I can vividly remember the day I turned 50 years old. Oprah had recently celebrated her 50th, like it was her first. She inspired me to celebrate the second half of my life by looking at it as a new beginning and by taking better care of me! I celebrated for a whole week, “exactly” the way I wanted. I had a couple of birthday party’s, a number of lunch and dinner dates, and ate my favorite foods without guilt, while letting go and enjoying life to the fullest. It was by far the most memorable birthday to date.
It was also then, that I stopped adhering to societal norms, and stopped trying to fit into a round peg with a square block. I grew emotionally, spiritually and let the athletic and competitive part of me go, recapturing the enjoyment of fitness on my own terms. Through the “letting go” of others expectations and nourishing my whole being, I was better able to help others and do so with a loving heart. Please take the time to care and love yourself and watch the magic happen…
Below are ways to love and care for yourself so that you can be loving and caring to others…
Self care is an act of loving yourself. Maybe the act is to nourish your mind, body or spirit. Whatever it is, you do something nurturing. You don’t put off from taking a needed break or having some me-time. You create a better relationship with self.
Self care is taking care of your inner home. And obviously, you do not wreck yourself apart when you undertake self-care. This means that you don’t give excuses for feeling tired, crying or going for an expensive pedicure. You please yourself rather than others. Very importantly, you do not experience guilt, shame or blame. So it may mean eating more, less or having an indulgence every now and then. You take a balanced approach to overall holistic well-being.
When taking care of a home, you would clear out the rubbish, clean, scrub, make it comfortable and beautify it. You feel nourished from within. There are many ways that you can undertake self care. Here are 70 Mind-Body-Spirit Ways….
1. Have a pampering massage. Book a session with a therapist instead of sitting on a massage chair. Get an hour-long full body massage for complete relaxation of your tense muscles.
2. Learn to say no. So you have been feeling overwhelmed because you are in the habit of saying yes to all kinds of requests? Learn to say no if you need some time and attention for yourself.
3. Meditate. This is my favorite tip! I enjoy being in a peaceful sanctuary, away from the noise, crowd and clutter. So whenever I am feeling tense, I would retreat into silence for a while. I practice breath meditation, allowing me to relax my mind. Consider incorporating this tip as part of your regular routine too! You will experience the benefits of mediation.
4. Have healthy meals. If you have been eating way too much over Christmas, New Year or any festive period, then give your body a break. Go easy on the meats and eat more of the greens.
5. Have a snack. It’s okay to indulge every once in a while, especially when you have already been pretty good at sticking to a healthy diet regime. Go snack if it makes you feel good – even if it is potato chips! Just know when to stop!
6. Wear comfortable clothes. Forget the skimpy G-string! Wear big comfortable undies.
7. Take a warm bath. Don’t just take a quick shower but soak yourself in a long and relaxing bath. You would feel rejuvenated for sure!
8. Go offline. Reduce mental clutter by going off the internet for a day or even a week.
9. Switch off your cell phone. Just for a day or two, take a break from answering calls or responding to texts. It’s okay! The world won’t collapse without you.
10. Take an afternoon nap. If you are feeling tired during the day, take a nap. No excuses are needed, even if you end up sleeping way longer than what is considered a power nap.
11. Pick up a new hobby. It’s not about work all the time. Pick up a new hobby to nurture your soul. A crafty hobby, for instance, is about aligning yourself with “creative” energies.
12. Watch a funny movie. Heard of the phrase, “laughter is the best medicine”? A silly or funny show can just do the trick in helping you loosen up!
13. Journal. Writing your thoughts and feelings in your diary or on a blog is self-help therapy that does the mind good.
14. Take walks in the park. Spend time in a botanical garden or just be with nature and experience wellness right away.
15. Do yoga. Yoga is a mind-body-spirit practice that helps you feel centered. Through appropriate yoga postures, you get to balance your chakras, stretch for exercise and experience a sense of connection with the universe.
16. Sing or listen to music. Singing is a vocal expression of your heart. It allows you to connect with your feelings. Putting on some music can also help you to get in touch with your soul.
17. Catch up with an old friend. Set aside some time to catch up for idle chit chat. Look up an old friend and laugh over old times.
18. Just be goofy. Being silly can really lighten up your day. I do it every week and am smiling hours after. It can make you feel young again help you to laugh at yourself and lighten up.
19. Sleep in on Sunday. It’s nice to be able to sleep in rather than wake up in a rush.
20. Write poetry. Expressing yourself through poetry is making music out of your thoughts and feelings.
21. Go for a card reading. Angelic or goddesses cards have nurturing messages. For self divination, try the packs by Doreen Virtue.
22. Do a detoxification cleanse. If you have been feeling lethargic, consider doing a cleansing routine. A detoxification cleanse helps to remove toxins, making you feel “lighter”, more energized and less tired.
23. Burn some aromatherapy candles. Use scent therapy to invoke the right mood, release your tension or simply to clear the air of toxins.
24. Remove physical clutter. Having excessive physical clutter around can weigh you down. Clear your desk to make some space. Throw away things that can no longer be used. And most certainly, give away your old clothes to the needy.
25. Play some music. Play the piano, violin or any musical instrument that allows you to lose yourself in the moment.
26. Get a babysitter. Caring for your baby is important but it does not hurt to take a few hours off for some needed rest.
27. Reduce alcohol intake. Drinking alcohol to make you forget your worries is a short-sighted measure. Getting intoxicated does not erase your problems. Having clarity, on the other hand, helps.
28. Get some cleaning help. Take a break from having to do ironing or washing that dirty pile of plates in your kitchen sink. Hire help.
29. Go to the beach. Let the sea breeze work its magic on you. Feel the sand from below your feet. Get a lift in your spirits after a trip to the beach.
30. Have a delicious scoop or two of your favorite ice-cream – my favorite tip!
31. Read a book. It always feels nice to curl up in a nice comfortable chair to read a great book from start to finish. A memoir that I recommend reading is Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
32. Scrapbook. Instead of simply creating scrapbook albums for photos, I have been using scrapbook ideas to make collections of inspirational quotes and sayings.
33. Flip through albums of old photographs. Old photos invoke happy memories. I enjoy going through my travel albums. Looking at my pictures – whether they are taken in Alaska, Mexico, Spain, England or Japan – makes me smile.
34. Bake a cake. Baking or cooking, for that matter, can be therapeutic. My husband enjoys cooking up a storm every once in a while.
35. Express appreciation for your blessings. Learn how to start a gratitude journal here.
36. Swing on a swing. There is something about swings that make many of us feel free, young and loving life!
37. Go for a swim. Whether we choose to take a dip or swim laps, being in the water makes us feel refreshed and revitalized. My pool is 2 blocks from my home and I go for a swim whenever I need to refresh my mind and body.
38. Try retail therapy. It’s always nice to give yourself a treat every now and then. Once again, no excuses needed! Don’t stinge on yourself by buying presents for your children or others only. Buy something lovely for yourself, like a new shade of lipstick for instance!
39. Play with young children. Being around young children can bring out your child-like side. In case you are wondering, you have always had this side in you. Being child-like is to be who you are, without a worry in the world.
40. Paint. Painting is therapeutic self-care that you wouldn’t want to miss out on. The last time you painted may have been years ago, when you were little. You awaken the creative streak in you that has long been forgotten.
41. Dance. Dancing can be a form of relaxation for some, it can also be an awesome way to meet and connect with new people. I met my husband swing dancing.
42. Pick up nature photography. Don’t just take family portraits or posed pictures, capture nature in its raw beauty. As you view through your lens, keep a record of the moments that take your breath away.
43. Listen to personal development audio tapes for self care. There are audios that you can purchase to build self esteem or calmness. Guided meditation tapes are also excellent buys!
44. Hug a soft cuddly teddy bear. Or ask for a hug from someone.
45. Practice some creative visualization. Engage in an afternoon of dreams by practicing the pink bubble technique for creative visualization.
46. Get a workout. Make use of the nearby gym facilities and get some exercise. Feel better after breaking out in beads of sweat!
47. Read a travel magazine. Let your mind take you away on a vacation. See yourself holidaying in the place that you have always wanted to go, and doing the things you have always wanted to do.
48. Take a holiday. Okay, I have to admit that nothing beats the actual experience of travel. Refrain from booking a group tour that tries to pack 10 countries in 5 days. Go on a leisurely one, instead. You can do many of your bookings yourself by researching online.
49. Go on a meditation retreat. A holiday and a retreat is not quite the same thing. For a holiday, your focus is about fun and relaxation. In a meditation retreat, you are setting aside dedicated days for quiet contemplation. Ever tried a Noble Silence retreat? Read about one of my experiences here.
50. Let go of emotional clutter. Spend an afternoon, night or simply allocate some time to clear emotional clutter. I do this at least 2-3 times per week, using emotional healing methods such as hypnotherapy, EFT or The Sedona Method.
51.Quit smoking. Smoking introduces toxins into your body. The chance of getting lung cancer goes up. Good self care is taking care of your body and getting rid of habits that do not serve you.
52. Have a vase of fresh flowers on your desk. This is a simple, yet often overlooked, tip. If you spend a long time at your desk, it is a great idea to bring in some nature and sunshine indoors.
53. Heal your inner child. Life coaching is a wonderful way to connect with your inner child. It taught me how to love myself and as a Life Coach, guide others in healing their own inner child.
54. Listen to music. Putting on some music can also help you to get in touch with your soul. New age meditative music can be therapeutic, healing and calming.
55. Drink plenty of water. It is important to drink the daily 7-8 glasses of plain water daily. Juices, herbal teas or coffee do no count in this daily requirement.
56. Switch to herbal tea. To reduce intake of caffeine, cut down on the coffee that you are drinking. Consider a switch to herbal tea!
57. Shield yourself from negativity. Find yourself surrounded by toxic criticism, scathing remarks and unsupportive comments? Stay away from people who are negative. If you need to be near them, consider shielding yourself energetically.
58. Write a love letter to yourself. Project 10 years from now. Write a letter of love and encouragement to your current self.
59. Enhance yourself by attending workshops. There are different workshops that you can attend for enhancing the self. These include life coaching, public speaking, personal grooming and so on. Taking an active interest in your personal development is self-care.
60. Practice tai-chi. Tai-chi is a mind-body-spirit practice that is described as “meditation in motion”. At first awkward, you will eventually find yourself engaged in a graceful dance after some practice.
61. Trash email messages that you won’t read. I know you have been meaning to but you have been too busy to read the pile of emails in your inbox. And you know that it will take you ages to get to them. Well, either organize them into folders for those that you are likely to read even after weeks or send those that you suspect you won’t ever read into the trash bin.
62. Take leisurely drives. Take a drive and check out areas that you have never ventured before. Doing so tunes you into the energetic vibrations of possibility, play and adventure. You release yourself from the repetitive strains of daily pressures.
63. Get grounded. If you find yourself being flighty and unable to get settled, then get some grounding done. You can sit next to a tree or go barefoot in the grass.
64. Make a to-do list. If you have been feeling overwhelmed, sit down and make a list of to-do things, ranking them in priority. Getting your tasks down on paper gives you a clearer idea of what is or is not essential.
65. Brighten up your wardrobe. Forget about the sober blacks, dull greys and boring browns. Observe yourself brightening up when you wear clothes with colors.
66. Simply smile. With a guide on 17 types of smiles, you can’t go wrong. So look into the mirror and give yourself a wide smile. Go ahead, you deserve it!
67. Book a healing session. Maybe it is Reiki, Quantum touch or crystal therapy. Whatever the healing modality is, feel revitalized after a session of energy healing.
68. Reconnect with a family member. It’s time to rebuild the relationships that have been estranged by time and distance. Call a family member to reconnect. Set aside past grievances for inner healing.
69. Create affirmation cards. Putting your affirmations on cards can make great reminders. Flipping through them at a later stage also reinforces your commitment for self-care. My favorite affirmation is ” I am becoming more successful every day’.
70. Create a Vision Board. Create a vision board for self care. Cut and paste pictures of you and the aspects of self-care that you intend to focus on. Want to learn more about Vision Boards? Details of workshop and program to be announced soon!
Share Your Self-Care Tip
What do you do for self care? Which is your favorite way or tip?
In Loving Abundance,
In Essence & awesomeness, Sharon
Schedule a Hypnotherapy/Coaching session with Sharon today call: 414-339-6574
