Life update 3.0

So, I took a break. I guess that the break ended up being longer than I had originally thought it was going to be. But I think that in life one must be able to break away from the normal just to get back to the roots. The last time that I had posted was talking about coming back from a low mood… which ended up being April 5^th. It’s now mid – July and almost 3 months went by. I feel like I am more refreshed now more than ever.

What have I been up to so far?

In April, Travis and I celebrated our 3^rd wedding anniversary. Both not wanting to do anything too big, we ended up just going out to eat with a few friends and then later booking appointments for glasses. Because, the 3rd-anniversary gift was either leather or glass – glasses – get it?

May and June really held nothing for me, other than the fact that my anxiety spiked heavy during these months. I had too many episodes of tears, and crying during social events that Travis was seriously wondering about my mental health.

In May we took on another dog to add to our happy little family. We spent a while looking for just the right fit and we found her in a Spanish Podenco – then called Snow. She was a rescue all the way from Spain and had only been in the country for a few weeks. (A post all about her will come at a later time.) After a two week trail we decided that we were going to keep her – so we adopted and renamed her Lady, because of how dainty she is at times.

Through June was a bit hard for me this year. Couple the stress of getting the school year finished in once piece, the fact that it was rolling into my birthday was a bit tough. I talked briefly about this in my post: Living without a Mother. Couple the fact that I haven’t seen my family for a little over two years, I was just sad… Yes, even dealing with around about tide of both anxiety and depression. I spent far too many hours wasted away in gaming and pushing my feelings down.

What’s been happening in July

I’m pleased to say that I got to spend a few days down in the States last week. I enjoyed seeing my siblings and my father tremendously. I even got to pick up my nephew from his school. It was amazing to do that because he was super excited to see me.

I spent a lot of time with my brother and my younger sister – whom I haven’t seen since I moved to Canada – 3 years ago. Though the gathering was to remember our Grandfather, it was still nice to see them all.

What can you expect from Oh Chel?

I am back from my break and hope to have more content for you in the coming weeks. I’m slowly going to start back up with my blog, complete with a fresh new coat of paint – as well as slowly starting to integrate my social media again.

I have Twitter chats planned, new posts are written, special segments that will be going monthly as well as fixing up the layout a bit.

What’s been going on with you?

19 July, 2017 1 Comment

Mental Health, Personal

Coming back from a low mood

It’s April 5th and I haven’t really posted since March 3^rd – where I talked about what it’s like dealing with both anxiety and depression causing me to feel like I’m a failure. Let’s call it what it was – a low mood – very long, low mood – but a low mood none the less.

I have this knack for piling stuff onto my plate and then becoming overwhelmed by it and the drive fades to nothing. I did it in February and now for the whole month of March, I did it again. I’m not proud of it – it’s something that I’m trying to work through, but sometimes the low moods win. (At that’s okay. We can’t always be perfect.)

Comparing is never good

I have started (again) to compare my blog to other people. Other people who have more followers, more engagement, more beautiful pictures, more – everything and that’s not okay. I cannot compete with a blog or that person – period – Especially when it’s someone who has been blogging for x amount of years MORE than I. I’ve only started this blog in 2015 – and in October it will be my second year.

I’m not where I want to be with my blog, in fact, I’m not sure where that is. Right now I’m just kind of floating along trying to find my way – and I hope you’re up for the ride with me.

Comparing and envying them – and then having a panic attack then simply shut down isn’t healthy. Click To Tweet

Competing or comparing yourself against someone isn’t healthy – you get into this role of ‘why can’t I do that?’

I need to focus on my strengths

Thinking positive is the best way to getting oneself out of low moods. When I over think – or start to compare myself to someone else I simply need to work towards changing my focus on what I do right. What are my strengths?

Kind and thoughtful
I’m creative
I have a lot of great ideas, just need to keep pen and paper handy all the times

I’ve found that if I can list my strengths then I will have those to focus more on and less about the negative thoughts that happen with low mood.

Self-care is important

I think I have stressed this a lot, but sometimes we forget in our times of challenges what we need to do to get back to our normal self. Self-care is simply taking care of yourself plain and simple. You are tired – sleep if you can. Eat if you need to, just don’t make it a habit of overeating every day. If you plug your body full of unhealthy things it’s harder to get back on track because you’re working off all the extra crap.

Some of my favourite self-care tips are simple:

Taking a bath or shower
Buying treats or sometimes something pretty will do the trick
Try out new beauty products / makeover
Exercise or get out into the fresh air
Reading on a cozy couch in warm lights with lovely drinks is great
Playing with your pets is both soothing and fun
Write
Go out with friends to a café
Order in or dine out with that special someone
Breathing and doing some meditating or yoga

I’ve been looking up different ways at the moment to do some yoga – I really like watching on Instagram Angela from Clutter Box Blog share her triumphs as well as her struggles with yoga. You can check out her Instagram account here

I might stumble from time to time, but I will always get back up

It’s okay – I need to say this to myself a lot lately. But, it’s okay to push things that aren’t as important or dire in my life off. My blog isn’t what keeps food on the table (as awesome as that would be) but it is a tool for me to use to share my struggles and my wins.

It might be low mood, but it won’t ever last. It might knock me down – but I will always push through it and get back to my feet.

Depression & anxiety are hard to deal with, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come back from it. Keep going. … Click To Tweet

05 April, 2017 1 Comment

Monthly Goals

April Intentions 2017

Well – damn. I guess that’s all I really can say when I haven’t really been blogging much the last two months. (Sorry for the swearing.) Okay, if I’m truthful I swear like a sailor, but I feel that sometimes if I go too much people won’t take me seriously. Ah – what was I saying before my swearing tangent?

Ah yes. Another month down the drain so to speak. Goodbye March and hello to April. April – and all the good things it brings with springtime.

April – the month of rain, mud, less snow (hopefully) and the intent to bring out the so-called date car (Travis’ Camaro). Hope it’s a good month.

So, let’s get to it – shall we?

Well, hello there April. Look out it's a new month and we have new #MonthlyIntentions Click To Tweet

March Intentions 2017

For the Blog:

Continue to research cameras start to save up for new body and lens – I did some research, but I failed to save up some money for a new body & lens
Work on growing Twitter following – Yeah, I took about 2 weeks off and stopped my Twitter growth for this month.
Build the light box – Nope, that didn’t happen either.
Devote one day to writing posts/ taking pictures/ updating social media – Or this too.

For Personal:

No pop at all this month – Sometimes I feel like this is a waste of time putting this. But one day I will stop drinking pop.
Slowly take me off of coffee – I’m hoping that this next month I can stop drinking coffee completely.
4 dates with Travis & celebrate Travis birthday – Something I did do! It was small – only our good friends came over.
Meal plan/prep for two whole days – Whole lotta nope on this one.

Highs:

Travis took some time off of work and was home for 2 weeks helping me with household work. It was nice to have a bit a break from doing most of the work inside the house. I’m so very thankful that he is able and willing to help out even though he already does so much. With my anxiety and depression running wild again this month it was easy to help out when I can, but not overly stress out about housework not getting done.

Lows:

My anxiety and depression came back like a wildfire. I was going to take a week off, but then that turned into almost 2 ½ weeks from blogging. There I spent my time practicing self-care and attempting to be social with friends.

I had another heartache right after St Patrick’s Day – when my Grandpa passed away suddenly. It was hard to hear and even harder to deal with not being there for my father. After losing his little brother just 5 months ago and now Grandpa … to be honest – I worried for him. Though, with technology today I was able to be there for the key moments and even saw Grandpa be laid to rest.

Overall

To be honest – I really felt like not doing anything this month. March break took a lot out of me and now I know that I struggle working more than my easy split shift. I am very thankful that we can afford for me to only work 25 hours per week so the stress level isn’t too high.

With my time off I was able to reflect on what I’m doing and where I’m slowly starting to take my blog. It’s fantastic news because sometimes I feel like I’m just bumbling around in the dark – in life as well as my blog.

March was a good 3rd month, but let's rock April out even more. #monthlyintentions Click To Tweet

April Intentions 2017

For the Blog:

Keeping up with filling Buffer every week. Respond and reply to more comments on Twitter as well as work on placing all my followers into specific lists.
Build that flipping light box. I have the tools and materials – I just haven’t set it up.
Organize the items I have for my photo shoots. Use the label maker that Travis got me (Ps. FIND THE LABEL MAKER.)
Devote 1 day to write/take pictures & update social networks

For Personal:

Continue with 4 dates with Travis – celebrate our 3^rd year of marriage in a special way
Meal plan for 1 full day. Start collecting coupons.
Buy a slow cooker or borrow from Mother-In-Law
Go to the farmer’s market for fresh vegetables

Though sometimes I feel like 4 things can be overwhelming, I am trying to work through this. I will work towards completing my intentions set out each month – and sometimes things won’t get done. I have to learn that it’s okay and not to stress over it.

Are you ready for #monthlyintentions for the month of April? Let's work this month four! Click To Tweet

What are you most excited for in April?

01 April, 2017 3 Comments