Dealing With Burnout and Pain

“This year, I am going to work hard to put my health before school and prevent burnout!” – me to me in September

HA.

“Ohmygoshihatethisillneverfinishintime omg omg ugh. You got this though girl, BE POSITIVE, BE POSITIVE.” – me to me now, sleep deprived and stressed.

If you’re not here yet (or never have been), congrats! Seriously. If you have been, join the club. Let’s address our fluctuating levels of misery together.

First, to prevent burnout, you need to discover what causes it for you in the first place. Me? School. That’s probably a topper on every “good” student’s list (and by good, I mean more stressed and dedicated and probably more stubborn than the average human being.)

Other causes of burnout?

• (Bad) scheduling – as in thinking you can get to ballet by 4:05 and fit an hour in to go to a baking competition at 4:50. That.
• Sports
• Extracurricular activities
• Your job

The list goes on. But I have homework so it’s stopping there.

How to prevent burnout? Heh, if I knew, I’d tell you. But there is no one way to prevent it. Sorry if the title was misleading.

BUT,

Don’t click out on me yet.

The way to counteract burnout is to create a sense of

B A L A N C E .

How you get there… well, it looks different for everyone.

Some ways you can balance your lifestyle to directly/indirectly prevent burnout include:

STOP being a yes person. Don’t spread yourself thin. Put yourself first sometimes! If you can’t fit something in, be honest. If you’re going to give someone your time, make sure all of you is there or you’re wasting everyone’s time, including yourself.

Have FAITH because everything works out when you have faith – whether it be in God, the universe, yourself, all three, or just one. Have faith in people too. You can’t control what happens to you while you’re here on Earth, so you might as well let go and have a good time.

Go to THERAPY if you can afford it – and by the way you don’t need to have a crisis or mental disorder/illness to go to therapy, okay? Okay. Life is tough sometimes and it’s okay to want/need some help going through it.

Socialize MORE if you’re an extrovert because that way, you’ll have people supporting you while you’re going through a period of burnout AND someone to rant to, AND people to help you forget the pain you’re going through! YAY!

Disconnect from technology by reading a good book or lighting a candle or taking a warm bath.

Do something that stimulates your mind and helps you to feel fulfilled, because then you’ll feel productive, which is one of the best feelings ever.

STOP comparing yourself to others because, 1) it doesn’t affect them AT ALL but 2) it affects you in a NEGATIVE way. Not only are you reaping ZIPPO benefits, but you’re actually being detrimental toward yourself. Not cool.

So that’s my list! It’s a little firm, but I wrote it as if I’m talking to myself, who needs a serious dose of deal with it and move on. But that’s hard, and I’ve got to be gentle with myself and so do you, so embrace your pain in a healthy way and carry on. That’s life. And it can be pretty great. ❤

Rest in Truth.

This was such an important post I couldn’t not share.

Via Dr. Andrea Dinardo.

Thriving Under Pressure

Truth is truth.

Let them gossip. Let them chatter. Let them say what they choose to say.

Because at the end of the day truth is truth.

And nothing can stand in it’s way.

Rest. Relax. Sit back. Breathe in deep.

Stop trying to convince anybody and everybody of anything and everything.

At the end of the day time will tell.

Rest. Relax. Sit back. Breathe in deep.

When the dust settles and the sun sets truth is truth. 

And it shall set you free.💫

View original post

Nature (And Thus, Life) Quotes

I believe one of the best ways to practice mindfulness is to connect with nature (which is evident on my Instagram, haha…) Even if it’s winter where you are and you can’t immerse yourself in nature as easily, you can still connect with the Earth’s beauty, particularly through these quotes…

---

“People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.” – Saint Augustine

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. …There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” – Rachel Carson

“The earth has its music for those who will listen.” – George Santayana

“When you do something noble and beautiful and nobody noticed, do not be sad. For the sun every morning is a beautiful spectacle and yet most of the audience still sleeps.” – John Lennon

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

“Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms, you would never see the true beauty of their carvings.” – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

---

Know of any more nature quotes? Leave them below!

G E T ~ C O N N E C T E D

• Etsy
• Instagram

Easy Mindful Morning Routines | How to be Mindful

Just a week or two ago, I began a blog series on mindfulness called How to be Mindful (read Mindful Habits, or What is Mindfulness? if you’re new here) and it was well received. So, I’m continuing this series with a collection of mindful habits you can perform in the morning!

I find the way we wake up in the morning is a large factor in how we think the rest of the day is going to go. As a student, my morning routine often consists of: waking up later than intended, laying in bed longer than I should, snuggling my dog, losing track of time, and then ending the morning frantically rushing out of my home, bagel in hand.

I do NOT recommend that, but it’s not all that uncommon of a routine. In fact, mine is (if you can believe it) usually less hectic and chaotic than most of my friends. So, to combat this, I want (emphasis on WANT), to become a more mindful person in the morning. These are the tips I think I can begin to implement (and if I can, you can too. 😉 )

Mindful Morning Habits/Routines

1. Be sure to watch the sunrise! (If you wake up early enough.)
2. Don’t scroll through your phone as soon as you wake up.
3. Prepare the night before – set out your clothing beforehand, pack your book bag or work bag or purse/wallet, or even make breakfasts such as overnight oats and casseroles.
4. Exercise – do yoga or even a few sit-ups and/or squats. The little things add up!
5. Drink tea – try to set aside some time in the morning to drink tea. It’s healthier for you than coffee, and has less caffeine.
6. Meditate – if you’re into that and have time, I highly recommend this practice.
7. Draw or sketch – I find it to be a relaxing way to stimulate my mind in the morning. I prefer calligraphy (I think of it as drawing words.) 😊
8. Drink water or another uncaffeinated (is that a word?) beverage before you consume one with caffeine.

Easy enough right? Begin slow, and start incorporating each habit (or some of your own – these are just suggestions) in the morning for a more mindful way of waking up.

Have a fabulous day!❤️❤️

G E T • C O N N E C T E D

• Etsy
• Instagram

“A Poem That Will Change Your Perspective on Life” | From up There by Jon Jorgenson

I came across this beautiful poem on YouTube and highly encourage you to spend a few minutes of your time listening to it.

Notable quotes:

“No plane has ever crashed from turbulence. …How many of us would stick around if we knew that what is turbulent is ultimately harmless?”

“The turnstile of life keeps kicking back what you refuse to pick up. In other words, we all have to claim our baggage before we can move on.”

I’d add more, but I recommend you hear them for yourself. ❤

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

Wow.

This book.

Wow.

---

As summarized from Goodreads,
“Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work,  embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.”

This self-help book is one of the most empowering, inspiring reads I’ve ever had the privilege to read.

This isn’t a review, but a recommendation.

This glory of this book simply must be experienced firsthand – I encourage you to avoid spoilers and reviews at all costs. I ask that you immerse yourself in this book as Elizabeth Gilbert, its author intended it… by reading it.

This book is truly magical. (The cover is gorgeous, and) the treasure trove of advice and anecdotes hidden inside is simply fabulous. And while I didn’t always agree with the perspective given within the book, it nonetheless provoked thought and proved to be insightful – and was presented in a welcoming, open way. Regardless – this book is a gem. I’ll leave some of the quotes below. I recommend you read them.

“One of the oldest and most generous tricks that the universe plays on human beings is to bury strange jewels within us all, and then stand back to see if we can ever find them.”

“Be brave. Without bravery, you will never know the world as richly as it longs to be known. Without bravery, your life will remain small – far smaller than you probably wanted your life to be.”

“Fear is always triggered by creativity, because creativity asks you to enter into the realms of uncertain outcome, and fear hates uncertain outcome. This is nothing to be ashamed of. It is, however, something to be dealt with.

And you MUST read about her view of creativity being analogous to cats, and her tactic of thinking about fear as a backseat driver.

Please, go forth and bless your life with this book. 😉 (Not sponsored.)

#BigMagic.

Mindful Habits | How to be Mindful

So, you’ve read “An Introduction to Mindfulness” or have discovered this popular ideology on your own and are intent to embrace this lifestyle. That’s wonderful – We’re on the same page here.

Adopting mindfulness doesn’t have to be (and isn’t) a difficult thing to do though it may often seem like a daunting task. I’ve found that the best way to incorporate mindfulness is slowly/incrementally.

Personally, it is easiest to break down being “mindful” into how it would fit into the different aspects of my life – such as mindful eating, sleeping, and exercising – so that’s how this series will work as well. 🙂 Today’s topic is more of an over-arching, general one however: mindful habits.

These are habits and general tips you can use in your quest to become more mindful right now. Good luck in your endeavor to achieve a more mindful life.

Mindful Habits

• Practice gratitude and count your blessings. This is a great way to slowly bring your mind to the present and pay attention to the blessed aspects of your life. Try to pay attention to the little(r) things you’re grateful for, too.

• Notice nature. Pay attention to the sunrise or sunset, how the warm beams of the sun flood the landscape and paint the sky in bright colors, as though it is painting a blank canvas. Take note of how the stream by your home trickles or roars through the piles of smooth stones.

• Take time away from technology. This one is pretty self-explanatory, but try to minimize the time you spend on technology each day. Maybe that means reading a physical book instead of a digital one, or trying to decrease your screen time by five minutes until you reach X amount of hours on your phone.

• Positive affirmations and kindness. Be mindful of how you speak to yourself, and mindful as well of how you speak to others.

• Feel what you feel. In other words, accept and be mindful of your feelings and emotions. Don’t push sadness down or bottle your anger. Express your difficult emotions in a healthy way, and move on to a better present.

These are the top five mindful habits that worked best for me in the beginning stages of becoming more mindful, but there are a plethora of other habits as well. Please share your mindful habit(s) in the comments to give others a chance to appropriate them too.

Thanks for reading! ❤

An Introduction to Mindfulness | What it is and Where it Came From

Mindfulness.

Um, what?

(Common thoughts I had about the topic of mindfulness:)

How to Achieve Your New Year’s Resolutions

It is now 2019.

Welcome!

Maybe it’s 12:01am or 8:30 in the morning or 1:00 in the afternoon. Whatever the time is when you wake up, you know it’s a new year and a new start. If you’re like me, you’ve likely developed resolutions, just as you have many years before.

And you, if you’re like me, may soon abandon or forget these resolutions, just as you have many years before.

Our Mission

Welcome to Smarts and Sparkles, a blog dedicated to YOU. Our – my – mission is to develop a site dedicated to the improvement of the lives of people like me: young adults. Through extensive planning, research, and late-night conversations, I’ve discovered what I believe should be the most important and rather stressful aspects in the life of a modern-day young adult or student: school, socialization, and self-care (the three s’s, if you will…) From providing excerpts and techniques from bestselling mindfulness books to creating step-by-step tutorials on effective writing styles, this blog is ready and well-equipped to help you with whatever task you are facing.

The Three S’s – Explained

In fact, school, socialization, and self-care are truly all inter-related at their core. At school, we learn the fundamentals of how to create friendships and a variety of other relationships (including those that are platonic, professional, and possibly romantic), and slowly understand how to take care of ourselves and adapt to our surroundings. School isn’t just about academics and getting prepped for college or the workforce though that may be a large part of it. The majority of the socialization that occurs during our childhood is through the friends we meet in school or school-organized events, and we are able to discover our own selves through the process of discovering others. And finally, self-care is learned primarily through the experiences we have at school and through our social lives – everyone’s interpretation of self-care is a little different, but what is common to our interpretation is that self-care is a necessary thing – and that’s because it is.

From providing excerpts and techniques from bestselling mindfulness books to creating step-by-step tutorials on effective writing styles, this blog is ready and well-equipped to help you with whatever task you are facing.

This blog isn’t about what’s going to make you the most popular at school or what will cause you to gain internet fame – This blog is about helping you build your best life – to thrive in the circumstances you’ve been given, and how to use your resources to reach your potential. This blog is about focusing on the most important aspects of student and young adult lives and cultivating them in a fun, honest way. 

If you are ready and willing to receive (free) help, stories, advice, tips, tricks, and perspectives that will help you succeed, you’ve come to the right place.

Look to the sidebar to give this blog a follow to join this smart and sparkly community so that you may stay updated with the latest information! 🙂 ❤ Thanks for stopping by. (While you’re here, check out some of my latest posts below.)