Self-Care Awareness Month

Happy Self-Care Awareness Month! With a new season approaching, new beginnings are soon to follow. The season of change is amongst us, the year is approaching an end, and the spirit of the holidays are right around the corner! We all remain to have the opportunity to continue the momentum of our resolutions. Is conquering the hardships of quarantine during the status of the pandemic through self-care one of them? If not, it should be. In these times, guiding and uplifting your spirit is crucial.

Self-care is vital to our holistic health and can assist with our day-to-day stressors that we commonly experience. Taking care of your mind, body, and spirit is not a privilege it is in fact your birth right. Your mind is linked to the most powerful organ in the body, your brain! What you command your mind to do will relay to your body and transform through your spirit.

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Romans 8:5

Therefore, it is important for us to recognize to not neglect any of our elements of mind, body, and spirit that make us whole.

Here are 15 “mini” self-care methods that you can practice at your leisure to begin your journey of uplifting your spirits now and all the way to 2022 and beyond! Enjoy:

1. Step into the fresh air in the beginning or the middle of the day.

2. Breathe deep and slow (Repeat 10 times).

3. Savor a cup of tea or coffee for at least 5 minutes.

4. Listen to a playlist of your favorite songs.

5. Revisit your favorite activity or hobby.

6. Pray and/or meditate.

7. Go for a walk, stretch, or do some form of exercise that does not require you to change your clothes or shower.

8. Take an extra bath or shower for the sensory pleasure --- and the privacy.

9. Make a charitable gift in any amount, to a person or cause that excites you.

10. Try and find a new favorite spot in your house to change the scenery (one that you have underestimated in the past).

11. Bake or cook something with ingredients that you already have; something that smells good and taste even better!

12. Begin a new project or seek a new activity you have not tried before.

13. Write in a journal: give a narrative of your day, week, or month (do not forget to date it so you can reflect at another time).

14. Watch the sunrise, sunset, or stargaze (or all the following).

15. Attempt to designate a “worry time” for a part of your day that is not right before bedtime (this can help eliminate potential of increased stress, insomnia, restlessness, and nightmares).