I Am Done Letting Others Into My Progress Just For Them To Compare, Judge, Or Make Me Doubt Myself. I

how to start reading again

from someone who was a voracious reader until high school and is now getting back into it in her twenties.

start with an old favourite. even though it felt a little silly, i re-read the harry potter series one christmas and it wiped away my worry that i wasn't capable of reading anymore. they are long books, but i was still able to get completely immersed and to read just as fast as i had years and years ago.

don't be afraid of "easier" books. before high school i was reading the french existentialists, but when getting back into reading, i picked up lucinda riley and sally rooney. not my favourite authors by far, but easier to read while not being totally terrible. i needed to remind myself that only choosing classics would not make me a better or smarter person. if a book requires a slower pace of reading to be understood, it's easier to just drop it, which is exactly what i wanted to avoid at first.

go for essays and short stories. no need to explain this one: the shorter the whole, the less daunting it is. i definitely avoided all books over 350 pages at first and stuck to essay collections until i suddenly devoured donna tartt's goldfinch.

remember it's okay not to finish. i was one of those people who finished every book they started, but not anymore! if i pick up a book at the library and after a few chapters realise i'd rather not read it, i just return it. (another good reason to use your local library! no money spent on books you might end up disliking.)

analyse — or don't. some people enjoy reading more when they take notes or really stop to think about the contents. for me, at first, it was more important to build the habit of reading, and the thought of analysing what i read felt daunting. once i let go of that expectation, i realised i naturally analyse and process what i read anyway.

read when you would usually use your phone. just as i did when i was a child, i try to read when eating, in the bathroom, on public transport, right before sleeping. i even read when i walk, because that's normally a time i stare at my screen anyway. those few pages you read when you brush your teeth and wait for a friend very quickly stack up.

finish the chapter. if you have time, try to finish the part you're reading before closing the book. usually i find i actually don't want to stop reading once i get to the end of a chapter — and if i do, it feels like a good place to pick up again later.

try different languages. i was quickly approaching a reading slump towards the end of my exchange year, until i realised i had only had access to books in english and that, despite my fluency, i was tired of the language. so as soon as i got back home i started picking up books in my native tongue, which made reading feel much easier and more fun again! after some nine months, i'm starting to read in english again without it feeling like a huge task.

forget what's popular. i thought social media would be a fun way to find interesting books to read, but i quickly grew frustrated after hating every single book i picked up on some influencer's recommendation. it's certainly more time-consuming to find new books on your own, but this way i don't despise every novel i pick up.

remember it isn't about quantity. the online book community's endless posts about reading 150 books each year or 6 books in a single day easily make us feel like we're slow, bad readers, but here's the thing: it does not matter at all how many books you read or what your reading pace is. we all lead different lives, just be proud of yourself for reading at all!

stop stressing about it. we all know why reading is important, and since the pandemic reading has become an even more popular hobby than it was before (which is wonderful!). however, there's no need to force yourself to be "a reader". pick up a book every now and then and keep reading if you enjoy it, but not reading regularly doesn't make you any less of a good person. i find the pressure to become "a person who reads" or to rediscover my inner bookworm only distances me from the very act of reading.

— Saturday, 23rd March

I forgot to post the other days my bad! I'll just start again

1. Had a healthy suhoor

2. Went to the gym: glutes day!

3. Studied Bio for 3h35'

4. I went shopping w my father

5. Did english homework

6. Prayed Taraweeh + Quran

Tomorrow's goals: Run w my friends, study the last pages of Bio, Spend time w my cousin, deep shower ( need to buy things ), PHYSICS!!!!!!!!, italian (:

HOW TO GET OUT OF A READING SLUMP

Inspired by how I'm currently trying to read again. 

START SHORTER. Try to read something manageable for you, and it doesn’t have to even be a full novel. It could be an essay on something that interests you or any short stories you find. Get into the habit of reading at your own pace, till you feel ready to take on something bigger. 

SET REALISTIC GOALS. Instead of wanting a goal like completing a book within a week, I would say 20 minutes of reading per day or at least 2 hours per week. You don’t have to track the time when you’re reading, but make mental notes of when you start reading and how long you read. 

EXPLORE. You may even be tired of reading certain genres, and not notice it. While in a slump, I would explore different books and see what interests me the most. For example, if you love reading romance books, try some action ones instead(or vice versa.)

REREAD FAVES. The familiarity of some books can help us get back into the swing of reading. Every time I reread a book, I always pick up on new details that I didn’t notice before. Reread one of your favourite books and try to spot details that you didn’t spot before. 

MAKE A LIST. Create a list of all the books that you want to read or reread. I feel like the process of seeing all the books you could, really encourages you to pick up that book. 

TRY A DIFFERENT FORMAT. For a lot of us, reading paperback or hard copy is the way to go. However, when I’m in a slump, I feel like opting for a different format helps me to get back into reading. For example, a digital book, or an e-book. (or vice versa)

READ IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. I love LOVE, reading in an actual library. It is not for everyone, but a change of scenery can help. Some ideas can be at a park, a cafe, beaches and or a nature trail. 

PAIR READING WITH ANOTHER ACTIVITY. Some examples are exercising, cooking, travelling/commuting or doing mindfulness activities. This is more for getting back into the habit, once you’ve got it again, I would say to focus only on reading. 

Note : this hot girl is too busy studying to make herself proud. 📓🧼

The Inside-Out Glow-Up

How to Stop Playing Small & Start Moving Like a Winner

There’s a difference between people who are just seen and people who are felt. The latter don’t beg for attention, they just walk into a room and shift the atmosphere. That’s the glow-up no one talks about—the kind that starts inside and radiates outward.

I thought a glow-up was about changing my hair, my wardrobe, my face. But what actually changed my life? My energy.

Here’s how I stopped playing small and started moving like the winner I was always meant to be.

Step 1: The Identity Shift – Becoming "That Person"

If you’re waiting for something external to confirm you’re important (money, attention, approval), you’ll always feel like something is missing. The glow-up happens when you wake up one day and decide:

I am interesting, valuable, magnetic—before anyone else says it.

I deserve to take up space and be seen.

I no longer play down my personality to make others comfortable.

Ask yourself: If I were already the most powerful, glowing version of me—how would I think? How would I move? What would I tolerate?

Then start acting like that.

Immediately.

Step 2: Unlearning Self-Sabotage & Small Energy

A lot of us were conditioned to be “humble,” to be “likable,” to dim ourselves down. But let’s be real—playing small has never helped anyone win.

Speaking softly so you don’t sound “too much”? Stop it.

Sitting back when you know you have something to say? Stop it.

Not going after what you want because “what if I fail”? Stop it.

Winners aren’t afraid to be seen trying. And trust me, people can feel when you doubt yourself. The second you start believing you belong in the spotlight, the world will reflect it back to you.

Step 3: The Energy Glow-Up – Embodying Unapologetic Presence

Confidence isn’t just posture or outfits (though, yes, those help). It’s the subtle way you exist that makes people remember you.

Speak slower. Move with certainty. Rushed energy screams insecurity.

Make eye contact. Like you expect people to listen when you talk.

Stop over-explaining. Say what you mean, then stop talking.

Carry yourself like you have somewhere important to be. Even if it’s just a coffee run.

People should feel something different when they’re around you. Like they just met someone important. Because they did.

Step 4: Raising Your Standards in Every Area

Here’s the truth: when you glow up internally, you’ll stop tolerating things that don’t align with your highest self.

Low-effort friendships? No, thanks.

Situationships with people who don’t see your worth? Not my vibe.

Doubting yourself before you even try? That’s embarrassing.

Once you start seeing yourself as the prize, the whole world starts treating you that way too.

Step 5: Moving Like a Winner (Before the World Recognizes It)

You don’t become magnetic, successful, iconic by waiting for permission. You do it by deciding:

“I’m already her.”

“I already have what it takes.”

“It’s just a matter of time before the world catches up.”

And then you start walking, talking, living like that’s the truth. Because it is.

The glow-up isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about uncovering who you were always meant to be.

So stop playing

—Wednesday, 12th March 2025

1. Studied Italian for 2h and 30 min

2. Cleaned my room and the kitchen

3. Prayed taraweeh + Read Quran

4. Walked 7k steps

I know it's not that productive but inchAllah tomorrow i'll aim to run 5km and study more (((: Goodnight

✧˖° how to enter your next era like she would (because this is your season)

hey girlies, it's mindy here <3 and guess what?

it’s here. the season of reinvention. the kind of fresh start that smells like new perfume, feels like sun-warmed skin, and looks like a completely elevated version of you. you know that feeling? when your life is about to change, and you can feel it before it even happens? yeah. that’s this.

howeverrrrrr, your next era won’t just magically appear. you step into it. you create it. you decide that you’re not the same person you were in winter, and suddenly? you’re not.

this is your guide to entering your next era like she would. gracefully, intentionally, effortlessly. because this is your season. let’s make it a good one.

✧˖° ➼ 01. decide who you’re becoming

every new era starts with a decision. before you start buying new clothes or changing your routine, ask yourself:

who is spring-you? • what does she look like? how does she carry herself? • what does she prioritize? what does she no longer tolerate? • what kind of energy does she bring into a room? • how does she make people (and herself) feel?

you don’t need to have all the answers, but get a vision. because stepping into your next era isn’t about wishing you were that girl. it’s about becoming her.

💌 homework: write a “who i am becoming” list. every morning, read it and align your actions with it.

✧˖° ➼ 02. upgrade your routine like a main character

okay, let’s be real, if you’re still waking up late, scrolling aimlessly, and letting your day run you, then you’re not in your next era yet. A next-era girl moves with purpose.

✨ spring routine shifts that change everything:• morning air & sunlight first thing (no more waking up in the dark, scrolling your phone. get up. let the light in.) • romanticize your mornings. set the tone. music, skincare, something warm to drink. make it feel luxurious. • clear the mental clutter before you start your day (brain-dump your thoughts, plan your top 3 priorities). • move your body in a way that feels good (walks, pilates, stretching. something that makes you feel light and energized). • have a “main character” moment daily. a walk with your best playlist, a solo coffee date, a journal session that makes you feel aligned.

💌 homework: pick one thing to add to your morning routine that makes you feel like her. do it tomorrow.

✧˖° ➼ 03. let go of what doesn’t belong in this era

the quickest way to upgrade your life? stop carrying things that aren’t meant for you anymore.

what doesn’t belong in this season of your life? • self-doubt, comparison, playing small • people who drain you, situations that make you feel stuck • habits that keep you stagnant (procrastination, mindless scrolling, overthinking)

your next era requires space. clean out your physical space, your mental space, your emotional space. release.

💌 homework: do a “spring cleaning” of your life. unfollow accounts that make you feel less-than, clear out old messages, declutter your space. make room for what’s next.

✧˖° ➼ 04. refresh your aesthetic (because energy shifts deserve a visual upgrade)

listen, you don’t need a full wardrobe reset to enter your next era. but a small aesthetic shift? instant mindset boost.

✨ easy aesthetic upgrades that shift your energy:• a new signature perfume. something fresh, floral, clean. every time you wear it, you step into your next era. • spring-inspired outfits. soft colors, breezy fabrics, put-together but effortless. you’re that girl now. • elevated beauty rituals. glowing skin, hydrated lips, soft hair. not just for looks, but because you deserve to feel taken care of. • new playlist energy. your next era has a soundtrack. make a playlist that makes you feel untouchable.

💌 homework: change one small thing about your aesthetic this week that makes you feel like your upgraded self.

✧˖° ➼ 05. shift from waiting to creating

too many people sit around waiting for their lives to change. waiting to feel motivated. waiting for the right time. waiting for some external sign.

your next era doesn’t arrive when you feel ready. it arrives when you decide.

the energy shift happens when you start moving differently. • you stop talking yourself out of things and just do them. • you stop second-guessing and start trusting your instincts. • you stop waiting for confidence and act as if you already have it.

💌 homework: stop postponing something you’ve been waiting to do. book it, start it, commit to it. make it real.

✧˖° mindy’s personal tips (because this is your season, babe)

💌 energy is everything. walk into every room like you belong there. because you do. 💌 romanticize this reinvention. new season, new version of you. make it intentional.💌 start small but start now. one small shift today = a completely different life in three months. 💌 be delusional if you need to. act like your dream life is already happening. your brain will catch up. 💌 this is your fresh start. take it.