We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natalia Lazo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natalia below.
Hi Natalia, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
After adjusting to life in a post-pandemic society, it became abundantly clear that self-care needed to get prioritized in my life. Like so many others, I found myself struggling with my mental health and work/life balance more than ever. I felt as though I was pouring from an empty cup as I dragged my feet through the halls at work day after day with a preoccupied mind. Tension in my body had risen, my anxiety-ridden heart was always racing, and enough tears had flowed from my eyes to water a garden. It concerned me how long I stayed down, but eventually enough became enough, and I created a self-care plan for myself to forge ahead. I welcomed my first pet, a French bulldog puppy named Snoop into my household, subscribed to health and wellness newsletters, read different Psalms daily, started a new journal, began to incorporate Epsom salt into my bath routine, invested in at-home facials and undereye masks, experimented in the kitchen with new recipes, and even changed up my hair color for fun. I became more intentional with my free time in order to properly re-charge. I realized that improving my mindset from within through self-care was difficult to get started, it worth it for my peace of mind and overall productivity.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I currently work as a health educator that specializes in mental health, sexual health, and substance abuse prevention. I feel super grateful to work in a field that aligns with my purpose, which is helping others and working towards eliminating health disparities within my community. I also have a passion for creative writing and poetry. There is something so therapeutic about converting my thoughts and feelings into a succinct paragraph of words that rhyme. I debuted my first collection of poetry called Soaring in 2020 and I am currently in the beginning stages of writing the follow-up. Since Soaring, I have also released an e-Version of the book and the edition of Soaring currently available includes additional affirmations that were not included in the initial release.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Over the course of my journey, I have had to adapt to a lot of change and remain ready for any curveball that came my way. Three skills I have acquired that have helped me include maintaining a planner, finding my “why,” and curating an elevator speech. As a little girl, I would watch my mother routinely fill out a planner, and when I began to follow in her footsteps, I had no idea what an impactful tool it would prove to be. It has been essential to my organization process to utilize a planner to keep track of events, upcoming tasks, and deadlines. I also tend to use my planner as a place to jot down creative ideas, sketch out a brainstorming session, and keep track of my habits. The second skill I’ve found most impactful was finding my “why”. When I was introduced to this concept during a work training, it felt like everything clicked for me. Basically, your “why” refers to the passion that drives us forward in the professional world. I would encourage beginners to self-reflect to understand the reasoning behind what motivates them, and what gives them a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and fulfillment beyond just a monetary component. A final skill that has positively impacted my journey was finalizing an elevator speech. An elevator speech is a quick spiel that sums up your interests, concepts, ideas, or goals in an easily understandable way. It’s important to be able to communicate effectively in this manner because you never know who you may run into. Keeping an elevator speech mentally prepared will enhance your interactions and leave a lasting impression when networking.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Feeling overwhelmed is a normal part of life, but it can feel like a distracting and troublesome burden to carry. I would advise someone who is overwhelmed to do their best to eliminate items off their plate one by one. If it is within someone’s means, I would suggest taking a mental health day off and treating themselves to their favorite treats. There are various meditations that can be done while on a walk, or calming podcasts to listen to on a scenic drive if several minutes can be spared. Downtime alone or with loved ones to re-charge is another luxury that some people can incorporate into their day to process thoughts in peace. Ultimately overcoming overwhelming situations requires extending grace and forgiveness to oneself and approaching the problem with a fresh and rested mind.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nataliacamillelazo.com
- Instagram: Wzrdnatalia
Image Credits
Sean-Michael Ryan & Julianna Salinas
