Ditch the trends ➡️ discover the self-care that lights you up

Read on for action steps to design your personal self-care routine

If you don’t love yourself, nobody will. Not only that, you won’t be good at loving anyone else. Loving starts with the self.” —Wayne Dyer

1. I finished a hectic workday with a headache, tight shoulders, and a sore neck. I had spent all my mental energy on a computer.

2. I finished a hectic workday with joy, energy, and motivation to make a delicious dinner, take a walk, and exercise.

I have experienced both of the above statements.

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#2 statement generally happens when I am practicing self-care throughout the day. My self-care during the day is more like micro-self-care moments. All I need is 5 minutes to renew my energy and flow state at work. Self-care for busy professionals could be my middle name. I constantly ask my team if they are taking micro self-care breaks during the day.

#1 statement happens when I don’t get out of my chair and take breaks. Simple as that. Those short breaks during the workday are essential to my well-being.

For me, it’s more than just pockets of self-care time at work though. I have found personal self-care rituals that, when practiced consistently, help me stay at the top of my physical and mental game (almost all the time).

I can google self-care tips and find bubble baths and massages, but that doesn’t always work for me. I tap into my soul and do what makes me the calmest and happiest for my self-care, rather than simply following self-care trends.

You hear about self-care all the time, right?

I got to the point where I was bypassing self-care articles because I’d heard it all already. Then I realized I could write my own self-care story by looking inside myself and figuring out what self-care truly lights me up and gives me renewal energy.

In doing so, I decided to ditch the usual articles and dig into research. One study found that med students who engaged in self-care practices were better able to cope with stress and had a higher quality of life.  ✨

Additionally, those who practiced a variety of self-care techniques were more likely to be resilient and less prone to experiencing high levels of distress during their medical training. Maybe I am not quite as busy as a med student, but I am always on the run doing something (including fun) or working. I know for a FACT that my self-care practices help me to stress less and love my moments more.  ✨

Self-care is super important for your well-being

I know, I know… you’ve heard that self-care isn’t selfish over and over. But sometimes, we need to hear that over and over if we aren’t actually participating in our own self-care/renewal practices.

In some ways (for me) it’s about survival. Just like your phone needs a charge (yep, I said that), so do you. Without these micro-breaks and renewal moments, stress can build, energy can plummet, and you start to feel more reactive than proactive. Making time for yourself means so much more than just feeling good.

Regular self-care and renewal practices can lead to long-term vitality, better focus, and better emotional balance.

Are you sold yet?  ✨

Self-care looks different for everyone. The goal is to find what works for you.

Discover your personal self-care rituals

Grab your journal and consider pondering the question prompts that follow. The answers will help you design your own personalized renewal time:

What makes me feel most energized and happy?

When during the day do I usually feel the most drained?

What do I wish I had more time for, but never do?

How much time can I realistically commit to my daily renewal?

What’s one or two small shifts I can make today to make my well-being a priority?

I posted a thread this week asking you what your biggest challenge was in staying consistent with health habits. My answer was my meditation and manifesting practice. I was putting it off because I wanted to push through and work more on my wellness business. I haven’t been prioritizing that, even though I know I should.

The thing is, I have proven to myself over and over that I show up better for myself, my work and others when I meditate regularly.

I am going to answer the above questions to re-create and commit to my own self-care.

My answers

Q: What makes me feel most energized and happy?

A: Nature, adventures (big and small), being in the kitchen, being with my family, meditation practice and manifesting.

Q: When during the day do I usually feel the most drained?

A: In the evening around 7:30 PM I start to fade.

Q: What do I wish I had more time for, but never do?

A: It has recently been meditation and manifesting, but also spending more time in the kitchen cooking. It brings me joy, but I don’t have a lot of time during the week for this.

Q: How much time can I realistically commit to my daily renewal?

A: 30 minutes in the morning and possibly 15-30 minutes in the evening.

Q: What’s one or two small shifts I can make today to make my well-being a priority?

A: Use a timer in the mornings for my work and stick to it. I have a paid membership to Insight Timer and they have some great focus timers that I have successfully used in the past to stick to my time blocks. Once the work timer is up, then I can start a self-care ‘renewal’ timer.

By answering these questions, you’ll uncover what renewal looks like for you. This is not to add anything more to your plate (I know you’re busy).

I want you to discover the essential, soul-nourishing moments that help you to be at your best and stress less.

How to put this into action

Look at your answers. Reflect upon what you wrote for a few minutes. Now write a one-paragraph plan of action for yourself.

Here’s mine:

I feel most energized and happy when I consistently meditate, cook healthy (and easy) meals, and spend time in nature. I am naturally most energized in the early morning hours. I plan to schedule a ‘meditation appointment’ with myself every morning from 7:30 to 7:45 AM. Because I don’t have much time or energy on weekday evenings, I will plan easy-to-make nutritious meals during the week. To stay more focused on my meditation practice, one small thing I can do today is to sign up for a free or paid meditation app. If I pay for it, I am more likely to use it.

Psst… the app is playing focus music right now while I write. Focus timers are essential for this girl!

Click below to check out my fav, Insight Timer below.

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Give yourself permission to start small and build from there. Your self-care renewal time is very personal. You don’t have to follow the self-care trends. Create your own based on what lights you up.

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Cheers to taking care of you!