Controlling what we can when things feel out of control (feat. new book recs)
Maintaining an environment and controlling what you can to make your surroundings and the place that you work and live less stressful for yourself can seem daunting and sometimes, impossible.
Here are some things that I have done (and used) to change my situation as much as possible while living in my parentsā basement as a single mom on minimal income. Iāve always felt the need to adjust my surroundings as much and as often as possible to reframe my mindset to feel more sense of control.
I'm someone who really enjoys thrifting furniture, dĆ©cor, and clothes. I also try to create and DIY as much as possible but changing up the way that my room and work space are set up every few months really helps me reenergize and refocus. I try to minimize my belongings to reduce clutter and create as much of an aesthetic as possible without focusing on what I canāt change and instead enjoying the space that I do have at this time.
As far as home dƩcor I use what I have, but I also try to thrift furniture when possible. Obviously a few things. I would rather buy new; like my bed spread that I got right before vacation so that when I came back from Puerto Rico I got to sleep in my own bed with brand new clean sheets, pillows and blankets. Allowing myself to kind of splurge on new things when I like the color, style, and the feel, helps me be more grounded in not spending as often or thrifting other items more.
Thrifting clothes, on the other hand, has taken me to a new level of self-love. My style changes just as often as my environment. Iāve been more graceful with myself and being open to new styles, allowing myself to change my mind and wear what feels good regardless of outside opinions.
Growing up, I always got hand-me-down clothes from older cousins and didn't go shopping unless it was for a special occasion. But now I am really enjoying thrifting different outfits and trying to find what style I like the look and the feel of. Something that's helped me with this is looking into my Venus sign and trying to embrace things that I enjoy and trying a lot of things out. Thrifting pants, skirts, dresses, baggy, tight, and different materials, always heavily leaning on some TikTok inspiration fromĀ
3 of my favorite Amazon finds that I use daily
It's a 40 oz, but it also traps in temperature which is great for summer coming up and keeping my water cold.
...for my car helps keep it charged and available for jam sessions. When I am educating my 7-year-old. What fallout boy has done for this country? Just kidding kind of.Ā
...are a lifesaver. For someone who does not live close or sleep close to their light switch. You can change the brightness. The color and I never have to worry about the big light. Cause the big light can be dimmed to help with sensory overload. Plus it pairs with Google, so it's even better than the clapper. And I can tell Google to turn my lights on and off. Schedule them for the mornings so that I know it's actually time to get up and not press snooze again.
Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson
The Island of Missing Trees - Elif Shafak
Sometimes I Lie - Alice Feeney
Reviews coming in next week's blog!
So call me crazy when I constantly rearrange furniture, when I go wild over a good deal at the thrift store, and when I dress like I'm a 14-year-old walking into Hot Topic in 2008, but I enjoy it. These things all help me feel at peace, help me feel in control when things are chaotic, and help me express myself as I am constantly changing and gradually less willing to care what others think about that.
Each Amazon purchase from the links above gain me commission from affiliate. If you're not comfortable with that, you can find these products on amazon separately as well, thanks for tuning in.
