This is a difficult time for Black Americans right now. Innocent people are being killed my cops and our country seems to be at its biggest divide. And with everything else going on with the pandemic, this country and world are such a terrible place right now. . But with what’s going on in the world, it’s important more than ever for our emotional wellbeing and physical health. Relaxing not only helps has amazing health benefits, including reducing stress and muscle tension, and lowering blood pressure. We are all going to get through this. So go ahead and take a breath and read the tips down below on how to relax, pause and rewind.

Rest and Refuel

Give yourself time to recharge so you won’t feel drained throughout the day. Taking a relaxing bubble bath before bed or reducing screen time before bed. And if you have to, there are lots of sleep supplements that can help that contain melatonin. These will help calm your body and mind to help you get a good night’s sleep.  Some brands I like are Rae and HUM.

Find Your Jam

Maybe you find comfort in silence or you like listening to music, use a sound machine or the nature. Anything that helps you find your zen. There are studies that show that listening to music can help reduce stress.

Stretch

We might say we don’t have time to stretch, I know I sometimes tell myself that after a workout. But once you start stretching, your body will thank you. Blogilates has some amazing stretch videos. And this one, you can stretch without leaving your chair. But personally, I prefer to get out of my seat to stretch.

Inhale and Exhale

I’ve talked about breathing techniques before. This technique is often overlooked. Just remember to breathe in and out and hold for 4-6 seconds.

 

So go ahead and hit that pause button! What’s been helping you relax?

I do have to say that I am devastated at what’s going on in the world right now. This May Favourites post was written well before the #BlackLivesMatter movement so I just wanted to come in and add a few words. I’m not black, I’m white privileged but that doesn’t mean my heart breaks for all the black lives. During this time, I’ve been educating myself as much as I can and donating what I can, signing petitions, etc. I know we can do better!

Well May went by just as fast as April did. Quarantine is probably never going to end. At least in Michigan we are able to be in small groups while practicing social distancing. By the time this all ends, I will have probably watched every show and movie I have wanted to see. This month’s favourites has some beauty products but it’s mostly tv shows and a book. Here are my May favourites.

Counter+ All Bright C Serum

This serum has 2 different types of vitamin c to create a 10% potency. It also contains turmeric and camu camu extracts. It helps reduce dark spots and protect against new ones and environmental stressors. I’ve been using this since the end of April and my skin is so much brighter!

Anne With An E

So this show really should’ve been in my April favourites but I technically didn’t finish the last episode until May 1. I love Anne of Green Gables and this show has been in my watch list since it first aired. This show is so cute and also so funny. So many feels towards this show.

Yaayaa Natural Shea Butter

My best friend, Nicole, has started her own shea butter company. She kindly sent me a couple different jars. It has a whipped texture and is super moisturizing, My favourite scent in the geranium. If you are looking to support a black owned business, please consider YaaYaa.

Storm War

This is the last book in the Red Queen series. I’m honestly embarrassed at how long it took me to read it. 2 months!!! I used to be the girl who could easily read 60+ books a year. April was when I wanted to finish it but that didn’t happen. When I started it, I honestly had no clue how the book was going to end but I really did enjoy the ending.

Normal People

Normal People is a mini series on Hulu. It’s based off the book by Sally Rooney. The series follows Marianne and Connell from high school all the way to post college. They have an on again, off again relationship the entire time. And even when they aren’t together and are with other people, they are still best friends.

You

Well I finally watched You. My god this show is crazy. Joe is insane. I liked the first season better than the second season. I’m not a big fan of Love. And speaking of Love, she’s crazy too. Beck is so much better than Love. If Joe was a normal person, I would totally ship him and Beck together.

Dazzle Dry

I have lots of issues with nail polish and my nails. Normally when I paint my nails they chip right away and they also leave them super dry and brittle. I discovered this brand in a Facebook group when someone was asking about a clean nail polishes. This one was mentioned by basically everyone. And many of the commenters had mentioned the same issue with drying nails like I have and how this brand doesn’t do it. This brand is basically like a gel polish and lasts between 7-14 days. Mine seem to last between the 7 to 14 days and when I take the polish off, my nails still look healthy!

 

What have you been loving in May?

Taking care of ourselves should be our number one priority. But as we all know, life can get in our way and our self-care might go to the back burner. It’s important to care for ourselves as much as we care for others. With just 5 minutes a day, you can tap into your inner self. We all can put aside 5 minutes of our day. Here are a few ways to take care of yourself in just 5 minutes.

Breathe Deeply

Your breath is a wonderful tool that can help ease stress and anxiety and also releases what no longer serves you. Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose for 4 counts, then release for 4 counts. If you have longer than a few minutes, try a meditation. I find that meditating even for 10 minutes makes me feel so much more relaxed.

Mirror Work

Speaking affirmations to yourself in front of a mirror can be a real powerful experience. The mirror reflects back your feelings about yourself and shows any negative thought patterns. Find an affirmation that resonates with you for a daily dose of love and to add mindfulness to your self-care routine. This affirmation book is currently free if you get the Kindle format.

Practice Gratitude

Keeping a mini pocket size journal with you to write down any moments of gratitude you experience throughout your day is one great way to practice gratitude. They could be as small as a call from a friend or family member, a thank you from a stranger, or some type of gesture that brightens your day. At the end of each day, reflect on the goodness that happens in this world.

 

What are some ways that you practice self-care?

 

 

 

I don’t know about you but I hate when I’m exhausted and trying to fall asleep but I’m tossing and turning in bed. It’s an absolute nightmare where I just want to cry. There are some things, that even I am sometimes guilty of, that we are doing that’s ruining our sleep. Below I am going to talk about mista

Work Out Before

Intense workouts before bed is not practical for your sleep. Try to workout at least 2 hours before you go to bed.

Caffeine In The Evening

Caffeine is designed to block adenosine receptors that naturally drop when it’s time for us to go to bed. When we drink coffee or any other caffeinated beverage in the evening, it can keep us up while we are trying to fall asleep.

Use Your Phone

I am guilty of this from time to time. Sometimes I like to read fan fiction while I’m in bed before I go to sleep and I know I really shouldn’t. The blue light from our phones can really mess up are circadian rhythm which can make it harder for us to fall asleep. Sometimes you tell yourself you are going to check one thing and next thing you know you’re down the internet rabbit hole. I’ve told myself one chapter of a fic and then all of a sudden it’s an hour later. Your goal is to try to stay off your phone an hour before bed.

Leave Your Phone Next To You

Besides being on your phone before bed, leaving your phone next to you is also a problem. This is something I’m also guilty of but I put my phone on do not disturb and I’m usually not tempted to look at it until I get up in the morning. But with most of us, the temptation is there every time we hear a notification. Turn your sound off. And if you are worried about missing an emergency call, there are settings that can have your phone ring if someone calls you multiple times in a row.

Eating Before

Eating large meals or snacks 2 hours before bed is a problem. The biggest problem of doing this is acid reflux. If you are hungry, eat something but don’t make it into a habit out of boredom.

Drink Alcohol To Unwind

Alcohol can make us fall asleep but it also wakes us up and disrupts are sleep patterns. It also blocks are REM sleep so we end up waking up tired and groggy. Ideally, you should try to stop 2 hours before you go to bed.

No Bedtime

It’s really important to try to go to bed around the same time every night. I try to go to bed around 10, 10:30 at the absolute latest every night since I usually get up at 4:30 to go to the gym. Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep. Normally, I end up falling back to sleep for an hour when I get back. Going to bed around the same time helps normalize your circadian rhythm.

 

Are you guilty of any of these mistakes that are ruining your sleep?

 

 

BTW, How to boost your creativity for spring

 

Currently, the majority of us are now working from home during these dire circumstances. Most of us are trying to make do with working, and doing house work, all while trying to stay sane. Read more below on tips to stay healthy while working from home.

Create A Functional Space

Clutter has been proven to distract focus and productivity. That means you’ll want to create a space with the least amount of clutter possible. If you happen to have a room for an office, then try your best to set up your work station like your office at work. That means having enough space for storage, printer, laptop/monitor, etc. If you don’t have an extra room for an office, create a portable office and make sure to pack up everything at the end of the day. Also make sure you are near natural light to help boost your mood.

Take Ergonomics Seriously

As tempting as it is to work from your bed or couch, don’t. It can cause poor posture, carpal tunnel, neck and back pain. Make sure your laptop is eye level so you don’t hunch over. Sitting in a comfortable chair can help as well. Also sitting on a yoga ball or even standing. If you are sitting, make sure to stand up and take breaks.

Time Chunking

Time chunking your work and breaks can be a life saver. Feel free to experiment with your time. Working for 25 minutes and take a break for 5 minutes. Or you can work for 50 minutes and take a break for 10. Set a timer and stick to it. Don’t procrastinate. It will just cause more stress and anxiety. Doing this will also help post quarantine. This post by Caitlin from Beauty and Colour is a great one to help you get ready when this is all over.

Fresh Air

Fresh air does wonders for your energy, productivity and mood. Open a window, go outside for a few minutes.

 

Remember to take care of yourself during this time. It might not be ideal but savour this time you have for yourself. What are some tips you have to stay healthy while working from home.

 

I would like to thank Plaine Products for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Only 75% of people actually recycle. Did you know that out of all of the stuff that we recycle, only 9% of it actually gets recycled. There are so many recycling that all of it can’t be used. In order to something to become recycled, companies need to purchase the recycling to make new products. And like I just mentioned there is just too much. Instead of recycling, we need to get in the habit of re-using. This is what I love about Plaine Products. In honour of Earth Day, I am partnering with Plaine Products to help bring awareness of this issue.

I’ve mentioned Plaine Products before in past in this blog and have also posted about them on Instagram.  The company was founded by 2 sisters who made it their goal to eliminate single use plastic. If you personally know me, you know how much I hate single use plastic and even polyester for that matter. After seeing how much plastic was in their bathrooms they decided to come up with natural products for our bathrooms in reusable bottles.

They offer shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion, face wash and hand soap in aluminum bottles. When you first order your products, you request a pump for you to keep. When you’re done with the bottles, you simply send them back with a free return label and they then sanitize and reuse the bottles again! The cool thing about aluminum, is that it’s able to be completely recycled without losing any quality. Plastic on the other hand can only be recycled twice. Plaine Products also uses not new materials in their shipping boxes. The boxes are made from 95% post consumer and 5% post industrial wastes.

Besides using their products, there are so many other ways you can reduce your single use plastic. Some simple things include bringing your own grocery bags to the store. Some states like Oregon, California and New York have already banned single use plastic. Instead of using those plastic produce bags at the store, get some reusable cotton or mesh ones. I know it’s hard and I am nowhere near perfect when it come to this but I try my best. On this Earth Day, I hope you can do something to help eliminate single use plastic.