Challenge Accepted: I’m in a Glass Cage of Emotion!

   

Posted by Leslie Warren

Aug 22, 2018

aug_blog_image_1_2018August was De-Clutter Your Mind month. Man did I need it. My mind has been a jumbled mess of incoherent ramblings lately since my mental health was pretty low on my list of priorities. Taking the time to re-evaluate myself has been a game-changer!

 

GOALS THIS MONTH:

  • cut down on clutter (in my house, in my wardrobe, on my phone, on my to-do list)
  • simplify my wardrobe and buy less quantity, more quality items
  • re-evaluate ways I can simplify my life and cut out stressors

 

HOW DID IT GO:

I cannot stress enough how important this month was for me. I have a Type-A personality, and always have to be in control of everything. I have about 10 running lists at all times of things I need to do and have a hard time with asking for help. This month was a lesson in how to let go of those stressors.

 

I really like the idea of minimalism and find photos of minimalistic homes soothing. I had wanted to simplify my house for a long time so I started by taking several weekends to de-clutter and get rid of a bunch of unwanted items. I threw out stuff I have been holding onto because I might want it one day, like my old CD player and a ton of picture frames I didn’t need. I will be honest, it didn’t make my house look much different, but I feel a little bit freer knowing that when I move again, I will have a lot less hidden things to box up.

 

I also went through my clothes and got rid of a lot of things I had been holding onto because I still liked them. But I realized (after reading this info about ways to de-clutter) that I was just feeling guilty for not wearing it. So I boxed up all the clothes I felt bad about never wearing and got rid of them. I was sad to see them go, but felt a little lighter. Of course, it turns out I only want to wear black clothes. And after I donated my unwanted clothes, I found out that I had to go to a funeral and wasn’t supposed to wear black. I ended up having to buy new clothes because of course I am the only person who owns only black clothes. But I was able to buy something that was better quality than what I had before so it was still an improvement!

 

On top of my house-cleaning extravaganza, I have been working on ridding my mind of clutter as well. I recently realized that I am not able to handle all the stress I have put on myself and decided to start seeing a counselor. I felt almost immediate relief. She has been helping me realize that I need to take things off my plate and not try to control every little detail. I have been working on releasing control of my wedding and accepting the help other people give me without trying to oversee it. It turns out, when I stop doing that, I can actually feel like a person again! I’ve even started playing video games again, because I have time, and because it’s a pointless task that accomplishes nothing, which is actually allowed apparently. Yay for me!

 

I must admit, I have had this blog weighing on my mind as well. I always try to be a little bit funny, but it’s hard to be funny sometimes when you are too exhausted from life to try. So here is my serious blog that is way more serious than I like to get, and maybe I can get my groove back after all this self-care!

 

VLOG:

 

 

 

FAVORITE RECIPE THIS MONTH: Whole 30 Granola Bar

Simplifying your food is another good way to be more minimalistic in your life. It requires less ingredients to buy and can be quicker to make. The Whole 30 is a great diet to try if you want to get back to the basics. 

 

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Ingredients:

  • 1 cup pitted dates
  • 2 cups walnuts or brazil nuts (I used a combination of walnuts and almonds)
  • 2 cups desiccated coconut
  • ¾ cup dried cranberries
  • 3 tbsp water

 

Directions:

  1. Toast the walnuts slightly in oven heated to 170 degrees, then let them cool down. Add them to a food processor, along with dates, coconut and cranberries.
  2. Process until the mixture is well combined and has crumbly texture.
  3. Gradually add the water a tablespoon at a time, and keep processing until mixture is sticky and holds together.
  4. Line a square baking dish with saran wrap and press the mixture in, pressing down firmly to ensure mixture sticks together.
  5. Refrigerate for a few hours, then cut into bars and eat.