February by LaurenxElle

“Enter a mental space of clarity and optimism…”

I think we can all agree that January was a rough one. Most of my conversations lately with people start along the lines of “how’s your year been so far?” and it seems I always get the same response: long. Exhausting. Stressful. And I, too, have the same sentiment. Along with dealing with the untimely passing of loved ones in the first month has also been a lot. I had to make sure February would give me less grief or no grief at all (crossing my fingers and praying), to make sure my whole first quarter isn’t a complete mess.

I’m not a big “let’s make new year resolutions and stick by them or else!”, kind of person. I do, however, make a yearly goals list; short and long-term. Going into a new year, I continue to make it a habit of setting positive intentions. I feel that  anytime there is change or transition, such as a new year, it’s important to enter a mental space of clarity and optimism. It can be so easy to carry unwanted feelings and situations with you if you are not open to wanting to change or make changes. Making excuses, talking about it rather than being about it, will have you psyching yourself out of accepting better and doing better.

I’ve recently gotten back into doing yoga on a more regular basis, instead of just doing my usual workouts of  spin classes. Yoga is good mentally and physically and really does help improve you spiritually. I feel more relieved and refreshed after every session. When I’m unable to make it to a yoga class or want to save money, my go to is Yoga with Adriene on YouTube. Not only does Adriene make it easy for you to follow, no matter what level you’re at, she’s hilarious and very personable. There are a multitude of videos on her page that range from Yoga for Anxiety or Cramps to Self-Love and Risk Takers. Adriene literally has it all. I’ve been a fan of hers for a couple years now and highly recommend checking her videos out if you’re not familiar.

I also have been focusing on being more disciplined with my work (outside of the 9-5), to make sure I’m not distracted from what I want to ultimately achieve. I’m reminding myself to be patient and to do a better job of putting me and my needs first. Taking the time to figure out what makes me happy and making sure I do those things is helping too. A lot of times I get wrapped up and feel drained from work and then don’t make time for what I want. So making sure to create time and find balance, is a good way to get back on track.

How do you decompress? Have you gained or changed the way you unwind? What are some new things you want to try to feel at ease (ex: meditate, writing, workout, etc.)?

Love,

LaurenxElle