You cannot pour from an empty cup…here are 10 self care rituals you can start TODAY.
Creating self care rituals will help you to revitalize your energy and enable you to put your best self forward daily. You’ll be better able to serve your family and community without feeling drained at the end of your day.
Your challenge: implement these self care rituals over the next 10 days and tell us what happened.
Self Care Day 1: Make sustainable nutrition choices
Eat the rainbow when it comes to fruits and veggies. Day one, add a dish to your daily meal that looks pleasing to the eye and spans the colors of the rainbow. Choose a colorful salad at lunch, throw in some green kale and red onion to your morning omelette, or have a small bowl of colorful fruit for a snack.
Self Care Day 2: Move for life.
The more you move, the more you will move. Don’t get caught up in the intensity game, but rather focus on moving throughout the entire day. Do a short yoga session in the morning, go for a walk at lunch and after dinner, and try a stretch routine before bed. Moving throughout the day will make you feel more energized without the drain of high intensity exercise AND it will help you lose weight by creating a sustainable calorie deficit.
Self Care Day 3: Hydration is KEY.
Most of us don’t get enough pure hydration. Often times that mid-morning sleepy feeling or the dreaded 2 o’clock slump is due to poor hydration. Carry water with you and sip it throughout the day. Feel free to flavor it with lemon, limes, berries and even herbs to give it a fresh flavor.
Self Care Day 4: Breathe with me.
Breathing seems like it would be a no-brainer for us, but we typically all tend to breathe on the shallow end of the spectrum daily. You can be a better breather by simply bringing a little awareness to the quality of your breath. Take a moment in your day to notice the breath: how does it feel, do you feel relaxed, do you feel tense, can you follow the breath as it moves through your body? This awareness will cause you to slow down and focus on deep breaths that energize.
Self Care Day 5: Schedule some downtime.
Break out your calendar and schedule time where you can focus on something you absolutely love. For me, downtime can be painting my nails or applying a face mask. It can also be reading a really good book that has nothing to do with work or education. Your downtime should happen at least once a week and can include your family. Hiking, walking, biking, museums, zoos, etc; all of these are activities that can inspire the mind and bring a lightness to your week.
Self Care Day 6: FAST
Don’t panic. I’m not asking you to go without food here. I am asking that you give up ONE thing that sucks your time and energy for one day. For most clients, and myself, this is social media. We can get into the habit of mindlessly scrolling and not even realize we are giving our precious energy to somebody else’s drama. For you, it may be one tedious task you hate doing, or a coworker who is always complaining to you. Set some boundaries and give it up for ONE day….you’ll be glad you did.
Self Care Day 7: Suds Away
A lot of people swear by luxurious soaks in the tub, but I know people who either hate baths or simply don’t even own a tub. So, for our sake, let’s focus on the suds. Instead of buying expensive and sometime harsh bubbly, consider whipping up your own.
Daily Scrub: 1 cup fine granulated sugar, 1 cup ground pink sea salt, 1 cup organic body wash (I like LUSH), 10-20 drops of your favorite oils, about 1/4 – 1/2 cup pure olive oil (depending on how creamy you want it). Mix on medium in mixing bowl until all ingredients are well combined, and keep in the fridge to keep it fresh.
Self Care Day 8: Get Back to Nature
Nature really does have a healing effect and most of us are living in cities void of it. It is extremely energizing to get out and get a little sunshine on the daily. Today, try to take a walk in the woods, walk barefoot through grass or sand, take an outdoor yoga class (weather permitting), visit a local nature preserve, or try your hand at gardening! There’s many ways you can invite nature to you and literally get your hands dirty. Your gut and your outlook on life will thank you.
Self Care Day 9: Drink some tea
The simple practice of making tea can be a calming ritual in and of itself. Tea also has many benefits that help to calm anxiety and center the nervous system. Today, add in a cup of herbal tea, preferably decaf. This will balance your senses and help you sleep better tonight. Which brings us to the last ritual….
Self Care Day 10: Get Some Sleep
I know this one can get iffy for most people nowadays, but good quality sleep will help you re-energize and stay energized throughout the day. Some simple tips to get better sleep:
- Darken your room. Turn off the night light and hang some drapes baby! Science shows that a dark room allows for much deeper sleep.
- Turn off the gadgets. You’ll sleep better if you set yourself up for sleep success. I set a timer for my screen on my iPhone and it has been a life saver. Try to power down at least an hour before bed for best results.
- Cool off. Keeping your sleeping space a bit cooler at night (68 degrees seems to be the best, but you can play around with it to find what feels good to you) has been proven to promote deeper and more restorative sleep.
NOW, it’s your turn to try these out over the next 10 days and then tell us what happened!
Have a friend who can benefit from these self care ideas? Feel free to forward on! And always remember to sign up for our community where I share deeper thoughts, plus tips and tricks to make your life more livable.
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