Motivation.

Normally by this point in the year I’m still completely immersed in projects, New Year’s Resolutions and completely overcome with drive and motivation.

This year, for some reason this just isn’t the case. 

I’ve been really struggling to find any motivation to get done the things I know I must. This is my final ever semester at University before I graduate, and the work load is disappointingly light in comparison to last semester.
At the end of last year I put on my first exhibition of my work for that semester- that was a huge module. It consumed my every waking moment. In comparison, the work load for my final term is just not enough to keep me motivated.

I’m someone who loves to be busy, to be out and about all of the time. And yet, within the last few weeks mostly I’ve been watching TV, putting off tasks that would take minimal time and effort and playing video games in my pyjamas. 
I’m sure that the reason for this lack of motivation is down to the workload- for some reason the lack of has induced a sense of non-urgency in me. Last semester I hardly had a free moment to myself. This time around I’m procrastinating the days away without so much as looking at my assignments.
I’m up to date (for the most part) on my workload- it’s not building up or anything. But maybe that’s the problem- I’m doing nothing with my time and yet I’m on top of my work. That to me seems a little wrong and weird. The fact that these are the modules that will determine my graduating grade seems just off to me. 

The good thing about having free time though, is that I’ve starting shooting for myself again. I did my first self portrait in months yesterday and uploaded it, which was good! ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryonyharwood/12617987223/ ) 

This is my super excited to be shooting again face from yesterday. 🙂

I think the fact that I am graduating soon is becoming a little difficult to swallow. For the last three years of my life I’ve had my own home, my own time, my own money and my own work to do.

After graduation we will be having to move back in with parents before we can afford our own place. That is something that deeply depresses me. As much as I enjoy the company of those I will be living with, I’m used to my own space and my own way of handling a household now. I don’t want to be in someone else’s home. I want to be in my own.

That is a motivation thought in a way- I want to get a job ASAP and save up enough to move out. But until then, I have to do assignments that feel well below my intellectual level and continue to have not enough of it to keep my time occupied.

Has anyone else gone through something like this? Total lack of inspiration and motivation? Any tips on how to overcome it? 
Anyone who also has been to university- did this happen to you when you were on the brink of finishing? Or was your motivation stronger than ever? Let me know, I’d like to hear from you.

New glasses, though. 🙂

 

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Review: Lush’s Solid Perfumes.

I’ve never really paid much attention to Lush’s perfume/make up range. And now that I have? I’m kicking myself for not trying them sooner.

After sampling many of the solid perfumes (meaning, until I ran out of arm space) I accidentally stumbled across one of the loveliest scents I’ve ever experienced- ‘Lust’ and ‘Vanillary’.

Separately, neither really sold me. Mixed together? Heaven.
This was a complete fluke- I was trying the two scents, and happened to put them on next to one another. After a few hours of being on my skin they had matured to form this really beautiful scent; floral and sweet and so potent that when I woke up the next morning I could still detect it on my skin! (That was the moment I decided I’d be going back and purchasing both of them.)

 ‘Vanillary’ doesn’t really do it for my on it’s own. It’s a little too plain. I mean, it smells nice- vanilla, as the name suggests, but it’s just not quite powerful enough for my liking.
However, mixed with the jasmine scent-orgasm that is ‘Lust’, it turns into some sort of wonder-potion.

I do really like ‘Lust’ on it’s own- I’m a massive fan of jasmine scents, but something about that touch of vanilla just makes it pop and brings it to a whole other level.
The only downside to Lust is that it does leave colour payoff on your skin when you apply it- something that doesn’t really happen with Vanillary (except a few specs of vanilla pod).
This isn’t a massive issue for the wrists, as you can just rub them together to let the oils sink in- but it does pose a little bit of a pain when you’re applying it to your neck- there’s just no easy way to avoid having a slightly pink neck after use, without excessive rubbing in, leaving your hands heavily scented too, which for me at least isn’t really a desirable outcome.

However, I must say, that and that alone is the only downside to these solid perfumes. As they’re from Lush we all know they’re animal cruelty free, they’re free of any nasty chemicals and are all organic. They’re also really affordable- the solid perfumes start at about £5 each, which for Lush is really cheap, and for a perfume? Incredible.
They’re small which is excellent for travelling or for throwing in your handbag before going out- and thanks to the lack-of-glass packaging I don’t panic that they’re gonna smash all over everything if I take them out with me.

Plus I’ve had mine for over a month, have been using them everyday (sometimes several times a day) and I’ve barely made a dent in them. Yay!

 Overall, Lush’s solid perfumes have thoroughly impressed me, and I’m excited to try other scents. And maybe even some of their other products I have before overlooked in favour of colourful bath bombs….

*Note: All photographs are my own. Please do not repost or copy without my permission.*

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