TIME TO PRIORITISE YOU
TOP 10 IDEAS FOR SELF CARE
This week is Self Care Week (13th-19th November). An annual, UK-wide awareness week which aims to make it everyone’s everyday habit and culture, to think and practice self-care.
But what is self care?
In its simplest form self-care is the little things that we do to take care of our mental health. It’s about listening to our feelings, making adjustments, and understanding what we need so we can take care of ourselves.
Practicing self care
Self Care encourages you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself so that you can then transmit the good feelings to others. Through self care practises you can reinvigorate yourself so that you can be the best version of yourself. However, what works for a friend or family member, might not work for you. Find what self care looks like for you with our top 10 ideas for self care - some will take 5 minutes, others a little longer but make sure you take time to show yourself some kindness and love this week, and every week.
Top 10 ideas for Self Care
MOVE: Movement of any kind - whether it be yoga, a walk, HIIT, pilates or something as simple as having a little dance in your kitchen all count. Movement will make you feel good as it releases endorphins. Remember our on-demand wellness library is full of classes designed to get you moving from just 10 to 60 minutes. Want some inspiration, try this 30 minute Yoga for Joy class with Jenny, or this 15 minute Happy Endorphins class with Hannah.
HAVE A BATH: Oh what a luxury we hear you say! Well now is your time to make this a regular feature in your life. A lovely warm bath is nourishing for body, mind and soul. Relax, and enjoy. We highly recommend adding Duxmore Botanics ‘Relaxing Botanical Bath Salts’ with Lavender, Chamomile & Petitgrain, designed to help you cleanse the stresses of the day away.
PRIORITISE SLEEP: This month we launched our new ‘Sleep Better - 7 Day Yoga Plan’. This programme of yoga classes has been curated to teach you how to relax so that you can unwind, sending your body into sleep cycles smoothly at night.
CONNECT WITH NATURE: Take a walk outside and connect with nature. Whether it’s just into your garden, to the beach or the park. Walk mindfully, feeling the ground beneath your feet and noticing what’s around you. Nature is a true healer.
CUPPA TIME: Take 5 mins to make a really good cup of tea and sit by a window to enjoy looking at the world go by. If it’s the afternoon, opt for a caffeine free tea so it doesn't affect your sleep. We love the Pukka Relax Tea with fennel, chamomile, oat flowers and cardamon.
LIGHT A CANDLE: Lighting a scented candle takes this relaxation one step further as it captures not only our sight but also our sense of smell, enveloping us even further in a feeling of calm (soy or vegan candles are the best for non toxic fumes). We love Wight Apothecary’s 100% soy candles made with the purest essential oils. Their Nuture scent was the backdrop for our recent restorative event - with Lavender, Patchouli and Rosewood it will comfort and calm your soul.
PHONE A FRIEND: It always feels so good to speak to someone. Or if you can why not facetime or zoom? Seeing someones face, even via a screen can make such a positive difference to your day.
READ A CHAPTER OF A BOOK: When you deep into a story or a book , nothing else around you seems to matter! Take some time out on your sofa to read a chapter and let your mind wander.
WRITE YOUR JOURNAL: Journalling is good for the soul, mind and body. It can help to create deeper relationships with yourself and those around you and help you deal with change too. Gratitude journalling is one of our favourites. Read all about how to get started with our guide to journalling.
CREATE A SCHEDULE: A little action plan can make you feel great. Planning ahead can help create a calmer and more efficient environment. Make some time for self care and pop them into your busy schedule to ensure that those moments don’t get lost in the hustle and bustle of life.
