Self-care has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. It’s a powerful tool for managing stress, increasing resilience, and cultivating a sense of well-being. This is just one of the reasons why I’m on a mission to demystify what self-care is – because the truth is you’re more than likely already partaking in powerful self-care activities, you’re just not thinking of it as such.
Mindful self-care is a practice of being aware and attentive to your physical, mental, and emotional needs, by being present in the moment without judgement. It’s about making conscious decisions to take action to care for yourself in a healthy way. It allows you to create space for yourself to be present and to check-in with yourself to see what you need. It also promotes self-kindness and encourages you to be compassionate with yourself, while making decisions that are in alignment with your values and goals.
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS: Mindfulness involves focusing on the present moment and paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and environment without judgment. This can help to reduce stress and increase your overall well-being. To get started with mindfulness, try:
take a few moments daily to sit quietly and observe your thoughts
meditate for a few minutes each day
focus on your breath and the sensations you feel
spend time in nature being mindful of the sights, sounds and smells
create a gratitude practice
to appreciate all the little things in life
practice mindful eating
chew slowly, noting the flavors, textures and your thoughts
TAKE TIME FOR REFLECTION: Taking time each day to reflect on your experiences can help you to gain insight and make better choices for and about yourself. Some reflection practice that you can try:
journaling
meditation
spending time in nature
going for a walk
listening to music
talk it out – friend/therapist
practice yoga
breathing techniques
SET BOUNDARIES: Boundaries help to ensure that you are taking care of yourself and not overextending. This is especially important if you tend to be a people-pleaser or you struggle saying no (even to the things you really don’t want to do). Setting boundaries around how much time and energy you can give to other people is a vital component for looking after yourself. Tips to help you set healthy boundaries for your self-care that you can try:
prioritize your time
be honest with and respect yourself
don’t overextend your time
clearly communicate your boundaries with others
PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE: This means creating a plan for how you will follow through with taking care of yourself each day. If you find that you don’t have enough time for self-care, try to reduce or eliminate activities that don’t serve you (this is where those boundaries come into play). I also believe that you might only be thinking about the most popular or what others consider the “top forms” of self-care like: exercise, nutrition, sleep, or a fun spa day. If you are, then yes those things can take some time, whether on the panning or doing side of things. What if you viewed self-care as common routine items such as:
brushing your teeth
making the bed
chatting with a friend
playing a game or doing a puzzle
asking for help
drinking water
taking supplements
going to a social event
laughing
reading
listening to music
hugging
entertaining a furry friend
This is an endless list. And though it may seem silly, when you think about your normal activities as a form of self-care then I believe that you’re more likely to do more of them. By acknowledging those forms of self-care you’ll quickly realize how much you are a priority in your own life.
Unlocking the power of mindful self-care can have a positive impact on your life. By practicing mindfulness, taking time for reflection, setting boundaries, and prioritizing self-care, you can start to create a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Give it a try and see how it can benefit your life!
If you’re struggling with how to implement self-care as part of your regular routine or looking to incorporate essential oils and other forms of supplementation and holistic modalities, then please don’t hesitate to
reach out to me. I’ve got several different solutions, including a 6-Day Self-Care Experience Guide ($11.11) that will help you discover some self-care activities and how they’re beneficial. Plus, for those that like to use essential oils, it will teach you a few ways you can use essential oils to anchor in feelings, and help support your personal goals.
xoDanette