Taking inspiration from Kendall Jenner’s baby picture stuck up on her bathroom mirror, my 7-year-old self has been the lock screen on my phone for some time now. This nostalgic photo of me posing in my new dress ready for the 2010 primary school Christmas disco is something that inspires my now 19-year-old self every single day. I’m going to fill you in on the reasons why and how this idea could aid you in case you need some extra help navigating yourself when things get a little too stressful – whether it be because of your degree, your job, or battling your mental health, body image or even seasonal affective disorder at this difficult time of year.
I’ve often found myself struggling through my university journey, feeling overwhelmed with mass deadlines and drowning in notes whilst sometimes feeling like just giving up on my degree altogether. When I find myself in these moments, I look back on old pictures of the little girl that dreamed of following in her brother’s footsteps and attending King’s College London and I remember how proud current me is making her. My lock screen is a constant reminder of how far I’ve come in my academic journey, from getting English awards in year 6 to winning my town’s newspaper poetry and creative writing competitions in early secondary school. It’s been a battle with plenty of bumps in the road but remembering how far I’ve come motivates me to keep going and working my hardest for my degree.
In terms of body image, I’ve always been critical of the way I’ve looked. Through lockdown, I struggled like most of us to the point where it began to take over my entire life. In today’s society, we are constantly comparing each other (and apps like TikTok are a huge catalyst for this). It’s hard to find love and appreciation for your body but no matter what it looks like it’s the vessel that allows you to live. More recently, I’ve reached a place where I am content in my body. I think if like me you struggle with self-image, you need to think about whether you would say the insults you think to yourself now to you as a little girl…exactly. You’d hate it if someone commented on her appearance or weight because you see her as perfect, innocent, and just a baby, so why would you say it to that same child now she’s all grown up? Next time you criticise yourself, take a look at little you and remember how much she’s grown whilst also battling through her life experiences.
Next up, do you feel particularly unmotivated and down due to the dark mornings and evenings? For me, it makes life feel so much more difficult, and the cold ruins my mood completely. I want to continue enjoying the city I’ve always longed of leaving my small hometown for but I also just want to stay in my safe place, my bed. All I need to do when I feel like this is once again look back on photos of me, and think of how far I’ve come to be renting in London and pursuing the degree that I love. I get myself up, get dressed in outfits I love, and head to the library or some of the landmarks I take for granted. I live in the best city in the world and I sometimes do forget how lucky I am to have the opportunity to study here. Yes, it’s hard, but knowing I’m making younger Holly proud is enough to carry on and find the motivation to live my life unapologetically.
Having a photo of little me so easily accessible on my lock screen is a lovely reminder when I’m commuting home on the busy central line, or want to snooze through my alarm and not go to my 9 AM lecture. I cannot recommend enough doing it with your own photo: it’ll change your outlook and help you remember why you’re doing what you do. Keep going for the you that could only dream of being where you are now.