Briana, I Am

Cleaning. Doing chores. Tidying up. The one thing no one really likes to do but needs to do if they don't want critters, dirt and other scary things they can't see invading their space. It's usually last on our to do list and "put off" until the next day or the weekend, almost like a Saturday morning ritual: wake up, turn on some music, and let the scent of lemon, pine sol and happiness fill your home and lift you up! Cleaning the house does not have to be dreadful or put off until the last minute or right before company comes over. It doesn't have to be labeled "women's work" or frowned upon. Believe it or not, cleaning your space/home can be very therapeutic. Think about it - you're focused, working towards an end goal of clean and spotlessness, and, when done with intentions, you can clean your stress away as you move from one living area to the next! Here's how... Clean with a purpose. Of course the reason why we clean is to ma...

How do you prepare for your day? In my mind, I'd wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed, my outfit for the day would be waiting for me in the closet, breakfast hot and ready on the table and me walking out of the door in time to get a great parking spot at work rather than parking in the back of the lot and rushing to make it to my desk by 8:05am. In reality, I'm lucky if I make to my chair by 8:03am and have a full breakfast all without forgetting something on my dresser like my phone or my mind. Unfortunately, this happens more days than one and it throws my day completely off. My dream of being prepared for my day is actually obtainable, if I am willing to put in a little effort to prepare, plan and organize in advance! Check out these great tips to help you seize the day! Preparation is Key! via GIPHY Preparing for the day truly starts the night before. I know, that is easier said than done. Who wants to pick out clothes and pack the next day's lunch while wa...

Social. Media. The outlets that we use to connect, ( over )share, display and communicate with people - strangers and friends alike - on a daily basis. We share our highs and lows, our loved ones and our enemies ( discreetly, so we think ), our happiest moments and even the sad moments that make our followers wonder, how sad are they really if they are posting about it on IG live? via GIPHY Sharing on social media has become a huge part of life. And with sharing comes the one thing that we hardly ever ask for but always seem to get an abundance of.... Opinions! Ah, yes! Opinions. Those things that your friends give you when you tell them whats going on in your life and instead of truly listening to the agony on your voice they give you their opinion because they love you and gotta keep it real. And in that setting, it's acceptable because that's your friend and you know how they are - they just care. But, do you ever wish you could turn it off? Like, turn off...

I'm glad I didn't give up on myself. On July 28, 2017 I took a leap of faith and wrote my first blog post, Vital For Survival. I was really inspired by the movie Girls Trip, the message I took from the movie and seeing numerous women bond and laugh together while watching such a groundbreaking film. While I was inspired, I was also terrified. I was so scared to share my thoughts with other people that I almost did not push the Publish link. I actually clicked “Publish” by mistake and had a 5 minute panic attack (typical me). I was so nervous as to what people would say about something that I created – my words, my thoughts, my opinions. The thought still gives me the worst anxiety when I think about it. It is a fear that I push through week after week because I needed a place where I could be myself, share my thoughts and in turn inspire others to share with me and others as we grow and try our absolute best to navigate through this thing called life and try to be better...

Work; the last place we want to be and yet the place where we spend majority of our time. Everyday we get up and go to our place of employment to earn a living that allows us to provide for ourselves - even if we don't enjoy it or, maybe we love our jobs but not to much the people/pay. Whatever your situation, bills don't pay themselves, so day in and day out we must push our feelings aside and put our best foot forward. The best way to do that is to have peace of mind going into work and keeping it steady throughout the day. Peace of mind is everything while at work. Sometimes, it's all you have. When your job gets stressful or you simply just get in a funk for whatever reason, it is so easy for negative feelings to take over and make you feel even more low - you start thinking about how much you don't want to be there, wish you were doing something else that you loved, and next thing you know you're snapping at your coworker who stopped and asked to use your sta...

Conflicts. Disagreements. Disputes. Call them what you want, difficult situations between individuals happen. Whether it be from miscommunication or lack of, passing judgement, unintentional actions that hurt someone or one feeling as if they are simply just not being heard, disagreements occur but they don't always have to be the end of connections and relationships between the people involved.  Conflicts arise for many reasons, but when resolved they can lead to breakthroughs, growth and even stronger bonds when two people are willing to hear one another out and come to a common ground. Getting to that point, however, is the challenge. It's easy to argue, go head to head and even hold a grudge against people we are in dispute with. It is not easy to open up, hear our opponent out and come to a compromise to satisfy both parties involved. I personally have found it easiest to do this when I approach the situation calmly and early on before it has time to fester. Let me explain...

Happy Self Care Sunday! I have so been looking forward to this day and the launch of this wonderful segment. After the response from Self Care: The Best Care   I felt it was important to make Self Care an ongoing topic here at Briana, I Am. It's so very important to practice self care not every once in a blue moon or once a month but every day! A lot of people don't think they can with their schedule or their funds but let me tell you - it is possible! With Self Care Sundays I want to remind everyone that self care does not have to be elaborate or costly - you can practice Self Care right from the comfort of you own home without spending a dime. Remember, Self Care is about doing what you need to do for yourself to help you feel better, be better and do better. What you need to achieve those three things can vary. Whatever it takes, it's important to make Self Care not just a habit but a priority. Check out how I practiced Self Care this week! Relax... This weekend...