Here are some of the things that I do regularly for selfcare. There is no right or wrong way to do this! The only rule is that it brings you joy and allows you to go inward and connect to yourself.
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Morning gratitude/prayers/journaling
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Big glass of warm lemon water before breakfast
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Healthy, filling breakfast and special morning time with my boo
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Connecting with my family in the mornings
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Getting outside for lunch if possible
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Afternoon herbal tea (lately I'm loving ginger and red raspberry leaf b/c omg it’s so wonderful, warming and relaxing!)
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A walk in our nearby park people watching and playing with other peoples’ dogs
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Cooking a colorful, nourishing dinner for my boo and I
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Foot soak with Epsom salts and essential oils (again….the struggle is real with no bath tub ðŸ˜
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Diffusing said essential oils (lately I’m obsessed with firs, clove, patchouli, and cinnamon b/c holiday time)
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Evening reflection on my day/gratitude/loving thoughts before bed
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Curling up with a good book
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In bed before 10pm for extra cuddle time with my boo b/c I just can’t get enough
And all those things cost little to no money! So amazing!
I cannot say enough about the wonderful effects that giving myself daily non-negotiable self care has done for my life.
As a nurse for the last almost 10 years, a large part of my life has been taking care of other people. And that caregiving attitude translated to all the relationships of my life. I have always loved being the nurturer, the caregiver, the cheerleader, and the number one fan for those that I love. And it never felt like a burden ever.
But somewhere in there about 3 years ago, I was feeling very depleted.
And exhausted.
And irritable.
And I realized that I was so good at filling up other peoples’ cups, and absolutely horrible at filling my own! I didn’t even realize I had to fill my own! And I was becoming resentful for giving so much time, energy, and attention to everyone else (which wasn’t fair to them because it was my choice to neglect my own needs, but alas I still felt the icky feels).
But once I began taking care of myself even a little bit as much as I was taking care of others, I started to feel…
Energized.
And happier.
And balanced.
And empowered.
And obsessed with feeling so unbelievably stoked to love on the ones that I loved.
And it was as simple as allowing myself the space to just be and listen to my own heart’s wants and needs.
Self care. Don’t put it off. Don’t deny yourself the gift of loving YOU the best way you know how. Your entire well-being will thank you for it!
PS: What are your favorite self care activities? How has self care enhanced your life? What are some ways you can incorporate more self care into your life this holiday season and beyond?
Abundantly Yours,
Emily ☺
