Happy New Year! As we kickstart 2019, there are so many possibilities with 365, 363 days to make our lives full of joy, fulfillment, achieve all our goals, and make it our best year yet. A lot of pressure right? Instead of a blog post of all the ways to make your dreams come true and raving about how perfect my goal planning is (not), I want to take away some of the pressure for 2019. Let’s start with our mental health and self-esteem. Here are 3 things to do for your mental health right now.
They are relatively easy and I promise you’ll feel better.
3 THINGS TO DO FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH NOW
UNFOLLOW
Take a day to go through your social media accounts and evaluate why you follow someone. Do they still serve that purpose for you. Do their posts make you smile, inspired, motivated, or laugh?
Unfollow all the accounts that do not inspire or bring you joy
Odd coming from an “influencer” right? As blogging and being an influencer become more of a thing so has the unrealistic photos, expectations, and images of perfection. While there has been a shift to be more insta on Instagram, the platform is still predominantly full of highly planned out, edited content that makes me feel like shit. At first it was aspirational, now it’s just hurting my self-esteem.
So go unfollow every account that does not serve you.
- Does an account make you feel like you’re not good enough? Unfollow.
- Did so and so’s videos make you feel like overspending on things you cannot afford? Unfollow.
- Does that yoga account make you depressed because you can’t keep up with the unrealistic expectations of always breathing and staying calm? Unfollow.
Do my posts make you feel less than? Unfollow me. Yes, I give you permission to unfollow me. While it is never my intention to make people feel bad about themselves, if my content does not serve you, then I’m not for you. Don’t feel bad about unfollowing. We grow as people and what we enjoyed last year may not be what we enjoy this year. I use to aspire to be like the bigger beauty and fashion bloggers, but that’s just not who I am. I’m me.
Following these beautiful curated accounts was inspiring at first, but then I wanted to know more. Understand the people behind the beautiful images. If they do not share the reality along with the curated image, I don’t want it. This applies to all social media and content you consume.
TAKE TIME TO WAKE UP
The last few months I’ve made an effort to not look at my phone before coffee, five minute journal, and sometimes even after a chapter of a book I’m reading.
This allows me to wake up, take a moment before being inundated with emails, updates, notifications, and comments. The human brain needs quite. We need to unplug.
By starting my day with my favorite cup of coffee while writing down three things I’m grateful for starts my day off in a positive way. Having time to read allows my brain to imagine and be inspired before the work day.
Even if it’s just five minutes after your alarm goes off, do not pick up that phone right away and start scrolling.
MEDITATE
I use to be a skeptic when it came down to meditation. Mainly I was afraid to having to stop and breath for 10 minutes each day. Taking time to meditate isn’t about being perfect, but about being quiet and still for as little as 10 minutes a day.
Our minds need rest. We need to just sit, breath, be still, and be present.
For someone who is very reactive (me) this has helps me slow down and take a moment for myself. I’m forever grateful for Philosophy for gifting me a year subscription of Calm.
More Reasons to Meditate
- Reduce Stress
- Many styles of meditation can help reduce stress. Meditation can also reduce symptoms in people with stress-triggered medical conditions.
- Controls Anxiety
- Habitual meditation helps reduce anxiety and anxiety-related mental health issues like social anxiety, phobias and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
- Promotes Emotional Health
- Some forms of meditation can improve depression and create a more positive outlook on life. Research shows that maintaining an ongoing habit of meditation may help you maintain these benefits long term.
- Enhance Self Awareness
- Self-inquiry and related styles of meditation can help you "know yourself." This can be a starting point for making other positive changes.
- Lengthen Attention Span
- Several types of meditation may build your ability to redirect and maintain attention. As little as four days of meditation may have an effect.
Source: HealthLine.Com
If you know me, many of the benefits of meditation apply to what I need in my daily life. While meditation isn’t my favorite thing to do, the research and benefits are there. So I’m giving it a good try, 30 consecutive days.
I like to set time frames to try things full and re-evaluate after.
YOUR TURN
Will you be doing any of these tips to start your year off with a clearer mind? I’d love to hear about your goals for the upcoming year in the comments.
xoxo
Serein
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This is still relevant information even when we’re already in the second half of the year. These are great tips, especially when everything that’s happening is just too overwhelming. We need to detox and minimize our emotional baggage from time to time, and these are quite spectacular.
Thank you for sharing a piece of your mind to us, Seirin. Love those photos!
https://vivaglow.com
Author
Thank you 🙂
Nearly all my social media is done under an alias (SHOCK! I’m not actually a cartoon avatar!) for various reasons, a lot relating to my job and my tendency to be outspoken on social media. The only thing I have under my real name is Facebook, and I’ve got the privacy settings as tightly closed as I can, and have limited it to immediate family and a few very close friends. I realized a couple years ago that I really didn’t care that much about people I went to high school with 30 years ago, and that it’s just good practice to NOT have people from work connected on social media, except LinkedIn (okay, that’s under my real name, too).
I’ll be 50 in just a few months, and that milestone has me thinking a lot about the way I have been taking care of myself. You’ve turned me on to skincare, I’m starting to play with and have fun with makeup again. I’m starting to get some less frumpy clothes in brighter colors. Depression has been a constant battle for me, too, my entire life. Medication does help me a lot. It doesn’t make the depression go away, but it helps me see paths much clearer, and helps me make better decisions.
The one thing I’ve accepted and embrace is that I know nothing. Everyday is a journey and a learning experience. I know pieces of myself, but I don’t know all of them, and that’s okay… good even… because it means I’m changing.
I blog as well, and it’s for myself. I babble (another shock, right?) and I’ve found writing things down helps me sort of talk myself through things and see things from multiple views. It’s not all about me. I’m just a piece of our big giant vibrant puzzle of humanity. ☀️☀️☀️
Author
I’m so happy you are enjoying skincare and taking time to dress yourself happy! It really can help.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope you continue with yours!
Loving these photos of you on the beach (unrelated I know haha). But in all seriousness, meditating is KEY!!! It makes such a difference in your mood and mental state. I needed this reminder – I’ve fallen off my routine and find myself getting irritated more often.
xx, Amy
https://www.theluxilook.com
Author
Thanks for stopping by Amy, yes meditation even 10 min a day can make such a difference.
xoxo
Serein
Great tips! I’m definitely going to be reevaluating some of my social media follows this year, and making some quiet time for myself.
Author
Thanks for reading Joselyn, Happy New Year!
Okay, I need to start meditating! I have heard such good things about it.
These are great tips, especially the social media part.
Happy new year,
With love from Bali,
Tamara Chloé
This is really deep. Thank you for this.
Malinda
http://www.malindaknowles.net
Author
Aw thanks. Happy New Year!
Meditation makes such a difference! I love it!
x Lisa | lisaautumn.com
Author
Yes, it really does.
Unfollowing the social media accounts that pollute your mind and make you more depressed and anxious is the best thing to do. I have done that a lot during the past couple of years. It does help. Great tip!
Author
Thank you Aurica! Happy New Year!
Such a great post, Serein, and the photos are so stunning. You’re such a natural beauty. Wishing you the best of luck in 2019!
Paula | Thirteen Thoughts
Author
Thank you so much Paula! You are so very kind. Happy New Year!
Great tips! I totally agree with meditation. I feel inspired to incorporate these things for the new year. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Author
Thank you for reading Jennifer! Happy New Year!
I will definitely to unfollowing some Instagram accounts that will help me less spending to orders because of budgets, change foods for health and need more time with family going out for activities. I need to cut down on the Internet. I am focusing on things to do better for 2019. Thank you for encourage! I love what you shared videos on YouTube and Instagram. It inspiring me too!
Author
Thank you for reading and I’m happy to hear the post inspired you. Here’s to a wonderful 2019!
Beautiful thoughts and inspirational points for the start of the 2019 year. Love ♥️it. Wishing you the very best in the things you do.
❄️🥂Happy New Year from ROSES FOR FRIDAYS ❄️🥂 | by mia | A Creative Lifestyle Blog
Author
Happy New Year
Definitely going through my sub list and unsubscribing to people who do not bring me joy OR people who I follow but haven’t actually watched their videos in a few months. Loved this!
Author
Yay! Hopefully now when you open your subscription feed or socials it brings you more joy and less clutter.
xoxo
Serein
Serein,
Meditation is a must for me bc my mind never shuts off. I use that 20 minutes to just distress and relax. When it comes to letting go of people has never been my problem lol. I don’t follow many “influencers” and those I do follow I truly love and as crazy as this sounds I think of you all as friends. I need to focus on my weight and getting healthy again.
Author
Yolanda, sounds like you are already ahead of the game. Hope you have a wonderful New year!
I love your 3 things for the New Year! I am interested in meditation, but I can’t ever seem to get my mind to quiet enough to do it. Do you have any tips?
Author
I’ve been using the calm app on my phone and I started with the 7 days of calm, which talks a lot about this. It’s not about getting your mind to do anything, but more about building awareness when you loose your focus and non-judgment.
Serein, I am so excited for your low-buy. It has encouraged me to be a more responsible consumer as well. Your channel already stands out from many other influencers in so many ways and I’m glad you’re doing what’s best for you!
I think unfollowing is great advice and I am going to try to make my 2019 less social-media focused. I like your newsletter emails a lot and I wish more people still did them. I remember back in the late 90s and early 2000s when they were all the rage (I feel old); I love scrolling through pretty pictures on Instagram but emails feel a lot more personal.
Happy New Year. 🙂
Author
Thank you so much for your support and for taking the time to read my newsletters and blog! It means so much to me.
You are not old because I remember them as well and I refuse to admit I’m old! There are a few blogs I really enjoy that do weekly newsletters or monthly newsletters. Anna Edit, In The Frow (though her posts defiently trigger the shopping bug for me), and I believe I use to get some from Estee Lalond, but I think she stopped doing them.
I love taking time to connect with you guys via email and it’s so important to me, I get to learn more about you guys and it just feels like when I had a pen pal 🙂 (now I’m dating myself)
Happy New Year!