Self-Care Q&A Response #14 ft Lola

Self-Care Q&A Response #14

The final contributor for this this round of responses is Lola of Don’t Dream Do (formally Jittery Jetsetter). You can find her on Twitter here if you want to check her out or give her a follow.

1. How do you know when you are in need of some self-care?

It’s a feeling that I get in my chest, almost like very mild anxiety. It can either just come over me randomly or I can wake up with it and i feel down or sad.

2. Once you are aware that you need to take care of yourself, do you usually do so alone or do you have someone you can go to when you need some TLC?

It depends on the severity of it, if I’m feeling really down I need to be alone but if its not as bad I would definitely seek out my partner, one of my friends, my sister or my niece.


3. Do you find it hard to make time for yourself?

Yes for sure! Life is so hectic, I work full time, visit my Dad who’s in a care home with dementia 2 hours every day, walk the dog twice a day so there’s barely time cook meals never mind time to relax.


4. Is there anything that gets in the way of your “me” time/disrupts it (for me: noises outside can put me on edge or if other people are home I need to be mindful of how long I take, say, in the shower)?

Yep just everyday life lol, I feel like I shouldn’t be chilling out or something fun when there are things that need doing like housework or errands.


5. Do you ever feel guilty for having “me” time?

As I rarely have ‘me’ time not really no.


6. Do you schedule in “me” time or do you “go with the flow”/only take “me” time when you feel you need it?

I would say I only have ‘me’ time when I’m feeling really low. I should try to ‘treat’ myself when I’m feeling good too and hoping to try yoga and meditation if I ever get the time:)

7. Is there a self-care routine that you try to follow?

Once I’ve woken up in the morning i need to lie for 5 minutes just to take in the day, during which I’m usually complaining in my head about having to get up and walk the dog, however having to go out in the fresh air really clears my head and then I enjoy a nice hot bath before starting work.


8. When you feel down/not like your usual self; what do you do to cheer yourself up (hobbies, being with loved ones etc)?

A bath always helps, a face mask and I always feel better after washing my hair. If I’m feeling down I usually have to get out the house and into a different space. I love swimming and used to go every day but I don’t have a car anymore so can’t fit it it.

9. Do you have any mantras that you say to yourself as a pick me up or on a daily basis?

I don’t really, but if I’m feeling down I always try to remind myself of times when life has been worse, like when I had to go to a job I hated or didn’t live in the nicest of houses to make myself see how much better things are now.

10. Finally; do you have any self-care tips for anyone who might be reading this?

Do what you love! Theres no set rules as everyone enjoys different things so whatever makes you feel good - do it!!

~ That is it for this round of responses. I know that whenever I do a poll with this as an option no one ever picks it but numbers don’t lie and people do actually read them so I’m going to be keeping it open for this section to make a comeback at some point. Plus, I’m actually really proud of the Q&A. It was my first attempt at something of its sort and I feel like it did really well.

See you tomorrow for the instalment of favourites!

Anxiously,
Me

If you decide to use this, please let me know first and give credit. There’s nothing worse than finding out something that you worked really hard on has been taken and uncredited, sometimes even plagiarised.

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Self-Care Response #13 ft Kerry

Self-Care Q&A

This week it’s the wonderful Kerry at Don’t Drop the Baby’s turn to write a response! Find out what she had to say below. You can find her on Twitter as well!

1. How do you know when you are in need of some self-care?

When I start to get snappy with my family, my chest starts to get tight, and intrusive thoughts start to appear again. This also happens when I'm extremely tired or have PMT!

2. Once you are aware that you need to take care of yourself, do you usually do so alone or do you have someone you can go to when you need some TLC?

I am very much a loner, especially when I am feeling anxious or overwhelmed. I need to spend time by myself either listening to music or being mindful.

3. Do you find it hard to make time for yourself?

Yes definitely. I have a 3 year old daughter, my partner works shifts, and neither of us have any family nearby. My 'me time' is squeezed into a couple of hours every evening! Although my daughter has started nursery now so things will get easier.

4. Is there anything that gets in the way of your “me” time/disrupts it (for me: noises outside can put me on edge or if other people are home I need to be mindful of how long I take, say, in the shower)?

I'm the same with noises outside! Sometimes if I'm extremely anxious and my partner is working nights, I get very jumpy at every little noise. I suppose social media can also affect my 'me time', as sometimes it can wind me up or make me even more anxious!

5. Do you ever feel guilty for having “me” time?

I used to when my daughter was younger, but not so much anymore as I hardly ever get it!

6. Do you schedule in “me” time or do you “go with the flow”/only take “me” time when you feel you need it?

I do try to schedule in nights out with my friends as it gives me something to look forward to. Other than that I very much just go with the flow. I will always tell my partner if I need a break though and he will take my daughter out for a bit on the weekends.

7. Is there a self-care routine that you try to follow?

Yes, I do high intensity cardio workouts every other morning (at home), yoga, follow a healthy diet and use my Headspace app to practice mindfulness.

8. When you feel down/not like your usual self; what do you do to cheer yourself up (hobbies, being with loved ones etc)?

I listen to my favourite music, write my blog and have a couple of glasses of wine. This usually leads to a really good cry and I always feel better the day after.

9. Do you have any mantras that you say to yourself as a pick me up or on a daily basis?

Not on a daily basis, but I usually just say "what will be will be"

                                                                                                                                                                              

10. Finally; do you have any self-care tips for anyone who might be reading this?

I cannot recommend a regular exercise routine strongly enough, it has completely changed my life. I haven't used medication to control my anxiety for years, I do it all through exercise, diet and mindfulness.

~ Thanks again to Kerry for answering the questions! Again, you can find her at https://dontdropthebaby.co.uk/ and https://twitter.com/KerryMeeGee.

Anxiously,

Me

If you decide to use this, please let me know first and give credit. There’s nothing worse than finding out something that you worked really hard on has been taken and uncredited, sometimes even plagiarised.

You can find Anxiously, Me on:

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Self-Care Q&A Response #12 ft. Bunnie

Self-Care Q&A

My new friend, Bunnie, is the 3^rd contributor in this round! You can find her on Twitter and her blog. Discover what she had to say about self-care here:

1. How do you know when you are in need of some self-care?

I feel tired and run down. I can feel myself slipping/getting lower in mood. I don’t want to go out.

2. Once you are aware that you need to take care of yourself, do you usually do so alone or do you have someone you can go to when you need some TLC?

I like to do it alone.

3. Do you find it hard to make time for yourself?

Sometimes. Yes, most of the time. I feel like I’m needed and if I go to take a day to myself to sleep and wind down the whole word goes into chaos. (My world and home life at least)

4. Is there anything that gets in the way of your “me” time/disrupts it (for me: noises outside can put me on edge or if other people are home I need to be mindful of how long I take, say, in the shower)?

I have two animals, a cat and a hedgehog. As cats generally are, my boy is laid back and very easy to look after. However, my hedgehog is hard work. I adore her. I wouldn’t change her for the world, I never regret getting her but she is a lot of work. I also have a partner whom I live with. I am besotted but he relies on me quite heavily. We both struggle with mental health issues and I feel like I have to be around and stable/okay to make sure I can support him. He would probably hate to hear me say this. He doesn’t do anything to make me feel that way – it’s just how I feel even if it’s not true.

5. Do you ever feel guilty for having “me” time?

Not guilty as such. I don’t think that would be the right word. I know that the people around me know of my struggles and that it’s something I need to do (heck, everyone should do) but like you said before – I do feel that I need to rush.

6. Do you schedule in “me” time or do you “go with the flow”/only take “me” time when you feel you need it?

I have a whole routine I have written up which one day I would love to follow. It includes proper bed and meal times and a “Mental Health Day” where my phone is off and everything but self-care is cancelled – I am unavailable to any-one else. Yet, at the minute it’s just me grabbing a bath in the evenings I can, to unwind.

7. Is there a self-care routine that you try to follow?

 Not really in a set order but there are certain things I like to do on MH days

·         Eat healthier and three full meals

·         Plenty of water

·         Bath with candles and relaxing music

·         Yoga

·         Meditate

·         Brain training apps

·         Read

·         Drink camomile tea

·         Have a chat with someone on 7 Cups (kind of like counselling)

8. When you feel down/not like your usual self; what do you do to cheer yourself up (hobbies, being with loved ones etc)?

Carry out my MH day, sometimes I’ll bake, read, watch a film (especially “Inside Out” which reminds me it’s okay to feel the things I feel) but my favourite thing is, if I’m feeling up to it (and can get a lift). I visit my best friend. She has an 11 month old and they never fail to cheer me up. I know I can just be myself and sit and feel sorry for myself, have a nap or watch crap on YouTube. She’ll normally drag me out to the shops which is good because I get some sunlight and a little walk. If the weather’s nice we’ll have lunch outside too which is lovely. Plus her little one gives the BEST cuddles.

9. Do you have any mantras that you say to yourself as a pick me up or on a daily basis?

No, I really should have some affirmations. I suppose I try to remind myself that it’s okay to feel the things I’m feeling, that I’m human, I’m not alone and it’s not going to last forever. After writing this out I think I’m going to add that perhaps I’m feeling low as a reminder to take some time to myself.

10. Finally; do you have any self-care tips for anyone who might be reading this? 

YOU ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE TIME TO YOURSELF. It’s necessary actually. It’s an order okay? DO IT. Take one day a week. Do something YOU love. Turn off your phone. Shut everything else out – this is time for you. Nothing else matters today.

~ Thanks again to Bunnie for answering the questions! Remember that you can find her at happybunnieblog.wixsite.com/happybunnie and https://twitter.com/happybunnieblog.

Anxiously,

Me

If you decide to use this, please let me know first and give credit. There’s nothing worse than finding out something that you worked really hard on has been taken and uncredited, sometimes even plagiarised.

You can find Anxiously, Me on:

This mental health and lifestyle blog,
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Blogtober Week 1 Recap

Weekly Recap : 1^st – 7^th October 2017

Instead of throwing another new post your way, I thought that on Sundays I would do a recap of everything that has been posted over the past week.

This week on “Anxiously, Me” saw the start of Blogtober – a month-long blogging event where you post every day. You can read more about that here. As the month of October began on a Sunday, I’m now dedicating that day to doing recaps, as I mentioned above.

On Monday I did a personal post about school and the bullying that I endured during my time there. It was so traumatic that it still stays with me to this day and effects everything I do – or don’t, in the case of my anxiety.

Tuesdays are now filled with my thoughts on things like social media cleanses and some fun things that I like to do in my spare time.

Sometimes I have “bonus blog” days where I post some information regarding mental health matters so for the next few weeks I’ll be posting the same kind of posts on Wednesdays. This week I talked about the “Circle of Avoidance”.

As you may have already seen on my blog and as the title of one of the tabs above, I have a “Self-Care Q&A” that I like to send out to my friends/readers. For the past couple of months these were scheduled on Fridays and, whilst the first run of them recently finished, I decided that I would bring them back for the Thursday slots during Blogtober. This last Thursday saw the return of the segment, this time with answers from one of my new blogger friends, Jen.

On Friday I posted my first ever “Favourites” videos with a list of my favourite songs from over the years. You can have a nose through that here.

Finally, Saturdays are now dedicated to some of the bloggers that I really admire. Yesterday I talked about the first blogger friend I made; Courtney (Unfiltered Mama) and how her friendship has impacted what I blog about. You can read about her here.

I hope you’ll stick with me on this blogging journey – there are still loads more posts to be published!

Anxiously,
Me

You Can Find Anxiously, Me on:
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Friday Favourites: Songs

Friday Favourites - Songs

Hi everyone!

For this post I thought I’d give an insight into the things I like, so every Friday in October I will be posting all about some of my favourite things from songs & artists to products.
This week is all about my favourite songs old & new:

“Look What You Made Me Do” – Taylor Swift.  As much as I love Taylor’s music, I wasn’t sure at first about this song being the lead single from her new album. However, I was very much sold on a) how catchy it is (a classic Taylor trait) and b) how the music video actually made me want to prepare for world domination. She’s also one of those artists that I can sit through an entire album of without skipping songs and that’s rare.

“SorryNotSorry” – Demi Lovato. I’m very much a fan of songs with expletives in them and this really does it for me. I’ve loved seeing Demi grow as an artist even if I’ve not always been a fan of her “dancier” tracks (I prefer a rockier vibe). I love the “I don’t give a f***” attitude of this track as it makes me want to care less about what others think of me.

“Back To You” – Louis Tomlinson ft Bebe Rexa. I’ve been a fan of Louis’ for years now. I definitely think that now is his time to shine (even though, yes, I would love for 1D to get back together). He definitely deserves to have that solo spotlight shining on him. I, personally, think he’s come so far with his vocals and believe that he should’ve been given more lines in songs at the start of his boyband career.

“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” – Whitney Houston. This is my go-to “get-up-and-dance” song. In the rare instance that I am getting ready to go to a party or event then I will put on this song to get myself into the frame of mind of “I want to go out and I want to enjoy myself”. It’s also a go-to karaoke favourite of mine.

“The End” – Little Mix. If you haven’t heard this song then you need to stop what you’re doing right now and go listen to it. The vocals are on point and they give me goosebumps every time. I’ve seen Little Mix perform this live and the entire audience fell silent; their vocals are that powerful and stunning. I nearly cried and I wanted to fall to my knees because it was so overwhelmingly intense (in a good way).

“The Good in Goodbye” – Carrie Underwood. This song is so mellow and isn’t your typical break-up song. It’s all about discovering that whilst you may be heartbroken over a relationship ending, there is always some good that comes from it. Carrie is one of my favourite vocalists and this is one of the tracks that really showcases how talented she is.

“The Irony of Choking on a Life Saver” – All Time Low. Whilst this song has been out for a while now, it is a relatively new favourite of mine. The line “you’re the snake hidden in my daffodils when I’m picking flowers” is a little reminder that there is always going to be someone who will try to ruin things for you but songs like this really get you in the mood to rise above them and say “fuck you; I’m doing it anyway”.

“Jet Black Heart” – 5SOS. As someone who suffers from depression and the severity of a lot of symptoms of anxiety, this song means a lot to me. I like to listen to it when I’m feeling down as it encapsulates exactly what I battle through on a daily basis. I also love that this was written by 2 members of 5SOS (and 2 other co-writers) as it provides an insight into how they were feeling when they wrote it. It just makes the group even more relatable and human.

“Reggaeton Lenton (Remix) - CNCO ft Little Mix.  I love this particular version of this song. It’s not a traditional remix and that is partly what sold me on the track (other than it featuring Little Mix and Spanish guitars). I’m not a fan of remixes – they’re designed for dance clubs and, to be honest, you can’t even dance to them – and I really like that this is more of mainstream pop version. I love the mix of English and Spanish vocals and it really gets me in the mood to visit Spain again.

Congratulations if you’ve made it this far! I know a lot of people don’t care for knowing things like this but you’re here so you must. It means a lot to know that people want to know the person behind the blog. If you want to learn more about me and what I like, keep your eyes peeled every Friday!

Now; what I want to know is: what is your go-to “get-up-and-dance” song? You can let me know down in the comments or via Twitter!

Anxiously,
Me

You can find Anxiously, Me on:
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Self-Care Q&A Response #11 ft Jen

Self –Care Q &A/Tag

Hi there!

I decided to bring back the Self-Care Q&A for Blogtober! To kick-start this short round of responses, I asked the lovely Jen (http://www.beautylifemom.com & https://twitter.com/beautlifemom) if she would like to take part and she said “yes”! If you want to know more about her, you can find her on Twitter and over on her Blog.

1. How do you know when you are in need of some self-care?

I know I need self-care when I start feeling a certain way- overworked, tired, stressed, or just haven't gotten around to my typical routines in a while. 

2. Once you are aware that you need to take care of yourself, do you usually do so alone or do you have someone you can go to when you need some TLC?

I usually like to do self-care alone, quiet time is so important to me.  

3. Do you find it hard to make time for yourself?

I make it a priority when I can, so not typically. But of course there are crazy weeks when you can't get to it when you want. 

4. Is there anything that gets in the way of your “me” time/disrupts it (for me: noises outside can put me on edge or if other people are home I need to be mindful of how long I take, say, in the shower)?

I am a mom so naturally he occupies my time and mind, or work/life responsibilities. Also if there's something bothering me I can tend to focus on that and self-care can take a back seat. 

5. Do you ever feel guilty for having “me” time?

I used to since I feel like I need so much of it! But not really anymore-it keeps me sane. I try to balance it out by making sure I do what I need to do responsibility, making sure I do my part. But it's crucial for my mental health to be able to relax. Being overly stressed and neglecting myself is something I like to avoid when possible.

6. Do you schedule in “me” time or do you “go with the flow”/only take “me” time when you feel you need it?

There seems to be a routine- like after my son goes to bed. I snatch it when I can get it though, and it's usually around my son's schedule! Weekends as well, but weekends can be busy depending. So kind of a mix! 

7. Is there a self-care routine that you try to follow?

I keep a bullet journal that has a tracker so I know what I have or haven't been doing. Some are cosmetic- having my nails done around once a week, doing a face mask, etc. But I also make sure I take my vitamins regularly, write in a journal, eat relatively OK, blog etc. I don't know if anyone else is like this but budgeting and paying bills/saving calms me as well. 

8. When you feel down/not like your usual self; what do you do to cheer yourself up (hobbies, being with loved ones etc)?

A lot of times taking a nap or laying down makes a world of difference. Energy always makes me feel better. I vent by talking it out (even if to myself) or just let myself feel my feelings. I also try to be proactive by asking myself what I can do to change the root issue. Taking showers help too.  

9. Do you have any mantras that you say to yourself as a pick me up or on a daily basis?

I always tell myself that no matter what happens, life moves on and everything will be dealt with even if something can be annoying or taxing at the time. I remind myself that it's ok if I feel down, just don't stay there if I can help it. I also created a mantra this past summer, "move with yourself"- to allow for the changes I experience within myself and the world around me. Because turns out I evolve more than I realize, as does the world. No reason to fight it.               

                                                  

10. Finally; do you have any self-care tips for anyone who might be reading this?

Invest in your hobbies and passions, no matter what they are. That could mean spending on it (not going broke of course) but also it means setting time aside for it. It will make you happier and people are happier when you are! Also, learn to say no to things if it's not necessary (which you have to decide if it is or not). Make happiness a priority when you can! 

~ Over this next month I’ll be bringing you 3 more posts packed with answers so stay tuned!

Again, you can find Jen at http://www.beautylifemom.com/ and www.twitter.com/beautlifemmom.

Anxiously,

Me

If you decide to use this, please let me know first and give credit. There’s nothing worse than finding out something that you worked really hard on has been taken and uncredited, sometimes even plagiarised.

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