Our world really has been turned upside down in the last few weeks, hasn’t it? Our day-to-day routines have been turned on its ear and we are just trying to figure out a new, somewhat temporary normal.
That makes stress levels rise and for some of us, nerves to be on edge. That’s when we need to take a moment and remember to take care of ourselves first. Yes, we have various responsibilities but if we aren’t a little more grounded and feeling a little more at ease, how is that supposed to make our everyday any better?
With what we are currently going through with the ever changing details of the Coronavirus, we need to take care of each other and especially ourselves more than ever.
So what can we do? Well, if you are anything like me, you are home and seem to have a bit more time on your hands. That’s the perfect time to focus on a few things that you enjoy. Just you. Not your family, your spouse, or friends - you.
I’m sharing with you a few of my favorite Self-Care rituals that seem to help me center myself and feel more calm. Try them all or just a few that appeal to you. Or maybe you have completely different ideas of how to find your self happiness. Whatever it is, I hope you take this small gift of extra time to be good to you. Which should help you, in time, be even better for others.
1.)Epsom Salt Bath- seems obvious right? But I have to tell you, it works! A friend gifted me a bottle of lavender essential oils a few months ago. I add 3-4 drops of this to a warm bath along with a 1/2 cup of Epsom salts and a few sprinkles of baking soda. This combination is amazing! It is supposed to detoxify and relax you and I say - YES, it does! Give it a try. If anything, you are giving yourself twenty minutes of calm, soaking relaxation.
2.)Skin Care- now this is something that I faithfully do every morning and evening. However, there is something about experimenting with a new face cream or just spending a few extra minutes with your normal skin care essentials. I’ve recently discovered jade rolling and it has changed my skin. It really helps to reduce puffiness around the eyes. I also notice that it helps my moisturizer absorb better. Oh, and I recently had a chance to try Dior’s Capture Totale Serum (thanks to Influenster and Dior !), and let me tell you, I swear my skin in clearer and glowing. It’s really good stuff!
3.) Bullet Journaling- I’ve toyed around with journaling for the last few years but I have never really stuck with it. Then I found bullet journaling. It combines my love of writing, doodling, and creativity. I’ve also found that it grounds me each day. It gives the opportunity to focus on what I’ve accomplished and what I am grateful for. It’s really cool to see what you can do in one day. I’ve also found that it helps to give clearer focus on what really matters. Less attention to all the excess BS floating around my world.
4.) Exercise- Seriously, I have recently discovered in the last three years or so how important exercise is for positive energy. Yes, it’s good for your body, especially your heart, but what an amazing benefit to the mind. I have been attending OrangeTheory classes for the last three years and it’s the first thing that I have ever stuck with longer than six months. It’s just the right amount of exertion to push your body and mind. No matter the type of day that I have had, I can leave the class feeling refreshed and more centered. Some days, I just take a quick twenty minute walk around the neighborhood and that’s enough to realign my stress level too. A true test is when I don’t exercise a few days a week - I am not a happy camper! LOL
5.) Meditation- Ok, hear me out on this one. I was always hesitant to try this. I remember reading Eat, Pray, Love many years ago and thinking about how I would never be able to meditate for a few minutes, let alone hours at a time. Now, I haven’t achieved lengthy sessions of meditation but I have tried to incorporate it into my every day. Sometimes I will just sit back, close my eyes and just focus on my breathing. If my mind starts to drift, I just bring my focus back to my breath. I learned this through the app called Headspace. It’s definitely been worth the investment. I also use this with my kiddos when they have trouble calming down or going to sleep.
Peace, happiness and health during this unique time in our lives.
We are in this together. Try to take are of you so we can all find a better way to take care of each other.
Thanks again for crossing this bridge with me -
Xo,
B.
