Self care is more than just skincare or buying yourself things, it can be much deeper than that, if you’re looking to go a little deeper. Self care embodies self nurture which renews our spirit and cultivates creativity in our life. Price tag optional. Have you ever asked yourself how ‘do I want to be cared for?’ It’s important to consider your role in that process. Here are a few practices, that can bring you in to the present moment so you can be in your body to fully experience the here and now.
Movement
Movement is healing, and it really doesn’t matter what it is. From restorative yoga to barre to HIIT to dancing to running, it is so nourshing to move the body. Other than the physical benefits of possibly losing weight, gaining muscle mass, or even bone density, you are fostering a mind body connection. Which, helps to alleviate stress and brings us into the present moment. It’s also really special that we have bodies that we can move, so take it for a spin, movement is a beautiful thing.
How to do it for free:
- Strap on your sneakers and go for a jog.
- Roll out your mat and stretch it out.
- Put on some music and dance it out.
- Go on Youtube and find an instructor or format you vibe with.
How to upgrade:
If you like my writing you may like my yoga or fitness classes. Additionally, many yoga and fitness instructors are on instagram, and it’s easy to find them. Zoom classes are abundant, and there are many diverse instructors to seek out and practice with. Youtube is a free resource, but a lot of the time there are paid programs that fitness instructors and yoga instructors offer.
Meditation
Meditation is for everyone, it restores the mind, body, and spirit. By sitting down for a few minutes and paying attention to the breath, we take a moment to step away from our hectic pattern of thoughts. Not to say that you will be able to get completely away from them when you close your eyes, but we learn how to compartmentalize our thoughts, our feelings, our emotions, which adds to our emotional literacy. Meditation allows us to look inward, which is our birthright as human beings. This can lead to a lot of powerful insights that can bring about more awareness about yourself and how to empower your spirit.
How to do it for free:
Sit comfortably in a place that you are not going to be disrupted. You can use a pillow, a blanket, or just the floor. Allow your facial muscles to soften and notice how your breath expands and contracts. Allow the thoughts to come and go, you are not trying to force them out. If you’re beginning, five minutes can seem like a lifetime, so do your best.
How to upgrade:
There are many teachers, apps, and videos on youtube that you can follow, some are paid and some are free.
Food
Cooking, eating, baking, it’s all therapeutic if you enjoy food. Making food can be a way to alleviate stress, and at the end of it you have an amazing dozen of homemade cookies that you can eat and possibly share with loved ones.
How to do it for free:
So obviously you have to buy food, but see what you have in your cabinets already and try to make something out of that. All too often it can be easy to buy too much at the grocery store. So raid the back of the pantry and see what you can make with what is in there. If you really want to find some free food, there are tons of things you can forage and eat. Do this with caution and look up more information on foraging before setting out with your basket!
How to upgrade:
Pinterest has a plethora of recipes, and there are a million food bloggers out there that have fun recipes that you can follow. There are also people who sell food plans which take the thinking part of meal prep.
Orgasm
Pleasure is something that we can lack in our stressed out overworked lifestyle. Also, the coronavirus situation that is going on in the world currently is enough to make anyone clench up. Masturbation is a way to release pent up energy, enhance your sensuality, improve your self confidence, and learn what you like in the bedroom.
How to do it for free:
Set yourself up with some extras, like lighting a candle you have stashed somewhere around the house or putting some oils in your diffuser. Get comfortable and allow yourself to be guided in the way that you want to be touched.
How to upgrade:
There are a plethora of sex positive shops that sell numerous different kinds of toys to play with. One shop that I like is Spectrum Boutique that is owned by Zoë Ligon. We are not affiliated, I just like because her shop spectrum boutique “is a sex-positive toy store that has a no-nonsense approach to sexuality and sexual education.” I appreciate that.
Journal
Journaling is highly therapeutic and is an excellent way to get all your thoughts out and onto paper. If you don’t have anything to write, or don’t know what to write, just start with “I don’t know what to write” and keep writing with no expectation. You might be amazed how much comes out in due time.
To do it for free:
You more than likely have a journal or a notepad somewhere in your home, if not, even writing on your laptop or your phone’s notepad is good in a pinch.
How to upgrade:
One could get lost in bullet journal land and the diverse kinds of journals there are. I tend to stick to journals that are plastic free to reduce my carbon footprint. My favorite journal that has been my main squeeze is the decomposition notebook. It is a notebook made from 100% post consumer recycled paper and printed with soy ink.
Breathing Exercises
The way we breathe is linked to how we feel. So, when you’re feeling stressed the best thing to do is learn how to breathe and to start to regulate your nervous system via the breath. Rule of thumb is that when you are stressed, the breath becomes more shallow and constricted in the chest. When you are more relaxed, we tend to breathe into the belly. So taking a few deep belly breaths is a way to reset your stress response.
To do it for free:
Sit in an upright position, long through the spine. Exhale out all the air in the lungs. Inhale for 4. Hold for 7. Exhale for 8. There is also a breath called “nadi shodhana” which is alternate nostril breathing. This type of breath is excellent for calming the nervous system and bringing you to a more peaceful state of mind.
How to upgrade:
There are a lot of trainings out there for yogic breath, as well as kundalini yoga classes. I don’t have any recommendations as far as teachers go, but do your research and you’ll find some excellent practitioners out there.
If you liked this blog post and are looking for more mindfulness, yoga, and overall emotional mastery, follow me on instagram @kiarahelen. Also, join the Facebook Group ‘Lotus Empowered‘ for exclusive content!
I love and respect myself, I love and respect my earth, I treat others with respect and love.