Skincare 101

Hello again, I hope you are well! Grab a cup of tea and take 20 minutes to enjoy my latest post. The UK is currently back in a nationwide lockdown which in consequence means I have had to close the doors to my business for the third time. I have been trying to use my time whilst not working in the studio wisely and whilst walking on day 1 in lockdown 3.0, I reflected on my previous few months of business and tried to see if there were any gaps I could be working on to enhance it further. One thing that stood out prominently was sharing my skincare regime with my clients. When in the studio I am asked on a daily basis what I use on my skin to keep it healthy and glowy in appearance. If you know me or are a client of mine you will already know that unless it is a very special occasion I actually wear barely any makeup daily. A touch of brow mascara, brow gel and mascara completes my day to day makeup! There are three reasons why I choose not to wear very much makeup daily: -Firstly, I hate the way it feels on my skin! Now don’t get me wrong I love makeup, I love products and adore testing them out. For someone who hardly wears it my collection is obscene! It is definitely more a psychological thing I would say, which leads me nicely onto reason two... -I am terrified of it clogging my skin and giving me spots. If you have followed my blog for a while you will know that I suffered bad hormonal acne when I was 20. Really bad. Going makeup free then was absolutely not an option as I was so conscious of my acne. Roll on a few years, my acne clearing and my skin settling, my skin definitely favours being makeup free now and I love it! -Lastly I prioritise my skincare regime over applying makeup in the morning. I have a two year old and anyone else with little people or who has had little people will know that time for yourself is minimal when little people are in tow. Therefore I prioritise a good cleanse and nice products in the morning over applying a face of makeup! Your probably gathering by now that my skincare gives me life and I want you to be able to enjoy your skin the same. You may love wearing makeup and it may be part of your identity and that is amazing but just to have the confidence to leave the house makeup free and feel confident if it was desired would be lovely wouldn’t it? I have shared my routine with clients so often but with it being rather extensive it can get confusing. To simplify matters I decide to create an igtv series over on my Instagram (link below) and this blog post that includes all of the same information with added product benefits and details. Let’s get into it! AM Skincare Routine In all honesty I haven’t always cleansed morning and evening. I used to only cleanse at night! However, in lockdown 1.0 I fell in love with skipping workouts. I loved them that much that they have become a staple part of my daily routine Monday-Friday. I may do a weekday morning routine soon thinking about it as that is also something I get regular questions about. Anyway I am getting sidetracked! With the addition of a thirty minute high intensity workout daily into my morning routine, and being a sweaty mess by the end of said workout, a hot shower and thorough cleanse needed to be introduced into my morning as there was no way I could have gone about my day without. Hence my morning skin care routine was born! Around the time a new routine was born I was also reading the Caroline Hirons Skincare book (highly highly recommended to all). I took a lot of guidance and tips from this and that gives me a good starting point for my routine... Post workout I shower. Lots of people would wash their faces in the shower however a tip I took home for Caroline’s book was never to do this! The water will be to hot and damaging for your facial skin so keep that face out of the water, wash that bod, hop out and get in a big snuggly towel to cleanse. I use The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser (£13.90 150ml) to cleanse both AM and PM. Squeeze a pea sized amount onto your finger tip, you will notice it is like a gel to begin with, rub it between your finger tips and it melts into a gorgeous oil like consistency. Massage into the face, concentrating on any congested areas and also any tight muscles! I clench my teeth in my sleep so often wake with a very tight jaw - a good massage helps ease this. Once you are satisfied you have thoroughly cleansed it is time to remove.

Until reading Caroline’s book I only ever removed cleanser using my hands under a hot tap. Not any more! I now use a fresh flannel daily. Use one flannel per day and then launder to prevent spot causing dirt and bacteria build up. It is also worth noting that Caroline says to be careful what you wash your flannel in to be kind to your skin. Run your water until it is hot and then saturate the flannel, squeezing before you gently remove your cleanser and wash your face. The benefits from doing this include being gentler to the skin, the heat will open your pores and the flannel's material will give a gentle exfoliation. It is also worth noting then that I don’t dry my face on a towel after using my flannel. The air will dry it very quickly. Let your skin soak up that extra water! Once I am all cleansed I tone my skin. In the morning I use the Aldi Lacura Healthy Glow Toner (£3.99) It doesn’t come in very often so when it does I always stock up! I would have never thought a few years ago that I would be raving about the Aldi’s skincare products but here I am - I feature my faves in this post. They are all dupes of big name products that work equally as well believe it or not. I pop a few drops onto a cotton pad and wipe all over my face, even under and around my eyes, on my neck, décolleté, behind my neck and then to finish I wipe any excess toner left on my pads on my hands. Your hands are one of the first places to show signs of ageing so the glycolic acid within this toner will help refine the skin giving it that youthful glow. You may notice that I bring my toner right around my eyes. Another Queen Caroline hack! Products that contain an acid have to by law state “do not use on delicate eye area” this will be to cover there back. However these type of products can benefit these areas by gently exfoliating the skin, refining the appearance of pores and stimulating cell renewal to help the skin look brighter and clearer. Once my toner has absorbed and feels dry to touch I go in with my Forever Awakening Eye Creme (£17.72). Again, the forever products took me by surprise as I didn’t have high hopes for them but actually a few of the products have become firm staples in my routine. I only use a tiny half pea size amount of product for my two eyes and massage the gel like formula into the area surrounding my eye socket bone. If I have any excess product left on my finger tips after doing this I wipe this over my lips. The skin on our lips is similar to our delicate eye area so your lips will thank you! The creme uses peptide technology, collagen and other powerful ingredients. It gorgeously smooths and firms delicate under-eye skin to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness. Next up is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (£8.90 60ml). This high-strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula would be one of the first things on my dessert island list! I can’t even remember how I stumbled across The Ordinary skincare but I am so glad I did! “Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is indicated to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion. A high 10% concentration of this vitamin is supported in the formula by zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid to balance visible aspects of sebum activity.” “Independent studies suggest Niacinamide is also an effective ingredient for brightening skin tone.” I pop three drops onto my fingertips and apply all over my face and neck morning and evening. Due to its active ingredients this product can tingle on application - all a good sign it is getting to work! I let this product totally absorb whilst I brush my hair and pop my deodorant on.

Once my skin feels completely dry it’s oil time! In the morning I use The Ordinary 100% Plant Derived Squalane (£5.50 30ml). I use 8 drops onto my finger tips and apply this to my neck and face, again massaging in well. “Squalane is a saturated and stable hydrocarbon that is found naturally in the skin. It has very high emollience, is an exceptional hydrator and can prevent ongoing loss of hydration that impairs dermal suppleness. Squalane is non-comedogenic and is suitable for use on all skin types. It can also be applied to hair to increase heat protection, add shine and reduce breakage potential.”

Whilst my oil is absorbing I tend to get dressed for the day and make the beds. I like each product to have time to absorb as if you don’t let this process happen you wouldn’t benefit from each product. Once dressed and the oil has absorbed well I apply my moisturiser. For my AM moisturiser I use the Liz Earle Skin Repair Gel (£24). Don’t forget your neck again! I love the gel texture of this product, it’s super lightweight and fast absorbing so will soak in quickly - the perfect pre-makeup moisturiser! The gel is enriched with a blend of moisturising borage oil, avocado oil to smooth and soften, soothing echinacea, toning hops and natural source vitamin E. Now most days this would conclude my morning skincare. However, if for any reason I’m still feeling a little dull, I do have an extra product that gives a magic glow and even a hue of colour with the right choice of the product. The By Terry Cellularose CC Serum is rather an investment at £61 but it is just beautiful to use. It can be used alone on makeup free days or as a primer underneath your foundation to boost your glow and/ or your colour. “Enriched with White Rose Stem Cells and antioxidant Vitamin E, the lightweight, quick-absorbing formula enhances luminosity and provides long-lasting protection for a lit-from-within finish. Innovative light-reflecting technology effectively minimises the appearance of fine lines and imperfections, whilst promoting a radiant glow and a smooth, even skin tone. Blends seamlessly onto lack-lustre skin to leave your complexion looking bright, flawless and refined.” I personally use apricot glow in winter, this one smoothes and illuminates light to medium skin. In summer I use Sunny Flash which gives a bronze hue and sun kissed glow to darker skins. PM Skincare Routine Very similar to my morning routine, I start my PM routine with a hot shower. Again the rule applies - no face under the water! Once I am showered I wrap myself in a big towel to dry and move onto my skincare. If I have worn mascara or any facial makeup I douse two wet cotton pads in Garnier Skin Soothing Make-up Remover and use to remove any makeup. The oil in cleansing water solution breaks down makeup so quickly! I then cleanse using exactly the same product, method and removal as my morning routine below states. Let your face air dry again at this point whilst you prep your toner. My evening toner of choice is The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (£6.80). Another dessert island must have! I apply this using a cotton pad all over my face - remember the tip below, even under and around your eyes. Include the neck, décolleté, back of neck and wipe any excess over your hands again. Glycolic acid is an AHA that exfoliates the skin. This toner offers a mild exfoliation for skin radiance and clarity. The toner will also improve the texture of the skin when continually used every evening. Ideally keep this product to evening use as it will get to work on the skin whilst you rest and sleep. The use of direct acids on the skin can increase the skin's sensitive to the sun so an SPF the following daytime is recommended. If you are new to acids a patch test would be advised before commencing use.

Next up is another Aldi steal. The Lacura Glycolic Pads. These haven’t been in store for a while now so when/if they will be back in is anyone’s guess. The pads are actually the supermarket's very cleverly done version of the Nip & Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads, just a fraction of the original brands price. I’d still absolutely recommend the Nip & Fab pads if you can’t get Aldi’s one anymore. The pads come pre-soaked in resurfacing Glycolic Acid, soothing Witch Hazel and hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and will help improve the skins texture, eliminate dead skin, impurities and brighten the skin. The same product and routine comes next for my eye cream followed also by the same The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% formula! Again let these soak in before moving onto the next step. For my evening oil, if my skin is feeling pretty good and hydrated I use the same oil mentioned below, The Ordinary 100% Plant Derived Squalane. If I am feeling rather dry or in need of a treat I use the Lacura Healthy Glow Rose Oil (£7.98 for a pack of two). Rose oil is intensely moisturising and suitable for sensitive skin. I apply this in exactly the same way as the Squalane oil.

To conclude my night time routine, once my oil has had time to absorb, I go in with the Infinite By Forever Restoring Creme (£56.33). This gel like formula contains over fifteen skin conditioning ingredients, absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling so soft without feeling greasy or heavy. This product also contains squalene so will support the oil you have just used! Weekly Skin Treat Once a week I treat my skin to a peel. I got into skin peels around five years ago and that is when my love of direct acids started! I am currently using The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution (£6.30).

AHA’s exfoliate the skin’s topmost surface for a brighter and smoother appearance. BHA’s also exfoliate the topmost layers as well having the extended function to clear pore congestion. “This combined 32% AHA/BHA solution offers deeper exfoliation to help fight visible blemishes and for improved skin radiance. The formula also improves the appearance of skin texture and reduces the look of fine lines with continued use.” “Note: This formula contains a very high concentration of free acids. We recommend use only if you are an experienced user of acid exfoliation and your skin is not sensitive. Contraindications: This formula should not be used on sensitive, peeling or compromised skin. Please refer to additional sun protection note and other warnings in provided Directions.” I use this product only once a week for no longer than 10 minutes. It fits into your evening routine straight after your cleanse and before your toning solution. Remove with the same flannel you used to cleanse (obviously rinsed in fresh warm water.) The peeling solution does tingle on the skin - this is a sign the free acids are at work! I hope this post will further help and enhance your skincare routines! For any more information or any questions either contact me via email or through my socials. Love Beth xoxo

Link to my Instagram Link to my Facebook

It Works!

Well I hope you are all feeling a million times better than I currently do. I had my tonsils out 12 days ago and it's safe to say I still don't quite feel like me. I've decided I'm going to do a post about my tonsillectomy experience soon for anybody who may be having to have one in the future. I hadn't known what to expect if I'm honest and I have had a big shock. If I could have read a few other posts with an honest opinion I  might not have been so optimistic prior to the op and in shock post op. Anyway I will tell you about that in a couple of weeks when I am healed and know if the operation has been a success.

Today I'm here to discuss as promised, the 3 month results of the jawline reduction treatment I underwent with Cosmedocs in Derby. If you have read my previous post you'll already know my reasoning for undergoing this procedure. In that post I have done a full explanation of my reasons why I felt this treatment was necessary as well as a fully detailed breakdown of what the treatment involves, how it is done, aftercare and the costing structure etc. so I won't ramble on about all of that again in this post. If you click the link above it will take you back to my initial post about the treatment so you can find out more if you wish. 

When I attended my first consultation, Dr Bhatti told me I would see the best results from the treatment around my 3 month review and top-up appointment. I already knew from previous experience with acne tablets etc. that the best way to track a product/treatments effectiveness is to schedule a series of photographs on the same day and similar time every week. I always find you adjust to changes quite quickly, especially when you see them every day so they become less noticeable. Not forgetting I have a terrible memory so without the pictures I have no chance of remembering how something looked 3 months ago!

The pictures I took to track my jawline Botox progress are by no means the most flattering pictures - they are true passport style pics - face on, looking straight at the camera. I also have minimal makeup on (if any) as I didn't want any false results by contouring etc. This was the best way for not only me to see the treatment working but also for you as well.

It's all well and good reading a post about a product that someone is raving about but I guess I am to sceptical for my own good at times. I like to see images backing up what someone is saying.  You've probably noticed that this is a common theme in my posts that share a product/treatment with you. I always try the product for a minimum of 28 days and take regular photographs so you can take the journey with me to see if something does work or does not.

So onto my personal results from this treatment. In short, I couldn't be happier. This is for a multitude of reasons..

Sleep.
Probably the most important to me, above any aesthetic reason is improved sleep. Since I had my top-up injections two weeks after my first set, my sleep has improved dramatically. Prior to having this done I was grinding my teeth terribly every night as a result of stress and anxiety. No matter what I had tried previously I just couldn't stop myself from my nightly tooth grinding sessions. The dentist had suggested a guard but I find these highly uncomfortable and even more of a disturbance during the night. Due to the Botox relaxing my muscles I no longer wake myself up from either the noise or pain of wearing my teeth down repeatedly each night. I have been tensing my jaw a lot post surgery but that's a side effect of my operation due to the location and pain but I'm sure once I'm on the mend this will subside again.

Pain in teeth and tense jaw.
I was waking up with this every morning. An obvious side effect of grinding my teeth every night. It's such a pleasure not have to face this every morning anymore. Not to mention my teeth are finally safe from erosion - I only have little tegs so could really do without making them even smaller!

Softer masseter muscles.
I have popped a picture that shows you the location of these muscles below. The masseter muscles are the large muscles either side of the jaw that control chewing. Over time when you clench the jaw daily/nightly you end up building quite a considerable masseter muscle. This can eventually lead to a squarer appearance of the jaw line as well as pain and tension in the area. As a result of the treatment my masseter muscles feel considerably softer and the tension in either side has reduced to next to nothing - a lot less pain for me!

Increasing definition in face.
Both of the muscles appear to have depleted in size because the movement has been relaxed in each one. Due to carrying less tension, my face is less puffy in said area each morning and I have started to regain the cheekbone definition I used to have. I do have naturally high cheekbones but I had totally lost any definition I used to have through grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw every night. I personally think you can see a difference in the photo journey below from before the treatment to 12 weeks later looking straight on at my face just as Dr Bhatti said I would.

The power of social media never fails to amaze me. I know people have a love/hate relationship with the different platforms but I can safely say I am definitely a lover. I have been very lucky to date and experienced no negativity from the platforms that I use. I had no idea that this treatment even existed a few months ago nor did I realise that the symptoms I was experiencing were not only being caused by something but could also be treated. It's thanks to the Cosmedocs Instagram that I discovered something that has improved my sleep quality dramatically, eased me of a daily pain and given me aesthetic results that I am very happy with.

Obviously I was slightly nervous as well as sceptical initially when I decided to go ahead with this treatment. The procedure sounded so simple, pain-free and quick - almost too good to be true! How could something so easy be able to solve one of the bains of my life just like that?

For me it has been worth every penny, I don't have a single regret and I will most definitely be maintaining my treatment. I am due to return for my 3 month review (3 months after my initial top up appointment) in June so I will be booking that imminently. After this appointment, as I mentioned in the previous post, I shouldn't need another set of injections for one year.

I have already said this in my initial post and I still stand by it 100%. I cannot not recommend Cosmedocs in Derby enough! From the minute you enter as a newbie you are made to feel welcome. After being in similar places before I have experienced the hostility you can sometimes receive from the staff but it is non-existent here. I'm the kind of person that does take things to heart so feeling comfortable for me is very important. Everyone I came across was more than welcoming. It's the same as finding a good hair dresser - when you find a good one, you stay!

Dr Bhatti's knowledge of the treatments he carries out is amazing, I feel totally at ease when I visit for my appointment. Again this is something that I would say is super important when you are trusting somebody to inject a substance into your face that will temporarily relax/ prohibit movement in the targeted muscles.

I would say as far as Botox goes - don't go cheap. I truly believe you get what you pay for. Please don't be tempted by the offer of cheap injections/ aesthetic fillers! Do your research beforehand too, incorrectly injected Botox comes with an array of problems and side effects.. none of which I would want to experience. I personally would only trust a qualified and experienced medical professional. They understand the anatomy and physiology of the face and body a million times more than a person offering the same procedure with no medical experience.

I really hope this post might be useful if you have been experiencing any of the symptoms that I did for a duration of time. The jawline reduction treatment is still a very unknown procedure to most people and yet it's proven to be amazing for me. By having the treatment and sharing my results you can see for yourself the aesthetic results and I have told you about the other benefits I have had. As always I hope I have given you enough information but if you do have any questions please don't hesitate to comment below or contact me, I will always reply!

Any links in this post are in bold pink as usual, so just click them to be directed to the page being discussed.

Bethany xx

Treatment: http://www.cosmedocs.com/treatments/botox-jaw-reduction.php

My First Feature!!

Happy Sunday everyone!

I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend.

So.. This is only a baby post and it isn't about a new product or something alike. It is actually to share with you the exciting news that I had on Friday evening!

As you'll already know if you have read my previous post - I suffer with acne. My skin saviour and the reason behind my now clearer skin is the amazing Skin Accumax from the Advanced Nutrition Programme.

When I started Happy In My Skin just under 8 weeks ago I never imagined the blog would receive anywhere near the response it has had. I only ever set out to share my journey tackling my acne in hope that it would help and advise others who were having the same struggles. I have always wanted my blog to be real and relatable, hence me being very open about all aspects of my life and sharing photos of not just 'made up' me but also me stripped down - spots and all.

The response has been amazing. My nearest and dearest have all been so supportive and proud of me. New people - both male and female - have contacted me regarding my posts after they have read them and been able to relate. Most recently (my exciting news) my blog is now featured on the IIAA Influencer Highlights page, I will pop a link below. The fact that such a knowledgeable brand has read and thought a lot of my posts means literally so much to me.

Featuring on the website has been amazing for the blog, the volume of people reading my posts has gone way further than I could ever have dreamt of initially. I can only hope that it will increase the amount of people my posts can touch, help and advise.

Thank you again for your continuing support with my blog. Don't forget to subscribe on the main page if you want to keep up to date with new posts. Also, I always love to hear from you.

Have a gorgeous Sunday evening!

Bethany xx

https://iiaa.eu/influencer-highlights-advanced-nutrition-programme-january-2017

Any other links are in bold pink as always.

The Other A Word.

Real talk time...

Anxiety.

There you go I said it. And yes I am affected by it.

I used to be ashamed of this part of me and kept it as my deep dark secret for such a long time. However, more and more these days I hear from so many people who also have anxiety.

I guess I've always been on the anxious side. Super organised, slightly (Matt might say extremely) OCD. I've always liked things just so - my mum will vouch for this. It's just me and I wouldn't be me if I was any different. That's what I think is important to remember when your having one of those off days.

My anxiety became a significant part of me properly about 3 years ago now. It's one of those things you don't have an answer for as to why you get it. I had my daughter at 18 whilst I was still finishing my A levels. I returned to my studies when she was 4 weeks old in order to not fall behind a year. That was the beginning of being a mummy whilst juggling full time studies and that turned into working full time in a career that I love.

When I first had my little girl I still lived at home with my mum and dad. They kindly let me and Maisie live with them whilst I saved my deposit for my house. I managed to do this by the age of 20 and was ready to buy my first home on my own. I absolutely adore my little home and wouldn't change a thing about it, but with a house comes big responsibilities on top of those I already had. I thrive off being busy and have always put a lot of pressure on myself to be everything but the young mum stereotype. Not only that, I also want to provide my daughter with a secure future as well as provide her with a lovely life filled with love and experiences. 

Goals and ambitions set, alongside being very stubborn when I set my mind to something, I continued to pave our future for us. Without sounding big headed, I would go as far as saying I have managed this pretty well although the stress of the juggling act does get to me every now and again.

Not everybody does understand this subject and those people are super lucky. I know a few people - some extremely close to me, who have no concept of anxiety or understanding for mental health and that's fine. It must be very hard to understand something if you haven't experienced it yourself. However I bet the majority of you who will read this will have experienced either a period of, or have, long term anxiety.

Like I've said above, I have anxiety. Yes it comes and goes and yes some days its terrible to the point I just want to get in my bed and not come out. It has just become a part of me that I have learnt to deal with, get on with and most of all accept. What is there actually to be ashamed of?

In my experience, being honest was the best thing I ever did in ways of helping myself. Initially I did see a GP - I seem to always get the short straw with doctors and see the really cynical one who makes you feel silly just like I did with my skin. They suggested a variety of things, none of which I wanted to bring into my life, so it was a similar case to my acne of coming away disheartened and doing my own research. Through doing my own research I realised anxiety can be triggered by so many different things and it is actually your bodies reaction to said triggers.

Initially I opened up to one person who I was very close to.. they had noticed more and more that I was sinking into myself so they took me to one side one day and asked me what was going on. My answer.. I did not know. I wasn't ill, my child was happy and healthy, I've never had money worries.. but I didn't feel right and was struggling getting through the day. That person listened and then their response was "it's okay". They went on to tell me that they to had lived feeling like this and actually probably 90% of the people we interact with daily will have experienced something the same/ similar at some point in their lives. That's when I started to think that yes, it is okay. It's not ideal and on a bad day I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy (not that I have one but you know, it's a saying and all that).

I think when you have a realisation over something like this you just want to share it and help other people. By writing this, even it helps just one person, I will be a happy girl.

Since I confided in my friend, I went on to learn how to deal with my anxiety so that it doesn't hinder me in the same ways it was doing. I now speak openly with my friends and people I know that also suffer. When I've spoken to people about it they have gone on to ask questions and likewise I have asked them things. It's such an un-talked about subject that you almost have to learn from each other and help each other. I'm always surprised when in conversation, how many people suddenly admit they too have experienced the same.

Everybody's anxieties and triggers will be different and have different roots but I think help mechanisms can be very similar between people. The things I have found that really help me include:

-Talking myself down.. This really works for me. When I'm having a bad day and feel so anxious I can barely concentrate on anything else I literally talk myself out of it. No I don't do it aloud, but I do take 5 minutes away from what I'm doing and question myself over what I'm preoccupied about. Is it going to hurt me? Is it going to hurt my family? Can I change it? If I don't get it done will something bad happen? The answer is most usually no and then I realise I'm worrying over not a great deal or something that I can not control!

-Exercise.. My friends all know I've grown to love my yoga. Especially since Christmas time when I discovered it. I don't get the time to go to the gym. I rely heavily on my family already to enable myself to work full time so I don't think they would be thrilled if I was then asking them to have my daughter whilst I attend the gym but Youtube is fabulous! I've found so many yoga tutorials were you feel as though you are actually doing the practise with somebody and yet you've not left the house. I like to do my practise in the evening when Maisie is in bed and everywhere is calm. I never realised the strength and balance yoga requires and I find I totally zone out when I'm doing it as I'm not focusing on anything else other than holding my position and breathing. If you haven't tried it already I would really recommend it. I will pop a link to some of the videos I love below.

-Walking.. I adore walking. It really does blow the cob webs off. When I'm feeling particularly anxious you cant beat a good long walk - with your family if possible.

-Blogging.. Another new found love. I didn't start my blog as a way to relax myself but it really has become just that. When I sit down and write a post I literally get lost in it. I zone out to anything on my mind and in turn always turn off my laptop feeling more chilled than when I opened it!

-Nourishing my body & mind.. I haven't always been the kindest to my body. I would say I've definitely learnt this the hard way. It really is so true that you need to nourish not only your body but your mind. Over time I have read so many interesting articles regarding how important a healthy and varied diet is for the mind. The most interesting thing I learnt that I had never known before, was that certain nutrient deficiencies can actually trigger anxiety and depression! I'm not saying everything needs to be "clean", life is about balance, but try to make sure you are filling your plates with nutrient rich, nourishing foods.

Like I said, every bodies anxieties and coping mechanisms will be different. I know what I have found works for me and I hope if you are reading this and struggling yourself it might be of help. Please remember how important it is too talk - to a friend, family member, colleague or someone you can confide in. As always I love to hear your thoughts! If you have any other ideas that help you please pop them below!

Bethany xx

My favourite yoga YouTube videos are by Boho Beautiful:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=boho+beautiful