Author: yachnaa

  • Five Ways To Deal With The Post Holiday Blues.

    Five Ways To Deal With The Post Holiday Blues.

    Hiiiiii, Happy New Year!!!

    I hope you had a wonderful holiday.  

    I want to kick off 2021 by saying this:

    If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s completely okay. It’s the first Monday after the holidays. Mondays are hard, Januarys are hard, and resuming work after a holiday break is especially tough. 

    For me, the first week after any break is dreadful. Especially the time after Christmas and new year festivities are done. Now that all the excitement is over and our lives’ demands are starting to pile up again. Around this time, many experience what experts refer to as the post-holiday blues.

     And, you are not alone in feeling tired, unmotivated and nostalgic. Always remember, you are not alone; we are all in this together. 

     But what if we looked at things differently? The new year is upon us and with it brings a blank canvas of opportunities to illustrate your life with endless exciting possibilities. 

    Here are SIX ways other than exercising, I have been doing to overcome my post-holiday blues, and I hope it helps you too:

    1) Make a vision board

    Picture Credits Mathnasium

    I have to admit, I have never been a vision board person; however, being a recent student of the law of attraction, I had to put all my learnings to practice-the first step being making a vision board for 2021. 

    To my surprise, I have to admit the process of making a vision board filled me up with excitement. I started by focusing on how I wanted to feel this year and the goals I wanted to accomplish. Thus, I began creating a sacred space of all my dreams and plans I wanted to see come to life. By the end of it, I felt positively energized, revitalized and ready to take on the world. 

    TIP: When making a vision board, always focus on how you want to feel. For example,- if your vision board has a picture of your dream house. Below it, you could write, “thank you so much, the universe, for making this beautiful house my reality. Thank you for the kindness, blessings, growth, abundance and love.”

    I learnt this little trick in the Law Of Attraction Workshop that I took at the end of last year, and implementing things I’ve learnt since has worked wonders for me. 

    2) Declutter your space

    Happy home is happy soul!!

    We all need to have our sanctuary that’s sacred to us-and it starts at home. 

    Decluttering my space to kick off the new year was not on my pre-planned agenda. However, I didn’t have an option-given I was moving to my new place. Now, being a borderline clean freak, I am aware of the magical effects of decluttering your space. 

    Given, we are spending more time than ever in our house, it’s essential we give ourselves the necessity of a clean and sacred place. Deep cleaning and organizing every nook of our new apartment gave me a sense of control of my living space. To me, that seemed like an excellent way to kick off my new apartment and the new year. 

    3) Schedule the friend time

    Girlfriends are good for the soul!!!

    After all the parties, events, family get-togethers, your social calendar can start to look a bit empty. Now is the perfect time to schedule an in-person friend time. Delicious food, decadent dessert and good conversations are the secret sauce to a happy life. There’s nothing in life that a true friend cannot fix. 

    4) Take up healthy eating habits

    Yes, please!!!!

    The best part about the holidays is the holiday food tradition; all the cookies and candies are undoubtedly divine. As we all know, too much sugar also has a crash and burn effect on your body, which is why it’s an excellent idea to kick-off the new year by going on a junk foo fast. 

    Plus, eating clean comes with an abundance of mental clarity, motivation, and a lot of energy and drive to improve every aspect of your life. 

    5) Remember all the beautiful moments of holidays

    A beautiful holiday moment I’m thankful for.

    Make some hot tea or hot chocolate, light up the candles, play some light lofi music and reflect on the right and positive things about the holidays in your journal. Here are some probing questions to get you started:

    • What was the most memorable conversation you had? 
    • What was the most meaningful gift you received?
    • What was the funniest thing that happened?
    • What is that one disaster that turned into something positive?

    Or better yet, take up scrapbooking- something that’s lost in the realm of the digital world. Make a fun little scrapbook documenting all the beautiful memories in it. It will be a treasure for your family that you can share with your family at the next get-together. 

    Finally, remember this shall too pass. Every new year presents itself the opportunity for us to re-write our life’s narrative. Focus on the positive and embrace the unknown. 

    Sending so much love your way 🙂

    xx

    Yachna

    I’m curious to know, are you experiencing any post-holiday blues? How are you coping with it? I’d love to hear some of your tips in the comments below. 

    P.S.

    Here are some other posts, if you’re in a blog-reading mood: What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever read, a beautiful love story and many more.

  • 2020.Well That Was Noteworthy, Wasn’t It?

    2020.Well That Was Noteworthy, Wasn’t It?

    The year 2020 was quite an eventful year and not in a good way. Most of us, are glad to have just survived the spooky year.

     We are all ready to leave 2020 behind and hoping 2021 brings love and joy in all our lives. 

    Looking back, though, it was all a bit scary. 

    For me, I have to thank my lucky stars. Innocent of what was about to unfold in the world, beginning of this year, I took a leap of faith and decided to launch my blog.

     I was excited, nervous and scared about this new venture. A part of me feared putting myself out there and, of course of the negative criticism that comes with it. To my surprise, I got an uplifting response from my friends and family. You can read my very first blog post here

    Towards the end of 2019, while I made a New year’s resolution for 2020, I was looking forward to a new decade that I could make mine. For me, the year 2020 was supposed to be more adventure, more travel and more memories! 

    But 2020 had a different plan for us. As the world slowed down, we explored new ways to keep ourselves engaged amidst quarantine.

     Lockdown and quarantine

     These were not on the agenda but were unique experiences that I tried to find a silver lining. For instance,- I was fortunate enough to be able to transition to working from home. I always wanted to have more time in the mornings to focus on my personal development. The slowness that came with the quarantine was what I desperately needed. 

    It was the perfect opportunity for me to immerse myself in my old hobbies, such as catching up on reading and explore new hobbies, such as this blog. Several weeks into quarantine, I posted a blog post detailing all the ways I allowed myself to be creative and, in general, have more fun while still being productive. 

    I felt grateful to be well-positioned to ride this dreadful wave. 

    Dating

     Love, dating or relationships weren’t at the forefront of mind entering this year. However, life always has ways of catching us by surprise. 

    While I happily adjusted to life in lockdown, I wasn’t ready for the emotional rollercoaster that comes with dating. Of all things I wanted to experience in love, ghosting wasn’t on the list. Yet, when it happened, I found a healthy way to boost my self-confidence to overcome rejection feelings.

     I also picked up some excellent dating and relationship tips such as how to deal with a guy who’s giving you mixed signals, how to spot (and let go) of toxic friendships in your life, how do you know your partner is the one and many more

    Finding Happiness in simple things

    This year’s personal goal was to bring more energy, creativity, and efficiency to my personal and professional life.

     Keeping that in mind, I knew I had to start my mornings on a positive and happy note by doing daily 5-minute gratitude and daily affirmations. The overflow of positivity and joy in my life was almost instant. Being skeptical of the life-changing results for something as simple as giving thanks for the little pleasures of life changed my attitude. 

    While I was sad about not following through with my plans for travelling to Spain and France, I discovered a whole new appreciation for long walks, long drives and re-discovering my city. I made a conscious effort to enjoy morning smoothies, endless trips to bakeries trying different pastries and ice-creams, star-gazing, long drives and family dinners. 

    Enjoy the now

    As I was pushing myself into exploring the unknown world of writing and blogging, I kept reminding myself to “enjoy now.” Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, in his book Happier, talks about the arrival fallacy. He describes it as “this illusion that once we make it, once we attain our goal or reach our destination, we will reach lasting happiness.” Ben-Shahar correctly identified my source of unhappiness and hopelessness.

    Around this same time, I came across the book, ‘The Power Of Now.’ I instantly took it as a sign to live in the moment and devoted more energy into appreciating now.


    In reflection, 2020 has been a sobering year more so than defining. 

    From the terrible loss of lives due to the pandemic and the powerful transformation brought by the Black Lives Matter movement, it has been a year that brought us all closer to home. A year full of realizations for what truly matters in our lives. We realized what truly mattered through all the trauma was our family, friends, and humanity- these are things we deeply care about. 

    Having an adequate supply of toilet rolls came to a close second. 

    A big thank you to all those who take the time to read my blogs. Your positive feedback and comments make it all worth it. I sincerely wish to continue to bring joy, positivity and creative energy to this platform. 

    Again, thank you so much for reading.

    Keep smiling. Here’s to more hugs and fewer hand-sanitizers in 2021. 

    Goodbye, 2020. It’s been emotional.

    Happy New Year!! Sending lots of love you your way. Stay safe!

    xx

    Yachna

  • Sidewalks 2020 Gift Guide

    Sidewalks 2020 Gift Guide

    A few weeks ago, I kicked off my holiday gift guide 2020, my very first attempt at putting together a gift guide. At first, what seemed like a daunting task became something fun and something I looked forward to daily. The gift guide includes a mix of items ranging from different budgets. Given the pandemic, you’ll especially find several independent creators, locally-owned and women-owned businesses. I hope you enjoy these guides!!

    Gifts for all the beauty lovers.

    Gifts for best friends.

    Gifts for mothers.

    Gifts for fathers.

    Gifts for boyfriends/husbands.

    Gifts for girlfriends/wives.

    Gifts for brothers.

    Gifts for sisters.

    xx

    Yachna

    (Illustration by amrritaaa for The Yachna Project).

  • Holiday Gift Guide #8: For Sisters

    Holiday Gift Guide #8: For Sisters

    A beautiful way to show her how much you love her with this memorable pandora charm $60.

    Delight her with FabFitFun box four times each year for a gift amount of your choice. A gift that’ll just keep giving 🙂

    She may dislike lip glosses but Juicy K’s gloss $7.99 formula is like vaseline but 10 times better.

    A weighted blanket $99.90 so that she’ll fall asleep faster and sleep deeper throughout the night.

    A cooling and heating pad $34 that smells like lavender and is perfect for her stomach cramps.

    Beautifully designed butterfly basket bag $138.19 that she’ll adore and carry with her everywhere.

    Shop this local holiday box made in Edmonton with very fun goodies from small and local businesses in Edmonton by GP Makeup for $179.

    Seashell stud set locally made in Edmonton for $12.

    Not just for couples, tell your sister why you love with this customized love book for $61.28.

    A soft and light fragrance that will instantly be her favourite. $115.

    There’s nothing quite like a gift of delicious food. Buy her a gift card for her favourite local restaurant.

    This beautiful coffee maker for $137.80.

    xx

    Yachna

    P.S.

    More gifts for her.

  • Holiday Gift Guide #7: For Brothers

    Holiday Gift Guide #7: For Brothers

    This candle for $55 with a serious cult following!!!

    A subscription to an award-winning men’s magazine.

    Is he a gamer and star wars fan? This will bring a big smile on his face. $24.95.

    Cute and quirky tote bag for $24.

    Make his fridge practical and stylish with this cool beer loft for $42.55.

    A holiday gift that keeps giving, with a monthly subscription box that he’ll look forward to each month. $19.99 each month.

    His electronic products are safe inside even in the rainy days with this backpack for $56.

    A must-have beard care kit. $34.

    His new favourite fragrance. $310.

    The coolest gift ever for 98.60!!!!

    A super cute wine holder for $118.

    xx

    Yachna

    P.S.

    Gifts for mom, dad, best friend, wife, husband and more.

  • Holiday Gift Guide #6: For Wives

    Holiday Gift Guide #6: For Wives

    An artsy carafe $141.99 for serving wine and other drinks.

    Moon necklace $95, a beautiful staple for her jewellery collection.

    These delicious soul-satisfying treats in Edmonton.

    A warm and cozy morning blanket $160.

    A book $21.70, her new go-to when making cheese/charcuterie boards.

    A timeless photo book $69 to relive your precious moments.

    This dreamy cashmere sweater $245 that like it’s enveloping you with soft protection and love.

    Help her make a statement of elegance, class and sophistication with this fragrance from $80.

    Make her feel loved with the most thoughtful present by making a video montage of all your beautiful memories together.

    A romantic gift of $84.99 will be a gentle reminder of your love that she’ll always cherish.

    A fun little stocking stuffer $14.95 to spice up your sex life.

    The prettiest mugs $14 ever.

    Beautiful letter writing set $17.14.

    A luxury caddy tray $49.97 for a relaxing, fulfilling and joyful bath.

    A beautiful love note $5.

    xx

    Yachna

    P.S.

    Thoughtful gifts for him.

  • Holiday Gift Guide #5: For Husbands.

    Holiday Gift Guide #5: For Husbands.

    Make him swoon with these love letters for $19.34.

    The lyrics of his favourite song etched in this beautiful custom vinyl $54.30.

    Is he a football enthusiast? A unique gift for all the football lovers for $103.15.

    MySkinForHim so that he finaly stops stealing your skin care. Locally made here in St. Albert, Alberta.

    This beautiful and elegant whiskey glasses gift set $49.95.

    A fabulous toiletry bag $43.99 to shave and freshen up on the go.

    An ice-cream sandwich from your local ice-cream shoppe, since he can’t pick one.

    Inspire the creator in him by gifting the annual MasterClass subscription.

    Surprise him with a spa night with this sexy bath bomb for $7.95 that works wonders for relaxation or a little fun, whether he’s alone or with you.

    Warm gloves $125 to keep him warm in the winter.

    These comfy socks $26 that’ll keep his feet warm and in style.

    If he’s a holistic basketball enthusiast or a die-hard Kobe Bryant fan, this coffee table book $16.88 is for him.

    A warm and comfortable coat $495.

    A bold and sultry cologne $110 for him.

    xx

    Yachna

    P.S.

    Holiday gifts for fathers.

  • Holiday Gift Guide #4: For Fathers.

    Holiday Gift Guide #4: For Fathers.

    Holiday gift guide for fathers or a father figure in your life. These 12 meaningful gifts that’ll warm his heart.

    A wonderful and thoughtful gift for the superhero in your life! This custom hard-cover comic book $50.14 “incorporates your kid’s name and the Mega Dad of your choice into a story of heroic adventures both big and small.”

    Score some serious dad points with this handcrafted, customizable collection of reasons why you love him $57.31

    Support local by surprising him with a gift card to a local brewery in your area.

    Get both fashion and comfort with these Ugg Ascot Slipper $109.95 that will feel like instant reflexology for his feet.  

    Awfully good dad jokes $17.22 that he’ll have so much fun reading. Definitely recommended!!

    A fun way to spend time together with the intriguing, intuitive and challenging puzzles $21.67.

    A monthly subscription of hand-picked premium cigars $39.95 USD.

    Who doesn’t love something personalized? Make him special with these great custom socks $71.63.

    This classy and elegant from your local men clothing store pocket square $95.

    Make it a memorable gift with personalized tie clip cufflinks set for $42.74.

    This is Not A T-Shirt $13.99, an impactful book that he’ll always cherish.

    A fresh, classic and sophisticated scent $103.

    His new favourite beautiful vintage leather watch $132.

    xx

    Yachna

    P.S.

    Holiday gift guide for moms.

  • Holiday Gift Guide #3:  For Moms

    Holiday Gift Guide #3: For Moms

    Holiday gift guide for moms.

    Her favourite picture, framed.

    Delight your mom by planning a Sweet Escape for $28.99. It includes a few handmade, luxurious bath and skincare products, a novel (you choose the genre during checkout), relaxing teas, and a recipe card to make a rejuvenating beverage to go along with your themed bath experience. A sweet escape indeed!!!

    These delicious cookie-on-cupcake locally made in Edmonton with love.

    A timeless sentimental gift of $64.58 that will bring you closer together. A keepsake to be treasured for generations. I highly recommend this!!!

    A great way to celebrate her food and tradition by surprising her with a handwritten customized family recipe plate for $84.75.

    Beautiful real star illustration map $54.30 created using the actual view from the date and location of the sky at that time. Something special she’ll always cherish.

    Elevate her sleep quality with the Slip $165 silk sleep set. “It’s like sleeping on a cloud” raves one friend who recently bought the set.

    A wonderful addition to her home with this simple yet beautiful custom print $5.97.

    These beautiful and intricate plates $16 will be a great addition to her table setting.

    Treat her with a nightly heated foot massage with this incredible massager for $183.99.

    Not your average lunchbox $149, elevate her lunch with this cool lunch bag that comes with an insulated interior. She could also carry this around like a purse.

    A fun camera $180.95 for the mom that loves to take pictures.

    Cozy slippers $38 for cold nights.

    These beautiful candles $22 that will light up her room.

    xx

    Yachna

    P.S.

    Gift guide for your best friend.

  • Holiday Gift Guide #2: For Your Best Friend.

    Holiday Gift Guide #2: For Your Best Friend.

    Get creative with some answers in telling your best friend why you love her with this cute “Why You’re My Bestie” book $20.44. Something she’ll look at when she needs a little pick me up.

    The almost too pretty to light Terrarium Candle $35.98 to brighten up her room. Simply beautiful.

    A glitter picture frame to showcase her favourite polaroids and spice up her room for $8.

    Not just a coin purse, but easily fits lipsticks and keys. Thrill your bestie with this leather monogram pouch $42.

    Get her these adorable monogram ornament $10 that she’ll treasure for years.

    An artsy hand-painted planter $135 that will brighten up her living room.

    This heartbeat vanity mirror $20 with tray to store her favourite makeup, jewellery or scrunchies.

    Colored champagne coups $195 for your bestie, who’s always trying to add to her collection of kitchen things.

    Ditch getting her a bottle of vino and surprise her with a wine subscription delivered at her doorstep with Winc.

    2.2 lb Custom gourmet coffee $60 locally made in Calgary, so that she never goes without her morning coffee.

    Best skin glow serum only for $27.95. Holy grail!!

    Cute candle holder $28 perfect for holiday decor.

    Instant Camera $129.99 for your bestie, who loves to take photos and print memories.

    This beautiful diffuser that looks like art $73.60.

    This beautiful Disney charm $39 makes for a beautiful charm for your bestie. You could also give a bracelet to go with it.

    Bring a smile to your bestie’s face with this book $14.96 and let them know you were thinking of them. To simply put it, this book is pure happiness and god knows, we could all use it given the year, we’ve all had.

    Fuzzy and cozy warm reading socks $34.50.

    A fun challenging puzzle $20.99.

    Awaken your bestie’s inner artist with this paint by numbers $12.99.

    Evil eye necklace $89, just because you love her.

    xx

    Yachna

    P.S.

    More gifts for her.