Tag Archives: mental health

Nov23

Learning To Love Your Appearance Every Single Day

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Learning To Love Your Appearance Every Single Day

You might have laughed at the title of this post because it’s not possible to love your appearance every single day, right? We all have the occasional “good hair day”, but that’s it. However, there’s no need to be so cynical. There are always going to be days on which you’re not a fan of your hair or you look a little sleepier than usual, but you can learn to love your appearance even when it’s not 100%. It all comes down to improving your mindset. And your mental health is linked to your physical health, so this will help to give your appearance a glow too. Reducing stress can reduce acne, for example, so there’s a clear correlation. Here’s how you can improve your mindset and learn to love your appearance every day:

Facial Beauty:

Let’s start off with your face, because that’s often the main point of focus when it comes to appearance. Many of us are critical of our facial appearance, but this is an aspect of beauty that’s easy to alter. You could start off by trying out microblading if you want to improve your brow game. Eyebrows have become a very important part of facial beauty over recent years, and you might find that changing the shape of your brows changes the appearance of your entire face. You could also try cutting back on foundation; makeup doesn’t always have to be the answer. Giving your skin a break from excessive use of foundation might help to clear up any blemishes, and it’ll make you naturally glow.

Sometimes treatments and makeup aren’t enough to make a drastic change. If you are looking for big improvements, you could find a reputable plastic surgeon to consult with. Looking for something less extreme? How about changing your eye color! Hazel, green, even purple, and blue eye contacts are available to see the whole world through a different set of eye colors!

Fashion:

Fashion is another integral part of loving your appearance every single day. The way you dress has a massive impact on your overall look. If you dress well every day, then you’ll look good every day. It’s as simple as that. But avoid fast fashion; opt for clothes that are timelessly stylish so that they can stay in your wardrobe for years. That being said, if you give away some of your old clothes to charity because they no longer fit or suit you, then there might be an opening in your wardrobe for some new additions. If you want to get inspired, then you should look into some fashionable boutiques which offer modern yet varied options. It’s important that you’re not too restrictive with your choice of style. Fashion should reflect your personality, so have fun with it.

Sleep:

One of the best ways to improve your appearance is to improve your health. The way we look on the outside is a reflection of how well we take care of ourselves. Cutting out unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking can help to improve your skin quality, for instance. You also need to prioritize a healthy sleeping pattern. The term “beauty sleep” is probably nothing new to you, and there’s a lot of substance to this idea. A cup of coffee might make you feel more awake, but does it get rid of the bags under your eyes? No. And that’s because your body is trying to tell you it needs rest. You can’t cut corners when it comes to sleeping well. Sleep deprivation can weaken your immune system, slow your metabolism, and even reduce muscle repair. In other words, your healthy workouts won’t have the impact you want. Start sleeping better if you want your body to improve in appearance. You’ll look and feel good. It’s about more than vanity; it’s about your physical and emotional wellbeing.

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Catch some Z’s!

A strong sense of self confidence can help you get through the toughest of times, so start building up yours little by little with the above tips!

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Nov23

How To Pull Yourself Out Of A Slump & Get Motivated

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How To Pull Yourself Out Of A Slump & Get Motivated

Getting motivated can be hard work, especially if something big has happened to demotivate you. This could include losing your job, not achieving a goal, or even just life in general. You have to remember that only you can get yourself out of the slump that you are in right now and, by putting the effort in, you can be sure to give yourself the boost you need:

Have One Goal:

If you are in a slump, then there is a high chance that this is because you have far too much going on in your life right now. You are probably trying too hard, and you may be trying to accomplish too many things at once. If you want to try and get around this, then you need to choose one single goal. You also need to focus on it completely and give it everything you have. This will help you to achieve it much more efficiently and it will also help you with your motivation, especially once you complete the task at hand.

slump

Pexels Image

Find Inspiration:

Inspiration is quite possibly the best way for you to get motivated. Look at what you want to achieve, and then look at the people who have actually done it. You will soon see that they went through stages where they were demotivated, as well, but it didn’t stop them from going out there and making their dreams come true.

Get Excited:

If you want to get out of a slump, then you need to get yourself excited about a goal. Talk to other people about what you want to achieve and visualize what it would be like to be successful. When you do this, you can then get that additional drive and push yourself harder.

Get Some Support:

It is incredibly difficult to accomplish something on your own. If you want to run a marathon, for example, then you need to have your friends and family around you. You may want to join a running club and even go onto forums to find out what other people do in order to get motivated. If you have been in an accident that stops you from achieving what you want, then look for legal support, such as an injury lawyer. The support you get will largely depend on your own situation but, either way, you should never try and get by without it.

Commit:

If you have something that you want to achieve, then don’t be afraid to go public with your idea. When you do this, you give yourself more motivation than ever and you can also prove to those around you that you can do whatever you put your mind to. This can be a really big self-confidence booster too, so this is an important factor for you to take into consideration when planning your goals.

A slump around the holidays can be the worst, so use the tips above and get yourself back on track!

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Nov15

A Life Lesson From Facebook

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A Life Lesson From Facebook

Hi everyone! Facebook is the only form of social media that I have and I definitely prefer it that way. For the most part, it keeps me entertained and it would be just too much to have to maintain other social media pages on top of my blog. While scrolling through the book, I came across a meme that said something along the lines of “The people who are doing better than you don’t look down on you, it’s the ones who are falling behind that are hating” or whatever. Reading this poorly paraphrased quote instantly reminded me of a little story that goes like this:

I was once on a date with a guy and we were talking about college while we were in his car. At the time, I was at Cuyahoga Community College and he was at Kent State University studying photography. So, we’re sitting there talking and he tells me that he’s failing basically all of his classes. Meanwhile, I share with him that I’m really enjoying all of my courses and I wish that I had started my college career earlier. And, he snaps back with “that’s because you go to community college”.

Excuse me?!?!

Because he was the one failing his courses and I’m thriving in a college setting, that automatically makes Tri-C easier? Although they offer the same classes as any college in the area? Righhhhhht. I spent over three years out of school and I made the choice to give college a try even though I was so nervous of failure that I sometimes found it hard to breathe. And, instead of congratulating me for what would surely be a difficult task for anyone, he replied with a verbal slap in the face.

I’ll never forget this story, because it is so incredibly off putting. But, seeing it from the light of what that meme on Facebook said made me see it in an entirely different way. It was basically a rephrasing of the quote from The Interview “They hate us cause they ain’t us”. Lol, I was so confident in how I was doing in school and proud of myself but, someone tried to dull that down because he wasn’t happy with himself. And this, boys and girls, is an awful way to be.

I guess the point that I’m making is to not let anyone’s jealousy or whatever they might be feeling take away your confidence. Jealous people want you to stoop down to their level, because misery loves company. No matter what anyone says, words hurt. Use your words appropriately and, if you need to think about whether you should say something or not, chances are that you shouldn’t!

Has anyone ever had a similar scenario to the one that I described? How do you deal with haters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct30

Making Time For Me

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Making Time For Me

Hello! I know the title of this post might seem a bit extra to some, considering I just recently was on vacation. But, oh my goodness is it necessary. Upon returning home from my trip, my work days were absolutely insane. We’re talking rising at seven to get ready and going, going, going nonstop until my arrival home after nine at night. Ah, the joys of playing catch up when you work for yourself and don’t get PTO!

With all of that craziness in mind, it was so important for me to make time for myself to go skating in between clients this past week. Despite a forty-five minute drive there and back to the rink, just one hour on the ice made me feel much better. The cold air, the challenge, and the exercise was more than enough to clear my head half way through the week and gave me the drive to push through until my weekend days off.

Sometimes, I have a really hard time making time for myself. I will work myself so hard to the point that, when I do have free time, I just want to veg out and do nothing. And, believe me, I was feeling this way last week like no other. But, I pushed myself to get to skating practice, even though I was riding the struggle bus, and it was well worth it. Not only did I feel proud of myself for having a good skate, but it left me feeling invigorated and ready for work, which I had to be at shortly after practice.

Making time for yourself doesn’t mean that you need to take an entire mental health day. Although, sometimes, that’s good too! Rather, I took under three hours of my day to do something that I really enjoy and the pay off was grand. Over the past few months, I have experienced the effects of feeling burnt out, and it is no walk in the park. But, I know that if I keep carving out time for myself during my work week, that my mental health will continue to improve and my determination to finish the week strong instead of idly passing through it will keep me on top in all aspects of my life.

How do you make time for you during your working hours? What do you do for yourself when you start to feel burnt out? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct9

What Makes Ending An Addiction So Challenging?

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What Makes Ending An Addiction So Challenging?

Recognizing that you have a problem with addiction is the first hurdle that you have to overcome. Once you’ve admitted that you’ve got a problem, it’s time for you to think about quitting. You probably didn’t expect to become addicted when you first experienced an addictive substance or behavior for the first time. However, what started out as fun can quickly become something more serious. There are several different ways in which you can try quitting, but don’t be surprised if your first attempt is a difficult feat. If you’re left wondering why you found it so hard, here are some of the reasons why:

Conflict and Ambivalence

Alcohol, drug addiction, or some other type of addictive behavior that becomes excessive will create conflict in your life. It can be within yourself because you want to change, but also have stronger urges to repeat the addictive behavior. Conflict also occurs with other people because they either want you to quit or join them in the addictive behavior. These conflicts don’t go away, and your expectations only get higher. Ambivalence is the feeling of wanting to continue and wanting to quit at the same time. Professional Interventionists are well versed in all of these different situations and emotions and are there to help you work through them in the healthiest way possible. Battling an addiction is no easy feat and skilled professionals will guide and encourage you.

If you are choosing to go to treatment, you might find that being close to the area that you participate in addictive behaviors can be triggering. Especially if these places have resulted in a lot of conflict. For that reason, some people find it helpful to travel to their treatment center. It could be completing treatment at the Scottsdale Providence Recovery Center in Arizona or simply being a few hours away from your current location. Whatever your selection might be, be sure to tour the facility first so that there are no surprises when you enter treatment. You want to set yourself up for the best chance of success when you are making such an important change.

Tolerance – a Key Symptom of Addiction:

Tolerance, together with withdrawal, are the two processes that resulted in your addiction in the first place. The two are interconnected and, without them, it would be easier to quit. Tolerance is a physical and psychological process. The first time you experience an addictive substance or behavior your tolerance is low and the effect you feel is very strong. The more you repeat the behavior or take a substance, the higher your tolerance is and the more you need to take or do the behavior to get the same effect.

Withdrawal is experienced when you aren’t able to do the addictive behavior. The symptoms can be both physical and psychological. Symptoms might include shaking, feeling unwell, upset stomach, and feeling anxious or depressed. This, in itself, can be a barrier from quitting. Safe forms of detox like this one for adderall detox can be most helpful to fight through the withdrawal symptoms and give you an increased chance of success.

Guilt and Justification:

Guilt about your behavior is a strong motivator to make changes, but it also works against you. You find yourself justifying your behavior, not just to yourself but to other people too. Examples are telling yourself it’s not a problem, saying you’ve already cut down, or using other people or situations to divert attention. Treatment centers including The Recovery Village Indianapolis can help you work through these different emotions when you are ready to take that step.

What Can You Do If You Really Want to Quit?

There are a variety of different types of treatment to help you if you really want to quit. Therapy, for example, helps you sort out and change the thoughts that are keeping you addicted. It’s not going to be an easy or straightforward journey, but the support of a good treatment program will help you move forward and eventually quit. Treatment, whether as an outpatient or an inpatient at a luxury facility such as https://healtreatmentcenters.com/luxury-drug-and-alcohol-addiction-treatment-center/, will make the quitting process much easier, but there are, of course, strategies that you can follow if you want to try to quit your addiction on your own.

Sometimes a break from your addiction might not be up to you, but to the courts. This might be the case if you were driving under the influence of alcohol. A duii program at a treatment center can help fulfill court mandated requirements and provide you with the tools you need for success through therapy, support groups, and interventions.

residential addiction treatment

Overcoming an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or some kind of behavior doesn’t have to feel like the end of the world. Admitting that there is a problem is the first step, followed by withdrawal and detox. The recovery journey doesn’t always end there, and you may need professional support for many years to come.

Oct1

Burnt Out

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Burnt Out

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a wonderful weekend! It’s been a long few weeks for Lil Red, thanks to a horrible stint with the flu earlier this month. Because I work for myself in all three of my jobs, I don’t have the luxury of paid time off. So, I had a lot of making up to do because of a week of being totally incapacitated. And, believe me when I say, I am completely burnt out.

When it comes to all of my endeavors in life, I take every precaution to keep them running smoothly. Prewriting blogs specifically for the occasion of being sick, following my calendar to a T to keep myself on time for all of my appointments every day, and even taking time for me to go ice dancing during the week. So, why do I feel so unbelievably exhausted?

Yes, I have been stretching myself too thin for work. But, it was a complete necessity to make up for lost time, especially because I will be out of office for a third of October. I think that an impending family vacation and then some me time with my cousin in Pittsburgh also has something to do with it. It feels so close but so far away, so everything leading up to it just feels like a chore.

What do I do? I could completely burn myself into the ground until it’s time for me to hit the bricks for vacation. Or, I could make sure that I’m still incorporating some R&R in the meantime, because god knows I need it. I think that I’ll be going with Option B! An unfortunate truth of self employment means no PTO but, now I know for future reference that working ten days in a row to make up for it isn’t the right answer, either.

Finding a healthy balance for the workaholic and human in me is difficult. Naturally, I want to be productive during my work days. But, all work and no play makes Lil Red a dull girl, and it’s important for me to work in breaks during the day no matter how small they may be. Even a half hour to enjoy a drink at Starbucks is better than going from task to task without a second to breathe in between!

There’s no denying that I am feeling burnt out in my daily life. But, hopefully taking some time during my day just for me will help improve this sensation until I get to completely let loose on vacation! #poetandididntknowit 😀

What do you do when you are feeling burnt out? How do you carve in time for yourself during a busy day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep27

Meditation Recommendations

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Meditation Recommendations

Hi everyone! Something that I really enjoy doing is going to a meditation class offered by my local library. The woman who runs it, Joann Xi, is the founder of the Center for Health, Happiness, and Chan. This organization promotes a mindful and contemplative lifestyle and teaches the art of meditation to those in the greater Akron area. During class this week, Joann gave us a paper listing some helpful books, apps, podcasts, and websites that she recommends and I thought that I would share it with all of you. And, if you are interested in seeing Joann in action, check out my blog post which features her YouTube videos. She’s amazing!

From Eastern Traditions:

Books:

  1. The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation as Taught by S.N. Goenka by William Hart
  2. Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh
  3. True Love by Thich Nhat Hanh
  4. Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa
  5. Bringing Home the Dharma by Jack Kornfield
  6. The Wisdom of No Escape by Pema Chodron

Podcasts:

  1. Insight Hour Podcast with Joseph Goldstein
  2. Ram Dass Hear and Now
  3. Heart Wisdom Podcast with Jack Kornfield

Websites:

  1. https://www.secularbuddhism.org/
  2. https://www.lionsroar.com/

From Western Traditions:

Books:

  1. Invitation to Love by Thomas Keating
  2. Intimacy with God by Thomas Keating
  3. Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton
  4. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
  5. Fully Present by Susan L Smalley and Diana Winston
  6. Mindful Work by David Gelles

Audio Books:

  1. Going on Being by Mark Epstein
  2. Going to Pieces without Falling Apart by Mark Epstein

Podcasts:

  1. 10% Happier with Dan Harris

Apps:

  1. Headspace (Westernized version of eastern meditation practices)

YouTube:

  1. Zen Den
  2. Cosmic Kids

Websites:

  1. https://www.cac.org/
  2. https://www.couragerenewal.org

Integration of East/West:

Books:

  1. Living Zen Loving God by Ruben L.F. Habito
  2. The Mystic Heart by Wayne Teasdale
  3. The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts

I hope that some of these wonderful options to help introduce you to meditation or further your practices prove to be beneficial to those who need it. Once a skeptic, I truly believe in the power of meditation and the amazing work that Joann is doing, so please enjoy!

Who else participates in meditation? What are some ways that help you to relax? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep15

Do You For You

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Do You For You

Hello everyone and happy weekend! As many of you probably know, I figure skated competitively for close to ten years. I still love to hit the rink every now and then to get my skate on, but, I haven’t had a real lesson in about eight years. And, this past week, that changed! After running into one of my old coaches while I was at work, I decided that I would like to try my hand at ice dancing. And, try my hand at ice dancing I did!

I had the absolute best time being back on the ice and actually learning something new. Ice dancing is completely foreign to me, but the old girl can’t jump like she used to so I figured that dancing would be the best way to go. I had a half hour lesson with my coach, Chris, who is really the end all be all in my neck of the woods when it comes to all aspects of skating. Then, I got to practice on my own for a half hour.

By the end of my time on the ice, I was beat! But, boy, did it feel good. As I consider continuing to learn ice dancing, I find myself leaning towards not doing it, because it’s rather expensive. And, then, I find myself thinking that I do so much for others and that maybe I should do something for me, for once. Having a lesson every other week is definitely not as desirable as weekly skate time. But, it’s the best I can do and it sure would make me happy.

It feels so good to have something that I’m genuinely excited about. I’m twenty-four, which, for all intents and purposes, is over the hill in the skating world. But, I came back on the ice strong, I tried hard, and I can’t wait to do it again.

Doing you for you is so important, because if you don’t take that extra time for yourself, it’s so easy to become burnt out. I was definitely getting to that point and just one hour on the ice made me feel totally rejuvenated. And, you just can’t put a price on that. 🙂

Then and now! ❤

How do you do you for you? What is a hobby that you did when you were younger that you would like to get back into? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug5

Making New Friends As An Adult

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Making New Friends As An Adult

Hey everyone and happy Sunday! As I make my way deeper into my twenty somethings, I find that I have had an increasingly difficult time making new friends. I work for myself, I’m no longer forced to be around anyone because I’m not in school, and, sometimes, talking to new people can be down right scary! Although Lil Red might seem like a confident gal, I still have issues with social anxiety. And, racing thoughts of whether an attempt at small talk will be a hit or miss can leave even the most confident in a tizzy.

But, then, I started utilizing the “what have I got to lose” mindset. The literal worst that can happen is that someone gives you the old “let’s get coffee sometime” and you never do. But, if you’re successful, you could have a brand new friend to get to know and spend time with.

I’ve began putting myself out there more and more lately and, I’ve got to say, it feels great! I’ve been attending different clubs of my interests at the local libraries and have even suggested a hang out with my favorite barista at Starbucks – and it worked! I have also been trying hard to maintain wonderful relationships with my old friends, because a phone works two ways.

I want to continue spending my free time in a meaningful way, and putting forth a better effort to make new friends has definitely helped me achieve this goal. Within just a few months, I feel like my anxiety in unfamiliar situations or speaking with a stranger while out and about has decreased significantly.

I started out small, by striking up a Facebook conversation with the people that I admired from afar and worked my way up from there. And, now, I have a plethora of both new and old friends that I would feel comfortable initiating a hang out with. I’m proud of myself for setting this goal and sticking to it, because meeting new people can be hard. But, once I got over the initial scare factor, it turned out to be an exciting adventure in my life and I’m looking forward to continuing to meet more new potential friends!

Making new friends as an adult can be challenging, but there are ways to make the process easier. One of the best things you can do is look for opportunities to meet new people. This could mean joining a club, taking a class, or even going to concerts like a Ravehub – anything that gets you out of your comfort zone and interacting with others. Another great tip is to be open and friendly when meeting new people. Smile, strike up conversations, and be yourself! People are more likely to want to be friends with someone confident and easy to talk to.

Does anyone else experience difficulty making new friends in adulthood? What are some of your tips for putting yourself out there? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug3

Meditation Station

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Meditation Station

Hi there! Something that I’ve been enjoying a lot lately is meditation. One of the libraries in my area has been hosting the two founders of a local nonprofit organization Health, Happiness, & Chan to teach meditation classes to the public. I have been going since the spring time, and found it to be really difficult. Dare I say, I even found it to be completely ineffective.

Then, we had a hiatus for a few months until the summer session began. Upon returning to classes, I had a total turn around during our hour together. I was able to complete the entire forty minute process when, before, I couldn’t even finish five minutes. It felt awesome and I left class feeling so uplifted and accomplished.

Unfortunately, but fortunately, one of our two amazing teachers (Both of whom are professors at Akron U.) has accepted a position at Harvard and is no longer with us. But, our other guru, Joanne is simply the best. I have such a strong connection with her and it was such a delight to be welcomed back to class by her with a huge hug.

Joanne has quite possibly the most beautiful voice known to mankind and, after all of us insisting on it for months, she has finally made a YouTube channel! The quality of her first few videos is not the best, but there will certainly be more to come so I wanted to share them with all of you, anyways. Joanne has such a gentle, kind, and nurturing spirit and you can literally feel it just by hearing her speak. So, subscribe and enjoy as she walks you through all different types of meditation!

Who else practices meditation? What are some of your meditation tips? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah