wellness

Me Time

When can you last remember actually spending time alone?

If you took a little long to come up with an answer or didn’t have an answer at all then this is the perfect post for you.

I truly believe that your 20s is a time to work on your personal growth, in hopes of becoming your best self. As important as it is to be a social butterfly and surround yourself with good company, a significant part of wellness is taking the time to just unwind alone.

Here are four tips for unwinding alone:

  1. Turn down the lights: Dimming your lights will help to set the perfect ambiance for relaxation.
  2. Smell is everything: Light a candle or diffuse some oils, to provide a calm atmosphere.
  3. Cuddle Something: Whether it is a dog or a body pillow, find something to cuddle because coziness takes unwinding alone to the text level.
  4. Put your phone on do not disturb: The important part of unwinding alone is actually being alone. So put your phone on do not disturb to avoid any distractions.
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Lushwana’s iPhone in “Do Not Disturb” mode. Source: Lushwana Anderson-Stewart

In one of my previous posts entitled: The Art of Balancing Life, I expressed that it is important to “treat yo self” and having a solo night is another perfect way to do just that.

Here are three ideas for a solo dolo night:

  1. Pamper Yourself: Treating yourself to a personal spa night will do wonders for your stress level. Ideas include a face mask and a bubble bath. I really recommend trying a Lush bath bomb (it will change your life).
  2. Read a book or watch a movie: Reading for fun is a foreign concept for 20 year olds (especially college students), so if you’re a reader then take the night to invest in a dreamy romance novel or a mind-racing mystery novel. Reading not your thing? Have a movie marathon.
  3. Home-cooked meal: Making a good old home-cooked dinner is a perfect way to spend your night alone. I often love to make myself a meal that I usually never have time to make and I top it off with a glass of wine which is a great addition to pull the meal together.
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Home-cooked lasagna for dinner. Source: Lushwana Anderson-Stewart

The thought of being alone may make you feel uncomfortable or afraid. But I would really like to encourage you to just spend a night alone, doing something fun that you enjoy and never really have time to do otherwise. The mental and physical benefits will be so apparent that you’ll find yourself doing it a lot more than you thought you ever would.

Check our my friend Trevor’s blog called DeHaan Solo, which is all about guide to enjoying the solo life.

~Miss Twenty Something

What are some ways you unwind alone? Ever had a solo night? If so, how did you spend it? Feel free to share with me in the comments below.

Don’t Lose the Child in You

We all have things that we miss about our childhood. They may include the following: no responsibilities, little worries, or even simply doing something silly and being able to laugh at yourself.

I want you to think back to your childhood. Remember feeling so happy-go-lucky or like you could take on the world? That’s the beautiful thing about children: the way they are so self-confident and care-free.

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Care-free Lushwana at two years old. Source: Lushwana Anderson-Stewart

However, these are traits that often begin to become foreign to us as we begin to get older and our lives begin to change.

 In fact, the harsh reality is: depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health conditions experienced by young people. The frequency of change and uncertainty experienced in one’s adolescence often triggers feelings of sadness or a lack of confidence, instead of sparking excitement and optimism like when we were kids.

But i’m here to tell you that as you continue to make your way through this journey that we call life, that you can still move ahead without letting the past go. Just because you’re growing up and life is taking its course, it doesn’t mean that you must leave behind the child you once were.

Here are 5 ways to never lose the child in you:

  1. Put yourself in unfamiliar situations: Have an open mind and expose yourself to new things.
  2. Pick up a creative hobby: It’s hard to feel curious and carefree when you spend most of your time working or running errands. Take a few moments each day to engage in an activity that you find creatively stimulating.
  3. Look up: There’s a big world around you, and it can be easy to tunnel vision your way through each day. Be sure to take the time to look up and just enjoy the world around you.
  4. Spend time with kids: There is no better way to tap into your inner child then to surround yourself with other kids. They’ll really help you remember the little things that matter.
  5. Do something each day “just because”: Kids are forever doing things simply because they want to. So dance, watch a TV show you’ve been waiting to see or meet up with your long-time friend.
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Care-free Lushwana at 20 years old, tapping into her inner child. Source: Lushwana Anderson-Stewart

Starting today I want you to take some time to tap into that happy place once known as your childhood and to begin believing again that everything and anything is possible. Lastly, always stay true to yourself and hold on to the things that make your heart smile, no matter how little they are or no matter how old you may get.

~Miss Twenty Something

What are ways you tap into your inner child? Comment below.