October Stressors and Cozy Fall Vibes

With the holidays just around the corner, I have been thinking about traditions and what I would like to do for my blog. I want to start a tradition for my blog. I was thinking having a monthly review would be a great way for me to take a step back and be grateful, or learn a few things. It also prompts me to take a breath and reflect. This is something I would like to bring in my life more and what better way to do this than with a new blog tradition! Why not start with the October Stressors and the Cozy Fall Vibes I brought into my home!

October Stressors

Miscarriage & Health

When I sit back and think about this month, there was an unusually large amount of stress for me. It was pregnancy loss awareness month which got me right in the feels. In September, I experienced a loss after 14 months of trying to conceive. It was a doozy. In the 14 months, I have been learning a lot about myself and my body. I have a newish hypothyroidism diagnosis and I have been learning so much about my thyroid and how I can make many changes to my diet that impact my hormones. All of these things play into each other and I’ll go more in-depth about my fertility/hypothyroidism journey at a later date (thank you for respecting that).

Neighbors

Have you ever had a tree that is leaning over into your neighbor’s yard and they keep asking you when you’re going to cut it down? My neighbor has asked us many times over the last 3 years to cut this tree down. If the tree were to fall…it would fall on her house. When it is windy and snowing I do worry about it in the winter. The heavy snow on it and on windy days get me cringing and keep me up at night.

I decided just to go for it and cut it down. I approached her about seriously doing it and all of a sudden she backpedaled. That didn’t stop me because I really think it is a safety concern and it’s on my property so I got it cut down. I do not like cutting down trees for no reason…. I will plant 2 or 3 in its place! This was a financial hit I did not want to have, but I believe it was due.

Perfectionist Attitudes

My job has been really busy lately, so I have been working on weekends just to keep up. Prepping for classes takes a lot of time as I like to make sure all my resources are up to date and I like to add some activity into the classroom. I believe a lot of learning can come from dialogue between students. Putting a lot of stress on myself to be perfect is a bad people-pleasing habit I developed and that is not at all what I would like for myself. I need to do some work here with my stress management. 

Cozy Fall Vibes

Acupuncture

Something exciting that happened this month was my first acupuncture appointment. I tried it despite my strong dislike of needles. I went in with so many preconceived ideas that I realized I had no business having because I really didn’t know what it was about. It’s not a needle that goes into your body! It is a flexible pin. I felt lighter and different when I was finished. I handled myself well despite my dislike of needles. I’ll definitely do it again. 

Favorite Purchases

My favorite purchase this month was this Meyers lavender candle. I like to have a lavender-scented candle or essential oil diffuser in the bedroom to add to the cozy feeling. It makes my bedroom welcoming and warm. Plus… lavender is said to help with sleep. This is the link (no I do not earn a commission). 

I also picked up some Turkish cotton hand and dish towels from a local zero-waste shop. They are pretty and fit the vibe I want in my kitchen. I am not a season hand towel type of gal. I love a good-quality all-season hand towel! This reminds me that my kitchen is due for a facelift. Maybe an upcoming project!

Moving Forward

I would like to try completing a no-stress in November. This means delegating, meditating, and taking time for myself. I learned early in nursing school that stress increases cortisol levels, and to me, a no-stress November also includes lowering my own cortisol levels. For me, this means adequate sleep, a healthy diet, no caffeine, exercise, and relaxation techniques. These are all things I should implement to help my fertility. My husband has been asked to hide the Halloween candy from me because I have no willpower and sugar is no good for me!  

What are you bringing forward in your life from October? What is your focus going to be in November? I would love to hear, comment below!