wellness

How to Solo Camp as a Woman & Why It’s Important to Me

July 3, 2020July 2, 2020By JoannaPosted in the great outdoors, wellness

This week was really eye opening to me about the type of content I can share here on the blog and on my Instagram. I went on a solo camping trip last weekend and, on a whim, decided to share about it in my Stories… and WOW, I got so many responses! I was totally not prepared for it, to be perfectly honest with you. So many people were amazed that I go camping by myself! I’ve never really thought too much about it, but I do get it. There are safety concerns, for sure. So today I wanted to share how to solo camp as a woman and why it’s so important to me to do this for my mental health and well-being (more on those benefits here)! I hope this post inspires you to do give it a try and see if it works for you, too.

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How to Have Difficult Conversations with Friends and Family

June 12, 2020June 11, 2020By JoannaPosted in wellness

Believe it or not, this is a blog post that I’ve been working on for a while… probably since last fall. But it never felt like the time was ‘right’ — that is until now. A large part of being consistently anti- racist is sitting down and talking. It isn’t enough to sit back and not ask questions of where your friends and family members stand on the topic of race. In my opinion, silence equals complicity. So today I wanted to talk about how to have difficult conversations with friends and family. Most of the tips here are actually not geared toward discussing race specifically. Rather, I tried to make sure the suggestions can help no matter what the topic of discussion is. I hope it helps you!

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5 Self-Care Tips While Advocating for Change

June 8, 2020June 8, 2020By JoannaPosted in wellness

Hi friends. How are you doing? I know it’s a loaded question because so much is swirling in our world right now. It can get totally overwhelming. I say that from a place of privilege because I have not dealt with racism and exclusion on a daily basis the way Black people and other marginalized communities have. I am also here to say that it is not possible to be a strong support if you are not also taking care of yourself. Self-care looks like different things to different people. As I spent last week immersed in self-reflection, reading, news, research, Twitter, and more… I realized I wasn’t taking care of myself. I was getting caught up in the overwhelming, mixed up multitudes of feelings that come with doing the work to help make the world a better place. So I sat down and made a list of self-care tips to help me get to a better mental state — while still doing the work. Here it is and I would love if you shared what has been helping you, as well.

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How We Prioritize Alone Time In a Small Space

May 27, 2020May 26, 2020By JoannaPosted in wellness, small spaces

I consider myself to be incredibly lucky right now because Sean is still considered an essential worker and therefore going to work every day. That means I generally have the house all to myself… all 640 square feet of it! One question I’m asked a lot though is how each of us gets alone time in a small space. I’m guessing this gets asked a lot for a few reasons: our bedroom door is a barn door, so it doesn’t close all the way like a traditional door. Or maybe because I don’t have an office where I can hideaway. Even though we live in such a small home, we’ve been able to put into practice a few things that helps each of us prioritize alone time.

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All About the Health Benefits of Gardening

May 22, 2020May 21, 2020By JoannaPosted in wellness, gardening

I’ve said this a few times before… the amount of enjoyment I get out of yard work is so unexpected! It’s literally one of my favorite part of owning our bungalow. I love getting my hands dirty, planning landscaping projects, and planting things for us to eat. Or even plants that are just pretty to look at and smell good! I don’t know why, this always surprises me, still! But in talking with my coach, it makes sense because there are so many health benefits of gardening. I decided to dig a bit further and research why that is so I could share with you today.

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13 Modern Air Purifiers That Aren’t Ugly

May 8, 2020May 7, 2020By JoannaPosted in home decor + interiors, shopping + gift guides, wellness

Recently, I conducted a poll on Instagram and tons of people asked me to share a round up that’s similar to my post about stylish humidifiers — but this time about modern air purifiers! I’ve used plants as air purifiers for a while, but with spring upon us, my allergies are terrible. We have the windows open to let in that fresh air, but woof, the pollen!! In case you’re in the same scenario, I thought it would be helpful to share which air purifier I use + round up a few more stylish and modern options for you!

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My Week of Doing Puzzles

May 4, 2020May 4, 2020By JoannaPosted in life, wellness

I have probably rewritten the first sentence of this post and stared at the cursor for at least 30 minutes, not really knowing how to start off. You might have noticed that I didn’t share any blog posts last week and barely posted to social media… the truth is that I just needed a break. I had hit 2020 running with so many goals of launching my classes, exploring opening an online shop, writing some really in depth blog posts, and so much more. Especially because I took off time during the holidays to regroup, rest, and relax! I was so ready for 2020, optimistic even. But with the arrival of COVID-19, it feels so much like my motivation and drive have taken a hit. In just a week, I feel like my entire life got flipped upside down and everything shifted… and along with it, went my focus.

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