Let’s talk about self care. Whether you’re a workaholic or someone that prefers to take it easy breezy, there’s no denying the importance of self care. Nowadays, it seems the word “self care” gets thrown at us from every corner. It’s on every spa site, yoga studio, and cleverly marketed chocolate bar, which begs the question, “What really constitutes self care”?
We’d like to think of the practice of self care as beginning with, you guessed it, one’s self. The gentler we are to ourselves, the kinder we are to our bodies and minds, the greater our capacity to love ourselves and ultimately one another. In light of this, we’ve put together a list of our favorite self care habits that can be done anytime and (almost) anywhere.
1. Don’t Start the Day Off Running
The alarm goes off. Time for work. You go through the motions frantically - shower, change, coffee, breakfast, send the kids to school, feed the pets, grab your bag and you’re out the door. Mornings are rare moments in the day when we actually have some time to ourselves alone, so why do we spend it rushing around in a haze? Try waking up a half hour earlier to set your intentions for the day and enjoy some "you" time. This simple gesture, either thought through quietly or written down, can have a beautiful impact on the rest of your day. Some of our favorite "me" times include listening to slow jams (anything by the Lumineers really), lathering up our favorite hydrating body wash in the shower, and experimenting with different scent layerings for the day. We’d love to hear some of your daily intentions or self soothing practices, email us your thoughts!
2. Learn to Say No
Listen, we get it, it’s hard to say no. Hard? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely. When we give too much of ourselves to the people around us, whether it be friends, family or a significant other, we may forgo the things that make us happy to please others. Here’s our philosophy on this, you can only give your best, if you feel your best. Next time you’re pulled into doing something and you feel you can’t say no, remember this: you can’t fill someone else’s cup if yours is empty. Start saying no, and in time you’ll find how much easier it is to say yes.
3. Drink More Water
We feel this one hardly needs an explanation, I mean, who can deny the importance of staying hydrated? Not only does water keep you feeling more awake, helps with your body’s ability to recuperate and maintain homeostasis, it’s also a fantastic way to truly care for yourself from within. Sometimes, it’s the simplest habits that are the most important. Next time you reach for that fourth cup of coffee, try pouring yourself a cup of sparkling water instead. To jazz things up a bit, we recommend adding a few slices of lemon (aids indigestion), cucumber or sprigs of mint.
Xo,
Skylar
