apersonalguidetowellness-blog

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Is there such thing as too much self-care?

I wanted to address this question because it is something I have come across in my journey to being the best me possible. I think this is a question that depends on the individual, but in my opinion, the answer is yes. 

The journey to self-love and self-care is an amazing thing. To care for your health, mentally and physically, is one of the most important things in this world. By optimizing your own health, it puts you on a new path in life. A path of productivity, of feeling strong and healthy, of love, of taking action, and of finding your best self. But when does it become too much? 

It becomes too much when it is no longer about self-care. This is when you have negative self talk, punishing you from straying from your goals. “Ugh I shouldn’t have had that slice of cake, no more sugar for a month” or “I didn’t make it to the gym today, I have to go twice tomorrow” or “I didn’t feel as happy as usual today, nothing I do is ever right”. This is not healthy, but rather is obsessive behavior, that does much more harm than good. 

The key to self-care and self-love is forgiveness. You have to be able to forgive yourself for straying from your diet or skipping skincare one night or not meditating every single day. Nobody is perfect, and no matter how hard you try, you will experience hic-ups and set backs. You have to love yourself enough to forgive yourself. “You know what, I didn’t do everything I wanted to do today, but tomorrow is a new day and we will try again”. You have to reprogram your thoughts. Instead of punishing yourself with negative self talk, speak kindly to yourself, and see how much things start to change for you. We are human! Don’t be so hard on yourself.  

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3 Simple Meditations

I wrote about meditation in a previous blog, but I wanted to write about a few different forms. When people think of meditation, often the typical cross-legged, eyes closed, and chanting “ommm” image comes to mind. This turns a lot of people away because it can be hard to sit still and concentrate for extended periods of time. However, this is not the only form of meditation. Meditation is about finding balance and relaxing the mind. It comes in many forms, you just have to find what works for you personally. Here are a few different forms you can try. 

1. Breathing Meditation

This is a simple exercise that can help you clear your mind and unwind. All you do is find a comfortable position and breathe. You don’t have to try to control your breathing, but rather observe it. Observe the sensation of the air entering your nostrils, filling your chest, and the empty feeling on the exhale. If your mind wanders, gently try to bring your focus back to the breath. Do this for even just 10 minutes a day and it will help to calm your body and bring refreshing clarity to your mind. 

2. Walking Meditation

A common problem in meditation is that many people find it hard to sit still. I am one of those people, and walking meditation has worked great for me. Find a place you like, whether it has beautiful scenery or is a place that makes you feel safe. Walk at a steady pace and focus your mind on the sensations you feel as you are walking. The wind on your face, your breath, the temperature of the air, the sounds around you. Again, it is okay if your mind strays, as this meditation focuses on the mindful practice of observing your body, the environment surrounding you, and your thoughts. 

3. Counting Meditation

This meditation is great for those who find it hard to keep their thoughts from wandering or regulate their breathing. Find a comfortable position, whether you are sitting or standing. Inhale, and then exhale all of that breath out, and count “1″. Repeat until you have reached 10 breaths. You can do this cycle once, or repeat as many times as you want. This will give your mind something to focus on instead of trying to completely clear it from distracting thoughts. 

These are a few techniques that have helped me as a beginner. You can do this for as much or as little time as you wish, but it is recommended to try for at least 10 minutes a day. Only 10 minutes! I usually do it in the morning to wake up my brain and body before I start my day. Happy meditating! 

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Easy Snack #2

1The last snack I wrote about was nice and lightweight, great for on the go when you are on a time crunch. This one is similar, but it takes a bit more preparation time. We will be making...Drumroll please... Protein Balls! 

I love protein balls because they are a very nutritious and filling snack, great for providing you with energy. They are great because there is a variety of flavors you can use to customize them for yourself. I typically eat these when I am craving something sweet but don’t want to eat anything too sugary or processed. This is a no-bake recipe, so its pretty easy. Shoutout to my cousin Lea for showing me how to make these. Lets get into it!

Ingredients: 

- 1 cup of rolled oats

- 1/2 cup of shredded coconut

- 1/2 cup of crunchy peanut butter (you can use creamy, I just like the extra crunch)

- 1/4 cup of ground flaxseed

- 1 TBS of chia seeds

- 1/2 cup of mini semi-sweet chocolate

- 1 TSP of vanilla extract

- 1 TBSP of honey

The Recipe

1. Stir everything together. Yup, all of it, all at once

2. Cover with cling wrap and chill for 2-3 hours

3. Roll into balls. I like to make them about 1 inch wide, but its totally up to you.

4. Freeze & enjoy! 

Yes, its that easy. Each ingredient has its own benefits, from the healthy fat and protein in peanut butter, to the rich omega-3 from the flaxseeds. These are power balls! And they are delicious! I hope you enjoy! 

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Easy Snack #1

Often times, I get so carried away with my daily activities and workload that I forget to eat, or just don’t have the energy to cook. I wanted to share a recipe for yogurt bark, which is a super easy snack that you can make, store in the fridge, and grab and go when you need to. 

Ingredients:

- Greek yogurt (whichever flavor you prefer, I use vanilla)

- Fruit (again, to your preference, I use strawberries and blueberries

- granola

- sweetener (use honey or agave to keep it healthy)

The Recipe: 

1. Get a large pan and line the bottom with parchment paper

2. Mix your yogurt with honey or agave to give it some extra flavor. You can even add a few drops of vanilla extract. 

3. Spread the yogurt evenly over the parchment paper

3. Cut up the fruit and spread it evenly over the layer of yogurt

4. Sprinkle on the granola! I also add hemp and chia seeds for extra nutrition. If you want to spice it up, you can add cinnamon or some nuts. 

5. Freeze and enjoy! 

See? Super easy, affordable, and great for on the go. Not to mention, its a super nutritious snack to provide your body with protein, carbs, and fats! Voila. Easy as pie. Hope you enjoy! 

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More Powerful Words

In my last post, I talked about a few short, positive affirmations you can use every day to be your best self. Building on that post, I wanted to share a few quotes and words of wisdom to bring you more positivity and uplifting thoughts. Words are an extremely powerful tool, and with the right ones, you may find the motivation or strength you didn’t know you needed to hear. 

1. “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” (Anthony J. D’Angelo)

Always remember, you are responsible for your own happiness! Always try to find the good in a situation. 

2. “Self-love is not selfish; you cannot truly love another until you know how to love yourself.”

At the end of the day, all you have is yourself. Always make sure you make yourself a priority. It’s not selfish, its essential for your health and happiness!!

3. “You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously”. 

Nobody is perfect, no matter what image they put out to the public. Everybody is a work in progress, so don’t ever feel like you're alone when you are working on yourself. Guess what: Nobody knows what they're doing! We are all figuring it out, one day at a time. 

4. “You are free, you are powerful, you are good, you are love, you have value, you have a purpose. All is well”. 

Sometimes, life gets overwhelming, so this one is great for just overall grounding yourself and realizing that you are important in this big world. 

5. “Eat like you love yourself. Move like you love yourself. Speak like you love yourself. Act like your love yourself. Love yourself.”

And I cannot stress this one enough! Taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do, not only for yourself, but for everyone around you. 

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Affirmations for You

Affirmations are positive and uplifting phrases that you can use in a lot of ways that can be beneficial to you. These can be phrases to bring you peace, powerful motivation, or even just uplifting positivity in times of need. 

There have been psychological studies, and there is even empirical evidence on studies based on the idea that we can strengthen our sense of self-integrity and self-efficacy by telling ourselves what we believe in positive ways.

I wanted to write out a few of these that can be tailored to fit your preferences or specific goals you may want to work on. I hope y'all enjoy these, and use them to uplift and reach your goals. 

1. I believe in myself, and I can achieve anything I put my mind to

2. I am smart, I am strong, and I am powerful

3. I am strong and I radiate confidence 

4. I am a successful person, full of motivation and great ideas

5, My mind is healthy, and I rise above negative thoughts

6. I accept and love myself completely

7. I am surrounded by loving, uplifting people, and we motivate each other to be the best we can be

8. I am energetic, and today will be a day full of productivity and getting things done

9. I am healthy and my mental and physical health is improving every say

10. I am exactly where I need to be and I trust myself to do what is best for me

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Secret to Smooth Skin

A beauty routine to me personally is another form of taking care of my mental health. When you look good, you feel good. I love to take my time with these routines, being present in the moment and letting go of everything else. I also love to use natural ingredients to insure I am nourishing my body with things that are genuinely good, no chemicals and extra ingredients. 

One of my favorite things to make at home is a home-made sugar scrub! It smells delicious and it does a great job of removing dead skin, revealing soft, glowing skin. To me, it feels like shedding off a layer of built up stress and anxiety from the week. If you are mindful with this, it can be a cleansing routine, not just for your skin, but for your mind. As you use this scrub, think about letting go of all the built up tension and emotions clouding your mind and body. As it washes away, let those negative emotions wash away with it. 

Anyways, enough of my rambling: 

1. Mix about 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of partially melted, organic coconut oil in a bowl

2. Add a few drops of vanilla, lavender, or rose oil for scent

And voila! It’s that easy. Enjoy your beautiful skin! 

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Rise and Shine

In my recent post, I wrote a bit about having a mindful morning. I want to elaborate on this topic because I think the morning is the most important part of the day. It sets the tone for how the rest of your day will go. I don't do this routine every morning due to a busy schedule, but even once or twice a week makes me feel fresh and ready to go! 

1. Wake up early

I usually try to wake up around 8:30 or 9 in the morning. That way, I have more time in my day and don’t have to feel rushed right when I wake up. 

2. Deep Breathing

Before I get out of bed, I like to take 10 minutes to stretch, wake up my body, and take some deep, cleansing breaths. This will get your blood flowing and wake up your brain as well. 

3. Hydrate

On an empty stomach, I heat up some water and squeeze half a lemon into it. This is a great source of Vitamin C, has antioxidants to aid in weight loss, tightens skin (prevents wrinkles), aids in digestion, and even freshens your breath! 

4. Apple Cider Vinegar Shot

Next, I mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water. I try to drink this quickly because it is very bitter. This helps kill bacteria, aids in weight loss, and is great for your skin. 

5. Clean up

I like to start my day by making my bed and putting things away. This makes me feel accomplished (although its a small task), which motivates me to continue being productive. I also get dressed, wash my face, do my skincare routine, and brush my teeth. These things may not seem important, but doing these things ensure that I don’t just crawl back into bed. 

6. Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it kick starts your body and metabolism. I try to have a healthy, nutrient packed breakfast, such as a green smoothie, oatmeal, or eggs and avocado toast.

7. Listen to a Podcast

Instead of scrolling through social media, I try to listen to a podcast a few times a week. It can be educational, spiritual, funny, or just something you personally are interested in. I find this to be stimulating for my brain, and it inspires me to be more productive with my day. 

8. Write out Goals

I like to write out my goals for the day. This ensures that I have a productive day, stay organized, and stay on track with all my assignments and tasks. 

9. Start your day! 

These tasks may be small, but they are a great way to ensure that those of us who find it hard to get our days started (aka me) actually get up and get moving. They are great steps for physical and mental health, which should always be a priority, no matter how busy you are. I hope you all find these tips helpful. Enjoy your mindful, productive morning! You got this! 

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Do Less for You!

In my last post, I talked about a few things I like to do throughout my day to feel more productive and just overall better. But, sometimes it’s important to step back, take a breath, and do nothing. That’s right, do nothing. Being mindful and present in your day and taking some moments to reflect on your thoughts is just as important as checking things off your to-do list. Sometimes it can be hard to find time for yourself, but just taking a few moments throughout your day can be super beneficial! Here are some of the things I like to do. 

1. A Mindful Morning

Each day when I wake up, I try to avoid scrolling through social media. Social media distracts you from yourself by constantly showing you images of what other people are doing. Instead, I have my breakfast in silence or listen to an interesting podcast or my favorite playlist, taking a minute to just breathe before starting my day. 

2. Journal

I keep a journal where I write my personal thoughts. Not my thoughts about what tasks I need to do or my grocery list, but thoughts about my life, my emotional state, and things I want to work on. It helps to write everything down to clear it out of your head. 

3. Meditate!

I feel like meditation and spirituality have become a part of “pop-culture”. It seems like everyone’s talking about it. But honestly, there's a reason behind it. Meditating for even just 10 minutes a day is very beneficial. It helps clear our your thoughts and energy, lower your heart rate and blood pressure, and helps you center yourself. 

4. Spruce up your space

This one is simply to make you more comfortable and relaxed in your space. I find that when I have incense burning, low-lighting, and some nice music playing in the background, I feel more inclined to relax into my space and forget about the stress from daily life. 

These are just a few ways I like to unwind while also connecting to my emotions and thoughts. I personally thing it helps you form a stronger relationship with yourself when it comes to figuring out who you are, and just spending time treating yourself. I hope you find some enjoyment and peace from these activities! 

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Do more for you!

The past few weeks, I’m sure I am not the only one who has had a lot of pent up stress. The transition to college online has been quite the adjustment. Sure, we get to attend class from bed, choose our hours, and spend more time at home. But, there is a downside to it. Sometimes I feel like I’m going just a little bit crazy, not leaving my house all day and staring at my computer screen until I can’t anymore. I feel like even though I am a full time student, I am not accomplishing anything during my day. The combination of juggling all my classes and not being able to really leave my house has made me feel like my days are just blurring together. It genuinely feels like there's not much excitement left in my life as a college student! 

However, I am grateful for this time to work on myself. I have compiled a short list of things I have been trying to incorporate into my day. These are things that make me feel as if I am actually accomplishing something, and they are things that generally just make me feel better. 

1. Wake up early! 

With the lack of a structured schedule, I have found myself staying up later, and in turn sleeping in until 11 or 12 each day. I have realized that this could be part of the reason why I feel as though my days are blurring together. You wake up at 12, do one thing and suddenly its dinner time! Where does the time go? 

So, I spent a week waking up early, either to workout, get outside, or get some work done. It’s amazing what you can do with all that time that you would have usually spent sleeping. I even play a game, in which I challenge myself to see how many things I can cross off my to-do list before 12, my usually waking hours. I feel like it took a lot of pressure off my back to do more with my days. 

2. Move that body! 

Just because you aren’t supposed to leave your house, doesn't mean you should give up on those fitness goals! I personally love to head over to the park and go on a run (usually a walk). If not, I like to do home workouts, such as yoga or HIIT workouts. Just 45 minutes a day, three days a week can make a huge difference in your physical and mental health. Find what works for you! 

3. Eat! 

Another way I have been de-stressing (while also feeling like I accomplished something) is eating! I have been taking this time to learn how to properly feed my body with all the nutrients needed to have a healthy, balanced diet! This will do wonders for your mental and physical health, your skin, and your energy levels. Oh to feel young again! I have also been attempting to learn one new recipe a week! It is fun, gets those creative juices flowing, and promotes healthy eating. 

4. Create! 

My roommate and I have been getting busy with DIY projects, and it has been so much fun! From finger-knitting blankets, to building shelves, to making paintings, we have pretty much bought out Hobby Lobby with our new projects. 

In today’s world, we get so caught up in working and getting our education. We need to create more! It's inspiring, it’s anti-stress, and it’s fun. 

In conclusion, this is a list of small things I try to add to my everyday routine to increase my productivity, health and well-being, and just overall feel better. 

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Roses are Red

The final spray I have to share is my personal favorite. This was the first spray that set me on my path to explore the world of natural beauty. This one definitely packs a punch, with a combination of herbs and oils to perfect your skin. 

First, I fill my spray bottle a little over halfway with organic rose water. You can either make this yourself, or buy it online or at a farmers market. I typically buy mine online, always checking to make sure there's no extra chemicals that can be harmful to your skin. My favorite brand at the moment is the Heritage Store. Then, I take a basil leaf from one of my plants and break it up into pieces and drop those in along with 3-5 drops of pure basil oil, depending on how strong you want the mixture. Next, I add in 3-5 drops each of jojoba oil, ylang ylang oil, lavender oil, and tea tree oil. Shake it up and you are good to glow! 

Each ingredient of this serum has a unique function. I will describe each one below so you can adjust the recipe to your own skin!

The Rose water is the main ingredient in this serum for many reasons. It’s like miracle water for your skin! It maintains pH balance and helps regulate sebum (oil) in your skin to give you a beautiful glow without making you look oily. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce and treat a variety of skin issues, such as acne and eczema. It is also antibacterial and antioxidant, a great way to triple-check that all that dirt and grime built up from the day is removed from the skin. These properties also enable the rosewater to strengthen skin cells, tone, and moisturize the skin. And if that didn't convince you to load up your Amazon cart, it also has aromatherapy benefits of making you feel relaxed, while also enhancing your mood. That way you can look and feel beautiful! 

The oils in this serum each have many benefits. I will briefly name a few for each, but the best way to find what oils work for you are to test them on your own skin. Everybody’s skin is unique and reacts better to certain oils. 

Basil oil is anti-inflammatory, and is one of the best treatments to fight acne. 

Jojoba Oil is an amazing moisturizer to ensure your pores don’t get clogged and regulate sebum in your skin. 

Ylang Ylang oil strengthens skin & tightens pores, while also having great anti-aging benefits

Lavender oil promotes healing, which is important with open sores from pimples. The aroma also helps regulate stress levels, which is a large cause of acne. 

Tea tree oil is antibacterial, making it excellent in fighting acne. You can even use pure tea tree oil for spot treatment! 

This is my favorite mixture to create glowing, even, clear, and smooth skin. It also smells great! If you do try this mixture, I recommend doing a patch test on a small area of skin. A lot of these oils are strong, and they may irritate certain skin types. However, since they are all natural and free of harmful chemicals, you should be fine! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! 

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An Apple a Day...

The second spray I created was meant to tone the skin, as well as treat acne. This will also help to regulate the sebum (oil levels) in your skin to reduce that oily, shiny look. This spray consists of just two simple ingredients: Apple cider vinegar and good old H20. The ingredients are super affordable, and you can find them at any grocery store. 

The Apple cider vinegar I recommend using is the Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, with “the mother”. The high acidity level, paired with organic ingredients helps to even out your natural skin tone and bring your pH levels back to normal. 

I usually do a half water, half ACV mixture for my skin. The vinegar is very strong, so I recommend watering it down more if this is your first time using it directly on the skin. I prefer to spray it directly on my skin to cut down on my usage of cotton or paper products (save the planet!) and minimize the amount of things touching my face. For more problematic skin, you can pour some of the mixture onto a cotton round and wipe down your skin. 

I recommend that you wash your face with whatever cleanser (I use African Black Soap), follow that with spray #1, and then apply this spray. There is one more spray in this mini-series, and then I will be posting about good options to moisturize your skin with. 

If you really want to ramp up your self-care, you can take a shot of apple cider vinegar in the mornings. It may not taste good, but it is loaded with benefits, not only for your skin but for your body too!  

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A Witch’s Potion

The first spray I created was meant to further cleanse the skin. Usually, makeup wipes don't do the job. Washing your face doesn’t even get all of the built up grime from the day before, believe it or not. WIth this spray, I feel like my skin is squeaky clean. 

The potion consists of witch hazel and a few essential oils. Witch Hazel is an astringent with antiviral, antioxidant, and antiinflamitory properties. Since it is an astringent, it shrinks pores, preventing acne causing bacteria from entering the skin. And get this, “ a test-tube study showed that witch hazel helped neutralize harmful free radicals and prevented the spread of skin cancer cells” (Healthline.com). All in all, this stuff is legit. 

I also mix in a couple drops of frankincense essential oil, because it is another natural astringent to regulate oil, shrink pores, and kill bacteria to prevent acne. It forms a protective barrier on the skin and even stimulates cell regeneration! 

I reccomend using a glass bottle because it is reusable without the harmful chemicals in plastic. Now here's the key: Be mindful, and set an intention for the potion to cleanse and protect the skin. You know, cook with love. I fill up the bottle with witch hazel, and then add about 5 or 6 drops of pure frankincense oil. Shake it up and enjoy your beautiful skin! Use complimentary with my other sprays for the best results! 

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My Homemade Skincare Sprays

I struggled with acne a lot as a teenager. Even now, as a college student under a lot of stress, I need to keep a strict regime. I tried everything, from birth control to dermatologist prescribed creams and medications. Nothing seemed to be working, so I decided to look into the natural route. I did the research so you don’t have to! Each spray has unique, natural ingredients that target a specific problem with your skin. Feel free to add your own twist to each one. Remember, everyones skin is different, these are simply the recipes that worked for me. There’s no harm in trying, though! I hope you love them as much as I do. 

Spray 1: https://apersonalguidetowellness.tumblr.com/post/627565447540359168/a-witchs-potion 

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Welcome!

As a sophomore in college, I have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to managing stress, self-care, and just all around feeling better. I wanted to create this blog to share what I have learned with you. I have realized that when you look and feel your best, it helps improve other areas of your life, giving you the motivation to perform and achieve at the best levels that you can. I hope you find this blog a great source of information to help you on your journey to success and wellness.