Sunday 21 February 2016

IM LOST

I'm in a slump.

I haven't read anything, written anything or been even remotely productive for who-knows-how-long now - unless you count binge watching 4 seasons of awkward in 4 days. So this is me (oh dear I just swallowed a huge chunk of cucumber) forcing myself to get back in touch with life and write a blog post: how to win a fight against your worst self.

Step 1: Admit to yourself that you have a problem (i.e Put on some pants).

You're never going to get out of your slump if you're sitting at home all day in your pyjamas (which, by the way, could probably use a wash or two by now). Just by getting dressed and putting yourself through the normal routine of a productive day, you're making yourself feel ready to be put to work.

Step 2: Go outside.
Whether you're looking for inspiration or just a better attitude, leaving the house and going for a walk will get you there. Your body will be subject to various different sights, smells, sensations etc. that would not be available were you to just stay home where everything is the same - you'll be experiencing things that will make you think.

Step 3: Get to work.
It doesn't matter what your 'work' happens to be - maybe it's applying for jobs, homework, starting a new book, or writing - nothing is going to happen if you don't push past the barriers, and, as Shia Labeouf would say, just do it!
It doesn't matter if whatever-it-is doesn't turn out great at first - Rome wasn't built in a day! As long as you're producing something, that's pretty much all that matters because you're being productive. Take this post, for example. Maybe it's not as great or as helpful as it could be, but this is getting me started.

If you have any tips on how to get out of a slump, leave a comment below! I'd love to know what they are. And thanks for helping me get out of my slump :)

Friday 5 February 2016

JANUARY WRAP-UP

Hello! SO I finished three books in January and there are two that I am still reading!

The first book I read was The Maze Runner by James Dashner. I pretty much knew what to expect because I had seen the movie about a year prior and I really enjoyed it. The book was good and what I really liked was that it's primary focus wasn't on a romantic relationship. It was actually about survival and getting out of the maze. I feel like it's easy for books to kind of forget the main point of the story and get too swept up in the romance side - not to say I don't still enjoy that, though.

The next two books I read were, of course, The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure - the two sequels by James Dashner. I didn't really know what to expect with these two, although I knew that The Scorch Trials movie was very different to the book, but I really liked The Scorch Trials! I thought it was interesting and I wanted to keep reading to know what happens - despite this being apparently the least popular out of the series.

The Death Cure was probably my least favourite out of all three - I read majority of it in one sitting and then it took me quite a while to finish the last third of the book. I just didn't find it as gripping or as interesting as the first two.
And although I generally enjoyed the stories of all three books, I'm not that crazy about James Dashner's writing style. It's quite young, something I'm moving further away from, though it does make the read very easy.

I do have the fourth book, The Kill Order (which is a prequel), on my kindle but I am not in any rush to read it, though I'm sure I will at some point in time.

Have you read these books? What did you think of them?
-Gracie :)