Why It's Important To Protect Your Mental Health Online

@fromroses

I believe that social media can negatively impact of mental health without us even knowing it. 'From Roses' has an incredible post about protecting your mental health online & why it's so important.

I wanted to share this with you guys today because social media has become such a big part of our day to day lives, whether that's for work or personal use. There's definitely a lot we still have to learn but I think this post by 'From Roses' is a great place to start.

Why It's Important To Protect Your Mental Health Online; From Roses
"When I began my blogging journey 8 years ago I never imagined it would have a negative effect on my mental health. It was such a positive & joyous place to share my thoughts on whatever I was loving at the time & it's not until recent years have I realised how important it is to protect your mental health online whether you're a content creator or someone who consumes online content. You can't move for posts & articles all about how the online world is so damaging for our self-esteem but what those posts always forget to mention is how much good the internet can do for people. I know there are certainly things that I struggle with but there are plenty more that I have to be grateful for &  this is how I protect my mental health."

B x

Content Creators To Look For When Needing A Kick Of Motivation

@rawpixel

If you're anything like me, then you see the weekend as an opportunity to reconnect with yourself. You can't expect to perform your best on Monday if you're not investing in yourself over the weekend, can you? And investing in yourself can happen in many forms. You can do your groceries & make a proper meal plan, book into a fitness class, get your hair or makeup done, the possibilities are endless!

But first, you need to be motivated. You need to be inspired to keep living your best life. And what better way to get inspired than to watch some amazing content! Here are some of my favourite YouTuber creators that continue to keep me motivated & inspired on a regular basis.

Rachellea
Instagram & YouTube 

Kathryn June 
Instagram & YouTube

MuchelleB 
Instagram & YouTube 

Sarah Betts
Instagram & YouTube

Kalyn Nicholson 
Instagram, YouTube & Website

Renee Amberg 
Instagram & YouTube

Lydia Violeta 
Instagram & YouTube

Abby Asselin 
Instagram & YouTube

B x

Getting Through A Low Point

@devinavery

Getting through a low point in your life can be tough. Nothing in this post is going to be entirely groundbreaking but I think they’re simple reminders that we can all do with hearing every once in a while. When you’re in a funk & feeling low, I think breaking things down like this makes everything seem a whole lot more doable. 

Reassess Where You Are At

If you’re having a bit of a tough time, a bit of a wobble, now is a good time to take stock & think about what’s getting you down. Perhaps a lot of it is out of your control but there’s going to be somethings in that list that you can at least work towards. Everything from your work situation to your finances to your relationship is cable of being worked on, so it’s the perfect time to reassess & make small changes for the better. 

Focus On What You Do Have 

Now is the time to focus on the positive which I know can be tough if it seems like there is nothing to be happy about. When going through a particular rough time, every morning when I wake up I make a mental list of five things I’m grateful for. Doing this everyday you start to embrace a more positive attitude & you’re also setting your day off on the right foot. 

Be Gentle With Yourself 

If I’m going through a busy/stressful time, I know it’s important to go easy on myself & indulge in some simple self-care. On those busy/stressful days I don’t promise myself or anyone anything & I try not to get worked up over anything either. I remind myself that tomorrow is a new day & another chance to do better. 

Find Your Purpose

Life can unintentionally become a bit continuous, monotonous cycle of work, study, chores & bills. There as somedays where I’m simple getting by, waiting to the weekend to roll around & feeling a bit like I’m stuck on a loop. I think having something to focus on on the side so important. It could be anything, a regular gym routine, a book club or spending time with family members. Anything that gives your days a bit of substances is always beneficial. 

Set Yourself Manageable Goals

We are just over the halfway point in the year so it’s a good time to be thing about any goals you’d like to set yourself for the last six months of the year or what you can do to make progress on any current goals. I’ve recently opened up my Notes app & jotted down all the things I want to get done between now & the end of the year. I’ve always found it really helpful to have goals to work towards, even if they’re small ones. 

So much has happened this year, good & bad at equal measures & sometimes I just need to feel the need to decompress & go easy on myself. It’s all to easy to feel overwhelmed without really knowing why. We all go through rough patches but as long as you’re looking after yourself & moving forward in small ways, then you’re doing okay. 

B x 

What I've Learnt From Taking A Month Off Blogging

@andrewtneel

I’d say I have a pretty healthy relationship with my phone. I notice when its been in my grips a little too much on one day and them spend the next with it out of arms reach and on silent. July quickly became the month I decided to take off blogging when life got busy and internet was limited.

I was extremely cautious about taking the month off because one of my big goals for the year was to consistently upload good content to my website. But it got to the point here I really needed some time away to  re-evaluate a few bits and make a plan for what and where I see my website in the future. 

Having some time off blogging also came with having time away from being online. Being offline has been a big eye opener and it’s one of those thing that you don’t realise how good it is for you until you do it. I mean I’ve kept up to date with social media but it hasn’t been something that has consumed my life over the past few weeks. Here’s the thing though - I think this period of consuming content while not putting anything to consume has changed my outlook of the online world. I haven’t spent hours glued to my phone but instead I picked out the content that I actually wanted to view, just the good stuff from topic and creators that appealed to me. When it comes to producing content to consume, I’ve alway stood by the mantra, ‘create what you like to consume’ and so that’s what I really want to delve deeper into now that I’m back online. I’ve got a bunch of new ideas for website posts and things I’d like to update you on. I’d like to eventually get back up to three posts per week but we’ll see how we go. 

B x 

Instagram Roundup

It's been a good few months since I've sat down to do a post like this so instead of going through every single Instagram uploads of mine since February, I thought I'd pick out a couple of my favourite moments. To see all my Instagram uploads and updates make sure you're following me @bonnieellenxo. 

30 March 2018

At the very end of March, myself and a few family members went down to Dunedin to see Ed Sheeran live. It was an incredible experience and 100% someone I'd see again live. Six 60 was Ed's opening act and they were just as incredible themselves. I feel in love with them both all over again. 

07 April 2018 

As some of you may remember at the end of March I moved back to Christchurch and yes, the same week as going to see Ed, it was hectic. I love being back with my family and I'm excited for the future. This has to be two of my favourite pictures I have with my sister. Love her to bits. 

13 May 2018

Mother's Day! We had the best day as a family. My cousin came back from uni in Wellington for the weekend and we all got to spend some quality time together. I have so many favourite photos of my Mum and me together but this one is one of the best ones from years ago. 

28 May 2018

You all know how obsessed I am with animals, let alone cats alone. These little kitties are up for adoption at my local pet shop. They're the most adorable wee things I've ever seen so what do I do? Not adopt them, but go play with them and have a wee photoshoot with them because duh, why not?

01 June 2018

Well I like to think I'm a great big sister, especially after deciding to take my little sister and one of her best friends to Auckland to see Niall Horan live. To be fair, the concert was way better than I had ever expected and his opening acting Maren Morris was incredible. I haven't stopped listening to her music since the concert.

11 June 2018

Last but definitely not least, my little sisters 17th birthday. I cannot believe that she's 17 and not really that little anymore. We had a fantastic time celebrating her birthday and she was spoilt rotten, which is exactly what she deserves. 

Much love, B x 

Instagram Roundup

Last year I didn't post a whole lot on my Instagram but I want that to change in 2018. I thought I'd talk through some of the Instagram pictures and a few of the things I've been up to over the past couple of months. 

01 December 2017

I got my first tattoo, ahh! I've been thinking about getting this tattoo for years now and 2017 being the year that I lost both my Nan and Pop it only felt right to get in down in 2017. Not only that but it was the weekend of my Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. The tattoo is a combination of both their birthdays, which to me be special because it's the very day they started having an impact on the world. 

12 December 2017 

Whether you follow me on Instagram or not, this photo probably looks familiar to you because it's my profile picture on the majority of my social media accounts. I simply took this photo because I was having a good makeup day and I knew I needed a new picture for social media, so I was really killing two birds with one stone. 

15 January 2018

Over Christmas and New Year I took some time away from social media and I didn't stress to much about posting. So my first post for 2018 is actually a repost of probably my favourite photo of Summer 2017. It's a beautiful beach house in Little Kaiteriteri. It was so gorgeous, I couldn't help take a snap of it. 

19 January 2018

I posted this photo not only because it's one of my favourites but also because I'mr really missing my Christchurch pals. I spent 13 years of my life in Christchurch and still have some of the most amazing friends who still live down there. I unfortunately don't get to see them as much as I would like but fingers crossed this year I'll get to see them a bit more often. PS; Yes, we may have been a little drunk in this photo. 

20 January 2018

I love spending time at the beach in the summer. It was such a beautiful day, 28 degrees and spending the day at the beach was a dream. 

22 January 2018

I'm missing my little sister. I can't believe she's 17 this year. I adore this photo of us, it's definitely one of my all time favourites. 

24 January 2018

It's really odd and it's something I've thought about for ages but I definitely still consider Christchurch 'home'. I've been living away from Christchurch now for three years and the city has changed so much but when I go to visit it still feels like home in a weird way. For the long time I said I'd never move back and it's only recently that I thought I might actually be able to move back there. There are no plans in the near future to move back to Christchurch, I'm loving my life here in Nelson but I'd definitely consider it if I had to. 

If you'd like to follow me on Instagram, you can here. 

B x 

2017 Vlogmas Favourites

@morezoella - Vlogmas Day 4

The festive season is my favourite time of the year. I adore seeing others get into the Christmas spirit and people enjoying themselves after what can be what feels like a really long year.  Another part of festive season that I have come to love over the past few years is Vlogmas. For those of you who don't know what Vlogmas is, it's a pretty simple concept. It is where a YouTuber will vlog from the first of December right up until the 24 of December so you get to see all the festive bits and pieces they get up to. Seeing the contrast between what a summer and winter Christmas is like is also pretty awesome. 

I'm not watching no where near as many peoples Vlogamas' this year but regardless I thought I'd share those that I am watching as there might be some YouTubers you haven't heard of before or maybe you're looking for some new content to watch. 

Zoe Sugg - @morezoella

Suzie - @hello_october

Alix - @icovetthee

Megs - @wonderful_u

Sophie - @sophdoesvlogs

B x 

Just A Few Of My YT Faves

@tranmautritam

While I’m subscribed to many incredible creators on Youtube,  but there’s only so much Youtube you can watch in one day. I go through phases of those I watch on Youtube and it’s constantly changing. Below you’ll find six different Youtube creators I’ve been obsessed with lately, along with links to where you can find a variety of there content. I hope you enjoy their content as much as I do. 

Justine Ezarik, iJustine 

Twitter: @iJustine

Instagram: @iJustine

YouTube: youtube.com/iJustine

Jenna Ezarik 

Twitter: @jennaezarik

Instagram: @jennaezarik

YouTube: youtube.com/itsmejennae

Kalyn Nicholson 

Twitter: @kalynnicholson

Instagram: @kalynnicholson13

YouTube: youtube.com/kalynxo13

Blog: kalynnicholson.com

Anna, theannaedit

Twitter: @theannaedit

Instagram: @theannaedit

YouTube: youtube.com/theannaedit

Blog: theannaedit.com

Rebecca Meldrum, mrsrmeldrum

Twitter: @mrsrmeldrum

Instagram: @mrsrmeldrum

YouTube: youtube.com/mrsrmeldrum

Blog: mrsmeldrum.com

Niomi Smart

Twitter: @niomismart

Instagram: @niomismart

YouTube: youtube.com/niomismart

Blog: niomismart.com

B x

Staying Happy Online

@jiri_wagner

We’re all aware of the negativity that comes with social media and being online. It’s important that we don’t start to normalise the negativity because it’s 100% not okay and it never will be. The internet is a wonderful place 95% of the time but it’s up to use to keep it that way/ 

I’m going to mention a few of the ways I try to stay happy and positive online amongst all the negativity. Maybe you’ll decided to incorporate some of them to make your online time and experience a happy and positive one. 

Don't Be Scared To Unfollow Or Block

I’m pretty ruthless with who I block and unfollow on social media and I don’t feel bad about it. I’m sorry but if you’re going to be sharing ridiculous negative and shitty comments online I don’t want to be following you and nor having you comments and opinions pop up on my newsfeed. By all means, you can talk however you wish, I just don’t want to have to listen or see any negative comments or posts. 

Absolutely No Reason To Be Nasty

 I truly believe that there is no reason to be nasty to someone in this world. I understand peoples annoyances towards certain things, I really do but I truly believe that there’s no reason to be nasty in return. People often forget that those they’re talking to or about are real people and have real feelings. Words have consequences. 

Limited Time Online

Don’t get me wrong I adore the online world but I’m very conscious about how much time I do spend online and when I don’t need to be sat scrolling on my phone when I am. More often than not, spending to much time online, amongst all the negativity, can effect my mental health. Being amongst peoples thoughts, especially when they’re negative, can be really exhausting. 

Your Community

The one best things about the interest is the fact that you are completely in control of what you do and don’t see. This very much ties in with your ability to unfollow and block people but being able to do this allows your online world to be filled with amazing and inspiring people. I’ve had comments from people who think this can be quite ignorant, to only be following the positive things, but my answer to this is no I don’t think it’s ignorant at all. If there’s somebody you know that you don’t really get along with or maybe you don’t agree with there opinions, is there really any point in following them? 

A quick little message before I leave it at that, I strong believe in ‘treat others how you want to be treated’ and ‘put out what you want back’. If you’re only putting negative thoughts and comments into our world then you’ll only receive negative back. I’m not saying that you can’t be in a funk and talk about it but spending precious time being judgemental and nasty is never the right thing to do, especially in the long run and it’ll never make you any happier. 

B x

5 Of My Current Favourite Podcasts

Podcasts have become very popular in the last few years and they're definitely something I've been tuning into a lot more whether it's while I'm putting on my makeup, doing my skincare routine or traveling a long distance. Below you'll find five of my favourite current podcasts to listen to. 

Meghan Rienks: Don’t Blame Me 

“Questionable advice from a fellow work in progress.”

Lily Pebbles and Anna Gardener: At Home With . . .

“Your home says so much about you - where you’ve travelled, who you’ve met, and the kind of person you are. We’re Lily and Anna, lifestyle content creators. We’ve asked people we admire to open their front doors and talk about their lives, by taking a tour of their homes to discover who they really are. We’ve riffled through their wardrobes, nosed through their fridges and even scrolled through their Sky+ recordings, to shed some light on their fascinating lives.”

Ingrid Nilsen and Cat Valdes: Ladies Who Lunch 

“Ladies Who Lunch lets you sit at the table and explore topics often left out of polite conversation with YouTubers Ingrid Nilsen and Cat Valdes. Write in to join their dialogue about sex, relationships, social phobias and more as they approach life’s dilemmas with compassion and a sense of humour. New episodes every week.”

Aileen Xu: The Lavendaire Lifestyle

“Life is an art. Make it your masterpiece. The Lavendaire Lifestyle is the podcast on lifestyle design for millennials. Hosted by lifestyle blogger and YouTube Aileen Xu, this podcast highlights stories of personal growth, life lessons and inspiration on how to create your dream life. New episodes released every Sunday.”

Dr Ezzie Spencer: Lunar Abundance

“Dr Ezzie Spencer is the creator of Lunar Abundance and the author of ‘An Abundant Life: Flourishing with the Cycles of the Moon’. This is her podcast for women who want to create more joy, ease and abundance, using practical strategies, imaginative ideas, and a sprinkle of magic. In each episode, Ezzie delves into topics and listener questions about how to live and work in feminine flow, with accompanying mediations and play sheets.”

B x

Instagram Roundup

Instagram is probably one of my favourite social media platforms. Not just to have myself but to also follow others on. I believe I follow over a thousand people on Instagram and could spend hours scrolling through all the amazing pictures in my feed. Instagram has to be the place where I get the most inspiration from and I thought it would only be appropriate to share some of those amazing people who continue to inspire me, and of course have incredible Instagram accounts. 

@lilypebbles

@tesschristinexo

@meowitslucy

@esteelalonde

@poppydeyes

* All images above belong to those who Instagram accounts are tagged. 

B x

Best Loved Lifestyle Articles From The Past Few Months

I've been extremely run down these past few days but I still wanted to get something up for you guys, regardless. I adore reading content just as much as I adore writing it myself. I've enjoyed a lot of various content over the past few months but I thought I would share a few of the best loved ones. 

Zoe Sugg: Who Run The World

Lily Pebbles: Tales Of A Tomboy

Anna: My Current Style Inspirations

Estée Lalonde: 7 Days Of Smoothies

Images: All images belong to those linked in articles above.

If you have any bloggers or specific articles you think I'd love and should check out, leave me links or tweet them to me. I'm always looking for new content to read! 

B x

Digital Dependency

In a world that is always connected, it’s simply a habit to have your phone in your hand 24/7. Even during times where being on it causes more stress and distractions, leaving your phone tucked away is a hard habit to break. On top of the random phone detoxes when we need them, we should also think about certain situations where our phones should be sacred. Here's a few places you & I can both work on not bring our phones along to. 

While Reading > I adore reading newspapers and magazines, especially over the weekends when I have a little more free time. Rather than checking my phone every time I get a notification, I want to embrace the articles I'm reading and learn as much as possible from them. 

In The Car > While I'm in the process of learning how to drive, this means I'm usually in the passenger seat. Rather than being on my phone, I want to relax and embrace my surrounding.

Walking > How often do you see people looking down at their phones while trying to get through human traffic? It’s pretty ridiculous that we feel that we have to be on our phones even while we’re walking. Let’s all save our phone time for while we’re at a desk or somewhere where we don’t risk walking into strangers, yeah?

In The Bathroom > Ok, don’t judge me. But how many of you also feel the need to take your phone to the toilet with you? It’s weird and even unsanitary but we still find ourselves doing it, right? I guess it just goes to show how connect we really are to our phones. 

During Meals > Although I’m pretty good at this, while out with friends or family or whether I’m at home, I still see people grabbing for there phones while eating. Not only is it rude if you’re with some else but how about thinking about what we’re doing in the present moment. You’re eating a meal, regardless of whether you’re with family, friends or by yourself, you don’t need to be on your phone. 

Family & Friends > I feel like this one is a given but I wanted to put it in here anyway. When you’re spending quality time with your family & friends, don’t be inclined to pick up your phone. Not only is it rude, but you’re wasting precious time you may never have again, checking Snapchat & Facebook notifications. It’s so not worth it. 

B x

5 To Watch On YouTube

I'm a big advocate for sharing the content of other creators regardless of what platform it may be on. There are several of these posts on my blog for you to check out if you'd like but these are just a few of the creators & their content I've been enjoying recently. 

Aileen Xu / Lavendaire > Journal Collection & How To Journal 

Lustrelux / Katy > Peach Makeup Tutorial 

Boho Berry / Kara > Plan With Me: April 

Shaaanxo / Shannon Harris > Q&A & CCGRWM Chloe Morello x Ciate Palette

Megan Rhiannon > Art School + Autistic Notebooks & Planner/Bullet Journal Slump

B x

5 To Watch On YouTube

Long time, no talk! Well, kind of. It's been a week since I last uploaded but it feels like a life time. January has been one hell of a crazy month & I owed to myself a week off, to gather my thoughts, relax & get back into my routines.

YouTube is a pretty amazing thing. YouTube has given creators opportunities they never thought were possible including YouTube being there full time income. YouTube has connected thousands of people from all over the world & I think that what I love the most. Because of YouTube, I now know of people that really inspire me, people & share similar opinions to me. I've also learnt a variety of different things from a variety of different YouTubers. I thought I would share just a few of my favourite videos from the past month or so.

FEMTALK! Sexy Underwear & Self Love 

Estée Lalonde 

I Don't Know Where To Begin

Rosianna Halse Rojas

Winding Down & Mindful Minutes

Zoe Sugg

How To Organise Your Life

Lucy Moon

How I Plan & Organise My Life To Achieve My Goals

Lavendaire

These are just a few of the videos that either really inspired me or that I felt connected with. Leave me links to those that inspire & motivate you. 

B x

5 To Follow On Pinterest

I've done similar posts to this before with other social media platforms such as YouTube, Tumblr & Instagram. I don't know about you but I always love finding new creative content & online creators. This is my small way of share my favourite content & content creators. 

I adore Pinterest & it's a great form of daily inspiration. I have a variety of different collections over on my Pinterest & they're filled with pictures that inspire me in a variety of different ways.

G A B B Y 

@gabbyhusmann

Meghan Rhiannon 

@babygloom

Corinne Landrum 

@corinne_landrum

Hannah Marie 

@myworldispretty

Audrey 

@audreyxgracex

Who are some of your favourites to follow on Pinterest? 

B x