Dear Mental Getaway,

So I think most people would agree that it is important to take care of your physical health. We know the importance of eating nutritious meals and getting enough physical activity. What many people tend to neglect, is that mental health is just as important.  Worrying about mental health is only for people dealing with mental illnesses though, right? WRONG. Everyone should continuously be working on their mental health.  Your quality of life depends on it.

My mind has been very cluttered lately.  If you read my recent post on overthinking, you know all about what it can do to a person.  So I thought I'd share one way to increase your mental health, not only for over-thinkers, but in general.  I am not a doctor, or an expert in any way, this is simply something that I have found to be helpful. Sometimes, you just need a break.

I am at my dad's house this weekend for Father's Day.  While it is nice to be in one of my favorite towns (Woo Pig!) it is really difficult for me to come down here sometimes.  Everything flows so smoothly at home; I have a routine, all of my friends, my clothes, my schedule, etc.  It is home for a reason.  And I have always felt like I have to put my whole world on pause to come down here, which stresses me out like no other.  Until I actually get here.  Then everything stops.  Seriously.  The life I'm living at home really does pause for a few days.  In a weird way, it can be kind of nice.  All of my problems are 250 miles away, and even if I wanted to, I can't do anything about them from here.  I get a nice break from my job, my daily routines, some people that drive me crazy, etc.  It's almost like a mini vacation.

Now I am not saying you need to pack up and drive for hours to achieve this.  Find your own "getaway." Put down your phone for a few days.  While I'm here, I spend a lot less time on my phone. I check it in the morning and before bed, sometimes periodically throughout the day, but it mostly stays comfortable in my room.  I try not to worry about what my friends are doing, or what I am missing out on at home.  Instead, I have become pretty good at being present here, catching up with people I do not see very often.  Putting your phone down for a bit can really do wonders.

Once your phone is down, take time for yourself.  Do not stress about the world around you, your job, your friend/family drama, or anything else. This time is about you.  Catch up with people you don't see often, or soak in the bath, or read your favorite book.  Whatever it is your heart desires, do that.  It could be for a week, or thirty minutes.  You  can be hours away from home, or perched on your couch. You decide all the parameters for this one.  If you do it right, you'll thank me I promise ;)

What are you waiting for?? Pick a time within the next few weeks, you deserve it!

Happy vacationing

Yours Truly,
Pantless Sunday's    

2016 Summer Bucket List!

Have I told you how much I love summer? Here's a little list of 30 things I hope accomplish in the next few months (and I'll cross them off as I go) :)

• Go to an outdoor concert   Ellie Goulding; Keith Urban
• Attend a Wedding  Yay Corey and Sarah! 
• Go to a Royals Game
• Lots of pool days
• Do more yoga
• Paint the Starry Night
• Read more books
• Watch Fireworks
• Eat a snow cone 
• Watch a sunrise
• Have a picnic  Took my favorite kiddos to the park
• Have a BBQ with friends
• Sit by a fire
• Have a dance party
• Stop worrying so much
• Do some fun DIY projects
• Go see a new movie Me Before You
• Stargaze
• Rock a new outfit
• Be more spontaneous
• Play in the rain
• Go hiking
• Play on a playground
• Learn a new song on the piano
• Go to a drive-in
• Release a paper lantern
• Second cartilage piercing? 
• Get a passport
• Update resume
• Post more!

What do you want to do this summer??

Dear Over-thinker,

BREAKING NEWS!!! I am admitting it.  I am a huge  over-thinker.  It's terrible.  So I'll begin by
saying that I cannot exactly offer advice on this topic without being hypocritical, but it is something that I have made the decision to work on this summer.  I thought I could share my two cents.

So what exactly is overthinking? It is the scenarios you create in your head that don't actually exist. I'll give you some examples.  Overthinking is when the text I sent five hours ago is still haunting me. Did I word it right? Why haven't they responded yet? Are they mad at me? Or when I have too many things going on and I have to tell people "no." They're going to hate me.  I'm going to miss out.  I'll never get invited again.  Or when I compare myself to others.  I'm not as pretty as her.  I'm not as kind, or as smart.  I'm not as successful.  Or when people ask me what I'm majoring in and they don't quite understand Interior Design. They probably think I'm not very bright.  I'm a "pillow-fluffer."  I''m going to pick paint colors for the rest of my life.  Or when I tell someone that my parents are divorced. Now they don't know what to say.  They feel bad for me.  They think less of me. Overthinking is the voices in your head that never shut up. 

Pretty ridiculous right? Surely no one actually thinks this way.  But I do. I can't help it.  And I know I am not alone.

It is something that I have struggled with for as long as I can remember, and I think it is one of the primary causes of my anxiety (which we can talk about another day).  It takes a toll on the way I live my life. I avoid situations like the ones I listed above.  I do not promote this blog like I should, I don't post certain pictures, I'm very careful about the decisions I make, and what I tell people, etc. all because I fear how I may appear to others. I am far from an open book, and I prefer to keep to myself (especially around new people) because of it.

I have definitely had my fair share of high and low points.  Towards the end of high school I had a pretty high self-esteem. I was confident in the woman I was becoming, and I tried my hardest not to let others get to me.  At least that is what I told myself. The past few months, however, I have found myself really struggling.  And I'm not sure exactly why. I think that is one of the hardest things to accept; there is often no single cause. My mom always used to tell me that I was "wired" a little differently, which I agree with. I would keep myself up at night, my mind running non-stop. It is a trap that is really difficult to get out of once you start.

But difficult does not mean impossible. And that is why I am choosing to focus on changing my habits over the next few months, and hopefully I can share some tips and advice by then.

"Overthinking is the cause of our unhappiness.  Keep yourself occupied.  Keep your mind off things that don't help you.  Think Positive."  

Know that you are not alone, and you can get through anything.

Yours Truly,
Pantless Sunday's