How to Have a Glow Up

Having a glow up is an empowering transformation of who you are. This might look like changing your appearance, drinking more water, or achieving your goals. Whatever your glow up means to you, it’s all about becoming the best version of yourself and learning to practice self-care and acceptance! Look after your body inside and out by eating a well-balanced diet, working out regularly, and looking after your skin. Practice being confident and surrounding yourself with positive people to help you feel that glow!

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Changing Your Appearance

1. Follow a skincare routine to help your skin glow. Your skin is one of the first things that people notice about you and having glowing skin will really help your transformation shine! Clean your face with water twice a day and use a toner, moisturizer, and exfoliator that is suitable for your skin type. Remember to take off your makeup each night before you go to sleep so that you wake up with fresh and smooth skin.^[1]
   
   • If you have problems or concerns about your skin, visit a dermatologist for professional advice. Getting your skin to glow might be as simple as using a different product or getting more of a specific nutrient!
2. Stand up straight and tall to improve your posture. Your posture can make a huge difference in your appearance! Keep your back straight, your shoulders back, and your arms resting naturally by your sides. When you’re sitting down, keep your back at a right angle to your thighs and try to release any tension to prevent straining your muscles.^[2]
   
   • If you experience any pain or are having trouble maintaining good posture, visit a doctor or a physiotherapist for professional advice.
3. Wear clothes that emphasize your favorite features. Wearing clothes that flaunt your best features will help you to look and feel your best! Maybe you want to wear a color that makes your eyes pop or a pair of boots that draw attention to your long legs? Try out plenty of different clothes and experiment with different outfits to find a style you love. Don’t be afraid to try out statement pieces like a bright blazer, an elegant dress, or some new heels.^[3]
   
   • Choose tighter fitting garments if you want to accentuate your figure.
   • Vertical lines have a slimming effect while horizontal lines accentuate curves.
   • Ultimately, wear clothes that make you feel happy and confident!
4. Experiment with makeup to see if you like how it makes you look. Whether makeup is totally foreign to you or you want to try out a new product, experimenting with makeup can make a huge difference to your appearance. There are plenty of free makeup tutorials available online, so use these to your advantage to try out different looks and learn about new products. Even if you decide that makeup isn’t for you, at least you have practiced a new skill and become more sure of who you are.^[4]
   
   • Remember to care for your skin especially well if you use makeup regularly. Always moisturize and take off all of your makeup at the end of the day.
5. Get a new hairstyle that you have always wanted to try. Maybe it’s bangs, balayage, or a bob? Take the plunge and get that cut or color you have always wanted! Look online for inspiration if you need it and print out pictures to take along with you to your hair appointment. Explain to your hairstylist the look you’re going for and listen to their advice about what cut and color would work best with your style.^[5]
   
   • A new hairstyle is an easy way to quickly change your appearance dramatically!

[Edit]Making Lifestyle Changes

1. Drink of water every day to stay hydrated. Glowing up happens from the inside out and water is the key to helping you look and feel your best every day. Buy a reusable drink bottle and keep it filled up with fresh water at all times. Carry it with you wherever you go to remind yourself to stay hydrated!^[6]
   
   • of water is just an approximate figure, as the ideal amount of water differs from person to person. Drink the amount of water that helps you to feel your best and visit a doctor or a dietitian if you have any concerns.
   • If you aren’t the biggest fan of plain water, you can always make infused water using your favorite produce to give it a bit more flavor. Try strawberries, cucumber, oranges, or mint!
   • Remembering to drink more water can be difficult when you first start. Try setting a reminder on your phone or putting a note on the fridge. Alternatively, you can also download smartphone apps that track your water intake and give you friendly reminders.
2. Brush your teeth regularly to help your smile look its best. A bright, happy smile is a massive part of the glow up transformation! Brush your teeth every morning and night, and remember to floss your teeth each day too. Visit a dentist once a year for an annual checkup to keep your teeth healthy and strong!^[7]
   
   • You can also use teeth-whitening products to help your smile dazzle.
3. Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. How you fuel your body can make a huge difference to your glow up. Each 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, and plenty of lean protein, whole-grains, and healthy fats. Remember that everything in moderation is the best way to go, so limit your intake of processed foods but treat yourself occasionally too.^[8]
   
   • Visit a doctor or a dietician if you have any concerns about your diet.
   • Avoid skipping meals or following fad diets, as these practices won’t help you to look and feel your best.
4. Exercise regularly to keep yourself healthy. Exercise helps you to look and feel your best, in both your body and mind! Find a type of exercise that you enjoy, such as swimming, running, or yoga. Aim to exercise 3-5 times per week, unless you have been instructed otherwise by a health professional. You can also exercise with friends if that makes it more fun!^[9]
   
   • You don’t have to join a gym unless you want to. There are plenty of ways to exercise in your own home.

[Edit]Becoming Confident and Setting Goals

1. Say positive affirmations every day to help build good self-esteem. A huge part of your glow up is learning to believe in yourself! Write down recurrent, negative thoughts and then write positive, logical affirmations as a counter-argument. Practice saying these positive affirmations aloud every day. Although it may feel difficult or silly at the beginning, with enough time and practice it should become easier to believe the positive affirmations.^[10]
   
   • Some popular positive affirmations include, “I deserve to be happy,”, “I am an intelligent and hard-working person,” and “I am capable of reaching my goals,”.
2. Surround yourself with positive people that support you. The attitude of the people who you are close to can influence you greatly. Seek family and friends that have a positive attitude and are supportive of who you are! You can also be positive and supportive to those around you, helping them glow too!^[11]
   
   • If you are having trouble finding positive and supportive people, try making a few new friends. Join a club or group with people that have similar interests, use social media, or simply reach out and talk to new people that you normally wouldn't. You have nothing to lose!
3. Use positive self-talk and practice being assertive to help your confidence grow. Glowing up is all about having the confidence to shine and to be your best self. Even if you don’t feel confident right away, simply fake it till you make it and nobody will be able to tell the difference! Use positive self-talk to bring yourself up instead of down, challenge negative thoughts about yourself, and practice being assertive in your day-to-day life. It can also help to surround yourself with confident people, as their confidence can rub off on you!^[12]
   
   • If you are having trouble with your confidence or self-esteem, talking to a mental health professional like a counselor or psychologist can really help.
4. Set achievable goals and challenge yourself to accomplish them. Maybe you have financial, career, or personal goals that you have been wanting to achieve? Sit down and write a list of your goals. Then break each goal up into smaller, actionable steps that you can get started on. Keep your goals realistic and celebrate your successes!^[13]
   
   • Remember that your goals can be as big or as little as you like. As long as you are realistic about how you will achieve them, that’s all that matters!

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• Remember that your glow up is about you and not anyone else. All that matters is that you are happy with who you are and if others happen to notice your transformation, then that's a great bonus!
• It’s not going to happen overnight. If you keep doing this, it’ll show in your attitude and your appearance.

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-products-do-i-actually-need-for-a-simple-everyday-skin-care-routine/
2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/health-effects-of-poor-posture/
3. ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/fashion-psychology/
4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-truth-about-exercise-addiction/201606/the-surprising-psychology-behind-makeup
5. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201505/what-your-hair-really-says-about-you
6. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/23-foods-good-skin/
7. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/teeth.html
8. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/healthy-eating.htm
9. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/how-to-start-exercising-and-stick-to-it.htm
10. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-wise-open-mind/201108/5-steps-make-affirmations-work-you
11. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/positive-self-talk/
12. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/assertiveness-training/
13. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/goal-setting/

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How to Love Yourself

Find your way to self-love by taking just a few moments a day to care for and reconnect with yourself

The easiest way to love yourself is to treat yourself like your own BFF. It might seem like it's easier to love others than to love yourself, but it's tough to build healthy relationships if you don't love yourself first. Quite simply, this means you recognize your own self-worth and live your own life as honestly as you can.^[1] Read on to learn some strategies you can start today so you can embark on a journey of loving yourself.

This article is based on an interview with our bestselling author, podcast host and speaker, Kamal Ravikant.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• Focus on the things you like about yourself rather than calling yourself names or insulting yourself. Talk to yourself like you would to your best friend.
• Celebrate your accomplishments and reward yourself for your effort.
• Set healthy boundaries and only help others when you have the energy and interest in doing so. Take care of yourself first and you'll have more love to spread.
• Repeat daily affirmations to remind yourself of your love. When faced with a setback, take 10 deep breaths and think about how much you love yourself.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Treating Yourself with Kindness

1. Let go of negative thought patterns and beliefs about yourself. Negative thoughts often come from outside people whose opinions we value and from whom we seek love and acceptance.^[2] Drill down to the core of those negative thoughts and tell yourself a different story. Think about what you would say to a close friend who said those things about themselves.^[3]
   
   • For example, if you forgot to buy trash bags when you got groceries, you might say to yourself, "Ugh! I'm so stupid! How could I forget that?" Instead of calling yourself stupid, you might think, "Oops! Forgot those pesky trash bags. I'll just pick some up next time I go out—no big deal."
   • Don't try to fight negative thoughts, though—they're a part of who you are. Simply drown them out with more positive, affirmative thoughts about yourself. It might feel weird at first, but after a while, it becomes habitual to think that way. ^[4]
2. Accept your flaws as part of who you are. Everything you've done and everywhere you've been is a part of who you are—you! Self-love isn't about fixing all the "bad" things about yourself. Instead, accept that they're all parts of the same whole. When you love yourself, you love all of you because you wouldn't have the good without the bad.^[5]
   
   • For example, maybe you have a hard time trusting people. You wish you could be more trusting and open up more, but instead of trying to change, focus on how not immediately trusting people helps keep you safe.
3. Focus on your effort rather than the result to control perfectionism. If you expect yourself to be perfect all the time, you'll never be pleased with anything you produce. This can lead to low self-esteem. Instead, make a point to appreciate the work you put into completing a task, rather than looking for flaws in what you produced.^[6]
   
   • Changing your focus from the final product to the effort you put into it will help you appreciate your own good work and take pride in what you do.
   • Avoid stereotypical ideas and images of perfection, such as models in beauty magazines or on social media. Remind yourself that the actual person probably doesn't look like that in real life!
4. Practice gratitude for good things rather than focusing on the negative. It's human nature to see negative things as bigger and more important than positive things, but this also does tremendous damage to your self-esteem. When you find yourself focusing on negative or less favorable events in your life, immediately try to name 3 to 5 things that you can be grateful for. Look for the positive side even when bad things happen to you.^[7]
   
   • For example, if you lose your job, it can be easy to spiral into thinking that you were terrible at your job and no one will ever hire you again. Instead, you might think that now you have the opportunity to find something that's a better fit for you.
5. Speak kindly to yourself. When you call yourself a name, you reduce yourself to a single thing that you don't like—you're not treating yourself as a whole person. If you wouldn't call your best friend these names, don't call yourself those names either!^[8]
   
   • For example, if you lose your job, you might think "I'm such a failure. I'll never amount to anything." Stop. Take a deep breath and be more constructive. Think instead, "I lost my job, but I can learn from this experience to find and keep a new job that suits me better."
   • You might also look at yourself in the mirror and think, "I'm so ugly." Instead of thinking that, list 3 things that you like about your appearance and focus on those. Each time, challenge yourself to add one more thing to your list.
   • One of the kindest things you can do for yourself is avoid negative comparisons!
6. Pull yourself away from assumptions that the worst will happen. This sort of "catastrophizing" is really bad for your self-esteem because you spiral from a small error to basically believing that everything is doomed—and that's rarely the case. Challenge those thoughts with realistic and logical observations to reframe your conclusion.^[9]
   
   • For example, you might make a small mistake at work and obsess about it to the point that you're convinced you're going to be fired for it (when that's likely not the case at all). Instead of allowing that to happen, tell yourself, "I just made a small mistake. I can fix it and let everyone know it won't happen again."

[Edit]Creating Self-Love Habits

1. List your positive attributes and reflect on them daily. If you habitually think negatively of yourself, this can be a tough one! Try to come up with just one thing each week to add to the list. Before you know it, you'll have a nice long list to reflect on as you realize what a wonderful and beautiful person you are.^[10]
   
   • Be specific! For example, instead of, "I am generous," you might write, "Any time I see that a friend is struggling, I give them a small, thoughtful gift to show that I care. This makes me generous."
   • As you read and reflect on your list, remember that even the items that seem insignificant are still reasons that you are worthy of respect and love.
2. Take time to reflect and recharge so you have energy for others. It's easy to feel guilty about spending time on yourself, but the reality is that this time allows you to recharge so that you're better able to help others. Give yourself permission to spend time reflecting on yourself and your own life, and never feel guilty for taking the time that you need.^[11]
   
3. Celebrate and reward yourself for your accomplishments. Rewarding yourself is the best part of practicing self-love. When you reward yourself, you're telling yourself that you're worthy of love and special treatment. Just think about how you might celebrate with a friend who'd just accomplished something amazing, then go out and do that for yourself.^[12]
   
   • For example, you might take yourself out to a nice dinner at your favorite fancy restaurant or buy yourself the new book or video game you've had your eye on.
   • Rewards don't have to be expensive! For example, you might take a relaxing bath or go out on a solo fishing trip.
4. Set boundaries with others to show love for yourself and your limits. The idea of boundaries can sound like a big, scary thing, but it's really just about saying "no" when you don't have the energy or desire to do something. Remember that "no" is a complete sentence—you don't have to explain or justify yourself. Honor and respect your own limits and other people will recognize that you're respecting them as well.^[13]
   
   • For example, a co-worker might've asked you to take them home after work, but they're always running late. This bugs you because you have to get home as soon as possible to let your dog out. You might say, "I'm happy to give you a ride, but I need you to leave on time so I can get home."
   • When you let others know what you are and aren't okay with, your relationships become more balanced and healthy because you're not putting up with things that make you uncomfortable.
5. Develop a plan for dealing with setbacks or negativity. Whenever you're having a hard time, whether from a person or something happening in your life, pause and take 10 deep and purposeful breaths. As you breathe in, think about yourself and think that you love yourself. Then breathe out the negativity. After you've done 10 breaths, you might find you want to do 10 more. Just focus on yourself.^[14]
   
   • You might notice that negative comments from a particular person, such as your mom or your boss, set you off into a spiral of negativity. When you figure out why this person affects you that way you can better control your response.
   • When faced with negative thoughts, give yourself a time-out to meditate or just take a few cleansing deep breaths. This gives you the opportunity to acknowledge your feelings and reframe your reaction.
6. Talk to a therapist to uncover the triggers for your negative thoughts. A professional can help you explore your negative thoughts and identify what brings up those thoughts and feelings. Some of these memories from your past can be tough to deal with on your own, so it's good to have your therapist there to support you and help you work through them.^[15]
   
   • A therapist who is experienced in addressing a painful past can help you navigate the experience of recovery without causing trauma as you relive those painful experiences.
   • A therapist's office is a great place to learn to handle negative thoughts productively and realize your positive qualities.
7. Repeat positive affirmations daily. Find positive thoughts that resonate with you and repeat them to yourself daily. This might seem awkward or cheesy at first, but the habit will cause the positive thoughts to sink in and you'll start to believe those thoughts (even if you don't at first).^[16]
   
   • For example, you might say, “I am a whole, worthy individual, and I respect, trust, and love myself.”
   • If you find that affirmations aren't helping on their own, a therapist can help you pursue a multi-level treatment plan that includes other approaches.
8. Do things that make you feel good. Think of things that make you feel good on a physical, emotional, or spiritual level. This might involve exercise, meditation, dancing, journaling, or visual art. Find a routine that feels good and stick to it, taking time for yourself every day.^[17]
   
   • Spend time alone doing activities you love or take yourself on a fun outing, such as going to the movies or out to eat. Take advantage of your alone time and use it for pleasure.
9. Reflect on the effects of practicing self-love. It's not enough just to do these things—take time to reflect on the changes you notice as well. As you spend more time loving and rewarding yourself, you'll likely start to notice that you have more energy, feel more in charge of the choices you make, and feel like you have more control of your life.^[18]
   

[Edit]Using Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM)

1. Explore the principles behind LKM. This form of meditation enhances the loving-kindness you feel for yourself and for all living things. When practiced regularly, it will give you the tools you need to become proficient in self-love.^[19]
   
2. Use LKM to love without expectations or conditions. Loving-kindness doesn't depend on someone's relationship to you or whether they "deserve" it. Rather, it extends to all living beings. It flows from you without any expectation of receiving anything in return.^[20]
   
   • LKM is also love without judgment. Judging yourself or others often causes misery in relationships with others or within your own mind. When you love without judgment, you love selflessly.
3. Begin your LKM session by breathing slowly and deeply. Sit in a comfortable position and draw your attention to your breath. Inhale slowly, allowing your chest to fill completely with air. Then, exhale slowly and completely.^[21]
   
   • Keep at this for 3 to 5 breaths, keeping your mind focused solely on your breathing. If other thoughts pop up, simply acknowledge them and gently pull your focus back to your breathing.
4. Repeat a positive mantra to yourself. As you continue to breathe slowly and deeply, find a positive mantra that resonates with you and uplifts you. It could be something such as, "May I be happy, at peace, and safe from harm."^[22]
   
5. Think about someone who loves and supports you. Start with someone who's really made a positive difference in your life—someone you know has your best interests at heart. Imagine them sitting with you and smiling as you repeat your positive mantra to them.^[23]
   
6. Send loving-kindness out to others. Expand from the person who loves you to other people in your life. They could be people you feel neutrally about or even people that you have negative feelings about. Imagine yourself sending loving-kindness to all of those people through your mantra.^[24]
   
   • Eventually, you can expand to all living things, even people and other beings you've never met before.

[Edit]Understanding Self-Love

1. A lack of self-love prevents you from advocating for your needs. Advocating for your own needs is an important part of self-care. But if you don't believe you're worthy, you won't see your needs as something worth sticking up for.^[25]
   
   • A lack of self-love can also cause you to be dependent on others around you in an unhealthy way. For example, if you rely on others for validation, you might set aside your own needs to gain their approval.
   • Lack of self-love can also impede emotional healing and progress. If you've decided to see a therapist, improving your self-image helps increase the chances that you'll have a good outcome in psychotherapy.^[26]
2. Childhood experiences are important to your capacity for self-love. Your relationship with your parents affects the development of your character throughout your life. If you had a troubled childhood where your physical, emotional, or mental needs weren't met, you may have issues with self-esteem and self-love as an adult.^[27]
   
   • Negative messages received in childhood—particularly recurring ones—often stick with you well into adulthood and color your self-perception.
   • For example, if you're told you're "dull" or "boring" as a child, you'll be more likely to believe you are dull or boring as an adult, even if there's plenty of evidence to the contrary.
3. Parents can support their children's self-esteem. If you have kids, do what you can now to help them build healthy self-esteem so that they'll love themselves as adults, even when they're facing challenges. Here are some things you can do:^[28]
   
   • Praise your child's effort rather than focusing on results. For example, when your kid gets an A on a test, you might say, "I know you worked really hard on that, this shows how much you've learned!"
   • Show your child how to do something for themselves rather than doing it for them.
   • Focus on your child's strengths rather than their weaknesses and avoid harsh criticism.
   • Encourage your child to help and give to others.
4. Negative comments from others can impact your self-love. You can't practice self-love in a bubble. Sooner or later, you're going to run into someone who's going to make a rude or critical comment toward you. Instead of letting that send you down a negative spiral, try not to take the comment personally. Show kindness for the person's feelings or concerns, rather than reacting to their tone.^[29]
   
   • Remind yourself that different people have different things going on in their lives. When someone makes a negative comment toward you, try not to take it personally.

[Edit]Reader Videos

[Edit]Tips

• If you don't feel a lot of self love right away, don't be discouraged! It takes time to build these habits. Just do your best to be consistent, and be patient with yourself.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Write a Love Poem
• Define Love
• Love Your Spouse Again
• Know the Difference Between Love, Infatuation and Lust
• Be Kind
• Accept Defeat Gracefully
• Think Positively About Yourself
• Love

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary Video

1. ↑ [v161210_b01]. 2 December 2019.
2. ↑ [v161210_b01]. 2 December 2019.
3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/women-s-mental-health-matters/201509/7-ways-deal-negative-thoughts
4. ↑ [v161210_b01]. 2 December 2019.
5. ↑ [v161210_b01]. 2 December 2019.
6. ↑ https://cmhc.utexas.edu/selfesteem.html
7. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/women-s-mental-health-matters/201509/7-ways-deal-negative-thoughts
8. ↑ https://cmhc.utexas.edu/selfesteem.html
9. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/catastrophizing
10. ↑ [v161210_b01]. 2 December 2019.
11. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/high-octane-women/201202/why-you-shouldnt-feel-guilty-about-stealing-little-time-yourself
12. ↑ [v161210_b01]. 2 December 2019.
13. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/get-hardy/201203/seven-step-prescription-self-love
14. ↑ [v161210_b01]. 2 December 2019.
15. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-shrink-tank/201103/five-tips-how-talk-about-yourself-in-therapy
16. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4814782/
17. ↑ [v161210_b01]. 2 December 2019.
18. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/self-worth/
19. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23893519/
20. ↑ https://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/loving-kindness
21. ↑ https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/loving_kindness_meditation
22. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/daily-affirmations/
23. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5954612/
24. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/character-strength-kindness/
25. ↑ https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/09/13/self-advocacy-the-basis-of-self-care/
26. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25352222/
27. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4344981/
28. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/self-esteem.html
29. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/negative-emotions/

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How to Write Shorthand

Find out which shorthand system is right for you and how to get started writing it

In this day and age, when smartphones are ubiquitous, you might wonder how often you'd use shorthand if you learned it. Plenty of times, it turns out! Whether you're a student or need to take quick notes at a meeting or while you're on a call, the ability to write notes by hand more quickly is always a valuable skill. Read on to learn about the 3 major styles of shorthand so you can pick the one that works best for you. Then, we'll let you in on some tips to improve your shorthand skills after you've learned the basics.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• Choose Teeline shorthand for an easy-to-learn style based on the alphabet. Teeline is also the shorthand form most journalists are required to learn.
• Learn Gregg shorthand if you're interested in a phonetic style that can be written using any pen or pencil. Gregg is typically used by court reporters.
• Try Pitman shorthand if you want a more stylistic shorthand method. Pitman can be more complex and requires a pen with a nib. It's an older method, more popular in Europe.
• Improve your shorthand by practicing a lot and writing with an ink pen that glides smoothly across the page.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Teeline Shorthand

1. Memorize the Teeline shorthand alphabet. The Teeline alphabet is based on the letters of the English alphabet that you're already familiar with. This makes it a little quicker and easier to pick up than the other shorthand systems. Most of the letters are a small fraction of the corresponding English letters.^[1]
   
   • For example, the top point of the letter "A" is the symbol for that letter in Teeline.
2. Keep only the essential vowels and consonants in words. Leave out silent vowels and consonants, double vowels and consonants, and any other letters that are unnecessary for you to understand the word you've written. There are some conventional representations of words, but for the most part, this is up to you! As long as you can read it, that's all that matters. Get in the habit of recognizing words this way when writing in English and it will make your shorthand practice a lot easier.^[2]
   
   • For example, if you were writing the word "lamb," you would only write "lm" in Teeline. The word "comma" would be "cma," "about" would be "abt," and "light" would simply be "lt."
   • For a full sentence in Teeline, such as, "You should always remember to take notes in class," you would only include the letters, "U shld alwys rmbr t tk nts in cls.”
   • For the most part, Teeline is based on the alphabetical spelling of a word, not how it sounds, but there are some exceptions. For example, consonant blends such as "gh" or "ph" can be reduced to the symbol for "f."
3. Write vowels smaller than consonants. In Teeline shorthand, vowels are a bit smaller than consonants so it's easy to distinguish them from similarly shaped consonants. Each vowel has a full vowel symbol, which usually stands in for a specific word. There's also a "vowel indicator," an even smaller symbol that you'll typically use to indicate the vowel in words.^[3]
   
   • For example, the letter "A" standing alone stands for "able to" or "ability." You should be able to figure out from the context which word you meant.
   • Vowel indicators are particularly handy for words that start or end with a vowel because all you need is a small mark, not the full symbol for the letter itself.
4. Join consonants together. Write consonants in 1 or 2 strokes without lifting your pen. Keep the first letter clear, then add the next letter to form a single symbol. Sometimes, whole words can be written with a single symbol by joining consonants. This makes your shorthand much faster.^[4]
   
   • For example, you could join "b" and "d" by starting with the symbol for "b," then adding a horizontal line on the "b" for the "d."
   • Try a searchable Teeline dictionary to figure out how to write specific words with consonants joined together.

[Edit]Pitman Shorthand

1. Memorize the Pitman phonetic symbols. Pitman phonetic symbols are based on the sounds that form words, rather than the specific letters of the alphabet you use to write them. Variations in the thickness of the strokes differentiate sounds, most of which are written with a single line or slash. There are separate sets of symbols for consonant sounds and vowel sounds.^[5]
   
   • Because this method uses phonetics, a sound that might be written with different letters would use the same symbol in the Pitman shorthand notation. For example, the "f" sound in the words "form," "elephant," and "rough" would all use the same symbol.
2. Adjust the thickness of your stroke depending on the consonant. Generally, voiced consonants (those where you can feel the vibration of your vocal cords when you say them) have thicker strokes, while unvoiced consonants have thinner strokes. This is in keeping with the phonetic focus of Pitman shorthand.^[6]
   
   • For example, the vertical line for the unvoiced consonant "t" is thinner than the vertical line for the voiced consonant "d."
   • The left slanted line for the unvoiced consonant "p" is thinner than the left slanted line for the voiced consonant "b."
3. Use diacritical marks to represent vowels where necessary. Diacritical marks are dots and dashes applied around the consonant sound symbols. These marks indicate the vowel sound used for that syllable. Your shorthand reflects the way the word sounds, not its actual spelling.^[7]
   
   • For example, you'd write "bat" by placing the "t" symbol under the "b" symbol, then add a dot for the "a" at the top of the left-hand slant of the "b."
4. Speed up your writing with abbreviations for common words. Frequently used words, such as "a," "the," "of," and "to," have their own single symbol abbreviations that make your writing even faster. Many of these abbreviations are common words used in any field, but there are also industry-specific abbreviations depending on where you're using Pitman shorthand.^[8]
   
   • For example, if you use Pitman shorthand in the legal field, you'd want to learn abbreviations for common legal terms, such as "plaintiff," "defendant," "judge," "witness," and "court."
   • The Long Live Pitman's Shorthand website has an excellent resource with printable drill workbooks as well as lists of vocabulary, contractions, and short forms.

[Edit]Gregg Shorthand

1. Memorize the Gregg phonetic symbols. Gregg symbols are phonetic, with separate symbols for vowel sounds and consonant sounds. Most of the Gregg symbols are hooks, lines, or circles. Like other shorthand systems, these symbols are connected together to form words so you can write even faster.^[9]
   
2. Write hooks and lines for each consonant sound. Gregg Shorthand uses a hook of a different shape or length to represent most consonant sounds. Some consonant sounds, such as "n" and "m," are straight horizontal lines. Other consonant sounds, such as "f" and "v," are more vertical and curved. Practice the symbol for each consonant sound multiple times so you can commit it to memory.^[10]
   
   • The Gregg system also has individual symbols that represent common consonant clusters, such as the "nd" in the word "and."
3. Use circles of different sizes to represent vowel sounds. The circle you use depends on the vowel sound, not necessarily the specific vowel in the written word, so be careful! As a phonetic system, Gregg relates the sound, not the specific spelling. So the same vowel symbol would be used for both the "ee" in "feet" and the "i" in "elite."^[11]
   
   • As with consonants, there are circle combinations that represent vowel clusters or diphthongs. For example, the vowel sound "oo" is represented by an open circle at the bottom of the word, while the vowel sound "ea" is represented by a circle with a dot in the center.
4. Include appropriate punctuation marks. Unlike other shorthand systems, Gregg shorthand includes symbols for periods, question marks, and hyphens. The symbol for the punctuation mark goes just above the bottom line.^[12]
   
   • For example, a small dash represents a period while a small "x" represents a question mark.

[Edit]Improving Your Shorthand

1. Use a pen with a nib for Pitman shorthand. A pen with a flexible nib allows you to vary the thickness of your strokes more quickly and easily. Since Pitman shorthand relies on strokes of different thicknesses to differentiate letters, this type of pen will help you write Pitman shorthand more quickly.^[13]
   
   • Gregg and Teeline, on the other hand, don't require any variation in the thickness of strokes, so any sort of pen is fine—just make sure it glides smoothly across the page so you can write as quickly as possible.
2. Take an online course in writing shorthand. An online course is the easiest way to learn shorthand. Some of these courses are even free! Since online learning is usually self-pacing, you can learn at your own speed and take time with parts that you don't get as easily.^[14]
   
   • Try Shorthandly if you want to get started in Gregg or Pitman. They offer free courses through YouTube videos as well as some practice resources on the site.
   • Teeline Online offers lots of free Teeline resources, including downloadable worksheets and outlines you can use.
   • If you do better one-on-one, search locally for a veteran shorthand writer who's willing to tutor you. Local court reporter companies are good places to find shorthand writers.
3. Practice your shorthand regularly to get faster at it. When you first get started, you'll be able to write pretty fast—but you'll quickly plateau, typically at around 80 words per minute. To get even faster, practice as often as you can, and don't be afraid to make mistakes!^[15]
   
   • Use flashcards to quickly memorize specific symbols and outlines of words you use frequently. That'll definitely improve your speed.
   • Keep a small notebook with you so you can practice your shorthand. For example, you might write your grocery list using shorthand or take notes during a meeting or a phone call.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• Shorthand comes in really handy if you need to take notes at a meeting, during an interview, or at a class lecture.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Learn Shorthand
• Take Better Notes
• Take Lecture Notes

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://teeline.online/learn/the-alphabet
2. ↑ https://teeline.online/learn/disemvowelment
3. ↑ http://realerthinks.com/teeline-for-the-curious-a-story-of-learning-things-because-i-can/
4. ↑ https://teeline.online/learn/connecting-letters
5. ↑ https://omniglot.com/writing/shorthand.htm
6. ↑ https://tug.org/TUGboat/tb30-3/tb96sarman.pdf
7. ↑ https://omniglot.com/writing/shorthand.htm
8. ↑ https://www.long-live-pitmans-shorthand.org.uk/short-forms-intro.htm
9. ↑ https://tug.org/tugboat/tb29-3/tb93sarman.pdf
10. ↑ https://omniglot.com/writing/shorthand.htm
11. ↑ https://tug.org/tugboat/tb29-3/tb93sarman.pdf
12. ↑ https://omniglot.com/writing/shorthand.htm
13. ↑ https://thepelikansperch.com/2020/03/28/pelikan-st-stenography-nib/
14. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34603886
15. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34603886

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