August is typically a month for rest, vacation, and regeneration. Every year, I look forward to summer with all the possibilities with the weather being so beautiful. This year, however, we are all faced with an unprecedented challenge to our world and the summer season. For those of us who want to cope and seek ways to create a positive “new normal”, we need to create special ways to spend time investing in taking care of ourselves. With that said, I would like to offer some ideas that have certainly helped; me and truly hope this will help you as well!

So … with this in mind, let’s welcome August in our homes and use this time wisely to build a rebirth within our home, bodies, and minds. Many of you may be faced with financial issues now and in the future. I would like to respect this by giving recommendations that are Always5Star but would be very mindful of your current financial challenges. Below you will find five simple tips for this month that I hope will ease the difficulty of this challenge for you!

🌟 (1) DIY: Recipe For an At-Home Facial Mask

A simple recipe for a facial mask and all the tips you will need to practice some much-needed self-care time and create a “Stay At Home” spa-like day! The ingredients are probably all in your kitchen right now!

🌟 (2) Listen to Positive Affirmations and Meditation messages

It’s useful to keep on top of the ever-changing news. However, watching the news might weigh on your mind and send your thoughts in a negative direction. It is equally, if not more critical, to fill your mind with constructive and uplifting information. There are a few ways to do this, and they’re all free! Here are a few suggestions:

• Download a meditation app on your smartphone (search for free ones)
• Listen to an uplifting podcast (TedTalks are great!)
• Search for affirmation and meditation messages and listen to them on Youtube. 

🌟 (3) Embrace your inner child: PJ’s, Cereal, & Cartoons

Take an entire morning and do the following:

• Leisurely get out of bed
• Stay in your comfiest pajamas
• Pour a bowl of your favorite cereal
• Turn on some of your favorite cartoons from your childhood! (you can also download these for free from Youtube or search your TV provider). Mine is Bugs Bunny…and honestly, you will be surprised at how this will lift you up! You will find that the cartoons of your childhood are actually geared more toward adult comedy than you might have remembered! Lots of fun!

🌟 (4) Text at Least 5 People A Day

Stay connected to the outside world! Especially if you are going through this on your own. Even if you are with your family, you might be getting on each other’s nerves…lol! Use your time to support someone and the easiest way is to that is just send a text and maybe add a fun gif.

🌟 (5) We are All In This Together

There will be days that you feel completely blah and don’t have the energy to do anything. Be open about your feelings. It is okay. I experience this feeling as well! I created a video below of five things that I am practicing every day. However, honestly, there have been days that I struggle with my emotions. We are all human and let’s face it… sometimes we just feel very sad and overwhelmed. Since remaining at home is the arsenal we use to combat the virus, emotionally helping each other is how we combat depression. Let us all join in and embrace the human spirit of compassion and believe that we will triumph! We CAN do this together!

Final Thoughts:

There are those of you who have family members or friends who are either at risk of battling this illness or serve on the front lines caring and treating others infected. There are not enough expressions of consolation to deliver to those of you who have lost loved ones. Our world around us seems chaotic and scary. What can we do? We can all look for those small ways that we might be able to help support those around us.

Let us look to nature as our ultimate teacher. As our environment is experiencing a rebirth, so too will you have a personal refresh, a regeneration of everything that makes you special. So as Earth refreshes its soil, its roots and branches, dig deep within yourself this month to rejuvenate your life.

Sending all of you love, health and hope,

Pam and Brittany

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