At the start of the year I wrote a post titled New Year... New Me? where I reflected on 2014 and set myself some goals and ideas on what I wanted to do in 2015. Considering that we have just entered July, I feel like I should go back these past six months and see what I have done.

I talked about family and how I feel that blood connection is important to me and that nobody is around forever, and I should make the most of my time with who is left. My Nana and I have been pen-pals since I moved away for university, and it's great to be able to chat to her about all the exciting new things that I have been up to, and hearing about how she is doing on her end. Because of the impraticality of long distant phone calls and how amazing it is to receive a letter in the post, I feel that this is a great way for us to bond and to keep in touch.

Relationships was something that I wanted to work on, and my communication with those around me has never been my strong suit, but I am managing to bring down all these walls that I had to put up over the years and am letting people in when I'd usually shut them out. I have made so many great friends and when I get invited to parties or days out, I don't dread them or find excuses not to go. I have found myself even planning a lot of these activities and even making new friends whilst at them too!

My confidence has increased quite a bit this year, half way through my third year at university I have definately "found myself", discovered the types of people I like to be around, what I enjoy to do in my spare time, and I am just loving so much of it. Don't get me wrong, there are still times when my anxiety takes over and I want to huddle up in bed under all my blankets. But there's times in class where I speak up and have my input, I start group conversations and am overall just "putting myself out there" and it honestly feels so fantastic to be able to say I can!

My body and health is still a bit difficult to manage but I am managing and doing quite well. I have stopped running for the moment as I just wasn't "feeling" it, but have recently started up doing yoga and it is doing wonders for my achy (breaky) back. Food wise I'm still having a little bit of trouble with it, but I am able to have a good breakfast and dinner and often manage to get myself to have some lunch in the middle, which I forgot how much energy it gives me to last the rest of the day. I am also eating a lot healthier, I am drinking water during the day - a waterbottle at every corner of my room and office to make sure I don't forget - and am starting to eat more fruit and vege in my diet too! I know it's silly to say, but looking after your health and well-being does so much to make you feel good!

Design is a major part of my life and it is really showing. My grades are bumping up and I am so excited to start getting more As in my, which makes me even more dedicated to my work, I just want to keep pushing myself and become a better designer! I am however not doing as much personal and outside-of-uni design work, which I would like to work on. I am overall feeling a lot more confident with my design and can tell how much university is helping me.


I had set some goals in my New Year post, which was to overall just be happier and to try hard at everything I do. Which I honestly feel that I can say that I AM doing those things. Regarding the rest of the year, I want to see if I can improve even more; try to eat lunch every day, be more open to others, do more freelance design work... there's just so much to do in six months and I just want to be the best that I can be!

What about you, how has your year gone so far? Have you stuck to your new year goals or resolutions? What have you managed to improve on in your life compared to how you were six months ago? I'd love to hear what you have to say!



- Louise x