Hello, It's Hannah

I know, I know. “I’m too busy to put aside time to take care of myself.” “I just don’t have time anymore.” “School makes it impossible to make time for self-care.” Well, not anymore. Because today, I present to you… Self Care for a Busy Life! That’s right. I’ve got some tips and tricks for those of you who are in school, college, or your job keeps you busy, and it seems impossible to make time for self-care. I understand that it can be hard, but I promise that just taking five minutes a day to do something for yourself will benefit you in the future and will help you make self-care a habit. So, here we go! TAKE IT FIVE MINUTES AT A TIME When it comes to self-care, it does not matter if you do it for five minutes, five hours, five days, and so on. It just matters that you DO it. Five minutes is better than nothing. So I encourage you to find five minutes, just five, out of your day and dedicate it to yourself. It could be five minutes in the morning right wh...

So a few weeks ago, I got an email from another blog I follow with a printable for a gratitude journal. She had a title page, a page with a quote on it, and then weekly pages that had blanks for the date and three blank spaces to write down the things she was thankful for. The more I thought about it, the more I decided it was a really good idea. So I printed out hers, and since I have finished those pages, I started my own gratitude journal in a notebook I bought on Monday. Keeping a gratitude journal has really changed how I go about the rest of my day and how I view a lot of the things I usually take for granted, like food and a house. Because this journal has helped me be grateful for the everyday things in my life, I decided to write something about how to create your own! How to Create a Gratitude Journal: Grab any notebook you can find. You can purchase one from the dollar store, Wal-mart, Target, anywhere. You can get a plain one and decorate it with stickers to f...

Hello, my friends! Part of taking care of yourself is treating yourself every once in awhile, just so that you don’t get overwhelmed. To make that process a little easier, I’ve created ideas for a Self-Care Kit that you can take out when you are feeling overwhelmed and need a break. How to Create a Self-Care Kit: Think about all the things that make you happy and relaxed.  Books, taking a bath, candles, watching your favorite TV show, things like that. Once you’ve compiled that list, find a container or a cheap plastic box from the dollar store, and decorate it with stickers or decorative tape. The decoration is optional, but it just makes it more personalized and fun. Take the things that you put on the list and put them in a box. Put that box somewhere you’ll remember it and take it out on those days where you need a little extra boost. Ideas for Things to Put in the Self-Care Kit Tea Bubble bath Your favorite book Your favorite movie...

Sometimes, when life gets messy or rough or overwhelming, we neglect the things that make us happy and healthy. We eat more junk, we drink less water, we sleep less. And it all adds up to an unhappy, unhealthy you. So when everything seems to be out of control, here’s a few tips that you can use to make sure you still have a happy, healthy, positive life. 5 Tips for A More Positive Life DRINK WATER Guys, I’m begging you. No matter what, do NOT neglect your water. It is absolutely vital for your health, and if it is neglected, dehydration can hit you really hard and really fast. Set several alarms to drink water, get an app that reminds you, get a special water bottle just for you. Just make sure you’re drinking 7-8 glasses a day. GET ENOUGH SLEEP I’m speaking from personal experience when I say that the amount of sleep you get can make or break your life. I used to stay up all night long doing who knows what, and sleep all day. It took a to...

I don’t know about you guys, but when I tell someone I’m stressed, the absolute number one most common response is, “Oh, just go take a bath.” Ah, yes. The ol bath response. Personally, baths do help me relax and bring down my stress, but sometimes, it’s just not enough to tackle the stress that different people feel, and therefore, they get really sick of that response. But today, I’m here to give you some ways to take a break from your busy and stressful life, but without breaking the bank, and without just telling you to take a bath. So let’s get started. 15 Ways to Take a Break Go outside. You would be amazed at what just taking a step outside and getting a breath of fresh air can do for you. You can take a walk, a run, a walk with your dog, or just step outside and sit on the front porch for a little bit. It’s up to you what you do, but definitely try and go outside for just 10 minutes a day, Write it down. I cannot tell you how important it is to keep a ...

Hello, world, and welcome to my first edition of Mental Health Monday! This is going to be the part of the week where I focus on different mental illnesses, their symptoms, and how to get help if you need it. Today, we’re focusing on anxiety. Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is identified as severe feelings of ongoing anxiety that interrupt or interfere with everyday life. GAD is a common mental illness (more than 3 million Americans are diagnosed with GAD a year), and it can be easily treated by a medical professional. The psychological symptoms for GAD include: Lack of concentration Excessive worry Emotional distress Thoughts repeating over and over in the head The physical and behavioral symptoms for GAD include: Fatigue Lightheadedness Restlessness Sweating Headache Lack of sleep Irritability Hyperventilating If your feelings of anxiety are interfering with your everyday life or you have several of these symptoms, talk t...

For me, one of the most important parts of self-care/anxiety management is aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the process of using essential oils to enhance your mood and heal. You would be amazed at how just one sniff of lavender or putting some eucalyptus lotion on can instantly calm you. I actually own a bottle necklace that I fill with lavender oil when I leave my house just in case I get a little stressed or anxious. Aromatherapy is a great way to take care of yourself, and today I’ve got a list of scents and their different purposes. Trust me, there’s one for everything. Aromatherapy Oils and Their Purposes Lavender- Lavender is primarily used for relaxation. It’s great for calming you down and  bringing you into a relaxed state of mind. Lavender is really easy to find and not expensive at all.  You can find it on Amazon and various health stores (Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, etc.) Eucalyptus- Eucalyptus oil is known to have a refreshing, cooling effect ...

I don't know about you guys, but I love me a good mantra. It's just a nice little thing that you can say to yourself to motivate and encourage yourself. I have several that I like to say, but my absolute favorite is, "Tomorrow's another day." (Yes, that is from Zootopia. Don't judge me.) Today, I want to help YOU find your mantra. You can say it to yourself in the mirror, you can shout it from the roof of your house (I don't recommend that. You know, safety and all), or you can just repeat it to yourself in your brain. I find that saying it out loud to myself in the mirror is the most effective method for me, but it might not be for you. And that's okay. Remember, this blog is all about YOU. If I recommend something that is way out of your comfort zone, you do not have to do it. Alter it so that it fits you. And with that, let's get started! 1. "I am strong. I am beautiful. I am enough." 2. "Everything I need is in m...