Sweet Spot

I absolutely love the saying “Follow your heart.” In fact, this quote is in my Instagram bio, as a reminder to myself and to others. Throughout my life, when I’ve had to make difficult decisions, I’ve always come back to this saying. Call it intuition or a gut feeling, but typically in my life my “gut feelings” have always been right. Fear is scary. I mean, it  is fear. It’s an emotion stemming from uncontrollable stress and anxiety. As human beings, we have settled on running away from fear at any cost. But I’m here to tell you that we are not meant to live in fear, but to live along side it. . Does that sound crazy to you? Just hear me out. No matter how much running you do to try to escape your fear, it’ll always be right there behind you. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s inevitable. Fear is  a constant. Instead of losing your mind trying to escape the emotion, learning to accept it and live with it will lead to truly overcoming fear. ...

With the start of Fall comes a new school year and new routines. I work at a gym, and typically this time of year we get a lot of new members wanting to start their fitness journey. We all have been there and get ourselves all hyped up for a week… and then we end up losing our fitness streak. Then we must start over, back to square one. I'm here to share some tips on how to KEEP that streak going and ways to stay motivated!   Do what works for your schedule The number one mistake that people tend to make is plan to workout hard 7 days a week only to burn out after day 2 and eventually give up. If you work a full-time job or are in school, realistically you will not have the time to workout every single day. Simply take a look at your schedule and pick the days that work best for you, even if it's just twice a week, that's better than not going at all! Plan it out When you have no idea what you are going to do at the gym, or have no idea how to use any equipmen...

It feels like in today's world we are constantly planning ahead. Even though this can be a good thing, constantly thinking ahead can occupy our minds and prevent us from simply being in the present moment.  Living in the present moment is simply the concept of clearing your mind of thoughts of the past or the future. Often as busy humans we try to multitask. I know I'm not the only one who goes to coffee with a friend, only to be checking my phone or texting someone else, when I really should be giving the person in front of me my full undivided attention.  The takeaway from this is that in the midst of multitasking, we miss emotional connections. And connecting with other people is much more important then finishing everything on our to do list.   The more present you are, the less stressed and worried you become. It can be so draining when we are too consumed in our own thoughts. When you focus on the present moment, you are allowing y...

Happiness is something that is not truly defined, but somehow, it is something everyone strives for. We are all in the “pursuit of happiness.” I personally think that happiness can't be achieved from money or possessions. I believe that happiness is found within our  attitude and how we react to life. These are just some habits that I came up with that I think the happiest people practice. Practice Gratitude Take time to be grateful for the things that you already have. It sounds simple, but just focusing on the little things in your life that bring you joy is a simple way to change your perspective.  For me, I'm grateful for the ability to exercise and move my body and movie nights with my boyfriend. I'm grateful for the sunshine and for days spent at the pool.  Stop Comparing Yourself  I'm a believer in the fact that social media can either add to your life or destroy your life. It's so easy to scroll through Instagram and see these perfect picture...

Who is the person you spend the most time with?   Maybe it’s a parent, or a friend, or a pet. Think again! The answer is yourself. No one spends as much time with you, as you. That’s why it is so important to take care of yourself and to learn and grow everyday. It is so important to love yourself first. I know, it sounds cliché, but it is so true.   You cannot fully and completely love others, if you do not love who you are. It is so easy to try to fill yourself up with others' approval or attention. But it isn’t up to others to love you. If your security is found in others' opinions or actions, you will never be content.  In the end, learning to meet your own needs whether that be physically, mentally, or spiritually is important, because no one else is going to do it for you. Let me tell you a secret. Someone who loves themselves first is someone who is confident. Confidence is a trait that is attractive. A confident person is someone who is not afraid ...

Gym Shark is one of my new favorite workout brands that I am so excited to write about. I’ve always been a fan of Victoria’s Secret leggings, but found that they were not so great for working out or my budget.  I began hearing about the Gym Shark leggings and seeing people wearing them at the gym where I work, so I figured I’d give them a try.    I ordered a pair of the Fit leggings, which are all black with a black waistband. I was expecting the material of these leggings to be thicker like workout leggings usually are, but they are actually very breathable and thin but not see through. I love how these legging have a sticky lining on the waistband because this means they actually stay up while I run or lift. This is also helpful for holding my phone while I do lunges, so I can still listen to music. (the most important part of my workout routine.) The best part of these leggings I personally think is how they don’t have a crotch inseam, which i...