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self care + wellness

Deliberate Unawareness for Self Care

Written by Cassie · September 24, 2019 · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Deliberate Unawareness for Self Care | cassierauk.com

Life is coming at us fast these days, and that leads to stress and anxiety. The solution? Deliberate Unawareness for Self Care.

Deliberate Unawareness for Self Care | cassierauk.com

I know this isn’t news to you, but the information is coming at us fast and furious these days. With that and the hyper-connected lifestyle that has become commonplace, we are more anxious than ever.

To keep from losing my GD mind, I have taken a step back. From the news, from the media, from my phone.

And let me tell you something – not knowing things have made me a much happier (and less anxious) person.

Here is how I did it, so you can too.

I keep my news intake to a minimum.

The news can be a garbage fire of everything terrible and horrifying. I like to be knowledgable citizen, but that also made a frantic, anxious mess. So I keep my news intake to a minimum.

I have been an NPR listener for years, but even the soothing voices of the hosts are not enough when talking about wars, death, and the like. That is why I have limited much of my news to NPR’s Up First and Marketplace podcasts.

I also spend far more time focusing on local politics than national news. The politics of my county and state affects me as much as whatever is happening in the White House. And I have more power to create real change locally than nationally. So I can put my time to good use.

I steer clear of most workplace/friend drama

Don’t get me wrong – I love my co-workers. Most of them, anyhow. But sometimes working in an enclosed space with the same people every day is like being in high school.  

I make an effort to stay away (and out of the drama). I do help my fellows with any work-related issues, or try to direct them to the correct person for help, but gossip dies with me.

I limit social media.

I have, over the years, unfollowed some of the more problematic family and unfriended some people that, for various reason, I didn’t want to be ‘friends’ anymore.  

A few months ago, I got a much more strategic and pretty much unfollowed everyone. Now when I log onto Facebook (on my desktop, because I deleted the app from my phone), I see only posts from a handful of close friends and family.

I have also been cleaning up my Instagram feed. I only follow feeds that make me feel good and unfollow or mute (the Insta form of unfollowing) the rest.

That’s how I did it, folks! Instead of trying to keep up with our fast-paced world, maybe a bit of deliberate unawareness is just what you need for self-care.

Now it’s your turn. What do you lean away from to save you sanity?

PS – Meditation is so worth it and four things I have done to simplify my life.

Photo by M.T ElGassier on Unsplash


Filed Under: self care + wellness, VIP

Natural Hair Care in Three Easy Steps

Written by Cassie · September 10, 2019 · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

How I simplified my haircare in three easy steps | cassierauk.com

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click through a link and buy something, I get a small commission and it doesn’t cost you any extra. Awesome, right?!

I was a child of the 80s and 90s, and that means my mom sat my sister and me down at the kitchen table and gave us home perms.

God, I hated perms so much.

To this day, if I am walking by a salon and I can smell the solution, I throw up in my mouth a little and shuffle briskly away.

Once I was old enough to protest the perms, I went through a phase (most of High School) where my hair was long and straight. I chopped it pretty short in college, and there was even a short time where my hair was blue.

As I have gotten older and more concerned with what I am putting on my skin (not to mention the environment at large), I have leaned toward the natural hair care. With just three simple changes, my hair is continuously shiny, soft, and thick.

And they are such simple things!

How I simplified my haircare in three easy steps | cassierauk.com

I use a natural shampoo.

A few years ago, I considered going no-poo, but the greasy transition was very, very oily, so I caved. Not long after, I was reading a blog (I wish I could remember the name of it) and she was talking about Apple Valley Natural Soap and their shampoo bars. I decided to give it a whirl and have been hooked ever since.

You can get anything from CDB Oil to body butter from Apple Valley Natural Soap. They are the best. Use my affiliate link and my coupon code (AVNSCASSIE10) to get 10% off your first order.

I don’t color my hair.

I want to be clear that I am 37 and have gray hair – a lot of it. Most of the gray is at my temples, and when I have my hair down, you can’t see it.

Some people think that I don’t color my hair because I am a hippie, that all that dye is bad for myself and for the environment (there is a reason they don’t want pregnant women to color their hair).

Others think it is because I am taking a feminist stance and am not going to let cultural norms and the patriarchy dictate how I should look and feel about myself.

Those are both great reasons, but I am going to set the record straight:

The reason I don’t color my hair now is out of sheer laziness. Good hair color is expensive, and I would much rather spend that money on, well, anything else.

I let my hair air-dry.

A few years ago a friend spent the night at my house. It was unplanned, a snowstorm rolled through, and the roads were terrible. The next morning, after showering, she asked me for a blow-drier. I handed her an ancient ConAir with a few scary spots where the plastic casing had melted that I dug out the utility room.

I shrugged, wished her luck and said the only time I used it was to shrink-wrap the plastic I put on the windows in the fall.

So, yeah. I don’t use a hair drier.

The dress code at my day job is relatively casual, so letting my hair dry naturally is not an issue. If you work at a fancier job to might not have that luxury, but if you use a microfiber towel to dry your hair, you will have to spend far less time under the drier.

I have this towel from Aquis, and it works great. I wrap my hair up in it after a shower and continue to get ready for the day. I unwrap my hair and brush it out a few minutes before leaving. My hair is usually dry by the time I get to the office.

Going natural in your beauty routines don’t have to be hard. Like most simplifying, it is more about what you don’t do than anything else.

What have you don’t to make your hair care more natural? Share it with me!


Filed Under: self care + wellness

Four easy things I have done to simplify my life

Written by Cassie · August 15, 2019 · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Four Easy Things I Have Done to Simplify My Life | cassierauk.com

A few years ago, I was on the brink of a major burn out. There was one day I was so stressed out at work that I spent my lunch hour sitting catatonically in my car staring into space.

And it was winter. In Wisconsin.

I started taking steps right then to simplify my life.

Somethings are still a struggle. I get overwhelmed with work, and I still have that nasty urge to buy things. But I have made some steps forward. Here is what I did.

I think it is a good starting point if you are overwhelmed by life.

Four Easy Things I Have Done to Simplify My Life | cassierauk.com

I say no a lot.

This one took me some time, but once I started to exercise my no muscle, it became life changing. Let me tell you something that you have heard before but need to hear again:

‘You don’t have to do things you don’t want to do.’

– me

If your family reunion sounds terrible, don’t go. If that girl’s camping weekend is not your cup of tea, just say no. It is ok. Life (and the party) will go on without you. And if your friends and family are kind and love you, they will be alright with your refusal. If not, well, see the last section.

I pared down my wardrobe.

A fashionista, I am not. I am relatively tall, and for years, it was hard to find jeans that were long enough. With that and being pretty long torso-ed also, I have a hard time finding clothes that fit.

For many years I made up for not being able to find clothes that fit well by purchasing lots of clothes that were ill-fitting. But I have found a few brands that fit me well and are made with quality materials and I stick with them. When a shirt or tank gets stretched out and weird it from the drawer into the rag pile.

I started meal planning.

When I get home from one of my 10 hour work days, my decision-making skills are pretty much down to nothing. It is a relief to look at my list and see it is already planned out for me.

Don’t even get me started on how easy it is to get groceries when you have everything all planned out. It is life changing my friends.

I set Goals and plan my days

As a goal setting junky, I set goals on a yearly and quarterly basis. I know this sounds super nerdy, but it really helps me keep moving forward. Some are work goals, some are health goals, and I always have a few home improvement goals sprinkled in.

I sit down each morning with my planner and choose the three things I need to accomplish for the day. This is pretty easy when I have a goal in mind.

I cut out toxic people and made new friends.

This one may seem a little cold, but hear me out.

We all have at least one friend that is somewhere on the toxic scale. They might complain a lot, only talk about themselves and their problems, and bail last minute on your plans.

They could be so bad they steal stuff from you, but I hope that is not the case.

No matter what kind of crappy friend they are, it is probably time you disengage. They are slowly sucking the life out of you. And you end up turning into the average of the people that you spend the most time with. So the crappy-ness is contagious.

Ditch the crappy friends and go out and find your people. It will make you so much happier.

There are many, many things you can do to simplify your life. The four ideas above are the ones that worked for me. I am curious about what you have done to simplify your life.


Filed Under: self care + wellness

Five areas where I can’t be low maintenance

Written by Cassie · August 6, 2019 · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

areas where I can't be low maintenance | cassierauk.com
areas where I can't be low maintenance | cassierauk.com

I am a pretty laid back gal.

Clothes aren’t my jam, and it usually takes me about 20 minutes to get ready for the day. I even have an informal uniform of jeans and v-neck tees.

But there are a few ways I refuse to be low maintenance. I will spend the extra effort and money on something a little more high class. These things aren’t crazy, and I am far from a diva, but they are deal-breakers for me.

Shoes

As I have gotten older, I have come to appreciate the joys of good shoes. Walking 10 or 12 blocks to a restaurant downtown is much more enjoyable in my pair of Rothy’s than in the cheap flats I got from Target. They are far more expensive but are of far better quality. So I shell out the money for good shoes even if that means I have fewer pairs.

Sleep

On a typical day, I am right on the edge of getting enough sleep. I get up at 4:30 am for work, and I usually stay up till around 9 pm. Since I know that not getting enough sleep makes crabby, unproductive, and overeat comfort food, I guard that bedtime with a vengeance (during the workweek, anyhow).

Meat

Jesse and I are privileged enough to be able to raise much of our meat. Our freezer is full of chicken, beef, and pork that was raised by us or someone we know. The upfront costs can be high, and there is a lot more time and planning involved, but it is so very worth it.

Coffee

I used to pick up whatever grounds were cheapest at the supermarket and grab a cup of whatever gas station slop I could find when I was on the go. But I have become much more snobby over the years. I have a french press, a pour-over contraption, and a burr grinder. I have also modified my food budget to accommodate good local coffee; either from Carlson or Kickapoo.

Alone Time

I am an introvert’s introvert. And if I don’t get at least an hour to myself a day, I feel restless and crabby. Jesse and I both work long hours, so this is usually not a problem. But when our days off overlap, I need to make an effort to carve out some time for myself.

Generally, I am a pretty laid back, low maintenance gals, but as for these five things, I refuse to be easy to please.

How about you? Are there areas of your life where you refuse to be low maintenance? Let me know!


Filed Under: Self Care, self care + wellness

How to Create a Morning Routine

Written by Cassie · July 23, 2019 · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

smiling woman with sunglasses

Every morning I do the same seven things.  I wake up, and the whole process goes on autopilot.  It is my morning routine.

We are creatures of habit.  And a routine doesn’t have to be a four-letter word.  A daily routine or ritual provides comfort during times of change and transition.  There have been times when the whole day falls apart, but I was able to spend a quiet moment with coffee at my table.  That gives me a bit of comfort on those days.

We all already do this naturally.  With a few tweaks, you can quickly start your day off more mindfully and focused.  Trust me.  Or don’t, but try it for a few weeks and see what you think.

How do you create a morning routine?

Take a look at your natural rhythms in the morning.  You are probably 75% of the way there.  Now add a few simple things that bring you peace and help you focus — things like a walk, meditation, prayer, or daily devotion.

I also recommend taking a quiet moment to plan out your top three tasks of the day and loosely plan out your schedule.  You can always choose more to do and be more structured about your program, but try to give yourself a break.  Things happen and only have three things on your to-do list will help you feel accomplished at the end of the day.

smiling woman with sunglasses

Curious about my morning routine?

Here it is!  I do this every morning, even weekends and days off from the day job.  It is more structured and fast during the week because I have a time constraint (my boss does not like tardiness), but on the weekend I may sleep in and go through the flow slowly.

Wake up early.

During the week, I get up at 4:30.  I know, that is crazy, but I start the day job at 7, and I have found out over the years that if I do certain things right away in the morning, it makes the rest of my day that much smoother.

On days I am not working, and the weekends I let my body wake itself up (unless I have a breakfast date), so I may wake up at 4:30 naturally or I may get up at 6:30.  Usually, it is around 6.

Drink a large glass of water.

Drinking water is the newest addition to the morning routine.  We ended up with cases of water after my dad passed, and they were taking up precious beer space in our garage fridge. So I started to keep a handful upstairs to drink in the mornings.  I read somewhere that drinking water first thing was useful for you, so I thought I would give it a try.

So now I walk, in a zombie fashion, to the upstairs bathroom and grab the glass of water I put out the night before and start to drink while sitting and probably not thinking about anything important.  I used to spend this time scrolling vacantly through Instagram, but drinking water and staring into space seems like a better use of my time.

Shower/Get ready

Getting ready for the day is pretty self-explanatory and doesn’t take long for me, as I work in a warehouse.  Makeup is simple, and hair is natural (I don’t own a curling iron and the only time I use a hairdryer to put plastic on the upstairs windows before the cold air sets in the fall).

I also set out my clothes the night before, so there is no staring at the closet trying to decide what to wear.

Make Coffee

Another self-explanatory item.  Coffee is essential to me, more as a habit than a need for caffeine.

10 minute tidy

While I am waiting for the coffee to finish brewing, putter around the downstairs of the house, cleaning up.  I unpack and repack the dishwasher, wipe down the counters and table, clean up any glasses or other dishes from the living room, fluff the pillow, wipe down the bathroom sink. . . .

You get the idea.

Spending 10 or so minutes do this in the morning helps keep the house clean and makes it a much lovely place to come home to.

Mediate/Walk the Dog

I have played around with meditation on and off for years.  Since I focused on creating a daily meditation habit, I have been calmer and more focused.  10-minute meditation practice also fits easily into the day and I, for one, like to start my day with a bit of quiet.

When I have the time, and the weather is beautiful, I grab my dog and do a walking meditation.  When I have more time, I do meditation and a walk separately.

Plan for the Day

My very last task is to pour a cup of coffee and sit at my kitchen table with my planner, and figure out what is on my plate for the day.  I set 3 need-to-do goals and a handful of other to-do items.  The way the planner is structured, you set three goals for the week and then the idea is that your daily tasks should move you toward meeting those goals.

Leaning into your natural rhythms and putting your morning on autopilot is a beautiful way to start your morning with intention and focus.

Do you have a morning routine?


Filed Under: self care + wellness, VIP

How are you doing this summer?

Written by Cassie · June 27, 2019 · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

strawberry ice cream in waffle cone

No really.  How are you doing this summer?

Are you relaxing on vacation? How about spending time with friends and family? Are you spending long afternoons with Bourbon Lemonades in your hammock with a book?

Or are you running around to picnics, gatherings, and playdates without enjoying any of it?  Aniouxous because we are almost halfway through the summertime and your summer bucket list is full of uncompleted tasks?  Are you feeling like a failure that the garden is dry, weedy and not producing much?

Let’s all take a deep breath.  And look at this ice cream cone.

How is your summer going? Remember whatever you are doing (or not doing) is perfect. Let's all take a deep breath and look at this ice cream cone. | cassierauk.com #summer #releax

Whatever you are doing right now is fine.  Whatever you didn’t get done this summer probably didn’t need to be done anyhow.

I just wanted to pop in here and tell you that you are doing a great job.  And you should treat yourself to an ice cream cone.

PS I am going to take next week off from posting.  Don’t be thinking I am heading out from some epic vacation or camping trip over the holiday week.  I just finished a 12-week course for work, and I need a break from computer stuff for a while!  I will be back on your screens on July 9th.  In the meantime, you can follow me on Instagram.


Filed Under: self care + wellness

Yes, Mediation is Weird. But it is so worth it.

Written by Cassie · June 20, 2019 · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Woman mediating at sunset
dandelion fluff blowing the breeze

I knew that mindfulness had hit the peak of pop culture when I got an email at the day job from Corporate about their newest mediation program.

When mindfulness moves from Startup to Fortune 500, that means shit got real.

I am not a bandwagon jumper.  Out of sheer stubbornness, I will do the exact opposite or will knuckle under and refuse to try something out if everyone else likes it.  (Example:  I have never seen and refuse to watch A Christmas Story.)

But there was something about meditation that spoke to me.  While my middle school friends were planning their future wedding and naming their children, I was thinking about moving into a cabin in the woods and not talking to people for months at a time.

So sitting quietly with my thoughts is something I could get behind.  But I was surprised at how much I struggled with it at the beginning (and still do, sometimes).

It can be hard but mediation is so very worth it.

There is so much going on all of the time: family, friends, hobbies, errands, work.  And we all know how easy it is to get sucked into the social media comparison ring of doom.  Taking 10 minutes to sit quietly and breathe has helped with lower my stress, made me more content and helped with my productivity.

via GIPHY

As LaVar says, don’t take my word for it. You need to try it your own damn self.  Here is how to get started:

Read: 10% Happier and Mediation for Fidgety Skeptics both by Dan Harris.  Dan Harris goes through a whole journey in 10% Happier from being a stressed out, drug-doing journalist to, well, 10% Happier.  I think it was more than that, but that would ruin the title. His book on meditation is more of a practical guide, but they are great companion books.

Download:  Headspace or Calm.  I have tried both and ended up settling on Calm.  It is one of the thing saving my life right now. I love it so much that this winter during a holiday sale, I bought lifetime access.  They both have free trials and hand-holding guided sessions to get you started.

I know what you are thinking, this whole thing might seem kind whoo-whoo and a little ridiculous what do you have to lose?  It just takes 10 minutes a day to get all of the benefits and that is doable for everyone.

Especially since mediation can help you manage daily stress, help you stay focused, and might make you more compassionate.

Yes, meditation is weird. But it is so worth it. #selfcare #mediation #mindfulness

Filed Under: self care + wellness, VIP

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Howdy, I’m Cassie

Rural Gal. INTJ. Voracious Reader. 8w9. Enthusiastic Eater. Questioner. My sarcasm is on point and I am loud for no reason at all.
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