myanook

Tag: life

  • Gentle Self-Care Tips for When Life Feels Heavy

    Some days just feel heavy. Today is one of those days for me. I feel sad, not for one specific reason, just life in general.

    But even in the sadness, I’ve been learning how to care for myself in small, gentle ways. I’m not trying to fix my mood or force myself to be okay. Instead, I focus on reconnecting with myself through things that feel peaceful, comforting, or creatively fulfilling.

    Here are some of the things that help me connect back to myself when life feels rough:

    1. Baking

    Baking helps me get out of my head and into something simple. Mixing ingredients, putting something in the oven, and waiting for a warm treat to come out brings me comfort.

    When I’m feeling a little more creative, like today, I’ll try developing a new recipe. I’ll set up my phone to film the process and jot notes in a notebook. It doesn’t take much out of me, but it makes me feel present and peaceful.

    What I baked Today: Cinnamon Rolls

    Recipe Video linked here: https://myascottage18.wordpress.com/2025/07/01/delicious-cinnamon-rolls-a-quick-and-easy-recipe/

    2. Meditating

    Meditation didn’t always come naturally to me. In the beginning, it felt a little awkward, and I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be doing.

    But once I found what works for me—headphones, a neck pillow, and frequency music—it became a way to slow down and hear my thoughts without judgment.

    As someone who overthinks a lot, I’ve realized how important meditation is, especially for creatives. We carry so much in our minds and bodies. Meditation helps us sort through that and actually connect with our vision.

    3. Writing

    In person, I tend to trip over my words or blank out. I leave things unsaid without meaning to.

    But when I write, I can finally express what I’m trying to say. Writing is how I process things and how I find clarity.

    It’s the reason I started this blog. I needed a space to speak freely in my own way. Writing is also where I get most of my video ideas from, especially when I’m stuck in a creative block.

    4. Creating with My Hands

    I love anything that lets me get my hands messy. Clay, painting, drawing, anything creative.

    On sad days, I don’t force myself to make anything perfect. I just let myself explore. Sometimes I go for something super chill and simple, other days I try something new. Either way, I always feel a little more energized afterward.

    5. Watching Slow and Beautiful Films

    There’s something about slow, peaceful movies that helps calm my mind.

    Studio Ghibli movies are my go-to. They’re soft, immersive, and beautifully animated. They don’t feel like background noise. I actually have to sit and watch. When I do, I leave feeling inspired and re-centered.

    6. Moving My Body

    Sometimes the best thing I can do is just move.

    Whether it’s dancing around my room( which I can do for hours), stretching for five minutes, or doing a super light workout, movement helps me release tension.

    I don’t push myself too hard. I just let my body move the way it wants to. The goal is to shake off the stress and feel more grounded.

    7. Nourishing Myself

    Taking care of my body helps me feel safe and supported.

    That could mean doing my skincare routine, breathing deeply, or gently parenting myself through a tough emotion. These little acts of care remind me that I’m allowed to slow down. I don’t have to push through everything.

    8. Doing What I Want to Do

    So much of life is spent doing things out of survival. Jobs we don’t like, routines we never chose.

    But when I let myself create the way I want to, live how I want to, and follow what feels aligned for me, I start to feel like I’m actually living intentionally.

    The day-to-day doesn’t feel as draining when I give myself permission to build a life that reflects who I am. Not someone else’s version. Not society’s idea. Just mine. Currently, doing what I want is me creating on Youtube and my blog. No hassle no expectation just creation.

    9. Rethinking My Phone Habits

    Yes, it really is the phone sometimes.

    But instead of forcing a full disconnect, I’ve learned to reprogram the way I use it.

    I unfollow people who drain me. I follow accounts that make me feel inspired and uplifted. I delete apps that flood my mind with negativity. For me, that’s TikTok.

    One app I’ve been loving lately is Substack. It gives me something nourishing to read each morning, which is helping me get back into long-form content.

    Here are a couple of Substack Post that i have been loving:

    Even if I can’t take a month off social media, I try to unplug for just one week out of the month. During that time, I only use my phone to talk to the people I care about. That small change makes a big difference in how I feel.

    10. Resting and Sleeping

    Sleep is the reset button I forget to press.

    Sometimes I feel guilty for resting, like I should be doing something more productive first. But I’m learning that without rest, my body has no fuel. And without fuel, I can’t build the life I want.

    You don’t have to earn your rest. You don’t have to stay up one more hour to check something off your list. Just sleep. Let your body recharge so you can wake up with new energy and a clear mind.

    Lately, I’ve been trying to take the moment to sleep slightly longer or just take power naps. Honestly, It’s something I have to grow used to, just giving myself the space to sit and do nothing for a bit.

    Final Thoughts

    You don’t need to be perfect to deserve peace. You don’t need to always be happy to care for yourself.

    On hard days, you’re allowed to move slowly. You’re allowed to pause and tend to your spirit.

    These rituals are what help me reconnect with myself. Gently, honestly, and without pressure. I hope they remind you that you’re allowed to return home to yourself too.

    Questions: How do you make yourself feel better when you are in a slump? What methods works for you that you would love to share?

  • Gentle Self-Care Tips for When Life Feels Heavy

    Some days just feel heavy. Today is one of those days for me. I feel sad, not for one specific reason, just life in general.

    But even in the sadness, I’ve been learning how to care for myself in small, gentle ways. I’m not trying to fix my mood or force myself to be okay. Instead, I focus on reconnecting with myself through things that feel peaceful, comforting, or creatively fulfilling.

    Here are some of the things that help me connect back to myself when life feels rough:

    1. Baking

    Baking helps me get out of my head and into something simple. Mixing ingredients, putting something in the oven, and waiting for a warm treat to come out brings me comfort.

    When I’m feeling a little more creative, like today, I’ll try developing a new recipe. I’ll set up my phone to film the process and jot notes in a notebook. It doesn’t take much out of me, but it makes me feel present and peaceful.

    What I baked Today: Cinnamon Rolls

    Recipe Video linked here: https://myascottage18.wordpress.com/2025/07/01/delicious-cinnamon-rolls-a-quick-and-easy-recipe/

    2. Meditating

    Meditation didn’t always come naturally to me. In the beginning, it felt a little awkward, and I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be doing.

    But once I found what works for me—headphones, a neck pillow, and frequency music—it became a way to slow down and hear my thoughts without judgment.

    As someone who overthinks a lot, I’ve realized how important meditation is, especially for creatives. We carry so much in our minds and bodies. Meditation helps us sort through that and actually connect with our vision.

    3. Writing

    In person, I tend to trip over my words or blank out. I leave things unsaid without meaning to.

    But when I write, I can finally express what I’m trying to say. Writing is how I process things and how I find clarity.

    It’s the reason I started this blog. I needed a space to speak freely in my own way. Writing is also where I get most of my video ideas from, especially when I’m stuck in a creative block.

    4. Creating with My Hands

    I love anything that lets me get my hands messy. Clay, painting, drawing, anything creative.

    On sad days, I don’t force myself to make anything perfect. I just let myself explore. Sometimes I go for something super chill and simple, other days I try something new. Either way, I always feel a little more energized afterward.

    5. Watching Slow and Beautiful Films

    There’s something about slow, peaceful movies that helps calm my mind.

    Studio Ghibli movies are my go-to. They’re soft, immersive, and beautifully animated. They don’t feel like background noise. I actually have to sit and watch. When I do, I leave feeling inspired and re-centered.

    6. Moving My Body

    Sometimes the best thing I can do is just move.

    Whether it’s dancing around my room( which I can do for hours), stretching for five minutes, or doing a super light workout, movement helps me release tension.

    I don’t push myself too hard. I just let my body move the way it wants to. The goal is to shake off the stress and feel more grounded.

    7. Nourishing Myself

    Taking care of my body helps me feel safe and supported.

    That could mean doing my skincare routine, breathing deeply, or gently parenting myself through a tough emotion. These little acts of care remind me that I’m allowed to slow down. I don’t have to push through everything.

    8. Doing What I Want to Do

    So much of life is spent doing things out of survival. Jobs we don’t like, routines we never chose.

    But when I let myself create the way I want to, live how I want to, and follow what feels aligned for me, I start to feel like I’m actually living intentionally.

    The day-to-day doesn’t feel as draining when I give myself permission to build a life that reflects who I am. Not someone else’s version. Not society’s idea. Just mine. Currently, doing what I want is me creating on Youtube and my blog. No hassle no expectation just creation.

    9. Rethinking My Phone Habits

    Yes, it really is the phone sometimes.

    But instead of forcing a full disconnect, I’ve learned to reprogram the way I use it.

    I unfollow people who drain me. I follow accounts that make me feel inspired and uplifted. I delete apps that flood my mind with negativity. For me, that’s TikTok.

    One app I’ve been loving lately is Substack. It gives me something nourishing to read each morning, which is helping me get back into long-form content.

    Here are a couple of Substack Post that i have been loving:

    Even if I can’t take a month off social media, I try to unplug for just one week out of the month. During that time, I only use my phone to talk to the people I care about. That small change makes a big difference in how I feel.

    10. Resting and Sleeping

    Sleep is the reset button I forget to press.

    Sometimes I feel guilty for resting, like I should be doing something more productive first. But I’m learning that without rest, my body has no fuel. And without fuel, I can’t build the life I want.

    You don’t have to earn your rest. You don’t have to stay up one more hour to check something off your list. Just sleep. Let your body recharge so you can wake up with new energy and a clear mind.

    Lately, I’ve been trying to take the moment to sleep slightly longer or just take power naps. Honestly, It’s something I have to grow used to, just giving myself the space to sit and do nothing for a bit.

    Final Thoughts

    You don’t need to be perfect to deserve peace. You don’t need to always be happy to care for yourself.

    On hard days, you’re allowed to move slowly. You’re allowed to pause and tend to your spirit.

    These rituals are what help me reconnect with myself. Gently, honestly, and without pressure. I hope they remind you that you’re allowed to return home to yourself too.

    Questions: How do you make yourself feel better when you are in a slump? What methods works for you that you would love to share?

    YouTube video that pairs with the article:

    10 Gentle Ways to Reconnect With Yourself When Life Feels Heavy

  • Change is hard, but not changing is harder

    A personal story

    Why is it that for some of us, change feels so hard? Sometimes it even feels harder than suffering in comfort. That strange sense of comfort, even when it’s uncomfortable, can feel safer. Honestly, that’s how I felt for most of 2025. Like I was Simply existing.

    There were moments throughout the year when I was jolted out of that feeling, but the fear of change quickly crept back in and consumed me. It felt unnatural to want more for myself, so instead of working through those fears, I sat with them in silence. I ignored them, hoping they would go away. Eventually, the things I once found comfort in began to fall apart. The blissful fruit withered. I came to realize what I was experiencing wasn’t burnout from overworking, but from settling. For a while, I faded into the background, not wanting to be a burden or add more stress. In doing so, I dimmed myself. I tucked away parts of me that deserved light.

                A few weeks ago, I wrote an essay for my English class about the path I’m currently on. In my first draft, I noticed something was off. There was a huge disconnect. Rather than acknowledging my fears as internal, I found myself pointing fingers at society, at my family, and everything but me. While those external pressures are real and valid, I realized something important: in the end, only I can decide how I live. Whether I’m liked or not, I’m the one who has to live with me. So why not be the person who creates the life I’m meant to live. I submitted my first draft, even though I felt disconnected. And, as expected, both my peers and professor noticed it too. It wasn’t until I truly reconnected with myself that I wrote the final version… and I loved it.

                These days, I often remind myself: “It’s not a matter of if, but when.” Why deny myself something I was born to experience. That mindset is what led me back to my blog (again). It’s this intuitive pull that keeps telling me: I’m meant to be here. I’m meant to write. No matter the circumstances. Creative expression is how I leave my mark.

                Change has opened so many small but meaningful doors for me, ones I wouldn’t have seen if I had stayed still. I wouldn’t have discovered my love for school if I hadn’t gone back. I wouldn’t have discovered my love for writing if I hadn’t started my blog. And I wouldn’t have realized I’m actually pretty good at storytelling if I never tried creating for YouTube.  Each of these steps felt uncomfortable at first, but right. While these changes may seem small, choosing to make them, rather than staying stuck in a cycle of just existing, is what helped me emerge from burnout. Honestly, it might even be what’s dissolving the fear I’ve held onto for years.

                So, here’s what I’ve learned: never be afraid of the vision planted in your mind. No matter how limited things may feel, your dreams wouldn’t exist if they weren’t meant to be lived out by you. Nourish the plant within you. Water it with belief, intention, and movement. Because yes, change is hard, but never changing is harder.

    YouTube Video Audio Version:

    change is hard, but not changing is harder

  • 3 months on Youtube Reflection

    Sometimes I forget that YouTube doesn’t have to be a space where everything is perfect. I lose sight of why I started my channel in the first place: to have a space for creativity, to challenge myself, build a community, and open up new opportunities. It’s a place where I can simply exist and appreciate the beauty of that existence.

    Lately, I’ve been preoccupied with producing stronger, more engaging content, but this focus pulls me away from the bigger picture. Since starting YouTube three months ago, I’ve realized a few things. For one, I don’t want to create short-form content anymore. It feels like it’s distracting me from the essence of why I began my channel.

    I started this journey to embrace a slower pace of life, to create long-form content that allows me to savor the experience. Short-form content—on platforms like TikTok or Instagram—feels rushed, and while I’ve stopped using TikTok, I still find myself consuming short videos on Instagram and YouTube Shorts. My brain craves it, and for a while, I thought I needed to create that kind of content too, just to stay relevant. But that’s not what I want.

    I enjoy the slower process, the quiet moments. Yet, my mind has been conditioned to find that boring. I know I need to combat this. Through my channel, I have the power to retrain my mind—to enjoy the slower process, to focus on the meaningful work that fulfills me.

    What sparked this reflection is:

    1. Three months of commitment: YouTube has become a meaningful part of my life. I can genuinely see myself doing this for a long time because I love it. Recently, I sat down and watched my own videos, something I hadn’t done before. Watching them made me realize how much I enjoy what I create. It feels calming and inspiring, a space where I can fully embrace my creativity.
    2. Inspiration from travel content: I watched a video of a girl enjoying her time in the Swiss Alps, and it reminded me of my love for travel—especially solo travel. It’s during those moments that my mind clears, and creativity flows. That video also reminded me to stop being so hard on myself about my channel.

    When I started, my intention was to create a space where I could simply exist, but lately, I’ve been consumed by numbers and engagement. If a video doesn’t perform well, I feel disappointed. But why? I’ve achieved so much in three months. I’ve shared pieces of myself and created something meaningful for me. That’s an accomplishment worth celebrating.

    In modern society, we often forget to pause and appreciate the progress we’ve made, big or small. I’ve hit so many of my goals in these three months, yet I haven’t celebrated them because I’m always asking, “What’s next?” It’s hard to sit in silence and simply acknowledge my wins.

    Watching that travel vlog reminded me that this slower, intentional way of living is something I can create for myself. I don’t view my channel as a monetary venture, but as a space to open new doors. The abundance YouTube offers isn’t just financial—it’s mental and emotional. Every day, I understand myself better, meet new people, and create something meaningful.

    This journey has shown me that authenticity is a gift. When I embrace my truest self, amazing opportunities arise. Financial gain may come in time, but what drives me is the ability to explore, create, and nurture a loving, authentic community.

    After three months, I’m beginning to understand who I am and who I want to be. I’m discovering the kind of art I want to create and the goals I can accomplish through it. In time, I hope to become the version of myself who is comfortable moving slower, embracing the flow, and creating what I love.

    The story I want to create is beautiful, and I need to lean into it—trusting the process, even when it feels uncomfortable.

  • To Live Life or be consumed by it.

    Short Essay by Mya Jones

    When I reflect on the past couple of years, I think about how much I allowed life to consume me. It hurts, if I’m being honest. I knew from my teenage years that my 20s would be a challenging time, but I didn’t think it would be as demanding as it actually is. I’m still trying to grow peace within myself, knowing that sometimes things just take time… that life has nearly just begun. I grew up with the impression that by my early 20s, I would be living my best life—hahaha. I imagined having this extravagant lifestyle, like the ones I’ve seen online.

    As I continue to figure myself out, I’ve realized that what I truly want is peace, independence, and abundance. I want to wake up and truly feel calm. I no longer have the desire to consume material things; instead, I want to immerse myself in life. I’ve noticed that when I seek instant gratification, I’m still unhappy in the long run. It’s only when I allow myself to slow down and do what may be uncomfortable in the moment—but ultimately fulfilling—that I experience pure joy.

    My 20s so far have been hard; they’ve taught me a lot that I wasn’t quite ready to learn. But through these lessons, I’ve discovered so much about myself. The lessons I wasn’t taught by parental figures, schools, or any higher educator, I learned through hard experiences. I figured out what I no longer desire from the hurt I’ve experienced. I find a sense of peace in that, even if, in the moment, it was heartbreaking or upsetting.

    Right now, I feel like it’s time to slow down. As I let life consume me, I realized that my body is taking the heat for it—emotionally, physically, and mentally. I am being consumed. At this moment, taking the time to just enjoy life and find peace in the mundane will bring me bliss. Previously, I avoided the mundane; I thought it was boring and too slow. But I’ve grown to realize it’s necessary—to just live in the moment and simply be. Sometimes, I forget to express gratitude, to just sit down and think of the blessings I currently have, the small things that bring me joy. Like this blog. Just typing this relieves me. I love it.

    Truthfully, I feel like the life I seek is waiting for me to seek it—to actually trust myself and follow the path of my soul. The more I avoid it, the harder I make my life. I don’t know my purpose, but I do know what I feel called to do right now. Yes, life has brought its challenges these past couple of years, but why am I allowing it to consume me? To break my very character? To hide away the version of myself I know I am meant to evolve into? My life has just begun, and I have to live it. Or I fear I will grow a bitterness, a sickness within myself, that will never let me live it.

    What if I actually pursued the life that I want? How would my life change? I’d rather take the risk of the unknown than settle for the societal obligations of adulthood. I want to allow myself to love the person I am, to grow confident in myself. I don’t want to feel a constant wave of stress and sadness anymore. I don’t want to be in the energy of disappointment and settling. I seek abundance and joy. I want to feel alive.

    In time, everything will work out. I just have to be patient with myself and take it day by day. Trust in myself and the person I desire to be. Life has just begun. Live it. Document it. Share it.

    Note from Writer~

    Thank you for reading my short essay, I just wanted to share a piece of my 20’s so far. If you are dealing with something similar or have thoughts about going into your 20s I would love to hear them. Thank you again and I wish you a peaceful day and sweet dreams 🌱🌤.

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