What Does Self-Care Mean to You?
What does self-care mean to you? It could mean taking a 30-minute walk in the middle of a hectic work day. Or it could mean meditating for just 5 minutes before bed and putting down the phone. Self-care is different for everyone, but the act and ritual of replenishing the spirit is essential to our whole well-being.
Jean Shinoda Bolen, author of Goddesses in Everywoman, said, "When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life."
Here are 5 ways you can refill your well and feel refreshed:
1. Practice Yoga & Meditation
You don't have to twist your body like a Cirque du Soleil acrobat, and you don't have to go to the gym or a yoga studio to reap the benefits of these soothing ancient practices. Spreading your mat out on your living room floor or setting up camp on the beach are free and easy ways to integrate yoga and meditation into your life. Sit quietly for the first couple of minutes, deepening your breath and closing your eyes. Feel the elements around you if you're outdoors: the waves, the breeze, the singing birds, these are all a part of you. Then, do what comes naturally to your body, whether that means continuing to sit in stillness, gently stretching, or standing up and beginning a vigorous flow.
Wise Woman Quote on Meditation:
"Meditation is really letting go of all the thought processes or 'mind traffic' that gets in the way of just whatever is between you and space and consciousness." ~ Trudie Styler
2. Disconnect From All Your Devices
How many times a day do you check your phone - honestly? If you can't count how many times a day or have lost track of the hours spent scrolling news and social media feeds, then it's time to do a digital detox. Try shutting your phone (and tablet and TV...) off for 3 full hours and dedicate this time to reconnecting with nature. Take a long, leisurely walk to nowhere, tend your garden, sit under a tree. Any way you choose to commune with nature will rejuvenate your spirit and you may find that you didn't miss your phone at all.
Wise Woman Quote on Digital Detoxing:
"The pace of this modern age is not conducive to maintaining one's consciousness. Glued to our electronics, we are blind and deaf to the world around us...One can only hope we will awaken to the need for balance before we look up from the screen to find our loved ones have gone and our lives have passed us by." ~ L.M. Browning
3. Discover Your Natural Beauty
Instead of retail therapy at your favorite cosmetics boutique, indulge in a truly therapeutic treatment that you can do from the comfort of your own home. Hydrate with a glass of lemon-infused water, recline on the sofa with a pair of chilled cucumber slices over your eyes, soak your feet in a tub of warm water with essential oils of jasmine and jojoba. As you unwind through these natural rituals, you'll feel and look your most vibrant. Turns out that self-care is one of the juiciest beauty secrets - and you don't need a credit card to access it.
Wise Woman Quote on Natural Beauty:
"When you are balanced and when you listen and attend to the needs of your body, mind, and spirit, your natural beauty comes out." ~ Christy Turlington
4. Get a Spa Treatment
Every once in a while a girl has got to treat herself, so plan a solo spa day or bring your best friend. Facials can be every bit as relaxing as massages, especially with a professional aesthetician who specializes in making your skin glow. Both facials and massages promote blood circulation, ease stress and anxiety, and can even improve your sleep quality. If you've ever had either service, you're probably familiar with that delicious drowsy feeling that stirs as you emerge from your cocoon on the treatment table. Ahhhhh. Good night.
Wise Woman Quote on Relaxing:
"I only really and truly fully relax on my own. Give me a sun lounger, a pool and a sea view, and I'm happy." ~ Miranda Hart
5. Eat (or Drink!) the Rainbow
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably organic, is the cornerstone of self-care. There is nothing more important to our well-being than what we put into our bodies. When we eat junk foods we are treating our bodies like garbage disposals. But when we eat whole foods we are treating our bodies like temples. Whip up some healthy recipes in your kitchen - think hearty salads, non-dairy smoothies, and nourishing soups.
Wise Woman Quote on Healthy Living:
"What the canons of beauty transmit is an idea of taking care of yourself. Eating well, living healthily, doing sports. It's a way to highlight the natural beauty in each of us. The natural beauty that all of us are born with." ~ Bianca Balti
Self-care is as individual as the one who practices it. Find your personal quiet space of peace and reconnect to your true nature - which doesn't include any screens but might involve a sweet bubble bath...
