One thing I’ve found when reading other blogs is the frequent feature of ’10 things I can’t live without’ posts. I started writing one of these, but then realised that I don’t really want to be that dependent on all of those things, even if I am. So, I’ve decided to make a post of 5 things (yes only 5 cause I’m not that impressive) I can live without.
This is not me posting about how fabulously independent and strong willed I am, as I am very far from this.
1. Social Media
I’ve never really been a fan. I’m aware of the huge negatives that come with using social media and how badly I personally have been affected by certain aspects. In the last year, I’ve cut down on my social media use and have gone weeks with deleting the apps for a break. It was from this that I decided I could go without them forever if I really wanted, but I did still reinstall them from time to time just to see what had been going on with my friends.
I’m now saying all of this when I’ve started new ventures that heavily involve social media, such as my business Instagram/Facebook and now my blog. But, this has taught me that the platforms themselves, such as instagram and twitter, are not the problem. It is the fact I followed so many people that I a) don’t even know, b) don’t really like that much or c) knew they made me feel a little bit inadequate. From having more professionally focused accounts, I’ve learned the value that social media can add if you take the leap and remove all negativity from them.
2. Coffee
I love a coffee in the morning, but I definitely don’t need one to function. I sometimes think that my brain is filled with a natural flow of caffeine, given how hyper I always seem to be. In my opinion, coffee is a ritualistic concept, with many people describing how they need one or else they won’t be able to do anything with their day.
Like many people I know, coffee can give me quite bad anxiety. Considering I already experience fairly high levels of anxiety, coffee can put this into overdrive.
Don’t get me started on tea though, I can’t go a day without a cuppa.
3. Alcohol
I’ve never really been that much of a drinker. Coming to uni, I kind of forced myself to be, even though I hated the taste of most drinks and I hated being drunk. But in my third year of uni, I’ve realised how little I enjoy drinking and how easily I can just not have a drink.
Lately, if I go to the pub with my friends I’ll have one drink max and get soft drinks for the rest of the night. And I now wish I’d done this sooner, but I had been a bit sceptical if people would wonder why I wasn’t drinking when everyone else was. Because what’s the point of being at the pub if I’m not drinking, right? Nope.
4. Meat
I spent the best part of 3 years vegetarian but that ended when I had a mini breakdown and decided that if I was gonna be sad all the time, I might as well be sad while eating chicken nuggets.
It’s been about a year and a half since I started eating meat again and I always feel a bit bad that I switched back. But it made me aware how little I rely on meat in meals and how I could just not eat it anymore. So, I’ve been cooking more veggie meals lately and decided that I’m slowly going to go back to being vegetarian.
5. Chocolate
More of a sweet kinda girl, might be what makes me constantly hyper. I do love chocolate but I can definitely go without it (…but I’m not going to).
See you on the next post,
Maddie

What do you think?