Here's How and Why to Make Your Own Protective Mask

What is anxiety?

Dr. Shivanand describesanxiety as "a complex state that can manifest in various forms and intensities, affecting both the mind and the body." He continued, saying, “At its core, anxiety involves feelings of worry, fear, and unease, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, and difficulty concentrating. One way to understand anxiety is to think of it as the mind being overwhelmed by the multitude of thoughts, concerns, and stimuli bombarding it at any given moment. Just like a computer with too many open applications, the mind struggles to process everything efficiently, leading to a sense of being scattered and unable to focus.”

Why do I get anxious when I travel?

When it comes to anxiety specific to travel, the reason for why you may experience these uncomfortable feelings could be due to a multitude of reasons and can vary in intensity from person to person. Dr. Shivanand shared that travel anxiety could be in part due to “fear of the unknown, fear of safety, fear of flying, control issues, and past traumatic experiences,” as well other areas of anxiety including “separation anxiety, social anxiety, and health anxiety.” Dr. Shivanand went on to explain that, although fun, “traveling often involves stepping outside of one's comfort zone and encountering unfamiliar situations, environments, and people. For some individuals, the uncertainty of what to expect can trigger feelings of anxiety.”

No matter why you experience anxiety related to travel, “It's important to recognize that travel anxiety is a common and valid experience, and there are various strategies and coping mechanisms available to help manage it,” offered Dr. Shivanand. “These may include relaxation techniques, cognitive-behavioral strategies, gradual exposure to anxiety-provoking situations, seeking support from mental health professionals, and planning ahead to minimize stressors during travel.”

​How can I control my travel anxiety ahead of my upcoming trip?

• Plan and Prepare in Advance: “Plan your trip ahead of time to reduce uncertainty,” says Dr. Shivanand. “This includes booking accommodations, transportation, and activities in advance, as well as familiarizing yourself with the destination, and local regulations.” Having a loose agenda of things to look forward to when your trip starts is a great way to get excited when thinking about traveling, instead of stressed.
• Practice Relaxation Techniques: “Incorporate relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation to calm and center yourself. [Yoga of Immortals] Breathwork and Advance Cognitive sessions can really help,” says Dr. Shivanand. As the founder of the Yoga of Immortals practice, he uses its principles in his everyday life and has seen how it can positively impact the lives of others from a mental health standpoint. However, any type of yoga, meditation, and other similar practices you're familiar with should help.

• Create a Checklist: “Create a checklist of essential items to pack and tasks to complete before your trip to stay organized and minimize last-minute stressors,” shared Dr. Shivanand. “Organizing your belongings and documents can also help you feel more in control during your travels.” The simple task of crossing off packing items from a list can feel cathartic and ensure you don’t forget anything essential during your travels.
  
• Stay Connected: “Maintain communication with friends or family members before, during, and after your trip,” Dr. Shivanand recommends. “Knowing that you have someone to reach out to for support or guidance can provide reassurance and alleviate feelings of isolation.” News flash, the people you care about care about you too! They’ll be happy to hear from you and walk you through any tough feelings, if need be.
  
• Stay Grounded: “Practice mindfulness and grounding techniques to stay present and centered during your travels,” shared Dr. Shivanand. Embrace the ‘pinch me’ moments of your trip as they happen, this is why you’re traveling in the first place after all!

• Seek Professional Support: “If travel-related anxiety significantly impacts your ability to engage in travel experiences, consider seeking support from a mental health professional,” says Dr. Shivanand. Listen; asking for help is okay, and something that you should do if it will have a positive impact on your life.
• Incorporate Meditative & Wellness Daily: In doing so, Dr Shivanand says, "One can effectively manage travel-related anxiety and enjoy your travel experiences with greater ease and confidence.” Dr. Shivanand reiterates that “it's okay to seek support and take proactive steps to prioritize your mental well-being during your travels.”

Make a Playlist Full of Affirmations

Listening to a good playlist full of affirmative lyrics is an instant mood-booster and a super easy way to romanticize your life. From Taylor Swift to Janelle Monáe, there’s so many empowering songs you can add to help you set the tone for the day. If you don't have time to listen to music while getting ready for work or school in the mornings, make sure you download your playlist to your phone so you can listen to it during your commute! Check out 40 Motivational Affirmations To Encourage Youtoo!

Go For Daily Walks

It’s easy to get used to bed-rotting, but nothing compares to getting a healthy dose of Vitamin D via daily walks. The best part about it is that you don’t have to accomplish a 20-mile trek. Simply cruising around your neighborhood or local park one to two times per day counts. Just don’t forget to invest in a great pair of walking shoes!

Learn to Make Your Own Version of the Sleepy Girl Mocktail

You’ve seen the coveted sleepy girl mocktail floating around TikTok and are wondering if it’s worth making. The short answer is hell yes! Some of our team deals with insomnia periodically and have recently found that drinking a sleepy girl mocktail a few times a week induces restful sleep.

Open Your Blinds on Sunny Days

Growing up in a Jamaican household means that our blinds were always open on sunny days because "You need to let natural light come in whenever you can." Whether you heard something similar or not, open windows definitely have a positive effect on your mood. This could be a stretch, but it almost feels like the sun's rays shine their light in as many places as possible! This is just one surefire way to romanticize your life.

Sit on Your Balcony or Patio

Our grandparents had the right idea when they’d use to sit on their patios in the morning with a hot cup of coffee or freshly squeezed juice. Some of my fondest memories involve sitting with my grandmother on her patio and watching cars go by. If we weren’t doing that, I’d sit and watch her prep collard greens to cook later on.

You don't have to prep a portion of your meals while sitting on your balcony, but you can read a book, listen to a couple of new podcasts, or put your meditation skills to use.

Buy Yourself Fresh Flowers

The second Miley Cyrus released “Flowers” and I listened to the lyrics, I knew she was on to something huge. I know it’s romantic to expect a charming prince or princess to surprise you with a lush bouquet of flowers, but it’s just as lovely to buy your own. Before I entered into my committed relationship and baby era, my single girl days were filled with buying fresh flowers to brighten my kitchen. It’s something I still do on a monthly basis because it instantly puts a smile on my face.

Treat Yourself

We know inflation is coming for everyone's pockets, but you should still enjoy nice things from time to time. Since buying yourself flowers is just one way to participate inlittle treat culture, we figure there are other things you can focus on if you're not really into that.

Your idea of a small treat can be everything from your favorite Starbucks drink to that cute new blush you’ve been eyeing at Target.

Invest In Pink Blush

If you haven't already, spring is the best time to invest in pink blush. Yes, we're talking barbiecore pink. The one we can't get enough of lately is Danessa Myricks Beauty's Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed — Matte Color for Cheek & Lip in the shade "IT Girl." It's a cool-toned pink that works for every skin tone and mimics the natural appearance of flushed cheeks.

Paint Your Nails

Romanticize your life by doing an at-home manicure! It's time to break out your spring nail colors if you've been wearing jewel-toned nail polish. While we love a cute pastel moment that mirrors Easter centerpieces, you can easily choose neon pink, green, or yellow nail polish. If you're feeling artsy, try your hand at a few nail art ideas.

Check One Thing Off Your Bucket List

We all have one thing we really want to do. It could be conquering your fear of swimming, bungee jumping, or even learning how to ride a horse. Even though it's not a huge thing, something I really want to get into is rollerskating this spring! My sister and I used to skate as kids, but haven't touched them in years. Whatever your personal thing is, make sure to check it off your bucket list this spring!

Here Are More Ways To Romanticize Your Life: 

When it comes to how to romanticize your life, it's all about creating habits and making memories that feel great for you. From adding ribbons to your spring hair to writing snail mail, let us know which one stands out to you!

Here's How Often You Should Cut Your Hair, According To Professionals

I’ll admit it — it had been eight months since my last haircut. My hair had lost its shape, my layers were nowhere to be found, and my ends were begging for mercy. Life got busy over the last few months and I was neglecting my haircare like never before.

My hairdresser could immediately see that I was beyond due for a cut and said I needed to get more taken off than I was hoping. I was definitely disappointed — I'd been working on growing out my hair for a while now, and it just felt like my hard work had completely gone to waste. He explained that getting consistent haircuts is the key to growing out healthy and strong hair, rather than letting it grow and grow until it eventually breaks. So let's dig into the top three things you can do to avoid this scenario!

1. Just Get The Dang Haircut

Also avoiding a haircut like I was? You might want to schedule one at your nearest salon. Like my stylist said, when you wait too long between trims like I did, you risk your hair becoming heavy, dull, and lifeless. When the hair is dry or even dead, it’s nearly impossible for it to hold a curl or style, essentially collapsing on you and taking on more and more heat damage all the while. I know the pain of spending time on a blowout only for it to fall minutes later — it’s the worst.

According to Jack, getting a haircut every 10-12 weeks is the best time frame or your ends will pay the price. Between blow-drying, curling, straightening, sun, and weather, our ends get dry and start to break without the proper care. Getting consistent haircuts allows hair to bounce back, shine, and perform the way we want in a healthy way.

2. Leave-In Conditioners Are Your Friend

His top piece of advice to keep your hair looking and feeling hydrated between trims? Invest in conditioning treatments. Jack swears by the Olaplex conditioning system, specifically the No 3 Hair Perfector. Made with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™, this conditioning treatment repairs and prevents damage in as little as three minutes. No 3 promises to reduce breakage and visibly strengthen hair, so it’s the perfect assistance to keep ends fresh between cuts. Another conditioning treatments I’ve used and loved for years is the Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, which is designed to restore moisture, elasticity, and shine to dry hair.

3. Switch Up Your Shampoos

Switching shampoos frequently is a pretty hot tip that I honestly hadn't thought of. Our hair gets used to the same products and grows tired of them, resulting in lackluster locks. Jack’s advice is to switch brands after finishing every bottle of shampoo to bring life back to your hair. Have two brands that you’re loyal to? Even switching back and forth between them after every bottle should make a big difference in your hair. I’m a huge fan of the R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo, which makes my hair look thick and full, as well as the Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo, which is so hydrating and gives so much shine.

In the end, navigating your back-and-forth relationship with haircuts often feels like a rollercoaster ride between wanting that fresh look and cringing at the receipt. Luckily, by using conditioning treatments and switching up your products,, you can keep your locks healthy, shiny, and full of life between trims. But take a newly learned lesson out of my book: don't let your ends pay the price for procrastination and just book the haircut.