Simple Acts of Self Care

Self-Care

Self-care.  By now, you have likely heard this word buzzing around on tv or you’ve seen it spanning magazine covers or your Instagram feed.  Simply put, self-care is intentional activity that benefits your mental, emotional, and physical health.  As I write this, a stay-at-home order has been issued for the state of North Carolina due to the virus that shall not be named.  What better time to take self-care to heart and start putting into regular practice some of the things that bring you joy and allow you to be the best version of, well, you?  Read on for some ideas, many of which cost nothing, yet provide the biggest feel-good reward.

As with most acts of love, self-care is personal and unique to the recipient.  It doesn’t fit the constraints of a check-list and it doesn’t have to be blocked out on the calendar (unless you find lists and calendars satisfying, of course).  For me, self-care looks like establishing a bedtime routine, setting boundaries with people, savoring coffee in the morning with my dogs by my side, listening to music, reading on the porch (bonus if it’s a warm, sunny day), cooking a meal, yoga in my living room, going for walks, skin care, and making the bed every morning.  While these acts may look a little different depending on the day, all of these things combined allow me to be at my peak performance and help me feel balanced in life.

Let's Get Physical

Physical activity is a big player in nurturing my mental and emotional health.  Now, I’m not going to pretend to be some fitness and health guru.  I know what works for me and working out from home is one of my favorite pastimes.  I’m not tied to gym fees and I don’t have the feeling of guilt that comes from paying for something I don’t always use.  If you live in a neighborhood with sidewalks, USE THEM!  Get outside!  Whatever that outdoor activity looks like for you, embrace the fresh air and endorphins.  Now that the weather is getting nicer, I have been venturing to Joyner Park in Wake Forest to hit the trails and enjoy the great outdoors.  If you don’t live in Wake Forest, there are plenty of greenspaces to enjoy throughout Wake County.  To make it easy, I have provided a comprehensive guide to all greenway trails in the area.  If yoga is the way you prefer to decompress, I recommend streaming  Yoga with Adriene via YouTube for your at-home sessions.  Pinterest is LOADED with tons of at-home workouts as well that require only a few pieces of equipment, if any at all.    

Beauty and You

Self-care is often associated with beauty and this is a department where I have always had little interest.  I’m not someone who regularly gets her nails done, I don’t get facials, I can count on one hand the amount of professional massages I’ve had, and I opt for balayage at the salon because it requires minimal upkeep.  I am, however, proud to say that in the last year or so I have developed a bit of a skin-care routine. Growing up, a beauty routine is not something I remember being overly emphasized.  My mom keeps it simple.  She wears little makeup, introduced me to witch hazel as a toner, and moisturizes with Vaseline.  Yes, Vaseline.  And she has the skin of someone 20 years her junior!  For anyone wondering, I still use witch hazel regularly and before bed I slather on Neutrogena’s anti-aging cream.  After every shower, I use Neutrogena’s moisturizing gel featuring hyaluronic acid AND Neutrogena’s bright boost serum which packs a punch with Vitamin-C.  Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!  Also, please know that this section is NOT a paid advertisement by Neutrogena; I just prefer to use a product that is tried and true.  (Although, if anyone from Neutrogena is reading, please contact me; after all, a side hustle is another form of self-care).

No matter how you choose to practice self-care, always remember to be kind to yourself.  Talk to yourself the way you would talk to your best friend and allow yourself room for grace.  To help you be your best, some additional ways of showing yourself love are:

Drink water - we are just like houseplants and we need consistent hydration and Vitamin-D in order to flourish

Take a long bath

Burn a candle

Meditate/sit in silence

Keep a journal

Plant a garden

Volunteer your time

Give your home a deep clean

Declutter

Learn something new

Remove yourself from negative people

Watch your favorite tv show or movie with no distractions