Lifestyle Blogger & Author
Typically, we only have two seasons in Houston: hot–and slightly less hot.
Well, it’s been slightly less hot, and I am here for it.
Took my husband & toddler to Blessington Farms (it’s about 30 minutes outside of Houston) for a day at the Pumpkin Patch, and we had the best time.
I may have been even more excited than Lily…
I know this might be a little weird, but I wake up excited on Monday mornings.
It’s this energized feeling of a fresh new week, new possibilities, and a new chance to make my dreams into a reality.
There’s also nothing quite as satisfying as drinking a warm cup of chai while writing my goals for the week out.
Here’s what I hope to accomplish this week:
2. Start Working out Daily
3. Begin Writing Daily
4. Pray 5x Per Day
5. Increase Enrollment at my Business
What are your goals? Share them below, so we can keep each other accountable.
The “Emotional Rollercoaster of Coronavirus” has impacted literally everyone, whether they have ever experienced mental health issues or not. Some days, I feel at peace with the pandemic, our “new normal,” and quarantine life. Other days, I put my head into a pillow and pray for it all to end.
I know I’m not alone. My friends and I keep checking in on each other with…”Which part of the roller coaster are you on today?”
That’s why I’ve put this guide together as advice on how you can manage your mental health during Covid 19.
I am a firm believer that therapy is beneficial for everyone, regardless of whether or not you are experiencing mild, moderate, or severe mental health issues. You always have room for self-exploration, growth, and healing, so if you haven’t already, trying out a therapy session or a couple of sessions in the context of the pandemic can be truly life-changing.
I’ve been going to therapy for about 2 years now, and at first, when I sat on the plush couch across from the therapist, I felt ashamed to be there. But two years later, I can say it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I’ve also tried couples counseling, and it’s been really beautiful for my marriage.
2. Form a “Quarantine Pod”
While some have opted to return back to their normal social life, many still choose to either stay quarantined or limit contact with who they see. If the pandemic wears on for another year or two, since there is currently no end in sight, then it can become extremely bleak and disheartening to be in complete social isolation.
That is why I believe creating “pods” of a few people you choose to see is healthy. If they are quarantined as well, it is extremely comforting, or everyone can get routinely checked from time to time to make sure they’re not infected. Similarly, you can choose to create a pod of people who are open to backyard hangouts where everyone wears masks and sits at 6 feet apart. If that’s still uncomfortable, you can use Zoom to hangout.
Whatever your preference with how intensely you are quarantining, maintaining a social life is critical to sanity.
3. Get a Pet
I adopted a Giant Flemish Rabbit at the start of the pandemic, and he brought me so much joy over the last few months. Unfortunately, he passed away due to what was most likely a genetic defect, but I still think a) many animals could use a loving home during these times and b) caring for an animal is emotionally up-lifting.
4. Start a Passion Project
You know that “thing you always wanted to do but couldn’t because you never had time…?
Well, now you have time, so let the excuses fall to the wayside. It’s time to commit to that project you’ve always wanted to do, whether it is a form of art, a sport, a side hustle, or hobby. It’s also a great time to learn something new. The progress and growth that you experience can make the “new normal of 2020” almost feel worth it.
For me, TikTok became my passion project. I began creating micro-stories on TikTok about my family, and in less than 6 months, I grew to over 100,000 followers. Along with that milestone, I published a children’s book.
5. Go on a Road Trip
While flying can still feel extremely risky, road trips are a safer way to travel. You can go camping and pitch a tent to play it safe. We’ve been camping all over Texas since COVID 19 started, but we also have been renting AirBnBs. We’ve been opting for smaller rentals that are easier to disinfect. We also always make sure to pack our own bedding.
Having these smaller trips to look forward to has honestly kept me sane. This summer, we’ve visited San Antonio, Austin, Wimberely, Port Aransas, and Gulf Shores. You can follow our travel adventures on Instagram.
6. Read Self Help Books
One of the best things I ever did in my life was to start to read more nonfiction, especially self help books. Download Kindle, so you can carry a virtual library in your pocket. If you don’t like to read, download Audible and listen on the go. You can even 2x or 3x the speed, so you can get through books quickly. If you’re not into any of the above, then download GetAbstract. It does require a paid subscription, but you can read through book summaries where the most important points are all listed out in a bite-sized manner. It’s so quick and easy to consume.
Some of my favorites include “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” “The Alchemist,” “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” “Think and Grow Rich,” and “Tools of Titans.”
7. Start Meditating
I used to think meditation was only for monks. Of course I’d heard of the benefits, but it sounded like a waste of time. I was extremely wrong. I began with guided meditations for a couple minutes a day. You can YouTube “Guided Meditations.” My personal favorite channel to follow is Michael Sealey on YouTube. His mixture of guided meditation and self hypnosis is truly life changing.
Now, I use a device called Muse to help me practice my meditation. It uses the sound of rain to let me know when my mind is clear versus when my thoughts are all over the place. It’s a truly phenomenal device, and I recommend it for those that are just beginning with their meditation practice.
Of course, a more seasoned meditator won’t need anything more than a comfortable place to sit.
8. Setup a Home Gym
I’ve always hated driving to the gym. The time it takes to get ready, drive, get checked in, and begin working out always led me to be inconsistent with working out. I setup a home gym RIGHT before the pandemic hit, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in 2020.
I purchased something called the Mirror, which is a gorgeous, nearly-invisible home gym setup, where I can cast all types of workout classes, including cardio, dance, yoga, pilates, and more. It even includes meditation classes!
It does require a few pieces of physical equipment, such as weights, jump ropes, resistance bands, and more. I’ve put together a list to make it easier for you to get the essentials.
9. Try Essential Oils
I may be a bit of an oil-diffusing addict. It helps my mood, makes me feel healthier, and improves the scent of my home. I also love introducing my baby girl to the various scents. If you’ve never tried essential oils, it’s worth trying it at least once.
My go-to scents are lavender, orange, and lemongrass. Here’s the diffuser I use, and here’s the variety pack of oils that I have been using for about a year now (and I still have a LOT left).
10. Create a “COVID 19” Journal
If you follow me on Facebook, you know that I post one thing a day that makes me happy. It has become an online journal for me to catalog all the good things that happen to me and has helped me re-wire my brain for positivity. If you don’t want a journal that’s “public,” simply keep a private journal, album, blog, etc. where you can make a list of the things that you’re grateful for everyday.
It seems simple, but I was experiencing severe postpartum depression when I began this practice. I can now say with confidence that I have never been happier.
What else would you add to this list?
Sincerely, Sania
Let us take a moment of silence for those that lost their life on 9/11.
Let us also take a moment of silence for those that lost their life as a result of 9/11.
I never expected to cause as much controversy as I did with my TikTok video, which discussed the backlash Muslim-Americans experienced post September 11th, but it clearly caused a reaction.
Some were supportive of Muslims and my message, many questioned why I chose 9/11 to discuss this topic instead of solely focusing on the deceased victims, and some hurled racist remarks with an incredulous degree of boldness.
Worse was the amount of “likes” those racist comments received.
I had to take a step away from social media after reading some of the hateful messages, but essentially, I was told “Muslims aren’t American” and “go back home.”
Well, for me—home is Houston, Texas. I was born & raised in Houston, and I have never moved away.
I was in 5th grade when the attacks took place on 9/11, and I’ve been apologizing for my religion & culture since that day. I’ve carried (along with other Muslims & Sikhs) the weight of a crime I did not commit, and to this day, I worry when discussing my religion openly.
The actions of a few do not define the whole. As much as the media wants to smear the image of Islam, I stand by the statement that it is a religion of peace.
Spend a day with any devout Muslim & you’ll see.
Sincerely,
Sania Khiljee
I have been subscribed to Lovevery ever since Lily was an infant. For us, sensory play boxes hold a special meaning, because before my daughter was born, we actually co-founded a company called Bumble Brain Box, which was a subscription box for baby brain development. We sold the business due to some health issues I was facing at the time, but now we love experiencing as many sensory play boxes with Lily as we can. We’ve tried many of them, including Koala Crate and will do a comparison in a separate post.
Now, let’s get to the box!
Lily loved “unboxing” the items, and we will share each learning toy below.
2. Shapes Puzzle
3. Car Ramp
4. Fuzzy Bug Shrub
5. Simon Says Cube
6. Organic Cotton Ball
7. Books
8. Wooden Compact Mirror
9. Playthings Storage Box
10. Mouse in a Sack
11. Drawstring Bag
Review
While this hasn’t been our favorite box (the 12-15 month box was epic), Lily was EXTREMELY stimulated by the contents of this month’s Lovevery box. She’s older now and appreciates independent play a lot more, and as her mother, it gives me so much joy to watch her explore each of the toys on her own. I revel in her reactions.
She absolutely adored the car ramp, the fuzzy bug shrub, the puzzle, and the beads. She loved the books too, of course. My baby girl loves to read, which is awesome because her mama is a children’s book author.
What I appreciate most about the box, though, is the guide that comes with it. The guide book includes monthly milestones, tips for parents to encourage their little one’s development, instructions on how to play with each item, and alternate activity ideas to stimulate your child.
This is all I do for work. I own a preschool, after all, but that doesn’t mean I “know it all.” I absolutely adore how well-thought out this product is, and I’ll continue to enjoy it with Lily until she outgrows it.
Expensive, yes? Worth the price? I think so.
You can get the box here.
We went all out for this date and got a cabin in the woods via Getaway House (they have locations in several cities), but you can do this at home in your backyard. If you end up doing it at home, it would be fun to climb onto the rooftop (if it’s safe) and use the Star Chart app (Free on App Store) to go stargazing. We then ended the night with some card games and Scattergories with candlelight.
Love, Sania
Who are you?
Hey, this is Sania Khiljee, a lifestyle blogger @SaniaKhiljee across all social media platforms, the author of “Brown Girls are Beautiful” on Amazon, and a serial entrepreneur. I’ve been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc, HuffPost, and more. I’ve built a 7 figure business, amassed over 1 million followers, co-authored a bestselling book, and spoken on stages across the country. More importantly, I’m a Muslim, wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend.
What is this blog About?
This blog features stories and lifestyle posts about my family. The conversation on this site will include my books, businesses, the wife life, motherhood, family, mental health, style, play date ideas, date nights, food, travel, fitness, and more.
What is your book about?
“Brown Girls are Beautiful” is a children’s book. Layla, a brown girl, becomes self-conscious of playing in the sun after hearing another child make a comment about her dark skin color. Layla’s mother then takes her daughter on a journey of self-love. This book is a perfect gift for children to teach diversity.
Where can I buy the book?
Amazon. Click the link here to get it
Do you have a lifestyle shop?
Yes, check it out on my Shop Page
How Can I follow you on social media?
All my social media links are @SaniaKhiljee. Click here to follow
How do I contact Sania Khiljee? (Collabs, Questions, Business Partnerships, Etc.)
Please email sania@loserstolegends.com
“A negative mind can never give you a positive life.” -Anonymous
3 months ago, I would wake up in the middle of the night from panic attacks. My mind was racked with worry. I constantly accounted for negative “what if” scenarios…
All day, every day, I assumed the worst would happen. I thought I had to be prepared, but here’s the thing: the worries I had were affecting me as if they had already happened.
My body responded as if all my fears were real, and I was constantly going in and out of doctors offices trying to understand why my back and neck was in so much pain. I was 26. This shouldn’t have been happening, but it was. A slow deterioration of mind, body, and soul.
Skip ahead to the end of summer, and I am happier than I’ve ever been…
What changed?
Nothing did, except for my mindset. I decided to retrain my mind for positivity and emotional resilience. I was tired of accounting for all the worst case scenarios. Instead, I wanted to envision all the best things that could happen instead, and let that optimism energize me. My dreams, goals, hopes, and passion literally started to fuel me, and things just started to work out.
Napoleon Hill states in “Think and Grow Rich” that positive emotions are the key to a successful life–and must be strengthened.
So how did I go about eliminating negativity from my life? I followed these 4 steps.
1.Replace a negative thought with a positive one immediately
As soon as a negative thought entered my mind, I instantly either blocked it or reframed it into a positive thought. For example, in tough situations, I would begin to think, “Why did this happen to me?” Then, I would instantly reframe to ask instead, “What can I learn from this? How can I use this situation to grow?” It changed my view of obstacles. Instead of seeing them as a road block, I now see them as an opportunity for development.
2.I surrounded myself with positive people.
Energy is contagious. There is a popular saying that “you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.” Despite no longer being in high school, I had a few people that brought unnecessary drama into my life. By cutting them out and any one else that was a source of negative energy, I found I was naturally more cheerful and optimistic. Now, I feel out someone’s energy when I meet them. Are they positive? How do I feel when I’m around them? I am careful about who I let affect my vibes.
3.I filled my day with positive and motivational talks, books, and exercises
Self-learning, in my opinion, should never end, but instead of learning endlessly about entrepreneurship and marketing like I normally did, I took time to learn more about self care and psychology. I filled my days with content related to happiness, and as a result, I was more conscious of what it took to be happy and what would permit me from feeling positive. Having an almost clinical awareness of this allowed me to be a lot more careful in what thoughts I had–and ultimately, how I felt.
4.I learned that positivity is not a result of a positive outcome. It’s the other way around.
Positive people aren’t the way they are because of positive outcomes. Positive outcomes are the result of the actions of positive people. Even the most optimistic people face challenge and hardship, but when they hold onto faith that they will overcome it, solutions tend to unfold eventually.
What are some things you do to cultivate a positive mindset? Comment below & subscribe to the blog for more self development.
Dr. Larry Senn, the founder of Senn Delaney, a culture-shaping firm, coined the idea of the “mood elevator.” It is essentially a dashboard for human emotion. It starts at the top with gratitude and then moves down to depressed. The quality of your thinking improves as you go higher on the mood elevator, states Senn, and he gives us practical tips on how to elevate our moods and thus, our life.
Our whole life we’re asked, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” As soon as we graduate school, we’re asked, “What do you do?’
It feels like a test every time someone asks me what I do for a living as if my worth as a being is tied to my professional title.
I love being an entrepreneur and a blogger. I’m proud to say that I’ve found my passion, and I’m pursuing it every single day…
But what about those that haven’t quite figured it out yet? Why don’t we keep asking them what they want to be? Why do we imply that once you’re out of school, it’s too late?
It’s never too late.
“At 23…JK Rowling was broke. Tina Fey was working at the YMCA. Oprah had just been fired as a TV reporter, and Walt Disney had just declared bankruptcy.” Continue reading “What do You Want to do as You Grow Up?”