Dry Shampoo

Let’s face it: sometimes, there just is no time for the rigmarole of washing, conditioning, drying, and styling hair. Plus, too much washing can leave you with dried out locks, which is a problem all of its own. As someone who highlights but has an oilier scalp, dry shampoo has been a time-saving beauty hack that I can’t live without.

On mornings that I *just can’t*, I throw on a shower cap, do a quick scrub of my body, then let dry shampoo handle my hair. Just be sure not to overuse it because it can cause other problems like itching, flaking, and irritation.

Protect Your Hair Overnight

Curly and wavy girls are no strangers to sleeping caps and buffs, but even girls with straight hair can benefit from sleep protection to preserve a blowout. If you prefer to be unrestricted, a loose braid or pineapple can work well, too.

Simplify Your Skincare

At one point, I was using a cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, and moisturizer in the mornings. What can I say? I’m a product junkie. However, one visit to my trusty aesthetician later, and I had simplified my morning routine down to just cleanser and sunscreen. I did add in a serum to my nighttime regimen, but that wasn’t too much of a bother.

We are inundated with product recommendations from everywhere these days: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, ads, magazines, and on and on. Make sure that you’re not just using a product because your fave beauty guru swears by it.

This is one of my favorite time-saving beauty hacks, simply because it gave me a ton of time back in my mornings. I would, however, recommend talking to your dermatologist or aesthetician (if you have one) before making any major changes to your routine.

Do a Quick Smoky Eye

No time for applying and blending and applying and blending until you’ve got the perfect smoky eye? No problem. For a quick smoky eye, apply eyeliner, then use an eyeliner brush or your finger to smudge the liner upwards (concentrating on the outer corner).

Keep Makeup Wipes by Your Bed

Listen, I highly recommend that everyone wash their face before bed. As someone who has always struggled with my skin, sleeping in makeup was never an option. Plus, it gets your bedsheets all gross and, more seriously, can cause eye infections.

So if you’re someone who finds yourself frequently waking up in last night’s makeup, try keeping wipes by your bed. Even if you’re super exhausted, it doesn’t take too much effort to give everything a good wipe down. While this shouldn’t be substituted for actually washing your face, it’ll do in a pinch.

Let Your Lipstick Do Double Duty

When you’re trying to get out the door, your lipstick can serve two (or even three purposes). Swipe a little bit on your cheeks as a blush, and even dot a little bit on your eyelids for a bit of subtle color. Be sure to blend well!

Only Use What You Need

As in, only apply makeup where you really need it. For me, this is usually concealer and mascara, but do what works for you!

Use Concealer As an Eyeshadow Primer

Are primers magical? Yes. Do I always have time to put on under eye primer, face primer, and eyeshadow primer? Hell, no. Another of my time-saving beauty hacks is to use concealer as an eyeshadow primer. Or if I don’t feel like putting on a full shadow, I’ll use the concealer to just brighten up the skin on my eyelids. As I’ve aged and my skin has thinned, everything around my eyes has become darker, so this little lift can make a huge difference.

Use Your Sunscreen as Moisturizer

There are plenty of great sunscreens out there, like Coola’s Classic Face Sunscreen, does a great job of hydrating while providing an SPF of 50. My combination skin loves this oil-free formula, especially in the summer, but it works in the winter as well.

Moisturize in the Shower

Finding a great body oil can be a huge time-saving beauty hack, especially if it can be used in the shower. The Shea Shower Oil by L’Occitane is a favorite of mine. There are in-shower lotions that will also do the trick! They also smell amazing.

Apply Masks in the Bath

If you’re partial to baths, why not make your soaking time productive? Apply a good hair mask like Moroccanoil’s Intense Hydrating Mask and a face mask (I like the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask) and make your relaxing soak into a spa treatment.

Don’t Wait on Your Conditioner

As someone who doesn’t like to linger in the shower, I find that waiting the requisite three to five minutes on some conditioners feels like an eternity. However, I’ve also found that those three to five minutes aren’t always necessary, especially if I’m using a weekly hair mask.

Unline While You Dine

Okay, “unline” isn’t a word. What I’m talking about here is using eye gel patches while you have breakfast. You’ll get in the most important meal of the day, while prepping your eyes to look great (whether you’re using makeup or not).

Set Your Nails in Ice Water

If you enjoy home manicures but hate waiting for your nails to dry, try dipping your hands in ice water. I was skeptical about this one, and while it doesn’t fully “set” your nails, it does speed up the process. Use this trick after you apply your top coat. Don’t have time for a soak? Some people swear by spraying aerosol hairspray on their fresh manis for a quicker alternative.

What are your favorite time-saving beauty hacks? Leave a comment or drop me a note and let me know!

The post The Absolute Best Time-Saving Beauty Hacks appeared first on Beauty Chaos.

Be Nice

To yourself, that is. Think about your friends — would you ever say even half of the negative things to them that you say to yourself? Probably not. When negative thoughts about yourself start to run rampant, try thinking of talking to yourself like talking to a friend. What sometimes works for me is to think of talking to my inner child (because we’re all just scared kids on the inside, right?). You don’t want to hurt that kid or that friend. You want to lift them up. Do yourself the same kindness.

Focus on Your Strengths

If your self-esteem is tanking because you’re failing at something, try focusing on a different thing that you’re good at for a while. Remind your mind and body that you are not failing, it’s just a moment, and there are plenty of things that you’re amazing at. Once you’re feeling better, go back to the challenge and take a run at it with a better mindset. Even if you don’t succeed, you’ll feel better.

Build a Good Network

Studies continuously prove that humans do better in life with a good support system. Your friends and family want to see you succeed (and if they don’t, find new supporters). If you’re feeling down on your self-worth and self-esteem, find one of your champions and chat with them for a bit. They love you. They’ll remind you why you’re awesome. Hopefully, the message will sink in ;).

Stop Apologizing

Everyone messes up. It is okay. Making a mistake is not a character flaw, it’s human. Don’t apologize for being who you are.

Draw Boundaries

Individuals who struggle with their self-esteem tend to say yes to other people, even if they don’t want to. Learn to say no to anything that will put you in a bad headspace or make you feel angry, sad, resentful, or burdened. It may be hard at first, but you’ll feel better about yourself in the long run.

Write in a Journal

Journaling is private, for you and only you. It’s where you’re allowed to say whatever you want about whatever you want. Sometimes it’s hard to admit that you’re having feelings of self-doubt, low self-worth, and overall ickiness. Journaling allows you to get those feelings out without having to confess any secrets to another person.

Be YOU

We all wear a mask to some extent in our daily lives (otherwise, would anyone have a job?). However, it’s important to allow the real you to shine through, even if that’s just with your friends. You are good enough. The real you is good enough. And if someone doesn’t like it, remind yourself that you don’t like everyone, either. As long as you’re being yourself, that’s all anyone can ask for.

Help Others

Volunteering, or just helping out someone who needs it, is a great way to make a difference in the world. Even something small, like helping an elderly neighbor with a task or buying someone’s drink behind you in line at Starbucks, can go a long way. You’ll do some good and also remind yourself that your actions are important.

Be Present

We spend a lot of time dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Instead of focusing on the dumb thing you said in fourth grade (trust me, these things keep me awake at night too!) or worrying about tomorrow’s workload, try to be present in the moment. Enjoy what’s happening right here, right now, and let the rest go.

Clean House (Figuratively and Literally)

Literally: Clean your space. Everyone feels better in a clean space. Declutter, hire someone if you want, just get your home looking and feeling its best. Figuratively: Clean your life of people and things that aren’t contributing to your happiness. Being the best version of yourself means surrounding yourself with people who love you and opportunities that give you a chance to shine.

The post How to Banish Low Self-Esteem and Self-Worth appeared first on Beauty Chaos.

Reframe Your “Failures”

Nelson Mandela famously said, “I never lose. I either win or I learn.” Were truer words ever spoken? It’s okay to try and not succeed. Most successful people — whether that’s in business, relationships, or other areas of life — fail multiple times before they achieve success.

What’s important is your mindset. If you reframe your failures as a learning opportunity, you have the chance to change your mindset about failure. Instead of berating yourself, you will comes to see every “failure” as a win because it brought you experience (hopefully).

Face Your Fears

After a failure, have you ever had the thought, “Well, I’m never trying that again”? The first time I bombed at standup, I decided I would never get onstage again. (Spoiler alert: I did.) The next time I got up, I didn’t bomb, and it left a better taste in my mouth.

No one is awesome at everything 100 percent of the time. But the people who succeed face their fear of failure head on and keep battling it until they win. If a fear of failing is holding you back, I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but you need to run head on into that fear. Show it who’s boss and find success through failure.

Don’t Give Up

Again, it can be tempting to just jump ship after a perceived failure. But giving up never got anyone what they wanted. Focus on your attitude about what you’re doing. Is it something you really want? Then don’t let setbacks stop you. Celebrate small steps. And don’t give up until you’ve gotten where you want to go.

Figure out the Cause

Did you fail because you weren’t prepared enough? Or was it because you were so scared you self-sabotaged? Or maybe your timing wasn’t great. Most successful people will tell you that timing plays an enormous role in success.

If you can, step back and analyze the failure. Was there something you could have done differently? Analyzing a failure can help establish some distance, so you can view it objectively and hopefully remove some of the bad feelings there.

Take a Pause

It can be hard to go right back into trying something after you’ve experienced a loss. Be kind to yourself and, if necessary, take a break. I cannot tell you how many times a year I quit something after a setback (writing, acting, comedy, whatever), and end up missing it in a few weeks. Distance can create perspective, allow you to process, and dive back in when you’re ready.

Own Your Part, But Don’t Lower Your Goals

This may take some distance (see last paragraph), but look at your situation honestly and ask yourself what part you played in the failure. Odds are there is something you could do differently to change the outcome. That being said, don’t dull your ambitions just because you don’t achieve something the first, fourth, tenth, or hundredth time. If you really want it, keep your eyes on your endgame and make it happen.

What are some of your strategies to succeed by focusing on failure? Leave me a comment or shoot me a note and let me know!

The post How to Succeed by Focusing on Failure appeared first on Beauty Chaos.

Akismet

Spammers loooove to leave messages on websites. If you don’t have a good filter in place, you could end up with some weird stuff in your comments section. Akismet is awesome because it scans comments, filters the ones it thinks are spam (which they usually are), and quarantines those comments for review. Since Akismet doesn’t automatically delete anything, you’re always in control of what is and is not going up on your site.

Wordfence

My domain provider has an automatically installed security program, but I prefer Wordfence over anything else. I have had my site hacked and lost everything and it sucked. Wordfence is easy to use, offers super strong security, sends daily updates, offers realtime monitoring, and allows you to manually block any IP address that you don’t want accessing your site.

Yoast SEO

I’ll admit it – SEO is not my forte. No matter how many classes I take or books I read on the topic, my brain just will not retain all the information I need to know. Yoast SEO works perfectly for me, because it analyzes the SEO of each post, helps you pick keywords, tracks the characters in meta descriptions, and more. If you’re not an SEO expert, this plugin is a must-have.

W3 Total Cache

In order for users to have an optimal experience on your website, everything needs to load fast. This is where caching plugins help tremendously. W3 increases loading speed, which makes the user experience much better.

Really Simple SSL

While in the past, having an https protocol was optional, now it’s practically mandatory. But embedding SSL code into a website can be complicated. With Really Simple SSL, the plugin does it for you while optimizing security and performance.

Pretty Links

If you monetize your blog or use affiliate links, Pretty Links is a great way to keep track of your links. It also allows you to create short links that use your URL instead of alternate shortened links, so you can maintain brand consistency. There’s a free version or, if you’re more advanced, a Pro option that has more bells and whistles.

XML Sitemaps

While some domain managers come with built-in XML sitemap help, others don’t offer any XML features. For websites to be properly indexed on Google, it’s important to have a proper XML sitemap that Google can read. This plugin maintains your sitemap and updates Google, Yahoo, and Bing when there are changes to your site.

Monarch

One of the fastest ways to reach readers is through shares on social media. Monarch is one of the must-have WordPress plugins because it allows you to add sharing buttons to your posts. You can choose from up to 20 social media platforms including Pinterest, X, and Instagram, and you can also designate where on the page you’d like the buttons to live.

SiteKit by Google

SiteKit by Google wins the final spot in the list, especially if you’re looking to display Google Ads on your posts. The plugin seamlessly integrates Google services (including Search Console, AdSense, Insights, and Analytics) into your site. SiteKit is easy to install, displays a dashboard with traffic, search queries, and more, and is simple to navigate.

Do you have other must-have WordPress plugins that you swear by? Leave a comment and let me know!

The post 9 Must Have WordPress Plugins for Successful Bloggers appeared first on Beauty Chaos.

Plaine Products Rosemary Mint Vanilla Shampoo and Conditioner

Plaine Products is dedicated to trying to help solve the plastic crisis that is happening on our planet. Their hair products come in aluminum containers, which can be rinsed out and shipped back with a return label that they provide.

In addition to being planet-friendly, their products work beautifully. My hair is incredibly healthy because of the gentleness of their shampoo and the light, yet moisturizing conditioner. Their products are on the pricey side ($32), but you get a discount if you subscribe. And honestly, I would pay that much for hair products anyway, so not using plastic is a win-win for me.

Plaine Products also offers hair gel, body wash, lotion (which I have in several rooms of my house), travel sizes, and more.

Moroccanoil Treatment Hair Oil

For me, this is an oldie but a goodie. I started using Moroccanoil Treatment Hair Oil years ago, then stopped for a while. Once I started highlighting my hair again, this stuff became one of my current hair obsessions again.

I use Moroccanoil every time I wash my hair, whether I’m going to do a blowout or not, just to prevent split ends. It makes a huge difference when I blow dry, though. Before I started using it again, my hair would get super tangly during the blow dry process. Now, I can get a brush through easily.

Moroccanoil Root Boost

My hair has its unique challenges, one of them being that the individual strands are fine, but I have a lot of them. Therefore, I struggle with volume. Moroccanoil’s Root Boost offers an easy solution to this problem.

Before drying, I spray the root boost on just my roots. In addition to pumping up the volume, the spray also prolongs the life of my blowout for about a day more than usual (I wash my hair every two to three days).

Olaplex No. 3 Hair Repair Perfector

If ever there was a hair obsession for me, this is it. The Olaplex No. 3 Hair Repair Perfector is a pre-shampoo treatment that builds the bonds in hair and helps reduce breakage and improve hair health.

The instructions say to use the treatment weekly, but I use it every other week and alternate with a moisturizing hair mask on the off weeks. I can’t use both on the same day or my hair gets super limp. You can leave the mask on for as long as you like, but I usually do between 15 minutes and an hour for optimum results.

Bumble & Bumble Thickening Spray

Bumble & Bumble’s Thickening Spray has been a favorite of mine since I was in college 150 years ago. You can pick this up at Sephora, Ulta, or even drugstores (I believe).

As I’ve mentioned, my hair is fine, so a volumizer is an absolute must. I apply this after I put on the Root Boost and work it through the length of my hair before blow drying. Bumble & Bumble stylists call this their “secret weapon” because it gives volume without feeling sticky, and I 100% agree.

I will also use this spray if I’m going to put some waves in my hair with a curling iron on day two, and it helps my hair hold the curl.

The post Current Obsessions: Hair Edition appeared first on Beauty Chaos.

Hyaluronic Acid

You know the fillers that people have injected into their face? Well, hyaluronic acid is one of the components in some of the most popular fillers on the market. However, if needles don’t spark joy, or if you don’t have a few thousand dollars to drop on injectables, the topical version is powerful as well.

By increasing the moisture content in your skin, hyaluronic acid has demonstrated that it can reduce wrinkles, plump up your skin to help with sagging, and speed up wound healing. As Derek Zoolander said, “Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty,” and hyaluronic acid proves that.

Whether you prefer a serum, moisturizer, or even a vitamin, there is no shortage of HA products on the market. If you’re looking for something splurge-worthy, the Hyaluronic Serum by Dr. Laura Devgan has hundreds of five-star reviews. The Ordinary has a more wallet-friendly option with their HA 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum.

Retinol

Most of us who have spent decades searching for the best skincare products for problem skin are familiar with prescription retinoid products like Retin-A. However, in recent years, retinols have become increasingly available in OTC formulations.

Retinols are an OTC version of retinoids. In a nutshell, they work to neutralize free radicals in the middle layer of your skin, leaving you with smaller pores, reduced wrinkles, and more even skin texture. Whether in the form of a Vitamin A serum or topical cream, retinols have gained OTC traction in the last few years.

Algenist’s Green Microalgae Retinol + Regenerating Serum gets rave reviews, with users stating that it works even for those sensitive to retinol. On the slightly less expensive side, The INKEY List has a highly rated Retinol Fine Lines and Wrinkles Serum.

Vitamin C

Touted for its antioxidant properties and ability to give skin a glow up, Vitamin C is another OTC skincare ingredient that’s not to be missed. I’ve been using a Vitamin C serum for years, and it definitely helps to keep my hormone-induced melasma at bay.

The antioxidants in Vitamin C products neutralizes those pesky free radicals that speed up signs of aging. It’s important to keep these serums in a cool, dark place, as sunlight breaks down the formulations and can render them useless.

Moon Juice makes a powder formulation that can be mixed into other serums and slathered on your skin. If you prefer a more traditional delivery method, try incorporating Paula’s Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer into your routine.

AHA and BHA

AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHA (beta hydroxy acid) are sometimes called by their other names: glycolic and lactic acid (AHA) and salicylic acid (BHA). These acids work to exfoliate skin, sloughing away dead layers and exposing newer, brighter skin underneath.

These acids can be used separately, but are combined in some products to soften fine lines and improve skin’s texture. In some formulations, these ingredients can be used as a peel once a month or more often. I’ve had great success with AHA/BHA peels in aesthetician offices, but some are available OTC as well.

It’s important to note that if you use any acids on your skin, use sunscreen. I mean, use sunscreen anyway, but especially if you’re putting acid on your skin. The Shani Darden Triple Acid Signature Peel combines both AHA and BHA and consistently gets fantastic reviews. If a serum is more your speed, Sephora’s Targeted Pores Serum is a good option.

Regardless of your aims, these four OTC ingredients will help you achieve your skincare goals.

The post 4 Insanely Powerful OTC Skincare Ingredients You Need to Try Right Now appeared first on Beauty Chaos.

But then. . . there’s the bad stress.  The bad stress can wreak havoc on your life.  It weakens the immune system, boosts cortisol levels in the brain, causes weight gain.  Yuck.

Here’s the thing – stress in life is inevitable.  But the way you respond to it and your coping techniques can drastically reduce the problems it causes in your life and health.  Here are a few ways to manage stress so it doesn’t become bad stress and take over your life.

Declutter.

It’s my favorite tip again! This decluttering is a little different.  This time, it’s about decluttering your relationships.  Get rid of the people in your life who are littering it with negativity.  You can’t eliminate all negativity, but if there are people who are causing you more harm than good, trim them out.  If they’re your family, cut back on your interactions with them. Surround yourself with positivity.

Disconnect.

I am just as addicted to my phone as the next girl.  But have you ever sat at a table where everyone at it is on their phone, looked around and thought, ‘What the f*ck are we all doing?’ And social media can cause tons of stress because it brings up feelings of comparison (the killer of joy). Give yourself an hour or more every day without your phone and computer. Doesn’t have to be the TV because, hello, Gilmore Girls is the solution to all stress.  But don’t stare at the TV to close to bedtime either.

Manage your time.

I had this friend who was constantly late, constantly stressed out, and never planned properly for anything.  She was miserable most of the time and could not figure out why.  Nothing is more stressful than not having enough time in the day/week to complete all of your tasks.  I know it makes me sound like an old, boring person, but “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” has a point.  Wake up a little early if you need extra time.  Don’t rob yourself of sleep, but plan out your day in advance so that you have structure.  The busier you get, the more time management becomes a hugely important activity!

Make to-do lists.

Confession: I make to do lists and sometimes put things I’ve already done that day on them just to cross it off because it feels so good. Which lowers my stress.  See?  If you’re feeling overwhelmed, write down the stuff you’ve got to accomplish and tackle things one by one.  If you focus on one task at a time, everything becomes more manageable. It will help you feel organized and focused. And it doesn’t have to end with to-do lists.  Make a grocery list.  A chore list. A list of your blessings.  Go nuts!

Practice yoga and/or meditation. 

Does this sound familiar? It should.  I harp on this sh*t all the time.  Meditate for a minute a day.  Then increase to two.  Then five.  It will improve the quality of your life so much.  And if you don’t know where to start, check out my post on the best meditation podcasts. I also firmly believe in the healing power of yoga.  There are many different disciplines within yoga, so if you try one and don’t like it, try another.  I’m a huge fan of Ashtanga, but some people prefer Hatha.  Find your niche.

Get outside.

Go for a walk.  Get some vitamin D (*cough* wear sunscreen *cough*) Sunlight and fresh air helps with depression and anxiety, but it will also help clear your head and help you deal better with the stress in your life.

Clean a little bit every day.

Okay, I’m bad with this one, admittedly.  My day often runs away with me.  But if I do one chore every day, it doesn’t save cleaning everything for one day of the week, and it makes my environment more pleasant.  Vacuum one day.  Clean the kitchen the next.  Do laundry on the third day.  Nothing will make you feel more a mess than being surrounded by a mess.

Set up a budget.

Hooooly hell.  I set up my first budget just a few years ago, and I cannot believe  I made it through so much of my life without one.  Stressing about money is the worst kind of stress.  It can make you feel out of control and a failure.  So again, plan.  Know exactly where your money is going to go.  Give yourself some wiggle room, if you can swing it.  And put together a savings.  You never know when your car’s going to break down or your cat’s going to get sick or whatever.  Microsoft Excel has a few great budget templates.  I took theirs and just tailored it for my life.

Get a massage.

I don’t know about you, but I localize stress in my shoulders.  This is common.  I know when things are out of control because my neck starts to feel immobile.  Getting a massage helps release all that crap and is kind of like pressing a reset button.  Read my article on the benefits of massage here.

Get enough sleep.

You know how when you’re tired, everything irritates you? Yeah, there’s a reason for that.  Enough sleep is so, so vital for managing your stress level.  If you need 10 hours, get 10 hours.  They say 7 to 8 is the ideal amount, but everyone is different.  Pick what works for you and aim for that.  My magic number is 9; I can do 8 but my body naturally sleeps for 9 when I set no alarms. Figure out what you need and honor that.

Let. It. Go.

Hate your ex? Let it go. Mad at a friendship that imploded? Let. It. Go. Guy cut you off in traffic? Don’t let it ruin your day! There are things in this life that you can’t control. Remember, how people treat you is their karma; how you react to it is yours.  And letting things go will help with this immensely.

Get a day planner.

You guys, I’m such a nerd.  I LOVE MY PLANNER. It makes me so goddamn happy writing stuff in it.  And it has stickers.  This links right up with managing your time – there are tools out there to help you with this.  Amazon has toooonnnns of cute planners.  Pick one that makes you happen when you look at it as an extra bonus

Focus on what you CAN control.

There is something innately human about stressing over things that we cannot control.  I don’t know where that comes from.  But if you focus on what you can control, you will stress less about what you can’t. Reality is, we can’t control everything.  But we can control some things.

Practice kindness and positivity.

Trying to stay positive will become second nature if you practice it, just like everything else.  And random acts of kindness are amazing.  If you’re feeling stressed or shitty, but the person behind you in line a cup of coffee.  Or send your friend a card to let them know how much you love them.  These small acts can create a ripple effect that changes the energy of the world, I truly believe that. The result? Way less stress.

Exercise.

Endorphins are real. They make you feel better.  And that reduces stress.  Boom. Science.

These are just a few of the ways I manage and control my stress.  And don’t get me wrong, my life is not stress free.  But there are practices you can implement to help keep this under control. I hope some of these help you as well!

Thank you for reading! If you like this, please subscribe!

The post Stress Management 101 appeared first on Beauty Chaos.

However, in the meantime, I designed three websites on WordPress and learned “baby coding,” (how I refer to coding basics), and really got my feet under me so I knew what I was doing when I started.  I do not regret doing that.  WordPress and even plug and play websites like Wix can be difficult to navigate, so having a bit of knowledge to bring to the table was definitely helpful.

I began with beauty because I thought, hey, write what you know.  If there’s one thing I know, it’s beauty products.  And it was amazing – right from the beginning I started connecting with people from all over the globe to collaborate, review products, etc.  And that was fun! But I definitely felt like I had more in me to give.

Fast forward a few months, I started branching out into. . . finding my voice.  I started writing posts that flowed a bit more easily than simple product reviews, and I realized that my experience doing all this could be useful to those just getting started.  So I’m excited to share what I’ve learned about how to start a blog!

I see a lot of posts online that go something like this: “I want to start a blog, but I have no idea how to start,” or “I want to start a blog, but I feel like I don’t have enough to start, I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing, I feel like I’m not an expert on anything,” et cetera, et cetera.  My opinion is this: The only thing holding you back is you.  You can do anything you set your mind to.

And don’t worry about the more “tech-y” stuff about starting.  I got you covered in this post (and more to come!)

How to Start a Blog

Decide on a niche and name

What the f*ck is a niche and how do I find mine?  Simply put, a niche is the category that your blog content falls into.  This can be one of the hardest parts of blogging: in order to start, you have to decide what to blog about! This is important because if you just throw a bunch of stuff at the wall to see what sticks, it will take you longer to build an audience.  If you get specific, people who care about the topic will want to read your blog.  And there are an endless number of things you can blog about, for real. And don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert.  There are no “expert police.” But if you are an expert, more power to you.  I’ve listed a few examples of what you can blog about here:

1. Do you have a lot of business knowledge?  Or are you particularly thrifty, and have a knack for money saving, budgeting, couponing, et cetera?  People looooove to learn how to save money.  Perhaps you’re a great resume writer and great with employment strategies.  There is no shortage of people looking for jobs, how to better their resumes, hell, even how to write a cover letter.  And you know what? Paying an expert for that sh*t is expensive.  You could provide that knowledge for people who are struggling so they don’t have to pay an arm and a leg.  Bottom line: use your knowledge to help others.
2. What are your hobbies?  Do you have one that you particularly excel at, like crafting, knitting, cooking, et cetera?  Or perhaps you’re great at DIY home projects and people are constantly asking you for advice (I have a friend like this.  She drives me crazy.  She’s amazing.) Take a step back for a sec – when you want to learn something, where do you go to learn about it? The Internet.  Be the person who blogs about that stuff so other people can learn!
3. Have you overcome a struggle in your life?  People need to feel like they are not alone on this island we call Earth going through a tough time on their own.  Knowing there are others who have gone through struggles with depression, addiction, financial problems, divorce, sexual assault, is so comforting when you’re in the midst of it.  If you’ve come through those things, share them. Be the beacon of light that you had, or that you were lacking.
4. Are you a SAHM? (That’s stay-at-home mom.  See, I know thing.  I’m cool.)  Blogs for SAHM’s are very, very popular because it creates a great community for some people who might be at home a lot of the time, and moms can share and benefit from each other’s knowledge.
5. Do ya like sports?  Do you know what the best gear is, where to get it, what locations are the best?  Share that sh*t!
6. Perhaps you are like me: jack of all trades, master of none.  You can start in a niche that you feel you know about, then merge into more niches as time goes on.  Here’s the golden rule: Your blog is not about you. Your blog is about the readers. So as long as you’re writing about something that can help serve people, you can’t go wrong.  There are a lot of people who will tell you narrow, narrow, narrow your focus; I don’t think that’s essential.  As long as you’re thinking about your reader, write your stuff.

These are just a few suggestions.  Again, what it comes down to is serving your audience. Figure out what you know about, what you’re passionate about, and then write it.  Your topic should reflect you, but serve them.  See what I’m saying?

Choosing a Name

Oh, choosing a name.  This can be the most complicated part of the process, I swear.  You want to be sure it relates to your content so people know what they’re in for, but it also has to be simple enough to remember and, most importantly, spell.  (Trust me, my maiden name is Pawlukiewicz, so a blog called amypawlukiewicz was sure to fail).

You also have to think about social media when deciding on a blog name.  You’ll need to use it on all social media accounts: Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, whatever they come up with in the future.  So take some time, brainstorm, make a word cloud, whatever you need to do to narrow down what you’d like to focus on.  You can check what names are already at any of the hosting websites like GoDaddy, SiteGround, or BlueHost.

Make sure the name you want isn’t already taken and/or doesn’t cost thousands of dollars.  Unless you have thousands of dollars to invest in it ;).  You don’t want to get attached to a name, or god forbid, go through the process of signing up for social media accounts, designing a logo, et cetera, all to discover that the domain name is taken. So take your time.  I had to do some serious brainstorming before settling on Beauty Chaos!

Select a Host

There are tons of web hosting platforms to choose from.   I have heard wonderful things about both SiteGround and BlueHost.  I would recommend just looking through each of those host’s websites before choosing one, see which you’re most comfortable with.

That said, I would highly recommend BlueHost or SiteGround for your web hosting.  If you’re ready to start a blog and are looking for the best hosting platform, you can

Sign up here for SiteGround through my referral link

Sign up here for BlueHost through my referral link

Pick a Platform

You have to have a website in order to have a blog.  I know, this sounds elementary, but follow me here.  There are so many options out there, and some are easier than others in the beginning but might not be the best option in the long run.  If you don’t code or don’t know how to build a website, don’t worry! There are plenty of drag and drop platforms like Wix, Weebly, and SquareSpace that are very user friendly.

Personally, I prefer WordPress.  It’s easy to use once you get the hang of it, and there are so many options for themes, plugins, and designing. And while there are two different WordPress platforms, I definitely recommend self hosting.  This is a bit confusing, but WordPress.com and WordPress.org are two different things.  Self hosting happens on WordPress.org

WORDPRESS.COM

A lot of people choose WordPress.com when they start blogs simply because they don’t know of anything else.  You can create a blog for free, it’s easy to manage, there’s no setup – it looks great on the surface.  But you get what you pay for , so to speak, and WordPress.com being free means there is a lot of stuff you can’t do.  You can’t run ads or set up affiliate links.  You have very limited options for expanding your site.  And most importantly, you don’t own your site. 

So starting with WordPress.com can seem like the way to go because it’s easy and free.  However, you can’t monetize…which means making money from your blog is not an option.  If you want to start and don’t have the money to invest in owning your site, you can always start with WordPress.com and migrate to WordPress.org.  It’s doable, but requires a good amount of effort.

WORDPRESS.ORG

WordPress.org is the way to go, in my opinion.  It’s self hosted, and while that may sound intimidating, that just means that you control everything about the site.  Whoever you host through, whether it be SiteGround, or BlueHost, will handle the “techie” stuff.

Bottom line: if you want to earn money from your blog, you MUST self-host.

Pros:

• Control of your site and its content
• Search engine friendly
• Access to free plugins such as Yoast SEO to optimize your blog and make it amazing
• Ability to add features such as widgets for connecting to social media, subscription options, online stores, and much more!

Cons:

You have to learn.  It is a little complicated in the beginning.  Fortunately, there are endless tutorials and things like Facebook support groups to help you muddle through.

Once you’ve got your WordPress.org site set up, it’s time to pick a THEME.

WordPress.org software is relatively user friendly and can be installed from the cPanel on your hosting website.  I’m not going to go more into the cPanel, as it looks very complicated and intimidating, but there are very few things you need to worry about in there.  Just find the WordPress icon and use the one-click install.

Once the installation is finished, it’s time to set up your site.  You’ll be taken to a screen that looks like this:

I know, it looks intimidating, but it’s not.  Think of it as backstage for your blog.  The first thing you’ll need to do is select a theme and layout for your blog.  A lot of people recommend a paid theme; I personally think you should start with a free theme and make sure you get your bearings, then you can move to a paid theme if you feel like you need it.  I started with a free theme, and there was an option to pay for some more fancy options with the premium theme, so it worked out perfectly.

A benefit of paid themes is that they don’t have as many restrictions with widgets and other functionality.  They also typically have a lot more options available, such as choosing the fonts for your text, more color options, things like that.  But like with hosting, you get what you pay for.  So if you’re planning to make your blog your full time business, you might want to consider investing in a paid theme at some point.  Good news, though: Once you pay for a theme, that’s it, you only pay for it once!

If a paid theme is the way you decide to go, you can usually get a good one for around $50 to $75.  The WordPress Marketplace, however, has plenty of free themes that look great, and many are upgradeable later.  I started with a free theme that had an upgrade available, and I am very happy with the way my site looks.  Here’s a few places you can look at and compare themes:

A Prettier Web

The Blog Boat (Etsy Shop)

ThemeForest

My Theme Shop

ThemeIsle

Restored 316

Pretty Darn Cute Designs

Elegant Themes

Bluchic

ThemeFashion

StudioPress 

Now you’re ready to write

Write, write, and write some more!  Content is key here, and I made a huge mistake when I started blogging – I was inconsistent.  Nothing will turn readers away more than a blog that is unpredictable!  It doesn’t matter how awesome your blog looks or what the name is if you don’t have consistent content.

So write! Ideally, get a backlog of posts saved so that you’re not scrambling for content every week.  I once read about a woman who started her blog with 50 posts already written.  I was not that ambitious, I will tell you, and I had one when I started.  So maybe split the difference, eh?  Like I said, the most important thing is to just start, but once you’ve got that under your belt, be consistent.  Try to set up a publishing schedule or editorial calendar and make a commitment to stick to it.

Promote, Promote, Promote

Blogs, by nature, are not a “if you build it, they will come” kind of situation.  Most likely, when you first start, you will have little to no readership.  THAT’S OKAY.  You know why? Social. Media.  Social media will become your best friend.

Tell people about your blog.  Join Facebook groups to promote.  Share on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, wherever you can!  Just follow one rule: don’t be spammy.  Don’t just drop your links all over and disappear.  That will get you blocked and blacklisted.  Target people in your niche and engage with their content, too.

Just have patience.  Blogging takes time.  Yes, there are a few people who start a blog and it takes off immediately. But there are many thousands of others who have put in years in order to build up a following.  Write great content, give it time, promote, and an audience will follow.

Whatever your goals are for blogging, get started and be consistent.  I’ll be following this post with more on SEO, how to monetize, and how to drive traffic through social media!

The post How to Start a Blog Part One appeared first on Beauty Chaos.

So what does this all look like?

I think everyone experiences these things differently.  For my experience, depression means worry.  Worry, worry, worry all the time.  What if? What if this happens? What if it doesn’t? Is it ever going to be okay? How will I get through this?  All. The. Time.

It means extreme nervousness about social situations.

Am I talking too much? Am I not talking enough? Oh my god, they think I’m boring.  Oh, sh*t, they hate me.  Or worse, what if I go to that networking event and have no one to talk to?

Also? Compulsive behavior. Super fun.  I don’t wash my hands a thousand times a day, but I do chew my lower lip to the point where it bleeds. The only thing that kind of helped for a while was smoking, but the tradeoff was obviously sucky.  So I stopped.  Now I chew lots of gum, and sometimes it helps.

Fear of failure.

Jesus, the fear.  I wanted to start this blog back in 2013. What stopped me, you ask? What if people think I’m stupid for doing this? What if people don’t like it? What will my friends think? Surely they will think this is a trivial, frivolous, pointless endeavor.  And now that I’m actually doing it, those thoughts aren’t far away.  I just. . . shush them.

And the overwhelming feeling that this is all pointless.  Why? What are we all doing? Why struggle just to have it all end so spectacularly in a way that no one understands or can really articulate? And feeling alone in this because, oh my god, why can’t you just be happy?

Depression makes everyday life harder.

Sometimes it’s okay; other times it’s a struggle to just get out of bed and brush your teeth.

Anxiety is a little different. My first panic attack was nothing short of spectacular.  I was having dinner with a former professor of mine, and all of a sudden I felt really tingly.  And really panicky.  And unable to focus. I had to be driven to a parking lot where my mother picked me up because: a) I couldn’t drive and; b) I felt so foggy could barely put a sentence together. The result of which is laying in bed for the rest of the night trying to put together what the hell just happened, while at the same time praying that it never happens again (spoiler: it did).

Depression creates a sort of moat around you, especially when the people you love don’t get it.

And trying to explain it to them usually leads to some iteration of, “But why can’t you just be happy? Have you tried meditating? Are you sure you need that medicine?” Yeap, I do. I tried to wean off of it once and boy, did that not go well. Got to the point where those same people encouraging me to try my life without meds were practically shoving them back into my hands.

Anxiety tells you that you’re not good enough.  It whispers in your ear that you’re not worthy.  Makes you doubt yourself, your decisions, your life.  Tells you that you will never win.

Depression is not something that’s fully understandable, even when you have it.

I don’t know why there are some days that I feel awesome and other days when I can’t get dressed.  When the only thing that seems to quell the impending panic attack is curling up with my cats and watching “Friends.”  And just when I feel like I’m starting to get it, another curveball happens.

Anxiety and depression also manifest themselves in the form of extreme irritation with everyone around you.

“I just want to be positive,” you think.  “But if he/she  does/says that one more time, I’m going to scream.” Every little thing bothers you and it’s like you’re an exposed nerve, but no one can tell that and you look human and fine, but little does everyone know that you’re not. And you can’t stop it and you can’t make it better and oh my god, why can’t I sleep? Are my legs moving? Why is he breathing so loud? Why is this so easy for everyone else?

But here’s the deal.  After coping with this for the good part of 15 years, I’ve learned some wisdom I’d like to impart.

• You are not crazy, and you are not alone.
• It isn’t your fault, and you can deal with this.
• You can get through this. You will succeed. You will face your fear.
• In. You.

And in the spirit of helping my fellow depressees (not a word), I’ve come up with some coping methods that sometimes help me.

How to Cope With Depression and Anxiety:

1. Chew gum. I know, this one sounds crazy.  But psychologists say that chewing gum is calming because it basically convinces the body that you’re eating, and that primal part of humans knows that you wouldn’t be eating if you were in danger. Weird but cool, right?
2. Meditate Even for a few seconds. Do the 4-7-8 breathing exercise (in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, out for 8 seconds). I swear, it helps.
3. Talk to someone you trust. Doesn’t have to be someone who completely understands.  Just has to be someone who’s willing to listen without judgment. Personally, I love therapy for this very reason.
4. Exercise. This one’s pretty elementary, right? Endorphins. Exercise high. Increased serotonin.  And don’t wait until you feel shitty.  Exercise regularly.
5. Go home. Look, if you’re in a situation that you can’t handle, just leave. No shame in taking care of yourself.
6. Journal. Sometimes, just getting it all out of your brain into a different medium can help you reset.
7. Stay off of social media. Hey, I need social media as much as the next guy, but sometimes, looking at what other people want you to think their life is like makes you feel bad.  So don’t.
8. Go outside. Breathe fresh air. Get some sunshine. Clear your head.
9. Stay hydrated. Dehydration can trigger panic attacks.  Seriously. So stay hydrated and if you’re hungover, drink more water
10. Take up a new hobby. I live in LA now so I feel like I don’t have a lot of need for knitting, but I learned it back when I was having a serious bout of depression and boy, did it help.
11. Listen to some music. Something upbeat. No Sarah McLachlan. Something that always makes you smile. For me, ‘Walkin’ on Sunshine’ always does the trick.
12. Be kind to yourself. You’re smart. You’re beautiful. You have a great ass. Tell yourself these things. They’re true and you need to hear it.
13. Take a bath. Or a shower. Like I’ve said before, baths aren’t really my thing. Or float around in a pool, if you have access.  Just give yourself some time to breathe and chill for a bit.
14. Focus on the positive. Gratitude journaling is huge now for a very good reason. Sometimes it’s hard to focus on what you’re grateful for when it feels like everything is terrible, but even writing down a few simple things that make you happy can turn your whole day around.  That flower you saw.  The fact that you have shelter and food and your needs are met. Your great husband.  Whatever it is for you, focus on it for just a bit.

Hopefully, these tips will bring you some relief in the midst of feelings of helpless/hopelessness.  Remember, you’re not alone. What you’re going through is real.

The post Coping With High Functioning Depression and Anxiety appeared first on Beauty Chaos.

Unfortunately, if you’re like me, you blink and the day is over.  More often than not, I look down and think, “Oh my god, am I still in my pajamas at [insert insanely late time of the day here]?!”  Part of my problem is that naturally, I am not a morning person.  I thrive at night.  However, I love mornings.  But my habit of hitting the snooze button and not motivating myself to get out of bed and get started lessens my love of those mornings.

And I hit that snooze button until there’s a struggle and instead of waking up and conquering the day, I wake up feeling behind.  So if you’re like me and you need an extra kick in the ass to get going in the morning, here are a few ideas to help motivate you and be your own best ally in the fight to conquer mornings!

1.    Morning yoga or exercise

Here’s the thing: I am not a morning exercise person.  I know, I know, it’s supposed to be easier and make the day better and yada, yada, yada.  It just doesn’t work for me. But when you’re working at home, it’s super important. What does work, however, is some morning yoga.  I do about four sun salutations before I have my coffee, and just that little bit to get my blood flowing is essential in kicking off my day.  If you can do it, research shows that exercising in the morning is very beneficial and sets the tone for your entire day.

2. Set a consistent morning routine.

By far, one of the most important steps for motivating yourself is having a morning routine.  That way, if you feel like you need to be on autopilot for a minute, you have ingrained a series of steps in your day that feel like they take no effort.  A good morning routine not only helps you wake up and shake off the sleep, but it also sets you up for success in your day and motivates you. For example: After waking up, meditate for 5 minutes, write down (at least) three things you’re grateful for in a journal, exercise, brew coffee, shower.  Establishing positive, continuous morning habits is a huge step towards motivating yourself to conquer your day!

3. To-Do Lists

Soooo, I’m one of those people that will write something that I’ve already done on a to-do list just to cross it off. It makes me feel so good.  If I keep a list in my mind, everything seems scattered and really overwhelming. But when I’m working from home, if I have everything I need to do written out in front of me, I am much more motivated to get it done because it feels achievable.  I make lists in my day planner, but a piece of paper works just as well.  Wherever works for you, be it on paper or an e-list, I would recommend listing as a way to keep your motivation flowing!

4. Keep a decluttered and clean workspace

There is nothing that is more motivating for me than having a clear and clean workspace, especially when I’m working from home.  I set aside time every weekend to declutter the crap on my desk to make my life feel more organized.  Even if everything else is in chaos, a clean desk makes me feel like I have a handle on everything. If I can extend this order to my entire house, all the better.  Because here’s the thing: if my house is clean, I can work without thinking that what I really should be doing is cleaning my house. And believe me, I never feel more motivated than when I invest a little bit of money and have the house cleaners come.  Talk about productivity!

The post Working at Home: How to Stay Sane, Productive and Happy in Your PJs appeared first on Beauty Chaos.