LIFE LESSONS I'VE TAKEN FROM MY PART-TIME JOB

I have been working part time now for six months and although I have had a few jobs in that time, I feel as though I have learnt a lot and changed a lot as a person from the new experiences I have had. In today’s post, I wanted to discuss some of those things as I think it is important to document growth and I really feel like I have developed a lot as a person, so I wanted to share my change of mindset with you all today. 

1. Don’t take things too seriously

This is probably the biggest things I have learnt and changed about my mindset following my previous jobs. When I started in hospitality, I had no idea what to expect and going into that job, I was incredibly paranoid about everything going on in my life at the time. I had a really unhealthy relationship with my mind, questioning most people’s actions and words, and it got to the point where I was obsessing over things that hadn’t even happened yet. However, being thrown into a job, learning as you go along and being around people you have never met before, gives you the perfect opportunity to start fresh. I found that as I worked more and more shifts, I was questioning less and less. I didn’t know anyone when I started any of my jobs and so having that clean slate when meeting people for the first time is refreshing. Even within the first couple of weeks of working the odd shift, I noticed myself no longer panicking about what people thought of me. At the end of the day, especially a part time job, you are just there to do your job and so is everyone else. Most people tend to stay in their own lane and so there was never any reason for me to become paranoid that perhaps no one liked more or that people thought I was this, that or the other. 

Also starting on in a job, you are not going to be perfect, it is inevitable. You are there to learn and experience new things, but you will get better. Someone hasn’t hired you because they think that you are perfect and will never slip up, even the most experience of people in that job will still make mistakes it’s human. I use to be very fixated on the mistakes I made, now matter how big or small and that definitely didn’t help my paranoia, but you slip up so much in work as you are learning that there is just no point in dwelling on it. It’s about doing the best of your ability and as long as you’ve put the effort in, there is no need for anyone to take a little mistake so seriously. I have found my work journey to be a huge learning curve, not only know things about hospitality and insurance now, but also learning how to take on criticism and corrections in a way that is healthy for my mind. 

2. Spend your earnings wisely

I find this a funny one for myself as before I had a job, I use to be a huge spender. Any bit of pocket money I had, I would spend weeks debating on what I should spend it on. Now, however, because I have worked and earned my money in a more personal way, I don’t feel a need to impulsively spend it. I now have a greater appreciation for money and I now chose to spend it on more important things rather than that top off of PLT that I liked for about two seconds and ordered. The money that now sits in my bank, I feel like holds more value as I worked for that, I put in the hours and I earned that money and so I do think that it makes you more inclined to look after it. 

3. Go in with an open mind

The people who I have worked with, now and in the past, are people I never would have met before getting a job. Due to a whole range of things, I feel as though I have been brought up sheltered from certain elements of life. I always use this example, but I had never really known very many smokers until I started working just because that was never something I was exposed to in my life. It isn’t really a big deal but it is just one of those things you adjust to, seeing people going on a smoking break and asking you if they have a lighter, it is just something you adapt to, but it is exposing you to something you have never had to deal with before. The people I have met through work have come from all different walks of life, many chose not to go to uni, or didn’t even get GCSEs, which are things I had never really considered before. It probably makes me seem really naive but I feel like a lot of people are also like this, and until you meet these people through work, then you will never really know what else is out there. I have spoken about it a lot, but with the school I went to, university was pushed massively and I mean, it still is and going into work a lot of people tend to ask if that is what you want to do, however, when you say you aren’t too sure, they are much more understanding than the staff I have spoken to in school. I have found that the people I work with are very open minded, and don’t share any judgement for the decisions I make or for the way I feel and so that is just another example of the way I have became more open minded through working, but like I said, I am constantly being exposed to new things, beliefs and mindsets and it’s inspiring, it isn’t always a bad thing and I feel like it’s a huge step in becoming more mature and accepting. 

4. Attitude is crucial

Your attitude towards your work determines everything. You might not realise it at the time, but the way you think of yourself and your job will influence the way you work. I’ve always tried to go into my jobs with a positive mindset, especially when starting out, being enthusiastic to learn, deliver good customer service and to do a good job. I have noticed though, that when I am perhaps not feeling 100% or I feel very anxious about my job, then I am much more inclined to not wanting to go and messing up when I do get there. Especially when I worked in hospitality, I was working in two different places, one I loved and the other I hated, and it really started to show as I just didn’t do a very good job in the place I hated and I probably didn’t seem very approachable to the other staff. Also because I could pick and chose my shifts, I just didn’t show any enthusiasm for the place I didn’t like and although that meant I got to do more jobs I enjoy, when you do get in the mindset of not liking a job, you will just not go, even if it isn’t that bad. 

5. Use the rights you have

This is a funny one for me because in my hospitality jobs, I had no rights, no breaks, nothing and although it is kind of illegal, it did make me very much selfless when I was at work. No matter how tired, hungry or thirsty I was, I just learned to get on with it and smile while doing so. However, going into my current job, I was given a 30 minute break within all of my shifts, I also get 10 minute comfort for while I’m working and I also get way too much holiday time. But these are ‘normal’ things that I just wasn’t getting in my previous job and at first, it use to make me really guilty, I use to not want to take my breaks or use my holidays as I just felt like I was taking advantage of a job that I didn’t deserve. What I didn’t realise though was that everyone else had those rights and were using them so why shouldn’t I, so I started to take advantage of those rights I had. I make the most of my break now, using my comfort when I need to and booking holidays because I am inclined to have them. 

I'd love to know if you like these style of posts. I definitely don't want to come across as some work expert because I have only had a part-time job for six months now but I did just want to share my experience with you all today. 

Grace xx

THE ESSENTIAL NINE

As most of you will know, I love my custom palettes. I honestly believe that they are the best investment and some of the best makeup products I have in my collection. In this post, I wanted to share my top nine shades that make up my essential palette.

I am very much a neutrals girl and I feel like this palette sums me up perfectly. It is warm in tone and with loads of mattes, I know that I can create so many looks with just these shades. The three shimmer shades at the bottom are my lid shade options depending on what I want, either a bit of colour or something deeper in tone. In terms of the mattes, they are all very warm and I like that I have the option of a more mustard tone or a more peach tone as they are my two favourite colour palettes when it comes to my eyes. The top shimmer shade also has always been my top inner corner highlight so that is also a must in this palette.

As I've just said, the shimmer shade in the top corner is my all time favourite inner corner highlighter which is Makeup Geek Shimma Shimma. It is such an iconic shade and it is just beautiful on the skin. Even all over the lid, this is the perfect pale shade to just open up the eye. As you can see, I have even hit pan on this shade which I think shows just how much I love it and this would probably be the single eye shadow that I would recommend to everyone. I couldn't do my eye makeup without this and so it has to make it in this palette.

This is actually my newest single eye shadow, however, I don't know what I did without it now. Makeup Geek Beaches and Cream is the perfect initial transition shade when starting out with any look. It is a pale warm shade that just adds that the very first bit of shape and colour into an eye look. These Makeup Geek eye shadows are also just gorgeous. The mattes blend beautifully, and especially this shade, it just looks so seamless. 

Sadly, you can't actually get this shade anymore but I needed to mention it in this post because a shade like that is a must in my collection. I love that Freedom Sweet Life is the perfect medium warm brown shade. Even if I want something light on the eyes, just this in the crease would be enough for me because it is just such an easy shade.

Onto a bit more of colour now, Makeup Geek Chickadee is such a great shade to just add the slightest bit of colour. It is a medium yellow shade that I especially love to use in the crease to add some more warmth. I find this so flattering on my eye colour and I just think that although some might find it intimidating, it is such an easy colour to work with. This in the crease with a medium brown in the outer corner is such a natural eye look but that yellow hue just makes it that bit different. It's definitely the sort of easy, pop of colour I would recommend for any neutral palette. 

The next shade is one of my favourite colours ever, not even just in makeup terms. Colourpop Best Coast Scenario is the most beautiful coral shade that I just swoon over every time I see it. It is that perfect medium shade, and it isn't too orange or too pink, it's the perfect inbetween. You can do so much with this shade, whether it is in the crease, all over the lid or even in the inner corner, it is the sort of colour you can get so creative with. Once again, I find this really flattering on my eye colour and that is probably why I gravitate towards it so much, but that is how I would recommend people to ease themselves into colourful makeup looks. I can't really say that this would be my go-to shade in winter as I would associate peaches and corals with being more of a summer shade but nevertheless, like I said, just this in the crease and then building on top of it with some brown shades, does just help add that bit of warm and tone. 

This is the classic eye shadow shade of them all, Makeup Geek Cocoa Bear. It is the infamous warm, chocolate brown shade that no one can live without and I must agree, it is such a useful colour to have. I would never go straight into a look with this colour, but I love add this into the outer corner or the lash line to add that element of depth it offers. When it comes to eye shadow, I have never liked anything too dark or smokey, I would much rather something with is light and fresh, however, whenever I fancy just a bit of dimension and depth, this is the shade I reach for. It isn't too dark with is why I think I like it so much because it is way less intimidating for me. I can't imagine this not being in my essential nine though because it is necessary for almost every eye look I create. 

As for my fine three shades in this palette, they are all shimmers. I say it all the time, but when it comes to eye shadow, I am a matte kind of person, all day, everyday, however, you always need the odd shimmer just to give you that little bit extra and so that is why my bottom line includes these shades. The first one it Colourpop Come and Get It, perhaps my favourite shadow ever because of how beautiful and unique the colour is. It is a peachy pink shimmer, with a gold shift in it and it is the most beautiful thing in the pan but also on the eyes. It has such a metallic finish and is such a dream to use, I can't recommend it enough. This all over the lid with Best Coast Scenario in the crease, a powerful duo, to say the least. I just love this colour though, it is beautiful and definitely one I would recommend to anyone. 

The next shade is Makeup Geek Grandstand which again, I feel like is a very infamous shade, but once again I must agree. It is a gorgeous, metallic, rose-gold shade. I can't say that the formula is my favourite just because it does have a little too much fallout for my liking, however, that takes nothing away from how beautiful the colour is. It is that perfect medium shade that just looks great with any combination in the crease, just this all over the lid and your look is complete. Although it isn't the easiest to work with in terms of formula, it is so versatile when it comes to colour matching and picking something that will give you that element of shimmer. 

Although my final shade in this palette isn't my most used, it is the sort of shade I feel like everyone needs at least one of, which is a dark shimmer. Like I said before, I am not one for super dark and dramatic eye shadow, but that isn't to say that I still don't wear it every now and again. Especially when it comes to nights out or events, sometimes you want something a little more dramatic and glamorous, and Makeup Geek Mesmerized is that shade for me. I am not even sure how you would describe the colour but it is like a deep purplish grey that is so metallic on the eyes, it's incredible. Like I said, this all over the lid with a brown through the create is perhaps the easiest smokey eye in history, but that is just exactly what you want sometimes and so it had to make it into this palette. 

I'd love to know your individual eye shadow recommendations as I am constantly growing my custom palette. Let me know what you think of this selection!

Grace xx

JANUARY

I am so excited it's February, and looking back on January, although it felt like a year in itself, I didn't actually get up to too much. However, I did get up to a few exciting things which I am going to talk about in this post, but hopefully, the rest of 2020 is going to be even more exciting. Who knows if I am going to be able to do this every month in 2020, but I definitely wanted to give it a go as I love looking back at the things I have done/ achieved no matter how big or small. 

I learned to balance school and my job properly...

Much more of a general statement, but having started my job in November, I finally feel like I am starting to settle in quite nicely into my new job. I really think I picked good hours for me, as I am still able to do all of my school work comfortably and meet deadlines. This really was the month that I started to go into work feeling confident in my ability but also I started to build a routine around it also. Balancing school and a part-time job isn't easy and I haven't got it down to a fine art yet but I finally feel like I am getting there. Definitely compared to the state I was in at the end of November, I am so much more in control of my productivity, I am much more effective in both school and work, and I can finally plan and realise when things are getting too busy or overwhelming. 

Got my official exam timetable...

Something I wish didn't happen in January, but just part of the beauty of time, I finally know when I am sitting my ALevel exams. Although the prospect makes me want to cry and scream at the same time, it does mean that I can finally start to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I am now able to work around my exams, making plans for once I have finished and it is all starting to get very exciting. Although I can't imagine the exams being very enjoyable, I am excited for no longer being in education. 

Started Further Maths ALevel ...

Again, something that was inevitable, Further Maths ALevel. It was never something I thought I would ever do because I never felt good enough but now that I am here, I pretty proud of myself for getting this far. However, I can't say that I am enjoying it very much, it is definitely challenging and testing my patience on the daily but hopefully, it becomes rewarding in the end. Over the course of January, I have definitely had a few meltdowns over the difficulty and I can't promise that they won't happen again but I guess that's what I had signed up for. It has also helped me realise where my interests really lie and has provoked me to make a couple of decisions and realisations in the month of January, so I am definitely proud of myself for getting through this month for that reason. 

We threw a surprise party...

This is something you may have seen across my social media at the time, but mid-January, my brother and I threw my mum a surprise 50th birthday party. Perhaps the most stressful thing I have ever had to do but it turned out to be a huge success and goes down as one of my favourite nights ever. It was so nice to see all of my family together, catch up with people I haven't seen in ages but to also surprise my mum who is so special to me and my brother. I definitely plan to never throw a surprise party again because it was such a challenge, but it was so rewarding and emotional all at the same time. It is definitely one of those experiences that I will never forget and it will definitely go down as one of my highlights in 2020. 

Fell back in love with dancing...

This month, through a school competition, I was able to rediscover my love for dancing again. Although physically and mentally straining at times, throughout the month of January, I was able to fall in love with dancing. I got to be creative with choreography which is something I have a huge passion for and to watch it all come together in the end was so rewarding. It definitely took up a lot of my time but it is something I am really proud to have participated in and I am so glad I did it. 

Had a crisis over my future...

Not my most positive moment of the month, but something that was definitely long over due and brewing for quite a while. I am not going to relive the specific details but I will link the blog post I wrote in relation to my crisis, but it was definitely a significant moment in January. I can't say that I have had a massive revelation since then but it has definitely allowed me to start coping with my decisions and the way I feel so for that, I am grateful that it happened. 

Handed in 60% of my Fine Art ALevel...

On the last day of January, I finally said goodbye to my year-long art project which makes up 60% of my final grade. This was such a journey and I really hope that I can share some of my work with you someday but for the time being, it is all done and ready to be marked. It was definitely one of those things that felt like a huge weight lifted once I handed it in, and it also helped me realise that ALevels are coming to an end and that there are bigger and better things to come. 

I'd love to know what you think of these little monthly summaries as I would love to do them throughout 2020!

Grace xx