New chapters come with new territories and opportunities. And in the spirit of new chapters, I am starting one of my own. I recently joined Red Canary’s flock as their Community Manager for the Atomic Red Team. In addition to this new opportunity, other parts of my life are also experiencing new chapters. And I must say it can be exciting, scary, adventurous, and a bit nerve-wracking. Many other emotions can arise as we experience newfound independence, people, careers, or relationships in our life. And first, let’s emphasize that it’s okay to have more than one emotion as we learn to cope and manage a new normal. 

Are you Good?

Acclimating into a new chapter can take days, weeks, months, and sometimes years. There’s never a true set time. Sometimes it can be fairly overwhelming. So right now, if your thoughts are moving a mile a minute, let’s bring you into the present and get your thoughts in a better space. Let’s perform some affirmational breaths. Place your hands on your heart and as you breathe in, inhale all the things you need in life, and as you exhale, release all that’s not serving you. Do that for about 4-8 breaths and allow your shoulders to relax down and your thoughts to slow down. The moment you start feeling your thoughts race again, remind yourself of what you want to bring into your life. This will help you to check in on what’s going on.

Just like mentioned in the blog, How Are You? Really, we all have other aspects of ourselves outside of work. I know I am guilty of ignoring my own needs as a way to deal with new things happening. After learning the hard way, I have realized that is not conducive. Some ways that helped me were setting weekly check-in alarms on my phone, scheduling a Yoga or meditation session, reading a book like The Magic by Rhonda Byrnes, or writing daily entries about my day. This way, you’re checking on your emotional, mental, and physical health.   

Learn to be Comfortable with Uncomfortability

As you grow, lessons are learned the easy and sometimes the hard way. If it’s a harder one, it can cause growing pains that take you to uncomfortable places. The annoying part is that life likes to not give you all the deets for the situations you find yourself in. Like Forrest Gump says, “My mom always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” As we continue this book called life we are going to experience different challenges, “happy accidents”, or learning curves. Someone also once told me if you want to grow, become comfortable with discomfort. Now when this becomes unmanageable, completely overwhelming, or often hurting. It’s okay to seek help whether it’s using TalkSpace, BetterHelp, talking to a loved one, or traditional therapy methods. You don’t have to wait until you’re about to explode to ask for help or talk to someone, talking could help you learn a few new tools to manage your emotions. If you’re just wanting to release emotions inside, invite tears to fall, let your frustrations out safely (I smash ice), or ask for help. I try to remember that every feeling or thought is temporary and I can invite healthy thoughts in at any time with affirmational breaths. In the near future, I hope you begin moving in a positive and healthy direction in life. 

Enjoy the new

Now we’ve talked about checking in, preparing for tough moments but what about when all you can do is smile. Embrace them! You are so powerful, resilient, and capable. When we get to enjoy life and take a moment to catch our breath, that is a valuable moment. I mean look at where you’ve gotten yourself so far. That deserves a dance and a pat on the back. Another thing about these moments of your journey is a perfect time to share testimonials, to be proud of yourself, and to cherish the progress. You are taking the step to give yourself the best life possible. Sometimes the steps to getting there aren’t easy but it’s worth celebrating the process of doing what you need to do for yourself! 

So embrace the tears, laughter, and the moments of WTF?! The crazy part is sometimes we enter new chapters voluntarily and involuntarily. And even when we enter them voluntarily, we don’t realize what all comes with it. Either way, it can create a bit of temporary chaos and throw our self-care routines off. As a kind reminder here are three ways to welcome this new chapter healthily and happily!

The post New Chapter Coming Soon appeared first on Marrelle Bailey.

I wonder how many of us are managing our mental, emotional, and physical health while working? This can be an uncomfortable question, right? And I want us to start thinking about this because many of us are balancing between working, parenting, paying bills, running errands, exercising, fulfilling dreams, making a voice for ourselves, and dating, being single, or in a relationship(s). It can be a lot. And I want you to know I hear and see you. In addition to my community and communications role, I am also an eight-year Hatha Yoga Instructor who focuses on trauma yoga. And throughout the years, I saw how work affected people’s overall health. Knowing that, I’ve been guilty in the past of saying, “one day I’ll get help”, “I have to prove myself at work”, or “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” And some of you might be thinking you’ve said the same thing. That’s okay if you have, but it’s time we put our health first. We, as humans, deserve to take care of our minds, emotions (souls if you believe in that), and bodies. The last thing we want to do is burn out and get stuck in an unhealthy work dynamic. So, I want to share a few ways you can begin putting your overall health first and continue to thrive and enjoy your job. 

1. Check-in. It’s time to check in with yourself. Right now. I want you to take 5 deep breathe through your nose out through your mouth. Bring yourself back to your present self. Pay attention to your thoughts and body’s movements. Do you start thinking of all the things you need to do or start feeling the tension in your hands, neck, or back? This is a symptom of pushing yourself past your boundary. It might be time for a break or vacation. Try to reflect at the end of the week and each month. 
2. Mental Health days are real. Take mental health days. If you wake up and you’re not feeling like yourself, share that with your boss and call for a mental health day. Make sure your company offers Mental Health days. It’s like a paid time off (PTO) day. Double check with your boss or HR department on how many you are given each year. If your company doesn’t have them, suggest this resource to them on getting started. 
3. Honesty is the best policy. Be open and honest with your supervisor or manager. They won’t know you’re suffering if you don’t tell them. Like us they are not mind readers, especially if you’re remote. Whether it’s a health concern or you’re feeling depleted let them know. The two of you can start figuring out what your boundaries are and how to work together for you to feel comfortable and supported. You also don’t have to tell them everything. Only disclose what you feel comfortable sharing.
4. Asking for help shows strength! Honesty is great but what if I look weak? You are far from less than or weak if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Every single human feels it. Like we mentioned earlier, we are more than our role. We are parents, friends, caretakers, and people who like to live life. So it’s okay if balancing it all gets a little too crazy to handle. It takes so much courage to ask for help and someone might see you ask and grow the strength to do it too.  
5. Invite space to breathe. Take breaks throughout the day, the week, and the months. Take vacations, even if it’s a staycation that’s rest too! When you take daily breaks. Think of what will help you unwind for 10-45 mins whether it’s scrolling on Instagram (make sure you set a timer), doing handstands, or taking a walk. Make sure you have moments for yourself throughout work.
6. Detach PLEASE. Create a time when you step away from work. HIDE THAT LAPTOP. Or sign out of all the work apps on your phone. Maybe you work at home in a room, shut that door when it’s clocking out time.  I know this sounds extreme but hey sometimes we need to learn how to separate work and life. If you have weekends off, really embrace your weekend as “you” time.
7. GIVE YOURSELF GRACE! You are a rockstar, existing on this planet takes so much work. So if eating, doing what’s asked of you, and staying hydrated is what you can do for the day, in my book that’s a win!

I wrote this for you and for myself as a reminder that we need rest, honesty, and grace! We can be humans and have good/bad days. Let’s be kind to our bodies, listen to what we need, and let’s start working on normalizing that humans get sick, need mental health days, and need breaks. If you do something else to help yourself, share in the comment I really want to hear. Have a beautiful day.

The post How are you? Really. appeared first on Marrelle Bailey.