Pastel colours are set to be big news this year, and there are more than enough goodies available online and on the high street. Here’s my pick of some of the best products, from clothes to stationery, all in the same shade of gorgeous green.

1 Story of Art Pocket Edition 2 “Gone Fishing” nail polish, Topshop 3 Dress, Minkpink
4 Bag, Cambridge Satchel Co 5 “Bloggers I Met And Liked” notebook, Archie Grand

Will you be wearing mint this spring?

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If you work 9 to 5, study at university or else have some other form of schedule or routine that you follow, it’s safe to say that every now and then, you get stuck in a rut. Maybe you develop bad habits, like ordering takeaway food every other night or watching hour upon hour of television. Perhaps personal projects get put on the backburner, or you begin to neglect your hobbies and interests. Sometimes you just feel a bit fed up, and you don’t really know why! Don’t worry – here are ten suggestions on how to climb out of that rut and shake up your daily routine.

Learn how to cook
Make an occasion of mealtimes, even – and especially – if you’re alone. Prepare only the most delicious and wholesome food, light a candle, and take your time. Enjoy the process of cooking and eating. You don’t have to be an award-winning chef – anyone can boil up some pasta and make a simple sauce. Choose a drink (alcoholic or non, it’s up to you) and don’t forget something for dessert!

Beautify your bed
Invest in a new duvet, pillows, bedsheets, cushions – the lot! Turn your bed into a paradise. I truly believe that a person’s bed should be the most luxurious and indulgent thing they own. Unfortunately, it’s one of those things that we rarely consider spending money on, unless our mattress has an exposed spring, or there’s a tear in our bedlinen. Don’t begrudge spending money on your bed – you spend a lot of time in it, after all!

Document the moment
Take photographs and document your life. Has a friend ever begun, “Do you remember that time…” and you’d completely forgotten? Take photographs constantly – yes, even shoot your normal, “boring” daytime routine! Document the food you’re eating, the books you’re reading, what you do and who you’re with. And once you’ve assembled a few albums, why not create your own photobook?

Get dressed up
If you’re becoming bored of your image, make an effort to get dressed up, style your hair and play with cosmetics every now and then. And not for other people’s sake – for your own! It only takes a few minutes to iron a dress, pin back your hair or sweep on some blusher. When you know you look good and have enjoyed making the effort, you will feel more confident – and happier! – as a result.

Give thanks
Write down on a piece of paper, or list in your head, everything you are grateful for in your life. If you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few from my own list to get you started: peter pan collars; running; sunshine; an ice cold glass of coke when I’m thirsty; making people laugh; beautifully designed books; black ink pens; all kinds of tea; leopard print; holidays!

Spend time with a pet
Petting a cat or playing with a dog lowers our stress levels, not to mention the fact that pets can be wonderful companions, especially if you live alone. If you can’t get a pet right now or don’t really see yourself as a pet owner, just borrow one for a few hours! Offer to walk the nextdoor neighbour’s dog, babysit a budgie or help out at a cat sanctuary.

Go outside
Some people drive from their home to their workplace to the gym, and back again. They spend the entire day either in a building, or in their car on the way somewhere else! It’s madness! Whatever happened to good old fashioned fresh air? Even if you live in the middle of a city, as I do, there are still plenty of green areas to be found. Locate your nearest park and go for a brisk walk.

Do a good deed
A radio programme I loved (sadly no longer on air) used to do a segment on this every Saturday morning. People would text or email in with details of the good deeds they had done that week, and the host would mention them on the show. It was such a positive thing in a world that is all too often filled with celebrity gossip and negative news. So – get out there and do some good deeds today!

Rediscover your favourite things
Spend some time falling back in love with things you’ve abandoned – half-read books, unfinished projects, and friendships that have fizzled out. Dust off that book and start reading, dig your sketchbook out from under your bed and fill in the first blank page, or log into Skype and give that friend a call so that you can catch up. Once you rediscover these things, you’ll probably wonder why you forgot about them in the first place!

Smile
Smiling is so easy to do! I’m sure you’ve heard that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. Think of wonderful things (maybe refer to your gratitude list from point 5!) and smile. Concentrate on your feelings and smile for at least a minute. It might feel forced at first, but soon you’ll find yourself smiling throughout the day, and it will make you feel pretty good – I guarantee it!

What do you do when you’re stuck in a rut?

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Whether you hit the snooze button one too many times or are getting used to a new routine, sometimes there just isn’t enough time in the morning for freshly washed hair and a full face of make up! Here are some ideas for quick and easy looks that you can do in just a matter of minutes. And that means more time in bed – hooray!

Bed Hair
Everyone loves bed hair! Feel free to sleep in a little, because bed hair requires very little time and effort. Simply freshen up your hair by dusting dry shampoo (you can also use baby powder!) onto your roots, then tip your head upside down and blast it with a hair dryer on the hottest setting to give your hair plenty of volume. Et voila!

Painted Nails
Painted nails, whether they’re pastel shades, bright neon or classic red, always make a statement. Even if you just quickly tidy up your nails with a file and then apply a clear gloss, your nails will look beautifully neat and help pull your whole look together. Barry M make my favourite nail polish – fast drying, cheap, and available in lots of colours.

Statement Lips
What with eye shadow, liquid eye liner, kohl pencil and mascara, creating a dazzling look for your eyes takes some time. Lips, by contrast, are quick and low maintenance. Lightly “sketch” on lip liner in your chosen shade, then use a small brush to fill in your pout with lipstick. Blend it together well and complete the look with a light coat of balm.

English Rose
For a fresh flush that you can normally only get from exercising outdoors on a cool day, look no further than Benetint. Dot this wonderful product onto the apples of your cheeks, blend it in, and there you go! Rosy cheeks are yours, with no messy powder or bulky brush to be seen. You can also dab the tint onto your lips for a natural-looking pout.

Fresh Faced
This is the most effortless beauty look by far. Simply cleanse and moisturise your face as usual, then apply a light coating of tinted moisturiser. Coat your lashes with just a lick of mascara and dot clear balm onto your lips. A swipe of balm across the eyebrows will whip them into shape and complete the look. You’re good to go!

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

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