Last week I shared that I’ve been feeling more anxious than usual lately thanks to my current workload and the amount of pressure I put on myself to succeed. I know it’s human nature to feel blue sometimes and that there are lots of other people out there who feel anxious or suffer from anxiety too. So I thought I’d share some helpful tips for anyone else who may be feeling overwhelmed by life…because, hey it happens, and it happens to the best of us! 

But before I share my tips, let’s talk about today’s outfit! This gorgeous navy tunic is from The Mint Julep Boutique (c/o) and fits like a dream! I love that it’s not too sheer and is really comfortable to wear. It’s called the Tear Drops Fall Top and also comes in white. I know it’s called the “fall top” but I can’t wait to wear mine throughout spring and summer with a pair of white pants. The pants I’m wearing have been my go-to since last year and are linked below. Great for petite, as I only had to roll them slightly once. My wedges (c/o) are extremely comfortable and my second pair from the brand. They are also on sale right now for under $35! I added some magenta accessories for a fun pop of color and have a feeling this navy & pink combo is going to be a recurring outfit them this season. I’ve linked most of my outfit below, including some of my fav beauty items and my new fav nude drugstore lipstick (it’s so good!). 

Now on to my tips…

Stop, and take a breath. // The first thing I try to do when I’m starting to feel anxious is to stop, take a breath, and realize why I’m feeling the way I do. I’ve recognized recently my anxiety is exacerbated by an overload of stress. When this happens I take a moment to breathe in and out while taking a step back from how I’m feeling. It’s important to remember it’s okay to not be perfect all of the time, or any of the time. 

Replace the negative with positive. // One of my New Year’s resolutions was to start seeing the glass half full. Whenever I get anxious and a negative thought enters my head, I send it away and immediately change it into something positive. If you’re not careful anxiety induced thoughts that aren’t at all true can quickly become a false reality. And if you continue to give them thought space in your mind, something wonderful can quickly become a heavy negative burden. So if those little thoughts start to creep in…and we all have them…tell them “goodbye” and think about the positive instead. 

Take some time for yourself. // Another thing that really helps to remotivate yourself and to curb anxious feelings is to take some time for yourself. I know taking time out not to work seems like it would only make workload induced stress worse, but it’s so important to relax & recharge. I’ve found that even taking mental breaks throughout the day to rest my brain really helps. Go and get a massage, book a nail appointment, watch EllenTube, read a couple pages from your favorite book…you get the idea. 

Make a list. // One of my favorite ways to curb anxiety is to make a list. My head can get so jumbled by the million and one things I need to do each and every day. I’ll start to think about everything I need to get done in a single day and almost immediately will feel my heart start pounding and my mind will start racing. So what I do is make a list. It is incredibly helpful to get all of my “to-do’s” out of my head and onto paper. I’ll make one list for work, one list for my blog, and another for my personal appointments and chores. This way I can focus on what is truly achievable that day and can rearrange everything else so it will still get done on time. It can also be helpful on super busy days to plan your day out by time so that you hold yourself accountable to working efficiently. 

Trust those you love not to judge you. // I’ve always been hesitant to talk about my anxiety for fear it would be looked upon as some sort of personal failure. A lot of people don’t understand anxiety if they’ve never experienced it and therefore aren’t always understanding of those who do, indeed, struggle. I’ve tried to express myself in the past and have been “shut down” which caused me to be quite reclusive and shut off when I’m feeling overwhelmed or upset. Luckily, being in a loving, nonjudgmental relationship has helped to turn this around. Once I finally opened up about the way I was feeling and saw that nothing changed and that in all actuality, it brought us closer, I felt an immense amount of relief.  

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and that these tips are helpful to some of you! 

I finally got back to the gym yesterday which was quite the success. Lately, I’ve been so busy, working out has fallen to the wayside, but I have a Vegas trip with my girlfriends coming up next month so I’m determined to get back into my routine. I also got some blog photos and planning completed which is always a great way to start the week. A major anxiety reducer! Justin and I also got in our usual TV downtime and lots of puppy cuddles with Heidi girl. Have a fabulous Monday, see you Wednesday! 

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