By Jody and Michaline
Are you finding time for yourself during the upswing of the holiday season? We hear it repeatedly, but somehow get trapped into the everyday commitments and the to-do-lists that finding time almost feels like a luxury. Self care is truly a priority.
What is self care? Self care is a deliberate function that is self initiated in order to take care of our mental, emotional and physical health.
Here are a few tips to create SELF CARE as a priority
tip #1
DETERMINE WHAT YOUR SELF CARE LOOKS LIKE
Everyone is different, so what sets your soul afire is going to be different than your best friends. Determine what you need in your life that is going to bring joy and rejuvenation back in. Do you need walks in nature, daily exercise, meditation, more cups of tea in a day, sacred baths at night, less time at your desk? Until you decide what is important to you, you can't make it a priority.
Talk yourself into what the perfect uplifting ritual looks like to you and picture it.
tip #2
SCHEDULE
Now that you've decided what is a priority for you, decide where, when and how you can fit it into your schedule. Leave an all-or-nothing mentality at the door. Start with five minutes of whatever it is you need, if you must, but do it. Even a bath at night can be turned into a simpler foot bath in front of the tv, if you can't miss your favorite show. Start somewhere.
More time for tea can mean setting periodic alarms on your phone to trigger the realization you have to turn the water on to get the kettle going. Wake up 15 minutes earlier if you need meditation but can't seem to get it in during the day. You may even begin to notice times during the day, where your priority fits in perfectly. When you decide what you want, the opportunities will open.
tip #3
EVALUATE
Reevaluate what time of day worked for you and how you made it happen. Keep on it.
Did you stop sacrificing yourself to make your priority happen? Did you simplify some areas of your life that can remain simple indefinitely? Maybe you decided to use technology to your advantage to save time. Whatever you did, you've sent the message to yourself and the universe that YOU are important. Winter is a time to evaluate. That's self care just by doing that!
tip #4
REPEAT
If it worked once, it can work again. If it worked with adjusting one thing, it can work with adding in another. The best part is, the longer you stick with it, it will form into a healthy habit. Chances are, you are eliminating bad habits and replacing them with good. By next Winter, you will reevaluate again and every year you are a new version of yourself.
The holidays are manageable as long as you determine, schedule, evaluate, and repeat.
*The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
