Tag Archives: life

Sep25

A Busy Person’s Guide To Fitness

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A Busy Person’s Guide To Fitness

Are you always on the go, finding it hard to sneak in a workout session? Do you feel like there are not enough hours in a day? If you answered yes to both, then you’re not alone. With busy schedules and endless responsibilities, prioritizing fitness can become tedious. However, staying active and healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few simple fitness tips for the time-constrained individual:

Plan ahead:

The key to staying on top of your fitness routine while having a busy day is to plan ahead. Schedule a workout session into your daily schedule so you allocate a specific time slot to exercise. Knowing what workouts you need to do and when can help you stay focused and hold yourself accountable. You can also keep track of your progress by writing a fitness journal outlining the workouts you have done and what goals you would like to achieve.

Optimize time:

If you’re limited on time or can’t get to the gym, optimize your schedule to fit in some sweat time. You can combine your workout with tasks or activities you’re already doing. For instance, do some lunges or squats while brushing your teeth. Try using public transportation or bike to work instead of driving. You can also opt for an active lifestyle, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.

You can also make use of your time at home by having some fitness machines of your own. That way you can get a work out in while binging your favorite show! You can check out this guide on chestpressmachine.com to review the best chest press machines for 2026 to get an idea of the best machines and brands while also adhering to your budget. Having exercise machines at home brings the gym to you, meaning there is no excuse for not putting them to good use!

Incorporate HIIT:

High-Intensity Intervals Training (HIIT) is an exercise that combines short, intense periods of activity with less intense rest periods. HIIT workouts are perfect for busy people because they are quick, efficient, and can be done anywhere. You can choose from HIIT workouts like burpees, jumping jacks, and sprints.

Make it a group activity:

Working out in a group can be motivating and enjoyable. It’s also an opportunity to multitask while spending time with friends or family. Schedule cohesive workout sessions with your buddies or family members and test out different classes until you find one you love. This could be a danceathon Zumba session, yoga, pilates, or even boxing! You can also join a boot camp or group fitness classes at the gym.

Eat well:

Getting fit isn’t just about exercise; it’s also essential to eat well. Eating nutrient-rich foods and taking supplements such as those produced by STEEL can help you to feel energized and improve your overall health. Some of the foods you should include in your diet are:

Whole grains:

Whole grains such as whole wheat, oats, and quinoa are packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They provide energy to power your day-to-day activities.

Lean proteins:

Lean proteins like chicken breasts, eggs, and legumes are an excellent source of protein that helps build muscle strength. Protein also keeps you full for a more extended period of time.

Fruits and vegetables:

Fruits and vegetables are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Eating them regularly helps keep your body fueled throughout the day while improving overall health.

Healthy fats:

Healthy fats such as avocados, nuts, and olive oil provide essential nutrients to your diet. It’s important to include healthy fat sources in your meals for optimal health.

You should also avoid foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium. These foods can slow you down and interfere with your fitness goals.

Employ the help of professionals:

Sometimes, it can be daunting to create an effective fitness plan all by yourself. If you don’t have the time or knowledge, consider employing the help of professionals who can put you on a weight loss program that works for you. An option that might be recommended is the fat mobilization system, which is a clinically proven weight loss program that is designed to help you reach your health and fitness goals. This program effectively minimizes excess fat by utilizing the process of thermogenesis. By naturally stimulating the body to generate heat energy, it facilitates the burning of calories. With a program tailored to your fitness goals, you can be sure that you are in good hands.

Remember, fitness isn’t a destination but a way of life. Embrace the journey and enjoy every step towards a healthier, fitter you. With these tips, you can surely make fitness a part of your lifestyle, no matter how busy you are. Keep going, stay motivated, and never give up on your fitness goals!

Sep20

Going To Therapy Update

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Going To Therapy Update

Hello!!! Last month I announced that I was going to start therapy and I was really looking forward to it. I thought it would be most helpful after this extremely difficult past year to have a third party to talk to. Unfortunately, I did not care for the therapist that I was seeing after my second session. It just wasn’t a good match at all and that’s okay. Sometimes you have to shop around to find a therapist that works for you.

To be honest, I was kind of put off immediately during my first session with the person who I was seeing. The meeting was brief – barely over a half hour and I don’t think she fully listened to what it was that I wanted to get out of therapy. At twenty-nine years young, I know myself enough to know what it is I needed and that was simply someone to talk to and unload all of these pent up emotions. During our following session, it felt like the therapist wasn’t really getting it. Instead of hearing my saga, she assigned “homework” and offered solutions for statements that were beside the point.

It wasn’t that I minded hearing ways to overcome stress in the now, but I thought I made myself clear enough that the issue was, first and foremost, issues in the past. I felt really disappointed after our second session because I didn’t feel heard and that is the entire point of therapy!! I decided to cancel my upcoming appointment that was scheduled and didn’t plan on trying a different therapist out. However, the receptionist who I was speaking with encouraged me to give it one more chance with someone who might be a better match for me.

I begrudgingly accepted the new appointment for early next month and I am proud that I did. I also am very appreciative to the receptionist who nudged me forward in that direction. I told myself beforehand that I would wait a few months for another shot at therapy and I’m glad that I didn’t drag my feet. Now, I feel hopeful for my upcoming session and I know it will do me a world of good. What’s that old saying? If at first you don’t like your therapist, try, try a new one? Lol.

Although it is discouraging for a therapist to not be a good fit, it’s a normal thing. My initial instinct was to give up for now and that’s not going to help me one bit. If you are in a similar situation, try again! I am lucky that the receptionist said the same to me and this is me encouraging all of you! ❤

Did you have to shop around for a therapist that worked for you? Who do you like to talk to about your problems? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug25

Mental Health Day

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Mental Health Day

Hello!! This past Monday, I enjoyed my first mental health day in I don’t know how long. Granted, it wasn’t necessarily my choice but it still counts lol. This weekend, I was in a crazy freak accident – no one was hurt, but my car was so I was out of commission to get to work anyways. I would have loved to have had a mental health day under different circumstances, but I guess I’ll take what I can get? Haha and I used my time off well!

On Monday, I slept in until… SIX AM!!! It was great and definitely beats my normal wake up time around 4:30. Melvin and Penelope weren’t thrilled to have postponed their super early morning outing, but once I was up they got to hang out outside of their hutch almost all day. I also was able to get my car set up for its repairs because who knew auto body shops were closed on the weekend? Not me and it was a big relief to get all of that sorted. Also, I took my car to a mom and pop shop and the owner was just adorable. 🙂

Once I was home from my errands, I got to work doing lots of cleaning and that felt fantastic. When my life was really crazy, it was hard to find the time or energy to do a good deep cleaning of the apartment. I got to do that and more with my day off and I felt so accomplished and proud of my efforts. Maybe I needed this day for me more than I realized because I knew it would be nice to clean, but I didn’t appreciate how nice until I proudly surveyed a sparkling space.

After my chores were done, I completed the last item on my agenda which was finishing my Independent Provider annual training. Every year, we must do eight hours of additional online training to maintain our certification. I was on hour six of mine so I didn’t have too much left to do, but it was cool to not have to do it once I was home from work. I also don’t mind the online training at all because they’re always super interesting and it’s fun to learn something new!

Once all of my checklist for my day off was accounted for, I got to spend the rest of my afternoon FaceTiming with my bestie, Kate, of Live In The Nautical. It was the perfect way to end my Mental Health Day. If you are feeling like you need a day for you too, then I can’t encourage an MHD enough. We all need one from time to time and it’s important to listen to what your mind and body needs!

How do you like to spend a day off? When was your last mental health day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug22

Steps Of Growth: Responsibility & Life’s Challenges

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Steps Of Growth: Responsibility & Life’s Challenges

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been confronted with the question: “How can we teach our lovely little ones about responsibility?” Now, raise your other hand if life’s unpredictable challenges make you feel like you’re herding cats. Yep, thought so. Both hands up in the air! Here’s a little secret: there’s no one-size-fits-all guide to this. But there are a few things that might help you teach your kiddos about responsibility and the art of embracing the challenges life sometimes throws at you:

Plant A Garden And Watch It Grow:

Gardening, apart from being therapeutic, can be an amazing teaching tool to allow your kids to understand that even the littlest flowers need love, care, and patience. Let your little one pick a plant or flower they’d like to grow. Let them water it, take care of it, and patiently watch it bloom. Through this, they learn that consistency, responsibility, and love can lead to beautiful results. And when pests come along or when the weather isn’t ideal, they will learn to understand that challenges are natural parts of life.

Add A Little Twist To Everyday Chores:

Ah, chores! The word itself probably makes your kids want to run for the hills. So how about creating a chore chart that’s actually fun? Add some glitter, stickers, and quirky tasks. Muddle the regular chores like tidying up toys or setting the table with something fun, like the floor is lava or last one to tidy up is a rotten egg. This way, while they’re diving into whimsical adventures, they’re also learning the art of daily responsibility.

Share Stories From Your Book Of Life:

We all love a little story. And children even more so – they adore stories, especially real ones that involve the people (or characters) they actually know. Share tales from your family’s past, about a time when you overcame challenges or how you learned from mistakes you once made. You might think these anecdotes are mundane, but for young ears, they’re exciting tales of adventure and learning.

Pass On A Job Of Personal Responsibility:

You might be tempted to protect your little ones from the big, vast world out there, but every once in a while, you need to trust them with just a smidge more responsibility. Maybe it’s letting them decide the menu for the family picnic, taking care of a new puppy companion, or even managing their pocket money without being told they’re wasting it on something they don’t need. These small steps of trust can work wonders in teaching them about the responsibilities of life. And don’t worry if they stumble a bit. Those mini missteps? They’re just stepping stones towards their remarkable journey of growth and understanding.

Lastly, remember to shower your kiddos with loads of love and encouragement even when it feels tough to do so because you’re frustrated by your circumstances. Let them know that every challenge they face is an opportunity to grow!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Aug9

Habits That Will Improve Your Mental Health – Now!

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Habits That Will Improve Your Mental Health – Now!

We all know that mental health is a concept that is widely dissected and discussed. There’s a good reason for that, too, given the state of the world right now we all need a little support and help from time to time. Mental health isn’t a joke, and it’s not something you should ever ignore, either. You can have poor mental health or you can have good mental health, but it’s something that will need constant attention and something that everyone needs to work on. Just reading depression statistics tells you that you are not alone in the fight for improved mental health and that is important. There are countless people who have the same struggles as you and are striving for better mental health and quality of life.

When you stop working on your mental health, you are going to feel it deteriorate pretty quickly. Instead of letting it get to that point, you can start working on the habits that are affecting your mental health in the first place. The Lamrim study group will tell you all about achieving sustained happiness but to get to that point, you have to think about how you are going to break down the bad habits and build up the good ones. Positive habits will help you to improve your mental health and as you break those bad ones up, you’ll feel much happier as a result. Let’s take a look at the positive habits that will work in your favor to improve your mental health and make you feel better all around:

Start sleeping better:

That doom scrolling thing you do at bedtime? It’s a bad habit and one that you need to stop if you want to improve yourself. Sleep is something you need, and you need it in abundance if you want to feel healthier physically as well as mentally. Put the phone down, turn the TV and tablet off, and get some quality sleep.

Slow down on your social media use:

Are you on and off the same five apps every few minutes? Give it a rest! Cut back on the amount of time you spend on social media and stop comparing your life to others. You also need to increase your feelings of self-worth, not stamp them out. A good habit to get into is leaving your phone away from you, turning off your apps when you’re out, or simply removing the apps and building a healthier relationship with it. Social media is a time sucker and it’s so easy to keep opening those apps. It’s harder if you don’t have them in the first place.

Work on personal relationships:

Those friends you haven’t seen in a while? They deserve a phone call. As a human being, you are a naturally social creature and you should do all you can to get out and about. You will ease those feelings of loneliness, add more meaning to your life, and find emotional support throughout the community. Of course, it can be easier said than done to work on your personal relationships.

If you are having a lot of difficulty connecting to friends and loved ones, it could be a sign of depression and something that therapy could help with. To find the therapist that’s right for you, simply enter a search for “Denver therapist” (Or your local area) to learn more about nearby professionals that can give you guidance.

Professional care through psychology and psychiatry is so beneficial for one’s mental health and it is a brave first step. It is then up to you to take the advice of the doctors and implement them. This could be through the help of medication or even entering a treatment center if you are struggling with addiction or dual diagnosis. If the latter is the case, simply enter a search for “dual diagnosis treatment Arizona” (or your local area) to review your options. Don’t be afraid to schedule tours of a few different facilities to find the best fit for you.

Exercise:

If you’re not already in this habit, now is a great time to start. Working out and moving your body will offer you a whole host of benefits. You’ll relieve stress and improve your mood, fall asleep faster and for longer, and you’ll feel immensely more energetic each day, too. Regular exercise or any of the good habits above paired with visits to a mental health counselor can increase your success even more. Remember that a multifaceted approach to your mental health is often the best method and can set you on the path for long term progress.

Improved mental health can start with really simple first steps – it’s up to you to take them!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jul19

Switch To A Greener Lifestyle With These Tips

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Switch To A Greener Lifestyle With These Tips

A greener lifestyle has a whole host of benefits, both for the wider world and for your household. You can save money, cut down on waste, and live a healthier lifestyle while decreasing your carbon footprint. Here are some ways to do so:

Increase Utility Efficiency:

Utility bills are more expensive now than ever before, which means that you have multiple incentives to cut down on your utility usage. The good news is that there are ways to increase your utility efficiency, which means that you don’t have to make any major sacrifices. Installing a smart meter or thermostat allows you to set a comfortable temperature on timers, so you aren’t ever heating an empty building. It will also monitor your energy usage so you can keep track of spikes and other issues. Repairing and replacing your windows and doors will also help you be more efficient with your power usage. You should also check your insulation and roof, especially before winter strikes.

On a similar note, you should also make sure that your utility provider is making an effort to improve their own sustainability practices. This way, the companies you’re giving money to on a regular basis are making a positive difference, as opposed to contributing to a growing problem. For example, American Water Works has won awards for both its sustainability and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles, making it a great choice of provider.

Use Green Energy:

Another way to change the way you use electricity is by switching to a green energy source. You can do this in a variety of ways. First, you can install solar panels on your property. This is a great option if you have a roof that gets a lot of sunlight and is stable enough to support the panels. Solar panel specialists will be able to walk you through this process step by step for maximum success. They might even employ 3D models of the project with solar proposal software so you can have a visual of the end result.

Indeed, solar panels are one of the first options people think of when it comes to greener living and for good reason. It is beneficial to the environment and to your wallet as well. If you are interested in solar panels for your home, it’s wise to browse on the websites of companies who specialize in their sale and installation like qvoltsolar.com.au (or a similar business in your local area). That way you can compare costs, read reviews, and find the best company to fit your needs for this project.

If installing solar panels on your property isn’t an option, you can get involved in a community solar project. This allows you to purchase solar panels on a solar farm, so you benefit from the power they produce. You will need some appropriate land, as well as planning permission for a solar farm. Look into the legal requirements to make sure that you don’t miss anything in your local area. From there, you will need to focus on community solar customer acquisitions. Find like-minded people who want to invest in a better world.

Lifestyle Changes:

You can make small but significant changes to your lifestyle to improve your health and your carbon footprint. For example, can you change your daily commute so you walk or cycle instead of driving? Could you take public transport? Another option is to set up a vegetable garden and grow your own produce. This reduces waste and encourages your family to eat healthier.

Running a Green Business:

If you run a business, you have even more opportunities to reduce your carbon footprint. When setting up your business, look into local governmental grants and schemes that encourage businesses to operate in a more environmentally friendly way. This way, you can increase your efficiency, cut down on waste, and potentially get tax breaks or other benefits for your efforts. An eco-friendly business also benefits from a better relationship with customers. If your customers are interested in climate change, they will appreciate your efforts and are more likely to be loyal. Reputation matters in the business world.

Go green with the tips above both for yourself and the world around you!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Jun16

Turning 29 – It’s Not So Bad!

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Turning 29 – It’s Not So Bad!

Hello!!! Although my Gemini Twin and I have been joking that we have been turning twenty-five for the past several years, I turned twenty-nine this past week. And, no, that running joke never gets old by the way! Lol, anyways, I cannot tell you the amount of people who have wished me a happy birthday along with the sentiments of “oh, you’ll be thirty next year, you’re getting old”, yada, yada, yada. And, yes, that is factual information. BUT, I have come to the realization that maybe, just maybe it’s not that old after all. 😉

I feel like once people reach their twenties, turning thirty is looming over their shoulders like a character in a horror movie. The big 3-0 seems to have become the death of youth so to speak and I am here to call bullshit. Believe you me, I had the exact same thoughts and a teeny tiny part of me still feels that way. However, turning twenty-nine has made me start making the mental flip in my head and adopting the old phrase of “you’re only as young as you feel”.

In 100% seriousness, I honestly forget how old I am constantly and my mind is blown when I remember my actual age. Yes, I’m an adult and am close to thirty, but I really don’t feel like it. Sure, when I’m working I feel like a grown up. When it comes to my downtime, though, my age comes as a surprise to me. I am a goofy, outgoing gal, and I love to have a good time. Johnny is five years my senior and he is the exact same way. So, when we’re hanging out together or we’re with our friends age truly feels like just a number.

Despite everyone’s obsession with youth, I find myself thinking if I would like to be in my early twenties again and it’s a hard NO from me, dawg. I was plagued with mental health issues, was in one shitty relationship after the next, and my businesses hadn’t blossomed to what they are today. Now, here I am at twenty-nine and my mental health is much more stable, I’m married to the best guy in the world, and I am a successful business owner of two. My personal style has developed into something amazing, I love the way I look, and I feel happy other than a loved one being in poor health. It just took some extra years on the old odometer to get there.

If you feel like an approaching landmark birthday is the end of the world, I can now confidently say that it isn’t. I’m staring at thirty dead on and, at this point, all I can say is “bring it on” because there’s nothing else I can do. Youth is a mindset so, yeah, I guess I always will be twenty-five! 😉

Did you freak out before turning a certain age? Do you feel like your age? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun15

Woke Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed? Try This!

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Woke Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed? Try This!

Waking up on the wrong side of the bed is something that happens to everybody. No matter how well you slept or how much you have prepared for the day, sometimes you just have to accept that it is “one of those days”. On the other hand, you could always try and turn things around and make yourself feel better almost instantly.

Turning your day from a negative into a positive is completely possible, but only if you’re willing to give it a try. Being in a good mood regularly will not only help you to maintain your youthful glow, but it will also give you a better chance of a successful day. Here are a handful of speedy mood boosters to get you going again:

Feel-Good Music:

There is no better cure for a bad mood than blasting some feel good music loud and proud. Whether you’re turning up the volume on your home speakers or you’re putting in your earphones during your commute to work, there are so many ways to get music into your system. Choose your favorite artist or song that will get you going for the day such as Class Clown by Tiana Green or some classic 90’s pop from back in the day. As soon as you hear some music, you will start to feel happy in an instant.

Energizing Food:

There are certain foods that can make you feel good as soon as you digest them, so this is what you need to reach for when you’re feeling blue in the morning. A banana, crunchy granola, or a berry smoothie are all ideal ways to put a spring back into your step.

Exercise:

Getting your body moving is a great way to boost your mood when you’re not feeling the best. Doing a form of exercise that makes you happy will release a whole load of endorphins that will keep you on cloud nine for the rest of the day. Whether you’re trying out yoga, running, weight lifting, cycling, swimming, or dancing, there are so many ways to try exercise without feeling as though it’s a huge chore; having fun is the most important thing!

Hug Someone You Love:

Hugging someone you love can have numerous health benefits, and one includes feeling good about yourself and happier in general. If you wake up feeling less than great, now is the perfect time to grab the one you love and enjoy a warm embrace together!

Having these ideas in your back pocket whenever your day gets off to a rocky start is the best way to move forward and seize the day no matter what!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun14

Maximizing Your Child’s Health And Well-Being

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Maximizing Your Child’s Health And Well-Being

It isn’t just essential to keep an eye on your child’s health in the winter; you must take good care of them and do your best to maintain and maximize their health throughout the year. Any season or thing can cause a child to feel unwell. Here are some tips to maximize your child’s health and well-being:

Seek immediate care if they are very unwell:

When a child is really unwell, it is essential to seek help so you can discover what the issue is and resolve their symptoms. Attaining pediatric urgent care will give you immediate support and find a solution to their health issue. A pediatric expert means that your child is in good hands and will feel healthy and well again as soon as possible.

Maintain routine healthcare appointments:

Maintaining routine healthcare appointments is an absolute must. A routine checkup can discover any underlying health issues. If there is an underlying problem, you can find a solution to improve their health. Plus, attending routine appointments will minimize their fear of healthcare practices, encouraging them to attend every time and stay in check with their health.

Help them enjoy school:

Children spend a lot of their time at school so it’s important to know they are enjoying this time. If they aren’t, it can impact your child’s happiness and well-being. When you acknowledge they are not having a good time, whether it be due to friend issues or learning difficulties, it’s a good idea to step in and help. If they are having issues with friends, you can speak to parents and children to find a resolution. If they are having trouble with their learning, you can seek tutors or provide home support to help them develop educational skills and confidence. In time, they will feel more comfortable with education and enjoy their time at school.

Get active:

Another way to optimize the health and well-being of your child is to help them be more active. Being active aids growth and cognitive skills. The more active they are, the more confident they can feel pursuing various activities. For example, taking them on hikes or asking them to help you with gardening will improve their nature skills and help them spend more time outside. More movement and activity will encourage their growth and keep them as happy and as healthy as possible.

Encourage healthy meals:

Educating your child about food and allowing them to get involved with cooking is really beneficial, especially if your child is a picky eater. Allowing them to help you cook will help them feel more responsible and in control of what they are eating, which could encourage them to try new foods. For instance, asking them to help you prepare the vegetables will help them understand where they come from, their nutritional value, and maybe influence them to eat more.

Speak to them about your problems:

If your child is fairly quiet and never speaks to you about their problems, they will never be able to seek support and help. If this is the case, it can be a good idea to speak to them about your own problems to show that it’s okay to open up and share bad experiences. If they are experiencing bullying, finding school difficult, or want to pursue a passion but do not know how speaking to you can help them find an answer.

All of the above are simple steps that you can take today to make sure your child is their happiest, healthiest self!

Featured Image By: Johannes Plenio

Jun12

Feeling Overwhelmed? What Has Helped Me

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Feeling Overwhelmed? What Has Helped Me

Hello! Saying that my life has been overwhelming for the past almost year is the understatement of the century. I have a loved one in poor health and have essentially become a duel citizen between Akron and the Cleveland Clinic. On top of that, I work three jobs, try my best to maintain some semblance of a social life (occasionally!), pepper in self care when I can, and keep my apartment in check. It is a lot!

At times, the stress was really getting to me and I was feeling so low. It took a decent amount of time for me to find healthy ways to ease my mind even a little bit and that has been most helpful. If you are in a highly stressful point in your life, these are the things that have been working for me and they might help you too. Let’s get to it:

Have a good cry:

There has always been a misconception that crying is a sign of weakness. However, I think it is such a sign of strength. To be able to release your tension and blubber (lol) and sob until you have nothing left can be so healing. I have always found comfort in a good cry and feel it even more so right now. Yes, I still feel sad after a cry sesh, but I also feel an ease in the out of control, overwhelming emotions. I honestly cry several times per week and for my situation, it is a healthy and powerful release.

Talk it out:

One of the biggest mistakes that I have made throughout my entire life was bottling emotions and letting things fester. This is a massive no no! I thought that I knew the people who I could turn to in my life for assistance and a vent session, but they have proven to be less than helpful. So, I had to find a new support system (outside of Johnny and immediate family).

This came in the form of one of my aunts and an uncle. Although I had been estranged from them for a significant amount of time, they have become one of my greatest assets during this hardship. I talk to them each at least once per week and it feels so good to say everything I need to someone who is ready and willing to hear it. They have really rallied around me and I take a lot of comfort in knowing that they are always just a phone call away. (And, yes, I will be attending therapy sessions as soon as things slow down and already have counselors in mind!)

Ask for help:

Like I said, I thought I knew who would be helpful in my immediate family and that just wasn’t the case. So, I simply refused to ask for help period and found a sense of pride in everything that I was undertaking. I still feel proud of myself for what I have done and continue to do for my family, but I have also gotten a lot better at asking for what I need. I was feeling really alone and, as it happens, I unknowingly did have a support system where all I needed to do was ask when I needed assistance. This has helped ease my burden so much mentally and it sounds like such an obvious thing to say to ask for help. But, I think we all forget this sometimes and it’s good to have a reminder.

Leisure time:

Once I return home from my day, I am simply done with my phone unless it’s absolutely necessary to pick up a call or answer a text. This has helped SO much and squashed the feelings of being constantly “on call”. Now, during my leisure time with Johnny, I can enjoy it more fully and that has been great. We have so much fun playing video games together, watching our favorite shows, playing with the bunnies, and just sitting on our balcony and talking. I miss Johnny so much when I am away during the day and not having my phone as an extra appendage makes our leisure time even better.

Sleep well:

It can be hard to get good sleep when everything seems to be falling apart, but it is so important to at least try. Even when I know that I won’t get to sleep early due to racing thoughts, I try to let my body rest as much as I can and veg out. I have also become much more forgiving of myself when I need extra sleep. I have always suffered from night terrors, but they have become AWFUL with the stress that I am under. After a rough night, I allow myself to sleep in a bit and I never fault myself for it because I can get through the day better rested.

All of the things above seem like no brainers, but it’s helpful to be reminded. And, because they are no brainers, they will be easy for you to implement too! Best of luck. ❤

What helps you in an overwhelming situation? Who is in your support system? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah