Selfcare practices to try out for some self love loving.
It's February the month of being bombarded by lovey dovey adverts everywhere about loving on your special someone, this year that special someone is you. As we know one's ability and capacity to love others is determined by one's ability and capacity to love oneself, like filling up a jug before pouring into glasses. So I would like to share some stuff, some things, some habits to engage that will hopefully fill up your jug or the very least empower you to learn your self-love language (s).
Spend time alone...in silence...doing nothing.
I am an advocate for self-awareness because I believe that self-awareness is the starting point for pursuing and living a that serves you, also empowering you to serve others in a way that is reduces burn-out. Solo dates are fun for sure but they can actually be a distraction instead of the intended intention of learning about yourself. Life is full of important distractions but sometimes you just have to be in still silence with yourself and let your thoughts flood and overwhelm you. Otherwise how else will you know what you need to address and heal? This is not just for emotional emotional awareness but also physical awareness, maybe you are always moving and doing 24/7 so much so that you are no longer aware of your body's efforts to communicate exhaustion, burn-out and impending catastrophic doom. So...make it a habit to just sit on a chair for 5 mintues with your arms crossed staring into the great abyss that is life. Nothing may come of it, everything may come all at once either way you would have given your mind, body and soul a chance to speak and be heard.
Keep a food dairy
In this modern age of busy living and zero mindfulness we may find ourselves eating more processed foods than intended like that show 'Secret Eaters' where people think they eat healthy but upon secret surveillance they realise they more junk than they are aware of. A food dairy can do the same for you, help you realise that you are actually not eating as well as you think you are and that's why you keep bursting out of your favourite jeans. Creating an awareness around food can also help you identify food intolerances you may have. I, myself, have many food intolerances as I have, self diagnosed, mild irritable bowel syndrome (laugh laugh but it's true, stru🤞🏾) . Tracking pain, bloating and diarrhea I experienced after eating certain foods helped me realise these intolerances, now I may not be able to give up all of them (like flour) but at least I know the consequences of eating these foods and can plan for them. Now please don't start calorie counting, we are trying to become mindful of our eating habits not create eating disorders here.
Buy yourself some new pyjamas or house clothes
We spend a lot of money and time on looking good outside the house, and there is nothing wrong with that because "dresses to impress", "dress the part", "dress for the occasion"; and in truth how we dress influences how people treat us. But the pandemic really changed our view on how we dress when we are chilling at home, we are putting almost as much money and effort into looking good at home where no one will see and compliment us. Looking good to impress ourselves. And although you buy a new work wear or date night item almost every month, chances are you haven't bought new pyjamas in the last five years (I know plenty of people to whom this applies). WHY? Why don't you want to look good when you go to sleep? That's why you have sleep paralysis the demons are trying to tell you to stop wearing rags to bed like you don't matter, cute pyjamas=cute dreams.
Force yourself to stick to your bedtime
Even if you don't have a set nighttime routine, you probably have an idea of what time you need to be in bed in order for your body to get enough rest and rejuvenation. Chances you have experience forcing at least one child to go to bed because you knew you they would otherwise be unable to function the next day, so do the same for yourself. Having done all your important tasks; turn off the television, put down your phone and switch off the main lights a good hour before your vaguely proposed bedtime to get your body in the mood for sleep. Even if you don't feel sleepy. Just try it, if for no other reason than to stop telling anyone who will listen how tired you are.
Spend one weekend a month NOT cleaning
Now now I don't mean you should live like a pig but instead of spending your Saturday morning cleaning, what if you spent an hour every weekday evening cleaning up a certain area of your space. Then you can reclaim one Saturday morning for your, to dance and make delicious breakfast.
Add Epsom salt to your bath routine
Or if you prefer showers like myself then sprinkle some into your moisturizer. Magnesium has many benefits, including alleviating muscle cramps as it aids in muscle contraction and relaxation. It supports hundreds of chemical reactions in our bodies and regulates neurotransmitters that send messages throughout our bodies and nervous systems, thus it has been shown to support better quality sleep and reduce anxiety symptoms. I personally find it calming, especially when I use it in the evening, my muscles feel relaxed as though I have had deep tissue massage and sleep like a baby.
For me self care is about communicating to myself that I am the most important thing in my life, because without me there is no "my life" and I cannot be anything to anyone. This may sound very egotistical and blah blah blah. BUT if you die because you refuse to take care of yourself because other things and other people are more important; once you are dead there is no life for you to live. All these other more important, pressing things move on while your soul floats in the ever after. It is about taking care of yourself so you can take care of the other important things in your life.
Cheers to sweet self loving.
LIKE. COMMENT. SHARE.
Commentaires