Starting this week on a positive note

So last week was ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’ which motivated me into posting a little more on mental health in the hopes and help of spreading awareness, leading me into thinking a lot more about my own mental health which hasn’t been the best recently and the more I posted about my past struggles and recent it’s brought to light just how much I’ve actually been ignoring my own mental health in the hopes that it would just… disappear I guess.

This week I’m taking a new approach to everything, I haven’t worked EVERYTHING out just yet but I know I will eventually. I don’t want to feel like an impostor posting all this positivity that I’m personally not feeling myself.

I want to start feeling that little glimmer of positive energy that I had when first starting my blog up a few months ago, and to do that I’ve listed a few positive things I want to do throughout the day, everyday of the week to try and ensure a positive week, which will hopefully lead to a better month and in turn a great year.

So what steps am I taking to ensure I have a positive start to my week?

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Start my day off with a positive/motivational quote.

Now this may seem silly to some but reading positive/motivational messages can be really good for you, you can feed off of that positive vibe that person had when creating that quote.

I personally love quotes and I always have. I remember when I was 14 and I covered my whole bedroom walls with all different coloured/shaped post-it-notes that had all kind of quotes that I had written/drawn onto them because my mum had forbid me to write on my walls.

Anyone can own a quote, anyone can think up a quote, you don’t have to be famous or a “really big deal” to have your own quote.You see quotes (especially inspirational quotes) EVERYWHERE. Schools, collages, hospitals, your local doctors, shops, on coffee shop sandwich boards and the main source is online; Tumblr, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, you can even see people’s favourite quotes on Goodreads.

You see quotes (especially inspirational quotes) EVERYWHERE. Schools, collages, hospitals, your local doctors, shops, on coffee shop sandwich boards and the main source is online; Tumblr, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, you can even see people’s favourite quotes on Goodreads. Quotes are everywhere and they are coaching us from the sidelines of our lives with little pep talks from labels on soap dispensers and tea towels and so on it goes.

With all that in mind I have been thinking about creating and printing out my own positive/motivational quotes when I start printing out ********** (sorry guys I’m keeping it a secret until all is sorted).

Drink hot chocolate or a calming tea in the morning.

I’ve done a rather good job at cutting coffee out of my life this year (though there have been a few times I’ve ‘fallen off the wagon’ and may have caved into a few coffee’s here and there). But I want to continue on cutting out as much caffeine in my life as possible in the hopes that it will help me control my anxiety some day.

I have one of those mums whose every solution to every problems has always been, “Have a cup of tea.”

Feeling sick? Have a cup of tea.

Having friend problems? Have a cup of tea.

Feeling upset? Have a cup of tea.

Just broke your leg? Have a cup of tea…

And well I guess you see my point. Tea is the solution!

If that doesn’t convince maybe some of these tea benefits will?

• Tea contains antioxidants. Teas of all varieties contain high levels of antioxidants polyphenol that can help keep your body healthier.
• Tea has less caffeine than coffee. While there are some potential health benefits to consuming moderate amounts of caffeine, drinking loads of it is hard on your hear, other organs and really bad for those who suffer anxiety.
• Tea can create a calmer but more alert state of mind, helping you relax and concentrate more fully on tasks.
• Tea eases irritability, headaches, nervous tension and in some cases insomnia.
• Tea can also cause a temporary increase in short term memory. Not feeling your best today but need to be on the ball? Try drinking some tea! The caffeine it does contain may give you the boost you need to improve your memory, at least for a few hours.

I could list so many more but thought I would try and keep it short as I have more to talk about and share with you.

Morning Yoga

This year I have been working really hard at my yoga but this month I haven’t done as well and I’ve not stuck to it as much as I had at the beginning. I want to change that and start doing my yoga every morning 7am or 8am sharp!

Thinking about starting yoga? Here are some yoga health benefits;

• Yoga can increase your flexibility
• It can increase your muscle strength and tone
• It can improve respiration, energy and vitality
• It protects your spin
• And increase your blood flow
• Yoga can increase your self-esteem and gives you peace of mind
• It also perfects your posture

There are so many benefits to yoga that I can talk bout if for days and days! Which is why I’ll cut it short here and save the rest for yoga post.

Go for a nature walk

If there’s one thing I love, it’s talking a nice and relaxing stroll with my significant other away from busy traffic and chattering people, where nature still has claim on its land.

My boyfriends ‘go to’ solution for when I am down is to usually take us on what I like to call our little ‘adventures’ where we would walk to the most isolated place we could walk to and enjoy the wonders that nature has to offer. No sound of people, of technology or cars. Just the grassy ground, the quiet air, and singing birds flying by. More often than not taking our little adventure usually works and I find my self flying with the feeling of happiness and love.

Something about being out in the fresh air with my love by my side and no sound or sight of anyone else eases my mind instantly and I always feel myself more relaxed, laying and smiling a lot more. I’ve always been an outdoorsy girl, even when I was younger.

Taking a walk in nature once every day is also going to help push me out of my comfort zone and help me comfortable my anxiety in hopefully a calmer and more comfortable environment for myself. It’s going to be a big push for me but something I feel I need to do, something I realised last week that I’ve might have been ready to do all along.

And, Lastly – READ FOR MY OWN PLEASURE

Me and Toby (Photo credit: My boyfriend)

Reading is something I love to do and do every day but since starting my blog I have stopped reading books simply for my own pleasure and have only been reading books for book reviews and as much as I love and enjoy doing this, I do miss reading books just for myself and so I want to start doing that again this week.

I know some days are going to go by great and others are going to be terrible but it’s all part of life. You have to take the good with the bad and the bad with the good. The bad helps remind us what the good in our lives actually is, it helps keeps us focused on our goal, to live our life as happy and care free as possible.

I hope you have enjoyed to days post and I hope this helps motivate you into ensuring yourself in having a good.

Don’t forget, Mental Health Awareness maybe over and the month is soon coming to an end my dms/messages and email: littletinkable@gmail.com are always open to anyone seeking confidential and non judgemental help/advice.

I also hope this post can help get you in a positive mood this Monday morning. Remember, You can face whatever battle you are facing just take it one day at a time, have a lovely week!