Working from home in pajamas sounds fun, like a dream come true, but how does that affect our productivity? Now that working from home is the new normal, that only means that many people are starting to establish a working from home routine. 

Let’s face it when working from home is now part of our daily routine, a concept that we never thought possible. We became excited, the idea of spending our working days on the couch, watching tv, snacking, and drinking our choice of beverage whenever we feel like it, sounds pretty amazing! And in our pajamas, all day long is indeed a luxury.

It’s easy to forget to make ourselves look presentable when we aren’t going anywhere, right? But if we get ready every day, it prepares us for anything. 

Why should you? Why should I get ready every single day? Here are my reasons:

Getting Dressed to be More Productive

Getting dressed is the perfect way to get your day going like a Boeing. If you want to cross out all your to-do list for the day, stay focused, and get things done, then start your day by looking your best. Create a routine and system that works well with you. Getting dressed will jump-start your productivity and get you moving all throughout the day. 

Getting Dressed for your mood

Getting dressed every day helps you feel you’ve got something going on and will really help boost your mood. There are days when we don’t want to get out of bed, but we must stay motivated. Freshen-up and get ready for the day like you’re going out somewhere. That will automatically boost your mood and make you feel better! Try switching up your look, based on your mood, it will help you dress for success.

Getting dressed builds your self-confidence

Staying in your pajamas all day long won’t help with your self-confidence. So, get up, dress-up, and face the new day with enthusiasm. I always believe in looking good and feeling good. It is my daily mantra to stay proactive. So, fix your hair, put a little lipstick on, and embrace the day with open arms!

Getting Dressed will Prepare you for whatever comes your way

Don’t let time pass you by, align yourself with the world around you even when you are working from home. Getting dressed every day will keep you ready for whatever comes unexpectedly. Keep your spontaneity going!

Keeping a routine going when we work from home is crucial for our wellbeing and our mental health. It helps us to stay focused and motivated. So, feeling comfortable and combining fashion and function is our best bet for being productive. I usually opt for stretchable fabric pieces for comfort and style. You can start looking for pieces in your closet that will be your favorite work from home outfits that won’t compromise your ease. 

One of the simplest and effortless parts of the routine is to make sure you change out of your pajamas and into your preferred clothes for working. Change clothes with a change of mindset. So, we need to rethink what drives us to get ready for the day and make it a habit. No matter what! 

What are your thoughts about getting dressed every day (even when you are working from home)? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to know! 

The post Reasons Why You Should Get Dressed Every Day (WFH) appeared first on Imagine Sunsets.

I still can’t believe I’m 38 today. I made it to 38! Though I don’t count the years, so I say. But the experiences in life. 

What makes it different this time? Well, this is my first birthday under lockdown. Cheers, Corona! I mean the other Corona (wink). 

My birthday has never really been a big deal since I celebrate life every waking day. I am always grateful the moment I open my eyes in the morning. But since becoming a mom, I celebrate my birthday in a more meaningful way because I get another chance to celebrate it with my son. Just the excitement I see on his face when he sees birthday candles on a cake makes my heart skip with happiness. Priceless!

Getting older, I mean getting wiser, allows you to pay more attention to yourself and everyone around you.

Here are my 38 life lessons in the last 38 years:

1. To know yourself is the answer to loving yourself.
2. Forgiveness is an endowment you can give yourself.
3. Giving is so much better than receiving. 
4. Compassion is a more fulfilling way to live than closing your eyes to suffering. 
5. Learn the art of empathy and stop judging people based on inadequate information. 
6. Mistakes are your best teacher. Don’t be afraid of it. 
7. Don’t be too anxious about the future and stop living in the past. 
8. Don’t let life make you bitter.
9. Learn how to swallow your pride and stop being too proud to apologize. Saying sorry goes a long way.
10. Freaking out doesn’t change the outcome of anything.
11. We don’t always get what we want. 
12. Failures are our instrument to success. 
13. Change begins with changing habits. 
14. Material things are worse than useless. It adds no value to life. 
15. Wisdom is wealth.
16. All emotions are beautiful. See the light even in your darkest days. 
17. The greatest joys are free. Warm hugs from someone you love is all you need. 
18. Don’t strive for perfection. You will always feel incomplete.
19. The best way to clarify your thoughts is to write it down. Spell it out and express yourself. 
20. Don’t let your expectations stop you from experiencing reality. Accept it as it is and be happy.
21. Regret is a waste of time.
22. Gratitude is finding contentment in life. 
23. Gossip is poison. Fulfilled and happy people don’t waste their time and energy on putting others down.
24. Slow down. Life is more enjoyable when you do it at a slower pace. Stop and smell the flowers. 
25. No. It’s a complete sentence. You don’t have to explain yourself. 
26. I’m not that cool and it’s fine with me.
27. Rest is more valuable than you think.
28. People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. 
29. Who you decide to spend your time with is one great decision. So, be relentless. 
30. Trust is something you have to do to experience it. 
31. Always spend time with someone you love. Tomorrow might be gone.
32. Surround yourself with people who shine bright because these are the ones that want to see you shine brighter. 
33. Choose your friends wisely because they’re your chosen family. 
34. You are here to make a difference in your unique way. 
35. The destination is just a tiny piece of the journey. Make sure you don’t miss out on the other details.
36. Always be open to new ideas. 
37. Don’t forget to open your heart and take the road less traveled. 
38. There’s more left to learn. Life has many lessons left to teach me, and I am looking forward to it all. 

Thankful for the 38 years of life. I’ve learned so much! The twist and turns of life taught me to be still in the middle of the storm. I may have fallen so many times, but I always get back up. 

These years won’t be as worth living if it wasn’t for the people I have in my life. Thank you for the inspiration, love, and acceptance that I am perfectly imperfect, and you embraced it with open arms.

Cheers to life!

P.S. Looking forward to better days, where I can be on a beach somewhere, rolling on the sand and looking at the sky full of stars.

The post 38 Life Lessons I’ve Learned in 38 years appeared first on Imagine Sunsets.

We all get caught up in negative self chats and some restricting beliefs. Just like a dark, gloomy cloud of unfavorable contradictions swinging over our heads, holding us back from living our full potential and becoming the best version of ourselves, don’t be a victim of all the negativities. It will eventually rob you of your true freedom, peace, and joy that you truly deserve. 

But wait! Now, guess who’s the main culprit? Us! Our selves, if we allow it. That is the hard truth! 

So, do not self sabotage yourself. When you try to call yourself out on something you think, you didn’t do right or you didn’t deserve, pause for a minute and ask yourself how it makes you feel? If it made you feel sad, little, and angry, then I encourage you to change how you speak to yourself. Stop the negative talk! Positive self-talk is one of the greatest things you can do to feed your senses and nourish our spirit.

5 Self-love affirmations that will help you be the best you:

1. I am loved.

Let’s start with ourselves. When you love yourself, you will propel love and positive energy into the world, and will surely find its way back to you. Did you know that love is the most powerful emotion that we can feel? True love is finding the purest joy and greatest happiness. Loving and being loved are imperative feelings.

2. I design my life with purpose and dreams.

Step into your  greatness and follow a life of purpose. Do you know which way to go? Have you set your path? If not, then when? Slow down and rediscover yourself. Take the time to rediscover all the things you love. Choose to expand your life in a new direction and don’t settle until you are on the right track in finding your purpose. Nothing can stop you now! When you pour your heart and soul into it, it’s magical. So, chase the dreams that are in your heart!

3. I respect my intuition and allow it to guide me.

I will not outguess my inner guide. When you trust your instinct, you may have a good chance of making the right decisions in life.  Let your inner voice become louder and clearer. However, find balance with your instinct and all the other aspects of your life so that you can express your full array of awareness.

4. I choose to forgive myself and others and let go of the past.

Letting go is easier said than done, I know. Let go of the pain of the past and everything that hinders you from moving forward. Always remember that the past is gone, but the future is yet to come. Two emotions can’t take up the mind at the same time.  Clinging on the past and the pain will stop you from moving on. Forgive, let go, and move on! It may not be the easy way, but it is the best way.

5. I am fearless and fierce.

Fear a normal part of life. Everyone has fears, but how do you overcome it? Do not let it stifle you from completely living and savoring your life. Try to inhale confidence and exhale fear and self-doubt. Always remember that challenges are opportunities to become better, to evolve, and to flourish. Be the best version of yourself every day.

The words you speak to yourself during a moment of frustration can uphold or harm your chances of getting where you want to be. We talk to ourselves almost every day. Be kind to yourself and choose words with compassion and tenderness. Fill your daily mantras with optimism, inspiration, and love. 

Which of these self-love affirmations did you need to tell yourself today? Let me know in the comments below! 

I appreciate and thank you for reading.

Till next time!

The post Self-Love Affirmations: 5 Things You Wish You’d Known Earlier appeared first on Imagine Sunsets.

Let’s face it, work from home or at the office, it is the same. Work is work! Isn’t that right? Especially now, in times like these for sure, most of us are working from home amidst this pandemic. 

For sure you can well imagine the advantages of being able to work from the comfort of your own home, that is without a doubt. The downside? Well, it can get boring real quick! 

Somehow, it doesn’t affect me because I am an introvert. I function alone, doing my thing in the comfort of my home. But for some, this can be a real struggle.

So, let me tell you some of the things no one has told you about working from home.

1. Bye-bye daily commute

Can you imagine the time and money you save every single day? Goodbye to the daily commute to work, the traffic, and of course the transport expenses. Making you more productive by the time saved every day!

2. It’s still work

People who don’t work from home consider it as not work at all. Well, it is very much still work because you still have long meetings, and pretty much don’t lounge around the whole day. True! We all have a schedule that we follow through. Monday’s are still the same, crunch time! However, the benefits are far better than an ordinary office day. That’s for sure!

3. Feel comfortable but don’t fall into bad habits

No shower, okay? Not really! Every morning get into the habit of preparing yourself to go to your home office/ space or whatever you want to call it. Dress up and show up, just like when you’re going to an office! The good thing is, you can be barefoot! Now, that is a great deal. I mean, a huge plus! You don’t have to call in sick, why? Because you can work from your bed, in your pajamas when you need to. That’s just some of the perks!

4. You’ll discover how darn good you are

Working from home with kids will certainly teach you how to tune in to your superpowers. Kids can scream, run around the whole day, so you need to master your concentration skills like a superhero. We deliver our best every single day even if we work with less supervision and less support system. We always thrive!

5. Have a designated workspace

Choosing a work area where you feel comfortable is very important when working from home. It is essential to draw the line between work and home space. Do not fall for the trap! Create a working space that will make you work your best, free from distraction from home life. More productive days ahead!

6. Take care of yourself

Working from home takes self-mastery, a method where you learn how to discipline yourself. You need to find your groove, a daily routine you can follow. Eating healthy meals and having scheduled social lunches is vital to good work and life balance. So, don’t forget to go out and meet family and friends and have those social connections outside the comfort of your home.

7. Be positive, be grateful

Work is work. Although it is natural in any job situation to feel down at times, we need to find the balance. A positive attitude and thinking will help you get through a stressful day. Be grateful for the job that you have and focus on where you want to be in the future. Growth is essential!

Having all those things said, do you think it can work for you? Working from home is a change in lifestyle. Will you thrive? Are the benefits better than the downside? And if you prefer the solitude and enjoy having control of your own time, then maybe you’ll love working from home. It is always a preference, a choice that will make your life easier and happier. 

Are you working from home? Do you want to work from home? I hope you get a clear viewpoint after reading this article. I’d love to hear what you think about working from home. Whether you love or hate it, share it in the comments! 

The post 7 Things No One Told You About Working From Home appeared first on Imagine Sunsets.

I have never seen a sunset I didn’t love. It is like a bond to my inner soul. A deep feeling of serenity and calm, my peace with-in, a love unspoken. It is so warm, so magical, a sense of belonging to the here and now. 

If I could, I would. I’ll be that girl forever chasing sunsets. But there are times that I can’t. Circumstances, for instance, won’t allow me. At least for now! 

When was the last time you’ve seen a beautiful sunset? Was it today, yesterday, or a week ago?

I know the world is in a standstill right now, most of us are on lockdown. We don’t even have the luxury to go for a walk outside and enjoy the sunshine, take a long drive, enjoy a day at the park with the little ones, go to the beach, or travel to somewhere we have never been. Strange as our situation is today, but we need to have hope. I hope that one day, we will have our freedom back again to do things we love to do.

So, I encourage you to imagine sunsets, to breathe in the hope that new beginnings are coming. Can you see the silver lining? When we can go and travel again, enjoy the beach and soak in the sun. When we can see our family and friends again, like an ordinary day like we used to. 

Do you know the song Imagine by John Lennon? One of the best songs, at least for me!  Yes, that song! I love it! 

A visionary with a dream. Imagine! Can you? Hopeful for change, a world of peace. To live in the moment even if we can’t do the things we usually do.

Imagine sunsets, a warm, pleasant, and inviting feeling. It is made of lustrous hues of orange and gold, giving us a sense of pleasure. I cannot say no to beautiful sunsets. 

I imagine sunsets wherever I go, that magical moment where you see the most beautiful, breathtaking sun gloaming. It captures your sense of delight and gratitude that no matter what, we are all blessed in this earth, to thrive and to make the most of it.

I know that made you smile. I hope I made you smile today.

Let’s imagine our virtual sunsets, shall we? It is a promise of hope. There’s beauty in every ending, and an opportunity to reset.

How did that make you feel? That fiery kiss from the sun. Happiness! Yes, that is pure bliss. The small things in life are the one that matters the most. Let’s all be grateful to be alive. A little optimism won’t hurt especially in times like this, hold on, this will all come to pass. 

I want to share more, do you want more? An image of exhilaration painted in your imagination. So, stick with me! Hit the follow button, will you? Or see me on Pinterest for more!

The post Why You Need to Imagine Sunsets Right Now appeared first on Imagine Sunsets.