#milkoomis

to incorporate in your routine

our daily routines and habits can really shape how our day, week, month, or even year goes! we always talk about getting ourselves into a routine or bringing on better habits for ourselves to make our loves better. people tend to struggle with routines and breaking bad habits & replacing them with good ones, so let’s talk about how we can incorporate simple rituals into our day to day! rituals don’t have to be anything crazy, and no, you don’t need elaborate spells or millions of crystals to have a ritual.

rituals can be as simple as making your morning coffee/tea, showering, doing your skincare, doing your makeup, or even getting dressed for the day! it’s all about setting your intentions during these rituals; letting good and positive energy flow through you as you go through your day to day activities!

⟢ intentional coffee/tea

i’m sure a lot of start our day off with a morning cup of coffee or tea! you wanna know a great way of setting up your manifestations and affirmations for the day? stirring it into your coffee/tea!

stir clockwise

doing things in a clockwise motion is like bringing in something; moving something towards you. so stir and mix your coffee clockwise! let that good energy flow towards you and into you!

speak as you stir

you can whisper, speak out loud, or even say your intentions/manifestations/affirmations in your head! speak to your coffee/tea with what you want for the day!

⟡ “today is filled with light and love”

⟡ “my day is going exactly as planned”

⟡ “with this drink, i am filled with warm and peaceful energy”

⟡ “with this drink, i allow good energy to flow within me”

drink up & visualize

as you drink your coffee/tea, visualize that good energy you want flowing and pouring into your body, through your heart, and within your soul.

⟡ tina’s tip: think of a color you love or a color that associates with what you’re manifesting, and imagine that your drink as that color! i believe this helps this kind of simple morning ritual tip allows for stronger manifestations of what you want for yourself and your day

⟢ sacred skincare

skincare is one of the best ways to create a ritual from! it’s the perfect time to have alone with yourself and you’re taking care of yourself on top of that! use the time you have doing your skincare to repeat affirmations and boost your confidence!

charge each product & set your intention

you can charge something like moisturizer by doing something as simple as holding it close to your heart and visualizing your energy or good energy flowing towards it!

then you can set its intended use (intention) by saying something like “this moisturizer will protect me from negative and unwanted energy”!

repeat affirmations/intentions as you apply

while you pat toner onto your face, massage moisturizer onto your skin, and dab serums underneath your eyes you can just repeat your desired affirmations while looking into a mirror!

⟡ “i am beautiful”

⟡ “i radiate angelic energy”

⟡ “i attract good fortune and positive energy”

⟡ “i am full of light and love”

any affirmation that resonates with you will work! there’s more power to your words than you may think!

set the mood

play music that makes you feel confident, light a candle that makes you happy, create lighting that makes you feel at peace; just set the mood for yourself! this will apply to other rituals i’ll go into more detail about!

don’t hesitate to create a space for yourself that makes you feel the most energized, calm, happy, or confident! while performing any of these rituals, a good space filled with the energy you want for yourself will allow your manifestations, intentions, and affirmations to be stronger!

⟢ makeup manifestations

what you do with ‘sacred skincare’, you can do with makeup! all the same steps apply!

visualization

the key thing here is to visualize with every brush stroke, every dab of foundation, and every spritz of setting spray the energy you want. really take the time to see your affirmations and/or manifestations play out for yourself as you apply makeup!

color associations

incorporate different colors into your makeup! you can make it as bold or as subtle as you’d like!

whether it’s a hint of blue on your waterline for calming energy or a bold red lip for confidence, using colors that associate with what you’re trying to manifest can help greatly!

⟡ green — money, wealth, good luck

⟡ pink — self love, emotional healing, love (in general)

⟡ red — confidence, protection, love, passion

⟡ black — protection, warding off negative energies

⟡ yellow — happiness, joy, peace

⟡ blue — calm, tranquility, focus

color associations can also apply to what clothes you wear!

final thoughts ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

with all of these rituals, it’s important you protect your own energy in the process. working with energy can be draining and sometimes what we manifest might have the possibility of bringing in something we didn’t want.

so affirm for yourself that you’re protected; that your energy is protected from any and all unwanted things whether it be energies or even people. i’m a firm believer that what you put out into the world will come back to you twice as hard, so be careful with what you speak into existence and be specific!

protect your energy and manifest good energy. you can do both of those things with these simple rituals! self care is all about rituals; all about creating the energy you want for yourself to better yourself!

with lots of love, faustina 🌙🤍

DAILY AFFIRMATIONS — ✶⋆.˚

࿓ i am full of light and love

࿓ i radiate angelic beauty

࿓ i have divine feminine energy

࿓ i attract good fortune and prosperity

࿓ my energy is untouchable, i am always protected

CRYSTALS OF THE DAY — ✶⋆.˚

[ from left to right ] ; rose quartz, angelite, & black tourmaline

࿓ 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐙 for self-love & emotional healing

commonly known as “the love stone”. it’s said to provide and attract any form of love (self-love or love from others). promotes emotional healing and compassion amongst relationships with oneself and/or others

࿓ 𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄 for promoting inner peace & calming energy

known for its soothing energy, angelite can provide a sense of tranquility & emotional balance. its also associated with connections to angelic energies

࿓ 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 for protection & grounding

acts as a shield against negative energies, psychic attacks, and/or any harmful intentions & influences

TAROT CARD OF THE DAY — ✶⋆.˚

࿓ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 ; “symbol of hope after a disaster”

ending a chapter of hardships and devastation and beginning a new one of hope, prosperity, and new beginnings! everything is going to be okay! you’re being rewarded after going through struggles in your life.

i actually got this card at the bottom of my deck while doing today’s tarot spread. it really solidified for me that everything i’ve sacrificed and every challenge i’ve had to battle was all worth it. i’m beginning an entirely new chapter of my life; entering a whole new realm of hope! maybe this card may resonate with you today, and i hope that the universe gifts you that same feeling of joy for a new start or a sense of peace after a storm in your life.

mental health advocacy & awareness has come such a long, long way and we’re all so lucky to live in a world where mental health is finally starting to matter to everyone! i have struggled with my mental health for a good majority of my life. i’ve experienced the worst depressive episodes, i’ve gone through inpatient & outpatient programs, and i’ve been in therapy for almost 7 years, so i’m very familiar with what it’s like to struggle mentally and emotionally. it’s nowhere near easy to deal and work through depression, anxiety, bipolar, ptsd, or any other mental illness that’s out there, but let’s take a moment to talk about what we should and shouldn’t do to maintain a good and healthy mental and emotional mindset so that dealing with our mental health can be even the slightest bit easier!

let’s begin …

୨ৎ — mental health DO’s

DO perform small self care tasks!

drinking water, taking a shower, brushing your teeth, making your bed, getting out of bed, going for a walk, taking a nap, reading your favorite book, rewatching a comfort show/movie; these are all wonderful, and simple, self care activities you can do!

doing small, every day things for yourself can help release dopamine which a lot of us mentally ill angels may be lacking! no matter how mundane a task may seem, the smallest accomplishments can make the biggest difference. always remember that!

DO write out how you’re feeling!

i talk about journaling a lot here on my blog, i even post journaling prompts in my tumblr community! so you’re gonna hear me say this again and again: journaling and writing out your thoughts and feelings can make a real difference!

it helps you organize your thoughts or even help you release pent up emotions. keeping everything bottled in is never a good thing, you have to allow yourself to release your emotions, and journaling is a very healthy option for doing so!

DO reach out for help!

i’m a huge advocate for therapy. like i said in the beginning, i’ve been in therapy for almost seven years! and it was one of the best things that i could have done for myself! so, if you’re able to, i highly recommend finding a therapist.

but, i know there are people out there who might not be able to afford a therapist or who may not even have the means to find one, so reach out to loved ones. you can find a wonderful support system amongst your friends and family. they are in your life to love you, care for you, and support you in any way they can, so don’t hesitate to reach out to a loved one if you’re ever struggling!

you can even find support through coworkers, bosses, or teachers! if you’re in high school or even college, don’t shy away from reaching out to school counselors!

as i said before, keeping things bottled up has the potential of making your situation more difficult, so please reach out to someone and never be afraid to ask for help. there is someone out there who will take the time to listen to you and even offer a helping hand!

DO spend some time outside!

there have been studies that have proved that at least 10 minutes of sunlight while being outside can help improve your mental health! my therapist actually went over this with me and she “prescribed” me to spend at least 10 minutes outside at the start of my day. i honestly thought it was kind of silly, but it’s genuinely made a huge difference for me!

i used to spend a lot of my days cooped up in my room with my curtains closed and all the lights off, and it only ever made me feel worse. i was tired all the time, i never had the energy to even get out of bed, and i just felt awful all the time. but just spending some time out in my backyard for a few minutes in the morning and actually opening up my curtains during the day has really helped boost my mood!

there’s also really affordable sunlight lamps out there that you can find! natural sunlight doesn’t always come as easy, but artificial sunlight lamps have actually been proven to provide the same effect! think of investing in one especially as the colder season starts to come near!

୨ৎ — mental health DON’Ts

DON’T spend all day scrolling through your phone!

it really can be that damn phone, you guys! scrolling endlessly on social media can be so detrimental to your mental health. think about it, you’re spending hours upon hours looking at different people’s posts and it leads you to start feeling poorly about yourself and your life. that’s red flag number one: you’re bound to start comparing yourself to strangers on the internet! that’s not something you should submit yourself to, especially when you’re struggling inside.

don’t hesitate to unplug for a while. take a break from social media. put your phone on do not disturb. let yourself do something that you know will make you happy instead of stare at your phone screen for hours!

this would be the perfect time to start implementing new hobbies into your life! there’s tons out there for you to try, so i suggest creating a small list of new hobbies you’ve been wanting to try or that peak your interest and give them a go!

DON’T isolate yourself!

self-isolation was one of the biggest warning signs for me when i was in the trenches when it came to my mental health. i’m gonna continue to be upfront and honest with you guys, sometimes i still find myself doing this. did that ever make me feel better? of course not, because i was alone and i had nothing else but my own negative thoughts.

i understand people may need time alone, and i completely get that! i’m one of those people, but you have to make sure you know the difference between self-isolating and having some alone time.

self-isolation is completely not talking to anyone, not going outside, never leaving your room, consistently ignoring notifications from your loved ones, and purposely keeping yourself alone because you think “i don’t deserve to be around anyone”.

having some alone time is taking a break from your phone, doing something that makes you happy by yourself, and enjoying the company of yourself. that’s the biggest difference, spending time alone is enjoying that time alone.

when you isolate yourself from others, it’s not you doing that because you enjoy it, you know deep down it’s because your brain is playing tricks on you and telling you that you don’t deserve to be around others. and that is far from the truth.

DON’T interact with negativity!

this goes back to social media, and media in general. do not spend your time watching sad videos or interacting with content that makes you feel worse. and the same thing goes for people!

never spend time with people who put you down, who make you feel bad about yourself, who feed into those negative thoughts, who influence you into doing something you’ll know you’ll regret, and who don’t take your mental health seriously.

a lot of things and people have bad energy, so if you find yourself somehow attached to those things, let them go right now. if those things or people are not doing you any good, let them go.

DON’T deny that anything’s wrong!

be honest with yourself! it’s okay to acknowledge the fact that you aren’t okay! and be honest with your loved ones!

if you’re lying about how you’re doing, how is anyone going to be able to help you when you need it? how are you going to be able to help yourself when you need it? you’re allowed to speak up when things get hard! never shy away from being honest about what you’re going through.

what you have going on is valid. your mental health struggles are valid. how you feel is always valid.

and it is 1000% okay to admit that there’s something going on in your life, and you can start by admitting that to yourself. don’t keep yourself in denial. acknowledge your problem and seek help. it’s perfectly okay to ask for help!

allowing yourself to be vulnerable and asking for help is actually a huge sign of strength, not weakness. it takes a lot to go to someone and ask for help, so don’t ever let yourself think that that’s something that makes you “weak”.

final notes —

i want the biggest take away from this for you guys is that you know and remember that your mental health is just as important as all other aspects of your overall health. i always say, “you can’t do your best if you aren’t at your best.”

be kind to yourself, be patient with yourself, and show yourself some grace. if you feel like you can’t reach out to anyone with what you’re going through, at least be that supportive person and an advocate for yourself. i know there are days, weeks, or even months where it all feels so much easier said than done, but i know that you know that you don’t want to feel miserable every single second of your life, so take the time to be there for yourself!

you deserve kindness and healing, especially from yourself.

with lots of love, faustina 🌷

hello my angels!!! i am proud to say i completed my required 160 hours for my externship! 🥳 i actually finished on june 30th and i’ve given myself some extra time to enjoy my life and focus on myself! but i hope you’ve all been well!! 🤍

exciting news: i have my first job interview tomorrow! luckily, i’m allowed to start working as a medical assistant before i get certified! most jobs where i live allow a 6 month period for new MAs to get certified! and the place i applied to is actually the same place i did my externship at!

with that all being said, while i do plan on coming back, my activity on here won’t be consistent. i still have my certification exam that i have to continue prepping for and i need to allow myself time to adjust to a potentially new work environment and routine! but as i’ve taken my time off from this blog, i honestly could not stop thinking about all the different ideas i had for new posts! i have some ideas already drafted out, so be on the lookout for them! but please keep in mind that, again, i may not be consistent with posting!

as always, thank you all for being here and showing me support! i love you guys and i hope you all continue to remember to take really good care of yourselves! you are precious and you need to treat yourself as such!

with lots of love, faustina 🌷

hello angels and happy pride month!! 🥳💓 the end of may has been really busy for me since i had finished up at my old job, and now with june starting, i’m getting ready to start my externship! i start tomorrow and pretty much the entirety of june is going to be dedicated to my externship! i’ll be working 40 hours every week to get my required 160 hours finished up for my externship, so a lot of my time and energy will be put into that.

i also have my big board exam to start preparing for as well, so while i do plan to come back after this month i don’t think i’ll be as active since i’ll be focusing on studying!

i’m really excited because this is the start of an entirely new chapter of my life. i’ve been dreaming of working in the medical field all my life, and it’s finally starting to become my reality!

i’ll try to check in periodically, but for the most part i will not be actively writing new blog posts! and don’t worry, i promise to make sure i take extra good care of myself during such a busy month in my life!

before i go, i just want to thank you all for all the love and support you have given to me and my blog. i seriously can’t thank you guys enough for showing so much appreciation to my blog posts and to me, and i’ll be forever grateful knowing that i’ve been able to help and even inspire so many of you! you all make me feel so proud of the work i’ve put into this blog and i’m excited for when i officially come back and start creating again for you lovelies! 🤍

remember to always take good care of yourselves, always put yourself first, and always remind yourself that you are capable of any and everything you put your mind to!

with lots of love, faustina 🌷

I want to ask a question regarding habit changes and grooming qualities in yourself.

Before lockdown, I was disciplined, but since then, phone addiction has taken over. I don't use social media like Snapchat or Instagram, but I still spend too much time on my phone, which makes me feel miserable. I managed to control it once for two months but relapsed. How can I break this habit for good and get rid of unwanted habits permanently?

Thank you <3

hello darling!! thank you so much for sending in an ask! i hope you’re doing well! sending you so so so much love! 🤍

a realistic guide to breaking bad habits. ᥫ᭡

habits are so hard to break. it can be an extremely frustrating journey to let go of certain habits, even if it may be something as simple as high levels of screen time. i understand just how difficult it is to break bad habits, and trust me, it wasn’t an easy feat. but as i’ve gone through my own little journey of life, i’ve learned a few things that have helped me at least start to let go of bad habits!

let’s begin …

୨ৎ — immerse yourself in new hobbies

having a hobby, or multiple hobbies, can get your mind focused on something more productive or better for yourself! it gets you to bring your attention and energy into something that makes you feel good and brings you joy rather than getting lost into those habits that seem to take over your life!

there are so many wonderful and fun hobbies out there that you can try! i’ll be listing some hobbies divided into two different categories.

soft hobbies: activities you can do that won’t require too much time, effort, or money!

reading - really simple! try rereading books you love, picking up a new genre, or try different ways to read like audiobooks! visit your local library & get books from there!

coloring - there’s tons of affordable physical and digital coloring books out there! you’re never too old to color! it’s such a relaxing activity & it allows you to get creative!

creating playlists - get inspired by different moods, characters from shows/movies, books, emotions, or vibes! this is another hobby that allows you to get creative and it also encourages you to explore new music!

poetry - i love writing poetry. poems are one of my favorite forms of art! it’s a beautiful way to express your thoughts and emotions while getting those creative juices flowing! you can get a simple notebook or an aesthetic journal & start creating to have a lovely little collection of poems written by you!

gaming - okay, i know we’re trying to reduce our screen time, but if you’re needing to step away specifically from your phone i highly recommend gaming! the games you play don’t even have to be video games, they could be card games, board games, puzzles even! there’s so many different games out there that can help you relax or get your mind working. it could also encourage you to be more social and create game nights with loved ones!

crystal hobbies: activities that may require a little more time, effort, & maybe money!

scrapbooking - i personally have a digital scrapbook on my ipad & i created a scrapbook for my fiancé on our most recent anniversary! i LOVE scrapbooking. while it does take up more time & energy, it still helps you get creative and focus your mind on things like cherished memories!

nature jars - if you aren’t familiar with what these are, they’re literally just jars filled with things you’ve found outside in nature! leaves, rocks, flowers, sand; anything you find outside. this can encourage you to go out more & be one with nature and explore! not only will you get your steps in, you’ll also probably find something really beautiful that mother nature has to offer! (of course, please be very careful with what you touch and take from the outside!!)

cooking/baking - hone those culinary skills! you could try out recipes you’ve been dying to try or experiment with different flavors! cooking isn’t just a life skill, it’s art!

art - painting, drawing, sculpting; essentially any art form practice can be a great hobby to take up!

creative writing - i mentioned poetry in the ‘soft hobbies’ section, but now let’s go even deeper & try writing stories! you can start by creating synopses of different stories you’ve maybe thought about writing before jumping right into story creation! or, if you’re feeling ready, you can start writing up the first chapter of a story! you can even get more detailed by creating character pages with all the stats & information on characters you want to create!

the more hobbies you have that make you happy, bring out your creative/productive side, and make you feel good, there’ll be less time and energy going into those bad habits! it’s important you focus your mind on something else; something better, and as time goes on and you continue to immerse yourself into your hobbies, the less likely you’ll be going back to those habits! the key is to occupy your mind with other things that are beneficial and replace those bad habits with something more rewarding!

୨ৎ — write out your dream life

this is essentially manifestation, but grab your journal and write down what your dream life looks like! ask yourself: what would my life look like without these bad habits? think of this as setting goals for yourself, but write as if you’ve already achieved those goals!

bullet list

create a list of everything that involves your dream life without those bad habits! this is a quick & easy way to imagine what your life will look like!

write a story

play as the omniscient being for a moment and write your story! it doesn’t have to be a full novel of course, it can be a short story, but write and describe how you are in your dream life and what your life is like! this allows you to create a clear mental image of what you’re wanting to achieve! it can even motivate you to make that story become your reality!

things to consider…

what are you doing in your dream life? job/career? level of education? social life? traveling?

what do you look like? not just traits like skin, hair, & nails, but what are your expressions like? do you show more happiness? do you show a sense of relief and peace?

what do you sound like? is your tone of voice calmer? do you sound happier? what are things you would say?

breaking bad habits is all about your mindset, so writing affirmations and/or manifestations for yourself can help to rewire your brain and turn on that switch for motivation to get you to start breaking those habits!

୨ৎ — detachment

something that seems so easy but is also extremely difficult is distancing yourself and removing yourself from the source of your bad habits.

in this case, it’s your phone, so it’s time to start detaching yourself from it and i’m going to go through some methods of how to do so in a less daunting and more manageable way!

time-out method

this method is, essentially, putting your phone in “time-out”. it sounds silly, but i promise it works!

how to…

shut off your phone completely

place it far away from you (in another room, tucked away in your bag, in a drawer, or even in a shoe box tucked away underneath your bed). you can even ask a family member or loved one to put your phone somewhere else & hide it from you (if you’re feeling up for that!)

keep an eye on the clock and note the time you put your phone away

give yourself a set amount of time to stay away from your phone. you can start off small with 10-15 minutes away from your phone or, if you’re feeling ready to, start with 2 hours away from your phone

this method doesn’t work with every bad habit. it’s more effective for habits that involve some kind of object.

meditation method

meditating is a wonderful habit to replace with other ones! it allows you to practice mindfulness and helps to relax your mind & body!

how to…

sit in a quiet place & silence your phone (it will probably help to either turn on a ‘do not disturb’ feature or shut off your phone)

for about 5 minutes, focus on different characteristics of your body and try relaxing yourself. notice the tension in your shoulders and relax them, there may be some tension in your neck so try and relax that portion. you can also focus on your breathing during this time!

gradually increase the amount of time you meditate. maybe the first 3 days you meditate for 5 minutes, then for 3 more days you increase your time to 7 minutes, and then for 3 more days after that you increase to 10 minutes!

redirection method

our minds and bodies work as if we’re in cruise control and just do things without thinking twice about it, so this method is exactly what it sounds like: redirecting your mind onto something else!

how to…

let’s say you catch yourself on your phone, mindlessly scrolling through social media, so as soon as you catch yourself, redirect your energy to something else!

or, if you’re thinking about a certain bad habit, redirect those thoughts elsewhere like in a journal! write out what habit you’re thinking about, talk about how it makes you feel, and explain to yourself why you should do something else

redirecting can be anything! it’s just a matter of acknowledging the habit and driving yourself to something more beneficial!

go for a walk, watch a new movie, go do your skincare, journal, chat with a friend/loved one, read a book, make yourself a snack/meal, clean your room; any activity that makes you feel good and makes you feel productive can be a great choice for redirection!

final notes —

breaking bad habits isn’t easy, i can’t stress that enough. i know it’s hard and it’s all easier said than done, but! you are capable of breaking those bad habits if you put your mind to it! some discipline might have to make itself seen to really see the results you’re searching for, but you don’t have to go to the extremes to make yourself more disciplined! be patient with yourself, talk to yourself kindly, and remind yourself that progress is never linear! you will have ups and downs, right turns and wrong turns, and you might slip up a few times, but that’s completely okay!

be gracious towards yourself; you’re only human.

warmer weather is finally making an appearance and that means summer is even closer! let’s be real, a lot of us want to live and breathe “hot girl summer” but the heat? the sweat? yeah, that can make being an it-girl in the summer hard. it’s prime time for us all to be worrying about whether or not we smell good when we’re out and about under the summer sun, so allow me to be your big sis and hand down my best summer hygiene tips and tricks so that you can guarantee you’ll be smelling fresh as flowers all summer long!

let’s begin …

୨ৎ — body odor 101

we all absolutely dread bad smelling body odor, and some of us (me included) fear it. so let’s talk about how that not-so-nice smell can come about on our bodies.

sweat itself is odorless! it’s the bacteria on our skin that can make the sweat smell! we all have normal flora (natural bacteria) that live within our bodies and on our skin, which like the name suggests, is completely normal for our bodies to have! but sometimes that mix of bacteria and sweat can cause some pretty foul smells.

it’s also important to know that there are other factors that can be associated with body odor! hormones, diet, certain medications/vitamins/supplements, and obviously your hygiene habits can impact how you smell!

we also have two different sweat glands: eccrine glands & apocrine glands!

eccrine glands — they secrete sweat directly onto the skin to provide a cooling effect on our bodies

apocrine glands — most commonly found glands in the armpit area as well as the groin area ; this is where the body odor can stem from! due to the hair that grows in those two specific areas, bacteria can mix better with the sweat our bodies produce

important to note: your body hair is nothing to be ashamed of! whether you’re a woman, nonbinary, a man, or however you identify, your body hair is natural and it’s all completely up to you, and you alone, to decide whether or not you shave, trim, wax, or keep your body hair! having body hair does not mean you have poor hygiene!

୨ৎ — it all starts in the shower

it’s already a very obvious given that showering every single day is a must when it comes to achieving good and proper hygiene, so please make sure you’re hopping into the shower daily my loves! especially if you spent the entire day sweating, which will most likely happen during the warmer seasons!

like we discussed in the previous section, body odor is a mix of the sweat we produce and the bacteria that is living on the skin. so, if you are more prone to sweating or you were grinding at the gym or you went for a walk in the heat, do not forget to shower!

double cleansing the body

just as we double cleanse our face and hair, we should also double cleanse the body! i’ve mentioned this in a previous post with hygiene tips, but it’s good to do an initial cleanse to remove all the sweat, grime, and dirt from the day and then follow up with another cleanse to ensure that you’re body is squeaky clean and smelling fresh!

1st cleanse: can be an unscented or a scented soap/body wash, does not have to be an antibacterial wash (but it can be if you so choose), can be a bar soap or gel/liquid body wash

2nd cleanse: i recommend this 2nd cleanse to be something scented, but it doesn’t have to be! having at least one body wash/soap be scented can just amplify that clean and fresh smell of your body!

soap is soap. body wash is body wash. simply put: either way, you will be clean! you don’t have to go out and buy medical-grade soaps to clean your body. Dove is a great and affordable option! they have a great selection of bar soaps and body washes that will leave you smelling good and feeling clean!

loofas are not your friend

i’ve also talked about this in another post, but loofas harbor so much bacteria! and, again, bacteria + sweat = bad b.o.

African net sponges have been a god-send for me! they last for years, are machine washable, stretchy (making it easier to wash those hard to reach areas), and dry completely which makes it harder for bacteria to develop because bacteria thrive in moist/wet environments! which is why loofas are a no-go! standard wash cloths are also a great option, so long as you’re replacing it after every shower!

୨ৎ — post-shower rituals

what happens after your shower also plays a huge role into your hygiene! good and proper hygiene doesn’t stop in the shower!

dry all the cracks & crevices thoroughly

for my angels with coochies, please make sure you are completely dry down there! and make sure your underarms and any other cracks (and yes, i also mean the backdoor crack) and crevices are 100% dry!

put on deodorant immediately after your shower

as soon as your underarms are bone dry, put on deodorant! specifically an antiperspirant one! if you shower at night, it’s absolutely key to put on deodorant after your nightly shower because you could be sweating a lot more than you might think while you sleep! that antiperspirant is going to help keep your underarms smelling good and also help prevent that buildup of bacteria mixing with your sweat and creating a not-so-sweet smell.

cool off with a fan

if you take warmer/hot showers like me, i seriously recommend sitting in front of a fan after your shower or getting a fan (that fits in your bathroom) to help you cool off after your shower.

you probably just took the most amazing shower ever and you feel so nice and clean, but it’s hot as hell in your bathroom? get a fan! as you’re drying off the rest of your body and going through the rest of your post-shower routine, do you really want to do all of that in a hot and steamy room? getting sweaty all over again?

୨ৎ — every day & on-the-go tips

put deodorant in your purse/bag

if you’re a heavy sweater, bring deodorant with you and reapply it as you go about your day! you’ll never know when you might need it, especially if you’re spending all day outside in the summer!

carry body wipes with you

again, if you’re out all day and you’re needing a little freshening up, body wipes will be your best friend! these are especially good if you need to wipe down your underarms and then you can reapply deodorant so that you’re not layering a good smell over something that may not smell so good!

pack extra clothes

if you’re outside somewhere whether it’s a festival, amusement park, or even the park and you know you won’t be heading home for a while, pack an extra set of clothes! if you have the room in your bag, pack a new pair of underwear, shirt, pants, & even socks!

travel sized perfumes and/or body mists

i feel like people already know this, but seriously put a travel sized bottle of perfume/body spray in your bag! it’s always a good idea to reapply a good fragrance!

change your bed sheets weekly

again, this is another tip that’s pretty much a given, but during the warmer seasons it’s even more important to change your bed sheets regularly!

final notes —

the warmer seasons are just around the corner! i know a lot of us feel like we blossom and flourish in the spring/summer! me, personally, i feel the most beautiful freshly showered and ready for the day ahead! so think of your hygiene routine as a part of your beauty routine!

i’m sure a lot of us students are at that point in the spring semester where the level of our motivation is going down, our minds are quick to think “if i skip this assignment, i’ll still have a passing grade”, and our anxiety over final assessments/exams/projects/grades is increasing as each day passes. so let’s take a moment to pause, take a breather, and remind & reassure ourselves that everything is going to be okay. the spring semester slump is very real, but it’s something that you can overcome! so grab my hand because i’m going to guide you through this!

let’s begin …

୨ৎ — loss of motivation

losing that spark you had at the start of the semester/school year can feel so devastating. it’s frustrating to see the changes in your level of energy and it creates this sense of disappointment. but you have to remember: this is completely normal.

there’s so many other students out there who are experiencing the same drop in motivation and energy, so step one is reminding yourself that you aren’t alone in this feeling! yes, it’s extremely disheartening to see yourself slip away from that academic weapon status, but you aren’t the only one going through something like this!

“how do i get my motivation back?”

ask yourself this: if you’ve already gotten this far into the school year, why would you want yourself to let go of all your hard work?

you’ve come so far! and, up until this point, you have been exceeding your own expectations! up until this point, you’ve put in so many hours into your school work and studies! why let all that time and effort go to waste?

here are some things that keep me motivated:

proving to everyone who doubted me that they were all wrong

making my loved ones and myself proud

knowing that i’m another step closer to working in my dream career field

maintaining my 4.0 gpa

make a list of your goals! this will help you visualize and give you a reminder of what all your work is going towards. i know you want to achieve your goals, i know you want to be a better version of yourself, i know you want to climb up to the top when it comes to your academics— let your goals be your fuel.

sometimes, all we need is a reminder of why were doing all this. we need to see or hear what the ultimate end goal is, so be that person to do that for yourself! tell yourself that all this hard work is going towards your bigger picture!

୨ৎ — negative mindset changes

you and i both know you’ve stared at an assignment and spent a good chunk of time debating on actually doing it because “you’ll still have a passing grade if you don’t”. trust me, i’ve done it. again, you aren’t alone in having those kinds of thoughts! i get it, we all have calculated the lowest score we could possibly get to still have a passing grade in a class. i actually did that on a recent exam i took that i also procrastinated til the day of to study for.

it’s okay to have these thoughts pass through in your mind, but what isn’t okay is actually putting those thoughts into action. don’t let that unmotivated voice in your head take control of your academics!

“but how do i stop myself from thinking this way?”

i want you to take a look at all the past assignments you’ve completed and all the quiz/exam grades you’ve received throughout the school year and/or semester. notice how you submitted every single assignment? notice how all your studying got you the grades you wanted? you managed to do all of that, so why let those passing thoughts take over? you have shown yourself, and even your teachers/professors/instructors, that you are more than capable of getting things done. why let yourself slip?

if you’ve spent the entire semester turning in assignments on time and getting above average grades on all the exams, are you really going to show your professors— the people who have been watching you excel all semester— that you’re letting your academics go?

and you’ll never know, but skipping that one assignment could potentially break your grade. complete it. do it. turn it in. it could help cushion your grade or even bring it back up!

୨ৎ — finals anxiety

finals week is slowly, but surely, making it’s way back into our lives once again. that week and the weeks following up to it are the perfect breeding grounds for anxiety to fully settle in. and i get it! it’s not a fun feeling. you’re overwhelmed, you’re feeling overworked, you’re feeling burnt out, and your anxiety is just seeming to take over the more and more you think about it.

gonna say it one more time: it’s 100% okay to feel this way! finals week anxiety and stress is normal. it’s an important week to focus on seeing as final exams make up such a big portion of your grade. your anxiety and stress about it is completely valid!

“how can i overcome this anxiety?”

i created this post on preparing for finals week, so i highly recommend taking a look at that since i go into greater detail on how to prepare as well as offer some helpful tips!

ways i manage my academic anxiety & stress:

creating to-do lists & planning out my week

pomodoro & eat-the-frog method for time management

journaling — emotion/thought dumping

setting aside time to do something that makes me happy and/or is relaxing

reaching out to my support system

getting 8 hours of sleep every night

forming study groups with my classmates

it’s important that you’re giving yourself breaks. i always say this, but i really am a huge advocate for making sure you still have time to do something for yourself that isn’t related to school.

allow yourself to breathe; give yourself time to relax your mind. if there’s anything to take away from this section, it’s always making sure you set aside personal time for yourself. whether it’s going for a walk, playing with your pets, chatting with a friend, playing a video game, doing your makeup just for fun, or even taking a nap, just make sure you always make time to do something for yourself!

a lot of the academic anxiety and stress can stem from not making enough time for yourself to relax. i’m sure you were locked in all semester and i’m sure you put in hours upon hours into your studies, but give yourself a break! go do something fun! don’t let your entire life be consumed by your academics!

i know i said in the previous section to get your shit done, and while i still stand by that, i will always climb to the mountain tops and scream that you need to make time for breaks, self care, and yourself. don’t overwork yourself! you might feel the need to just keep going and going, but you’re allowed to slow down; you need to slow down. putting majority, or even all of your time into your studies can only make your anxiety and stress worse.

final notes —

the biggest take away from this post should be this: you’re not alone in this feeling, and getting yourself back up now will have your future self thanking you forever! this slump is something so many students go through, but you have to remind yourself that all your hard work now will truly reward you later down the road.

you’ve gotten yourself this far! keep going! your future self is going to be so grateful that you kept moving forward!