Self-Care is the meter to your well-being. If continuously filled, you’ll find yourself being the best version of yourself, often. With its ever-evolving definition, self-care is perceived in many ways. While you’ll thank yourself for a good spa day, retail therapy session (or two) or a just a day to yourself, you’ll be eternally grateful if you stick to a daily self-care routine. Mastering the art of self-care is not only granting yourself permission to do things that will provide temporary satisfaction, it is developing an ongoing routine to keep your life balanced, healthy and content. Before all else, you must feed your self-care meter. The key elements to mastering this art are focusing on three basic things: your mind, body and soul.
Start each day with a glass of water, a good stretch and a 5-7 minute meditation. After a week of starting your day off like this, you’ll never want to go back.
Focus on the Mind: Balancing and clearing your mind is essential in the self-care process. Train yourself to think positive thoughts. Reevaluate any situations or people in your life that will interfere with this process. Surrounding yourself with positive, optimistic people is a great way to keep your mind in a healthy space. Recite positive affirmations to yourself when dealing with difficult situations. “This too shall pass”, “I am strong, and I will overcome this”, “I will do great things.” Meditate and focus on your breathing often. Don’t sweat the small stuff of everyday life. Remind yourself of the things that bring you to your happy place and make your core feel whole. Put down your phone and connect with the world in person. Allow yourself to laugh A LOT.
Focus on the Body: Your body is your temple, and you must treat it as such. Make sure to give yourself enough hours of sleep each night (7-9 hours). Your body cannot function properly when it’s constantly exhausted. Remember to breathe. Take moments out of the day to focus on your breathing. Maintain a well-balanced, healthy diet. Meditate often, stretch, exercise and drink plenty of water. Do not force yourself to do anymore than you can handle. Your body knows when it has had enough, and it will let you know. Take a moment to relax.
Focus on the Spirit: Connect with your spirituality by taking moments to decompress, pray and meditate. Whether you are praying to your God or focusing on your life motto, take a small amount of time each day to connect spiritually with the things that mean most to you. Morals and faith will get you through the roughest parts of your life and it’s much easier to overcome your hurdles when those morals and faith are continuously in the forefront of your mind.
Fill your self-care routine with all of the effortless things that leave you feeling revitalized and at ease. Self-care is just the beginning of the journey to a happy, healthy life! Invite your loved ones along on this journey with you.
Five Tips for the Best Meditation Experience:
1. Find a calm, quiet place (For me, this means waking up 10 minutes before the rest of my house!)
2. Stretch your body first.
3. Sit in a still, straight and comfortable position.
4. Keep your eyes closed and focus on your breathing.
5. Allow your mind to go wherever it needs to…but don’t stay on one thought for too long.
Share your self-care routine with the TLU family below!
Love and positivity.