Mood Swings Sometimes

Hey guys, I wanted to check in and do a post about mental health and maintaining a positive work-rest balance as an artist/creative. Often in our young 20's we feel we may not be doing enough, or either we are doing too much, and start to feel burnt out. It can all be overwhelming and leave you feeling anxious, stressed and scatter-brained. Also 2020 has just been HECTIC overall, so that doesn't help either. So much has happened in this year that will literally shape us and our future.

Yes, we're still young so we should be grateful to still be able to fail and learn from it, whether it be with your career, relationships, friendships, jobs, projects, etc. We still have time. I think that's something we often forget; we still have time. Nevertheless, as much I constantly try to remind myself of this I can't help but feel like I'm not doing enough. How do we find the happy medium between rest/work?

I'm honestly still trying to figure this out myself. I can say one thing that helps me be more motivated and productive is staying off Instagram as much as I used to. It's tough because as creatives, a lot of us use social media to our advantage to promote our work and projects to the public. So, taking a break from Instagram can sometimes feel like taking a break from your own self-promotion.On the other hand, allowing yourself to get wrapped in what others are doing and keeping up with others is really self-sabotage. But there are healthy ways to go about it. For instance:

1. If you feel your spending too much time on your phone, specifically Instagram, but don't necessarily want to delete your account try putting the app in a folder and removing it from your home screen. It might sound silly or redundant to some but it has actually helped me a lot. When you don't see the app as soon as you unlock your phone, you'll have to physically type and search it in. It makes you reconsider if you really need to log on.

2. I've been trying to go on Instagram and post things that only pertain to my brand and business. I feel like this gives you a specific tasks to do rather than just going on the app to scroll for minutes-hours. Honestly there's really no need for it; no one's life is actually that interesting if we're being honest!

3. Setting a sleep schedule for yourself. This brings structure to at least one part of your life and also helps plan your day a bit better. This is probably my biggest struggle as I'm sure it is with lots of you, but when this schedule is established it truly does help everything else flow a little bit smoother.

So these are my 3 solutions for limiting social media usage in order to be more productive (lol) but it's honestly a great start! I promise y'all. These ideas force you to think of other things to do rather than sit on your phone, and also helps with the feeling of being unorganized. Hopefully I can make a part 2 in the future and give you guys some more options.

On the topic of needing a break, mentally or physically I suggest taking days where you literally just rest, and heavy on the rest your mind. Rest your brain, rest your thoughts. Also:

1. Get a journal, if you often feel anxious. Sometimes we don't want to discuss our mental health with our family and friends so having a journal is a great option to let out your feelings. This works really good for me especially when I feel my anxiety sinking in and I can't get my words out, out loud. Having your words out in the open on paper feels great. After you finish you feel lighter and as if your voice and truth is being heard. It's also nice when you're able to flip through your journal and see the progress you've made, especially mentally. It's a beautiful feeling!

2. Invest in some crystals and spiritual rocks! This idea may seem frightening and give witch craft vibes to some but I promise these stones will add a ton of comfort and balance to your life. Just having them around you and wearing them brings instant comfort, I swear. I like to keep my stones and crystals in one area in my room since that's where I spend most of my time. Setting up your own little crystal shop gives you a safe space to visit when you start feeling alone and anxious. If you're new to crystals that's okay; I'm still learning myself. I simply went to my local spiritual shop and picked out ones I felt drawn to. I then did my own research to understand what they mean and how they're relative to my life. It's such an intimate experience with self and spirit. 10/10 recommend you visit a shop! Some crystals/stones I own are Amethyst, Black Onyx, the evil eye bracelet, Chakra bracelet, and more.

3. I know this is one that's been a big theme in everyone's lives as late, but doing more self care activities really does help! For example, if you know you need to relax your mind, go on and Groupon and get you a massage sis! If you want that seafood boil and don't have anyone to go with, go take yourself on a date! This goes for men and women. Loving and treating yourself is really the first step to receiving that love in return. Take yourself on a spa day, get those boots you been eyeing for the past month (only if you have the bread though let's keep it responsible), take yourself on a picnic date. Waiting on others to satisfy you only leaves you feeling half full.

I know these ideas may be common or on the other hand uncommon to some, but they're simple ideas I feel can help someone out there. Hopefully I can come up with a part 2 when I come up with some more ways for us all to focus and unwind. Talk to you guys soon!