The Self Care Myth

Self-Care doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. The only “right way” is to find several tools that work for your personality, lifestyle and budget, that alsomake you feel uplifted. This can be as simple as taking a few minutes to do something for yourself – a bath, a meditation, a few 1-minute workouts – or something as big as getting a massage. Ask yourself what you hope to get out of these activities – if you’re just adding another stressful expectation or task to your life, ditch it!

Essential Oils

Essential oils are an effective, natural, and super easy tool to help reduce stress and lift your spirits. If you’ve got a diffuser, put a few drops in and let the aroma run in the background, or just take a few sniffs straight from the bottle for instant relief (close your eyes because these puppies can be strong). EOs can react differently to different folks, so try a few and see which do the trick for you. Some of our favorite calm-inducing EOs include: bergamot, lavender and chamomile.

Counseling or Coaching

Whether you’ve got a specific challenge or are simply feeling frazzled, talking to a professional will teach you the tools to be your best, happiest self. There are lots of options out there, and our therapists from Self-Care Saturday are a great place to start. If you’d prefer to go the coaching route, we suggest using the International Coach Federation as a resource. It’s so important to make mental wellbeing a part of your wellness routine. Feeling good starts with your feelings, right?

One Minute Workouts

Don’t have time for a “real” workout? Don’t stress! You’ll see more physical and mental results by incorporating quick, consistent workouts into your schedule than you will by doing one high intensity workout on the weekend. Pick a few one-minute exercises and create an effective workout, no matter how time-strapped you are (we squeeze it in while playing with our kids). Visit trainer Matt Royka’s instagram for one-minute workouts that can be done anywhere. Consistency is key!

Drop us a line if you’ve tried any of the happiness hacks shared at Self-Care Saturday – we’d love to hear how they worked for you!

“Don’t let yourself go unrecognized for the work you are doing, because the work you do on yourself is the work you do for the world.”

– Emmy Singer, Inner Light Yoga

We had some serious wisdom dropped on us at Self-Care Saturday by some incredibly talented folks, and we can’t keep it to ourselves. So, we’re kicking off a weekly series in which we’ll provide you with some of our favorite new happiness tips.

Yoga

Throughout your practice, in yoga and in life, remember to thank yourself. Share love and gratitude towards your body for being strong, and remember to honor what your individual body needs. Take 30-seconds every day to set your intention. Carry your intention and your gratitude with you throughout the day. Taking the time to care for yourself is a bold, brave and beautiful thing.

Nutrition and Mental Health

There is no single diet, workout, or therapy session that will fix everything, as all 3 are linked. In order to optimize your total health you should incorporate a wide variety of nutrient dense foods. Elimination diets can have an adverse effect on your digestion and can convince your mind that it’s in withdrawal, thus increasing anxiety, and wreaking havoc on your overall health. Bottom line: incorporate as much variety as possible, while still caring for yourself.

Herbs for Stress and Anxiety

Herbs are a powerful support system for your stress and anxiety, but they affect everyone differently. Expert Herbalist, Lauren Haynes, says to familiarize yourself with 3 herbs and make teas out of each (or buy them if you’re not into DIY). Get into a zen space, and see how you feel after each sip of tea, where you feel it in your body, and if the feeling increases after additional sips. Lauren’s faves for anxiety are: skullcap, motherwort, milky oats, and chamomile.

Sound Bath Meditation

This practice is about deep listening and paying attention to yourself. Take a few moments to check in with yourself, identify how you’re feeling, and try to understand it. How? Go to a quiet space, close your eyes, and breathe in and out to a count that feels good (try the Insight Timer app for 👌 guided meditation). We’re constantly bombarded with information, and this practice will help you slow your mind and become more present and effective.

The main takeaway is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to self-care. We hope these tips help you to discover what works best for you!

The Happy Hour

Hollistic Life Coaching

Tag Archives: self-care saturday

Holistic Happiness Series: Simple Steps Toward a Happier You