1.Get a good night’s rest

You can be the best pharmacist in the hospital or clinic that loves what they do, but if you don’t sleep enough while working 12 hour shifts, none of that will matter. You can’t perform at your best or be your best self when you’re exhausted from lack of sleep.

Here are some ways to make sleep a priority in your life:

Go to bed early

I know, I know that going to bed early can truly feel like a task and it may make you feel like you’re missing out on time at home. But getting that extra hour of sleep will make a world of a difference when you clock in the next day. Try it for a week and see what an hour difference can do for you  

Make your bedroom feel like a 5-star hotel

Good sleep hygiene starts in the bedroom literally. After a long day at work, the only thing that you want is a comfortable bed to fall into with a supportive pillow and even comfier sheets to cuddle into.

If you’re trying to have a blissful night of sleep, then you need to invest in quality sheets, a mattress that actually supports your bones, and a pillow that isn’t completely flat. I’ve heard so many great things about Cozy Earth Bedding that I’m about to make the investment myself very soon!

Turn off the TV and phone 1 hour before bed

Turning off your TV and phone before bed not only gives your eyes a rest from all of the blue light rays, it also gives your brain a chance to actually reset. Instead of strolling through social media, pick up a book that you’ve been meaning to read and truly relax before bed. It doesn’t seem like much, but I promise you’ll be able to see the difference quickly if you are consistent with the new habit.

2. Squeeze in some exercise when you can

While exercising sounds like it would be an easy task to accomplish, it can be hard mentally to make yourself get up out of bed, put clothes on, and head outside for a workout. After a 12 hour shift at work, the last thing that you may want to do is go to a crowded gym full of people. But you have to get your heart pumping for 30 minutes daily for your mental and physical health.

Here are some strategies that’ll help you squeeze in some daily activity:

• Walk your dog or neighborhood’s dog
• Take a workout class at home using the equipment you already have
• Jump rope for 10-15 minutes
• Follow along to a Youtube video
• Complete a yoga routine

3. Eat a healthy breakfast before your 12 hour shift

We’ve always been told that breakfast is the most important part of the day, and this is especially true for those that work long tedious shifts. A good healthy breakfast in the morning gives you more energy, improves concentration, and keeps you full for longer.

I know that cooking a healthy meal every morning isn’t reasonable, but maybe making a smoothie or overnight oats is. Both are easy meals that are packed with the nutrients you need to feel your best at work. Titi and I have this KitchenAid blender for a few years now, and we both love how it makes our smoothies so smooth.

4. Drink water consistently

Raise your hand if you’ve ever gotten so busy at work that you forget to drink water? Yep, I’m a guilty offender too! It’s incredibly easy to do when you are busy trying to do a million and 1 things while being short staffed with high expectations from management. Don’t do that!

Staying hydrated is so important for your body, and you literally need it to survive. Invest in a good water bottle or travel mug (I got this amazing one from Hydrapeak and it keeps my water cold all day!). Keep it with you at your station or desk to make sure it’s always by your side. A good tip to help you remember to drink water is to take a sip every hour of your shift.

5. Bring foods that you’re excited to eat

One thing that I’ve learned since working 12 hour shifts is what you eat during your shift can make or break your day. Maybe not as literal, but it can be a deal breaker. Stuffing a sugary sweet or boxed meal into your lunchbox may satisfy your hungry tummy during the moment, but it’ll leave you feel unsatisfied, tired, and hungry for more.

Instead of eating the overpriced cafeteria food or ordering DoorDash, try meal prepping your meals for the week and freezing your leftovers. You can store the extras in individual glass containers or Ziploc bags. If you’re like me and cooking isn’t your favorite activity, get yourself a slow cooker! It’s been such a game changer if you need to cook larger meals without the time commitment and burden of actually cooking.

6. Stay organized

It may not come as a surprise for other pharmacists and healthcare workers, but working 12 hour shift, especially back to back, doesn’t leave a lot of time for anything else in your personal life. The main reason being that you work during most people’s working hours and you get off when everything is closed.

Instead of getting caught up about the limitations of your work schedule, you can utilize your days off to the max. Here is what I like to focus on when I have days off:

Run any errands, especially the ones that have typical working hours

The night before, make a list of any errands that you need to run and list out their priority levels. On my off days, I like to focus on things that get me the most bang for my buck, which includes picking the errand or two that I can get done that are either the most urgent or bring me personal joy. This may include running to the bank, checking out a new book at the library, or stopping by the post office to send out a return.

Tidy up at home

Recently I start doing this habit where I spend 15 minutes every single day tidying up. It could be washing my dishes, vacuuming the floor, or putting away some of the clutter that was left out from the days prior. These mundane tasks make me feel more put together and like myself again. A clean house can do wonders on your mental health and doesn’t have to take a good chunk of your day.

7. Use your breaks wisely

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but working through your breaks doesn’t make you a better employee or a more productive employee. It just makes you more likely to get burnt out, frustrated at work, and feeling less valuable overall. Taking a break from work gives you a mental break that you desperately need.

It’s hard to work a 12-hour shift and be a leader to your team 24/7. Take the break, drink some water, and if you can, go outside and sit in the sunshine. Working as a pharmacist, we are usually working in the corner of a building without any windows and are deprived of sunshine. If you can leave the pharmacy for a few minutes, do so just to sit outside for a little bit.

8. 12 hour shifts = dressing for comfort

Gone are the days of uncomfortable business clothes! If you are allowed to wear scrubs at work, I highly recommend you doing so. Since most pharmacist jobs require a lot of movement, you’ll want something that is easy to move in and lightweight enough to wear all day. My favorite scrubs right now are WearFigs (even tho they’ve been conversational lately in the media) and Care + Wear scrubs (so comfy!).

9. Get a comfy pair of shoes and compression socks

Speaking of wearing clothes that are comfortable, that also means comfortable shoes. It’s not uncommon for pharmacists to be standing on their feet for hours at a time, especially if you work in retail. Trust me, you’re going to want to invest in a good pair of shoes that are comfortable and protect your feet. I currently wear my Rothy’s for 12 hour shifts and my Birdies for 6-8 hour shifts. Both are very comfortable and are cute for work!

If you’re working on your feet all day, then you should also be wearing compression socks, which may look a little like grandma’s socks, but they are totally worth it! I don’t go into work without them on because if I do, I know I’m going to feel it later in my feet. The reason why you should wear compression socks is because when you stand on your feet for long periods of time, all of your blood pools in your feet causing painful varicose veins.

10. Self care, self care, and self care

As a healthcare worker, it’s also important to take care of yourself first and for most. You can’t expect take care of your patients at your best if you aren’t taking care of yourself when you clock out from work. Self care doesn’t have to be an elaborate plan to put everything on pause or take a few hours to do. It could be as simple as reading a book you’ve been wanting to read, soaking in a bubble bath when you get home, or unfollowing people on social media.

If you need help on making self care a priority in your life, I have a 30 day self care challenge that is currently going on that you can join in on. It helps you get into a habit of making self care a daily habit instead of a one off concurrence.

Managing a work schedule that involves 12 hour shifts can be exhausting, but it’s nothing that you can’t handle as long as you remember a few things. Take care of your mind, body, and soul and don’t worry about what others are doing. Your goal, as a pharmacist and healthcare worker, should be prioritizing yourself and making sure that you are prepared to be there for your patients. Hopefully these tips help you manage this type of work schedule! If you work 12 hour shifts, how do you manage your days with this schedule? Let me know in the comments below!

You may also like: The Best Mobile Apps for Pharmacists, 11 Ways to Invest in Yourself this Year, and How to Save For an Emergency Fund

The post Pharmacist Health: 10 Tips for Surviving 12 Hour Shifts appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Why You Need a Self Care Routine

As cliché as it sounds, self care is important for your personal wellbeing. As healthcare providers, it’s easy for us to work, work, and work until we are burned out, frustrated, and depressed. It happens all of the time, and the only way to prevent yourself from burning out is to spend time taking care of yourself. You can’t expect to be able to do your job at the best of your ability when your energy bank is at 20%. Spending time doing something that you do enjoy will not only make you happier, it’ll also make you more productive and improve your physical and mental health.

Tips on How to Get Started

Now that you know why self care is so important in the pharmacy profession, let’s jump right into how to actually start and maintain a self care routine. Remember the goal is to find your peace and happiness on a daily basis. This process may make you feel uncomfortable because it requires you to take a break, let go, and to reset, which is hard for a busy pharmacist and stressed out pharmacy student.

1. Figure out what makes you feel happy, relaxed, and centered

The first thing that you should on your journey to incorporating self care into your life is to write down as many things that you can think of that makes you happy. It can be as simple as a candle burning, reading a book, a rainy day, or even drinking a frozen hot chocolate (highly recommend the one from Dunkin!)

2. Brainstorm how to add in those things into your daily life

The one thing that stops people from incorporating self care into their daily routine is the fact that it has to take up a significant part of their day to be meaningful. That is definitely not the case and a common misconception. It can be something small that’s in the background that you enjoy like burning your favorite candle or it could be a set time in your schedule for a certain activity. Think about ways that you can add your favorite things to your routine regardless of the time commitment.  

3. Give yourself a goal to stick with on a daily basis

After your done brainstorming your favorite activities and how much time they require, now it’s time to set a goal for yourself on how you incorporate one thing from your list to into your daily routine and how often. With any goal that you set, start off with something small and that is measurable. Maybe your goal is to read for 10 minutes before bed, start there and as you get into the habit of reading increase the time to 20,30 minutes. Give yourself time and patience as you start to develop this new habit. It won’t be an overnight change, but hopefully the activity will bring you so much joy that you won’t want to stop.

4. After two weeks, re-evaluate and adjust your plan if need be

Habits take time to form and that is still true for habits that involve improving your mind, body, and spirit. Once you’ve completed two weeks of your new goal, assess how you feel, anything that you could improve or change, and go from there. It’s okay to adjust your plan now and choose a different activity if you need to. You should also note any mood changes. Do you feel less irritated and anxious after the two weeks trial?

5. Get creative and try new things

Your journey to loving yourself should be fun and exciting! Don’t put yourself into a box when it comes to finding out what brings you joy and what doesn’t. Use this time to try out new things that you wouldn’t have tried otherwise and see what you end up liking. Have you always wanted to try roller skating or testing your skills with calligraphy? Take a chance and see what sticks. 

20 Simple Self Care Ideas

I rounded up a list of simple, practical self care ideas to inspire you to spend time recharging this year. While these ideas are relatively simple, they can make a world of a difference in your mood and mental wellbeing. Remember that the goal is to take care of yourself so you can show up as the best version of yourself.

Actually take a lunch break

It’s common practice for pharmacists in the retail setting to not take a lunch break, but I promise you that you need to start taking it for a necessary mental break and a fuel recharge. Try to clear out your queues as much as possible, let your techs know ahead of time, and take your 30 minutes to sit down, eat some food, and relax for a little bit. You need that break from checking prescriptions, dealing with customers complaints, and the constant ring of the phone in the pharmacy. 

Get lost in a good book 

When you can’t escape from reality, you can most definitely escape into the pages of a good book in a world that only exists on those crisp white pages. Even if you only have time for 10-20 minutes to read, use it. The good thing about reading is that it helps decompress you because you’re not concerned about your own life. You are highly invested in the one that you are reading about.

Soak in a bubble bath

As cliché as taking a bubble bath sounds, there’s a reason why it’s on every single self care list. It’s because it actually works to help you relax so light a candle, throw on your favorite playlist, and enjoy the soapy water. Take your bubble bath up a notch by adding in a bath bomb (these are my favorite on Etsy!).

Jot down three things that you are grateful for today

Before you rush into work or school, take a second to start of your day by writing down three things that you are grateful for today. It could be as simple as enjoying your bomb coffee that morning, waking up this morning, or whatever it is that made you smile. By writing down a few things that you are grateful for regularly, it brings our everyday life back into perceptive and begins our day with a positive note.

Spend 15-20 minutes decluttering your space

Nothing says a reset than a clean home and a clean car. Something about the mundane task of cleaning your house makes you feel like a whole new person. A new habit that I’ve been doing lately is to set 10-15 minutes every few days to clean my space, whether it be cleaning the dishes or putting away the clutter that is always on the dining table. It’s easier to keep your space clean if you are proactively keeping it clean throughout the week. 

Try that new workout class

With more things opening back up, there’s no more excuses as to why you don’t go try that new workout class. Self care is supposed to be fun, but it’s also meant to get yourself out of your comfort zone. If you don’t feel comfortable going alone, turn into a date with a friend or a significant other. You’ll get to spend time with someone you care about and get your blood pumping.

Start your day with something pleasant

Nothing is better than starting your day out with something that you enjoy such as a warm cup of coffee, patio time reading a good book, or a morning soak in the bath tub. Start your day with a positive note and spend a few minutes enjoying a few minutes of bliss.

Plan a date with a friend 

Go ahead and plan that date with a friend (even if it’s only a virtual girls’ night in). Having a solid social life keeps you busy, balanced, and more productive later. When I plan my dates with friends, I make sure to find something that we’ll both enjoy. The date could include a movie, shopping, checking out a new event in town, or going on a mini adventure. 

Move your body for 30 minutes daily

Exercise isn’t just for losing weight; it’s also a great mental tool to decrease depression and anxiety. As I’m sure that you already know as a pharmacist, you should be getting around 150 minutes of exercise a week, which translates to 30 minutes for 5 days. To keep your exercise journey spicy, switch up your workout routine and add in new elements that you might end up enjoying, such as yoga, weight lifting or boxing.

Just say no

Saying “no” is a lot harder than it looks, but it’s something that has to be done if you want to take care of yourself in this new season of life. You simply can’t do everything in life and you shouldn’t have to. Say yes only if you brings you joy or peace because I promise you more money won’t make your life better. 

Unplug from the world

It can be easy to get overwhelmed and feel burden by the curated feed on social media and the disaster stories on the news. Instead of tuning into the chaos, turn off the news, delete the apps, and shut off your emails for a little bit. Don’t feel bad about doing so either! It’s is totally necessary for your mental peace and well-being.

Go to therapy

If you’ve never been to therapy before, now is the time to add it into your self care routine. It’s such an underrated activity, which I don’t know why. Therapy helps you improve as a person and actively deal with the trauma from your past, present, and future. Talking to someone about your inner thoughts will be difficult at first, but once you find a person that you click with, the process gets easier over time.

Make a playlist

Everyone needs a go-to playlist filled with songs that makes them want to get up and dance. Make a playlist for this season in life and that inspire you to move. Bonus points if you make a playlist that inspires you for the next phase in your life, almost like vision board playlist.

Open up the blinds and let in the morning sunshine

As soon as you wake up for the day, go ahead and open up your blinds to let in the glorious sunshine. It’s been shown that people who are exposed to the morning light fall asleep faster, which means you’ll be more likely to get more quality sleep at night. Getting enough sleep (6-8 hours a night) not only curbs your crankiness but also lessens your chance of heart disease.

Cook your favorite recipe

Tired of ordering take out or are you just stuck in a kitchen rut? I can’t be the only one sick of cooking and tired of overpaying in food delivery fees. Carve out time in your busy day to make and try a new recipe. Enjoy the process, add in your own twists, and hope for the best! You might even find a new recipe that you can add to your go-to cooking meals. If you need a new cookbook to find some bomb recipes, check out this one by Gabrielle McBay called “You Have Food At Home”. I mean the name says it all honestly.  

Go to a farmer’s market

Not only will you be supporting small local businesses, but you’ll also get to grab some fresh produce, unique items, and a glorious bouquet of flowers. I love adding a trip to the farmer’s market to my self care routine in the spring and summer time because I always find the coolest stuff that I wouldn’t have found otherwise.

Create a vision board

A great way to show yourself some self care and to create the life that you want is to create a vision board. You can buy a bunch of magazines and create a physical vision board or you can create one using Canva, both options are easy to do. The goal of a vision board is to help you visualize where you want to go in life. When life gets hard or you feel like quitting, you’ll be reminded of what actually matters to you.

Change your sheets

So simple but oh so sweet. When is the last time that you swapped out your sheets? More than likely you aren’t doing it often enough. There’s something so refreshing about sinking into a fresh set of sheets that makes you feel ready to start a new day. 

Donate your clutter to a local charity

A quote that I’ve always been taught was that a clean space equals a clear mind. Add a decluttering session to your self care routine and pend some time decluttering your home. You can then go donate whatever you don’t need anymore. You’ll be surprised how much stuff you have that you don’t even use or wear anymore. I like to declutter my closet every quarter so that I’m not hoarding items that I’ll never wear again.

Enroll in a fun class that you’ve always wanted to do

Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn calligraphy, take better photos, or learn how to roller skate. Use the quality time with yourself learning something new and exciting. It’ll keep your brain active and give you the opportunity to meet some new friends, which we already know is much harder to do as an adult.

I hope this blog post was helpful for you as a pharmacist or pharmacy student. I know it’s hard for us as healthcare professionals to set aside time for ourselves, but it’s a necessary requirement if you want to be our best selves for our patients. Which activity are you thinking about adding to your routine?

You may also like: 11 Ways to Invest in Yourself this Year, 30 Day Self- Care Challenge to Decrease Anxiety, and Chatbooks: The Perfect Photo App for Millennials

The post How to Kickstart Your Self Care Routine for Burnt Out Pharmacists appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Test out a new hobby

Take time this year to learn a new hobby that you’ve always been interested in! With the hustle mentality that millennials are currently accustomed to, it’s so easy to want to learn a hobby just to monetize it later. While that is completely fine, it’s also just as important to have a hobby just for yourself to enjoy. Maybe you enjoy playing the piano? Or maybe you like writing short stories or doing adult coloring books? Back in middle school and college, I used to dance all the time to relieve stress. It was just a passion, but now I think I want to dabble in calligraphy. I’m posting this here so you can keep me accountable!

Create an emergency fund

Honestly the definition of investing in yourself should be creating your own emergency fund. You’re literally putting money aside for yourself later on down the road if and when the need arises. Keep an eye out on a future blog post where I’m going to be sharing an entire post about the topic of emergency fund, including why you need one and how to create your own. I know that an emergency fund can seem overwhelming because you may think that you don’t have enough to get started, but I promise you’ll do! The easiest way to get over fear is to just do it!

Cross something off your bucket list

If 2020 has taught us anything, its life is too short and to live life to the fullest because you don’t know when your time is near. Before the year is over plan to cross something off your bucket list. Don’t have a bucket list yet? Take a few minutes and write down some things that you would love to do one day. Maybe it’s you want to stroll on the Great Wall of China or to swim with the dolphins? Whatever it is, write it down and make a plan to check one of your items off your list.

Learn how to increase your credit score and how to manage it

Credit is such an important financial marker, and even though it may be a tad superficial, it’s can be pretty handy if you’re planning on buying a car, a house, a plane, or any other big purchase in the future. This year take your credit score by the horns and take control! Not a sponsored post but Lexington Law does a great job at repairing credit if that’s what you currently need. Otherwise take a look at these posts where I share tips on how to grow and manage your credit score.

Save for your financial goals

One of the best ways to invest in yourself is by saving for your financial goals. Regardless if you’re trying to save money for a down payment for your first home or save enough money to pay off your car, you can do whatever you put your mind to it. Make a plan that you can stick with to hit your financial goals this year. If you need some tips on how to save money while not having a ton of income, check out this post where I share how I saved my first $1,000 as a broke college student.

Make your health a priority

Being a healthcare professional, you’ll hear me say this over and over again, but you have to make your health a priority, especially in your 20s. This time period in your life can truly make a difference down the road. And I know that life can get busy and that it’s easy to not prioritize your health, but this year make a conscious decision to make it one.

Exercising regularly and going to therapy can truly make a difference in how you feel and how you interact with others. Don’t feel comfortable heading back to the gym? Set up your own at home gym with some of your favorite exercise tools. Or take an online exercise class from your favorite Instagram fitness instructor! Don’t forget that the best workout is the one that you actually do consistently and that small changes lead to big ones.

Invest in your business or career

Repeat after me: I will put trust in my business/career and invest in yourself and improve my skillset. For you that might be getting your Master’s degree or applying for that senior position that you would be amazing for. For my future pharmacy students, I may be a little biased, but I 100% recommend my own course, From Student to PharmD – especially if you’re worried about what you need to do to get accepted into your dream program. I’ve helped quite a few students make their dreams come true with my program!

Let go of the baggage holding you down

In the new year, we are letting go of everything that is not meant for us, including the baggage that you’ve been holding on to. Healing from a past situation means that you have to look at it head on and deal with it. I highly recommend going to a therapist regularly because they can really help you unload and rediscover that baggage that you’ve been carrying around. You can’t move forward if you have something constantly dragging you down.

Outsource one thing that doesn’t make you happy

Remember that whole spill that life is too short? Yea, it’s too short to be bother with doing the necessary things, like cleaning your apartment or cooking your own meals, if you don’t find joy in them or have time. One thing that I’ve started to outsource recently is cleaning! When I work a 12 hour shift at work, the last thing that I want to do when I get home is clean. Both Titi and I work long hours, so it just made sense to outsource this necessary chore. It has already been a gamechanger for the both of us, and we will gladly continue this habit in the new year. You probably already have an idea of what you’re going to outsource next year!

Go on a solo vacation and enjoy your own company

Another great way to invest in yourself this year is to take a COVID safe solo vacation and enjoy your own company. You can easily get away from your busy life to relax, recharge, and reset for the new year. My person favorite – book an Airbnb in a location near you for the weekend, pack all of your favorite things (including the pup) and create a memory for yourself. Highly recommend booking a spa, massage, or some other beauty treatment for your alone time to add a little spice to your self-care routine.

How will you invest in yourself this year? Leave a comment down below!

The post 11 Ways to Invest in Yourself This Year appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

With this self care challenge, I hope that it can help you re-focus your energy and inspire you to implement daily acts of self care beyond the 30 day challenge. Before we jump into it though, I just want to stress that you can do this self care challenge in any order. It really doesn’t matter as long as you do something every single day for the next 30 days!

Day 1: Read a book

Is anyone else getting tired of watching TV all day? Turn off the tv, put down the phone or other electronical gadget, and pick up a book. I really enjoy doing this on the patio to get some fresh air and a beautiful scene.

Day 2: Do a cleansing face mask

My favorite cleansing masks are the Glamglow Super Mud and the Origins Active Charcoal Mask. Pick a mask that pulls out all of your black heads and really cleans your face for an instant refresh.

Day 3: Go out for a walk

Take a walk around your neighborhood or on a trial nearby to get some fresh air. A breath of fresh air is a sure way to lift up your spirits!

Day 4: Do a digital detox

Use this extra time at home to do a digital detox from social media. With all of the news reports about the COVID-19 pandemic, it is hard to get away from the news unless you get off your phone for a day.

Day 5: Unfollow people on social media

Remove any negativity in your life or really anything that doesn’t bring you a joy. Every few months go through your social media and unfollow people who don’t either make you laugh, inspire you, or make you feel good about yourself.

Day 6: Start a journal

Something about writing really helps calms your nerves and relaxes your mind. Start a journal today and write about whatever you want.

Day 7: Facetime a friend or family member

Social distancing doesn’t mean that you have to lose touch with your friends and family. Set up a few Facetime dates throughout the week to get re-connected and some face-to-face interaction.

Day 8: Delete unnecessary apps from your phone

Clutter in your life including your cellphone can make you unnecessarily stressed. Because the environment around you is a direct representation your mental space and well-being.  Take today to delete all of the apps that you no longer need or haven’t used in awhile.

Day 9: Write out 5 life goals for yourself

I’m highly goal-motivated; there’s something so fulfilling when you can cross off a goal of yours. Spend today writing down your goals and making a plan to achieve them. When you write things down, you’re more likely to achieve them. Because there’s a thing called manifestation that comes in handy too. An example could be paying off your student loan debt or becoming the manager at your job, etc.

Day 10: Declutter your closet

Like I mentioned earlier, clutter in your home and in your life has impact on how you feel. Spend today to get your closet in order. I’ve written a helpful guide to get you started, and I promise it won’t take up your whole day.

Day 11: Paint your nails

When’s the last time that you painted your own nails? Yea me too! Grab your favorite nail polish in your collection and have a fun day out of painting your nails. Go for a classic mani or play around with some fun designs.

Day 12: Try a new workout

Sometimes self-care isn’t about lounging around the house in your pajamas but actually getting your body moving. During this time, I’m focusing on improving my endurance and getting a good sweat in. Today, try a new workout to get your blood pumping! Some free at-home workouts you can try are Barre3, Fiton app, and Youtube!

Day 13: Organize one space in your home

Not going to lie: cleaning during this time has been very therapeutic for me. Now that I’m spending more time at home, the extra clutter has really been bothering me. In the past few weeks, I’ve already decluttered my closet, my bathroom, and working on the kitchen now. Take 1 hour a few times a week to finally organize a problem spot in your home.

Day 14: Plan a future vacation

While you can’t travel right now, you can 100% plan for a future vacation. Make a budget, set a timer, and see where your imagination goes. You’ll be surprised of what you come up with when you’re not in a rush to plan. Check out Pinterest for some travel inspiration!

Day 15: Make a plan to save for the vacation

Now that you’ve planned your future vacation, use today to make a savings plan to reach your goal with a little bit extra for fun. I love using the Qapital app to help me save money without me having to think about it (read this blog post for more details on how I use the app!).

Day 16: Light a candle and take a bubble bath

Unwind after a long day and pour yourself up a bubble bath. Go a step further and a light candle for an easy at home spa day experience. You totally deserve a relaxing night!

Day 17: Watch a documentary

My fiancé really enjoys watching documentaries, and I won’t lie, but it’s actually kind of fun. Just to sit down for an hour or two to learn about something new that you wouldn’t normally search for. Some good ones to watch on Netflix are Drugs Inc., Our Planet, Dirty Money, and the Pharmacist.

Day 18: Write down 1 thing that you are grateful for today

Sometimes we forget about all of the good things happening in our lives, which is why today I want you to write down 1 thing that you are grateful for. It could be simply waking up this morning or getting that apartment you wanted. Whatever it is, write it down.  

Day 19: Buy yourself flowers

More time at home means more time to smell and enjoy a fresh cut bouquet of flowers.

Day 20: Brain dump all of your ideas

Once a week, I like to schedule a 15-minute brain dump of everything that I’m thinking about. Being a creative and thoughtful person, I tend to have a million things running through my head at a time. A brain dump allows for me to get all of my ideas out of my head, which helps me to relax and reorganize my thoughts. Use today to do that for yourself.

Day 21: Write a letter to someone

I really wish people wrote more hand-written letters like they used to, but alas usually time and convenience is the problem. Now that you’re stuck at home, spend time writing a letter to someone that you love, miss, or just don’t get to see as often anymore. I promise they’ll be so excited and appreciative of seeing a letter in the mailbox. Want to get fancy? I love adding a wax seal to my letters to make them stand out even more.

Day 22: Do a DIY

Have you been postponing a DIY or project that you’ve been meaning to do? For me, I need to create Titi’s graduation shadowbox with all of this extra free time. Grab the supplies that you need next time you’re at the store and get started!

Day 23: Meditate for 10 minutes

Self care starts in your mind so spend today mediating for 10 minutes to help you relax and re-center yourself. If you’ve never meditated before, definitely try the app called Headspace! It’s beginner friendly and a great resource to get started.

Day 24: Try a new makeup technique or look

On an every day basis, I tend to go for a simple makeup look, but now that I have all this extra time, I’ve been dabbling and playing around with more colorful looks and different application techniques. It’s a great time to get creative and expand on your makeup skills.

Day 25: Recite some positive self-affirmations

Pick out some of your favorite self-affirmations and repeat them to yourself throughout the day. You deserve to be happy, to feel strong, and to love yourself.

Day 26: Create a bucket list

With this task you can be as adventurous and creative as you’d like. In your phone or laptop, write a bucket list of the places that you want to travel to and adventures you want to take. One idea on my bucket list was to swim with the dolphins, which I did a few years ago on a trip with my mom!

Day 27: Blast your favorite songs

There’s something so therapeutic about blasting your favorite music throughout the entire house. Make a playlist and see where the day takes you.

Day 28: Clear out photos/videos from your phone

Something that has been on my to-do list for awhile now is to clear out my photos and videos on my phone. I currently have around 2500+ photos on my phone that I desperately need to download on my external hard drive. If you need to do the same, then definitely use today to get the job done!

Day 29: Reflect on this past month

At the end of the month, sit back and reflect on this self care challenge to figure out what worked for you and what didn’t. Utilize this time to think about what you want to learn next and where you want to focus your energy more. Trust me, a good reflection moment keep me motivating to keep this new self-care routine going.

Day 30: Make a game plan on how to maintain your self care

Now that you’ve thought over this past month, make a game plan on how you’re going to keep your self-care routine next month. Is there something that you want to learn or getting better at next month? Maybe you want to take more baths or spend more time reading. Whatever it is, make a plan that you can stick to!

I hope that you found this post useful and helpful during this crazy time! Even if you only have a few minutes or the whole day, doing something for you every single day is so important to keep your mind clear, happy, and focused. If you would like to download a calendar for the 30-day self care challenge, you can grab it down below!

Before you go just remember that we can’t change what’s happening in the world,

but we can control how we respond to it.

The post 30 Day Self Care Challenge to Decrease Anxiety appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Now that I’ve been at home more often, I’ve been trying to do life better. As cliché as it sounds, now that I’ve graduated from college and am starting my first “big girl” job, I really want to create structure in my life. I’m almost 25 years old (this year!), and this will be the first year in my entire life that I don’t have to study or turn in homework. So with that being said, I figured that the easiest place for me to start doing that is by creating a nighttime routine that allows me to feel well rested the next day. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you my current nighttime routine!

Tidy up around the house

One of the first things that I try to do every single night is tidy up around the house before I go to bed. And no I do not mean clean the entire bathroom top to bottom, I just mean I tidy up so that your space doesn’t look messy and cluttered. I usually will tidy up the kitchen by putting the clean dishes away, cleaning the dishes that I cooked dinner with, and putting things away that were left out throughout the day.

I promise that waking up to a tidy home makes a world of a difference in your mood! I’m a big believer in the less physical clutter that you have, the less burden you have on your mind. If you’re looking to start this as well, I recommend doing one easy task in the afternoon for a few weeks and then add on something else to your tidy up list. This way it becomes a lasting habit!

Loosely plan the next day

I always like to have a game plan of what I want to get done the following day. So before I lay my head done, I like to either mentally write or literally write a small list of things that I want to do the next day, starting from the hardest to the easiest. This way I can mentally prepare as well have a game plan for the next day.

Make sure to clean my teeth

Growing up, I had the luxury of getting braces to correct my smile. While it wasn’t the worst experience ever, I definitely do appreciate my smile more than when I was a child. So every morning and every night, I make sure to brush and floss my teeth and rinse my mouth out with LISTERINE Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash.

A few weeks ago, I picked this product up in Walmart because 1) I was obsessed with the packaging (I mean it’s basically my brand colors) and 2) It’s an ADA accepted mouthwash that is formulated with anti-plaque & anti-gingivitis essential oils, which promotes gum health and freshens breath at the same time. So you can say hasta la vista to bad breath!

Shop the link above to purchase the exact product that I use daily from Walmart!​

What I love about LISTERINE Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash is that it cleans below the gumline so even if I don’t do a great job at brushing, I know my mouthwash has me covered. Plus you know it also helps reverse the signs of early gum disease, which is always a plus! If you haven’t added a mouthwash to your dental hygiene routine, then you’re definitely missing out on some truly wonderful benefits! I know I can feel the difference in my smile. 

Do my skincare routine

Next I try to always make sure to clean and moisturize my face before bed. I have pretty dry skin (especially my T-zone) so it’s imperative that I make sure to keep my skin hydrated, otherwise I’ll be extra crusty the next day. While I’m still figuring a solid skincare routine that my skin loves, I do enjoy the process of cleaning my face and giving it that extra TLC it needs.

Read a book

Right before I go to sleep, I try to read a few pages of the latest book that I’ve picked up. Growing up, I used to be obsessed reading. It had gotten to the point where I was ordering books for the library to have because I was running out of books in the teenage section of the library. But as I’ve gotten older and of course, college, I’ve fallen off the bandwagon of reading. My goal by reading before bed is to create a new habit of spending time alone by myself doing something that I enjoy but isn’t work.

What is your nighttime routine and what helps you feel well-rested the next day?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

The post My Relaxing Nighttime Routine appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.