Even though baths are more associated with the winter time, I really do love to enjoy a bath all year round. There's just something about soaking yourself in some warm water, with lots of bubbles and your favourite body care products around you to have the ultimate pamper. In the summer, I like to add more fruity and fun scented products to my bath time and also continue this theme into some bodycare I carry out after my bath. This summer I've been really into trying out new products and really upping my body care game, because it's just as important as it is in the winter time.
Whether you're a keen photographer or a blogger who enjoys taking photos for their blog, a bright image is something we all aim for and know looks a lot more aesthetically pleasing to our audience. It can be difficult to always achieve a bright image with things like the weather, lighting or using the wrong camera settings getting in the way. I know for me when it comes to taking photos for my blog or Instagram, I do struggle to achieve a bright image and have to rely on editing tools to help me out. But sometimes my images do come out bright with a good white balance and looking crisp. And not only is this such a good feeling when this does happen, but it also means I've been able to pick up some good tips and tricks to follow to even achieve this process to make it work in the way I want to.
You may or may not have stumbled across this post due to the title. A title that may have drawn your attention, a title that you could relate to, a title that might be the one thing you have been asking for, that much needed comfort and assurance that everything is going to be ok. Because you know that you do not feel ok. You feel scared. You feel sad. You feel lonely. You feel worried. You feel frustrated. I know. I know how it feels. And if there is only one thing you can take from this post that is addressed to you, then please know that you are not alone.
There is someone out there also reading this post experiencing the same sorts of feelings you are. There is someone out there who is feeling like giving up or just needed an escape from whatever it is that is going on in their lives. There is someone out there who will be wanting help or even just some comfort. There is someone out there who also looks a lot like me, who is also suffering the same way you are and most of the time also needs to know that I am not alone.
When you first start to experience any form of mental health issue in particular it can feel so scary and very isolating. But it doesn't have to be this way nor does it mean that you are alone. You are not fighting this battle alone even if it may seem like you are inside. Sure it's personal to you and essentially it operates within you, but there is so many of us also fighting the same battle. You are not alone. You will never be alone. We're all here right with you fighting on. It's not just your battle. It's our battle.
None of it will be easy. Nothing is in life. Especially those greater moments. They do not come to us with ease. Instead they take a lot of time, effort, determination and hard work to get to where we want to be, even if we do fail and trip up a few times along the way. We always get there because it won't kill you. Even if it feels like it possibly might and that you won't survive, you will. I know it. I know you will survive. I've never been more sure of anything and that's also coming from the person who has been in that situation too many times.
Because I know that belief can take you far. Believing in yourself can drive yourself to recovery and finding your feet again in the world if you feel so very lost. With that sheer determination to be and do better, belief will work with you to help move you towards where you really want to be, even if that path may seem a little bumpy and unclear, it will pathe way for the magical moments that will come.
Time will be your biggest friend along the way. It will help you more than you will ever know. Time will heal any pain. It doesn't have to be the enemy. Time gives you the chance to be able to achieve what it is you want to and work on yourself. When you put your energy into taking care of you and giving yourself all the love that you possibly can, that alongside everything else you are doing you will begin to see the biggest difference. And that is where time comes into the matter. It gives you this opportunity to start over, no matter how many times you have to. It gives you the space to give yourself you're all. To nurture yourself. To be kind to yourself. To give yourself so much love. To give yourself the chance to get better.
Things will start to get clearer. The more you learn about yourself and the way you work. Things will start to make more sense. You will find that you will know how to handle a bad day or how to handle a panic attack. You will know when something genuinely doesn't feel right or when it's just your anxiety trying to make you avoid something. You will know when you're being rational and when you're not. When you're thinking a particular way and a different way to challenge that style. You will realise when you're taking care of yourself and when you're not. You'll know when things start to improve when you take that pressure off and just let it be whatever the hell it is. Just let it be. Don't fight it. Just let yourself feel what it is you're feeling and allow it to pass. Because it will.
And when you feel that amazing high of achieving something, no matter how big or small it may possibly be, you know that you have done it and you reached where you wanted to be at that moment in time. You need to celebrate that. You need to give yourself so much love and be proud of what you have done. This will aid in your recovery and your own self care. Celebrating your own achievements will do you the world of good. And they will be important things to remember to help you through this journey.
Because one of the harsher things about suffering with a mental health condition is something I'm sure you can all relate to. It's that feeling of when things have been good for a while, whether that's a couple of days, perhaps a week or two or even a month, when they start to slip back again and you feel that massive weight back on your shoulders. It can feel like you're back to square one again. It can feel like a never ending cycle, that you'll never get better, that it's always going to be this way. But it's not. You are living proof that it always gets better and that nothing lasts forever. And you will get through it. I know you will. Because remember I have been in your shoes so many times before and it always gets better.
Give it time. And you'll see! Believe me. Believe you. It will get better.
The cycle of these days, of these moments of bad days, they will start to burn out. They will get less and less. They will get further and further apart the more you find out about yourself, give yourself the love and care you need, as well as all the other things you do to help yourself, those moments of desperation and hurt will be over with. You will gain back your control. You will get through it. You know you will. Believe you will. Believe it and you'll see it. Keep fighting on. Keep working on what you need to. Don't give up. Don't treat every set back as a failure. It's not. It's a learning curve. Every time you fall, you get back up and you try again.
Celebrate those achievements. Give yourself the love you'd give a loved one. Learn and learn some more. Be brave and have courage moving forward. Know that it might be uncomfortable, but it cannot kill you. It's ok to have bad days and moments. They pass. Just like the good do. You'll get through it and will watch the storm pass. Know that things do change. And time does heal. Be strong. Remain hopeful. Reach out for help and to people when you need to. Love with every bone in your body and make sure a lot of is directed towards you.
Most importantly, remember that it is ok. That we're all here right with you. That you're not alone in this. That things do get easier and better. That life can still be whatever the hell you want it to be. It does not have to stop just because you might be mentally unwell. Do not let it stop you. Because you are incredible and the whole world deserves to know that too.
Lauren x
Of course the high end market is one of luxury and you can genuinely find some really great quality products when you do spend that little bit more. But for me personally, you really cannot go wrong with the drugstore. Drugstore makeup is not only affordable, but you can also find some really gorgeous products that work amazingly well without having to spend a fortune whilst doing so. This also means repurchasing products is also easier and doesn't come with that hefty price tag. In today's post I'm going to be sharing with you five of my favourites right now from the drugstore. Most of these I use on a daily basis and absolutely love, so I hope you will too.
There seems to be some misconception within the blogging world that we need to be on our game 24/7 with making content, promoting said content and thinking of new said content. Whilst doing this can be good for progressing your blog along and bringing success, it can also be toxic if you burn yourself out, especially if you are already feeling deflated with your blog and know that you need sometime away from it. Blogging breaks are fine. Blogging breaks are needed. Everyone needs to have a break from blogging, the same way we have days off work or education, breaks are highly beneficial for so many reasons. The same applies for blogging and taking breaks. The benefits you can get from taking a break from blogging is endless.
Beauty is a wonderful thing. It is not only so much fun to experiment with, but it also provides you with so much confidence that you might not have had beforehand. It is especially useful on those days when you don't feel so good within yourself, where you need some help boosting your self esteem and help you to feel better. Beauty can enable you to feel better about yourself and make you feel confident even when you're feeling rubbish. There's a fair few products that I always reach for when I'm not feeling so confident and need a pick me up or perhaps I reach for on important days, like an interview or a special date.
When it comes to packing for a short break, it can sometimes be hard to know how much you actually need to take without packing too lightly and then regretting not taking a particular item or two. It's a good idea to ensure you're packing the essentials and that the things you do pack are practical. This will help to keep things light for your short break and avoid you overpacking. Here are some of my top tips on packing for a short break:
I think most girls can relate to the insecure feelings they experience when it comes to bikini season, knowing that they might be venturing off on holiday and having to bare their body for the world to see, feeling pressures to get this 'summer body' or be 'body goals' before they go. However we all know that this is unrealistic. Our bodies do not change with the seasons and not everyone is going to be a body goals. So to stop ourselves from feeling unconfident and uncomfortable about stepping out in swimwear this summer, it's important to try change our mindset and by following the tips below, you can say goodbye to your insecurities and hello new found bikini confidence that we should all be able to have:
Here are some of the things that have helped me and can also help you with dating when you have an anxiety disordered:
1. Know and accept that you probably will be anxious - Accepting that you probably will be anxious is a great place to start. This way you know you're not battling against your anxiety nor are you going to surprise yourself if you suddenly feel yourself getting anxious. Know that this is completely ok. Being anxious is something we all experience, especially when it comes to seeking new relationships or going out of our comfort zone, so everyone will be feeling the same way. You will not be alone. Don't fear the anxiety. Let it be. Ride it out and it will pass. The feelings will not last forever.
2. Be in control - I know I mentioned briefly that dating means being out of control, but if you can try be in control of a situation as much as you can then this will really help ease yourself into it. This could mean being in control of whom you decide to start getting to know, where you go on a date(s), what you want from the situation etc. Also when you feel comfortable, don't be afraid to share with them how things are for you. This can really help if you do decide to meet with someone, then they will know what to expect from you and how to handle it. By doing this, you're taking off some of the pressure from yourself and sharing your anxiety with someone else. This will help to make you feel more confident as well.
3. Do things at your own pace - There really is no rush. Do things at your own pace. You have plenty of time on your side. Don't make snap decisions just to get to where you want to be. Take it nice and slowly. It might take weeks, months or even a year or so, but every frog you have to kiss to get to the right one, will be worth it. It's all a learning experience and a chance to beat your anxiety, so take it in your stride. Talk to people when you're ready to. Meet up with people when you're ready to. Don't put pressure on yourself to be at a certain stage straightaway. Also don't let anyone else pressure you either. You're in control of you. You call the shots.
4. Understand your needs/wants and also theirs too - Ensure you're both on the same page. Know what you want/need. Whether this is the relationship you both want (dating, seeing each other, an open relationship, a committed relationship etc) or how things are progressing, it's good to know how things are between you to help reassure you and keep peace of mind. This will help ease your anxiety.
5. Let them in on the know - When you feel ready to, slowly ease yourself into informing them just how you're feeling and what to expect from you if you were ever to meet properly or start a relationship. This will help give them a good idea of how to handle any flare ups and educate them on the best approach to take to handle your mental health. This will give you assurance that you know someone will be there to support you if you do feel uneasy at any moment.
6. Be confident - Remember that with dating they're getting to know you for you. So be confident in who you are. Just because you suffer with mental health doesn't mean you're a bad person. You're still you with or without the illness. It does not define you. You're still a human being with bags of personality. Use this as the perfect opportunity to love yourself to the full and praise yourself for all that you are. Be honest and shine yourself in a positive light, even if it one of the hardest things you have to do, the more you do it, the easier it will become. You want them to get to know the real you, just as much as you want to know the real them, so be confident in it and belief in yourself.
7. Don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work out/they turn out to be a d*ck - Unfortunately some people are harsh. This is not your fault. The problem lies with them not you. So if things don't work out or someone is disrespectful to you in anyway do not put the blame on yourself. It does not reflect your worth if someone turns out to be a d*ck. The plus side is that it makes way for better people who will treat you right. So don't lose hope or take it personally. You'll find someone who is just right for you. No matter how long it takes. It will happen.
8. Find support and encouragement from you and others - When trying to improve your mental health, we're always taught about self-love and self-care. Really enforce this way of self care onto yourself by being your own cheerleader. Praise yourself for any obstacles in the dating world that you overcome and encourage yourself to go for opportunities with that help of your own self belief. It's also nice to get the same support and encouragement from your friends and family who will be more than happy to offer this help to you. They can talk with you before any dates and boost you up ready to face the situation. Also they can also help you to come to terms with your feelings regarding any situation, whether this is potential people you're interested in or the types of things you're worried about.
9. No pain, no gain after all - No matter how deliberating anxiety can be, without going through it and coming out of the other side, we wouldn't gain something more positive in return. Once you have got through the anxiety and faced your fears, you will know that it was all worth it, to be able to find someone (again) or have learnt lots from your experiences and gained lots of confidence. It will feel amazing once you have gotten through it and you are able to feel comfortable on dates, around that special someone or even just talking and getting to know new people.
10. Don't give up - This is super important to remember when you are suffering with mental health. But can also be applied to dating when you have anxiety. Do not give up on what you want or you as a person. You are not your anxiety. Your anxiety might operate within you. But you do not operate within it. So keep going. Don't let it beat you. Get back up and try and try again. Love yourself and respect yourself. Know your worth and what you deserve. Continue to push yourself out of your comfort zone at your own pace. You'll feel amazing once you have done. It will all be worthwhile. Believe in yourself and give it time. You'll get there. Don't give up.
What are your top dating tips?
Lauren x
Stereotypically when it comes to the weekend, you'll more than likely want to have plans and things to do to keep yourself busy and make the most of your time off from work or school. Although sometimes it is nice to just sit back and relax, to not have things planned in advance and spontaneously go through the day without thinking too much about what you're going to do. A chilled weekend can sometimes be exactly what you need to unwind from the busy working week and give yourself sometime to yourself. Here are some ways you can relax this weekend fuss free:
When it comes to makeup shopping, I always head to the drugstore to shop for any repurchases on my favourite products or to invest in new additions to my collection. Over the years from being a makeup lover and also reading other bloggers and writing my own, I feel like I have been able to work out work out just which brands from the drugstore best for each individual product type. If you're someone who loves the drugstore for makeup like me or someone who wants to shop in the drugstore more, then keep on reading because I'm going to share with you the best drugstore brands for..
Having previously worked with Anatomicals on a past post and loving the products they kindly sent me, I was excited to be working with them again and testing out some more products from their range. This time round I picked out a few products that I found would work best for my favourite time of the day. Bath time. If you know me, you'll know I 100% prefer my baths over showers. There's nothing better than running a warm hot bath with lots of bubbles and a ray of different bath and body products lined around the tub for you to treat yourself to. It's one of my favourite ways to relax and unwind from the days stresses. So sit back and relax, whilst I go through bath time with Anatomicals...