Amanda Alvarado

Ever just not feel like yourself?

We’ve all been there. Sometimes it lasts for a day, a few weeks, or even a month... but you just don’t feel like you. It is like you're having an identity crisis and you look yourself in the mirror and ask, "Who am I?"

There are a many reasons this could be happening. Maybe, work has taken over your life and you’re not sure what you actually enjoy anymore. You might feel so far away from yourself that you’re wondering how you’re going to be able to get back to being that person again. It’s a pretty common issue, right?

However, there is nothing more important than feeling like you again, and there are many ways to get back to who you truly are. We’ve noted down some of them here, for those looking to begin the journey.

Think about what you love

Sometimes, we feel a little distant from ourselves because we’ve neglected what we love. Perhaps you love to play the guitar, or to go on long walks through the woods and chill out, or maybe you love to turn the music up full blast in the kitchen, and spend the afternoon baking a cake? Try to remember what you love, and make time for it. These are the things that define who you are!

Reconnect with friends

Another reason that you could feel like you’re losing yourself a little is because you haven’t had enough time to spend with your nearest and dearest. Having a night with your friends, and reminiscing about all of the things that you’ve done in the past, could be just what you need to feel like you’re back to the normal ‘you’. And let’s be honest, there is nothing that a laugh with your pals can’t fix.

Take ownership of your choices

A lot of the time, we don’t feel at our best because we’re not making choices based upon what we want to do. Maybe you’re trying to impress your friends, your family members, or your partner, instead of just trying to act for you. Whether you’re Googling ‘plastic surgeon near me free consultation’ but you’re worried that people will judge you, or you’re thinking about a career change, make choices for you!

Spend some time alone

Let’s be honest here, you can lose yourself simply because you haven’t had the time or the space to breathe, and just be you. Take yourself out for dinner, and think about your life in perspective. Take a book and go and read in the park alone. Or even just journal for a while when you find some solitude. Being the real, happy you means that you have time to think about who that is, whilst in your own company.

Don’t beat yourself up

One thing to remember is that you may be feeling that you’re not the real ‘you’ right now, just because you’re not progressing through life at the speed that you want to. This doesn’t mean that you’re not the ‘you’ that you need to be, and this version of you could be waiting somewhere 6 months down the line. Don’t rush, and don’t beat yourself up about any obstacles in the way. This is how you learn!

You got this! You'll find yourself again.

xx,
Amanda

No comments

Mental health is extremely important.

Seriously, mental health involves our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Essentially, our mental health directly affects how we think, feel, and act. Definitely important, don’t you think? Unfortunately, America struggles with mental health as a whole and a lot of us think that finding ways to improve it is unnecessary or even embarrassing. I want you to know that I am here for you and that working on improving your mental health is not embarrassing by any means.

One thing that you need to remember is that if you are struggling with your mental health, you are not alone. One in five Americans experience a mental health problem each year and across the world, depression is the leading cause of disability. In addition, 6.9 percent of adults struggle with major depression in the US and 18.1 percent struggles with an anxiety disorder. I hope you know that you are not alone because mental health is an issue and improving it is so very important. I've talked about how I struggle with anxiety, which is just one way some of us struggle with our mental health.

Here are a few ways that you can improve your mental health and wellbeing...

Eat Balanced Meals + Exercise

Although eating a balanced meal will not help with your direct mental state immediately, I truly do believe that getting healthier will help us look and feel better. Eat those greens and get in that exercise in order to start feeling better about yourself and you could see a big difference in the way that you view yourself and the people around you. I definitely went off the past couple of months, but over the past few weeks, I've gotten serious about putting good food in my body and getting some movement in every single day.

Maintain Healthy Relationships

Loneliness is an epidemic in the U.S. right now, according to Psychology Today. More people than ever are feeling isolated and that can result in feelings of anxiety and depression. A study discovered that loneliness had the same impact on one’s life span as obesity and smoking. Loneliness, the study found, shortened a person’s life by 15 years.

One of the best ways to protect your mental health is by prioritizing your relationships. As much as I love alone time, I also need to be around people. We are meant to live in community. When we maintain healthy relationships, it gives our lives meaning, makes us feel accepted and reinforces that we have people we can rely on during times of adversity.

It’s important to remember that asking family members or friends for help if you’re struggling isn’t a sign of weakness, but rather strength. There should be no shame or embarrassment in asking for help. I'm always here if you need to talk to someone and there are also a number of professional help centers that you can reach out to also.

Prioritize Your Sleep

Sleep is insanely important. If you are busy running errands, taking care of the house, going to work, and just trying to balance it all, you might struggle getting enough sleep, which is definitely understandable. I think that most people do struggle with their sleep, but being deprived of sleep will only enhance and emotional and psychological problems. One study found that people who reported having insomnia were four times as likely to develop depression. Crazy, right? Good sleep is not just about getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night. It’s also about feeling restful and good when you wake up the next day. Make sure that your bedroom promotes good sleep. Use neutral, light colors for the walls and decor, make sure it gets very dark, and if you need to, turn on a sound machine. Also, blue light blocking glasses are great to wear before bed, too!

Get Help When You Need It

It is so important to get help when you need it. A great place to start that is not intimidating at all is with the therapy groups at Ray of Hope Counseling Services. They say, “The various therapy groups at Ray of Hope help you improve conditions such as anxiety, addiction, or depression, especially if you are feeling isolated. Experience the rewarding experience that a therapy group can provide you. Groups can act as a support network and a sounding board. Other members of the group often help you come up with specific ideas for improving a difficult situation or life challenge, and hold you accountable along the way.”

Ray of Hope Counseling Services not only offers therapy groups, but they also offer individual counseling, as well, if you are more interested in a one-on-one help. You are able to get individual counseling in one of their seven convenient locations in Georgia, or if you live out of the state, or if you are too busy to go in, you can also do your counseling session online, which I thought was really neat!

I hope this helps you and if you are struggling, please talk to someone. You aren't alone. I struggle, too, and there is no shame in that.

xx,
Amanda

No comments

If you want to feel better about yourself, let's be honest... this is easier than you’d think to achieve.

Right now, my face is completely breaking out. I feel bloated (gotta love being a lady). I am wearing the comfiest sweatpants I have and an oversized Jonas Brothers tee. I'm definitely not feeling totally confident. Ever feel that way?

If you want to feel better about yourself, let's be honest... this is easier than you’d think to achieve. In fact, sometimes a simple change can go a long way when it comes to your confidence and self-esteem.

Stop Comparing Yourself

Everyone has something that they wish they could change about themselves. If you do this all the time however, you’ll be wishing away your own unique qualities. One way for you to help yourself here would be for you to focus on the things that you do like, such as your eyes or even your hair. This will lift your spirits and it will also make it way easier for you to focus on the positives.

Dress The Way You Want To Feel

Think about it, are you waiting to lose weight before you go out and buy some new clothes? If so then this won’t be doing your confidence any favors. If you wear clothes that are uninspiring then this will make you feel drab and boring, so take your time and pick up some clothing items that make you feel fabulous. It doesn’t matter how much you weigh or how you feel about yourself because sometimes a new wardrobe can really lift your self-esteem. You could even look into different treatments if that's something you are thinking about. Maybe that means getting a facial or dermaplanning. Maybe that means getting a wax or your nails done. Maybe you're thinking something like plastic surgery. There is nothing wrong with that! You do you! You could check out The Plastic Surgery Channel to see if they have a procedure that will really boost your confidence.

Surround Yourself With Beauty

Creating a beautiful environment at home or even in your workplace will really help your confidence. It can also provide you with a sensual experience too. If you are interested in doing this then it helps to keep fresh flowers on your desk at work. You might also want to add some silk pillows to your sofa or try listening to your favorite music while you are making them. Either way, it’s the little things that often help the most so take your time and find something that accents your personality on the outside, to help yourself on the inside.

Take Care of Yourself

The more you love and the more you take care of what you have right now, the more you’ll appreciate yourself. Schedule some time so that you can take a bath, or even go for a massage. You may even want to try and read an inspiring book, as this will help you to change your mindset so that you can focus on what really matters.

Have A Good Support System

Spend time with people who make you feel better, and who have a positive influence on you in general. If you spend all of your time with people who make you feel bad about yourself or even those who don’t care about your wellbeing, then this will hurt your self-esteem and it will make it much harder for you to make a positive change.

Treat Yourself As You Do Others

Think about it, would you ever dream of talking to your friend in the same way that you talk to yourself? Probably not. Change takes a great deal of time and the more compassion and self-care you can practice, the better you’ll take care of yourself.

Remember, you are beautiful inside and out!

xx,

Amanda

No comments

I don't always like change, but often times, it is so necessary.

It’s safe to say that there is a lot of us that lead a very hesitant and reserved life where we are scared of change. We are totally unaware that we all have the power and strength to make the changes that we need to in life. This is me. I like routine most of the time. I like to be comfortable. I don't welcome change easily, but I've learned that change is so necessary a lot of the time.

Without change, we don't grow. Some of the most beautiful moments in our lives happen because of change. Your dream life doesn't happen by staying in the same place. It happens when you get uncomfortable. It happens when you put yourself out there. It happens when you make a decision that you are unhappy and you need change. I'm going through this right now in my life.

Have a look below at some of the ways you can recognize if it’s time to make a change in your life.

You Forget You Have A Choice

When enough is enough you should always remember to stand your ground. Sometimes it’s better to stop ignoring and take action, never forget that you have a choice with every situation, you don't have to continue living with something just because it’s considered normal. I mean, I know people who have used spell casting to help them on their journeys. At the end of the day, what’s important is that you nourish your growth, ideas and feelings and if you need to let go, let go now.

You Forget That Deserve The Best

Okay, so not everyone is going to see you for who you are and see you the same as the next person but it is important to have someone in your corner who is going to appreciate you for you. You should never be left feeling like you don't deserve this and should always make sure you have the respect of others. If you don't have this then it could be time to make changes to find that connection. Make sure you surround yourself with people who encourage and appreciate rather than continually criticize and belittle it's just not worth it and it won't lead you to success.

Your Passion Has Gone

Really think about this one as it can be easy not to recognize when you have lost your passion. It has a tendency to sneak up on when it’s too late. Think about whether you jump out of bed with a smile on your face or you’re already counting down the hours until the day is over. If you don’t feel enjoyment or happiness from everyday life then it’s definitely time for a change. You can identify this before it gets too bad though, watch out for routines slipping and monitor how you feel each day. If you think you have lost your passion then it could be time to introduce a new activity or hobby to the mix, finding something that you be enthusiastic about is a key factor to a happy, fulfilling life.

Noticing that a change needs to be made or stepping out from bad routine can often be hard but it's not impossible.

Are there any other ways you can recognize when it’s time to make a change? Please share some ideas in the comments below.

No comments

Who could use some extra cash?

Life seems to constantly throw curve balls at the wrong time and when it does throw you a curve ball, it is much easier to handle it when you have a few tricks and tips up your sleeve to make some extra cash. For example, last time my friend was headed out on a long weekend trip, the week before she left, she had a kitchen leak (in her wall), a broken washing machine, and her dog tore her ACL. Thankfully, she was prepared and knew what to do financially. If you are ever in this same boat, or if you need some extra cash for an upcoming trip or expense, keep reading to find out 6 ways to make extra cash.

Use Your Talents Wisely

Do you have a talent such as dance, photography, or cooking? If so, use it to your advantage! For example, if you have a keen eye and a talent for photography, think about selling your pictures to stock photo websites like Shutterstock, Adobe, and others. If you are a fantastic cook, consider selling your meals at a farmers market each week! There are so many opportunities when it comes to using your talents.

Babysit

I know, I know - babysitting seems like such an obvious way to make some extra cash, but I have a trick for you. Instead of just posting on Facebook and letting people know that you want to babysit, look for the moms and dads who are busy professionals. Obviously, they need to have children as well, preferably under 5 (the typical school age). Those specific parents will more than likely tell you that they don’t remember the last time they were able to enjoy a relaxing, stress-free night out. Offering your services to this niche population will not only be very lucrative for you, but an easy job to do because chances are you will more than likely be house-sitting as the children sleep at night. If you have experience in child care, consider signing up for sites like Care or Sitter City where you can set your schedule of availability and the parents will come swarming to you.

Dogsit

Originally, I was going to lump babysitting and dog sitting in together, but I wanted to separate them because in my opinion, babysitting takes a bit more time and effort than dog sitting. Sites such as Rover allow you to register as a dog sitter, in your own home. This way, you can get paid to watch dogs while still going to your normal 9-5 job. I would just recommend that you let all pet owners know that you do work during the day (if you do) so that you do not let their expectations down.

Rent Out Your Home

Do you live in an area where people vacation? If so, consider renting out your home when you travel, or renting out a room that you do not use. Airbnb is a great place to start when it comes to renting out your space temporarily. Alternatively, if you want a steady income, you could rent out a room to a student who needs housing for a semester, or to a young professional who is just getting started in the working world and needs help with rent and utilities.

Get A Watch Loan

A watch loan, you might be wondering? Why would I want to get a watch loan? Well, let me rephrase: get a collateral loan - on any valuable of yours. Are you still confused? Let me explain. Located out of Atlanta, Georgia, Chapes-JPL provides collateral loans (such as watch loans, diamond loans, and even car or purse loans) on your valuables.

They provide the city with low-interest loans in Atlanta and have been doing so for over 38 years now. Chapes-JPL does not sell watches or jewelry, so unlike a traditional pawn shop, Chapes-JPL is in the business of keeping their rates low, to ensure that their clients can afford to redeem their loans. They say, “Furthermore, by providing an affordable pawn shop alternative, our clients can use the same item repeatedly when necessary.” When you work with Chapes-JPL, you can receive a loan on watches, gold, jewelry, cars, boats, and other valuables in as little as 15 minutes from the comfort of their private and safe business-like office, which is conveniently located across from Lenox Center and within steps from MARTA. If you need some quick cash, turn to Chapes-JPL for a low-interest, temporary collateral loan.

Teach Classes Online

This is definitely more of a recent opportunity since the tech world is exploding right now. Teaching classes online is a great way to make extra cash, if there is something that you are good at. No matter if you are a seasoned professional, or if you are just starting out, chances are that you have a skill that others find valuable. Use this skill to make extra income by teaching classes online. There are quite a few places to do this such as SkillShare, Udemy, and Teachable.

What other ways do you recommend making some extra money? Leave a comment and share!

xx,

Amanda

No comments

You know I write down my 10 dreams I'm working on making a reality every single day and one of those is "I travel often."

If you are planning a trip abroad some time soon, there are a lot of things that you might be keen to consider in order to make sure that you get it right and enjoy it as much as you possibly can. Perhaps you might be planning a trip to a particularly exciting and exotic location, and you want to make sure that you are going to make the most of it. When it comes to visiting exotic places, you are likely going to want to make sure that you do make the most of it, especially if it is the kind of place you might not find yourself returning to all that often. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the best ways there are to see exotic places, so that you can make sure that you are going to see your chosen destination as well as you can.

Solo Exploration

If you are someone who likes to do things on their own, then this first one might be something that particularly appeals to you. A lot of people like exploring places on their own, and it is certainly something that can be exciting in its own way. It has the advantage of meaning that you don’t need to worry about changing your plans or moving around however you want. Whatever you want to do, you are free to do. That freedom is one of the main things that many people seek when they are travelling, so if that is true of you then solo exploration might be the way you want to see those exciting and exotic destinations.

Group Tours

In many places, whether you are travelling alone or with others, you will want to often make the most of the place you are in by grabbing a tour and seeing the place that way. This can be especially useful for anywhere in the world that is particularly interesting historically, culturally or otherwise. If you are visiting somewhere far-flung and mysterious like the Galapagos and surrounding islands, then taking Ecuador and Galapagos tours is absolutely going to help you to make the most of it and to really enjoy learning about that place much more, so that is something to consider. Group tours can be a good way to meet other people too, which is often going to prove important.

Planned Excursions

Perhaps you want to join on to a planned excursion going from your home country to your place of interest, instead. That can be a very good means of ensuring that you are going to see the most of the place you are visiting, and probably learn a lot more about it than you would otherwise. What’s more, you can join one of these excursion groups whether or not you are travelling alone, or with family or whomever. So it is something you can do no matter what to try and make the most of seeing an exotic location.

Planning a cool trip and need someone to travel with? Hello! Pick me! Hahaha

xx,

Amanda

No comments

Because we love earth, yes?

During the summer months when the weather is super warm and you’re trying to keep cool, have you thought about ways to keep not only yourself cool but the energy within your home cool as well? It’s actually a bit easier than you think and can help you save money in the long run too. What are these tips you ask? I’m sharing a few below!

Use Your Windows

If you live in an area where the weather tends to be cooler at night, my advice would be to turn your cooling system and open your windows while you sleep. It’s comforting to hear the crickets or birds chirping when you wake up in the morning too. Another idea is to shut the windows and blinds when you wake up to help capture the cool air.

Purchase a Box Stand

If you’re ok with spending a small amount of money to help reduce your energy costs, purchase a ceiling fan or a box fan to help you stay cool. Using the fans to help cool your home means that you can raise your thermostat setting about 4 degrees without reducing your comfort ( that’s key ! ) Also, make sure to turn off the fans when you are not in the room because it’s there for you to cool down, not the room.

image: Athens Commercial Laundromat

Wash Clothes In Cold Water

If you have a washing machine in your home, make sure that you use a cold setting to get them clean. If you don’t have a washing machine, a local laundromat should be able to help you as well. In the Atlanta area, a laundromat called Athens Commercial Laundromat is your one stop shop! They not only offer you plenty of washing machines and dryers to get your laundry clean but if you are too busy to do it yourself, they have a wash, dry and fold service! You can drop off your laundry and have it ready to pick up in just a few hours ( they are open until 7pm, 7 days a week ). Their typical turnaround time is less then 24 hours for an average load of laundry. All you need to do clean, fold and neatly package for you to pick up.

Keep Your Fridge Cool

In the summer, you want to keep not only your home cool but your food cool as well. When it comes to keeping that fresh squeezed lemonade or your homemade popsicles cold, there are a few tips to help keep your energy bill low and maintaining your fridge properly. Set your thermostat between 35 and 38 degrees and your freezer between 0 and 5. Make sure that the door seals and the vacuum coils are ok.

Make Sure Your Cooling System is Running Efficiently

In order to keep everything running smoothly, you’ll want to make sure that you have a regular maintenance for your equipment scheduled. Also, avoid putting lamps or a TV set near your air conditioning thermostat. They can sense heat from those specific appliances which can cause your air conditioner to run longer and isn’t necessary. If you vacuum, make sure that you are doing it regularly to help remove any dust build up and ensure that your furniture or other objects are not blocking the airflow.

UnPlug

Summer can be extremely busy with activities and more but make sure that you’re taking time to turn off and unplug all those electronics too if you aren’t using them. This includes your charger, TV, computers and other small electronics too. According to the Department of Energy, this can help you save about $100 a year which may seem small but every little bit helps! Now that you’ve unplugged, take time to enjoy the warm weather, the pool with your kids or exploring a new area together as a family without having to worry about e-mails or social media blowing up your phone.

Summer is really a great time to make memories, but stress can easily creep up. These tips will hopefully help you save some energy in the summer so you can focus more on making memories rather than worrying about your bills. No matter what you have planned during these three months, take the time to slow down, unplug, do what you can to keep your home cool, your laundry looking as best as you can and ask for help if you need it.

Are there any other tips to help save energy on your home that I’ve missed? Share in the comments below!

No comments

The Podcast

Follow Me

Topics

Get My Planner

Popular Posts

A Note To You