NOURISH | Six Ways to De-Stress After Work

When I first started working full time, I didn't realize the importance of unplugging once I clocked out. I quickly learned that sometimes people took their work home with them, staying in their email or constantly connected. While I wasn't someone who felt tempted to log-in after hours, I had other hurdles to my peace: What seemed like an endless array of distraction.

For me, this was (is) YouTube.

I would come home from a long day of sitting behind a screen to (you guessed it) sit behind another screen. For me, this was a way to unwind from the day's stress, but it also started to distract me from what I really wanted to be doing: Writing, reading, taking walks, talking with my family. Living a bit more slow-paced in the hours after work so that I could rejuvenate myself again.

I'm still not perfect at getting the work-life balance right and I definitely still watch my fair share of YouTube, but here's what I've learned in my quest to nourish myself long after I've left the office:

Get into a routine.

This is something I'm still striving to do, but it helps if, once you get home, you have tasks already lined up for you. For me, I know I need to eat dinner, meal plan for the next day, pick out my clothes, maybe catch a walk, etc. Having these routines can give you a natural rhythm to your evening and help you destress quicker.

Sweat.

There is nothing better after a stressful work day then to get a quick workout in. This will help channel  your stress into a healthy outlet and also give you a better night's sleep. I like running, walking or doing a Fitness Blender HIIT workout.

Leave it behind.

Bad day? We've all been there. It's ok to talk to someone about it, but make sure your venting doesn't become the focus of your entire evening. Write it down, pray it out, but then LET IT GO. A bad day at work is never a reason to let it consume your off time.

Get out of the house.

Especially now that it gets darker earlier, I can find myself going a little stir-crazy in the evenings. The best thing for this is to get out of the house! Take a 20-minute walk or run a few errands to take stress off of you for the next day. OR GO TO TARGET. We can all agree that Target trips qualify as the sixth love language. It's a way of life, people. Bonus points if you get out of there without spending your entire paycheck.

Rest.

Be the best you can be for the next day of work by just getting some rest. Take a nap, read a book, relax on the couch with a movie and your family (might I recommend Moonrise Kingdom?). Unplug from tech an hour before bed and let yourself unwind. Have an established bedtime so your body gets used to your routine each day.

Make time for yourself.

It's super important to remember, after a long day of representing a company, that you are still YOU. Your job isn't your identity, however great it may be. Fuel your uniqueness by doing what you love, even if it's only for 15 minutes. For me, this means making time to write and read, but it might look different for you. Make lasagna, learn another language, write techno music. Whatever it is, make sure to make time for it. 

What about you?

How do you unwind after a long work day? Do you have a special after-work routine?
Am I the only one who loves post-work Target trips?!

Special Announcement | Introducing a New Project & January's Theme

New year? New project!

At the tail end of 2018, I started listening to podcasts. This is significant for two reasons: 1. I've gained so many new insights from this medium and also feel 14% more like a Real Adult Podcast Listener, and 2. Podcasts re-introduced me to the concept of creating themed content. I've loved listening to different segments and stories centered around a specific theme, such as love, new beginnings, work or writing.

I've really wanted to get back into a more creative vein of blogging, and what better way to do that then to create monthly themes for my content?

With that in mind, in 2019 I will be creating monthly themes for my posts around a topic or phrase that inspires me. There may even be some guest voices in the mix and potential for collaboration along the way (shoot me an email), as well as a resurrection of the Creatives Project (GAH fingers crossed).

The theme for January 2019 is NOURISH.

What does it mean to nourish our minds, bodies, and souls? This is something I especially want to explore around the timeliness of the new year. What are ways we can nourish ourselves, and what does that nourishment look like? Posts coming up this month discuss work-life balance, body image, prioritizing rest and more.

I'm looking forward to creating conversations around the topic of nourishment this month and its many forms. If you have any ideas for posts or want to see something specific, please let me know!

The first NOURISH-themed post is set to drop this Saturday, so be on the look out for that! I'm excited to share this new way of posting with you and hope it's something that can inspire you as we enter this new year.

What about you?

What are you looking forward to this year? What kinds of things come to mind when you think of nourishment? Happy New Year, friends. ♥

The Creatives Project #2: Evangeline Yackel

Hello, friends!!

Welcome back to the second installment of the Creatives Project! The series kicked off with the wonderful Julia Ryan and continues with the gloriously creative and whimsically hilarious Evangeline of An Odd Blog. Be sure to stop by her blog and show her some love! And now, without further ado....

HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS!

Who or what inspires you to create?

"I get inspired by two people: Myself and God. God inspires me everyday in so many ways, but especially with writing. He is the ultimate wordbuilder, plotter and reviser. He was in love with His characters before anyone else. I know this is the cheesiest Christian writer thing to say, but it's true. Whenever I look around at the world, I try to remember that He created everything from nothing. He had no point of reference or something else to build on. It was all pure inspiration. When I put it in that perspective, my own writing struggles seem to melt away and I am filled with inspiration."  

What time of day do you do your best creative work?

Source: Pinterest

"I like to think that I'm one of those creative geniuses who write feverishly into the night, fueled by caffeine, but alas, I go to bed by 10:30 every night, and fall asleep at my computer if I stay up any later. I get my best creative work done between the hours of 7-10 a.m."

What has been your biggest challenge in your own creative journey?

"They say that writing is a lonely career, and it's very true. As much as I love my family, they all don't know the first thing when it comes to writing, so I always end up babbling about something novel-related, and they nod along. I've had to learn how to edit, rewrite, push through plot holes, how to do everything all on my own. I'm sure that's the case with a lot of writers. It's an isolating job, and I've had to word hard to not get used to that isolated feeling and stay there forever."

What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?

"Because I am pretty sure that everyone knows the best flavor: Mint Chocolate Chip. It has been my favorite for as long as I can remember, and it ain't about to change. I am very passionate in my love for Mint Chip."

(SAME, GIRL, SAME.)

What do you do when you're in a creative rut or have writer's block?

Source: Pinterest

 "I haven't been in a creative rut in a long time for two reasons:

I treat myself kindly. It's been quite the process to let go of the sky-high expectations of myself (which was why I used to get writer's block all the time), and treat myself with some kindness. I give myself a lot more room for relaxation. My outlook on productivity is that as long as I'm moving forward, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, it makes the day worthwhile. Lack of pressure lets the creative juju flow easier (I don't know what "creative juju" means, but let's just go with it).

I quickly figure out what's stopping me up. On the rare occasion that I do find myself in a creative rut, I figure out what the issue is. For me, it's never just being drained creatively, it's always for another reason. So I figure out why, fix it (which sometimes involves curling in a ball and crying), and move on."

What is your favorite season?

"If I could live in a world of winter, I would. The White Witch had the right idea: casting a world into eternal ice and cold. #Lifegoals"

Evangeline's Advice for Creatives:

Source: Pinterest

"You are not doing this to please anyone else. It doesn't matter what people say or think. The advice "Write the book you want to read" gave me the book I'm proudest of. If you want to write a book that you think no one else will want to read, go for it. If you want to bake a zucchini chocolate pizza, do it. If you want to knit socks for lizards, reach for the stars. Just because someone else doesn't agree with or understand it doesn't mean that it is not valid and amazing. ALSO: Don't be afraid to be proud of your work. I know so many people who always shrug off compliments because they don't want to seem arrogant. Accept the compliment. Acknowledge that your work is good."

A huge thank you to Evangeline for being a part of the Creatives Project! Your answers were super enlightening and witty. Love it! Don't forget to check out Evangeline's blog here!

Would you like to be the next blogger featured in the Creatives Project? Check it out here! How do you power through a creative rut? And do you also love Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream as much as Evangeline and I do? ♥

The Creatives Project #1: Julia Ryan

Hello, friends!!

Today is a really exciting day on the blog - it's the official launch of the Creatives Project! I've been so pleased and encouraged by everyone who has reached out in an email or left a sweet comment about this project, and I can't wait to kick it off TODAY! Now, without further ado, please give a big warm welcome to our first creative, Julia Ryan of the barefoot gal and Twilight to Dawn!

What made you want to start blogging?

"I love words and books and pictures and storytelling and friends so basically, I fell in love with it before I knew what blogging was! When I started on this journey, there were not too many lifestyle or writer teen bloggers out there yet. I totally am excited with the large community now." 

What are your favorite topics to blog about?

"Passionate stuff. They are the posts I pour myself into. I know a lot of times that it's something that I need to hear and so I hope it will help someone else as well. And I love how open my readers are to my spontaneous topics! Because I get to be 100% goofy in one post, while the next is all-out serious."

How do you balance art, blogging, work/school and life in general?

"For the past almost two years, I publish a new post on the barefoot gal every 4-5 days. There were a few times where that wasn't consistent (i.e. vacation and grad trip) but overall, it's been a refreshing pattern to keep! The balance was hard during my junior year, but since I broke free of the stress of it, I've found I have to make time for my creative [pursuits] otherwise I'll dry up in every other space of my life. I've worked two jobs since May of this year...it hasn't always been easy, but I can 100% say it's worth it for me!"

If you were an instrument, which would you be and why?

"To be honest, I love the fiddle, so I'll say that."

If you could only pursue one creative project or medium for the rest of your life, one and only one, which would it be and why?

  "Writing. I can answer that without hesitation. It is my greatest joy to spill words onto paper (or type them, hehe) because WOW, words mean so many different things to different people. I love love love perspective."

Who or what inspires you to create?

"For my poetry, it is generally a thought or a few words that a friend/sister/human says to me, or what I see in life around me. But most of the time, it's the sky. I cannot get over how many times I look up and get this overwhelming urge of inspiration."

What art of your own are you most proud of and why?

"Though sometimes I look at that even and think it's lame! But...the reason why is, I didn't KNOW I could write poetry. I thought I knew all of my creative angles. I was wrong."

Julia's Advice for Creatives:

"Don't stick with what you know. My first novel was a western because that's what I mainly read. My second was a contemporary (which I hardly read!) and I feel so much more love for that book. Creatives are supposed to be that - creative! The "box" isn't meant for us....[You can] give up on feeling like you've got to be perfect on your first try. And give up your worries about failing. I like to say it's good to fail, because in the end, you'll have grown way more than if you got it right on the first attempt."

Thank you so much Julia for being the very first blogger in the Creatives Project! I loved reading your answers and adored these gorgeous photos. Y'all, give Julia's blogs some love here and here!

Want to be the next blogger featured on the Creatives Project? Find out more information here! What inspires YOU to create? I have to second Julia on the sky. Breathtaking sunsets have my heart. ♥