30 Days of Self-Care

Hello Lovelies!

 

Happy Self-Care September!

 

Self-care is somethings that’s vital to our wellbeing but, sadly, it’s something that a lot of us—me included—overlooks.  This month I want to challenge all of you—and myself—to indulge in thirty days of self-care. I know, especially now, that it can be challenging to find the time but as little as 5 minutes a day can really go a long way in improving your wellbeing.

 

To get you started, I’ve compiled a list of 30 of my favorite acts of Self-Care. Feel free to try them out or implement your own. As long as your devoting time to yourself, that’s all that matters. And remember, these can take as little as 5 minutes or an entire day, it’s up to you.

  

Self-Care List

1.      Face Mask—put on a face mask and indulge in soothing music or an audiobook

2.     Foot Soak and/or Mask—while I love the Dr. Teal’s Foot Soak and the Aveeno Foot Mask, Listerine, garden herbs, peppermint tea, a few drops of essential oil, or lemons with a bit of warm water makes for lovely foot soaks. Lotion applied thickly to your feet before placing them into comfy socks makes hydrating foot masks.

3.     Hand Soak and/or Mask—I use the Aveeno hand mask, but you can use lotion and gloves. For my hand soak, I use a little bit of glycerin and lavender essential oil in warm water and soak for 15 minutes.

4.     Get Crafty—whether you’re trying something new or doing something you love, crafting is a great way to relieve stress and get a little me time.

5.     Write a letter or a card—not only is this a bit of self-care for you, it will also brighten the recipients day. There’s something satisfying about giving and receiving hand-written letters and cards.

6.     Indulge in a long bath—bubbles, bombs, oils, or salts make for the most satisfying bath. Taking a long bath is one of my favorite acts of self-care. I love soaking in a tub filled with my favorite scents. I make a rule that I will not touch my phone while I’m in the bath and I won’t allow myself to think about work. I’ll either, listen to an audiobook or podcast on my Bluetooth speakers, read a physical book, or listen to soothing music. If it’s a mild Spring or Autumn day, I’ll open the window and listen to the sounds of nature.

7.     Take a walk—just walking around the block can make such an impact on my mental health. It recharges me both mentally and physically.

8.     Read a book—just reading a chapter or two can leave me feeling accomplished and refreshed.

9.     Journal—whether it’s recording your emotions, gratitude list, or brain dump, putting pen to paper has a cathartic effect.

10.   DIY Manicure/Pedicure—just a little something that always puts a smile on my face

11.   Brew a pot of tea or coffee—I love brewing a pot of tea. I also enjoy the process of it because I find it to be relaxing. If you’re a tea-drinker, try a flowering tea in a clear teapot. There’s something magical about watching the tea bloom.

12.   Treat yourself—there’s no shame in treating yourself to something nice every so often. You deserve it! And remember, don’t feel guilty.

13.    Try something new—for me this can be something as complex as learning how to wire lightening to something as simple as learning a new recipe. As long as you’re having fun with it.

14. Meditate—I don’t succeed with meditation very often but I use this time as quiet reflection and relaxation.  

15.  Yoga—if you’re new to yoga, Youtube has some amazing 10-minute beginner sessions.

16.   Dance—sometimes all you need is to dance it out.

17.   Listen to your favorite song—just taking the length of your favorite song to regroup can be what you need.

18. Watch your favorite movie—there’s nothing I love more than curling up on the couch with a cozy blanket and my favorite movie or show playing on the telly.

19. Sleep in—just an hour of extra sleep can do so much.

20.  Go to bed early—if I’m really craving some stress-free me time, I will climb into bed early with a book. When I do go to bed early, I make sure it’s without my phone, tablet, or laptop and I keep the telly off.

21.  Light a candle—there’s nothing I love more than breaking out my favorite Fall candles (all year around).

22. Reconnect with a favorite hobby or try a new one—again, this is something where not only are you learning new things about yourself you’re having fun with the process.

23. Call a friend or family member to catch up—sometimes all you need is a gab session. One that’s not done through text.

24. Organize your closet—I know this seems like work (and it can be) when it’s supposed to be about self-care but I promise an organized closet and self-care goes hand-in-hand. Honestly, an organized closet makes for a calmer and smoother morning because you’re not searching for your clothes or shoes.

25.  Digital Detox—one of the best things I’ve started doing is going tech-free for at least an hour a day. I set myself limits. Somedays I’ll not go on social media after a certain time, somedays I’ll make it a point to pre-schedule work related-posts and not pick up my laptop after 4 pm. A digital detox does make a huge difference. If you can, try stepping away from devices for an entire day.

26.Create a cozy space—I love having somewhere in my house, besides my bedroom, that’s a comfy, cozy spot where I can just unwind.

27.Color—just 30 minutes coloring in an adult coloring does wonders for your mental health.

28.  Indulge in your favorite treat—it’s always nice to indulge in something.

29. Sit outside and enjoy the sounds of nature—I’ve been taking a cup of hot tea out on the front porch in the mornings and it’s really helped me to have a slow start to my day.

30.Have a lazy day—sometimes we all need a day where we stay in our jammies and do nothing.

Each Saturday in September will be dedicated to Self-Care so make sure to stop by and check out each ‘Self-Care September’ post.

What ways do you practice self-care?