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Canceling plans -

We tend to over-commit ourselves because saying no is difficult. Sometimes there’s no reason to decline an invitation other than a preference for having more alone time, but it often doesn't seem worth prioritizing ourselves this way. 

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Canceling plans -

This can feel selfish, but it’s okay to put your needs first sometimes. Even if you plan to do nothing!

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What you eat - We’re constantly bombarded with information about the latest diets and food trends. Add that to outdated ideals of femininity and not wanting to be seen as gluttonous, and you’ve got yourself a complex.

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What you eat - Each person is different and needs different types and amounts of food to nourish themselves. Eat what brings you joy and makes you feel good, no shame!

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Not lending people your things - You don’t always need to lend your favorite dress or book to a friend. Those of us who have been burned before know the risks involved!

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Not lending people your things -

It’s okay to have boundaries. You can be generous in other ways.

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What you enjoy -

You can still be a feminist and enjoy rom-coms and reality TV! Just because you’re an intelligent modern woman doesn’t mean you only watch documentaries and listen to NPR during your down time.

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What you enjoy -

It’s important to maintain perspective, but if you enjoy it, go for it.

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Wearing makeup -

Women are expected to look perfect all the time. In the past that meant salon-styled hair, perfect makeup, and incredibly restrictive dresses and undergarments. Then there came a change, men started saying they preferred natural women who don’t wear makeup, yet the standard of beauty didn’t really change.

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Wearing makeup -

So it’s fine as long as you naturally look like Gisele Bündchen. Whether you choose to go all out with your makeup and do full on Instagram-face every day, or you brave the world bare-faced, you are perfect. Do what feels right for you.

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Doing nothing - A woman’s work is never done, or so the saying goes. Nowadays there’s more of an emphasis on "living your best life," which, if Instagram is to be believed, means yoga at sunrise, expensive vacations, and a myriad of social occasions.

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Doing nothing - It’s okay to just spend the weekend home alone catching up on sleep and Netflix! Instagram doesn’t want you to know, but that’s what most people are doing anyway.

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What you do for work -

We all need to survive. We can’t always get a job that we feel passionate about or that represents our values and beliefs.

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What you do for work -

Even if you’re not changing the world or making millions, you’re doing what you have to do.

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Feeling uncomfortable -

As a woman it’s not uncommon to feel uncomfortable in the world. There are often situations where you get a bad gut feeling, but sometimes it feels rude to act on it.

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Feeling uncomfortable -

For example, someone starts up a conversation with you on a night out or at the bus stop which is seemingly harmless, but you feel uncomfortable. Women do not need to feel guilty about refusing to talk to strangers or people they don’t like! Don’t compromise your safety for the sake of politeness.

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Other people's moods -

When someone around you is in a bad mood, do you tend to think it’s because of you? Do you feel compelled to try to fix it for them? Do you apologize when someone bumps into you?

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Other people’s moods - We all need to own our behavior and our mistakes, but we can’t own somebody else’s. This over-extension of our responsibilities can make us seem nice and likeable, but it sets up an unmanageable precedent.

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Repeating outfits - What a ridiculous pressure to carry. Most people cannot afford to avoid outfit repeating! There is no shame in wearing the same dress to two weddings in a row, or wearing the same shirt and trouser combo to the office at least once a week.

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Repeating outfits - The pressure to exhibit a wide variety of clothing options (that are also up to date with the latest trends) is detrimental to both us and our environment. Repeating your outfits is one of the best things you can do to save the planet!

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Expressing your emotions -

There’s always a fear of seeming crazy or needy when you’re feeling emotional. For some reason, men are considered "passionate" and women are considered "hysterical" when they express strong emotions.

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Expressing your emotions -

Don’t let anyone gaslight you or use your emotions to undermine your perspective, in your personal or professional life. Stand firm! 

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Not wanting to date someone - Sometimes you meet the nicest person but you just have no chemistry with them. Life isn’t always like a rom-com, maybe you’re just not right for each other!

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Not wanting to date someone -

You don’t need to feel guilty about turning someone down, no matter how nice they are.

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Not responding to messages straight away -

It’s not a crime to step away from your phone for a while, although sometimes it can feel like it. The pressure to stay constantly connected and give instant responses is overwhelming.

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Not responding to messages straight away -

We all need some quiet time. In fact, it’s better not to reply to messages while under pressure! You’ll give a better quality response when you have time.

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Stepping back from a relationship - Sometimes a relationship can sour or develop an unhealthy dynamic. If you start to feel like the relationship has become a weight and is no longer valuable, take some time to reflect and walk away if you need to.

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Stepping back from a relationship - This can be hard in romantic relationships, but even harder when it comes to friendships as "break-ups" aren’t really expected! Exiting a relationship in a calm and mature manner can sometimes be the best thing for everyone involved.

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Not wanting to have children - This is a tricky topic. More and more women are choosing not to have children because we’ve finally been given the option not to! Finding a partner and having a family can be a beautiful life, but it’s not the only way to live.

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Not wanting to have children -

Those who choose not to follow this path are often criticized for being selfish, or it’s assumed that there’s something wrong with them. Each person has the right to decide what they want to contribute to the world. If that's not another human being, that's okay! 

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What next? -

Some of the most admired celebrities choose not to have children. Here's what they have to say about it.

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