Lately we have been hearing the term self-care. It has been used quite a bit during the pandemic. Yet, how many of us know what it is and how many of us actually put it into practice? Does self-care have to cost a lot of money or take too much of our time? I think not. Here are a few of my personal favorites - they are small but taken together, they can mean a lot.
Self-care describes a conscious act one takes in order to promote your own physical, mental and emotional health. It DOES NOT mean being self-indulgent or selfish. There are many forms self-care may take. It could be taking a yoga class each week or sipping the most luxurious cup of herbal tea before sleep. If we are lucky, the pandemic, as devastating as it is, can also give us an excuse to slow down and stay close to home. There is more YOU time, which does not have to be a terrible thing as long as you don't think that you're terrible company :). The pandemic could very well lead some to find their own meaning and practice of self-care.
My self-care favorites have been taking walks on hiking trails and along the beach with my husband. I also love that luxurious tea (Numi white rose). I have become a fan of jade rolling and gua sha tools to give my face a healthy glow. These tools are used in Chinese medicine and they help increase blood flow and stimulate the lymphatic system. You can find videos on how to correctly massage your face with these tools. Here's a Jade Roller video I used and a gua sha video too. You can buy jade rollers and gua sha at Ulta, Sephora and other online sites. I love to breathe and massage my face before a warm tub. Dry brushing is another favorite that could be done before your bath. This is a massage that requires a brush. Again, there also are a wide selection of videos demonstrating various techniques - here is one that I have used. The result is exfoliated skin, lymphatic drainage and boosted energy. Finally, I have become a fan of podcasts. I tend to like murder mysteries, but I am always keeping myself open to new genres as well.
As I hope you will agree, self-care does not have to be expensive and it does not have to take lots of time. What do you do for self-care? If you are not quick to answer, what can YOU do TODAY to make your HAPPINESS a PRIORITY?