05 | creating time for you

I’ve touched on this in previous weeks, but one of the best things that you can do for your self care is ensure that you have created time for just you. In order to be your best self, you need to take care of yourself first and foremost. You cannot give to others if you are empty.

In today’s world we are all busy. Whether you’re a parent, a business owner, have a full time job - or more than one, or any of the many other things that keep you busy it is so easy to put yourself on the back burner. You tell yourself “I’ll get to that later” or “the kids need me” or any of the other things that we tell ourselves as to why we don’t have the time to take care of ourselves. But what happens if something or someone goes uncared-for for too long? Imagine if we pushed our children’s needs or our boss’s needs to the side? We can’t - we wouldn’t. Yet we are so often very comfortable in pushing our own needs to the side. It is not selfish to take care of yourself. In fact, it is necessary.

WHAT DOES TIME FOR MYSELF LOOK LIKE?

It may be so long since you’ve done something just for you that you might be a little stuck here. Why do I really need this time for myself? If I can actually create it, what on earth am I going to do? You need this time so that you can learn more about yourself. So that you can dive deeper into your interests. So that you can spend time with friends that you don’t get to see very often. You can go to a class…to the library or out exploring your city. Or you can simply sit on the couch in a quiet home (or room) and read or listen to music or listen to silence and think.

But a word of caution…don’t go looking for time in your calendar to give yourself a little “me time”. I can almost guarantee you won’t find it. If you have a busy schedule it’s going to take some effort. You’re going to have to create the time. And you may even need to schedule it like an appointment for a while. Most importantly…do not cancel on yourself.

FIVE WAYS TO CREATE TIME FOR YOURSELF

1. Get up an hour earlier - How To Get Up An Hour Earlier

2. Stay up an hour later after your family has gone to bed - but be careful here. You don’t want this late night me time to make you sluggish in the morning or have you struggling to get up on time. Balance.

3. Sign up for a class either with a friend or by yourself (make sure it’s something that you are genuinely interested in so that it does not become a chore).

4. Create time around your lunch break for things you love.

5. Become more efficient with your time. Take a hard look at your days and weeks. Don’t spin your wheels with different tasks and you’ll be surprised at the time you might be able to find in your day. Multi tasking might feel like you’re getting more done, but I promise you’re just taking longer to do one thing and likely aren’t doing as well of a job with it as you would hope. Focus and you’ll create pockets of time for yourself.

What are you going to do with your “me time”? It doesn’t have to be the same thing…it doesn’t have to be everyday (as long as you’re getting some time for you during your morning routine and bedtime routines) but it does need to happen if you want to feel your best.

xo,
c

how to get up an hour earlier

Part of my morning routine calls for getting up an hour earlier that I used to…so that I have time to get all of the things done that contribute to me being more successful…and not rushing around all morning and falling behind.

I’ve never considered myself a morning person and I’ve always loved to sleep in. But now that I’m getting quality sleep I’m finding that it’s easier to get up in the mornings…most of the time. The following are some tips that I use daily to get myself up and out of bed at a reasonable hour…even if I might not want to.

disclaimer…I don’t have babies that don’t sleep through the night or other things that might make it unreasonable to get up early…I often simply don’t want to (sleep is amazing, but attacking your dreams is so much more rewarding). These are the things that I have found that help me outsmart myself.

5 TIPS TO GET UP AN HOUR EARLIER

1. Give yourself a reason. I often used to dread getting out of bed because I knew that as soon as I did I would have a house full of people needing me for this or that. Once I realized that getting up before everyone else gave me time to ease into the day (not everyone hops out of bed singing You Are My Sunshine) then I understood the value of getting myself up when I might rather stay curled up in bed. And I for sure regret it on the days I let the snooze button get the best of me.

2. Create a bedtime and morning routine that you love. Getting enough sleep is KEY to getting your butt out of bed in the morning. And having a set routine for yourself that you love only makes that process a bit easier. Figure out what it is that you need and want to do and do it. Read the posts on Creating a Morning Routine for Self Care and Creating a Bedtime Routine for Self Care on the blog and print out the planning PDFs.

3. When you’re falling asleep at night don’t play the “if I fall asleep NOW I’ll get x hours of sleep” game. It’s horrible for getting you to actually fall asleep and shouldn’t play into what time you get up in the morning.

4. Get up at the same time every day. Weekends too. If you didn’t get very much sleep the night before, don’t give yourself the “out” of allowing you to sleep in the next morning. However tempting this might be, it makes it brutal to fall asleep the next night and so the cycle begins.

5. Plain and simple. Just do it. It’s really not that hard in the grand scheme of things.

COMMON ROADBLOCKS FOR GETTING UP ON TIME

1. That snooze button - just don’t touch it. Put your alarm clock on the opposite side of the room if you have to so that you ensure that you actually get up when your alarm goes off.

2. Not getting enough sleep - see mentions of your bedtime and morning routines above. I promise that these really help.

3. Freezing cold room vs cozy warm bed. I’m pretty sure that warm bed is amazing, but you need to develop an easy system to beat the “it’s too cold to get out of bed” excuse.

4. Not having something to look forward to in the morning. Work on creating that Morning Routine. It makes a difference.

5. Your partner or roommates or children like to sleep in and you don’t want to wake them is a great excuse to catch a few more z’s. But that is all it is. If you need to be loud - get out of the house. Otherwise create a quiet peaceful morning routine that gets you jumping out of bed and attacking your goals and dreams!

What do you do to get up on time? Are you someone who hits snooze or do you wake before your alarm clock even sounds? What tips and tricks have you employed in your life if you’ve never been a morning person before but are trying to make yourself one? Do you see the benefits of getting up an hour earlier?

xo,
c

eo | uplifting diffuser blends

Creating diffuser blends to invoke a feeling or mood is one of my favorite things about using essential oils. At home we use different blends for sleep support, immune support, emotional support - happy, calming, festive (holidays!!) and more. It’s absolutely freezing in this house right now so I’m diffusing all of the happy and uplifting blends in all of the rooms today.

Some of my favorite oils are the ones that I smell and they just make me happy. Joy was one of my first loves and I still use it daily (either in a diffuser, as perfume or both). There are some oils that I just can’t seem to enjoy (geranium and bergamont both come to mind) however when they’re mixed in a diffuser blend they seem to work perfectly.

What are your favorite oils to use to brighten your mood? I have found that the citrus oils always seem to make an appearance for me when I’m looking for happy blends. There’s also nothing quite like Valor to make me smile.

xo,
c

04 | creating a bedtime routine for self care

We’ve talked about creating a morning routine for self care and part of that process is ensuring you get enough sleep the night before to be able to get up early enough to not feel rushed and out of control in the mornings.

WHY IS A BEDTIME ROUTINE GOOD FOR SELF CARE?

1. Creating a solid bedtime routine helps you fall asleep faster to allow your self enough sleep to start your following day with intention and strength.

2. It gives you the opportunity to devote some time to yourself to reflect on your day.

3. It gives you the opportunity to take care of your skin, teeth and body.

4. It gives you the opportunity to reflect on your day.

5. It gives you the opportunity to create a habit that is beneficial for your mind and body…the more good habits you create in your life the more momentum you build towards your goals and dreams.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR BEDTIME ROUTINE

1. Set a bedtime - one that allows you enough sleep with your routine and try to stick to it.

2. Gratitude reflection - take time every night to reflect on your day and the things that you are grateful for…small things and big things. You can journal this in a book or simply think through them. I do this as I’m in bed preparing to fall asleep. If you pray, make sure to allow time for this as well.

3. Dim lighting - when you are going through your bedtime routine, make sure that the lights aren’t overly bright to keep you awake. This is time to wind down and relax your eyes and body.

4. Stretch your body - include deep breathing and stretch your muscles to relax. There are also some great nighttime yoga routines that can help with this, google or pinterest will bring up lots of options.

5. Pamper yourself - take enough time to wash the day off of your face. Take care of your teeth, shower in the evening if it helps relax you. Take care of your skin and hair.

6. Set your alarm for the morning - be realistic and make sure that you are allowing for enough quality sleep. Make sure that when that alarm goes off in the morning you are not hitting snooze…not even once.

7. Prepare clothing for following day - are you working out in the morning? Make sure your clothes are ready and waiting. Don’t waste time in the morning or give yourself an excuse to not follow through with your intentions.

8. Think through the following day - anything big coming up tomorrow? I try to make sure that I go through my planner at the end of each work day. I don’t want those unfinished tasks floating in my mind and keeping me awake at night. Get them down on paper and rest easy in knowing that you’ve set yourself up for success the following day.

9. Essential oil sleep blend - I am a huge believer in essential oils for sleep. The blend that I use has given me the best sleep of my life and keeps me asleep. Falling asleep was always a huge problem for me and finding something to help me was life changing…really. Look for the recipe below.

10. Calm spa like music - the diffuser that I use in my bedroom also plays different music. I choose a tune that is simple with no pattern so that I can fall asleep quickly and stay asleep. This has made a huge difference in the quality of my sleep every night.

WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE

1. Your phone

2. Social media

3. Too much food or drink too close to bedtime

4. Bright lights

5. Excuses - just do it. I know you’re tired, you might think it’s ok to skip a night. But the habits that you are creating are so very beneficial to your overall health and wellness.

HOW TO STICK TO YOUR BEDTIME ROUTINE

1. See number 5 above. Don’t give yourself an out. No matter how tired you are or how “just this once” you’re going to skip washing your face…don’t. Take the time to take care of yourself.

2. Have everything that you need for your nighttime routine stocked and ready. Don’t make yourself go looking for the things that you need.

3. Make sure that you have properly closed out your work day - having unfinished tasks swirling through your mind at bedtime makes it very difficult to unwind and relax.

4. Have a set routine. Use the worksheets that you can download at the end of this post to create a routine that you can stick to.

5. Make sure that you love your routine. Give yourself something to look forward to, create a relaxing routine that you want to follow each night for better sleep and wellness.

HOW I SET MYSELF UP FOR SUCCESS AT BEDTIME

1. I set up my diffuser first thing when I go to my room at night - the sounds and the smells get me relaxed and keep me on track with the habits I am creating for myself.

2. My skincare routine is one that I love and see results from so I don’t feel as though I’m wasting my time. I see the benefits and love the way the products help my skin and add to the relaxed feeling I am trying to create for myself.

3. I properly closed out my workday earlier and know what tomorrow holds for myself. I’m not trying to remember the things that I need to do the next day. I think through what I need to wear and I get my clothes ready for my workout (which is still in progress for me…but I’m working on creating this habit).

4. I try not to eat or drink too close to bedtime.

5. I have created a process where I don’t have to think about the next step. Like putting on your seat belt in the car, it’s a habit and I know what is expected of me every night.

What kinds of things do you want to include in your bedtime routine? What are the possible things that might throw you off track? Are your nights all going to be the same or will you have varying bedtimes and routines? What can you do to keep yourself disciplined long enough to see the benefits of this self care practice?

xo,
c

eo | all about essential rewards with Young Living

If you’re a member of Young Living you have likely heard all about Essential Rewards. You might not be sure about why this is something you need or if it’s something that you even want in your life.

When I signed up with Young Living at the end of 2017 I decided I was going all in. I was going to slowly start switching out products that we had in our home with healthier versions and I also had a pretty big wish list of oils and other products that I wanted from the catalog (if you haven’t looked through yours yet - you need to! There are so many great products in there!). I signed up with Essential Rewards when I ordered my kit and picked a few items that would get me up to the promo levels.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE ON ESSENTIAL REWARDS

1. Free stuff….that’s right! There are new promos every month with items that you get for FREE that you might not otherwise have tried.

2. You earn points that you can use to pay for products - hello more free stuff!!

3. Customize your order each month - you’re not stuck with the same items or the same spending amount. Maintain a 50PV order each month to maintain your status.

4. Exclusive ER kits that are available for amazing discounts of some great YL products.

5. There’s no contract so you can cancel at any time…but why would you want to? I love when my YL box shows up on my doorstep each month - knowing that I’m bringing healthy goodness into my home every month.

HOW TO GET ON ESSENTIAL REWARDS

1. Go to your YL Virtual Office - not sure how? Get in touch with your enroller today!

2. Click on “Essential Rewards” in the menu bar (this is also where you’ll change and update future orders).

3. Follow the instructions online to set up your monthly order - you’l choose your date (which you can push through earlier certain months if you want to), your items and choose payment and shipping type (if you’re not on YL Go yet…you’re missing out!)

4. Be sure to note your ER processing date in your phone or calendar to can remember to go in and update your order each month.

5. Set up PV Assist if you would like - it’s a great tool to ensure that your order doesn’t dip below your set amount each month so you don’t miss out on promos.

6. Make sure to check the promos each month to see the great stuff that you can earn for free!

THE BASICS

I love that I (currently) earn 20% back on every monthly wellness box through Young Living (not on my quick orders though…so I always spend a little time ensuring that I’m getting everything I might need in my ER order). I don’t get those perks at the other places that I shop for myself and my family.

Not a Young Living member yet and want to jump on board and join my team? I would love to walk this journey with you. Click the button below or send me a message and let’s talk it through!

xo,
c

03 | creating a morning routine for self care

One of the greatest things that you can do for your self care is to create a morning routine that sets the rest of your day up for success. There are many people out there that would agree and they all have ideas on the very best way to do it…my opinion? The best morning routine is the one that you look forward to…the one you’re excited to wake up to and the one that you can stick with. Make sure to download the worksheet at the end of this post to create your own morning routine!

why is a morning routine good for self care?

1. You give yourself something that you love to wake up to in the morning…if you dread getting up to a thousand things on your to do list - you need some “me time” first to ease into your day and prepare yourself for what’s ahead.

2. You have some time in the morning before everyone is pulling you in different directions just for yourself and it gives you the opportunity to set yourself up for success for the day with zero distractions.

3. You give yourself the opportunity to self reflect on your goals and dreams.

4. You know what to expect from yourself everyday, a consistent routine is key to success.

5. You give yourself a few wins before the world is even awake and moving…keep up that streak of successes going throughout your day,

what to include in your morning routine

1. Goal setting/reflecting - if you take time every day to reflect on your goals you have the ability to look closer at those goals and your to do list and make sure that they are in alignment as much as possible.

2. Gratitude journaling - write down 3-5 things that you’re grateful for every day, big or small things, but make sure you find something.

3. Water - you can have your coffee or your tea or whatever you need - but make sure to get in some water as well asap! And keep drinking it throughout the day.

4. Personal growth - reading is the best, just try and get 10 minutes in every morning or listen to a great podcast while you’re getting number 5 crossed off your list.

5. Exercise - this is lacking in my morning routine right now…but I’m working on it. It is so vital to get your blood pumping. You can do something strenuous, something calming and centering like yoga, go for a walk or a run - anything that you can stick with and that you enjoy. And if you crave variety make sure to mix it up so you don’t get bored and give up.

6. Open the curtains and make your bed. Another great and easy win for the day. It’s simple and often forgotten, but it makes a huge difference. Let in the light.

7. A good healthy breakfast. If you have the time (or make the time), make yourself a breakfast that can carry you through your morning and refuel you without making you sluggish.

8. Take care of your skin and teeth, shower and get dressed in something that makes you walk tall and feel great. Even if you’re working from home…even if you’re not “working”. Make the effort every day to take care of your face and body.

9. Attack your to do list. What needs to get done? However you work best - either do those hard things first or tackle all the little things. Write it down, get it out of your mind and get the work done. (revisit this list throughout your day and especially at the end of your day to set your agenda for the following morning so nothing is looming over you with a chance of being forgotten)

10. Smile, know that you’re giving yourself the best start to your day and working towards relieving stress in your life. Be proud of the wins that you’ve already accomplished today.

WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR MORNING ROUTINE

1. The snooze button

2. Email

3. Social media

4. Distractions

5. Unhealthy foods

how to stick to your morning routine

1. Get enough sleep the night before - whenever possible. I know that sometimes this is beyond your control, but do the best you can to get to bed at the same time each night to allow for enough sleep. Create a nighttime routine that will help with this as well.

2. Make sure that the clothes that you need in the morning are right there for when you wake up and that you don’t have any excuses for just staying in bed. Take away the decision making process.

3. No snooze. Seriously. Don’t break the promises to yourself that you made when you went to sleep the night before. If you’re tired and don’t want to get up, tell yourself you can sneak in a nap later, or that you’ll go to sleep earlier tonight (if you can). Just get up. Put your alarm clock in the other room or as far away from you as possible to make sure you have to get out of bed. (Read Mel Robbins 5 Second Rule)

4. Have a set routine. Take the guesswork out. Make it known that this is just what you do. You are a person that gets up early and works through a list of things that are good for your mind, body and soul. This is just who you are. Stand firm in that belief.

5. Make sure that you love your routine, give yourself something in your morning routine that you really love and can look forward to.

great resources to make your mornings amazing

1. the miracle morning book - a great book by Hal Elrod that talks all about morning routines and what he believes you should be including in yours.

2. 5 second rule book - a great book by Mel Robbins on getting yourself unstuck and willing to go after what you want.

3. leuchtturm 1917 book for journaling - I use one of these books daily for my morning journaling of gratitude and goal setting.

4. keurig - quick and easy, one cup and a little pod is all I need and I make sure that the water is full the night before.

5. girl wash your face - a great book to start off your personal development reading if you haven’t already read it.

how i set myself up for success in the morning

1. I ensure that I fall asleep quickly by creating a spa like atmosphere with my nighttime routine…even when I’m feeling too tried to do it. I have found that the nights that I have skipped I’m far less likely to get up when my alarm goes off in the morning.

2. I set my alarm for the same time every morning - and try my very best not to hit snooze.

3. My workout clothes for the morning are set out - just need to get myself back into the habit of actually working out :) this has been an on and off again struggle for me and finding a way to incorporate it in a simple and seamless way is the best for me. I need to work out at home and have everything readily accessible otherwise I find myself making excuses and putting it off.

4. My oils for my diffuser are ready with my wake up blend (joy + orange + grapefruit), the ritual of doing this helps me remember to slow down and enjoy the moment a little longer and move through my mornings with purpose.

5. My notebook is ready, my book to read is ready, my coffee and water cups are ready. I gather all of my things and sit at my desk and get to work. I know my routine every day and because I don’t have to stop and think or look for anything I don’t get distracted...usually.

What are you going to make sure to include in your morning routine? Will your weekends look different than your weekdays? How can you best set yourself up for success and create little wins for yourself everyday? I would love to hear all about your morning routine, drop a note in the comments about what works well for you and where you might be struggling.

xo,
c

02 | choosing your word for the year

Resolutions are great - goals and plans and dreams are awesome. But the practice of selecting one word to carry throughout the year that encompasses the many things that are meaningful to you for the year is one of my favorite things.

I first learned of this idea from an old scrapbooking friend Ali Edwards. She has a huge amount of information about the practice on her blog (going back several years, in fact) and it’s definitely worth the read if you’re interested in this idea.

WHY I CHOOSE A WORD each year

I love goals and dreaming big and planning things, so picking a word that can help me do those things has always seemed like a great fit. I’ve been doing this for several years although I don’t always finish strong with the word. I try…and in my opinion that’s better than nothing…for me. I’ve taken Ali’s class before and the content is amazing at keeping your word close to you all year long. Other years (like this one) I’ve purchased an item like this key necklace from The Giving Keys that can help remind me of the word that I have selected and why it is important to me.

HOW DOES THE WORD [CHOOSE] TRANSLATE FOR ME?

There are a ton of cute quotes on pinterest all about choosing joy or today I choose to be happy…those are simple, easy to remember and sometimes simple is the best. I wanted a word that put me in control. I wanted a word that reminded me every day that I could choose the way I saw the world and reacted to it. I could choose the things that I can control (like how often I exercise, what I eat, how much water I drink, how hard I work and how often I let my responsibilities slide). And I can choose how I respond to the things that I cannot control.

“discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most”

— abraham lincoln

how to select your word

Every year towards the end of the year I start thinking about my current year and how things have gone for me and I start thinking about what’s coming up. What are the things that I want to go after? Who do I want to be, what do I need to stop doing? What do I need to do more of? Sometimes a word will just jump out at me, sometimes I will read through past OLW posts on Ali’s blog to see if something speaks to me. There really isn’t a wrong way to choose a word (or a wrong word).

1. Reflect on your past year

2. Look at areas in your life that you’re struggling with

3. Look at areas in your life that you want to create a change

4. Look towards a subject that interests you

5. Think about where you would like to be, how you would like to feel a year from now

ways to live your word throughout the year

The biggest thing about choosing a word for your year is not to forget all about it by the 3rd week in January. You took the time and selected a word that you felt was going to help you be the best version of yourself - don’t give up on it. (Now…if the word isn’t working for you in the way that you thought or a new word all of a sudden feels better for you there is no shame in changing lanes…you do you.)

1. Share your word with others and if you feel comfortable, let them in on why you selected that word

2. Take a class (ali’s class is amazing) and join a community of like minded people working on their word monthly

3. Purchase or create something that keeps your word visible daily

4. Create a pinterest board that celebrates your word with quotes and other things that relate to how you want your word to work for you in the coming year

5. Read the definition of your word and look for synonyms that you can also use to keep your word close.

6. Revisit your word every month if not more often. Set a reoccurring event on your calendar with a reminder to take some time to think back on why you selected your word and how you have been incorporating it into you life and how you can make improvements.

how this relates to your self care

Self care is all about making sure that you are taking the time to ensure that you are working towards being the best version of yourself. Sometimes this means working hard towards something and sometimes it means taking time to relax, reflect and refresh. You need to do what is best for you and if you select a word to carry with you throughout the year, make sure that you choose one that is in line with your goals for the year. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be but find something that pushes you a bit (whether it’s pushing you to work harder or pushing you to slow down) and brings you joy.

Have you picked a word for your year? I would love to hear about it - what it is and why you selected it.

xo,
c

the psk | will I really use them all?

Yes. Yes you will.

I remember a year ago when my Premium Starter Kit arrived with all of the oils and the information and I was a bit overwhelmed. I remember thinking…what on earth am I going to do with all of these oils? I really just wanted to find a couple that might help support the sleep issues that I had been having (my entire life). But I was also excited. I was excited that our family was taking steps to add this healthy aspect to our lives. I really had no idea where we were headed.

The oils were each used for various things - I used them to diffuse in the various diffusers in the house (as I quickly realized one diffuser was not going to be enough), I used them to make rollers and used them in teas. I used them topically to relieve strain in my joints from too many photo sessions. I used them on dryer balls to replace the dryer sheets that I had used my whole life. I began to use them in my water and to roll them on my face for skin support. Eventually I found that I needed to replace these little bottles one by one and started adding new and different bottles to our collection…my drawer full of empties is pretty impressive.

what can you use the oils for?

There are so many things that these oils can be used for, some of the different ways that my family has been able to see benefits from the oils.

• sleep support: Lavender, Stress Away, Copaiba

• skin support: Lavender, Frankincense

• immune support: Lemon, Thieves, Frankincense

• muscle/joint support: PanAway, Cppaiba

• emotional support: Frankincense, Peppermint, Stress Away

• digestive support: Copaiba, DiGize, Peppermint

HOW Can you USE THE OILS?

Diffuse them, apply them topically, use them internally - but only the Vitality Oils! Here are a few sample diffuser blend with your Starter Kit oils - be sure to experiment, there are lots of ways to use these oils for your family.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER THINGS IN YOUR KIT?

There are two little red packets of Ningxia Red and a little yellow packet of Thieves Household Cleaner. Do not throw these out and do not leave them in the bottom of your kit (don’t forget - there are two levels to your Premium Starter Kit - there is so much goodness in that bottom layer!). Pop the two red packets into your fridge and enjoy them cold - over ice, mixed with a sparkling beverage (some people love LaCroix with theirs) or just plain - the benefits are amazing and you should really make the effort to get Ningxia into your family’s daily routine. Even my pickiest little one drinks it.

Go grab that yellow packet and a 16 ounce spray bottle and dilute it in water for the safest, nicest smelling household cleaner you have ever tried. We use this for everything in our home now - mixed with varying amounts of water or other products it makes the best cleaner for all of your needs.

There is a little black roller fitament and lid in your bottom tray as well - pop that baby on the oil of your choice and roll on the goodness. I use a roller top (you can purchase more through Young Living) on my Lavender, my Frankincense and Stress Away (and many other non-starter kit oils).

Best of all…your kit comes with a wholesale membership to Young Living. That’s right. 24% off retail on all of the best products for your home and family.

WHAT’s NEXT?

If you have a Premium Starter kit that you haven’t gotten the full use out of yet it is time to pull it out and start trying things. The best way to get the full benefits of the oils is to use them daily. Consistency is the key here. Create routines around the oils and you will start seeing the most amazing results. If you have yet to get your own Premium Starter Kit now is the perfect time…trust me, you want this in your life.

I can’t wait to start this journey with you.

xo,
c

01 | all about self care

What does self care mean to you?

Everyone is talking about it these days, self care is all the rage. But everyone is right. It’s the same concept as when you’re on an airplane for the safety speech and they tell you to secure your mask before you try and help others. You’re really no use to help others succeed if you aren’t taking care of yourself. As mothers we often feel like there are so many things that must get done (and there are) and that we’re the only ones who can do it all (and we’re not). Taking care of yourself and making time to make YOU a priority is vital to your own long term success in life.

Today marks the first week in a series here on the blog that’s all about self care and the different ways that you can incorporate it into your life. Not every idea will resonate with you but the hope is that over time you will begin to create or enhance your own routines and methods of self care.

For me, self care comes in three areas: mind + body + soul/spirit. I tend to get tunnel focused in my life and will focus heavily in one area while letting the other areas slide. My goal is to find some balance and find joy in a little bit of middle ground. To be slow and steady and to try and elevate each area consistently while attacking my goals and dreams to continue towards being the person that I desire to be. Over the following weeks each topic will play into one or more of these areas but for now, here are some thoughts on each one.

“Self care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.”

— Katie Reed

MIND

The following are some of the ways that you can incorporate self care for your mind into your life:

1. reading fiction or non fiction books without distraction

2. learning something new

3. limiting screen time

4. creating time for goal setting/planning

5. social media detox

BODY

The following are some of the ways that you can incorporate self care for your body into your life:

1. being conscious of the food and drinks that you allow into your body

2. giving yourself adequate outdoor time

3. moving your body more with exercise or other activities that you enjoy

4. ensuring that you allow yourself time to get adequate sleep

5. taking excellent care of your skin

SOUL/SPIRIT

The following are some of the ways that you can incorporate self care for your soul or spirit into your life:

1. finding time for something that you love to do

2. making the time for a gratitude journal every day

3. surrounding yourself with like minded and positive people

4. creating time in your day to focus on you (there’s time somewhere, you just need to find it)

5. listening to music that you enjoy

Now what? Now it’s time to think about you…what do you love about where you are and what areas do you think you want to make some changes? Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to make a thousand changes all at once, but do get a clear picture on where you want to be and start making small and meaningful changes daily.

What areas of self care do you need to focus on in your life? Is there a particular element that is lacking in your life? What are some topics that you would like to see explored deeper in this series? Drop a note in the comments and we’ll make sure that it’s addressed in the coming weeks.

xo,
c