Hello, Blissmakers! And happy November! We are officially into Holiday Season now, so I thought this would be a good time to share some of my favorite self-care practices. These are all things that are easy to do, require little or no equipment, and can be done almost anywhere. It’s so important to take an active role in caring for the self. This is true everyday, but becomes even more necessary during times of heightened stress, busyness or overwhelm - all of which are classic symptoms of Holiday Season Overload.
Sleep is my number one self-care practice of all time. Getting a good quantity of good quality sleep is arguably the most effective tool for vital health, vibrant beauty, and sane mind. If you struggle with getting enough good sleep, you might find it helpful to establish a consistent bedtime routine. You could also consider limiting your time in front of devices to before an hour or two before bedtime. The end of Daylight Savings Time can put a wrench in even the most established sleep routines, so keep that in mind if you live somewhere with this practice.
Meditation is another great way to keep the body and mind in a fit state for handling the challenges of this stressful season. I always remind people that a meditation practice doesn’t have to be a super formal affair. You can do something as simple as setting a timer for five minutes, sitting or lying in a comfortable position, and just listening to the rhythmic rise and fall of your breath until the timer goes off. Easy, peasy! Do that every day and you will notice all the little annoyances of your formerly chaotic life will start to fall away. You will start to feel more grounded and centered in every moment. And a feeling of deep peace and personal power will emerge. Consistently meditating is kind of like transforming yourself into the Superhero version of you. I highly recommend it.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a bit of a bath whore. I love to take baths. I don’t always take them to get clean, either. Baths, for me, are a ritualistic opportunity to reconnect with myself, to attune to the divine feminine energy of water, to relax and rest my body/mind, and to find inspiration. I almost always find inspiration in the tub. Seriously, some of the very best ideas of my life have come to me while soaking in a tub full of hot sudsy perfumy water. In my opinion, there’s no higher form of luxury than spending an hour of uninterrupted time in a bath. But don’t take my word for it, try it yourself! And I’m talking salts, suds, candles, music, the whole nine yards! Aaaaahhhh … I am feeling relaxed just thinking about it. For those of you who don’t have easy access to a bathtub of your own, consider asking a friend if you can use theirs, finding a spa that offers bath services, or even checking into a hotel or b+b. And if you really just don’t like baths, you can mimic the experience in your shower.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it a thousand times more: Nature is my place of worship. For me, being in the Natural World - especially the wilder places - reconnects me with my more primal, authentic self. I get grounded, centered, and rejuvenated when I spend a little time in the lap of Mama Nature. Self-care is all about recharging and this is what I get when I get into the woods, the ocean, or even the park down the street.
A really powerful way for me to take care of myself while keeping my focus where I want it, is to read uplifting books. I enjoy reading. I love books. Admittedly, I don’t always get to read as often as I like, but I ALWAYS have a book by my bedside. Whenever I am feeling run down or overwhelmed or freaked out about anything, I can open my book, find some inspiring words of wisdom and/or encouragement, and suddenly, I’m feeling so much better about life. It’s amazing how powerful this practice can be. Even a paragraph, of the right book, can shift the trajectory of my life by miles. It’s a beautiful thing.
Now we come to what just might be my very favorite way to care for myself. This might be my very favorite way to spend a moment, period. And that is laughing with loved ones. Friends, family, colleagues, animals, doesn’t matter … sharing laughter with those I love is an INSTANT and MAGICKAL balm to anything that might be ailing me. And sometimes I can even find healing just watching others laughing with each other. It’s kind of like that scene at the beginning of Love Actually. So much love is generated out into the world through loving laughter. It really is the best medicine.
I hope that you are taking good care of yourself now and always, blissmakers. If you ever need any support or inspiration finding what works best for you, just reach out. I’m here to help. Sending big love and wishes for a beautiful season! xo