During our daily lives, we are always taking care of others and often neglect to take care of ourselves. Fall is the perfect time to slow down and do some self-care before the holidays arrive.
Over the next four weeks, our mindfulness challenges are going to focus on caring for ourselves. Caring for ourselves includes physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual. You need all of these to live a balanced life, and for that reason, we are going to work on all of them.
When I was a young single mother, I worked in the city. I lived over an hour away from my job, on a farm, with animals and my two children. Life was busy, and we had a tight schedule each day. There was no time left for me to care for myself. Lucky for me, I had two of the most caring kids. They were great helpers, and together, we came up with a plan called a Pamper Party.
It was one hour each week where mom (me) got pampered. We worked this hour in our schedule and made it part of our weekly routine. The hour went something like this: I would arrive home to a hot bubble bath. They would make me a cup of tea and play music for me. Then for one glorious hour, I got to sit in that hot bath and be waited on by my two amazing children. When I finished, I would come into the kitchen where they would be cooking dinner and doing their homework.
They loved doing this and thought it was fun (until they became teenagers), then it was up to me to keep my pamper parties going.
We all need to take a break sometimes and do things for ourselves.
I’ve created a Self-Care Checklist for you to print to help you on this journey. I also created a 28-day Self-Care Calendar for you to print. These are ideas and daily challenges to help you get in the habit of caring for yourself.
This week we are going over the first five things on your checklist. These are what I would like for you to focus on incorporating in your life this week.
Get up on time.
Getting up on time is essential to starting your day off in a positive way. Nothing is more stressful than when you wake up late when you hear the alarm sit up and take a stretch.
Be grateful.
Once you wake up each morning, your first thought should be to be grateful for the new day. Try to think of at least three things each morning you are thankful for before your feet hit the floor.
Drink a glass of lemon water.
You’re probably asking what lemon water has to do with self-care. Drinking lemon water every morning helps wake up your digestion system, boosts your immune system, cleanses your liver and kidneys, hydrates and boosts your energy. The best way to do this is to squeeze the juice of one lemon into 8oz of warm (yes, I said warm) water. Drink this slowly. It should be the first thing you put on your stomach each morning.
Cleanse Your Skin.
Taking a few moments each day, cleansing and caring for our skin is so important. It is one of my key moments during my day, where I spend this time practicing being present. I pay close attention to how great the bubbles of my cleanser feel on my skin. Then I close my eyes as I use my facial brush to exfoliate and remove dead skin. I rinse then spritz with floral water and apply my face serum. This process is one of my favorite self-care routines. Create your ritual around cleansing your skin and spend that time staying present.
Take Medications/Vitamins.
Hopefully, this is more vitamins than medications. Depending on your needs and where you are at with your health. Taking daily vitamins and supplements can help you be healthier and more energized. My favorite daily supplement is Holy Basil or otherwise known as Tulsi. It has so many amazing benefits, and if I go a few days without it, I notice it.
Try to get all or as many as you can, checked off daily on for this week’s checklist. If you are already doing some of the other self-care routines on the list, check those off as well.
If you are always doing for others and not taking care of yourself, you will eventually burn out, become resentful, and your health will suffer. When we practice taking care of ourselves first, then we can be our best for those around us.
You should always give the same care to yourself that you spend giving to others.
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