thedeskside

[thedeskside]

What It’s Like to Take Medication for Depression & Anxiety

Fact: I have been on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors since my early 20s, and it’s changed my life—mostly for the better. But I would be lying if I said it was a great, smooth ride. Oh, yeah. I’m doing it. I’m going to be real…on the internet. I’m writing this because I needed to get it out, so, why not?

Also, mental illness awareness is important. I have a chemical imbalance that has affected my life, and I know there are so many other people out there that are just like me. Maybe this could benefit them. (But also, don’t follow me, I don’t know where I’m going either.)

It started a decade ago, right after my twenty-first birthday, I hit my emotional rock bottom. Somehow, I clawed my way out of an abusive relationship and crawled into a freelance career, but it was only because I finally decided to talk to my doctor about antidepressant medication. I started with Zoloft, and it really worked…until it didn’t.

My anxiety disappeared, but so did a lot of my feelings. Like, all of them. I had gone so long feeling numb that I hadn’t even realized what was going on until I reach my boiling point with my medication. For years everything was fine, or at least my version of ‘fine’. Frankly, I didn’t know that there was any other way to be or feel.

During the tail end of my Zoloft experience, after nine years of taking the medication daily, I went through a good six months of deep depression. I couldn’t get out of bed, or find the energy to feed myself, or bring myself to shower—and every single shower ended with a good five to fifteen minutes of uncontrollable sobbing. (Because, hello, depression!) I was failing at work because I couldn’t concentrate on a single task for longer than twenty minutes without a fog of disdain washing over me for every little thing that I did. Nothing was good enough.

My fiance tried, repeatedly, over the course of those six months to push me to get help, but I just wasn’t ready (or didn’t feel worthy of getting better). It was up to me to get better, and finally, after I reached the end of my Zoloft prescription, I agreed to talk to a therapist about trying another medication.

I started taking Wellbutrin, and slowly withdrew from Zoloft. It was a very odd time. On top of my depression, I had to deal with the common side effect that came with my new medication. I almost stopped eating altogether—my stomach was so fucked. I was nauseous for about three to four weeks straight, and couldn’t bring myself to crave anything. I had to force myself to eat popsicles and down multiple sodas to keep up my calorie intake because cooked food made me nauseous. Just the thought of some of my favorite fried foods made me gag. It led me to drop 15 pounds, but luckily these side effects were temporary.

After a few weeks, I could finally see the light. I absolutely felt different, but there is still a lot of give and take when it comes to mental illness. The Zoloft provided me with something crucial (er, or more like, it took it away)—I was emotionless, and I hadn’t even known it. I wasn’t feeling…anything while taking Zoloft, and now, I feel EVERYTHING. It’s quite a scary change.

People used to praise me for my ability to brush the worst things off and pick myself up quickly whenever I failed. I was unbothered by it all, and that was because of my medication. I used to think I just easily fell into positivity, but the truth was that Zoloft had blocked all of my emotions from coming to the surface. Now, I am a mushy mess.

I can’t believe the things I’m able to feel now—but this also includes pleasure. It’s a learning curve. I’ve learned to journal and meditate to try and calm myself long enough to understand what is going on in my head and body when I become overwhelmed.

Today I am in a lighter, brighter, more positive place, but I am still catching up in so many ways. I needed to stop fighting my own chemistry and work with it instead. I’m still not 100% at my best; my anxiety is in a whole different arena now that I’m getting in touch with new feelings that had been previously stumped out for nearly a decade by my other medicine.

I am a firm believer in freedom of choice, I by no means am trying to push anyone to seek meds when they don’t need them. That’s the thing though, some of us need them. And that’s perfectly fine, and nothing to be ashamed of. There were certainly times when I chose to take breaks from my medication and stopped taking them altogether. (Please don’t try this—I deeply regretted it every single time!) From those moments, I’ve learned that my body and my brain deserve kindness and clarity.

If you ever hear that terrible voice in your head telling you that you deserve this—you don’t deserve to get better. You are garbage and you deserve to feel like garbage…it is WRONG. I’ve heard this voice so many times, and it’s only kept me from getting better. In fact, that is when you should listen and do the exact opposite of what that little voice is taunting you with.

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My Digital Library Made Me Love Reading Again

Libraries are not a thing of the past, and they are very much alive right now. But we need to show them some love. Honestly, can you say that you’ve visited your library within the last six months? Do you even visit your library? When I moved to Cincinnati, I knew I needed to take advantage of the various libraries surrounding me. They were all little beacons of hope for fellow literature lovers.

When I was a kid and living at home, my mother kept a tight ship, and unknowingly fed into one of my most toxic introverted traits: agoraphobia. Not only do I lie on the extreme end of the introversion spectrum, but at the time I was battling constant major social anxiety that left me crying in the bathtub at the end of most of my days. I was scared to death of human interactions—frankly, I still very much am, I just have better tools to deal with it now.

As a kid, I had no idea what was happening to my body. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I came to terms with my mental illness. All of this emotional chaos caused me to internalize most of my life, and my outlet was through reading magazines and books. They transported me instantly.

As a writer/content creator, reading is also a must. It’s how you keep your mind fresh and constantly churning out content. Reading other work inspires me to want to display equal talent, but also moves me. It’s easy for me to get stuck in a rut, and reading other people’s work always wakes me up. It’s like a replenishment of language and love all at once.

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY! Seriously, it’s never been easier to support your library. Even with my agoraphobic tendencies, the Libby App has made borrowing library books a seamless process. You can even place holds on titles that are already borrowed—but I’ll warn you, those hold lists can get long. Although, I don’t mind. I usually have about 4-6 different books and magazines in my rotation. Litterature for every mood!

All you need is your library card, and you’ll get instant access to thousands of titles. There’s a good chance that your local library is already online, so you can start the signup process from the comfort of your home. You can check out up to 40 titles at once, and place holds on 20 different titles.

Your library will give you access to tons of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more. Through my library, I also have access to the Kanopy streaming service and online classes on all kinds of topics. Truly, you;re doing a disservice to yourself if you’re not taking advantage of the FREE programs that your library is offering you.

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Best Newsletters for PR Pros

I have thrown myself full throttle into the world of PR these past few months, ever since the shuttering of GG. I had taken it as a sign that I should focus on my PR track. I’ve been freelancing with various great agencies and it’s been quite the test of my project management skills. It’s caused me to become more organized and self-motivated. It’s also made me change up some of the ways that I usually do things.

Media leads are a real thing, journalists are always looking for something and lately, they’ve been turning to their own newsletters. I have to admit, it’s like they’re giving us little strips of gold—telling us exactly how to pitch them, what to pitch them, etc.

It’s important for us to help one another out in this industry. These are the newsletters to subscribe to for getting media opportunities sent straight to your inbox from that very writer. The easiest way I keep track of them is through Substack, which a majority of media members use.

Bryce Gruber’s Sharing Opps

Alice Dubin Media newsletter

Aly’s Newsletter

Casey’s Newsletter

I Have Zlata Thoughts

Jill Schildhouse’s Call for Pitches

Leah Groth

Nicole’s Newsletter

Rachel’s Newsletter

Wendy Rose Gould’s Newsletter

Pitch, Please by Stephanie Osmanski

I’m sure I missed some good ones, so make sure to drop them below so I can subscribe to them as well (plus, update this list!).

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Endless Media Moves…

Surprise, surprise—no matter, the world keeps turning, another day arrives, and more changes hit us. Is it just me, or has your LinkedIn blown up with new job announcements from your network? So-and-so left their editorial position of 10 years to go freelance, so-and-so went from writer to editor, and so on. It’s daily, and it makes me happy to see the new burst of excitement from a contract that had been barely active prior to the announcement. Frankly, it’s also nice to know that during a time when so many media brands are shuttering and getting absorbed that my media friends are finding new homes.

In PR, I do everything: I am a publicist, social media manager, brand rep, and copywriter, whatever you need me to be. One constant is your Rolodex. Your role may change, but people depend on you for your “contacts”, or at least your ability to keep up with the industry so you always know who to get in touch with when you need to make things happen for a client.

I’ve been making a habit to check my LinkedIn once a day to doomscroll—erm, I mean catch up. I promise once I catch myself endlessly swiping I know it’s time to step away from the phone. Then, I decided to share my ridiculous knowledge and make it a newsletter through Substack.

For now, I’m being cheeky and calling it Pitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe.

Subscribe if you want to take the headache of keeping up with all of the media moves. I am trying to release this either weekly or bi-weekly, on Fridays, depending on how many moves I can track that week.

[thedeskside]

How Burnout Messes With Your Mental Health

Burnout is definitely going around, and chances are you’ve either faced it or have come very close. For those lucky few who may not be sure as to what I’m referring to, burnout (usually associated with work) is when you feel emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted due to chronic stress.

It can be hard to pinpoint where burnout even begins, but it’s so easy to accumulate stress that can lead to burnout. Even during this pandemic, many of us are being told to work from home and keep up with eight-hour workdays, under the extreme stress of the fact that our entire world is being affected by a health crisis. Yes, that alone can be stressful enough, and we are living in it.

It’s far too easy to suggest things to do to get back to normal after facing burnout, but things don’t exactly work that way. You can do all of the things you’re supposed to do to take care of yourself and de-stress and still come face-to-face with burnout.

The Stress of Being Stressed

Just thinking about stress can cause stress. You’d be surprised to know that being stressed isn’t all about negativity. It’s important to look into yourself and what you need in order to take care of yourself. You also need to focus on enhancing your mental well-being because burnout affects our mental health more than you may think.

In case you missed it, even Arianna Huffington admitted to collapsing at work from mental exhaustion and breaking her cheekbone. Could this be you? Honestly, yes, maybe. If you are feeling burnout coming on, and can’t behave proactively to treat it, chances are, you may share a similar story to this.

Burnout can increase depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It could increase your panic attacks, or even cause them for the first time. It might cause you to feel lost. Yes, it will throw you off. However, as Arianna Huffington has shown us, you can bounce back and come back stronger.

How to Fix It

What can you do to combat burnout? First, take it easy. Why are you putting all of this pressure on yourself? Frankly, it’s only hurting you. Be realistic with your feelings and think about where you are comfortable in your life. Focus on those positive areas.

It’s OK if you need to talk to someone. It’s also OK to ask for help or ask for alone time while sheltering in place. It’s so simple to say, “Hey, we’re all at home doing nothing, so it’s time to do all of the things.” However, we are all under a lot more stress at the moment, and throwing expectations on top of it is very unhelpful.

It’s definitely important to note that you do not have to come out of the quarantine richer, skinnier, smarter—and don’t ever let anyone convince you otherwise. Take this time to do things that make you feel good and help you unwind. Indulge yourself when you have the time and don’t let anyone’s opinions dictate what feels good to you.

The best way to prevent burnout is to be proactive with your self-care. You need to have your own back and make the time to actively care for yourself.

Just a friendly disclaimer and reminder that this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

This post is adapted from an original post that I created for the Glitter Guide. Want to read the original post on GG? Click the button!

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A Barcelona Story

I haven’t gone on vacation since 2017…and even then, I remember using my time in Panama to work (while melting during a heat wave). Last week was the first time that I actually took a real vacation, and didn’t work. … okay, so, I brought my laptop, just in case, but I didn’t even use it. That’s a first for me.

Instead, I decided to throw myself headfirst into the tourist experience. Frankly, Air Canada made this trip start as an epic shit show from the very start. They booked on a connecting flight…leaving at the SAME TIME as our first flight. How? Why? Worst, why did it take one and half hours for someone to figure out how to correct it?

Then, instead of taking two flights, they told us we would need to do four—Cincinnati to Toronto to Frankfurt to Barcelona…again…WHY?! And not a single “why” was answered. When we arrived in Toronto they made our plane wait 20 minutes for customs…which made us miss our connecting flight.

After three hours of being tossed back and forth and not being told what the next step was, Air Canada made go through the customs process only to tell us AFTER everything that happened that we would need to stay in Toronto for the night because there were no more flights out until the red eye to Barcelona the following day.

At 2am we took a cab to the hotel assigned to us and thankfully left on our red eye without a hitch—until we arrived in Barcelona, of course.

After having three different people reassure us that our luggage would be following our flight pattern, we find that neither my nor my fiance’s suitcases had arrived. In fact, they were in two different countries that had no business with us. Somehow, mine ended up in Montreal, untraceable for two days until it finally arrived on the third. Luckily, my finance’s came from Frankfurt…again…how did this piece of luggage get on the Frankfurt flight THAT WE MISSED?!

Spoiler alert: no answers…ever…from anyone at Air Canada. I’ve come to the conclusion that Air Canada enjoys their incompetence, and they must absolutely want us all to hurl insults at their staff for this. I’m convinced. Prove me wrong. Please, God!

The drama really got to me, but finally, I decided not to let this sour my trip or experience in Barcelona. I had a great fucking time; I ate everything that I wanted, saw everything that I wanted, and experienced everything that I wanted. I have no regrets.

And, thankfully, coming home was nowhere near as fucked as our departure.

Lesson learned: never fly Air Canada, even if your life depends on it, unless you’re ready to get epically fucked in the most insignificantly insufferable ways possible.

Places I Jaw-Dropped At:

Casa Batlló

La Sagrada Familia

anything in the Gothic Quarter

Anything Antoni Gaudi touched, peed on, or breathed near

Every. Single. Restaurant. (Seriously, not a single bad meal was had!)

Las Ramblas: shop, walk, and sightsee all at once

The beaches (…you could go topless at some.)

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Blue Light-Friendly Beauty Products To Add To Your Routine

We are in constant contact with our screens, now more than ever. With the pandemic causing us to expand our digital lives, it’s no wonder that we’re dealing with new aches, pains and even prevention. As I write this, I am binge-watching “The Nanny,” writing with five other tabs open in my browser (and begging for some attention), all with my iPad open to my Instagram feed that I had blindly been scrolling through for a minute.

I’m surrounded by high-energy visible light, better known as blue light. This type of light penetrates the skin deeper than any other light, which can cause as much damage to your skin as the sun. Fortunately, there’s been no proof that blue light can lead to skin cancer, but it does cause the skin to age prematurely. A zinc oxide or titanium oxide sunscreen can help protect your skin.

Here are some blue light-friendly products you can add to any beauty routine.

This post was originally great for the Glittler Guide, but adapted for my personal use.

Keep exploring…

[thedeskside]

12 Pretty Planners + Notebooks To Help Keep You Together

Paper saves the day. I always say, “if it’s not written down and in my paper planner, then it doesn’t exist”. I can’t live without my planners or notebooks.

Writing things down has been known to help with memory, and I will take any help I can get. Plus, I need an excuse to use up all of my paper products and countless pens.

A new notebook always makes me happy. I get excited to fill the pages with all of my nonsense from mood journalling to work notes.

These notebooks and planners will dress up your desk while helping you keep your life together.

Continue your journey…

[thedeskside]

High Tea Manis, Please

The Magic Shades

CUCUMBER SANDWICH - a super fresh, cool green

YOU’RE INVITED - a playful lilac purple

THE QUEEN TAKES HER TEA WITH MILK - a sheer mauve neutral

GOLDEN AFTERNOON - a sunny spring marigold

JAM PLEASE - a glowing soft magenta

STRAWBERRY SCONE - a sweet pink sheer

Say hello to Olive & June’s newest spring launch. The high tea collection pushes the sweetest pastels during a time when I could use soft color to inspire a little happiness, especially on the most ordinary of days. I’ve been using Olive & June products since their first launch, and I’m continuously surprised by the quality and mindfulness of these products. (I’ve bought four different replacements for my cuticle pen💞)

The Hight Tea collection comes out just in time for us to enjoy Bridgerton, with an equally vibrant palette of decadent ensembles. As I write this, I am hiding under a chunky knit sweater, clinging to warmth, dreaming of a spring day, laid out in the grass.

Don’t forget, their Mani System boxes work great for storage and other projects too.

THE MANI SYSTEM SPRING 2022 COLLECTION ($85)

INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:

• 6 New Polishes • Limited Edition Mint Poppy • Limited Edition Floral Pouch • Cuticle Serum with Cactus Flower • Super Glossy Top Coat • Clean Up Brush • Nail Polish Remover Pot • Flat-Edge Mani Clippers • Dual-Grit Mani File • Nail Buffer Bar

[thedeskside]

Should You Consider Virtual Co-Working?

Before the pandemic, I would often work from a coffee shop. I enjoyed low hums and little buzzings from studying students. Plus, being ‘stuck’ in one place did wonders for my actual productivity. When I was traveling for work, I would buy day passes to nearby co-working spaces, just to be surrounded by the other creatives and working people consumed with their projects. I feed off this kind of minimal social energy.

However, when the world paused for a year, this was no longer an option. I was glued to my home office, and the little corners I’d carve into random spaces of the house just because they reminded me of a day surrounded by busy creatives looking for business resources and shelter from the city bustle. Things had changed, I just hadn’t adapted very well.

We suddenly asked what the future of co-working would look like in a post-COVID world. The world shut down, but work didn’t seize for some of us. While we did everything at home, well-recognized co-working spaces like WeWork and The Wing immediately struggled and were rendered almost useless to a once-loyal following.

Some important numbers to note:

According to Go Remotely, women account for 44 percent of the global co-working workforce

92 percent of people in co-working spaces are satisfied with their work

68 percent of people who use shared study spaces can better focus on their assignments

The biggest and most common issue was dealing with distractions, according to another study by Udemy

There are many positive benefits to virtual co-working, even for a severe introvert like me. I thrive when I’m left on my own, but I still crave comforting social cues that I once took completely for granted. At least we learned that we could technically work from just about anywhere with a decent Wi-Fi connection.

The Real Thing

I kid you not, as I wrote this, my boss reached out to me via Slack so we could schedule our own team virtual co-working session. Our small team is spread out all over the U.S., so scheduling a few hours of time to work together to work through a video call is a small, but necessary step to building a team presence and spending essential time with my remote co-workers.

If you’re new to this, start small by scheduling an hour-long (or more) video call with a co-worker. No need to even interact much, just keep your video or audio on while you work the designated hour as side-by-side as a video meeting can get. There is also the option of finding a virtual accountability buddy who can help you stay on track.

Take it up a level by using Gather, the most adorable and accurate way to take your team into a virtual office and unleash their team skills. You can customize your avatar and even your virtual office; work in space, or in a cozy study room with your team for a brainstorming session.

Try looking for virtual co-working requests on LinkedIn or in Facebook Groups with other participating creatives. You can always create your own request as well to build a steady and comfortable virtual co-working group.

How To Fake It

I have a difficult time working in silence, so I definitely benefit from a little noise. One thing I used to enjoy pre-COVID was the casual noise and bustle of my local coffee shop. Or if I’m writing, I especially love the noise of rain or a ravenous ocean. A podcast or study playlist just won’t make the cut, but you can’t exactly run out and travel to your favorite productive noises.

For moments like this, I’ve turned to Noisili. You can become a mix-master of your favorite worldly sounds, and mix and match them to create supreme soundscapes to your very detailed liking. If you want to feel like you’re in a cafe again, then I Miss My Cafe is a very safe bet. You can enjoy a barista-approved playlist, or create a soundscape of your perfect day at the cafe with the interactive sound controls on different coffee shop noise elements like customer conversation, machinery, and even barista comments.

This post is adapted from an original post that I created for the Glitter Guide. Want to read the original post on GG? Click the button!

[thedeskside]

8 Bad Beauty Habits To Give Up

As a firm believer in the fact that we can always find progress within ourselves. I’ve found a lot of comfort in the fact that no matter what, I can always reflect on different aspects of my life. I like to learn from my past, and yes, that even includes some questionable beauty habits that I once viewed as essential to my routines.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve taken stock of my routines, and what they’ve currently been shaped into. I was not always so organized, or even knowledgeable about what I was putting on my skin. My skin hasn’t always been combination-type, either. Noted: no one intentionally effs up.

You have to seed out those bad little habits and nip them before they make your beauty routines worse. You’ve got to figure out what those bad beauty habits are, and implement a solution.

These are just 8 innocent bad beauty habits that I’ve given up, and I’m never looking back.

Not identifying my needs.

For a long time, I let my beauty routine revolve around the fact of need. I did certain things because I was “supposed to.” I never stopped to think about what was actually important to me to really incorporate into my beauty routines. When crafting your own routines, never forget what is important to you, and address those beauty needs. You need to add elements that make sense to you and hone in on what feels important to you. For example, the pandemic taught me, I am a nails-girl. I type all day, every day, and I feel more productive and inspired when my nails are done to my liking.

An unstable cleansing routine.

I used to use whatever cleansing method I could find nearby. That means I’d even use a bar of soap if it were in reach. I didn’t give much thought to my cleansing routines, but that was a huge mistake. I wasn’t properly taking off my makeup, and it was leading to a lot of skin issues like zits and over-drying. All cleansers are not made alike. When I wear makeup, I follow a double-cleansing routine with a balm or oil to dissolve my makeup, and a gentle gel cleanser to finish up.

Hoarding as much product as possible.

I was a thorough product hoarder for such a long time, and it’s hard to believe that I held on to too many expired products and formulas that just didn’t work for me. I used to think that the more product, the better. But the truth is that it’s easy for everything to get a little out of hand. You don’t need every new product under the sun to develop a good skincare routine, you just need the formulas that work best for you. Less is more, and the more focused your beauty arsenal, the better.

Using too many products at a time.

We’re living during a time of an influx of beauty and skincare brands and products. Everyone has their own beauty line these days. That just means we have tons of more choices, but don’t fall into the “new launch” rabbit hole and feel like you have to try every new product that comes out. I reached a point in my beauty routines where I was just using products because they were in my arsenal, and not necessarily because they were the right product to treat certain skin concerns.

After suffering a chemical burn, I realized I need to pare down my routine and focus on products and formulas that specifically targeted my needs.

Over-exfoliating my skin.

I used to think scrubbing my face equated to clean skin. This was a huge mistake. The skin on your face is delicate and should be treated as such. Piling on exfoliators can really do a lot more bad than good. I’ve toned down on exfoliating, and only using exfoliating products when my skin feels dull.

Never using heat-protecting products in my hair routine.

It took me such a long time to embrace my wavy hair texture. For so long, I stuck a hot iron to it and called it a day. When I immediately noticed a slew of new split ends, I knew what I had done wrong. Too much heat and I wasn’t even trying to protect my strands. The damage was done, and it got to the point where I had to chop an inch or two off just to spare the rest of my strands.

The pandemic gave me time to find preventive and protective hair products, and I took a long break from hot tools. I hardly ever use hot tools in my hair now, but if I do need it, you can bet I’ll never not use a heat protectant again.

Forgetting my daily SPF.

Here I was, running out of the house and sitting in the hot car, waiting for it to cool off. And I promise, every time I would say “whoops, forgot to put on my sunscreen.” What a dangerous mistake. I’ve worked hard to keep SPF all over my home: in my purse, on my office desk, next to my bed, etc. Now, I have no excuse for forgetting my SPF since I’m surrounded by sunscreens. Even if you spend all day indoors, the sun finds a way to peek through your windows, and you need to protect your skin.

Over-treating my stressed-out hair.

Olaplex quickly became my best friend during the pandemic, and then my worst enemy. Did you know you can easily overdo these formulas and quickly dry out your strands and actually damage them further? It’s important to look at natural hair-treatment options (sometimes you just need to peek into your pantry for hair-savers). I’ve been coloring my hair most of my life and keeping a color-safe routine calls for shinier, healthier hair. I use repairing products when my strands feel extra dry and damaged and try to keep my treatments to a minimum.

This post is adapted from an original post that I created for the Glitter Guide. Want to read the original post on GG? Click the button!

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How To Spring Clean Your Beauty Cabinet

I'm all about spring cleaning! Out with the old, and in with just the items that you need. It's hard to admit though, I tend to hoard my beauty products. Since it's part of my job to stay ahead of the latest lifestyle, beauty, and fashion topics, you can only imagine how quickly my pile of must-tries grows.

Eventually, that pile gets shoved aside and forgotten. That's why I've been making an effort this year to seasonally clean out my entire beauty collection.

Here's how you can start to spring clean your beauty cabinet.

Look At Expiration Dates

The easiest way to start minimizing your arsenal is to split all of your products into categories and then go through each and every single product, noting their expiration dates. Toss all items that have already expired. Trust me, this will make the process of spring cleaning your beauty cabinet much faster.

Pick Essentials

Now that we’ve tossed all those products that expired, look at what you have left in front of you. Again, I suggest sticking to going through your collection by categories of products so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Pick up the things that you are always using and reaching for, and set those aside, away from your trashed items.

My one rule is, if I haven’t used it, or even seen it in a month, then it needs to go. Chances are if I haven’t used something new within a month, it was never going to make it into my routine in the first place. Now, it’s just a space hog. If the items are new or lightly tested, I will donate them, or give them to my sister, mom or a friend.

There are many local women’s shelters and programs that are in need of products we take for granted. They make a huge difference, so do a little research on their rules for donation, and where you can send items.

Downsize Your Tools

You might forget this part, but your brushes and skincare tools are part of this spring cleaning project, too! They take up just as much room, if not more. During my beauty purge, I discovered I had drawers full of brushes and sponges that I had completely forgotten about. Many of them were unused as well.

I didn’t even bother to look through them—I went through all of this time with them, I could definitely give these away, too. Go through your tools and make sure they’re in good shape as well. Anything old or broken should be tossed without a second glance.

Clean It All

Now that you’ve narrowed down all of the products you use and want to keep in your beauty cabinet, it’s time to clean everything. Wipe down those messy palettes, and your storage solutions. This is also a great time to clean and condition your brushes. Ideally, you should be cleaning your brushes as often as you use them, but I am one of those that like to get a few uses out of my brushes before washing them.

Organize With Purpose

It’s now time to get reorganized, and finding your method should be personalized to you, and what works best with your routines. I love a good ‘beauty shelfie,’ but aesthetics shouldn’t trump function.

I keep my p.m. items in my bathroom because I’m an evening showerer. Seeing it in my bathroom reminds me to keep up with my daily routine: toner, serum, eye cream, etc. My a.m. products are tucked neatly by my desk in my home office. I’ll usually do my routine with a cup of iced coffee right before starting my workday. Any items that I interchange, I keep nicely organized in my beauty cabinet.

This post is adapted from an original post that I created for the Glitter Guide. Want to read the original post on GG? Click the button!

Hey, try this…

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4 Important No-Stress Spring Cleaning Tips

This is definitely the perfect time to lighten your load by getting rid of clutter and focusing on your essentials. I always think of spring cleaning as a renewal of sorts. Right now, it feels like we're stuck in some kind of endless time warp.

Spring, are you there? I can't see or hear you...but I would at the very least like to feel you. Even as I write this, it's during some type of winter storm taking over most of the U.S. So, I understand if you feel hesitant about getting started on some spring cleaning.

It can seem pretty intimidating to try and take on your home. It's time to simplify things for the better.

Create a Schedule

Yes, that’s right. You should create a cleaning schedule for yourself, and/or the members in your home. Instead of trying to tackle everything in a day or two, give yourself a week and find a way to fit some cleaning and decluttering into each day. For example, take a day for each room in your home. Just a few hours a day can help you feel even a bit lighter. This is your timeline, and you have the freedom to create a cleaning schedule that works for you.

Do the Prep Work

Before you get started, stock up on cleaning, organizing, and storage products. Again, no need to think of this all at once. If you’re sticking to your cleaning schedule, then create a checklist of things that you need to ensure you clean and organize everything that is important to you in your home.

Having these things prepared ahead of time will make spring cleaning so much less of a hassle. Set these items aside where you’ll need them next. I also like to roam Pinterest for organization and display ideas. This is a great time to rearrange your items and create a more pleasing aesthetic.

Change Things Up

Sure, we might be getting a little frazzled about being ‘stuck’ inside these days, but that just means that it’s time to make your home a priority. Open your notebook to a blank page and start jotting down all of the things you’d like to change in your home. How would you recreate certain spaces in your home to make them as comfortable and uplifting as possible? After all, we’re spending so much time indoors, we need to be sure that we learn how to enjoy it.

I like to create a huge list of things from big to small that I want to work on in my home, and I find ways to work it into my spring cleaning schedule. For instance, if I am completely decluttering my home office, you can bet I am also adding shelves and artwork where I’ve always said I would put them. Time to clean, declutter and redecorate on your own terms.

Take Your Time

I think it’s safe to assume that many of us don’t exactly have all of the free time in the world as we would like to have. Between work and spending time with the members of your home, it can often feel like you’re spreading yourself too thin. Don’t keep adding to your to-do list just because you think things need to be done by a certain time.

Take pleasure in the fact that you are disposing of all of the nonessential items in your home on your time. There’s no need to feel rushed into cleaning. I actually find it therapeutic to clean my home, but I know that it’s not the same for everyone.

This post is adapted from an original post that I created for the Glitter Guide. Want to read the original post on GG? Click the button!

Hey, you should try…

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The New Blemish Cleanser That Sold Out in 2 Weeks

I might be a millennial, but this Gen Z-favorite brand catches my attention with every single launch. Not only is their minimalist packaging beautiful, but every product in the line is effective and clean.

This multi-functional cleanser joined the KINSHIP lineup of clean, clinically effective, accessibly-priced products just a couple of weeks ago, and almost immediately sold out.

Kinship’s Naked Apple Oil-Free Blemish Control Cleanser isn’t your typical acne-targeting cleanser that strips the skin. Instead, this daily deep pore cleansing gel reduces blemishes and balances oil, while the rich, skin-balancing, foaming lather provides a deep cleanse + removes makeup while protecting the moisture barrier. 

Don’t forget…

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What + Where To Shop For Your Valentine

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Frankly, I’ve never been one to celebrate much of anything, and that hasn’t really changed. However, I love the warmth and cuteness that accompany a holiday like Valentine’s Day.

Surprise, surprise, I got engaged a few weeks ago! No,we still don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day perse, but we like to give each other little treats to show that we care, and think about one another.

Here is what I’m personally shopping for, or simply just wishing for, this Valentine’s Day!

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December 2021 Free Wallpaper

A December 2021 free wallpaper to help keep you organized and chic.

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How To Create A Tech/Life Balance When You WFH

I've been working from home for years, so when the pandemic hit, there wasn't much change, other than spending almost all of my days in my home. However, since I've started WFH, so much of my personal and work life have become intertwined. Plus, my current career path requires me to stay up to date on culture through social media.

So, in fewer words, I have always been quite attached to my tech products! Just think about it. How often do you find yourself mindlessly scrolling or constantly checking your devices for notifications? Don't be ashamed. We have all done this, and most likely, recently, too. Screens have seamlessly become integrated into our everyday lives.

Although, I have to admit, limiting my time around tech has worked wonders in my personal life. My relationship with technology had become obsessive and caused a lot of disruption throughout the day. It had only gotten worse since working from home because, hello, I can work whenever and wherever I want, right? Well, it's easy to take that too far — I know from personal experience.

Creating a set of tech rules at home has made my relationship with all of my devices healthier and much less distracting. Also, creating these boundaries has helped with my overall FOMO (fear of missing out).

Here are some rules to follow if you need to set boundaries to create a healthy tech/life balance, even when you work from home!

No work after 6 p.m. Unless I’m working on writing a piece, I never work after dinner. Writing is my only exception since I tend to get very inspired to create content in the evening. Even then, I try to limit this to an hour or two to get a break from my tech devices hours before bed.

No phones or tech at the dinner table. My boyfriend and I take dinner very seriously, and we keep each other accountable. We’ve agreed that evenings should be reserved for our family time when we focus on ourselves.

Set limits for the apps you’re doom scrolling through constantly. My boyfriend has a huge Twitter problem. He would spend hours scrolling through his endless feed. He fixed this by giving himself time limits on his phone’s social media apps.

Take screen breaks. Thankfully, my Apple watch helps me by reminding me to take screen breaks and stand up and walk around every hour throughout the workday. Set reminders to ensure you don’t miss a break.

Stretch that tech-neck. Staring down at our phones and laptops wreaks havoc on our bodies, but when our jobs revolve around our tech devices, it’s important to use your breaks wisely. Move around and stretch to avoid those pesky WFH aches.

Buy an alarm clock. I did the thing we all are scared to do…I gave up my phone alarm for an old school alarm clock, and things have never been better. Not having my phone in my room at night helps keep me from late-night scrolling on the nights I have trouble sleeping. Trust me; blue light is the enemy!

Take advantage of Do Not Disturb mode on your phone and devices. After 9 p.m., I am virtually unable to be reached, and it’s definitely helped me free up my nights. Even if I am working on some light night creative project, it’s free of distracting notifications.

This post is adapted from an original post that I created for the Glitter Guide. Want to read the original post on GG? Click the button!

May I suggest…