Welcome to the Productivity Blog

Last week when I took a whole week off from work, I did a hell of a lot of typing. Blog posts, social media updates, website maintenance, emails - I did it all, and learnt a lot. So if you’ve ever said “I don’t have time to do this”, or “There are so many things I want to do for my blog but I just don’t have time”, - both of which I’ve definitely said! - then today’s post is for you. 

As someone who has a full-time job and runs a blog alongside it (not to mention all the other parts of life), I completely understand how difficult, frustrating and stressful it can all get.

Keeping all of these plates spinning has been my daily routine for the past couple of years and while I LOVE both my day job and my blog and wouldn't give either of them up for the world, I definitely sympathise with the overwhelm and guilt each and every one of us feels on a regular basis. 

But I also believe that you can make the things you want to happen for your blog happen, even if you’re on a very limited amount of time. It all starts with actually wanting them to happen in the first place. And for the things in this list, you only need ten minutes.

If you want to increase your visibility online, be seen more in the blogging community, and grow your audience, this list of ten minute updates will start you off on your way to improving your blog. Let’s go.

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Sometimes in life, we’ve got to go through hurdles and obstacles to get to where we want to be. But unfortunately, we can also come to the realisation that we can’t always get what we want. You can try and try, but sometimes life is tough and it just doesn’t happen. 

When things aren’t going your way, it can be frustrating, upsetting and completely demoralising. Something you’ve been so sure about and had your heart set on can disappear in front you in a matter of seconds, like the sky changing from bright sunshine to pouring rain, making you feel cold and lost.

You could spend a really long time trying to figure out the cause of the downpour and wondering why it happened. Why to you? Why now? Why after all this time? Why after you’ve been working so hard? You can go back through your journey in your mind, trying to pinpoint what you did wrong or the moment that made everything turn out this way. Usually there’s no answer - and that’s one of the hardest things to understand in life.

I’ve been in the downpour before, wondering why things just aren’t going my way. Today I wanted to share my thoughts with you and tell you how you can pick yourself back up again.

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This week has been pure bliss.

If you read this blog often or you keep up to date with me on social media you might have seen me say that I've had a whole week off. At first I felt quite nervous and overwhelmed. I mean, it was five whole days ahead of me. I had no plans, no appointments, no early starts - nothing. So I kind of didn't know where to start.

But then my family talked some sense into me and made me realise how lucky I was to have this time off ahead me. They said I should use it wisely. So I did.

Have I done anything grand? No. Did I jet off on a plane? No. Did I got on a road trip? No. But what I did do was even better.

I had time to myself. I spent a lot of time with my nana and grandad that reminded me of when I was at college and university. I spent time outside, reading and catching the sun. I spent time with my animals. I spent time just being happy within my own company.

And what better way to show you what else I've done than with a Seven for Sunday round-up?

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Happy Saturday internet family! So today I'm bringing you the official second instalment of the Inspirational Reminder series. I loved your responses to the start of this last week and I'm really excited for this new path. I'm also thinking of turning this into a hashtag on Instagram: #YourInspirationalReminder. That way, we can keep up with how we're all using the reminder and giving each other support too.

I decided on this week's reminder as I was having a browse through Pinterest and saw this quote in my feed. I actually thought it described this week perfectly and saved it ready for this post.

On Tuesday, I was asked to go back into my old high school to talk to a group of 14-15 year-old's and deliver a motivational talk about my journey from school to where I am now. Of course, I jumped at the chance. So I told them my journey and made it as aspirational as possible. The great thing about it was that I'd been sat exactly where they were so if they listened to anyone, it'd be great to listen to me.

Then my mum (who works at the school) thought it would be a good idea if I came in to present the same talk to the final year pupils - the 15-16 year-old's, because they're completely unmotivated. I asked her to describe to me what she meant, and I couldn't comprehend what she said.

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If there's one thing Tom and I would pick to do together in our spare time, it wouldn't be going on a night out or a trip to the cinema. It would be walking. There's something about going for a walk that we both connect with more than other activities. And in the two and a half years we've been together, I can safely say that we've never walked the exact same route more than once.

Before I met Tom I liked walking, but it's only since I've met him that he's opened my mind to seeing it in a completely different light. It's just the two of us. Nobody else. No problems, no hurdles to cross. We're just together with only the noise of nature and the sound of our thoughts that we hear.

Usually, Tom will pick a route for us when we go on a walk and I'll have absolutely no idea where we are. But that's how I like it. I like the facts he tells me. I like being surprised at turning a corner. I like all the animals we come across, like friendly dogs and lazy sheep. I like waiting for the smallest moment to reveal itself.

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Our career is a huge part of our lives. We work for a long time each day so making sure we’re in a job we enjoy is really important. But I’ve learnt something else important when it comes to a career and that’s making sure you’re working somewhere where you’re valued and rewarded.

Feeling under appreciated at work is a horrible situation to be in. It’s demoralising, frustrating, draining and affects your whole life in a very negative way. If your colleagues don’t appreciate you at work, you come home and begin to appreciate yourself less to. It even gets to the point where you don’t believe you deserve appreciation. 

I know this happens too often - and it’s even happened to me in one of my previous jobs. If you’re currently not appreciated at work it doesn't have to be that way. Here are some signs you need to look out for and what to do about it.

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It’s not intelligence or lack of ability that stops people from reaching their goals and getting to where they want to be - it’s not having self-belief. There are many challenges that we face in our lives and it’s not how much we know that helps us deal with it. It’s how much we believe in our capability to do it.

But if you’re anything like me, you struggle with self-belief. You struggle with believing in yourself enough to accomplish what you really want to achieve. Are there some quick fixes to help you conquer it? No. But I’ve found some very small, simple ways to help improve myself. And today, I wanted to pass these onto you.

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Never did I think that I’d ever write a post about photography. It’s probably the thing I’ve always struggled most with as a blogger. But since January, I’ve been making much more of an effort with my imagery on this space, which a lot of you have noticed, and on Instagram too - I usually upload two to three photos a day on there and I’ve seen my following greatly increase.

Right now, I use an iPhone 5s to take my Instagram photos and the Panasonic Lumix Bridge Camera to take blog photos. I also use a few of these photos on my Instagram and it really helps to make my feed look a lot more professional and on brand. But usually, my iPhone is great quality.

So I’ve learnt a lot about both blog and social media photography over the past few months and today, I wanted to share some tips with you, in case you’re trying to make more of an effort with your imagery too.

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If there’s one thing we pass onto others about running a blog, it’s that it takes up a hell of a lot of time. And when time means everything, you definitely can’t afford to waste it.

Here’s what I found out when I analysed my routine. I have spare slots all over the place where I don’t do anything productive. So I started trying to at least start something, even if I just had five minutes. Guess what I found? I did more and wrote more throughout a week, even though I had less time on my hands. 

You’re not alone in the struggle of trying to manage everything for your blog. Writing, photography, editing, promotion, networking - it’s a huge, common problem for a lot of us, no matter how long we’ve been blogging for. Even the top bloggers who do this for a living struggle with managing their overwhelming workload, but luckily for them (and us too), there are some amazing tools to help them do more and save time. What you need are tools you access anywhere at anytime, and if you’re anything like me, then you’ll understand how every moment can be used to do something productive. 

So today, I wanted to share a few secret habits of mine that will help you maximise your time, get more done and help you on your journey.

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Sunday usually comes with the Sunday blues. But not for me. Not this Sunday. Want to know why? Because I've got a whole. week. off.

Yep, I'm officially on my holidays now. I'm not going away anywhere. Really, I just want to spend it pottering around, getting work done and ticking things off my life admin list.

So this Seven for Sunday comes to you from the comfort of my desk, where my honey blossom Yankee candles is burning brightly, and I've got a whole list written of what I want to accomplish over the next seven days.

I'm feeling quite optimistic. There's a lot I want to get done, but so far I'm feeling really pumped. I'm making silent prayers all the time that the weather is going to be sort of Spring-like and I'm quite looking forward to some good old-fashioned alone time.

On Friday, Tom and I went to Nandos for tea which was the perfect way to start my time off. Then yesterday we took blog photos, I spent time doing some work (aka this post) and had a cinema trip with my dad. We've also had a lot of present deliveries from Maisy this week - only cat owners will understand that one!

So if you want to keep up with me behind-the-scenes this week, I'm going to be documenting everything on Snapchat. You can find me at abranchofholly.

But enough about next week - let's get cracking with this edition of Seven for Sunday.

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So I've been thinking (and talking) a lot about inspiration lately. It's a theme that ABOH completely revolves around, and I recently told you in a blog post that I've added it as a brand new category. That's where this post comes in.

I get so much positive feedback from you about this online space and the one phrase that keeps popping up quite regularly is this: "it's so inspiring." I wanted to do more with these words and so I came up with the idea of an inspirational reminder post. I'm hoping to post little messages of blogging and life-related encouragement every Saturday to inspire you to push a little further, work a little harder or simply take time to reflect on each quote. 

I'm really excited about starting this new series. Let me know if you like it in the comments and today, we'll kick off with the first one!

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So if there’s a very easy way to my heart, it’s magazines. I remember when I was about 15, I picked up my first ever issue of Elle for when we were going on holiday. It made me feel so adult. Ever since then, I’ve never missed an issue, and magazines became a big love of mine.

I grew to love them so much, that it became my career goal to ultimately write for a magazine. This is a goal I’ve sort of fulfilled – I’ve written for LOOK magazine and Holl & Lane too. But I’d love to write for more. I also did a Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013, so it’s safe to say that they’re a huge source of inspiration for me.

So today, I wanted to round up all the magazines that I’ve come to love over the years. Some I buy every issue, some I’ll just buy the odd one, but I love them all for different reasons. I know the online world is taking over and “print is dying”, but I believe that magazines will never die. Here’s my pick of the best.

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So you’ve spent some time perfecting your handshake, you think you’ve got your CV nailed and you’re keeping a spreadsheet which logs all the jobs that you’re applying for. You’re sending off application after application and you’re getting some interviews, but so far, you’re still unemployed and you just can’t figure out why. You put in all that time and work only to feel like you’re never going to get anywhere.

What gives?

What else do you have to do to stand out, get hired and make employees unable to resist hiring you?

These are the questions we’re going to answer today.

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I’m a morning person through and through. There’s nothing I love more than waking up early and getting to work, because I know that’s when I’m at my most productive. Evenings are completely different. When I get in from work, I’ve got my routine nailed. But when we've eaten tea and cleaned up, that’s when I start to struggle.

My evenings used to go one way or the other. I’d either waste them away not really doing anything or work late into the night. Recently, I’ve been on a mission to make my evenings count, be more intentional with them and do things that matter. So today, I wanted to show you how I’ve been doing it.

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Spoiler alert. There are LOADS of bloggers out there. In fact, more and more appear every day as we move into a time where blogging is seen as a full-time job.

What does this mean for you? Well you might be thinking, “what’s the point in blogging if there’s already so many people doing it?” That’s not the way to think. The right way to think is: “so how can I make myself stand out from everyone else?”

It’s hard when you’re just starting out, but learning from bloggers who've been around for a while can be the best way to grow your personal brand and improve your blogging skills. And ultimately, become a pro blogger yourself.

When I first started blogging, I was pretty much playing a guessing game. I didn't have a plan. I just wrote blog posts, published them and chatted a bit on social media.

Then my eyes opened and I realised that I couldn't go on this way. If I did, my personal brand and blog wouldn't grow, and I'd wonder in five years why nothing had changed. Was this what I wanted? I bet you can guess the answer.

So what did I do? I researched bloggers who were the best at what they were doing and payed close attention to them, to see what their process was and what made them different to all the other bloggers out there. What I found were some huge lessons and I wanted to share them with you today.

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As you know, I’m huge believer in promoting positivity in all aspects of my life. One way I do that is through affirmations. I’ve even started adding them into my daily routine. Not only do they help you have a strong, motivated outlook, they also serve as reminders on what you want to achieve and give you the belief that you can get to where you want to be.

I know some people think motivational messages are cheesy. They avoid those quotes on Pinterest like the plague. But when you think about how toxic our negative thoughts can be, you might start to think twice about affirmations.

We can change our entire mood from good to bad by one simple thought. “This is rubbish.” “I’ll never get a job.” I’ll never make that much money.” “I’m not good enough/pretty enough/clever enough to do that.”

We use negativity on a daily basis - so changing it to positivity should be simple enough, right? You’d think so. And we try many different things to turn our frowns upside down. But I believe positive affirmations are the way to go.

The only problem is that they only work when we believe in them. We have to believe in the power and truth of them in order for them to have a positive effect on us. You can say “I will achieve this” hundreds of times over. But if you don’t choose to believe it, then nothing will change.

We are in control of our own thoughts and no one can change them for us. There’s also no one else who can remove the negative thoughts from our minds. It’s up to us to decide how we think and act. 

Like Buddha said: you become what you believe. Believe you can’t do something and you won’t. Believe you can do something and you will. The more you strengthen this connection, the more positivity you’ll have in the different situations throughout your life.

So if you want to open yourself up to possibility, define your focus, choose to do things with good energy and begin to believe that your life is a positive one, these affirmations are for you. Use them in however way you want to and whenever you need them most. Here are some of my favourites.

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So is Spring here yet? Can you see it? 

I know you've been enjoying the sunshine down in London, but up North, it's still not getting over 11/12 degrees. Which means no summer clothes for us yet.

I'm sat waiting (very impatiently) for it. I mean, we've had some nice days. Thursday afternoon was beautiful, and when I got home from work my mum and dad were gardening. But mum had her big coat on and dad had a woolly hat on, so we've still got a bit to go.

But yes, I'm really ready for it. Sometimes I'll look out of the window at work and just wish for it to appear. I even made an ASOS order the other night for a couple of Spring pieces in the hope that the temperatures will rise.

Springtime also means the countdown starts for holidays, more time off and my birthday and I obviously can't wait for all those things! 

And summer nights in the garden sipping wine, going on walks to watch the sunset, having breakfast outside in the sun.

I need to stop before I get carried away...

Here's what I've been loving this week.

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Evernote is one of the most used tools in my blogging toolbox. To say I love it would be quite an understatement. And if you don’t use Evernote, today I really want to introduce you to it and show you how amazing it is.

This is a tool you can use in all aspects of your life. Think of it as the place where you can dump all your thoughts and lists in one go – but in a mega organised way. You can save links from the web, your own notes and put all these in an order that suits you the best. You can use Evernote for so many different things. I started out using it to make a note of the clothes I wanted to add to my wardrobe. Then when I started using it for blogging, that’s when I came to realise its potential.

You can essentially create a central hub on Evernote for all your blogging needs. Post links, calendars, ideas, to-do lists – everything can be kept on here to help streamline your blogging process.

The main way I use Evernote for blogging is for post inspiration, so that’s what I’m going to cover in this post. And since so many of you ask how I come up with so many ideas, today I wanted to let you in on my little secret.

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Stress is real and is something that affects each and every one of us. Whether it’s university deadlines, personal problems or juggling too many things at once, we all suffer from it at one point or another. It’s so incredibly important to take care of ourselves in a positive way to make sure we don’t burn out due to stress. But I also know how difficult it can be.

Stress can affect us in different ways depending on the type of person we are. Usually I find someone with a short temper gets stressed more easily than someone who doesn’t have a short temper.

I don’t suffer from stress that often – although I have in the past. And one way stress used to make itself known to me was by my scalp coming up in a big red rash. I know. Attractive, right?

Luckily, when my hairdresser came last weekend, she made a note about how healthy my scalp was looking which means my stress levels must be pretty low. So today, I wanted to share my secrets with you to show you how to decrease stress in your life and actually get rid of it for good.

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When you’re told by your tutor that you’ve got to undertake a compulsory placement at a magazine as part of your course, it’s like the best news ever. Every single one of us couldn't wait. But it was daunting having to organise it ourselves. All we had was a list of dates – it was up to us to find a magazine that would take us on.

Amazingly for me, that turned out to be LOOK magazine – Britain’s biggest weekly selling glossy. When the head of the features department confirmed I could attend, I marked it in my diary and the countdown begun.

Tom’s Aunty lives just outside of London so it was fantastic that I got to stay with her. It was this time two years ago that my placement finished and I remember bringing all my things down to the dining room the night before the big journey, feeling like I was moving out. It was emotional leaving my family – I cried a lot when I was left on my own, because starting the next day was the biggest thing I’d ever had to do.

Looking back, there was so much I learnt about myself, not just from the internship, but living independently in London for four weeks too. So today, I wanted to share these lessons with you, so that you hopefully enjoy them and learn a few things yourself too.

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