I love the simple life: I used to be on the go 24/7 and always had to be busy, always had to get done with my to-do list, I walked fast everywhere, and sometimes I wouldn’t even give myself some time for myself in the ladies room. That has all changed completely. I have found my peace and I love my alone time. I never get bored and I find myself that slowing down and taking every breath in and taking my time with tasks actually makes me more productive. Remember, there’s never too much time to get to know yourself.

I am actually a good cook: I’ve always enjoyed cooking but I was just doing it because it made me happy and was calming for me. This time at home has really made me get creative in the kitchen and not be afraid to try out different things. For those of you who know me and/or follow me on social, you do know that healthy foods are apart of my life. Getting into recipes from books, IG, or Pinterest has been my new favorite hobby. You can really make anything you love into a healthy version with some practice and lots of love.

Family, friends, and lovers are life: I’ve always been a family girl. ALWAYS. But this is the first time in 18 years that I have lived in the same state as my parents and close family. It has shown me the tremendous love and support that I have in my life. I went from seeing my parents a couple of times a year to needing to see them every other day. It’s always amazing to have support and love from the closest people because they are what makes a life well worth it. Support from family, friends, and lovers is one of kind and when you have a good support system. Anything and everything is possible. Your support system is still important.

Meditation and Spirituality are a must: I’ve always been a spiritual person and into meditation but I stopped meditating at night and some days during the week recently. I noticed myself becoming uncertain and having negative thoughts and being consumed by negativity when in the past I knew how to switch it all off. Let’s be honest here….life isn’t perfect and we all go through ups and downs, but it’s how we deal with those situations that make the difference. Once I was conscious of what was going on I religiously started to meditate deeply in the mornings and immediately my mindset changed. I turned into that girl I always have been. Faith and positivity came to play and the calming pure mindset helped me during some tough times. Meditation to me is my lifesaver. Without it, I wouldn’t see life as beautiful as it is today.

You don’t need a gym for a good workout: This definitely has been an eye-opener for me. Before quarantine, I wouldn’t last more than 20 minutes on a self workout but now I can work out for hours due to such high-quality high demand workout classes and influencers. Not only can you get creative with cardio but also get creative with weight training as well. Some examples are jump rope, peloton or bike, run, beach walks (sand is harder than you think), swimming, dancing, and YouTube HIIT workouts. Buy some free weights on Amazon or Walmart and do burnout sets. If you want heavier weights you can use furniture/kitchenware at your house for squats, lunges, and arm presses. Possibilities are endless and so much fun.

Doing nothing is OK: I’m pretty tired of the glamorizing of the hustle. Yes, I’m all about hustling and working hard but that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t know how to relax or take time for yourself. The time we spent on our overall health, including sleep, meditation, relaxation, reading books, or simply doing nothing is SO OK. These things are so important for overall stability, energy, and control over your work and personal life. I used to feel so upset with myself when I had extra time or just didn’t do anything for a couple of hours. But now, I embrace it. Balance is key. x

Follow my life adventures and all that jazz @carlaloren