Happy New Year!! I hope that everyone’s year is off to a great start. My biggest goal for 2020 is to put a focus back on self-care. Taking care of my body & mind really fell off of my list of priorities throughout the holiday season. The start of a new year is the perfect time to do more activities that help your mental, emotional, & physical well being. I’m sharing my top 10 ways to practice self-care below. At the bottom of the post you can shop my favorite self-care related products.
10 ways to practice self-care:
Take a bath. I find that a warm bath after a long day or a tough workout is one of the most relaxing things. Toss in a bath bomb or bath salts, light a few candles, read a great book or listen to a podcast, & ENJOY.
Have a cup of your favorite tea. I am a coffee fiend but I also LOVE tea, especially before bed or when I need to wind down after a stressful day or event.
Read a book. One of the most calming activities for me is reading a captivating book. It‘s such a nice feeling to put down your phone, turn off the TV, & get lost in a great book.
Go for a walk & enjoy the fresh air. I absolutely love taking walks when the weather is nice. Fresh air is the perfect way to clear your mind. I miss my daily walks so much during the winter & summer (I am not a fan of the blistering cold or stifling humidity).
Write in a gratitude journal. I started this practice in 2019 & it has been life-changing for me. Each day I start by writing 5 things I’m grateful for, then continue with things that brought me joy throughout the week, ways I can show more appreciation to the people in my life, & anything else on my mind.
Listen to music. At the beginning of 2019 I realized that I rarely just sat & listened to music anymore. I was always on the go, on my phone, watching TV, & never took the time. Recently I’ve started making it a point to listen to music throughout the day (while I was working, getting ready for the gym, doing my hair & makeup, etc.), & it’s made me a happier person.
Stretch. Such a great way to reduce stress, relieve muscle stiffness, as well as improve your flexibility & posture.
Put on a face mask. I slacked off majorly towards the end of 2019 in regards to my skin-care routine. I’m back to using my favorite face mask once a week (SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque), as well as eye masks once or twice a week. It’s such a refreshing feeling!
Meditate. Another practice I took up in 2019 to help manage my stress & anxiety. For a few months I was meditating every AM & PM, & I could tell the different in my demeanor & overall mental well-being. With the chaos of the move & the holidays, I stopped & it has been noticeable. I made it a resolution to start meditating once a day, whether it’s when I get up or before bed.
Color or paint. Or any creative activity! Do a puzzle, garden or work with plants, knit, sketch, etc. I really love to color in an adult coloring book… it’s so relaxing & calming. I have terrible flying anxiety & it’s one of the only ways I’ve found to relieve it.
That’s it, my top 10 ways to practice self-care! Comment & tell me which are your favorites & if there’s anything else YOU do to practice self-care!
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