Category Archives: Self-care

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Posted by Jenni on May 13, 2012 in Bodymind Bliss, Self-care

This week, unwrap the gift of 35 ways to experience and appreciate self-care. Sometimes self-care is big, like spa day or date night. More often, it’s a state of mind that embraces you and centers you in compassion. Sometimes self-care requires a little planning. Other times, you simply need acknowledge the goddess that is *you* in the moment. Come back to your center, beloved. Remember that you are enough, just as you are, the crown Mama jewel.

“Self-care is the development of your highest self.” ~ Rachel Harris, PhD, author of 20-Minute Retreats: Revive Yourself in Just Minutes a Day with Simple, Self-Led Practices

5 more ways to elevate your self-care…

31. Witness your beauty
32. Do the dishes
33. Don’t do the dishes
34. Act as if you’re Mother of the Year
35. Write a love letter

31. Witness your beauty – Grab a sticky note and write, in bold letters, “You’re beautiful. Yes—you!” Post it on your bathroom mirror so you’re reminded every day that you are a true beauty.

32. Do the dishes – Wash, rinse, dry, put away. Do the dishes as an act of service for your family. Do the dishes with your full attention as an act of meditation for yourself. Do the dishes as an act of gratitude for the food that filled your table and nourished your body.

33. Don’t do the dishes – If the thought of handling the dishes overwhelms you, irritates you, or otherwise sinks your mood, let them sit. They’ll be there later when you’re feeling better, and there’s always a chance someone else will do them in your absence. (Hey, a mom’s gotta dream!)

34. Act as if you’re Mother of the Year – For a short time—a day, a morning, a minute—act as if you were Mother of the Year in your kids’ eyes. What would that look like? How would it feel?

35. Write a love letter – Write yourself a short letter—Dear me, What I really love about you is…—and mail it to yourself or tuck it into a book or journal to discover later.

35 Ways to Unwrap the Gift of Self-Care
{1 – 5} {6 – 10} {11 – 15} {16 – 20} {21 – 25} {26 – 30} {31 – 35}

Photo credit: Some rights reserved by Peter Hellberg

Posted by Jenni on May 12, 2012 in Bodymind Bliss, Self-care

7 Days of Self-Care: Day 6

“Self-care is the development of your highest self.” ~ Rachel Harris, PhD, author of 20-Minute Retreats: Revive Yourself in Just Minutes a Day with Simple, Self-Led Practices

5 more ways to elevate your self-care…

26. Indulge decadence
27. Cease judging
28. Transform your bath
29. Exercise
30. Don’t exercise

26. Indulge decadence – Dark chocolate, fine wine, aged cheese … give in to whatever delights your sense of taste. Set some boundaries around the indulgence, and then give yourself over to it fully and mindfully. Set the scene. Notice the texture on your tongue. Savor the taste in your mouth. Turn up your attention 1,000% and take pleasure in your indulgence.

27. Cease judging – Repeat an old behavior that feels kind of crummy? Mess up (again)? Worried that you said the wrong thing? Notice what kind of internal conversation you start up with yourself in those moments. If you’re criticizing or judging yourself, gently stop. Turn down the volume on your inner tirade, and let yourself off the hook with a kinder acknowledgment: “That’s what happened.” You don’t have to spin into some kind of positive thinking that may not feel authentic for you. This is about putting a stop to the damaging self-talk. It’s a great place to begin treating yourself with more kindness—and in turn, creating a more solid foundation of compassion that you can extend to others.

28. Transform your bath – Transform your bath/shower into personal spa time. Turn down the lights. Add candlelight. Apply a facial mask. Enjoy a whole-body exfoliation with a body brush. Massage your hands and feet. Add essential oils to your bath. Use the good towels. Stay warm—inside and out!

29. Exercise – In a gym, at the park, on your own, or with a friend, get your body moving for at least 30 minutes and break a sweat! Say hello to the endorphins!

30. Don’t exercise – Feeling mellow and quiet? Skip the gym and snuggle in. Sometimes it feels more truthful and kind to acknowledge your energy and your state of mind as it is. That’s different than just skipping your workout to do something else: Give yourself the same time and attention for resting that you would have spent at the gym.

35 Ways to Unwrap the Gift of Self-Care
{1 – 5} {6 – 10} {11 – 15} {16 – 20} {21 – 25} {26 – 30} {31 – 35}