Self Care: Sleep Routine

As I’ve approached a certain age, the importance of me getting the proper amount of sleep has become a priority. Once I realized and admitted to myself that sleep is an essential, I needed to come up with a self care sleep routine.

So often at the end of the night we go take a shower or bath, lights out, and then go to bed. You ever find yourself not able to fall asleep, restless, still have a million things on your mind, and eventually you don’t get a good nights rest. Well that’s because body has laid down but your mind is still wide awake.

Why Getting Proper Sleep is Important

Sleep is important because its our charge and refuel for the next day. Just like you plug in your phone at night, our mind and body needs to be charged.

Mentally getting proper sleep helps us the next day remain alert, focus, and prepared to attentively tackle the day. When we are tired mentally, we’re more apt to be anxious which leads to anger and frustration. Lack of proper sleep leads to more stress and mentally being broken down.

Physically, when we get proper sleep, our bodies are rejuvenated and energized to get through the next day. Sleep gives our muscles a break and let them rebuild. Lack of sleep leaves our bodies feeling heavy, stiff, and fatigued.

Getting enough sleep allows our emotional health to remain stable. Because we’re tired mentally and physically the way we begin to process the days course is off. The smallest detour in the day may cause you to lash out, have a breakdown, and the snowball would just keep rolling.

Our productivity when we get sleep in increased. Having the energy to complete tasks, maneuver all the balls we juggle, and have the ability to prioritize is because the sleep has allowed our mind and body to recharge.Self Care: Personal Goal Setting

How to Create A Sleep routine

A sleep routine or nighttime routine is important because you need to unwind and unpack the days events. It’s sort of sealing or capping off the day so it does’t carry over into the next. Not having a routine will allow the days to run over and you still won’t rest at night.

Having a sleep or nighttime routine doesn’t have to take long, its time set aside to get you prepared for the next day, let go of what was today, and keeps your wellness in check.

The first thing is to pick a time to get started. The easiest way to get started is by tidying up the house and making sure its ready for the next day. This not only physically sets you up for success in the morning, but it puts your mental in a space of resetting. It may change or adjust as you become comfortable or life happen. Of course its going to vary depending on your career, if you have a family, and the days events.

Next in creating a sleep or night routine is logging off. That means checking emails, social media, playing your favorite games, and yes even watching the news. You don’t want the last thing you see or hear to be something that is going to interrupt you mental space when lying down to sleep.

In addition to logging off make sure you have written down or looked over your to do list or appointments for the next day. You know where you have to be and when. This one in particular is important for me because I can then create an outfit in my head for work or even get it out.

Of course a sleep or nighttime routine isn’ t complete without a shower or bath to wash the day down the drain. Take your time as this may be the only moment to yourself you have all day. Do your skincare routine and prep your hair for the next day. When we look good, we feel good, and present our best selves.

Lastly make it a point to get in the bed around the same time every night. When you do, don’t sit up and watch television. Decide to journal or read for 30 minutes. Listen to some soft music or read a devotional, my favorite.

Creating a routine puts our mental and a physical in clear headspace that set us up for productivity the next day. Most of the time we are so drained that we are in a rush, making decisions that aren’t thought out, and leads to stress and breakdown.

A self care sleep routine is important for everyone no matter what you’re doing, where you’re going, and what you have.

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

Happy Birthday to Me!!!!!

So today is my birthday and for the first time since I was a teenager I am speaking out about it. My typical attitude towards my birthday was to not say anything or even attempt to celebrate it. I’ve never been one of those that begin the week before reminding everyone its my birthday and to plan a week long festivities. When people would ask what you want for your birthday I would blow it off and not even acknowledge they are trying to acknowledge me.

I’ve always chosen to keep my birthday for me. I’ve used my birthday as a day to be with myself mostly mentally and emotionally to kind of reflect and use it as a day to set goals.

Last year I made the decision by my next birthday I was going to be in a better place, mentally and emotionally, and would have made progress in living in who I truly wanted to be. I began speaking aloud what I wanted to accomplish by this year’s birthday and what do you know, I’ve made huge milestones. To be perfectly honest with you guys that is the best gift in the world.

Most importantly I began being truly honest to myself in how I was feeling about my professional 8-5 career and what I wanted it to look like. I always had this vision in my mind and in my heart for years but never nurtured it. Once I began to nurture who I was on the inside I was feeling lighter and lighter as the days went on and feeling more free. Each step of the way I became more confident, encouraged, and motivated to continue on my journey of living the life that had been stifled inside of me.

I noticed I began saying more often “by the time I’m 40” I am going to be here, doing this, and have this accomplished. No I’m not 40, I turned 39 today, and yes I’m proud to say my age, but the goals I set for my 40th I know I’m on the right path.

I say all of this to say if you’re one that gets down because your birthday is coming celebrate yourself and how far you’ve come. It’s your day and you get to spend it however you like. It’s never too late to hit the reset button. You can change the course of your life’s direction and be happy. Just because it’s what you’ve always done or the safest doesn’t mean its the best or right thing for you.

Finally it doesn’t have to be your birthday for you to celebrate yourself or reflect. You can do it every day and don’t feel guilty about it.

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

Daily Self Care Habits To Boost Your Mental Health

We are living in uncertain times right now. Daily self care habits are essential to develop for our mental and emotional wellbeing. On a daily most of us are feeling an array of emotions. Even those that seem to have it all together and make themselves appear to be unbothered is feeling some type of way. But, we are still in control of what we think and the choices we make. No matter what’s happening around us, there are a couple of things we can do to have a good day.

Wake up Early

Everyone on this planet has the same amount of time allowed to them. It’s up to us on how we manage that 24 hours. One for sure way to get the most out of your day is to wake up early. Waking up early gives you a moment to yourself. You can gather yourself before anyone wakes up. Meditate, pray, and getting in your exercise prepares you mentally, physically, and emotionally for the day. The rest of the day is free for you to work, enjoy time with the family, and do something you’ve been wanting to do.

Call a Friend

Ok, I get being super busy. Being married with three children and both of us work outside the home we have a jammed packed schedule. But guess what, setting a moment to call a friend who I haven’t spoken with in a while not only lifts their spirits but mine as well. Having a good conversation with a friend freezes time and brings you back to earth for a second. We’re all busy but letting someone know you are thinking about them can be a make or break moment that you didn’t know about.

Compliment Someone

Have you noticed when you present someone with a gift what it does to your soul? It lifts your spirits to make someone else’s day or make them smile. Giving someone a compliment boosts their confidence and yours. Giving a sense of worth or bringing a smile to someone else does the same for you. We want to feel good so we should start by making others feel good about themselves.

Listen to Music on Your Way to Work

Listening to a good song on the way to work puts you in a chipper mood all day. The morning traffic or the people that are angry because they have to be up early won’t phase you one bit. In fact your upbeat spirit may become infectious. Feed your mental with matter that brings laughter and light to you, so you can spread it to others. Daily self care habits requires action regularly. Journaling For Mental Health, TRY IT

Drink Lots of Water

What does drinking water have to do with having a good day? Well staying hydrated increases our energy and helps with our metabolism. Drinking water helps our bodily fluids stay in balance hence and we release toxins when we go the bathroom and sweat. If you don’t like the taste of plain water there is a ton of options for you to add flavor to it.

Exercise

Burn some calories and release negative energy. Use exercise to take your frustrations out. Exercising increases our performance not only physical but mentally and emotionally. Keeping your heart pumping and blood flowing gives a head to toe rejuvenation. Literally after a workout you’ll feel more energized. Actually, exercise should be at the top of this list. Part of daily self care habits is ensuring our physical body is just as ready as our mental.

Put the Phone Down

From the news, to social media, to friends sending you nonsense give your mental a break. Filling up on negativity will send you into a state of fear, depression, and anger. Watch the news for ten minutes and then let it go. Get just enough to keep you informed about what’s going on in the world. Limit your social media intake and what you consume. Don’t get so involved with others lives that you lose sight of yours.

Watch Something Funny

Lately I’ve found myself going for a comedic show. It’s a way I’ve been protecting my mental and getting away from the nonsense that’s going on around me. Laughter is the best medicine. Constantly listening and watching something negative begins to shift your perspective on life in a negative manner. Soon your beliefs become what you’ve consumed.

Expect to Have a Good Day

I learned before I roll out of bed and say to myself today is going to be a good day, I have a good day. Make the decision to have a good day no matter what you encounter on that day. Even in challenging times or events there is something positive you can say about a 24 hour period. Remember you may think the weight of the world is on your shoulders but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

At the end of the day, point intended, we make the choices throughout our day. We can choose the positive road or the negative route. Why don’t we save ourselves heart ache and take the positive route. After all tomorrow is a new day for us to be great.

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

Self Care Beauty Routine

The most common complaint I’ve heard in the last three months is how people weren’t able to groom themselves or get their beauty treatments like they used to. They told us to quarantine not let ourselves go. Yes I know its very easy to get in a funk because you have no where to go and no one to see. But taking care of yourself will lift your mood.

Even during these tough times you can create you a ritual or routine. Pick a day, time, and space where you can take time out for yourself.

When we have a great hair day everything else is ok. Start by giving your hair some TLC. Wash and deep condition your hair and bring life back to those tresses thats probably been in a bun for days. There are great quality products available at the drugstore that will give you salon results. Use this time to experiment on styles and practice.

Next bring some life back into you face and do an at home facial. Deep clean and exfoliate to lift those dead skin cells. Next a good face mask to deep clean those pores and smooth the skin. Having a natural glow from within brightens your face. Tone and moisturize to bring some plumpness back.

Explore your creativity and express yourself by doing an at home mani and pedi. There are endless option you can do to make sure your hands and feet are smoothed and polished. As a side note, purchasing a kit off Amazon for the price of one nail appointment saves you money.

Take a long shower or hot bath. Meditate, pray, or give yourself a pep talk to keep moving forward. While in the shower speak into existence what it is you want and are feeling and let the negative go down the drain. While taking a bath meditate and pray on what your next steps are and how you’re going to get there. This is your most private and intimate time with yourself and you can be completely honest and open.

Find something or someway to lift your mood or spirits. Feed your mental and emotional with positive thoughts and energy. Read a book, magazine, or listen to a podcast. Figure out what inspires you and seek it to help you keep going. Start by reading a chapter at night before bed. Watch a motivational video. Listen to a podcast while you clean and do laundry. Read a magazine article while you drink your coffee instead of watching the news. Let it soak in and reflect.

Of course you’re not a professional, but taking this time out for yourself gives you the motivation to create and make the best of this time that we aren’t going to get back. Use this time to become a better you, learn who you are, and what you need to work on. You never know, you may become so good that you won’t need to pay a professional anymore.

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

How To Answer The Question “Who Are You?”

Who are you? Tell me a little about yourself. Woman. Woman of God. Wife. Mother. Sister. Daughter. Friend. Professional. Sounds familiar?! Welp, that’s how most of us answer that question. We begin by stating what titles and positions we hold as if that’s truly who we are. This is one question that many of us struggle to answer. To answer this question is to know how to show your values and morals, know your boundaries and set expectations for your self and others, have a code of conduct, command respect without being disrespectful, and being consistent.

Answering said question takes time. Depending on where you are in your life, what experiences make up your story, how those experiences shaped your beliefs, and where you are in the healing process. There isn’t a right or wrong answer to this question. Your answer is going to be different than anyone else’s. There isn’t anywhere we can look to find the answer, except internally.

Thought Provoking Questions to Get You Started

What is your pet peeve?
What is your idea of a good time?
What are your flaws?
What is your best feature or attribute?
What makes you cry?
Does your friends inspire you?
Are you happy in your relationship?
Do you smile going to work everyday?
What do you like to read?
What is your favorite television show?
What are you good at?
What are your insecurities?
Three words that best describes you.
How do you handle it when someone pushes your buttons?
What have you been putting off that you really want to do?

These are just a few questions to get you started. Once you begin to answer them honestly a more clear picture of who you are will come to you. For me it all started with me realizing my pet peeve. When someone would ask me what is my pet peeve I would have the deer in headlights look. My pet peeve is someone asking me questions to either pry into my business, get information to use for a later date, or to attempt to diminish what I’m doing. Once I figured this out I was better able prepared to notice when it was happening, divert the conversation, or simply avoid speaking with anyone who would do that to me. It took time and practice for me to get the courage to say “that isn’t something that I’m willing to discuss”.

Finding yourself or learning who you are is a journey. Because the only thing constant is change, maintaining a sense of your core allows you to make decisions without compromising yourself. Get a journal and keep it with you because its going to take time answering the above questions. The answer will come to you at the spare of the moment. Write that answer down and elaborate on it later.

Discovering who you are will set you free.

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

SELF CONFIDENCE BEGINS WITH THE MIND

Self confidence begins with the mind. What you say and think about yourself will determine how well your self confidence is going to show up. To obtain self confidence, it requires patience, persistence, and consistency. Confidence isn’t something that is one and done. It takes daily habits and practices to continually sustain self confidence.

No two persons path is going to look the same to gain self confidence. Our backgrounds and experience shapes our mindset. Why Mindset Is Everything Therefore what we value will be different on the list of priorities.

Self confidence comes from a person taking care of themselves. That is the most obvious. There is a trigger in the mind that goes off when we are able to put our best foot forward. I know every woman understand the thought of, if we are having a bad hair day then the entire day feels like crap.

It pulls our self esteem up when we take time to shower, put on a nice outfit, and feel good about our appearance. When we look good, we feel good. From there we go out and is able to engage confidently, take risks, and use our creativity.

Self confidence begins in the mind and how we process our setbacks. If we call ourselves negative names, and use negative self talk we plummet to depression fast. The most confident person looks at the situation and pull the positive and take it with them. Having confidence you understand that not everything is going to work out perfectly.

Self confidence is willing to take risk and tackle our fears. Not being afraid to challenge yourself. When you have self confidence you know challenges and fears are an opportunity for growth. Those with confidence are always willing to learn and grow. They aren’t afraid to be uncomfortable.

One of my biggest confidence boosters, is having the courage to ask for help. If I don’t know something or have spent enough time trying to figure it out, I will ask for assistance. Self confidence is knowing you will need help. It is impossible to have all the answers.

With that, confidence gives you permission to admit your fears, anxiety, and emotions. We aren’t robots, so we will experience an arrange of emotions at any given time.

Another one of my biggest confidence boosters is not being afraid to look different, be different, go against the grain, or stand alone. I learned early on that choosing different is the easiest way to challenge yourself and know your own strength.

Even when the most confident people don’t have the support they desire, they still take that leap of faith. They know what they want and how it would make them feel. Along with not having support, self confidence will give you motivation when you don’t have all the answers and there is uncertainty.

Lastly, we need to remember whatever is placed upon heart and mind is ours and ours only. You don’t need permission from anyone to pursue what God has placed in you. The lens that you see through are a prescription for you and anyone who try to see through your lens their vision will be blurred.

You are you and that’s what make you unique.

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

Hit The Reset Button To Find Your Happiness

In life we can hit the reset button as often as we need to. Why? One of the reasons we become unhappy and everything seems to be in chaos is because we aren’t living for ourselves. Hitting the reset button and shifting our life to where its most fulfilling to ourselves allows us to be of great service to others.

Another reason we need to hit the reset button is because we’re tired of being the same version of ourselves over and over again. As humans we always are or should be, seeking for ways to constantly be better versions of ourselves.

First identifying what needs to be reset. We can reset our career, relationships, and even location of where we’re living to fulfill ourselves. Do an honest assessment and figure out what you want and need to get you to a better place mentally and emotionally.

Start with the most important. How do you figure out what’s the most important? It’s that thing that has been nagging at you or weighing the heaviest on your mind and heart. You know, that one thing that keeps creeping up no matter how far you try to run from it or bury it.

Set a goal, write down a plan, and begin strategizing on how you’re going to get there. Once you start everything else will snowball into place.

Just because you’re hitting the reset button doesn’t mean you have to forget about everything previously. Remember what worked for you in the past, what made you happy, and most important what didn’t work. Learn from your mistakes and achievements and build off that.

The smallest change will make a huge difference.

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.