🙏🏼 WHAT I DO FOR MY SELF CARE 🙏🏼
Around 10 days ago, at the Goddess Within Retreat held by Gina Genie, we spoke about self care a lot. So I wanted to share what I do for my self care.
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Working for myself, especially in the beginning, I didn’t really stop. I struggled to slow down and rest. Over the last 6 years, I put these structures in place I’m going to share with you for my wellbeing and for to better serve everyone else.
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🔻 Writing 3 Pages in the Morning (30 min every day)
- This is a brain dump of everything you have in your mind. It actually helped with expressing myself better and have more ideas. It’s an exercise from the book the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
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🔻 Meditate (10-15 min every day)
- I do transcendental meditation where I repeat a mantra over and over again. I time it on Insight Timer.
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🔻 Workout (3-4 workouts a week, 30 min each)
- This saved my life. It helped me be in my body more, feel stronger and have a clearer mind. I eat regularly now as well as the food is all in there. I do Shona Vertue’s 12 week workout and meal programme.
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🔻 Spend time in nature (at least once a week 3 hours)
- I moved to live near Hampstead Heath specifically for this. There is a bench I go to sit with a book. I turn off my phone. I just sit on that bench for a good while watching the trees and the meadow and reading.
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🔻 Dance (1-2 times a week 5rhythms)
- This helps me to come back to my body, feel my emotions, surrender, connect with my playfulness. There is a beautiful community whichever class I go to, so it’s great for connecting with people too.
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🔻 Bath (2-3 times a week for 30 mins minimum)
- I do this especially after workshops with epsom salt, essential oils and peaceful music. I remember not giving myself this time and keep pushing and pushing until I breakdown. When I take a bath, that doesn’t happen.
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🔻 Connect with friends (at least once a week)
- I’m grateful I have people in my life I can contact when I feel down and go, “Hey just want to let it out. I feel .... “ They just listen and say, “I hear you and I feel you etc.” without saving or fixing. They also celebrate my successes with me. There is a quote from the movie Into the Wild, “Happiness only real when shared.” No matter how much of a lone wolf you might be, you have a hardwired need for connection as a human.
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🔻 Have a Life Coach (twice a month)
- I have a coach for 3 years now which is therapy/healing too. I can say this is a must now for me like brushing teeth. One of the best things I did for my life. I really believe if you want to create a life living your full potential, you need to have a coach/mentor. You can’t do it all alone.
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🔻 Have Fun & Be Playful (whenever)
- This is things like making silly jokes, jumping on trampoline, going into ball pits, adventure parks, going to comedy improv (if you like this please let me know, let’s go together)
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This was built over a period of 6 years. It didn’t happen overnight. I wasn’t born with a morning routine, working out regularly, meditating and dancing. I used to rebel against any structure which is a structure in itself that doesn’t serve, so I made one that served me.
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These structures allow me to rest then get back into creating. If I don’t follow these, I go into overwhelm, I have a breakdown and it’s just not nice.
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Of course I have fall backs. I have days where I need more sleep and I just do 10 min meditation in the morning. I have weeks where I forgot to take bath or go to walk in the forest. I notice the difference. When I don’t journal, I’m not grounded and centred. I start to feel agitated not enjoying my life. Then I look at this list and go, “Oh I totally haven’t gone to dancing in 3 weeks, let me get back to it next week.” Then I’m good 😍
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This also changed in the past few years. It’s ok to be flexible about it. Especially as women, adapt it to where you are in your menstruation cycle. I don’t workout when I bleed for example and I notice journaling becomes easier around this time.
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Give yourself permission to take good care of yourself. Self care is something you give to yourself regardless, it’s not something you earn after working hard. It’s always there 💛
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Take one thing from this post that is suitable for your life currently or another idea that came to you while reading this post, do it for one week. Start small. Adjust it as you go and see how you feel 🤗
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Would love to hear your thoughts on this or any questions you might have 🙏🏼
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I love you 💛