If there's one thing I've been asking for, it's a hair cut. My last hair cut (as gross as it is) was last October. When I was in high school, I was getting hair cuts every two or three months to maintain my long bob, but now that I'm growing my hair out I figured that I might as well see how far I can go with managing my hair. I think I've been doing a good job with it because I haven't felt the need to use hot tools or a ton of products to hold it in place—like I do that normally—but it's been nice to let my hair hang loose a natural for a while. 

Thankfully, I have secured an appointment with my hairdresser to fix up my color and length. I'm thinking about going brighter and possibly blonder, but my sisters say they love my brown hair, so we'll see what I'm feeling! I started coloring my hair about two years ago and I have to say, I think I'm obsessed. It's true—the new seasons bring new hair reasons! 

There are other products I love like the Ouai Texturizing Hairspray for some added hold and body. I also have a new find, the OGX Honey Hold spray for indestructible hold on more humid days when I want my curls to stay in place.  

I will fully disclose that I am not sponsored by Amika products, but if the opportunity arose, I would definitely love to be a brand ambassador for them. Growing up I used mainly Tresemmé, so I thought it was about time to give my hair some love, especially now that I am coloring it. 

My hairdresser got me obsessed with their products and I realized that my hair has become so dry over the years, partly because I wasn't using the best products for my hair, but also because I was using chemical stripping shampoos and conditioners. I also shower a lot since I workout and am constantly active, so I made sure to put my hair first and find products that won't strip it away of its nutrients and color. 

I scored and found this set at TJ Maxx and would highly recommend looking there first for more higher end hair products. They have a great selection of salon rated brands for decent pricing. Plus, I've had these bottles for a few months and I have barely used half of it. One product that has really saved my hair has been Amika's The Shield Style Extending spray. Now that it's starting to get humid, I like to spritz this on top of my hair as the finishing seal and it has really proved to have staying power. Most products I've found that promise to keep a hold, will flatten within a few hours, but I think I've found my staples and will continue to enjoy them throughout the summer. 

How have you been managing your hair recently? 

It's been a few months since the beginning of stay-at-home orders and Chicago is extended until the beginning of June, but there is still not much promise for what's to come this summer. To the amount of areas already opening up, I can feel that people are beginning to become more complacent with the order, but might not realize the severity of returning to our "normal habits" quite yet. However, I think a lot of people are still doing things to cope with the uncertainty and are trying to distract themselves with things they necessarily didn't have time for. We've started gardening, trying new bread recipes, or playing Animal Crossing from dawn to dusk and I have realized that we've lost a fundamental piece of what life should be about—happiness. 

Give Yourself Time...

There are high hopes that everything might even itself out and we might eventually go back to "normal," but with the time being, there's nothing promised, every day seems like the same, and I understand that the whole wake up, eat breakfast, get to work, exercise, and do it all over again is not the normal for everybody. 

Setting an alarm has been my saving grace, even if it's one to three alarms that I need to actually get me going. Find a way to make yourself get out of bed because you and I both know that we would sleep in every day if we could. I have fallen in the routine of waking up, checking my phone, scrolling through unimportant articles and emails, and being later than I expected with no time to get the day started. So, whether that be making a cup of coffee, making your bed, or brushing your teeth, get up and get your day started! You will feel more motivated to get things done.

Do One Thing for Yourself Everyday...

My focus lately has been set mainly on electronics: getting work done, answering emails, making to-do lists, watching lectures, or hosting Zoom calls. I live a pretty busy, but mundane life throughout the week and I'm always trying to tackle assignments and to-do lists ahead of time, but that leaves me drained and unmotivated to keep going. Sometimes uninspired, I find that retreating to a playlist, my Reese Witherspoon Hello Sunshine book, a little puppy play time, or doing my nails allows me to reset and recharge. When I feel the most overwhelmed, I find that escaping for a bit does the trick. 

Stay on Top of Things...

I am all about getting on top of my work ahead of time as a little "thank you to my future self". I know that working one thing at a time is usually the best way to put full focus into things. If I can set myself up for success and not create a pile of things to get done during the week, I'll focus on big assignments over the weekend and feel better set knowing that I got a start on it ahead of time. Forward planning has been one of my most well-known traits because I like structure and planning out manageable tasks.

Get Some Fresh Air...

Working from home can feel stifling, a bit claustrophobic, and one thing is for sure, I always keep my windows open. Air filtration is key and even better being outside and staying active has helped me balance daily tasks. Daily dog walking, reading outside, or backyard tanning has given me a sufficient amount of vitamin D, but sometimes I wish we lived near nature preserves and more scenic areas. Finding a time to get a breath of fresh air and some sunlight make me feel less like a hermit crab.

Mind Your Thoughts...

Sometimes I wake up with a really bad mood. I mean we all have moods, and lately I've been kicking myself for feeling bad mentally because there are so many other things I could be putting my energy towards than negative thought bubbles. Even if I just manipulate my thoughts in a way that makes things more positive, for example, telling myself I got enough sleep, or saying one thing I love about myself, or simply shutting off my phone puts it in perspective. Making daily tasks more like fun opportunities or looking forward to that night's online yoga session has changed the way I think for the better. 

Stay in Touch...

I've read this before, but this time is crucial for checking in with loved ones and those you have not talked to in awhile. There's no excuse not to meet for coffee or go on that brunch you previously planned. My best friends and I have made time to chat and catch up, which has been the most refreshing and socially exciting. Even rekindling friendships with motivational messages goes a long way and it makes my heart warm to know that I have someone else to confide in. Even if it means finding a mentor or meeting up with someone from an online class over Zoom, having some human interaction other than your family can keep you from feeling isolated. 

I came to realize that all of these habits have just become daily parts of my routine now and I think they are all pretty manageable. Finding one happy habit a day and sticking to it will help you with your daily goals and relieve some of the stress that come with them. What are some things you like to stay on top of? 

01. Slowing it down. Like I said, I've kind of enjoyed having a little bit of a pause and not feeling like I need to keep up with everything. Whether it be with school, my blog, or future plans, I have felt a release from needing to make appointments for everything and checklists to do later. I've seen a change in myself and not having a reliance or need to control everything. 

02. Winning an honorable mention. I've mentioned this briefly before, but over the past two semesters, I have been involved in the PRSSA Bateman Competition where over 70 other PRSSA chapters compete and implement a full public relations campaign promoting the 2020 Census. After all of the hard work was done, my team and I were proud to be awarded an honorable mention for our campaign, Love Where You Count. Not to mention the other DePaul team ranked in the top three finalists, this year's competition results made history and heightened DePaul's public relations program. Overall, I am just beyond grateful to have had hands-on PR experience and learning what it is like to be dedicated and passionate about a specific cause and its ability to motivate and encourage change. It will be an experience for the books! 

03. Being optimistic. It's easy for me to switch moods and during times like these, I've definitely juggled with my own mentality and being okay with things not being okay this moment in time. I've found ways to put my energy towards my creativity. Sometimes I still have moments of doubt, anxiety, and just sudden waves of overwhelm. I'm sure there's a common feeling of doubt and worry right now, but you're not alone! It's a new month and I'm hopeful that there will be more positive days ahead. 

04. More silly moments. Sometimes I'll FaceTime my best friend Lauren and we will just crack up about the dumbest things and it just changes my entire mood that day. Even my sisters and I are either laughing about TikToks or memes. Laughter has been real medicine on gloomier days, so May has been the month of letting go and having a good chuckle. 

05. My gardening skills. My project for quarantine was to re-amp our back yard flora with lavender, sweet mint, herbs, and hopefully sunflower that has been sprouting oh-so-slowly, but I think there are sunnier Chicago days ahead. Now that garden stores are open and it's past Mother's Day, I've seen more people out and about trying to spruce up their yards. The trees are blooming and we've seen a few woodland creatures grazing around the neighborhood. Signs of summer are just so promising. 

What have you been up to lately?