But talking openly and honestly about your mental health is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. It can help you feel more connected to the people around you, and it can also help them better understand and support you.
If you're not sure how to start the conversation, we've got some tips for you. Keep reading for advice on how to talk to your friends and family about your mental health struggles.
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It can be hard to know how to open up to your friends and family about your mental health struggles. You might feel like you're burdening them, or that they won't understand.
But talking openly and honestly about your mental health is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. It can help you feel more connected to the people around you, and it can also help them better understand and support you.
If you're not sure how to start the conversation, we've got some tips for you. Keep reading for advice on how to talk to your friends and family about your mental health struggles.
Not everyone with mental health struggles wants to talk about it. In fact, some people might not even realise they’re struggling. But there are a few signs you can look for that might mean it’s time to have a conversation about mental health struggles.
If you notice that you or your friend is having a tough time at school, work or home, for example, then it might cause a mental health struggle. If you or your friend is always cancelling plans or seems really down for no reason, that could also be a sign. If you or your friend is thinking or talking about suicide or self-harm, that’s an even bigger sign that help is needed.
No matter what the sign is, it’s always important to remember that you should never ignore your gut feeling. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. So listen to your intuition and have that conversation with your friend—they’ll be glad you did.
Talking openly about our mental health can be really tough. It's something that we often keep to ourselves, partly because we're worried about how others will react, and partly because we're not sure where to start.
But the truth is, it's not as difficult as we make it out to be. All it takes is a bit of courage and a lot of honesty. So don't be afraid to start the conversation with your friends and family. Here are a few tips on how to do it:
Don't try to sugar-coat things or make excuses. Just be honest and open about how you're feeling. This will help your friends and family understand what you're going through, and it will also make it easier for them to offer support.
When talking about your mental health, use "I" statements rather than "you" statements. For example, instead of saying "You're making me so angry," say "I'm feeling really angry right now." This will help keep the conversation positive and constructive.
Your friends and family may not fully understand what you're going through, and that's okay. Be patient with them and give them time to learn more about mental health issues. And most importantly, remember that they're just trying to help.
It can be tough to open up about your mental health struggles to your friends and family. You may feel ashamed, embarrassed, or scared that they won't understand. But it's important to remember that they love and care for you, and they want to help.
Here are a few tips for communicating your needs effectively:
When it comes to talking to your friends and family about mental health struggles, it's important to ask for what you need. Talking about tough topics can be difficult, but if you are prepared with clear questions and open-ended language, it can make for a more productive conversation.
First off, consider asking friends and family members to listen without judgement. Ask them if they are truly in a place where they can devote their full attention to the conversation without needing a response right away. Talk openly with them about how they can best support you in this period of difficulty. Do you need empathy? Would tangible gestures like sitting with you and engaging in meaningful activities be helpful?
Another question to ask is how they think the two of you can work together on this issue or challenge. Are there coping strategies they could recommend? Have they had any similar experiences that might offer helpful perspectives? Have they noticed any patterns or triggers in your behaviours? Ultimately, these conversations should be framed as two people coming together as partners looking to overcome something difficult together - not just one person burdening the other with their issues.
Opening up and talking to friends and family is an important first step towards getting the support you need. However, it’s also important to remember that if your issues become too overwhelming to handle, you should consider reaching out to a professional for additional help.
It can be intimidating at first to open up about your mental health struggles with a therapist or psychiatrist —but these professionals are there to offer guidance and support. If it helps, try researching different types of therapy or talking therapies first so that you can feel prepared beforehand. You can also look for online counsellors if you're more comfortable with this option.
Regardless of how scared or overwhelmed you may feel, it’s important to remember that there is no shame in seeking professional help and that doing so is ultimately an act of self-care and love for yourself. Whether it's through exploring different treatments, seeking therapy or just having meaningful conversations with close ones - the more comfortable we learn to talk about our mental health struggles, the easier it will be for us all to seek and get the help we need when we need it most.
It's important to remember that the conversation doesn't end with your friends and family. You may feel drained or emotionally exhausted afterwards, so it is important to take the necessary time to check in with yourself and focus on self-care. We know how vital self-care is, especially to young people who are just finding their feet. Do an activity that you find calming or soothing, such as yoga, gardening or sound healing. These are just some of the free activities in One Wear Freedom’s Student Sustainability Space - a wellness workshop designed to provide students with the tools + opportunities to slow down + live authentically. Stay mindful of what works best for you—make sure to do something that puts you at ease.
Make sure to give yourself plenty of affirmation after this conversation has occurred. Positive affirmations can help boost self-esteem and create mental clarity which will be beneficial for recovery from mental health struggles. Taking these steps will help you move forward with your journey towards recovery and wholeness.
So, what can you do if you find yourself struggling and don’t feel like you can talk to your friends or family? Talk to a professional. It can be really tough to open up about your mental health, but it’s a vital step in getting help. Professionals will be able to provide you with the support you need and connect you with resources that can help you get your life back on track. Remember, you are not alone.
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Various reports say that the World Health Organisation declared stress “the epidemic of the 21st Century”. Though I couldn’t verify this on their website, it’s hard to imagine that the characteristics of modern, post-pandemic life wouldn’t contribute to greater levels of stress. Through my own life and speaking to my friends, I feel that stress is becoming something people are more conscious of. In fact, the pandemic has led to what is dubbed ‘The Great Resignation’, with studies showing 1/3 of employees considering a career change and over 40% of employees more likely to leave their current job within three years, citing workplace stress and non-flexible working styles as the motivation.
Boiled down, stress is a physical reaction in response to a stimulus, or a stressor. The hypothalamus, a small region in your brain, is responsible for this response, and releases nerve signals and hormones that activate your adrenal glands (near your kidneys) to release stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones then help turn off ‘non-essential’ functioning, like your digestive system, or increase energy supplies.
This response can be helpful in a dangerous situation, but prolonged exposure to high-levels of the stress-hormones can be pretty detrimental to your health, studies have shown. It puts you at a much higher risk of long-term health problems, from heart disease to memory impairment. That’s why stress can be so serious and why campaigns like the National Stress Awareness Month are so important.
Not all stress is created equal either, women are twice as likely to suffer from severe stress and anxiety, according to a 2016 study [1] (yay patriarchy!). This is thought to be as a result of taking on more domestic and emotional labour. Although, it’s worth noting that it’s less socially acceptable for men to discuss their emotions, so this gender difference may be different in actuality. Stress is further exasperated by race, with black, asian and latinx people reporting higher levels of stress and more stressful major life events than white people [2]. This statistic is sad, but not surprising in a country where an openly racist man was elected as prime minister (comprehensive list can be found here).
According to the NHS website, stress can lead to symptoms that fall into 3 categories: physical, mental and behavioural change. Under physical falls headaches or dizziness, muscle tension or pain, stomach problems, chest pain, faster heartbeat and sexual problems. Mental symptoms can include difficulty concentrating, struggling to make decisions, feeling overwhelmed, constantly worrying and being forgetful. Finally, in terms of behavioural issues, stress can cause irritability, over/under sleeping, over/under eating, avoiding certain places or people and picking up ‘bad’ habits to relax, like drinking or smoking. Sound pretty awful right? If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms right now, keep reading for some tips on how to lighten the load…
It can be really hard dealing with stress, even finding the motivation to do things to mediate your stress can feel, well, stressful sometimes. I have put together a list of 9 wellbeing tips from across the internet and personal experience to give you some inspiration and maybe give you that little boost to do at least one thing to care for yourself today.
Hopefully you’re now feeling less and not more stressed, or at least inspired to make some changes in your life to improve your wellbeing. If you are going to implement some of the tips listed here, let us know over on Instagram!
Look after yourself x
Sources
1. Remes, O., Brayne, C., van der Linde, R., Lafortune, L. 2016. "A Systematic Review of Reviews on the Prevalence of Anxiety Disorders in Adult Populations" Brain and Behaviour, Vol.6, No.7, pp.1-33
2. Williams, D. R. 2000. "Race, stress, and mental health: Findings from the Commonwealth Minority Health Survey" in Minority Health in America: Findings and Policy Implications from the Commonwealth Fund Minority Health Survey Hogue, C., Hargraves, M., Scott-Collins, K. eds. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, pp.209-243
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Since 2000 The Mental Health Foundation has been raising awareness and fostering a space for us to openly talk about our mental health, providing resources and advice to help us look after it. The campaign focuses on a different theme each year, and in 2021, we’re looking to Nature for a better connection with our psychological and emotional health.
]]>Written by Katie Elizabeth Robinson
Since 2000 The Mental Health Foundation has been raising awareness and fostering a space for us to openly talk about our mental health, providing resources and advice to help us look after it. The campaign focuses on a different theme each year, and in 2021, we’re looking to Nature for a better connection with our psychological and emotional health.
‘Nature is our great untapped resource for a mentally healthy future.’
Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of The Mental Health Foundation
Never before have we all so appreciated nature either; from those of us who’ve spent more time exploring our local green spaces, to those sheltering at home, listening to the birds sing and watching the seasons transform the world around us. In honour of the Mental Health Awareness Week theme of Nature and inspired by The Happy Newspaper, we want to share some happiness through positive stories about our beautiful planet. We hope the following can help shine some light through all the doom-scrolling and often overwhelming news about the climate crisis.
1. Trump is out!
It’s rare that we can so openly celebrate politics as we all have different opinions and motivations, which is a great thing, but for anyone who cares even the teensiest bit about the future of our planet, getting Trump out of one of the most powerful seats in the world is a very, very good thing. The term ‘climate’ wasn't even mentioned on the White House website during his Presidency.
Now, thanks to Joe Biden, the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases has rejoined the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty signed in 2015 to prevent global warming from rising a further 2℃ above pre-industrial levels. The White House website now lists the climate crisis as a priority second only to the COVID-19 crisis.
2. Kamala Harris is in!
A woman, a woman of colour, a black woman and a daughter of immigrants is the Vice President of America. There is so much in that one sentence to celebrate, especially after the four years America has just had.
‘I may be the first to do many things - make sure I’m not the last’.
Kamala Harris in an interview with Vogue, 2021
In her acceptance speech on the 7th November 2020, wearing ‘a suit so white it glowed’ in tribute to the suffragettes who fought so hard for our ‘fundamental right to vote and be heard’, Harris told the children of America to:
‘dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they’ve never seen it before, but know that we will applaud you every step of the way.’
Watch the rest of Harris’ goosebump-worthy speech here.
3. A group of ladybirds is called a loveliness.
Because everyone deserves to think of this every time they see a ladybird.
4. Portuguese cats are upcycling old appliances.
Ever heard of cat colonies? They’re quite the common occurrence across Europe with one of the most famous colonies residing in the ancient ruins of Largo di Torre Argentina in Rome. Portugese vet, Ana Silva decided to take action over her concerns for the numbers and poor condition of stray cats in her home town of Monchique, Portugal and launched the Aqui Há Gato Project (which translates to Here is a Cat...sounds better in Portuguese right).
The whole project was inspired by two kittens who darted straight for an old washing machine at Silva’s practice and has since spread across Portugal, just as she hoped it would. Porto is the most recent city to transform disused washing machines and dryers into shelters for the adorable cats of the streets. These newly vaccinated, microchipped and sterilised kitties, who are also fed by local caregivers, will now have somewhere to keep cool in the height of summer and warm over winter.
5. European wildcats come home.
The wildcat is slightly larger than pet-sized and they don’t possess the confidence and sass of our domesticated feline friends. Like most wild animals, they are very shy, easily stressed and avoid all human contact. Due to this and further persecution in a time when predators were branded vermin, England and Wales haven’t seen a European wildcat in over 150 years. They’ve survived in Scotland but are at risk of extinction there too so considerable efforts are being made to reintroduce the species to our island.
Thanks to lessons learned from Marianne Hartmann’s successful reintroduction of the cats in Bavaria, and feasibility studies undertaken by Vincent Wildlife Trust, rural Devon, Cornwall and mid-Wales have been identified as promising habitats to launch the programme. After centuries of diluting biodiversity in the UK through cherry-picking favourable creatures to our habits, reintroduction programmes such as this will significantly contribute to diversifying our ecosystems which is integral to the health of our environments.
6. We say ta-ra to the Tampon Tax!
The words ‘non-essential’ and ‘luxury’ don’t particularly spring to mind to those of us who are menstruating. As of January 2021, these labels were dropped along with the 5% VAT they brought with them. This goes for sanitary pads and menstrual cups too.
It’s a great step towards dissecting the patriarchy and goes a long way to tackling period poverty, something which the UK government is taking further action on by providing schools, colleges and hospitals with free sanitary products. There’s still some campaigning to be done though as sustainable period pants apparently don’t cut it as essential, classified instead as a garment and taxed at 20%.
7. A jolly good laugh boosts mental and physical health.
Laughing feels great right, even when we let loose our weirdest cackle! Turns out that whilst it’s releasing serotonin from our brains, the neurotransmitter that makes us feel happy, it’s also helping us burn calories. According to a study, 10-15 minutes of laughter can burn up to 10 calories. Best exercise ever! So call up a friend you know you can have a good giggle with or check out the stand-up comedy specials on Netflix and laugh till your face is sore.
8. Scotland panic buys trees!
Only joking. They did plant a whopping 22 million trees in 2018 in response to the climate crisis though. It’s estimated that the trees in Scotland absorb as much as 9.5 million tonnes of CO2 from our atmosphere annually. We all know how crucial they are to the air we breathe but they also filter our drinkable water and sustain and encourage biodiversity, also integral to the health of our planet. Check out our partner One Tree Planted, with whom we help to plant trees all thanks to your orders.
Perhaps panic buying trees is actually a very rational response to our climate crisis and will become the trend of 2021, rather than the foolish chopping habits we’ve been practising on mass for centuries.
9. Know your impact with One Wear Freedom’s sustainability scores.
The impacts of Fast Fashion have only relatively recently become widely known and truly understood so if you’re starting off on your sustainable and ethical fashion journey it’s tricky to know what to look out for.
At One Wear Freedom we’re making it super simple with these new impact scores, verified by Compare Ethics, an independent sustainability platform that does all the hard work for conscious consumers who want truly sustainable products and not more greenwashing and buzzwords. The amazing team at Compare Ethics have verified 146 of our garments so when you shop our collections, you know precisely how incredible you are for choosing to rent.
10. Summer is coming!
Wrapping up with some very fresh news for all our keen readers. Next week we’ll launch our Summer Collection! Keep your eyes peeled and start dreaming of what you’ll be wearing in the sun.
We hope at least one of the short stories above has brought a smile to your face and if you could use some more positivity, follow @mentalhealthfoundation and join in with Mental Health Awareness Week.
So here we are again, in the midst of another full National Lockdown as we head out of 2020 and into 2021. With restrictions expected to last until at least the middle of February, for most of us this will mean much more time away from those we usually connect with and spending more time indoors. While lockdown was previously carried out throughout spring, this time it will be during winter. It seems important then, that we try to find some positives to help us through those dark evenings. So, let’s explore some things that might help to light up the dark as we bolt down the hatches for another period at home:
We may be spending more time indoors, but we can still leave the house for our daily exercise, and what better food for our souls than being out in nature? If you live somewhere by the coast, like Cornwall, that could mean a walk on the local beach. Where if you are lucky you may get to see some of those gorgeous little creatures of the sea - The Atlantic Grey Seals that live there throughout the year.
At this time of year The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, do some amazing work by rescuing pups, who get into all sorts of trouble during the winter storms. Through becoming caught up in discarded fishing nets, or from ingesting plastics that have been dumped in the ocean.
The sanctuary works hard to get the pups back to full health before they can be released back into the wild. On average it costs £2,000 to rehabilitate each pup, before that can happen. Unfortunately, during the last lockdown, although the sanctuary is outside, it sadly had to close. This is also the case this time. Without visitors it becomes increasingly difficult for the sanctuary to generate an income.
If you want to help the sanctuary to continue their fantastic work, you can donate here
Or if you don’t live by the sea, and seals aren’t your thing, you can still take time to go for a walk in your local greenspace, woodland or park. There are lots of National Trust gardens, parks and countryside that still remain open to local people. Find your nearest outdoor space here.
Even our pets can give us a real connection to nature too. Studies have found that some of the health benefits of having a pet include, improved fitness due to walking our dog, or even from playing with our cat or dog indoors. Research has even found that just petting our pet can help to reduce the likelihood of heart problems or strokes by lowering our blood pressure. You can find more information on owning a pet at The Blue Cross Website here.
As Jane Austen once said, ‘Without music life would be a blank to me.’ For many of us music will always have been a salvation, from the first time you remember hearing a song that you love. To laying on your bed listening to an entire album as a teenager, immersing yourself in the lyric book as you listen. Music can always find a way to capture our mood, our feelings, or lift our spirits. So, why not make a playlist of your favourite songs to get you through lockdown? Or revisit those albums that defined your life at the time. To immerse yourself in happier memories, of pre-lockdown days.
Some recommendations include, the new Black Eyed Peas album Translation that has a really uplifting, feel good vibe, along with collabs with a lot of Latin American artists, such as J Balvin and Shakira on. Girl Like Me and RITMO are perfect for shaking your bootie to. Although the less commercially successful, 2018 Masters Of The Sun, with songs such as Back 2 Hip Hop, featuring Nas, and the political genius of Ring The Alarm are hard to beat. It’s their best album yet, and if you want to hear BEP going back to their hip hop roots, this is the one for you.
If you fancy more of a folky feel, go for one of Taylor Swift’s surprise albums of 2020, Folklore or Evermore. Tracks like Cardigan and The One are perfect for a mellow, winter vibe.
If Jazz is more your thing, nothing beats listening to Gregory Porter’s latest album, All Rise, while sipping a glass of Merlot and cooking dinner.
Lastly if you prefer some old school, 90’s, RnB feels, check out Mariah Carey’s latest album Rarities, featuring rare, previously, pretty much un-heard of demo tracks and ‘rarities’. Favourites include the perfect, I’m-so-over-that-soft-boy track, Cool On You, or the 2020 track featuring the fabulous Lauryn Hill, Save The Day. Which although written a few years back, lyrically, sounds as though it was written just for today.
Whatever your favourite bangers are, link up your Bluetooth speaker and get to listening.
We have plenty of time on these dark winter nights for tv watching, so why not indulge by watching back-to-back episode’s of some classic tv shows such as Sex and The City, the now politically incorrect, but still funniest show ever, Friends, or the fabulous Gossip Girl. Or if you missed it the first time around, check out the brilliant Desmond’s. A classic sitcom set in a barber shop in Peckham. It’s now available on All 4.
Alternatively, Netflix and chill with the sparkly-tastic, feel good AJ & The Queen, featuring Ru Paul, a host of Drag Artists, and a story about an unlikely, funny, yet seriously sweet friendship that forms between Ru’s character AJ and a struggling kid in his apartment block.
If Mills & Boon romance is more your kind of thing, check out Virgin River, or Chesapeake Shores, for classic love stories and stunning scenery.
If you prefer a crime drama then check out teen crime thriller, Tiny Pretty Things about a ballet school in Chicago, that opens with the murder of a student.
If you like Super heroes, then the three series of Black Lightening might be more your thing. Think corrupt governments, civil rights and a family with super powers.
Other recommendations are, Girlfriends, Sister Sister and Moesha. Or if you like period drama’s, how about racy new period drama Bridgerton.
Just because back-to-back episode binges are always acceptable on rainy, lockdown days.
What better way to pass a couple of hours than to watch a movie. We all need a laugh right now right, so why not check out comedy classics like, Will Ferrell’s Step Brother’s, Mark Wahlberg’s Ted 1 & 2, or Bridesmaids with Melissa McCarthy and Maya Rudolph. Additionally, try out some 2020 comedies, such as Eurovision with Rachel McAdams as a hopeful Eurovision star, Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne’s female led comedy Like a Boss. Or see Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reunite for another classic, in Bad Boys For Life.
There’s something about the Radio during lockdown that is so comforting. It somehow feels like a real-time window into the outside world, like being connected to someone outside of those four walls. The familiarity of your favourite DJ’s can feel good in such a time of uncertainty. So why not tune in to your favourite morning or evening show. For example, on Cornwall’s Pirate FM, they have even just started a three hour, wind down session from 10pm every evening. Perfect for those nights when it can be difficult to relax or get to sleep.
If not, what about a podcast? Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place is a great listen. Fearne chats with some amazing guests, including thought leaders such as Deepak Chopra and Gabrielle Bernstein about the best ways to find joy and inner happiness.
Another recommendation is One Wear Freedom’s model, and radio presenter Aisha Nabi’s very own podcast, Aisha presents over on Spotify. Aisha, says she hopes to help us to ‘slow things down, take a pause, and listen and learn from different people with diverse experiences’. Or follow her on Instagram @aishauk .
Alternatively, you may want to check out the fantastic curated playlists and musical discussions of the fantastic @thefanclub.ldn on Insta and over on Spotify.
What is better than the possibility of being able to escape to another world right now, and what better way to be able to do that when planes are landed and travel halted, than to dip your head into a book?
If you’re finding it hard to concentrate at the moment, try a prose poetry book, from the amazing Nikita Gill. Her book The Girl and The Goddess, describes the journey of females into womanhood and the universal struggles and issues we all face.
Rupi Kaur’s, Home Body, is another great book of poetry. It explores her experience through and to the other side of depression. While The Sun and Her Flowers, describes the journey through heartache to healing again.
Or perhaps you feel in need of some inspiration, in which case, how about Oprah Winfrey’s, The Path Made Clear which can help us to discover our life’s purpose. While in What I Know For Sure, where Oprah talks about the most important and universal life lessons that she has learnt along the way.
If you fancy a series of books to last you through lockdown, Malorie Blackman’s YA fiction, Noughts and Crosses could be the one for you. It’s a modern day, inter-racial Romeo and Juliet story of Sephy a ‘Cross’ and Callum a ‘Nought’. It’s a real page turner which lasts for a massive five books. With spin-off’s from other characters finishing the series.
Or maybe autobiography is more your thing, so how about Michelle Obama’s Becoming. The book explores the former first lady’s battle to find her voice. It also discusses the political side of her life, during her time in the White House, along with motherhood.
If you fancy a classic, try Sam Selvon’s 1956 classic, The Lonely Londoner’s, which tells the fictional story of Moses Aleotta, who arrives in London to work on London Transport, as part of the 1950’s Windrush generation.
Or if you really want to challenge your reading chops, how about Othello. In which Shakespeare explores the feelings of alienation that the protagonist faces as a black general in the Venetian army, in 16th/17th century Venice.
If politics and current affairs are more your thing, you might want to explore Race and Class in Ruins of Empire, by Akala. Where the rapper, journalist and activist explores the way to seek liberation for humanity from oppression and exploitation.
Or Roxanne Gay’s exploration of feminism, in her 2014 book of essays Bad Feminist. A humorous look at the things she loves, but that seem to be at odds with her support of the feminist movement.
Keep supporting your local independent bookstores during lockdown and find your nearest indie store at the Booksellers Association
Creativity in a time like this can be such an escape for our worried minds, and the benefits of tapping into our creative impulses should never be underestimated. For many, the act of participating in our favourite art or craft can take us into a mindful state, where our heart rate slows and our mind clears. So whether you love to cook, draw, paint, write, knit, or get out and do a little bit of gardening (you even get a free pack of wildflower seeds with every single rental from OWF to get you started}. Why not indulge yourself this lockdown and get creating.
This fabulous website, Fave Crafts, may help to get you started
Lastly what is more exciting at a time like this than a new outfit to lounge in or stroll around the park in? Nothing, nothing at all. So I will leave you with three of our favourite loungey attires from the One Wear Freedom collection. For you to walk, watch tv and movies, listen to music, podcasts and the radio, read books, cook, write, paint, garden or knit in;
Like this jumpsuit
This, laidback trouser and top combo
This Skirt & Cropped Hoodie Co-ord
Browse our entire Lockdown Lounging section here for even more inspiration and choice.
Stay Comfy. Stay Safe. Stay in your light.
Peace, Love n Lipgloss,
Kelly Louise
]]>by Deborah Anderson
Despite difficult circumstances we hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and New Year (or as fabulous as it could be!) With a new year brings reflection on the last and the making of resolutions (that usually last for about 3 weeks, let’s be honest) but this new year isn’t like any other. We’re starting 2021 with all the things we learned from 2020 and we’ve had time (a lot of it) to rearrange our priorities and realise what we want out of life. The New Year is the perfect time to make the plans that will get us to where we want to be. Just because the world has come to a stand-still, it doesn’t mean that our lives have to too. Making resolutions and goals gives our lives structure, things to look forward to and a sense of control – all things that we’re desperately in need of right now! To help you out, we’ve rounded up some tips on how to make goals and New Year’s Resolutions – and actually stick to them:
We hope that these tips will help you to get what you want out of 2021! The pandemic may delay our plans but we can’t let it crush our dreams completely. Even if you have more bad days than good and you can only summon the energy to work towards your goal once every 2 weeks, that’s still an investment into your future. Stay strong queens and look after yourselves - this is only temporary even if it feels like forever.
For all you Birthday Babes celebrating your birthdays in lockdown, we’re giving you a whopping 50% off your One Wear Freedom order!! All you have to do is to follow the instructions in our Instagram post here and we’ll DM you the discount code!
Also, our lovely founder Jordache will be joining Black Girl Environmentalist’s Instagram live on Sunday, talking all things fashion and sustainability so go check it out! Follow us on Instagram to find out more details coming soon!
]]>Christmas can be a hard time for some people anyway, without being in the midst of a pandemic. This year has definitely not been normal and it looks like Christmas will follow suit as the government has announced that up to 3 households are allowed to meet between the 23rd and 27th of December. For some, the pandemic won’t change their festive plans and that’s great! However, for others, who can’t be with their whole family, or others who may be by themselves to protect vulnerable family members, Christmas may be a very strange and disheartening time. We’ve come up with some things to think about and do, to try beat these blues!
]]>Christmas can be a hard time for some people anyway, without being in the midst of a pandemic. This year has definitely not been normal and it looks like Christmas will follow suit as the government has announced that up to 3 households are allowed to meet between the 23rd and 27th of December. For some, the pandemic won’t change their festive plans and that’s great! However, for others, who can’t be with their whole family, or others who may be by themselves to protect vulnerable family members, Christmas may be a very strange and disheartening time. We’ve come up with some things to think about and do, to try beat these blues!
Plan your day – If your Christmas isn’t going to be exactly how you would like to spend it, then try to make the most of it! Planning what you’re going to do in the day will help to give you a reason to look forward to it as well as to make you feel a little less lost on the day. Whether you’re going all out Christmas or not, it’s inevitable you’ll see lots of festive Instagram stories, so having a vague plan of what you’re going to watch, eat, wear, as well as scheduling in the family calls will really help to make you feel a whole lot less jealous!
Connect to friends and family – It’s important to try to be connected to friends and family, especially if you’re spending this Christmas alone. Having a phone call or just a few quick messages with loved ones will help you to feel less isolated and could brighten your day!
Take the pressure off – Whatever your plans are this Christmas, remember, it doesn’t HAVE to be perfect. This year has been difficult for everyone so give yourself a break! Whether you can spend it with only a few members of your family or you’re by yourself, think of the holiday season as just that – a holiday. This doesn’t have to be the best Christmas ever; it doesn’t even have to feel like Christmas if you don’t want it to. Think of it as just a few days with your select family or by yourself where you can truly take time to relax.
Have yummy food – Whatever your situation this December 25th, make sure that you are eating yummy food! After all, that’s what Christmas is all about isn’t it? Even if you are going to be by yourself, make sure that you’re still putting in as much effort as you would any other year. This doesn’t mean physically slaving away in the kitchen but just make sure that you’re treating yourself. Delicious food is a form of self-care that people don’t often think about but by enabling yourself to have nice food, you are recognising your own worth. Whether it’s a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings or you order your favourite takeaway, you deserve it!
Think about what you’re grateful for – When you’re feeling down, making a list of all the things you’re grateful for will help to take stock of your feelings, make you feel less sad and will help to give you a new perspective in the long run.
Go for a walk – It’s always a great idea to go for a walk when you’re feeling low. Getting fresh air, exercise and seeing cute dogs will lift your mood and at Christmas, (at least in my head) everyone seems a little nicer. Hearing a “Merry Christmas!” from a cheerful passer-by will usually lessen any lingering anxiety or sadness, especially if you’re by yourself and have lacked social interaction.
Meditate - Doing mindful breathing and thinking can help you to get out of your head and force you to relax. It can completely change your mood, decreasing any stress or anxieties that you may have, which is something that is definitely of value this time of year. Kelly gave some amazing tips on how to meditate in one of our past blog posts which you can read here!
Volunteer – If you’re sad that this Christmas isn’t going to be normal, why not embrace it? Do something you don’t normally do and volunteer at a local food bank or homeless shelter. These places may risk being understaffed this year as older volunteers are shielding. Meeting new people and helping others will make you feel good, improving your mental health during this weird time.
Treat yourself – Whether that’s with you eat or wear on Christmas Day, treat yourself! It’s been a hard year and this festive season will be tough for some too so you deserve to be treated like the queen you are. Even if you’ll be by yourself or you’re having a low-key Christmas, it doesn’t mean you have to dress low-key! We have some seriously boss outfits you can rent that will absolutely sleigh (sorry, not sorry). Here’s a round-up of our fave wintery looks!
If you want to rent any One Wear Freedom pieces for Christmas, last orders are the 22nd December but we’d advise getting those orders in ASAP to bagsy the garms you want! We hope that you’re looking forward to Christmas but if you’re feeling sad at the prospect or you feel low on the day, remember that it won’t last forever. Those feelings will pass and so will this pandemic. When it’s all over, you can have a proper festive celebration with all your loved ones, even if it’s summer! We will all get through this together! Stay safe, stay sensible and stay sustainable - merry Christmas!
You can get help and support from Samaritans or Mind.
Written by Kelly Louise Marshall & Image by Deborah Anderson
‘Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.’ – Lao Tzu
As a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic, for many of us, over the past eight months, our lives have changed drastically. Whether that be through working from home, socialising less, or not being able to visit loved ones. Our lives are just not same. Even if we choose to go to shops and restaurants in the quest to find some kind of a norm, everything we do has an added anxiety looming over us. It’s difficult to really feel ‘carefree’ anymore.
So, as we begin a second lockdown here in England, there are probably a whole host of emotions, thoughts and worries that are racing through our bodies and minds. However, as Deborah was saying in the previous blog, on the plus side we have all experienced this before. So hopefully we can keep some of the things that we’ve learnt previously, with us. Perhaps we can even become more content in doing less and being more. As, if we can bring a level of acceptance to how our lives are right now, in this moment, instead of fighting against it and wishing things were different, we may even be able to find some positives in this really difficult situation.
For example, in Yogic traditions there is a word that describes a state we can aim to be in, called Santosha. The definition of this is as follows:
‘Santosha, or contentment, means keeping a positive attitude in difficult times. We can choose to wallow in darkness or difficulty, or we can rise above our challenges and see them as opportunities for transformation, and the discovery of immense and lasting joy. The more we choose contentment, the more we are able to grow.’
So, here are five top tips to help us to stay present, mindful and in a state of ‘Santosha’, through these tough times, as we don our boxing gloves, ready for round two:
1: Meditate, Meditate, Then Meditate Some More…
Meditation is one of the simplest, yet most effective tools we have as human beings. The more it is researched the more the amazing benefits of it are found. Not only mental health benefits, such as a reduction in anxiety, stress and depression, along with a more positive state of mind and outlook, but also physical benefits too, such as lower blood pressure and cholesterol, boosting of our immune systems and lessening of chronic pain. People who meditate often find they sleep better too. It also helps us to learn to live more mindfully and in the moment.
You don’t even have to leave the house to go to a class to meditate anymore, because meditation is everywhere. You have access to mindfulness through apps such as Calm or Headspace. There are also loads of freebies on YouTube, such as this one for reducing anxiety by Jason Stephenson, called ‘The Alchemist’
Or if guided meditation isn’t your thing, you can simply practice focusing on your breathe for a couple of minutes. This can be used whenever you feel anxiety or stress creeping up on you. The 4, 6, 8 technique is perfect to slot into your day, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing:
Simply inhale slowly, through your nose to a count of four. Hold your breathe for a count of six. Then exhale again slowly, through your nose, for a count of eight. Then repeat. Ideally for around two minutes.
After just a couple of minutes of this, you will feel calmer, less stressed, more focused, and hopefully, ready to face whatever challenges the day has in store for you.
2: Keep A Routine –
It’s important right now, when we can easily slip into a state of slumber, or become completely unmotivated, that we take the time to plan our days. To have some sense of a routine. Sooo, why not invest in a weekly planner, so that you can plan your days. Include your daily exercise, any work you have to do, leisure time etc, in that planner, and then tick it off when it’s done.
You can also use a fantastic method called the Pomodoro Technique. It’s this brilliant time management method, that was developed by a man named Francesco Cirillo, in the 1980’s. What you do is, before beginning a task, you set a timer for 25 minutes. At the end of that 25 minutes you take a short, five minute break, where you do something else completely unrelated to the task. It could be stretching, making a cuppa, walking round the house, dancing to a favourite tune. Whatever you fancy. Then after four rounds, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes. Once you've done that, it's time to go back to the beginning again.
The benefits of this technique are that you get to train your brain to focus on one task at a time, then you have a little break and a chance to reset your brain, before you begin again. This can also make tasks and time feel more manageable and stop any feelings of overwhelm. Which is brilliant right now when everything feels so overwhelming. It also gives you that sense of routine, and you will probably feel so much better if you can keep some sort of schedule right now, rather than just aimlessly drifting through your days
3: Be Kind To Yourself –
If a friend came to you and they were completely in the pits of despair. If they were on a complete downer about themselves, then what would you say to them? I mean you may be thinking, ‘For God’s sake Joanne, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get a grip woman.’ But hopefully, you wouldn’t actually say that.
So, why are we sometimes so harsh on ourselves? Promise me now, you won’t be anymore. Speak to yourself as if you were speaking to a friend, ie BE KIND. If you want you can even try reciting this Loving Kindness mantra when you meditate, or when you look in the mirror:
First, picture yourself with a golden light all around yourself, then say, ‘May you be happy, may you be peaceful, may you be safe, may you be loved.’
The world is hard enough right now, we don’t need to punish ourselves.
Or, you could read a fabulous self-help book, such as Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life. In the book she explores the way that limiting thoughts and ideas can restrict us, and stop us from living our best lives. Louise teaches us techniques for how to change those limiting thoughts and ideas.
4: As Some Bloke Called Frankie, From The Eighties Once Said, Relax…
What do you like to do to relax? It could be an exercise like dance, yoga or surfing. Or maybe it’s something less vigorous, like watching back-to-back episodes of your favourite Netflix show. It could be painting your nails, or reading a book, or simply getting out for a walk in nature. Whatever it is that makes you feel chilled, do it.
Journaling can also be a great way to get rid of our worries and demons too. There is a writing tool used by many writers, called ‘Morning Pages’, where you keep a journal beside your bed, then upon waking in the morning, the first thing you do is write in a stream of consciousness for ten minutes about whatever comes into your mind. It’s a great way to learn to vent, then reflect, then draw a line under and close the pages (literally), on our worries.
Because when the world is as stressful as it is right now, it’s really difficult not to get pulled into the collective stress that we are witnessing all around us. That’s what makes it’s so important to have some relaxation time too. As I said before, be kind to yourself, and allow yourself to just be.
5: Set Goals -
What ridiculousness is this? You may be asking. How can I set goals when I don’t even know what tomorrow will bring?
Well, while it may not be possible to achieve some of our larger scale goals right now, like travelling the globe. We can still set and achieve our smaller scale goals. For example, we may not be able to travel right now, but we can still create and plan a list of all the places we want to go when the Pandemic is over. We could even go so far as to plan out the route we will take and the hotels we will stay in, so that it is all in place for when we can begin to travel again. Or maybe we want to learn something new, a language, a skill, even something that is a hobby, like a craft, or art activity. Why not take that free online course, that you’ve been putting off for ages, but now have time to do? There are loads of options, some of which can be found over at www.futurelearn.com
Start where you are, write a list of goals and tick them off as you achieve them. The smaller scale goals can also be working towards a larger scale one, as I said before. Just do what you can now, in this moment, and don’t whatever you do punish yourself if you don’t achieve them. Just take a step back, re-adjust, re-set, and keep on keeping on.
However, on the days when you feel like you just can’t keep on keeping on and you would rather stick a firework in your eye than set another goal, don’t. Because that’s fine too. Just allow yourself to do whatever feels best for you in that moment. No pressure. You can start again tomorrow (or the day after that).
So there they are, five tips to help you stay a little more in the moment, during Lockown numero-twomoro!
Hopefully, now, despite the way that our lives are constantly changing because of this horrible virus, you are feeling a little more positive about the things that you can do to make your life better. Because the one thing we have all gained right now is more time, so why not use it productively and to our own benefit? Why not use it to reach a state of Santosha?
As while the pandemic may be out of our hands to a large extent, our lives are still our own. Focus on the positives, however small, and never lost sight of your dreams. Or more importantly, your sense of wellbeing.
Finally, here are some resources that you may find helpful:
Have a great week.
Peace, Love N Lipgloss,
Kelly Louise Marshall
xoxo
]]>Written and illustrated by Deborah Anderson
As we go into our second lockdown, it may be easy to feel downhearted, especially in the lead up to Christmas. There’s no doubt that this next month onwards will be tough but we are too! We’ve coped with it once and we will do it again. This time, we all have the knowledge and experience that we didn’t have the first time round. The past year has been a steep learning curve for everyone and by now, we know ourselves a whole lot better. We probably know our triggers, our limits and our pick-me-ups when it comes to mental health and self-care. Your mind might spring to face masks and bubble baths but one that you might not have thought of is the simple act of getting dressed. It can help protect our mental health in this weird time, which is so important. Legendary street-style photographer, Bill Cunningham said “Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday” so when the everyday is so bizarre like this pandemic is, we need all the armour we can get!
Here’s why we should be getting all dressed up even when we’ve got no place to go:
Remember that fashion should be fun! When we were little, we gave our dolls the most weird and wonderful looks because we felt they could pull them off and they deserved to look great. We shouldn’t lose that in adulthood. We should dress ourselves with the love and care that we too deserve! I’m not saying that all our lockdown looks have to be catwalk-ready - as long as they make us feel good, then that’s all that matters! Even if no one is going to see you, dress to impress YOURSELF! Getting glammed up just once a week, gives us something to look forward to, which is definitely needed right now! In lockdown there’s no such thing as getting ready “for no reason” – the reason is to make you feel good!
If you haven’t got anything in your wardrobe that will do the job then don’t worry, we’ve got you! We’ve rounded up our favourite One Wear Freedom lockdown looks - all perfect for comfortably lounging around the house or having a random selfie photoshoot, or both! Renting clothes can be such a fun way to make your dress up sessions feel special! Sign up to One Wear Freedom here and get 10% off your first order!
Please remember that while getting dressed can improve your mood if you’re feeling a bit sluggish, it can feel like a mountain task when you’re really down. We are living in a very weird time so it’s normal to feel, well… weird! Whether you want to get glammed up or you want to have the odd pj day then that’s okay - there’s no right way to cope with a pandemic. Just do the best you can, look after yourself and keep talking to friends and family because High School Musical said it best, “we’re all in this together”.
Stay in touch! Follow us on Instagram and find the rest of our rent-able looks here. Subscribe and you’ll be the first to hear about all our exciting upcoming deals, events and our winter collection coming soon - keep those eyes peeled!
]]>by Deborah Anderson
Think back to work last week (- if you can - days are just rolling into one lately!) Was it happy? Productive? Rewarding? If so then, amazing – keep on doing what you’re doing! If not, you may want to read on. You might not have realised but last week was National Work Life Week and it seems like the perfect time to reflect on your current occupation. It’s normal to have aspects of your job that you don’t really like but when these are integrated into your company culture, it could be that you’re working in a toxic environment.
When you type ‘toxic’ into Google, the first result is (quite rightly) Britney Spears’ 2003 absolute banger. The second is the definition: causing unpleasant feelings; harmful or malicious. The definition may be vague and applying it to your job may seem tricky but, just like the definition says, it’s anything at work that is damaging or harmful to you. If you’re still not sure whether your workplace is toxic, we’ve put together a few key signs to look out for, as well as what to do if you spot them.
It’s so important to remember that you can still be victim to a toxic work environment even when you’re working from home – and we don’t mean the dirty looks your cat keeps giving you! You can still feel all of these things on a Zoom call or through an email! Just because you don’t have to deal with it face-to-face or all day, it doesn’t mean that your feelings are any less valid.
Spotted any of these signs in your office? It may feel like there’s nothing you can do to change the environment, and unfortunately, a lot of the time that can be the case as issues are often deep-rooted in the company culture. We hope you’re not too bummed out! At One Wear Freedom, we’re all about female empowerment so we want to ensure you that there are things you can do to alleviate your stress. You are not powerless! Even if you don’t have the power to change the situation, you do have control over how you process and deal with it.
Here are some tips on how to cope:
A toxic work environment can be soul-crushing but try not to let it get you down! Keep communicating with your friends and family - whether it’s for a rant or a cheer-up session, keep celebrating each of your wins, no matter how small and take every day as it comes. In the immortal words of Kris Jenner, “You’re doing amazing, sweetie!” Now that we’ve finished the serious stuff, Alexa, play Toxic by Britney Spears!
Loved this? Then go check out the other One Wear Freedom blog posts, as well as shop our new Autumn collection available to rent NOW!
]]>by Carina Gomes
The perfect body type. Do you fit the ideal? Maybe for a brief period of time, before societal expectations do a U-turn and change the ideal of beauty once again. Society has defined women's beauty for centuries, depicting what a woman "should" be in order to be attractive or desired. However, how can something so diverse be defined and narrowed down to one mere body type? The simple answer? It can't.
When we review the centuries of the "ideal female body" we are met with changes almost every decade or turn of the century. Once upon time, thin waist and narrow shoulders were a sign of beauty and regal elegance. Centuries later, it was those with a "buxom Bossom" who were society's gold and in the final decade of the 20th century it was the likes of Kate Moss that was the aspirations for millions of girls. Therefore, how can one person ever fulfil the idealism of female perfection, if said perfection is changed as frequently as we change our lightbulbs. It is simply impossible; and moreover it is an absurd requirement that no single individual could live up to (unless you have a plastic surgeon on hand to add and subtract at will).
That is why, as women, as human beings, we should embrace our bodies. The good, the bad and the downright weird. Because our differences are what make us unique; what make us beautiful. As women, we need to love ourselves and other women; rejecting the ridiculousness of society's expectations and owning our confidence. We are beautiful. We are strong. We are invisible.
So. F*** societal expectations. F*** perfection. F*** the "ideal woman". We are incredible. We are worthy. We are the future.
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T H U R S D A Y T H O U G H T S⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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All too often, whenever you think of something incredible, an idea that sparks pure joy + excitement in your heart, + you go to share this thought with others... you are met with phrases like “that’s crazy...”, “you’re insane...”, “are you sure about that...”, “why don’t you...” + in an instant, little pieces of that joy + excitement die + you start to question yourself...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Well DON’T....STOP right there + remember everyone is beautifully + wonderfully unique. No one will ever be able to see into your mind + know your heart’s truest desires. No one can crawl into your head + bear witness to your entire life experiences + how they have led you to this exact moment in time, nor be able to envision things the way you do.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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+ VICE VERSA (this is the same for everyone)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There are no pre-determined limits on how far our imaginations can go + it is up to us to determine how to turn what’s in our minds into our reality.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So the next time someone’s hits you up with an idea you think is “out of this world” - take a step back, recognise it as your own limitation, + see what more there is to it + how you can support that person’s dream to become real. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Imagine all the greatness that can come of helping to build each other up rather than tear each other down. 😉🙏🏽✨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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“Success” to so many people across the world today is defined by someone’s wealth, their accumulation of material things + social status.
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Unfortunately, the planet just cannot keep up with this ever increasing demand + we have seen incredible demonstrations of our damaging effects through increasing natural disasters + devastation world wide. 🌍
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As the global battle against Coronavirus rages, the planet has used this time to heal + re-build - and so can we.
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If we use this scary + painful time in the same way as Mother Nature, + put her first - then at last there can be harmony + an endless future between the Earth + it’s most intelligent beings where Success will be felt all around! 🙏🏽
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Here are 4 new + improved “Success” tips to remember: ⠀⠀⠀⠀
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1) Use it until it’s completely done ... then re-vamp it + use it + use it again! (+ the cycle gore on...) 🧵♻️
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2) Quality is better than quantity ... + make sure that “quality” involves environmental benefits 😉✅
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3) One (wo)mans trash is another (wo)mans treasure ... think twice before something hits the bin 💡
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And of course...
4) Join the #RentalRevolution with the UK’s 1st 100% eco-friendly clothing hire service for women - us - @OneWearFreedom! ✨💃🏽
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In the words of Camilla Eyring Kimball - ‘You do not find the happy life. You make it.’⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Self care is about healing and resonating love + happiness within yourself first, to be able to release it back into the world and the lives of those around you. 🦋🌍💚⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As most of us have been cooped up a while now and social media has become more + more dominant, it’s easy to draw judgement of others or even ourselves and think we are “not doing enough” or what they’re doing is “wrong”.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Everyone is on different journeys with different afflictions and perspectives. And it’s ok if your needs are different from someone else’s or even conflict with someone else’s. We are all beautifully and wonderfully unique - and that is something to celebrate but also be mindful of ✨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What are your self care tips?👀📝⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀