Cuffing Season: 5 Ways to Romanticize Your Life and Commit to Upgrading Yourself

It’s officially sweater weather. With North American winter in full swing, cuffing season is upon us. This time of year, the term typically refers to finding a new Netflix and chill boo, but we’re not discussing romantic relationships in 2024 (🙃).

We’re talking about how to commit to upgrading yourself by romanticizing your life. Research shows that romanticizing your life can be a great way to practice mindfulness. At TCQ, we’re half hustle, half heart, so we’re spreading the love and sharing the top five tips women like us use to romanticize our busy lives.

1: Upgrade Your Vibe:

We’re self-aware queens, so we know suggesting a closet makeover is out of the question for many but you can still take tiny steps to upgrade your aesthetic.

Once you pick a vibe that fits your dream life, start a mini-renovation of a small space in your home like your work desk. Spruce up your creative haven with your favorite color palette and some supplemental decor, like a cheap, hard-to-kill houseplant or a unique print to add a personal touch. This can be a crucial step for queens who are content creators, small business owners, and independent contractors (or you’re one of the nearly 15% of people who still work from home). Creating a simple, visually indulgent workspace can create an inviting work environment. Give yourself the gift of something small to look forward to each day.

2: Embrace Social Media Savvy:

We’re probably a bit biased, but 2024 is the year we’re burying the phrase “Not really into social media.” Social media has become an integral part of our society, and its presence/impact won’t be going away any time soon, with or without total participation.

The pros of figuring out content creation 101 vastly outweigh the cons, especially if you're in a profession that needs any kind of marketing or outreach (re: literally all of them). Smart utilization of social media platforms can be a strong asset to all who use it as a tool. Getting a crash course on what you need to stay afloat in this era of digital media is easier than ever. Classes on mobile photography, editing, posting, and digital marketing are abundant, quick, and often free. LinkedIn Learning and similar platforms offer beginner certificates, and mobile editing software can be downloaded for little to no cost.

 Remember, you're not just posting; you're crafting a digital empire.

3: Level Up Your Skills:

Studies show that the pandemic was a significant setback for the average American worker. Many organizations reported a skills gap increase of up to 14% between ‘21 and ‘23. It’s been hard for the world to catch up on their skills, especially as technology evolves with us.

So how can you romanticize learning? Treat yourself. Instead of taking another class on basic administration, pick a skill you want to learn that can add to your vision of your life. Professionally if you’re confident that you’ve got the basics down go off the beaten path and pick up a new skill or talent that sets you apart as an expert in your lane, no matter how niche.

By romanticizing your learning, you’ll be more interested in your own personal development. Plus you’ll have a fun new skill to brag about when recruiters, clients, or potential partners come calling. Prepare yourself for the opportunity you want.

4: Build A Dream Squad

Maturity is realizing that the quality of our relationships matter. We cannot overstate how key it is to fall in love with your social life. Meeting new like-minded individuals can be a great way to romanticize your community.

Glamorize your friendships and intentionally surround yourself with a circle of people who understand your hustle and your interests. Remember: friends want to see friends win. The more you incorporate people into your life who are rooting for your well-being and success, the more those relationships will pour into you. This can have positive effects on your mental and emotional well-being and, can support your goals too. Build your personal dream team by making real connections with people whose company and ambition inspire you to live your best life.

5: Celebrate The Wins:

Every win, no matter how small, deserves a celebration “because you deserve it.” Taking the time to appreciate your efforts can go a long way. It’s probably not smart to throw a party every time you get paid, but celebrating yourself doesn’t have to break the bank. 

Find creative, small indulgences you can use to treat yourself. Picking up a bouquet on the way home to reward yourself for taking on a new account or grabbing a pint of ice cream for completing a complicated project can be a personal reminder from yourself that you are killing it.

In conclusion, we’re all for cuddle buddies but this cuffing season we want our readers to cozy up to the idea that focusing your efforts on creating the life you want to see can be one of the best ways to show future you a whole lot of love.

We’re in your corner queen, With Love,

The Content Queens