Hi friends! This first post has been a long time coming. I have so many dreams for this space. I picked the name Oh That’s Fun because I am on a mission to make life fun and joyful for myself and my family. But I also want to keep it real and authentic here.

I started blogging in the early 2010’s because I needed an outlet and a hobby just for me. I was a single first time mom dealing with grief, loss, and trauma. I felt like I had lost myself. My blog was so special to me, but without meaning to I stepped away and then I struggled to get back to my passion.

As a mother I know it is easy to lose your sense of self when you are prioritizing caring for everyone else. I have been feeling that way for too long. I don’t have it all figured out, but there are some things I have been working on implementing that have helped me, and I really hope this list helps you too. Don’t feel like you have to do it all, especially not all at once. Take what makes sense for you in your current season, and work on that little by little.

1. Write it out. Get your thoughts out of your head and on paper. This could be journaling, making lists, using a planner to keep yourself on track, etc. When your thoughts are spiraling, writing out what you’re thinking and feeling can be so therapeutic. If you are struggling to take action or have so much to do that you don’t know where to start, make yourself a list and pick a starting point.

2. Move your body. You don’t have to run a marathon or spend hours in the gym. Take a 10 minute walk. Start with 5 if you have to. If you don’t have a safe space to walk or a treadmill, walk in place. I do that a lot! Getting active helps release stress and tension and can help you think clearer. You’ll sleep better too!

3. Eat something that makes you feel good. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the world’s healthiest meal. Pick something to fuel your body that will leave you feeling refreshed and nourished. For me, that is usually fruit like raspberries or melon, and a salad. Chicken Caesar salad has been my go to lately.

4. Practice self care. If you have been really down and caring for yourself has not been a priority, it’s okay. It’s not too late to start. Take a refreshing shower and brush out your hair. If you have the energy, you can do extras like face masks and conditioning treatments, but it’s okay to stick with the basics!

5. Do hard things one step at a time. If you have a few phone calls to make, bills to pay, literally anything you are dreading – just do it one step at a time. Make the first phone call. Pay the first bill. Schedule that dentist appointment! Sometimes it can be so overwhelming thinking of all the hard things you have to do, but if you just take the first step and do it one hard thing at a time, you will not only be proud of your progress, you will gain the confidence to keep going.

6. Do something that brings you joy. Maybe for you this will look like breaking up harder tasks with some fun in between, or doing something you enjoy to unwind at the end of the day. Having a hobby and an outlet is not only fun, it’s important for your mental and emotional wellbeing! I have been enjoying loom knitting, cross stitch, reading, and playing Animal Crossing and Dreamlight Valley lately. I’m also blogging again, and that brings me so much joy too!

7. Spend time with God. We were not made to go it alone. Life can be so crushingly hard at times. Leaning on God has gotten me through many things that I just did not think I could handle. Because I know God cares about me and loves me, I have His strength to keep me going. I am not strong enough on my own. Praying has brought me so much clarity to situations I could not makes sense of. God has helped me to have compassion and forgiveness for people I never thought I could forgive or think of kindly again. Spending time with God can give you the perspective you need to get through hard times.

8. Set an alarm. Getting up at a decent time can help you accomplish more. Having a regular sleep and wake cycle will actually help you sleep better and feel better! Setting alarms or timers can help with productivity and time management too. Instead of mindlessly scrolling social media only to realize its been two hours, set a timer for 5 minutes. I set timers when I’m cleaning. If I have a lot to do and I’m overwhelmed, I set a timer and just focus on the next 30 minutes and how much I can get done in that time. Then I set a timer for my break so that I will actually get back up and get more done instead of stopping for hours. Alarms help keep me in check and on track with how I want to spend my time.

9. Get outside. Fresh air and sunshine are something most of us could definitely use more of! It’s good for your mind and body. We are doing the 1000 Hours Outside challenge started by Ginny Yurich. She is a wealth of knowledge. On the 1000 Hours Outside website, Instagram, and Podcast, Ginny shares insights into what those benefits are and how to achieve them.

10. Stay hydrated. I am so guilty of not drinking enough water. We all know hydration is important, but we keep reaching for Redbulls and iced coffees. At least I do! You can’t feel your best if you’re dehydrated, and if you don’t feel your best physically it’s going to affect everything from your mood to your interactions with others to your body’s functions on a cellular level.

I certainly don’t know how to fix everything, but if you haven’t been feeling like your best self lately and you just don’t know where to start to get back on track, this is everything I am currently doing to try to get myself out of a rut right now. If you know of any other good tips please leave them for me in the comments!