Social Media Cleanses

Social Media Cleanses

Periodically I like to do social media cleanses. I find them to be a quick, easy mental reset when I’m getting weighed down by what I see on social media. With my illnesses and who I am; it’s so easy for me to “catch” how other people are feeling – mostly when they are feeling low – and it brings me down even more so here are some of my tips for doing a social media cleanse.

1. Unfollow/unfriend. If there are people on your social media platforms that you have no connection with now or who are just toxic; unfriend/unfollow them. You won’t miss them because you haven’t spoken in so long and, to be honest, they won’t even notice.

2. Mute/unfollow (Facebook) them. If you have people that you just can’t unfriend/unfollow because they’re family, friends or the type who will make you feel bad for unfollowing them (Twitter)/unfriending them then simply put their account on mute or use the unfollow feature on Facebook. You won’t see their posts and they won’t be any the wiser.

3. Go offline for a while. I usually go offline for a day to test the waters (and by that I mean; see how I feel). If what I see annoys me/makes me want to fire back a response then I stay offline. Nothing good ever comes from responding to anything when you’re wound up. Avoid using your phone/laptop at all – if you can – to remove all temptation of looking at the likes of Facebook, Twitter etc.

That’s it, really. I go through those 3 stages whenever everything online gets to be too much for me. I avoid all social media sites, I don’t Tweet anything bar my usual promotional Tweets and ways of contacting me in an emergency or if it’s urgent.

Apologies for such a short post today. Aside from that really being all there is to doing a social media cleanse I just figured that, what with there being so many posts to look forward to, I didn’t want to bore you all with having loads of lengthy ones.

Is there anything you think I’ve missed out? Feel free to let me know in the comments below!

Anxiously,
Me

You can find Anxiously, Me on:
This blog
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Self-Care Q&A Response #7 - Katie

Self –Care Q &A/Tag

This week’s response comes from the glorious Katie! Read below to find out how she takes care of herself when she’s feeling down and how she knows when she needs some self-care. You can find her blog here and on Twitter.

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

I know I'm in need of self-care when I start to feel run down or drained - sometimes it can even be that I notice I've let my nails chip or not washed my hair in days, then I'm like... ok, pull your finger out Katie.

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 really value alone time - I used to hate my own company, but now I'm like gimme more! I find peace in being quiet and being able to please myself.. that said my boyfriend makes me feel loved/safe/secure, so I value him a lot too.

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

Sometimes, yes. I get it in my head that I'm being selfish or that there's a billion and one other things to be getting on with, like laundry or cleaning; but if I don't take care of me every now and again, I'm never gonna be able to tackle those billion and one other things! It's all about finding a balance.

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 live with a fair few people in the house and I don't always feel able to relax, I'm just on edge - but when I'm in my room I feel a lot better. Mostly I'm best when nobody else is home!

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

100%! Like I said, I'll justify it that there's loads of other things to do, people will think I'm being selfish etc.

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 generally go with the flow, but if I feel like I'm reaching that point where I've pushed myself too hard or I'm drained, I'll make a point of going 'ok, so tonight I'm going to do this, this & that, just for me!'

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

Not particularly, I guess I like to do my nails, skincare, eyebrows etc and feel like I've really taken the time to physically look after myself. I try to eat when I'm hungry, sleep when I'm tired, exercise a little - I think I just try to listen to my body and mind as much as poss!

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 like to have a hot bath (preferably with a Lush bubble bar!), listen to music, watch Harry Potter or a Disney - my boyfriend is brilliant, and my Grandad can be so uplifting to be around. I find running to be really good for me, especially if I'm feeling tense, and I definitely find blogging therapeutic, especially since I talk about mental health a lot - it's a good outlet!

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

Funnily enough, it's only recently that I've started 'talking to myself' in an effort to pick myself up; whether it's just a "come on Katie, pick yourself up", or an "I WANT TO LIVE", in order to push myself to seize the day as much as I can, live in the moment a little. Sometimes it's just as simple as "You're ok". Surprisingly, it really can help.

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

Firstly I would say, you're not to feel guilty for making time for yourself - I know I'm one to preach! But it's crucial to take care of/& love yourself. It's like acceptance & it can make the world of difference. I've recently discovered the joys of my own company & not having to please other people all the time - which is a big deal for a self-confessed people-pleaser! My point is, if you want to do something, do it. Like to paint? Go paint. Like to swim? Go swim. Like to grow vegetables? Go grow! Doing things that make your soul happy makes pathways for more happiness.

~ Thanks again to Katie Rose for taking part! How do you  relax?

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 in these 4 places:

Here on this blog

Twitter: www.twitter.com/AnxiouslyMeBlog

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AnxiouslyMe

Instagram: www.instagram.com/AnxiouslyMeBlogger

The Liebster Award! *Edited* 3/8/17

*Just a little note to say that this post has been edited. I was made aware of additional (to my post, they've always been part of this year's original award) requirements that were not sent to me via my nomination so I've added them in. I will put in bold what I have added and leave an * where I've changed the wording.

The Liebster Award.

Hi everyone! I was tagged by the lovely Courtney (www.unfilteredmamasite.wordpress.com) to do this tag! This tag was created to help new bloggers get discovered and to help them connect with the rest of the blogging community. The rules are:

1. Recognise who tagged you and promote their blog on your blog.
2. Answer all questions asked of you.
3. Create 11 NEW questions.
4. *Nominate 5-11 bloggers with under 200 followers.
5. Inform them.
6. Display the award on your blog (put it in your post). You can find free images here.
7. Write a 150-300 word piece about your favourite blog (not your own). Explain why and leave links.
8. Optional: include 10 random facts about yourself.

The questions asked to me were:


1. What type of blogger are you? How did you get to where you are right now?

I am a mental health (both personal and informational) blogger whose posts also fit in with the “lifestyle” category. I only created this blog back in April (3 months ago) and would post occasionally but I decided to get into a routine and started blogging twice a week from the end of June/beginning of July. Since doing so and tweeting out links every day I now have over 3k views, an established minimum view count per day and have had days where I’ve had 5x the amount of views as the previous day.



2. When do you find the time to blog?

I can’t work due to my mental health so I write posts more or less every day. As I mentioned above, I only post twice a week so I’m constantly stocking up on posts.



3. Out of all your published posts, which one is your favorite? Why?

I think the “Self-Care Q&A” has to be my favourite. It was the first time I had created my own Q&A and got such an overwhelming response from people wanting to take part that I had to put a cap on the number of people I sent out the questions to. I post their responses to the questions every Friday now.



4. What do you enjoy doing in your free time, besides blogging?

I write a lot of fictional stories and host an interactive story site. I enjoy a good book – more so in physical form than via audiobook or Kindle. I also love to sing and when I was well I loved going to concerts and comedy gigs.



5. If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go?

I love Spain and Bulgaria and I would really love to go back. I also want to get well enough so that if I get any work opportunities through my blog I can travel to them.



6. Are you a book reader? What book would you recommend everyone to read?

I have been reading anything and everything I can get my hands on since I learned to read. For children and young teens I recommend any of Jacqueline Wilson’s books. My favourites as a child were “Lola Rose” and “The Dare Game” which is based on one of her most successful characters, Tracy Beaker. She also inspired me to write. For young adults I recommend Sara Shepard’s “Pretty Little Liars” series, “The Perfectionists”, “The Lying Game” and her new series “The Amateurs”.



7. Have you had any negative experiences with blogging? What did you do to overcome it?

The only negative thing I have witnessed whilst blogging wasn’t directed at me. It was basically “blogger drama” so I took on board the warnings that people where giving about working with specific bloggers who are known for scamming people and ignored all the rest. *I've also noticed that when talking about mental health some people try to make it a competition and try to invalidate how you're feeling if they don't deem it to be "as bad" as theirs.



8. Where are you from? Favorite place to go in your town?

I am from a city in Scotland called Stirling. My favourite place there is along the embankments of the river Forth. It’s so nice to sit there and watch the sun set. Admittedly, I haven’t been there in years.



9. What has surprised you the most about blogging and its large community?

I was surprised by how friendly most bloggers are. It’s so different to other communities that I have been a part of in the past. Mostly everyone is supportive and they will always help you out. Nothing is certain in the blogging world; it is what you make it. It's not a competition and you won't get very far thinking you are entitled to everything. I'm a big fan of the saying "what is for you will not go by you". If it's meant to be, it will be. Blog because you have a passion for it: not for freebies, money or even awards. At the end of the day people will remember you for how you were as person not how many awards you won or how many views you had.



10. What are your long-term goals for your blog?

My initial goal was to help just one person and that will always be my #1 goal. If I can help others not feel as alone as I did/do then it is a job well done (and a blog well blogged). It would be nice to make this my job and to be a freelance writer which has been one of my dreams for so long now. I feel like it’s something that I can definitely do and I don’t have to worry about being ill as I can take as much time out as needed without fear of getting fired.



11. Name something you can’t live without and explain why.

It’s going to sound really cheesy but I can’t live without my parents. They support me so much and if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t even attempt to go outside on my good days. I owe them a lot and if I can make a career out of blogging/freelancing then I can make a start on repaying them by contributing more to bills etc.



Here are 10 Random Facts About Me:

1. I used to perform in a children's circus every summer (as a child clown)
2. I still have the dollhouse that my grandad made me.
3. I'm terrified of needles.
4. Robots scare me too.
5. I've never seen "classic" movies such as "Dirty Dancing", the original "Ghostbusters" etc.
6. I've met various famous people (mostly Scottish) including Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid from Harry Potter).
7. I've been involved in several choirs including NYCoS.
8. I wanted to be an opera singer.
9. I own a website that most of you don't know about.
10. I really want to become a published author but lack the confidence to go after my dream.

For those that I tagged, here are your questions:

1. How did your blog come about/what or who inspired you to create one?

2. Who gives you the most #bloginspo (blog inspiration)?

3. Do you have a blogging schedule?

4. What do you think about automatic dms from bloggers you follow on Twitter?

5. Who was your first blogging friend?

6. If you could trade lives with another blogger, who would it be and why?

7. What does your preferred (physical) writing space look like? Is it at a table in café? Is it at a desk/table in your own home?

8. What fictional place would you like to travel to? Why?

9. If you could be a part of any TV show/Podcast/Movie cast which one would you chose and why?

10. Do you have a comfort item? For example a piece of clothing that makes you feel good, a treasured blanket from your past etc?

11. And last but not least: a silly question. If you were a colour; what colour would you be and what would you name yourself?



I nominate (11 + a cheeky extra as I lost track of how many):

1. Nikki @NerfMercy_ camerasandcanines.blogspot.com

2. Becca @mygirlsandmexo mygirlsandmesite.com

3. Nouf: @noufnotes noufnotes.wixsite.com/noufnotes

4. Phil: @themoneylessman moneylessman.co.uk

5. Tiffany: @sincerelytifff sincerelytiffany.com

6. Ana: @anaenglishblog thatenglishnerd.wordpress.com

7. Phannie @phanniebookworm phanniethegingerbookworm.wordpress.com

8. Saira: @acupofsai acupofsai.co.uk

9. Leila: @LeilaNeve leilaland.co.uk

10. Kloe: @Kloeslilcorner kloeslilcorner.weebly.com

11. Mariah: @VibesByMariah vibesbymariah.weebly.com

12. Faisal: @falidude allthingsrunningsite.wordpress.com

And my favourite blog (from my nominations) is...

How do I choose? I've talked to you all at some point for various lengths and all of our conversations are dear to me so it’s not been easy to pick.

I have chosen Becca’s (mygirlsandmesite) blog as we’ve conversed a lot and I always feel like I can have a good old moan with her without being judged. She is such a lovely person and that really shines through not only in her messages to me but across her blog and public social media posts.

She is a mummy and lifestyle blogger (and doing a cracking job at both!) who blogs simply because it’s fun and I really admire her for that. She’s down-to-earth and doesn’t let smashing new goals get to her head which is what I think is key when growing your blog/social media. Her posts are fun and engaging, and she’s not afraid to post cringe-y throwback photos (her words, not mine!). She’s also not afraid of posting pieces that are personal to her; her engagement story, what her children are getting up to etc and the fact that she has a crush on Leigh Francis (or Keith Lemon as you may know him) so, as you can tell, she’s very open and honest.

Becca is always friendly to everyone who leaves comments/sends her tweets and will let you rant to her if you’re having a bad time. She’s full of useful advice and whilst she is a small blogger herself, if she can help you out in any way then she will.
I could go on forever about just how amazing she is but my word count is nearly up. If my opinion of her doesn’t sway you to check her out then you should definitely check her out anyway and see for yourself. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook and on her blog. 


It stressed me out trying to find 11 people with less than 200 followers (I assumed it was on their blog and was not aware that 11 wasn't a set number until nearly a week after posting and nearly a month after receiving my nomination) so I literally messaged around to find out who hadn’t done this tag yet and ended up with these 12 nominations! If you're struggling to find bloggers with less than 200 followers then ask around and feel free to ask me to send out a message for you as the lovely Char (@forgedopulence) did for me.

#5 Self-Care Q&A - Ams' Response

Self-Care Q&A - Ams' Response

Ams is our contributor this week! Keep reading to find out what her views on self-care are. You can find her links at the bottom :)

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

A: When is long overdue both my mind and body tells me it's time. My mood swings are over the top, energy is gone and the weight in my mind and chest slowly drains me.

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?

Let me just say the alone time it's a must especially when it comes to taking care of yourself. I personally do both but I always start with some alone time, not only do I enjoy it but it's necessary for my own mental health. I need to heal myself first before I go to someone. Of course, I always run to my boyfriend when I need the extra love and care.

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

No, I honestly don't. Even when I'm super busy with balancing work and life I try to always do at least the smallest things for myself, even if that means spending an extra 20 minutes in the shower or taking a late night drive, or even laying in complete silence in bed I try to get it done.

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)?

It depends on the type of "me" time I'm doing. If I'm trying to relax at home and there's too much going on I get irritated really easy and I can't enjoy it, the vibe goes out the window. If I’m trying to get my thoughts out or working on ideas for the blog I need to be in complete silence or else everything is going downhill. But other than that I have learned to balance on having some me time and still be surrounded by people.

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

NOPE! And you shouldn't either. For your sanity this is necessary no matter how many plans you cancelled last minute (done that) or feelings you hurt (done that too), you need to put yourself first, because when both your mind and body are telling you to take care of yourself you better do it and not care whose feelings you’re hurting on the way. I don't feel guilty because I'm truly the only person that understands and deals with myself every day all day, I come first.

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

Both, like I mentioned before I always try to do at least the smallest thing for myself, a drive alone, go to the park/beach and enjoy the view, manicure, and pedicure alone, or even a facial at home after a long day. I schedule me time for those times when life gets really busy and I need to work around a schedule to be able to get everything done, so I put some time to take myself out to eat or even cancel a day (Sunday) and just let it be for me. I also schedule a “me” time for when I'm on vacation, I take a day or half a day to date away from everyone and enjoy the vacation by myself (which I recommend).

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

I don't think I have a routine; I just like to incorporate as many things that feed my sanity to my daily routine and that can be from the smallest to the biggest thing.

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

My blog. When I say focusing on my blog has saved me/brought me back to who I am, is not an understatement. But I always start with finding a place where I can be in complete silence. Why? Because I can't just distract myself for that moment, the feelings will come back to haunt me. I need the time in silence to let it all out or to just let it sink in, and once few minutes have gone by I start to do things that make me happy. Get some food, enjoy the day, go for a walk, work on the blog, etc. If I'm at work I put my headphones on and escape the noise or walk to my car and sit in silence during my lunch break.

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

I'm constantly talking to myself and telling my mind to not go there. I always make sure I give myself all the compliments in the world (I have to be my biggest fan), and I also read a lot of motivational quotes when I need the extra push.

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

I will just say, START cancelling plans and STOP feeling guilty about putting your needs first. Even the smallest thing that you do for yourself counts. Stay in the car an extra 5 minutes to get away from people, watch the sunset by yourself, lock some doors and breath! Or just simply cancel a day. But most importantly don't depend on anyone to make you feel better, do it yourself. Enjoy to be alone; you will learn so much about yourself.

~ Thanks for reading! You can find Ams on Twitter and on her blog.

QoTD: What is your number one go-to that helps you relax? 

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.

Find Anxiously, Me on:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

or via email at anxiouslymeblog@gmail.com 

#4 Phil's Self-Care Q&A Response!

This week’s response was given to me by Phil over at @themoneylessman on Twitter. (moneylessman.co.uk)! Let’s get a move on, shall we?

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

Phil: As someone who's suffered with OCD for the last 4 years, I tend to know that I'm in need of some self-care when I start feeling anxious. I don't tend to have panic attacks, but can feel not quite right under the surface. Symptoms of this will usually arise in the form of sadness, irritability, or mental fatigue.

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 tend to look after myself on my own, but it definitely helps to have someone you feel comfortable enough to discuss your feelings with. A little reassurance can go a long way.

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

I find it very difficult to make time for myself. Now that I've set quite ambitious goals, I struggle to find enough hours in the day.

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 find that trying to juggle a lot of different business avenues can spill over into my "me" time. I also feel obligated to try to socialise with others at times when I don't really want to.

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

Yes. I find it difficult to switch off from work, and feel guilty at times for relaxing. Sometimes I will stop watching a TV show because I feel like I should be working if I'm not sleeping.

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 used to fit in "me" time whenever I could, but the time I found for this became less and less. I've recently started scheduling "me" time and find that this stops the feeling of guilt somewhat. For example, I make sure that I make time to go to the gym most days, which is great for my mental health as well as physical health.

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

As mentioned above, I do try to follow a schedule for certain parts of "me" time. I try to make sure that I set some time aside where nothing else will get in the way. For me, that's going to watch the football team I support. During this time, I make a promise to myself to completely switch off from work etc.

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 like the escapism that can be found in fiction books. I also like to keep myself active, and listen to music. I never turn down a Netflix binge session either...

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

I don't have a mantra really, but I do like to reflect on some of Tony Robbins' quotes. "The path to success is to take massive, determined action". This tends to get me in the right frame of mind to make progress each day.

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

I think it's important to set some time aside for yourself, away from the daily stresses of life. I can't recommend meditation enough for people in need of self-care. There are plenty of free apps that will guide you through lots of different types of meditation, and it has a HUGE effect on your mental state.

~ That’s just one more from the stack of responses over with for another week. Be sure to check out Phil’s site (moneylessman.co.uk) and follow him on Twitter.

Do you have a mantra that you like to remind yourself of when you’re feeling down? Also: what are you thoughts on this format? Do you prefer this post's layout or previous ones I've used? 

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 email me at anxiouslymeblog@gmail.com or you can find me on:
Twitter
Facebook
& Instagram

Untagging on Twitter

Isn't it annoying when, with the new Twitter update, you end up having to reply to everyone tagged instead of just being able to delete their names like you used to be able to do?

Imagine how much more annoying it is when you're inundated with said replies just because the original poster tagged you and those replying haven't untagged you. It can be rather disappointing when you're waiting on a specific tweet back from someone and see a notification only to find it's from a conversation that you're not apart of.

Here's how to untag other people from a Twitter reply in few easy steps. 

First: click on the speech bubble to reply to the Tweet you are tagged in/wish to reply to:

You will then see this (obviously with different names): 

Click on the names tagged:

Then untick the box(es) next to the name(s) you wish to NOT reply to:

Click "save": 

And then you are free to reply like so: 

Now that you know how to untag people from replies/conversations let me know if there is anything else you would like steps on how to do. I'm thinking of making this a "bonus" feature on the blog and would like some suggestions.

Anxiously (when I see so many replies I think "what have I done?"),

Me

You can find me on Twitter and Instagram as well as on this blog.