Self Care Sundays: Springtime Self-care
Self Care Sundays: Springtime Selfcare
When many people hear the word self-care. They hear the self part of he statement and automatically think self = selfish. No care for others. But self-care is so much more than that. It’s a necessary step in recharging yourself. In being the best version of yourself. In being able to give your best self to others. Self-care should be a year long practice that you use to restore yourself.
When I first started practicing self-care, it was admittedly a little strange. To be honest, it’s still a little strange to me to carve out slots in my day or week to just replenish and rejuvenate. It’s often so easy for me and for so many others to just take care of everyone else around us without slowing down and spending a just a few moments to recuperate from all our personal stressors and whoas. To stop for just a few ‘me time’ moments.
Lately, I’ve been a bit of a funk. A mood I like to call ‘Life Frustrated’. Feeling uninspired by anything but moving through the days as normal. Just going through the motions day in and day out with no thought to it. I don’t know what triggered the mood but it was there. It was hanging over me all dread and wary persistent to put a damper on my day. This was the big indicator that I needed to do some much needed TLC an self-care to bring me back to my centre, my chi, my me. It’s time I rediscovered my happy place in this time of wary. And since it’s springtime, I thought there is no better time to share a few self-care tips than now.
Today’s post will be a second for me and this blog. It is collaboration post between myself and the amazing Candi over at The Sunny Side Ja. So don’t forget to go and check out her springtime self-care tips once you’re finished here.
So without further ado. Below are some of my favourite springtime self-care habits to up my self-care routine:
Meditate
In recent years, I’ve gotten a bit more into meditation and mindfulness. I’ve loved spending just those few moments alone with myself to re-center myself and my mind. Honestly, I don’t meditate every single day. And I’m not meditating for more than six minutes at a time. But just those few minutes alone. The few moments to clear your thoughts and the mind honestly does wonders. It’s been a big stress relief in some tough times. A silent escape in worrying times. Noways, more and more I catch myself just stopping for a few moments when I feel overwhelmed to breathe deeply and enjoy fleeting moments of silence. And this usually does the trick.
Write a Gratitue List
A few years ago, I had learnt about the power of expressing gratitude on a daily basis. At the same time, I also learnt about writing a daily gratitude list of things you’re grateful for each day. It promised to improve your mood and guaranteed you’d start to see changes in your life. I was little skeptical so it fell to the back of my mind for a bit. But one day while in one of my little funks I decided to try it. What could I lose right? And you know what? It did help improve my mood. It does help me to feel more energized being grateful for what I have and accomplished.
Our minds have become so accustomed to negativity and comparison that we so often forget our best times in lieu of our tough moments. A gratitude list is a small step but it packs so much power. It’s transformative really. Plus it’s really easy to do. All you have to do is to spend a few minutes and write down 3 things you are grateful for that day. It doesn’t have to be life altering. It can be I’m grateful for pizza. Or, I’m grateful for my dogs. Something. Anything. Just write it down and with time you’ll see the differences.
Cozy Up With a good book
Reading has always been an escape for me. Growing up it was a boredom escape. But now, reading for me is a stress escape. It’s liberating to be able to slow down and cozy up with a good page turner. The mirth and merriment of the words dancing across the pages. The joy that springs to your lips as the words float through your mind. It’s a passionate and blissful journey to new ideas, new destinations and new experiences. No matter what the genre, to be able to slow down and read, especially in the warmer spring months and especially outside amongst nature’s bouquet is an absolutely refreshing experience. Now each year, I write a Spring reading list to help keep me on track and remind me of the beautiful pleasure of reading.
Be seduced by a scent
I love scented candles. They soothe and relax. They excite and they transfix. A scented candle has a way of ushering in a sense of calm and serenity into your domain. It fills not only your physical space, but has the power to fill your mental space. As a result, one of my favourite springtime self-care habits is to burn scented candles. Whether it be part of my pamper routine. Or, alongside a soothing shower. I burn it while I read to set the mood. Sometimes, I burn my candles for no other reason than I just want something to soothing the mind and the soul.
Have a pamper day routine
Since the start of the year, I’ve begun to try and carve out more time for myself. As a result, I try to reserve Sundays for my weekly pamper day routine. My ritual involves setting the mood with my scented candles, then starting in on a few hours worth of self-care treats. I usually start off with a mini-facial that leaves my skin feeling so fresh and moisturized. Then I move on to giving myself a manicure using one of my 50 billion nail polishes. I usually get pedicures done professional because it does not me to do my pedi so it is scratched from my list. Then I finish off with either plucking a book to read from my ever-growing TBR list or watching a movie I found that looks interesting. It’s a day all about doing things that relaxes me. If you want to do your own pamper day routine, start by thinking of a few things that give you pure bliss. It can be anything. For my boyfriend, it’s hiking. So while I pamper he spends the morning hiking. And we are both happier for it. Just spend the day doing something or a few things you absolutely enjoy doing.
The springtime is absolutely one of my favourite times of the year to practice self-care. The freshness of the air, the beauty of the multi-couloured blossoming flowers. The feelings of warmth that seep in to overpower its colder predecessors. And the feeling of newness and renewal it brings with it. It’s a time of year that brings feelings of calmness and endless possibilities. A wonderful time to spend some time with self.
There are so many ways to exercise self-care this spring. Whether it’s go outside for a walk. Doing a little spring cleaning and purging those unflattering outfits. Or, catching up with a friend over coffee or a drink. The possibilities are endless. These are just a few of my own little tips and tidbits on how to do some springtime self-care. How about you? How will you do your own self-care this spring?
Don’t forget to check out Candi’s post on her blog. Here are her links:
Blog:
https://thesunnysideja.com/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/i_am_di_/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/thesunnysideja
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/candi0939/
