Let's face it, self-care is something we rarely make time for. And with the demands of modern life and society, it’s no wonder. Still making time to nurture yourself must be a priority, so I’m sharing some of my best practices. Over the years, the routine will change along with your changing needs and time to practice self-care. It’s also important to pay attention to your body and prioritize self-care practices around what you need now.
Peace of mind - With all the screens and data constantly thrown at us all day every day, quieting the mind is an excellent self-care practice to reduce stress, gain clarity and attain peace. Meditation is great for this and there's a plethora of info to get you started such as mobile apps, YouTube videos, etc. Not into meditation? That’s okay! While meditation is a great tool, it’s not for everyone. Some people have a hard time silencing the mind or being still. In this case, it helps to focus on your breathing to keep the mind from wandering. You can also consider taking up Tai Chi. Tai chi is low impact, slow moving meditation in motion that places special emphasis on breathing.
Setting the mood – Part of self-care can be an indulgent treat for the senses. Consider something that smells nice like your favorite essential oil, candle or incense. My current vibe is burning Palo Santo (pictured right) sage is another popular option. I don’t recommend using your favorite perfume to set the tone. First, because you’d want to save it and second because it’s nice to have a separate smell associated with your self-care time. Chances are you wear your favorite perfume frequently. This means more than likely the scent is associated with memories or actions. You want the smell of your self-care session to be relaxing and evoke feelings of peace and joy. Lighting is also important, such as dimmed lights, or bright lights. It’s up to you! I have a soft pink light that works great for creating a pleasantly peaceful environment. Mood enhancing light bulbs are a thing, check them out!
Supplementation and Nourishment – Multivitamins are an okay starting point for nourishment; I recommend that you take it a step further by discovering the specific vitamins and minerals deficiencies you have. This can be done with a simple blood test ordered by your PCP (primary care physician). For example, I have a vitamin D deficiency (very common for adults) so that's part of my self-care regimen. And since I'm not a fan of swallowing pills I use a sweetened spray version; Self-care should be fun and feel nice making it more likely you'll commit to the routine. Another great option is using a superfood such as chyawanprash (left) or shilajit (bottom), both are ayurvedic supplements for overall health. Personally, I’d take the Chywanprash over shilajit based off of taste preference alone. Shilajit taste like rubber tire paste... ijs. Chyawanprash is sweet with a spicy kick at the end. Juice and/or smoothies are another great way to take in your daily nourishment. Google is your best friend for recipes tailored to your needs. You don’t have to swallow, drink or eat everything. Magnesium, as well as vitamins C & D can be absorbed through massaging into the skin. Which brings us to the next self-care topic….
Touch – Touch is crucial to life. Literally! And it's time you claim the benefits of self-touch for yourself. Aht aht, mind out of the gutter! We’ll cover that kind of self-touch another time. For your self-care regimen, consider using a favorite lotion or oil to massage yourself with. If you don't know where to start with self-massage, here's a great video to check out. Pack a powerful.. touch by using topical nourishment mentioned above, healing herbs, or even Mederma! Remember this is all about your needs. Know them, love them, nourish them. <3
The invitation
What does your self-care routine look like? What do you want it to look like? Should you set aside time in the morning? Or when turning down?
Be sure to pick a time and place where you will not be interrupted.
Decide how long you will set aside for yourself. Maybe an hour. If that sounds like a luxury, try for 30 minutes. Still too much... go for 15. But no less! You need time to truly disconnect from everything and connect with yourself.
I hope you've found this post helpful and will really commit to your self-care. Feel free to share anything you'd like on this topic. Until next time....I'm outtie!
~MeohMiya