I love the Self Care Sunday movement we’ve created on social media. But why let Self-care be designated to just one day? I know it’s just a hashtag or something cute to tag on your photo of incense & candles but let’s talk about it.
Self-care can mean so many different things to all women. whether it’s a special moment of quiet time alone or finally being able to smell what frankincense smells like in your seldom-used oil diffuser. When it comes to self-care ideas, try focusing on the following, fundamental stress-reducing techniques so you can get back to neutral and see things more clearly.
Let’s explore 5 ways to incorporate self-care into our daily lives. Let’s be intentional and realize we’re doing this to better ourselves. It’s so easy to let the day go by and stop to think “damn did I take time for me today?” Love yourself & take baby steps. Changing a few things at a time is a world better than not.
- Are you meeting your BASIC needs?
- Skincare Routine
- Oil Diffuser, Candles & A Pink Himalayan Rock Salt Lamp
- Positive Affirmations & Scripting
- Lofi, Chill Music
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Basic Needs
Are we meeting our needs? Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a theory proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943, includes physical needs, safety needs, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. “Sometimes, it can be tempting to think of indulging in something that you want to do as self-care, when indulging in an urge that comes from depression or anxiety usually just serves to reinforce the emotion it came from,” Julia Koerwer, LMSW, director of people at Brooklyn Minds Psychiatry When you’re feeling overwhelmed and not sure how to care for yourself, Maslow’s hierarchy can point you in the right direction. –Woman’s Day.
Are you eating, drinking, and sleeping enough? If not, start there. If you’re struggling to feel safe—especially when it comes to housing or income—look into what options are available to you for added security. For love and belonging, run an inventory on who you can reach out to for connection, or what you can do to create new bonds, Koerwer says. For esteem, spend time doing something that makes you feel masterful—maybe a favorite recipe, if you’re a baker, or time with an instrument if you’re a musician. Lastly, with self-actualization, spend time evaluating your values, goals, and the steps you can take to get closer to them.
Skin Care Routine
A skincare routine is not scrub with a washcloth & throw on some lotion. No! lol. It’s a short & sweet series of steps to pamper your skin. Start with a cleanser. I like to start in the shower if I’m short on time. My favorites are Neutrogena Hydro Boost Lightweight Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel or Clinique Set. Follow up with an exfoliator, as needed depending on your skin type. If you’re not sure, start with a gentle exfoliator like ( insert). Exfoliators help lift away dead skin cells & evens even skin texture.
Next, add a serum to combat any specific problem areas such as pigmentation, fine lines, or dullness. Now, add your moisturizer to lock in that hydration and safeguard our skin barrier like Neutrogena Hydro Boost. Finally, don’t forget the sunscreen to protect against premature aging, harmful sun rays, pollution and even damaging blue light from our digital devices. Some moisturizers have sunscreen in their formula but if yours doesn’t try out this to complete your skincare routine.
Oil Diffusers, Candles & Pink Himalayan Rock Salt Lamps
There is nothing like an at-home spa feeling you get from a good oil diffuser or an amazing candle. Candles have soothing, healing properties that create a peaceful ambiance. Apart from providing a pleasant smell, aromatherapy oils used in an oil diffuser can provide respiratory disinfection, decongestant, and psychological benefits. Essential oils have so many holistic benefits.
I’ll explore my favorite essential oils & their benefits in a future post. For now, my favorites include Lavender-Restful sleep, mood improvement; Tea Tree-deodorizing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties; Lemongrass– Clarifying, mental cleansing.
Himalayan salt lamps are crystals carved from amber-colored rock salt, hollowed out to fit a lightbulb inside. When you light them, they give out a warm, reddish-pink glow. The lamps can boost mood, improve sleep, ease allergies, help people with asthma breathe better, and clean the air, among other benefits.
Positive Affirmations & Scripting
Reciting positive affirmations and scripting are a great addition to any self-care routine. Scripting is fairly new to me and is something I’ve been practicing the last few weeks daily. Scripting is a Law of Attraction technique; a form of journaling that involves writing in detail about the reality that you want to manifest. It involves letting your imagination take hold and then communicating this through words, in an almost story-like way. It can be a really fun and rewarding way to work with manifestation.
Combining positive affirmations and scripting helps get me in that higher vibrating frequency & brings joy to my circumstances. Combat that natural tendency by finding positive things to focus on. People who think more positively live longer, have lower rates of depression, and better cardiovascular health, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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Lofi, Chill Music
Music. Jam out to your favorite song or album, or simply chill out. I love to listen to LoFi music to unwind, read, or study.
“Lo-fi” means “low-fidelity,” a term for music where you can hear imperfections that would typically be considered errors in the recording process. However, those “mistakes” become an intentional part of the listening experience and is often used in therapeutic situations to acclimate stress in stressful environments. Tuning into familiar sounds, curated in a new, rhythmic way, might soothe anxieties about things out of your control.
In a pandemic, with everyone feeling the stress of uncertainty, it makes sense that lo-fi is drawing new listeners, Raphael Travis Jr., a social work researcher at Texas State University who studies how hip hop works in therapeutic settings.
Whichever step, or steps you take to practice self-care on a daily basis remember to just do it. Small changes can have huge impacts on your overall wellbeing and that’s the most important.
YOUR WELLBEING!
We’re all in this together, the more we take care of ourselves the better we can care for those around us.
I love you guys, thank you for being here! Let’s continue the conversation in the comments or Contact Me!
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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That chicken recipe looks so good😍
Yess!! I’m going to post a few of my favorite sides tomorrow! Thanks for your support Sis!!