2018, SELF CARE & NEW HABITS

When 2017 started to come to a close I noticed that I had never in my life stuck to my New Year resolutions. So I de

cided that this would be the year I really made some changes.

After pretty much evaluating my whole life and seeing where I could improve, what stood out to me the most was my happiness.

I was at my dream school, was getting good grades, my relationship was as good as ever, I ate healthily and worked out often, had made great friends, but for some unknown reason, I just wasn’t as happy as

I should’ve been. I wasn’t sad necessarily, but just not content.  So I decided to change that.

Ever since I was a little girl, I was raised with the notion that we are fully in control of our happiness. Although we can’t control what happens to us, we can control how we respond to everything. It all came down to your perception and how you molded your mindset. Happiness was always up to you. So I decided to put that into practice.

(1) Mindset

I made the conscious decision to be happy, and if I didn’t feel it, then I would fake it ’til I made it. And I mean, it worked.

Throughout the day I would be alert for things I was grateful for. When something nice happened, I would notice it and appreciate it. I never noticed how many little things I looked past/took for granted until now.

(2) Oil Diffuser

For those of you who don’t know, an essential oil is “a natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is extracted.”

I started with a pack of the top 6 essential oils (available at your local Publix) & each has their purpose/property.  For example:

• Peppermint: Peppermint’s natural fresh scent helps invigorate your senses and can be used

as a natural air deodorizer and helps to wake you up (I diffuse peppermint in the mornings to wake me up and alert my mind, and it honestly works).

• Lavender: The calming properties of lavender oil help to induce sleep, in addition to relieving stress and anxiety. (I use this while studying, it keeps me relaxed and calms me down)

• Rosemary: helps hair growth

• Eucalyptus: The dried leaves + oil are used to make medicine. It’s typically used medicinally for many purposes, and it’s no coincidence it smells just like Vicks vapor rub. Which is oddly nostalgic for me because I used Vicks religiously as a kid when I had a cold hahaha

• Lemongrass: has like 17+ benefits google it

• Tea Tree: treats acne

etc.etc.etc. LOOK EM UP! They’re so cool.

(3) Morning Devotions

For those of you who aren’t religious, this won’t apply to you but it’s benefitted me so I’m going to add it.

I have been completing bible reading plans on the Bible app and following along with the reading on my bible. Each plan has a different topic, stress, love, worry, etc.

Every morning (at least I try to make it every morning), my boyfriend and I Facetime and we complete our daily reading together. It really starts the day on the right note and keeps me organized with my readings. And of course, my faith has benefitted immensely from this too.

(4) YOGA & MEDITATION

Ok, I’m not going to try to pretend like I’m great at this because I’m not, but at least I try to be lol. Some mornings I find a yoga video on youtube, take out my yoga mat and follow along. It makes such a difference to do this outside (I try to do it on my balcony) or even with the windows wide open. Not sure the science behind it but it might be the fresh air& stuff. It clears my head more than anything else I can think of. As for meditation, I’m really trying to master it as much as I can, but I’m having some trouble with it (if you have tips I would appreciate them). I just can’t go 4 minutes without my mind wandering.

For the meditation I do the same I just pull up a youtube video, or I use one of the apps I have for it (Headspace and Brightmind).

(5) Being kind to myself

I’m pretty sure we all do this. This is a normal thing I think.

You make a mistake and beat yourself up over it, think about it more than you should, and you’re in a bad mood solely because you’re bullying yourself

or

You prioritize everything and everyone before yourself. You go and help everyone who asks you for favors, and you don’t realize that you haven’t given yourself a favor in who knows how long.

I don’t know if its normal,

but this was me. I started to cut myself some slack and just be patient. I’ve always been a bit of a perfectionist, and I’ve never accepted failure that well. As soon as I started changing this, my mood increased so much.

I also started prioritizing me time over other things. This could mean any mode of relaxation/leisure, but for me it was sewing. lol

Sewing is my new hobby and I’m in loveeee with it. I spend hours learning how to make something (just online tutorials) and then I make it and it makes me happy. So I would spend an hour sewing instead of doing that homework due next week. Its relaxing & therapeudic as heck.

I hope at least one of these tips inspires ya to take a little more care of yourself this year. These have already made a big difference in my life.

Til next time!

M