Hey hey sweetie pies. Thank you so much for the love on my last blog post. Your girl truly appreciates it! For today’s post, I wanted to share some things that I have been doing to keep myself mentally sane. There is sooooo much going on in the world. It seems like there’s bad news everywhere you turn. While it’s important to stay informed, it’s just as imperative to decompress and heal. In times like these, I lean in towards my creative side. Being creative allows me to express myself as well as decompress and feed my soul. I believe in times like these it is imperative to make art – albeit “good” or “bad”. It is essential to keep the mind at play. In today’s post I will be sharing creative activities that I do that have been helping me to stay busy.
DANCE – As someone who genuinely loves to dance this was a given but even if you aren’t, it is definitely worth trying. I challenge you to turn on some music, give yourself some room to move, close your eyes and just begin to move. Explore how it feels to move certain body parts or play around with the music. Getting the body moving is also great for endorphins as well as getting a workout in!
CREATE A MOOD BOARD – Whether go new school digital or old school magazine clippings, this is an easy (and perhaps safer) activity to do. Themes can range from fun to inspirational. If you are not feeling inspired, choose a single color and then go from there. It’s amazing when you’re inspired by the smallest things!
PAINT – Even if you are no Michelangelo (I know I’m definitely not) – painting is so fun to do! Especially fun for those who have little ones! (Top tip: if you are concerned about your little ones making a mess, opt for putting paint in an airtight ziploc bag and let them have at it!) I will definitely be trying this with Amara because who has time to be cleaning paint off the floor? Not I! Painting can be very therapeutic as well. Play some soft music and have a glass of wine – yes indeed!
HAVE A PHOTO SHOOT – Whether you’re using your phone or a fancy schmancy camera, having a photo shoot can be so fun! Pull from things lying around your house to create a fun backdrop. (Think bed sheets, old curtains, plants, mirrors) You essentially want anything that can add depth to your photos so that they’re multi-dimensional. Editing your photos can be very fun. Create a unique aesthetic by adjusting the colors and saturation. The end result will be pleasantly surprising. Some of my favorite editing apps are a color story and vsco. I have been taking photos for my boutique and it’s been so much fun!
TAKE A CLASS – Step outside of your comfort zone and explore new things. There are are numerous (free or inexpensive) resources available. Maybe you’re interested in learning a new skill or looking to develop a new hobby. Now is the perfect time to give yourself that mental distraction. Also when you’re exploring something new for the first time, it forces you to focus on the task at hand. That’s one reason why I personally love taking dance classes. In the moment, I can’t allow myself to become distracted with other things. (If you ever looking to take a free dance class, tune in to my Friday Night Live classes on Facebook every Friday at 7:30 CST.)
BINGE WATCH – I love watching different shows and productions that you can just get lost in. (I’ve watched Hamilton at least 4 times already *shrug emoji*) I enjoy watching series on Netflix as well as Pluto TV. I’ve been able to find some kid friendly shows for Amara to watch.
Get DRESSED UP – If you opt for option #4 then this may be a given. Dressing up can work wonders for your mood! You might even feel motivated to do some things that you have been putting off. I recently started dressing up (ie: getting out of my pajamas) almost daily and it has helped with my mood as well as my creativity. Since making this part of my routine – I have come to realization that I need to purge my closet. Definitely expect a closet sale to come soon. Also if you are ever in need of assistance with your wardrobe, feel free to check out my services page for wardrobe consulting services and prices.
DO A COOKING CHALLENGE – I have always enjoyed cooking but I have recently gotten into baking and it brings me so much joy! I recently mastered cakes and working my way onto pies! Aside from baking, I have also enjoyed trying new recipes or revamping current ones I know. Sometimes I’ll pretend that I’m on one of my fave cooking shows (Chopped, Guy’s Grocery Games, Great British Bake Off just to name a few) Anyone else obsessed with watching cooking shows?
What have you been doing to keep yourself mentally sane? How are you doing mentally speaking? I am here to talk if you need! Feel free to message me on Instagram!
XO, Stormie
So Stormie 