In addition to the daily ritual posted yesterday, here are some other elements to include in your self-care routine throughout the week.
*Eat as many whole organic foods as possible. Nurturing yourself with foods that are whole, nutritional and pesticide-free is an important way to love yourself and the earth. As you prepare and eat your food, think about and feel gratitude for where it came from, what natural elements went into its creation (sun, earth, water), as well as the people who tended to the growth and distribution of that food. Prepare your foods in ways that allow you to take in as much of the nutrients as possible. Season your food with organic herbs and spices.
*Drink lots of water throughout the day, again feeling gratitude for the hydration water provides your body as well as your ability to access fresh, clean water to drink.
*Exercise on a regular basis. Movement and moving are essential to keeping our bodies erect, flexible and strong. Increased movement increases the blood flow through our bodies and it’s a great way to release any tension and anxiety we may be holding in our bodies. Sweating is also a great way to release toxins. Choose exercise modalities that make you feel enlivened and stay away from exercise that feels like drudgery or depleting of your energy. Yoga, walking, jogging (if this invigorates you), Pilates, dance classes, and martial arts are all wonderful ways to move your body.
Combining your exercise with time in nature, such as walking or doing tai chi outdoors, also allows you to connect with the beauty of the world in which we live and to experience that particular time of day as well as the time of year. The sun may be just rising or high up in the sky or beginning to set. The air may be cool and crisp or you may experience a warm breeze. Depending on the time of year, snow may still be on the ground or buds may be visible on trees and bushes and you may be able to hear the sounds of birds above. Whenever possible, take your exercise outside in order to combine your self-love and care with love of the natural world. Experiencing our connection with nature through as many of our senses as possible is life-affirming.
*Have fun! Connect with others. Play. Laugh. Do something that’s not related to work or home responsibilities. Go to a movie. Rent a movie. Meet a friend. Call someone you haven’t spoken to in awhile. Do activities that remind you to be light and carefree. It’s important to connect with that playful part of ourselves that we all knew intimately as young children. Although you may be all grown up, that child is still there waiting for moments to laugh, giggle, and be carefree.
*Since a bath requires lots of water and is not very environmental, take a foot soak. Enjoy a bath occasionally, but if you really love the feeling of soaking, foot soaks don’t require much water so they can be done as often as you wish. You can incorporate your foot soak into the time you are doing your writing, reading and visioning. A foot soak with some wonderful bath salts scented with essential oils not only helps detoxify your body, but it keeps you grounded and still. When I soak my feet, I don’t feel compelled to jump up and answer the phone. The foot tub keeps me in one place. The stones in my foot bath remind me that I am grounded and they help me relax my feet.
*When it’s time to do chores, find ways to enjoy them rather than go about them with a sense of dread. If it’s time to pay bills, tap into a sense of gratitude for the abundance in your life that allows you to pay them. If it’s time to clean house, find ways to enjoy it. Use essential oils in your cleaning supplies that make you feel good. Turn up the music and enjoy moving to the rhythm and sounds.
*When change is in the air, look at it through a different lens. Allow any change to be an opportunity. Acknowledge when events or circumstances are out of your control and focus on the part you can control–your response!
*Get plenty of rest and sleep. A 15-minute nap or a timeout from your daily routine will bring you a sense of calm and rejuvenation. If it’s not possible to disengage for a brief period of time, simply take a few moments to focus on your breath. Dr. Andrew Weil has three breath exercises that take very little time but provide big results.
*Above all else, ask yourself, “What do I need right now to care for and love myself?” Listen for the answer and then just do it! Nike’s slogan can serve us well!
Have a great weekend! Namaste. Ciao.
