I’ve always had a hard time saying no. Not necessarily because I want to say yes, but because saying no makes me feel guilty. I worry that I’m letting someone down. I worry they’ll think I’m selfish. I worry I’m not doing enough. And sometimes, especially at work, I feel like saying no means I’m not being […]
People Pleasing and Mental Health: When Keeping Everyone Happy Starts Hurting You Read More »
Lately, I’ve been asking myself a question: Is pushing myself to the limit actually harming my mental health? I push myself at work because I want to be a good employee. I want to be part of the team. I want my coworkers to know they can depend on me. So when I’m asked to
Is Pushing Myself to the Limit Harming My Mental Health? Read More »
Photography and Exploring Nature as Self-Care When we hear the words self-care, we often think about bubble baths, skincare, journaling, meditation, or taking a day off. But sometimes self-care looks like grabbing your camera or phone, walking outside, and seeing where you end up. I know a lot of people who use photography and exploring nature
Photography and Exploring Nature as Self-Care Read More »
When we hear the words self-care, we often think about bubble baths, skincare routines, spa days, journaling, candles, or buying ourselves something nice. And those things can absolutely be self-care. But sometimes the self-care we need most isn’t cute, aesthetic, or Instagram-worthy. Sometimes it’s ridiculously basic. Sleep. Food. Water. Movement. Fresh air. Quiet. Doing absolutely nothing.
Self-Care Tips We Look Past: Sometimes the Best Treatment for Exhaustion Is the Simplest Read More »
Sometimes when we’re exhausted, our first instinct is to push through it. Drink another coffee. Finish one more thing. Tell ourselves we’ll rest later. Other times, we assume the answer is to crawl into bed and stay there. But I’m learning that exhaustion isn’t always asking for the same thing. Sometimes your body needs rest.
Sometimes the Best Treatment for Exhaustion Is Rest — and Sometimes It’s Movement Read More »
Mental health conversations have come a long way. We talk about anxiety. We talk about self-care. We share inspirational quotes about healing, setting boundaries, and taking mental health days. And I’m glad we do. But sometimes I think we’ve made mental health look a little too…pretty. Mental health isn’t always drinking tea, journaling, taking a
Mental Health Truths We Need to Talk About Read More »
Sometimes you don’t need to try harder. Sometimes you need to stop for a minute. There are days when getting through the day feels like a full-time job. You wake up already tired. Your brain feels foggy. Little things suddenly feel overwhelming. You don’t necessarily want to do anything—you just don’t have the energy to
How to Keep Going When You’re Emotionally and Mentally Exhausted Read More »
I’ll be honest… I compare myself more than I’d like to admit. I catch myself scrolling through life in my head like a scoreboard. My classmates have families now. Kids. Stable careers. Houses. The whole “adult life” checklist seems like it’s already been checked off for them. And then there’s me. Still building. Still figuring
Why I’m Learning to Walk My Own Path (Even When It Feels Like Everyone Else Is Ahead) Read More »
Sometimes I look back at my childhood and wonder: Did I somehow predict my anxiety diagnosis before I even knew what anxiety was? I don’t think “predict” is really the right word. I think I was experiencing things long before I had the words to explain them. Now that I’m older and understand more about
Did I Know I Have Anxiety Before I Knew What Anxiety Was? Read More »
Have you ever been overwhelmed, anxious, angry, or triggered and someone tells you: “Just relax.” Or maybe nobody even has to say it because you’re already telling yourself. Calm down. Stop thinking about it. Let it go. Why can’t I just relax? I’ve realized something about myself: sometimes the harder I try to relax, the
Why Forcing Yourself to Relax Sometimes Makes It Harder Read More »
I’ve noticed something about anxiety: the more I worry about what my body is doing, the more my body seems to give me something to worry about. This can be especially confusing when allergies are involved. Maybe my skin feels itchy. My nose feels stuffy. My throat feels strange. I notice a new sensation and immediately
Anxiety, Worry, and Allergies: Can Worry Make Your Symptoms Worse? Read More »
If you’ve spent any time exploring my work, you’ve probably met a Cozy Critter or two. They’re cute. They’re colorful. They’re comforting. But they’re becoming something much bigger than a collection of adorable characters. Welcome to Cozy Critter Studio — the home of my Cozy Critters, mental wellness apps, creative tools, and little companions designed to make
Meet Cozy Critter Studio: Little Companions for Life’s Big Feelings Read More »
