Self Care Indulges I Absolutely Love

Have you ever felt yourself extremely burnt out by your job? school? or raising children? Has there ever been a day in your life where everything, literally everything, makes you cry? And not just tear up, I mean like ugly cry.

I am far too familiar with these feelings and because of it, I have made it a point to practice self-help routines in an effort to maintain my sanity. Within the last, six to seven years, I do not think I have met a women who is not busy; busy taking care of loved ones, working, spending time with friends, etc.

Juggling a lot of responsibility can be rewarding as you cross things off your to-do list. However, it can also take a toll on your mental state. Bad days will seem much more consistent and you will find yourself putting your needs at the bottom of the pile while actively attending to the needs of all those around you.

I have compiled a list of self help practices that I will be doing in 2020 quite often in order to inspire self improvement.

Spa Treatments

I walked into Massage Envy a couple days ago to buy some skincare products they have. The moment I walked in and that aromatherapy hit my nose, I felt a sense of calmness run through me. I wish I could have stayed for a facial or massage or something just to be in bliss of that aroma. Spa treatments are so relaxing to me. Massages are best known for improving your blood circulation and for a working professional like myself, spa treatments help rid your body of toxins and take the load off your everyday stressful routine.

Vanish Your Cell Phone

This concept is still difficult for me. I don’t want to miss a thing so I am constantly checking my Instagram app. Nonetheless, I have noticed that the moment I step away from my cell phone, I am totally lost in whatever I am doing. I pay full attention and I am present. Have you ever heard the saying, wherever you go, there you are? It is important to just shut out distractions and be present in the moment, especially when you have kids. Of course, making moves and hustling is important for those of us trying to reach these goals, but you will find yourself feeling burnt out and tired. Taking a break will refresh your mindset and bring back that motivation and excitement you feel when pursing your passions and dreams.

Reading Self Help Books

I love to read and learn more about ways to improve, to become a better version of myself, in efforts to be a great asset to this community and to society over all. Its not always that easy however for me to sit down and read a nice book. My children barely let me lay my head on a pillow for a short nap, when they are yelling “MOM!” from across the house. Reading self help books have boosted my self-esteem, I have more confidence in who I am and I live in a much more positive mindset, away from bitterness and comparison.

Remember that you are what you think and even though at first you may not believe them, eventually you will see your life unravel in a much more positive way.

Have a Warm Cup of Coffee

There is something about a warm cup of coffee that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I don’t know what it is but I love the smell and taste of coffee. I use to be such a morning coffee drinker and I have slowly turned into an afternoon drinker. I do not know what it is about coffee but it really helps me sooth. I imagine that due to the caffeine, I focus better and it helps me rid of some anxiety, making me much more productive. After a nice warm cup of coffee, I am able to chip away at that to-do list.

Meditation

I am still learning to meditate. I have read so many articles and books about the positive affects of meditation. Most celebrities live by this practice. The thought of being able to gently drift from outside myself to inside myself is something I cannot wait to experience. I will be sure to share more once I have lived the actual experience.

Take a Day Off

Work-related stress is the underlying cause of many health complications. Mental breakdowns are real. I never understood what it was like until I had a small episode of one. I was so burned out from working my full-time job, attending to my children hand and foot, blogging and doing the radio. I love to blog, take pictures and work on this website; but I start noticing myself crying over stupidity and randomly feeling down in the dumps for days. It was aside of me I had not seen and I couldn’t understand what was happening.

Remember that your company does not own you and its good for you and the company for you to have a mental health day.

Exercise

Believe me when I tell you I have a hate-love relationship with the gym. I dread going. On most days, I am dragging my feet. But once I get moving and complete my workout, I feel amazing. My energy is up. I am friendlier to my kids and husband and on my bad days, I usually feel much better after a good workout.

Journaling

Journaling is probably my favorite thing to do. I keep journals everywhere; the moment I feel the urge to vent about something, I’m taking it to my journal. It helps me clear my head and get a vision of what exactly is bothering me. I heard in a podcast somewhere that journal is like solving a math problem. Although there are some people that can probably solve for y in their heads, but if you are anything like me, you may need a good old paper and pencil to write out the problem and proceed to solve it. The same comes with journaling. I jot down whatever is causing me to feel unhappy or taking from my joy and brainstorm ways to help uplift me. There are plenty of journals out there that will help you through your experience.

Saying No

Saying no was a constant struggle for me. I was always a natural people pleaser and just wanted to be everything to everyone. But boy is that exhausting. I found myself doing things I did not enjoy, putting myself in situations that were uncomfortable for me in order to please someone else. Although I am passionate about my friends and I honestly, truly and genuinely love each and every one of them, I am grateful that we can still be friends, after saying no. Saying no sets a healthy boundary for people and allows people to know what they can expect from you. Other people’s priorities will take precedent over your own and I am working too hard for success to allow myself to put others needs before my own.