Self-care Tips For The Body & Soul

Instagram might have you thinking that the only way to practice self-care is to take a photo-shoot-worthy bath (and post a picture of it).

But uh, that's definitely not the case (though if you love a good bubble bath, do you). In terms of self-care, you've got to do one thing first: Nix the idea that there's a perfect or correct way to do it.

Here are a few tips to get you started. Whether they suit you on a daily or you commit to them once a month, make it a priority to add them to your routine, to help yourself feel better, whenever.

• Drink some water first thing in the morning; Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up. We often wake up after a night’s sleep slightly dehydrated, which often means starting our day off feeling crappy.
• Write down five things daily that didn't totally suck: No matter how bad your day turns out, we all have something to be grateful for—a home, a car, vision, two legs, etc. Focusing on what you're grateful for can help put things into perspective—and not put so much emphasis on the stressors you might also be dealing with.
• Make a menu for the week: Eating healthy, fresh foods sounds easy enough until, well, life happens. This is where scheduling solid meals come into play. By pre-planning your meals you can often eliminate the impulse, ‘pressed for time’ purchases.
• Try that new yoga class: A little bit of adaptability goes a long way, especially when it comes to fitness. Burnout and injuries happen, and a willingness to change up your workouts makes it feel less stifling—and maybe even more exciting.
• Have a mini dance party: Our lives are so busy and scheduled these days that it’s important to remember to have some fun and connect with our loved ones. Make plans with friends, indulge in your favorite television show, or blast some music and dance out your day in the middle of your living room (yes, all by yourself)
• Take five minutes to decompress every day: It’s important to take time to breathe. People believe self-care has to be expensive and lavish, but it doesn’t. It can look as simple as putting your phone (or any other device) away for five minutes to just sit with your own thoughts.
• Get some sleep: It seems simple enough, yet, a lot of people get less than seven hours of sleep a night. During sleep, your brain rids itself of toxins, consolidates memory, and builds neural highways. Which, yes, means you can snooze your way through self-care.
• Detox from technology and work: Since we often have our work lives following us everywhere through our phones these days, having strong boundaries around work emails, texts, and calls, or even just Facebook if that is very distracting for you, can really help create more downtime. Still, it's easier said than done to just limit your screen time—luckily, your phone might actually be able to help you out (some let you set a daily limit). If that's not an option, set a specific time before bed and unwind with a book instead of scrolling through Instagram.
• Get yourself a simple and effective skincare routine: Natural and organic products are only as effective as the quality of ingredients used and that's why we source the highest quality of ingredients from ethical suppliers.
• Visit a spa: While spas offer plenty of beautification benefits, there are significant physical and psychological benefits you can receive from a trip to the spa. Any luxury treatment, including manicures, pedicures, facials, body scrubs, body masks, massages, body wraps, etc., can increase your self-esteem, boost your confidence, induce clear thinking and elevate your mood. Some spa treatments are geared towards decreasing the physical effects of stress and boosting your immune system by inducing the body’s natural relaxation response.