling on our phones? The issue is that the consumption of bite-sized videos activates our brain’s reward centre by creating a surge in dopamine- our feel-good hormone. Our dopamine receptors will need a constant refuelling to activate that intermittent reward! This is why it is so difficult to stop scrolling once we begin! One more video… Sadly, this is how the cycle continues. This overconsumption is what leads to the popular term “brain rot”.

Psychological & emotional effects?

The metaphor of the slot machine is one that creates a vivid image in our minds of pulling the lever and waiting to see if there is a reward. This can be applied to our phones! The shocking statistic of the average screen time so far in 2025 is an outstanding 7 hours and 22 minutes for teenagers. Children also have a worrying 5 hours! Now, going back to our term brain rot, imagine a young child or teenager glued to the glow of their smartphone or iPad. Their eyes are glued to the screen, glancing and usually dismissing a video within seconds. The new and exciting material that was being searched for has not been fully acknowledged before a simple swipe leads to the next visual overwhelm. We can imagine how fast the child or teen is scrolling, barely acknowledging the next video. There is a moment of pause… This looks exciting! Finally, after almost 20 minutes of brain rot, there is something exciting! Now, replay, send! Now, another lifetime of scrolling… This is brain rot! Now, let’s imagine, a young teen comes home from school. They have been scrolling on TikTok for hours. Most of the content that this teen saw was negative and, at times, even distressing! How do you think this child or teenager feels? Exhausted? Overwhelmed? This is how the negative cycle will impact them. The next day, they will feel exhausted at school. and they might notice an inability to concentrate! The child or teen might feel stressed, anxious and generally overwhelmed due to the cognitive overload and overwhelm due to the unfiltered and excessive screen time! No wonder it is called brain rot! It is almost as if social media is an unhealthy meal that was consumed with no limits. causing stomach pains and general feelings of being unwell! Having a sugary treat is fine with limits, though you can imagine if a person were to have this excessively and in great amounts!

What is the solution?

We can avoid the negative impacts and effects of excessive social media use by reducing the time we spend online. Social media can be a wonderful tool, though this all depends on what is consumed and also for what duration. It is essential to promote positive content of interest that can be viewed by children and teenagers. Also, limiting screen time is paramount to one’s health and wellbeing. It is not only children and teenagers who can be affected by brain rot- it includes adults too! Have you noticed a feeling of cognitive overload? Have you had times where you feel that you spend unregulated amounts of time scrolling? Do you watch lots of random and unfulfilling bite-sized videos on social media? Have you ever started to scroll, promising yourself just one more video, and then you look at the time! Where did the time go? How did I not notice the time? It’s already 2am!

Brain-rot affects us all! Are you tired? Tired of wasting your precious time and energy scrolling through unfulfilling and wasteful content that was carefully curated based on what you have viewed? If so, it might be worth making small changes in your life, and then you can journal how you feel after your digital detox or digital change!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post. I hope you have enjoyed and benefitted. Please feel free to leave any comments and suggestions. I hope to see you again soon!

Thank you again! 🙂

Diagnosed with MS during my teacher training! Inspirational story

My Graduation

23/09/2023 Graduation

I would often think of the day that I would graduate as a teacher. I would imagine walking across the stage with head held high, smiling from ear to ear. You see, it wasn’t easy. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis only last year, aged merely 28. I was already suffering with ulcerative colitis, so I thought that I would be able to handle the pain. Then I found out that I was not ready for this pain whatsoever. Though, I believe everything is all about one’s mindset. However, I understand, it is not easy. At all.

My diagnosis

I was diagnosed with MS during my first year of my teacher training. I still had another year and couple of months left. I remember thinking to myself, “how can I possibly complete my PGCE whilst in constant pain and having such low energy?” Matters became even more difficult when I had a relapse in September 2022 which had lasted for many months (I was diagnosed with relapsing, remitting MS). So, I will speak about, why I decided to remain on the course and also, what motivated me to keep going.

How did I stay motivated?

Imagination, yes, imagination was one of the main reasons why I stayed on the course. I knew that if I had completed my PGCE, I would become a qualified teacher. I have always wanted to become a qualified teacher and teach in college. I am now proud to say I am a qualified teacher in the Post 16 Sector. So, imagination. Imagination was a technique that I used, and it kept me motivated through the pain of my illnesses and ensuring that I keep on track with my work and teaching. I would often imagine and visualise the day that I would walk across the stage at graduation. How would I feel? What would I say to myself? Where would I decide to teach? Would I look for work abroad or teach in the UK? I knew that the world would become my oyster in the oasis of new and exciting opportunities!

Inspiration and finding support

Motivation can be both internal and external..

My self-talk was mostly positive and uplifting. Yes, of course, there were days when I said to myself that I should quit as I am too poorly to continue. I put my full trust in God the Almighty. I could not have completed my teacher training or anything in life without the help of the Almighty. My religion helped me cope through the difficulties that I suffered. I am extremely grateful and I will continue to show my gratitude. My family and friends were also very supportive and helped me through everything. I am very grateful to them, as I believe that I could not have stayed motivated without their constant support. Regarding asking for help in my college and university, I decided to find out what help there is for students with disabilities. I found out that I can ask for extensions for assignments. My teachers were a very wonderful support system. I was given automatic extensions (2 weeks). They were always ready to listen to me whenever I needed to talk.

Self-Care

It is important to always be kind to yourself. Always be kind to yourself. Have a goal. Work towards it in the most manageable way. If you are also going through a challenging time in your life, try to find a support system. This might be your family, friends or acquaintances. If you are a student, try to find help and support from your college or university. You might be surprised to find out how much help is out there! Please remember, listen to your body. Also, take breaks! Go out for a walk, paint, read or listen to a podcast. Do what you enjoy.

The world needs your kindness, but YOU deserve kindness from yourself too!

Thank you very much for reading my post. I appreciate you very much! I know that I have been saying that I want to be more consistent! I will try my utmost to be. So, since graduating, I have managed to start teaching at a college. I want to write about managing teaching or work in general with disabilities. Please let me know what you would be interested in reading about. I hope to write a post at least once a month.

Thank you for visiting. Please feel free to leave a comment!

The different jobs that I have had.

Daily writing prompt

What jobs have you had?

View all responses

For my first ever job, I began volunteering at my local library. I was approximately 16. When I had started my A-Levels, I worked for a few months as a cleaner. I would go to work after college.

During my undergraduate degree, I had worked with the NHS as a freelance interpreter at hospitals and GPs. I also worked with the City Council where I would interpret at different settings. Also, I worked as a tutor on the weekends since the age of 18.

After I had completed my undergraduate degree (English Lit) and my CELTA qualifications, I began teaching. I had worked in many different institutions.

Currently, I work as a qualified English teacher. Having had recently completed my PGCE, I am now an FE teacher. I am glad that I worked in many different places.

It is important to keep focused on one’s goals and ambitions. Having a work-ethic is very important 🙂

What is the connection between reading and personal success?

You might have heard that the average CEO reads around 52 books a year.
Therefore, they read roughly a book a week. There is no denying that CEO’s and
executives are indeed exceedingly successful people. How does this statistic
make you feel? Can you recall what your initial reaction was when you heard about this somewhat surprising statistic? Maybe you felt surprised? Perhaps you were somehow baffled by the sheer amount of books that they read? I will have to admit, I felt all of these emotions one by one as I found it hard to fathom how this is indeed possible without one spending most of their day reading. This is a thought that I believe many of us might have had as soon as we became aware of this great number. Thus, we will try to answer some questions by looking more carefully about the benefits and motivations to reading and how it can help one’s personal success. Also, we will discuss what the major barriers to reading are and how to avoid them.

Have you ever wondered how much useful information we are able to store in our memories from what we have gathered through reading books? I am positive that you have perhaps recalled something you have read and it proved to be valuable. Jim Kwik is a well-known and inspirational brain coach. He focuses on memory improvement with an emphasis on meta-learning- not only focusing on what to learn, but also how to learn. I have benefitted a lot from his work! Jim Kwik explains that one of the reasons that he loves reading is that “if someone has decades of experience” in a field of knowledge, and they then put it all in a book, by reading this information, we can essentially “download decades into days.” How phenomenal is this?

Cal Newport is a computer science professor and author. He also has great podcasts which are really informative. In one of his videos entitled ‘Is it possible to read too much? Deep questions with Cal Newport’, Mr. Newport explores the topic of reading in great detail. In answer to the question, ‘does reading too many books dilute their impact’, he explains that he currently reads five books a month and says that “you have more time than you think to do things like reading if you got rid of other things that are taking its place namely looking at your phone.” This really resonated with me as I mentioned in another post that I used to scroll mindlessly for hours on social media. I found that I did not have time to read. Do you also feel like you have a constraint on your time? Maybe swapping some of the time that we spend on social media for a bit of quiet reading is some food for thought? You might be surprised at how much time you can find in your day!

Let’s talk more about reasons and ways reading can help with our personal success. Reading is exercise for our minds. In another video entitled ‘How to read 5 books a month’, Mr. Newport explains that “reading is to your brain what exercise is to your body.” He also says that when we are reading, it enables one to grapple with “complex ideas.” This is really important because reading will enable you to look at a concept in a multi-dimensional way. You will be able to understand and analyse the different angles of a discussion. Also, reading can take us to other places around the world and teach us about exciting countries. This type of reading along with it being entertaining can assist with learning about people from many places around the world. This can always be advantageous because of the potential to learn about so many interesting things from different communities of people. Imagine how much of an advantage you can have when trying to build rapport with others!

We always hear people complain by saying
“I just don’t have the time to read.” I guess what I would say is
that when we see something as important, we will try to find the time for it.
As mentioned, we need to try to find why we don’t have the time to read. I honestly
think that it is social media. Instead of using apps where most of the content
do not help us with our personal growth in the slightest, why don’t we spend
more of our valuable time trying to consume helpful and healthy content? Many
of us desperately need to spend more time feeding our minds with useful
knowledge that will benefit us and help in our journeys of personal success.

The last bit of inspiration is to always try to remember is that readers are
leaders!

Enjoy your reading.

So, what book are you going to read next?

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this post! I hope you
enjoyed and have benefited. Your support means so much! Please feel free to
comment your thoughts. I hope to see you again.

What is ‘growth mindset’ and why is it so important for achieving personal success?

Dr. Carl Dweck is a famous psychologist, especially known for her Mindset Theory (1999). She coined the terms “growth” and “fixed” to describe the different types of mindsets one can have. In her extensive research, Dweck found that students who had a fixed mindset were afraid to fail so they were very hesitant to try new challenges. They believe that intelligence is something that is ‘fixed’ so therefore, cannot be changed. In contrast, students with a growth mindset have a positive attitude to learning and thus, they presented with more academic success. They understood that learning involves making mistakes so were more confident in trying new challenges. Dweck highlights that it is important to motivate students so they have the correct attitude and readiness to learn.

Although Dweck focused on education in her research, the different mindsets and their influence can be extended to many different areas of our lives. Looking back at the findings I have shared from Dweck, let’s think about our own mindsets. I will present an example of two people. One has a fixed mindset while the other has a growth mindset. They will be put side by side and by juxtaposing them, we will be able to see the huge contrast in their thinking.

Ok, so let’s think of two people. Person A and Person B. A and B (not very original I do apologise)! Now, let’s think of a topic. These two people are both thinking about starting their own business. Now we will have a look at their self-talk. We will delve into their subconscious, but with their permission, of course! 🙂

Person A (self-talk)

“I really want to start my own business. I am really excited. Hmm. I mean, I understand that it is not going to be a walk in the park… but… I will try my best. Trying and learning is the most important thing!” 🙂

Person B (self-talk)

“I really want to start my own business. I would love to have financial freedom. Though… I am not smart enough. You see… some people are born with intelligence. I can’t be like Elon Musk. I would love to drive a Tesla… but.. I am not good enough. I don’t want to take a risk. What if I fail? No! I can’t. Why should I try. No? No. No? I… can’t.” 😦

I guess you have worked out which person is displaying which mindset. Person A has a growth mindset. This is the healthy way of thinking. Person A is optimistic yet realistic. They realise their dreams, but accept that they will need dedication and a drive to achieve. This person has self-belief and is kind to themselves because they make use of positive self-talk. Having a growth mindset allows a person to try new challenges and reach places which they could only have dreamed of previously.

In contrast, person B has a fixed mindset. Unfortunately, this way of thinking is very popular these days. Many people think they will fail before even trying. This is an unhealthy way of thinking and needs to be challenged from the very beginning before it keeps growing and becomes an unmanageable, tangled and overgrown poisonous forest of gloom in our poor hearts. Challenge your self-talk. Do not allow yourself to say “no, I cannot do this course because I am not smart enough” or “no, I cannot start this business because I will fail.” This will unfortunately lead to one never realising their own potential. I believe everyone is capable of achieving whatever it is they would like to achieve. This negative self-talk often comes from other people’s uncalled-for opinions that make you doubt your own abilities. However, when it comes from our own self, it really is a sad state of being.

Failure is not necessarily something bad. If you have ‘failed’, the important thing is to get up and continue as long as you are able to. Everything starts with having the correct mind frame. Having a growth mindset will allow you to become more confident. Whether you would like to do public speaking, make new friends, learn a new skill or go back into education, the first step to success if controlling the way you think! Embrace every challenge with a new, fresh and positive attitude.

Now, see how your life changes for the better!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post. I hope you have enjoyed and benefitted. Please feel free to leave a comment and suggestions.

Thank you again! 🙂

A Millennial’s thoughts on Social Media

If I were to ask you the following question, how would you answer? “Why are many Millennials and those born after so addicted to using social media?” Perhaps your answer would be something to do with the fact social media became more prevalent and widespread around the early 2000s. These young people were born at a time when social media became the new normal. As a Millennial, (those born between 1981-1994/6), I would say that I am still fortunate enough to remember a time before social media. When I was in school, around 2004, when Facebook was created, I did not find social media neither necessary nor interesting. I was more interested in playing football outside. I tend to wonder and contemplate on the younger generation. Yes, the Generation Z. My focus is on those born when social media was already essentially everywhere. Lets focus on those that were born in the past decade or so. How different was their childhood compared to mine and perhaps yours? I am referring to the childhood spent playing on the swings, playing hide and seek, running around, playing catch or tag, laughing, falling-out. becoming friends again… Children did not want to be called to go inside their homes. Now, they don’t want to go out of the homes!

Where has this pure innocence of childhood gone?

Children, teenagers and adults are become more and more addicted to social media and it is very concerning. We might be thinking, why? Why are so many of us addicted? I will admit, I was addicted to social media not too long ago. When I realised that I was spending too much time on Instagram a few years ago, I decided to permanently delete it. You might be thinking, why take such a drastic approach? Have you ever though, why is it that I feel like I need to check if there is anything new or interesting on my page? After posting a photo, I would have many questions such as, how many likes are there? what are the comments? I can now see that it was an endless and depressing cycle. It felt exhausting to keep up. Looking back, I realise that I was indeed addicted. I would post a photo and immediately, I would look at how many likes I got. I would feel good if I received a certain amount of interaction. If I did not get that many likes, I would delete the photo! Sometimes, I would post it again and wait for a change in the amount of likes! It was tiring! Why did I do this? Why did I think that I needed peoples’ approval. Comments such as “you look good” make so many of us feel awesome right? However, the most important thing is that we need to already think this of ourselves! Social media and low self-esteem is an entire topic that needs to be more focused on. It is really worrying especially with younger people.

The question is, why are so many of us addicted to using social media? I believe in trying to limit using social media if you need to use it at all! Of course, there are some advantages to using social media such as connecting with family and friends who live far away. This is an excellent way of communication. Though, I want to redirect your focus on the social media aspect of endless scrolling and watching short clips that serve no purpose but to leave us craving for more of the same. Of course, everyone has their own opinions about social media. I just want you to think of these questions: are we really being ‘social’ using social media? Are we being productive with our precious time? Is there a reason that we have social media? Is this really entertainment? Of course, answers will be subjective, yet, there are still undeniable disadvantages to do with social media which I will further mention. The most important question is.. are we really happy?

I am a Millennial. I am twenty eight years old. I wish I could say that I have never had a social media account like Dr Cal Newport, (the author of ‘Deep Work’ and other books all of which I really want to read). I have had and still have social media accounts. I hardly use them as I understand that I need to make better use of my time. Currently, I have noticed that I feel that I have more time as I have really limited my social media use and it feels amazing. If you use social media in a productive way where you are able to set your own time then of course, that is absolutely normal. The new trend where people spend endless time scrolling and viewing bite sized videos that will lead on to another one like an endless night is the real problem. It is all about moderation. I realise that it is perhaps not the norm for a twenty something year old not to really use social media. I am a simple person! I prefer to have face-to-face interactions. In a restaurant, I prefer to put my mobile phone away and connect with the person I am having a meal with. Think to yourself, how do you feel when someone asks you, ‘how are you doing?’ or ‘how is everything with you these days?’ and really listens intently to your response. There is no doubt that you will feel valued. Appreciated. Loved. Many people sit and text while sitting opposite another person and they might remember to mutter ‘so, you are good yeah’ while tapping and scrolling, smiling at the screen before them, almost remembering that you are there. How do you feel in that situation compared to the other one? How is it possible to form close friendships and relationships when we are staring at screens? Have you ever thought about this? I find it very sad actually.

Ultimately, reflection is the most important thing we can do. How are you feeling in such a disconnected world. We need to do what we enjoy, whether that is reading, writing, exploring nature, cooking and many more and hold onto these skills and hobbies as the world becomes more ‘connected’ yet disconnected at the same time.

The final question really is.. are we able to reconnect and form deep and solid relationships with others and mostly with the most important person in our lives, with ourselves while scrolling endlessly?

Thank you very much for reading! I hope you enjoyed and benefitted. Your support means so much. Please feel free to comment your thoughts. I hope to see you again soon! 🙂

Short story about procrastination!

What is that appalling sound and where is it coming from? I ask myself. The ear-piercing shrill fills the tiny room. My heart starts beating, almost mimicking the rhythm of that unknown sound. In fact, they are in sync. Immediately, my focus turns to stopping that sound!

My eyes are screwed shut. I struggle to cover myself with my warm duvet. I reach out to the emptiness. Searching. Alas! I grab my mobile phone and swipe the frosty screen. My eyes are still shut. I manage to smile. Why? I had won of course! Once again, I snuggle into my warm bed. Not long after, there is another shrill. I had been interrupted from my relaxing slumber again! Muttering, I manage to reach out to my bedside table. This time, I realise what the sound is reminding me of. Of course, I have to go to the library to study. Well, now I try to compromise with my rude friend. I am still in power, right? Squinting, I put my alarm on snooze again.

10 more minutes, ok?

I fall back into bliss. It’s so warm. It almost feels like I have found true happiness. Finally! Then, the common shrill. This time, my phone is close to me. Right beside me. Swipe! I am so smart. Right? I won. Again. I am still winning. Right? It’s only 7:15…

Then, the next time, before it could interrupt my peace, I decide to switch off the disrespectful phone! I feel so powerful.

It’s 8am! I am late.

I wanted to be at the library at 8am.

I look at my phone. Sadness. Why do I do this to myself?! I realised that I had lost.

Again.

Thank you for reading! I hope that you enjoyed this short story. My next blog post will focus on the topic of procrastination. I will discuss reasons why we procrastinate and what we can do about it. I think for 2022, we need to really try to limit procrastinating right?

Thank you again for visiting. Much appreciated! I hope to see you soon.

Future content?

Hello, thank you for being here. So, I started blogging about lifestyle and business opportunities a couple of years ago. I got back into it as I really enjoy writing and sharing ideas. I am not sure exactly what my focus is or should be. What I do know is that I want to share positivity. I want to share insight and inspiration.

I tend to write at the end of my blog posts that I would like to be more consistent in producing content. Just a bit about me. Currently, I am doing a PGCE in Further Education. I am also teaching at a Language academy. My plan is that once I complete my PGCE, I will either continue teaching, do a Masters in English Language/Literature or study and work at the same time!

Right now, I am sitting down at a library. I have a pile of books for secondary reading and note books surrounding me. Today was a very busy day. From teaching to invigilating an exam to setting targets for my students. So, as I sit and type, I feel relaxed. I feel a sense of calm. I feel almost as if I have come back home from a long and arduous journey. Writing makes me feel as if I am at home. Having been away from blogging for a few months, I can say that finally, I am home.

I am not sure exactly what type of content I will produce. I am interested in the development of positive mindset . Also another interest I have is sharing motivation. I enjoy sharing gems to do with education. I am sure that you have heard students complaining that they “have no motivation” and “I am always procrastinating”. Yes, I have a lot of tips I can share to do with these topics. Another exciting area I am interested in is book reviews. I will be writing a review about a book soon. This will be about a very interesting topic!

Please feel free to comment. Let me know what type of content you would be interested in! I will be more than happy to read your messages and feedback. 🙂

Thank you for taking the time to read this post!

Why should I be using Fluoride-Free Toothpaste?

What exactly is fluoride? This is the important question we need to address. So, perhaps you have heard this term before. You may be thinking to yourself, where did I hear this word? You might remember that you have heard it at your last visit to your dentist. In fact, you might be thinking that you are very familiar with this word. You are just unable to point out exactly why that is. I will tell you the reason why you are probably so accustomed to this term. Your toothpaste! You probably see the word “fluride” written on the tube you use everyday. Though, that is only if you pay any attention to your lovely toothpaste!

Fluoride is included in popular toothpaste brands including Colgate. We are so accustomed to using these brands and few have ever thought about let alone questioned the ingredients. Now, let’s analyse exactly what has been researched about this harmful substance called fluoride. Dental fluorosis occurs where there is over-exposure to fluoride in children between birth and around 9 years old. Fluride has been found to have a negative effect on children and can in fact increase the risk of tooth decay. Also, it has been shown that fluoride can cause impaired brain development in young children. In addition, it needs to be noted that there has been a study looking at the colloration between IQ tests and fluoride. This is very worrying information. It is a common that we think that fluoride is faultless however, there are many studies that are available for research which unfortunately show otherwise.

I am certain you are feeling eager to do your own research about the points which I have shared with you. I am also certain that you have many questions right now! Perhaps you are thinking to yourself, how is it possible that dentists would recommend we use fluoride when it has so many risks? It is important to know that fluoride is a neurotoxin. The only warning we hear from dentists regarding this toxic substance is to make sure not to swallow it while brushing our teeth. This is because fluoride is easily absorbed and can cause many health problems. So is there a solution? Where is the solution? Yes, I am here to share an alternative with you. I am so fortunate to have learnt about the negative effects of fluoride. Therefore, I am extremely excited to share something so great with you!

**FERI Flawless MicroSilver Protection Toothpaste**

I would like to present to you an alternative to fluoride toothpaste. There are options called fluoride-free toothpaste. They can perhaps be purchased at some shops. It is important to remember that fluoride is not the only ingredient that is harmful. So what makes this product so special. I will list what makes is amazing! Microsilver protection toothpaste is fluoride-free of course! Also, it doesn´t include any paraben or sulphate. Another awesome fact is that it protects from bad-breath and is teeth-whitening. Finally, it has long-lasting protection which is always important right! Having used this toothpaste for a while, I can say that this product is amazing. My teeth have been noticeably whiter and I just genuinely look forward to brushing my teeth! Remember that I shared with you that fluoride is dangerous, especially when swallowed? Even if somebody does swallow this toothpaste, it will not cause us any harm. This is because silver is a safe and clean material. Most importantly, silver particles unlike fluoride can´t be absorbed! Therefore, I think you will have some peace of mind right? Also, if you have kids, I am sure you won´t be worrying about them burshing their teeth as it is safe for children.

I think we agree that feeling a sense of peace is so important!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog post! I really appreciate you so much! I hope that you have learnt something valuable and have some food for thought. If you would like to purchase FERI Flawless MicroSilver Protection Toothpaste, please follow the link to my website https://myopulence.com/shop/display_item.php?referral=maryamhmshop&category=135&item=6859&cntylng=&page=1#

If you need any assistance in purchasing the product, please don´t hesitate to contact me. I will be sure to reply! Thank you again for visiting and I hope to see you soon! 🙂

Is Financial Freedom attainable or is it merely a Utopian dream?

I would like for you to really focus and think carefully about what you visualise when you read the following phrases. Try to imagine yourself being able to describe your own lifestyle using these phrases.

-Laptop lifestyle

-Financial security

So, you probably visualised a life where you are essentially your own boss. One where you work according to your own terms. One where you don’t need to rely on your next paycheck. Did you think of a life where you and your family no longer need to worry about whether you can afford to buy some things as the world gets more expensive? Maybe your thought of a lifestyle where you work can work from different locations for instance, working from home or your local cafe. I am guessing some of you even visualised working from your holiday villa! Costa Del sol…. I mean, it wouldn’t be impossible since all you really need is your laptop to work from and most importantly a reliable WIFI connection!

What you visualised is indeed the essence of financial freedom. What is our situation right now? Most of us work for someone else. We work a 9-5 job which I think you would agree is not always a 9-5 as some jobs require one to prepare for the following day or even to mark work. Some of us are living paycheck to paycheck. This circumstance is really unfortunate for many reasons. Many of us are afraid to report illnesses fearing our job security as absenses are generally frowned upon. I think you will agree that financial freedom is an important topic. I will explain the reasons why we really need to discuss this.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Why is financial freedom so important? Why are so many people discussing this? The simple answer is that people are tired and fed up with working for someone else. Are you tired? Tired of having to wait for the weekend to finally relax? Tired of mondays and the depressed faces and attitudes of some of your work colleagues? Tired of not being able to spend quality time with your family and friends? Are you fed up about the daily stressors you experience such as the traffic jams to and from work? I could go on forever! I think we agree that our jobs don’t really give us that sense of fulfillment and quality of life. Also, expenses are getting higher and higher as the cost of things increase. Therefore, we need to work longer to our already arduous hours. Now you might be nodding in agreement as you understand that I am talking about our reality. So you completely agree but have some important questions such as how can I become financially free? Can someone really achieve this? What steps do I need to take? Should I just leave my job?! I will try my utmost to answer these questions.

Financial freedom is not necessarily a utopian dream or vision. I used the word ‘necessarily’ for a reason. You see, some people wish for the laptop lifestyle but do nothing to work towards their goal. We can say that for this group of people, financial freedom is a dream as they are actually just dreaming about it! They are not actively seeking change.
Others are eager to research and then take advantage once an opportunity comes knocking of the door. These people are what I would describe as intrinsically motivated. They are driven and enthusiastic as they are frustrated with living an average life. How are they so motivated for change you may wonder? This is because they have a ‘why’. The ‘why’ is your reason and this is what drives you. Examples can include your family. Maybe you want to be financially secure because of your children. Perhaps you would like to travel and live a more comfortable life. Like me you would love to have that glorious feeling of being able to say to yourself, ‘hey I just want to relax today and do absolutely nothing’. That’s ok. You know when you deserve a ‘break’ even from your online business. Self-care is self-love after all right?!

In the journey of seeking financial freedom, the first step is to have a desire. Think about yourself. What is the reason you want to find financial freedom? What is your ‘why’? Also think about the answers to these questions. What does financial freedom look like for you? How do you feel?

It is important to understand that I am not suggesting anyone leaves their current job! I just want you to understand that there are awesome opportunities to build wealth. Ultimately you may well be able to leave your job because you have made a good amount in residual income plus savings. I advise you all to look up and see opportunities. It might just be the opportunity that leads to your financial freedom!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your time. I appreciate you so much! Thank you for the support. Much appreciated! I hope this blog was insightful!

Beauty, Business, Business opportunity, Fashion, Financial freedom, Health, Laptoplifestyle, lifestyle, Mindset, Personaldevelopment, Productivity, Self-care, Wellness, Work from home