"Self-care is any ritual or activity that you do in order to take care of your mental, emotional, and/or physical health. It is vital in living a full, pleasurable and balanced life."
Yes, self-care can be bubble baths, treating yourself to a massage, or your favorite piece of chocolate; however, it's more than that. Self-care may consist of introspective work, facing and owning your darkest and deepest shadows. It could be letting a toxic person go, forgiving those who have hurt you, or releasing shame around your sexuality. It may even entail a good on the floor, face down, sobbing fest.
Yes, sometimes it gets just that deep.
"With self-care being high on social trend lists, let us not lose the essence and value of intentionally nurturing the body, mind and/or soul."
In my experience, the hardest part about committing to radical and unapologetic self-care was, guilt.
My thoughts were, I am a mother of two, running a business, with a list of goals that without question have to be met. How dare I take time for just me?
It wasn't until I began having daily migraines, anxiety attacks, sleepless nights and irrational bitch fits, that I realized something had to give. Without question, I needed to begin setting aside solitary time daily, just for me. I needed to say NO to the outside world and YES to me. I desperately needed an energy refill. I could no longer pour from an empty cup, quenching everyones thirst at the cost of my health and sanity. I knew, the only way to refill that dry cup of mine was to commit daily to radical, unapologetic and guilt-free self-care.
"At this very moment ask yourself, how full is my cup? "
This year, lets commit to maintaining a full cup! Here's a few ways to jumpstart your daily self-care practice :
Refresh and renew by meditating morning and night.
I tell every one of my clients that daily meditation is vital, convenient and can be practiced in many ways. Whether you're practicing shower meditation, movement meditation, or sound meditation, clearing and relaxing the mind is the number one way to jumpstart your daily self-care rituals.
If you've never practiced meditation before, guided meditations are a great way to start.
Relax and release by stretching.
A great time to stretch is after a relaxing shower or bath. Stretching can help tame tension both physically and mentally. It not only relieves knots and tight muscles, but also tricks you into feeling more relaxed. Stretching in itself can be used as another form of meditation.
If you don't know where to start with meditative movement or stretching, I offer private one on one online lessons. Click here for more info.
Get it out by journaling.
Journaling is used as not only a meditative tool, but it's proven to also calm PTSD, release anxiety, aid in trauma healing and much more.
As stated in Pysche Central, "...by writing routinely you will get to know what makes you feel happy and confident. You will also become clear about situations and people who are toxic for you — important information for your emotional well-being."
Take 10 mins a day to sit in solitude and write.
Check out the below journaling prompts for inspiration.
I'm most proud that I...
One thing that I know I need to work on is....
The thing that I'm most afraid to tell people is....
So, If a soak in a warm bath is what you need today, do it. If your soul needs a good trip to the laundromat, cry it out. Maybe today you want to spend 5 mins staring blankly at the ceiling, make it happen. Do whatever feels good for that mind, body and soul of yours. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to self-care.
Now, repeat after me:
I _______ commit to radical, guilt-free, shameless and unapologetic self-care. From this day forward, I will take time to nurture my mind, body and soul daily. In return for my daily self-care, I am balanced and able to consistently pour from a full cup.
and so it is.
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
― Audre Lorde
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