Unleash Your Inner Glow: Self-Care for a Healthier, Happier You

Self-care has become a buzz word on social media the past few years. This has created an ideal platform for therapists because people love to talk about it now, emphasizing taking care of yourself. It has become a mainstream phenomenon on TikTok, Instagram, and other socials which in turn has helped to mold society, workplaces, and relationships to become healthier.

Self-care is a holistic healing approach, that encompasses the practice of proactively taking care of yourself to preserve your social, emotional, and physical health. It encompasses a range of different activities to take care of our physical and mental health. You can be the most healthy, active person, but if your mental/spiritual health are out of balance...your entire body will be!

Self-care allows us to show up in a stronger way for ourselves, others, and our jobs. It encourages us to prioritize our own well-being, rather than others first.

You know…put your own oxygen mask on before helping others?

There are numerous different types of self-care including mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, and social. They each contain such different perspectives on ideas to take care of yourself, for example social self-care could be practicing boundaries or staying home rather than going out.

Physical self-care could be nutritional intentions and sleeping well. Spiritual could be connecting with God or a higher power through prayer at night. Spiritual could also be a gratitude practice each morning. Intellectual self-care enhances our brain with reading, learning, classes, etc. You get the point- there are so many ways to immerse yourself in a consistent self-care practice. The opportunities are endless.

I wanted to take this post to remind folks how important the act of self-care is. If it wasn’t for self-care the last seven months, I would’ve fallen into a bout of depression at my old job. But instead, I was intentional in my self-care. I knew I couldn't show up for others if I wasn't taken care of. I carved out nightly reading time, social time on weekends, and made sure I was taking care of myself. It truly saved my life.

Not all self-care practices need to be that dramatic, but it is helpful to add add a few practices into your daily routine and remain consistent. Self-care gives us something to look forward to, time for ourselves, and time to unwind. I personally love my reading time before bed, my monthly facial, my workouts, and my time set aside for friends. I prioritize sleep as self-care because I know I need 8 hours each night, and eat healthy foods.

I wanted to share a few of the activities I use for my own self-care in hopes to inspire you to keep on top of it!

• Workouts and prioritizing sleep: My favorites! I try to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night, limit drinking to 1-2 nights a week, and stay consistent with my workouts. I stick to 4-5 days a week of working out and 2 rest days or ski days in between.

• Journaling/gratitude practice: Every morning baby! My gratitude practice helps me to reflect on my life and show up fully for others to serve.

• Healthy Meals/Listening to Podcasts: Making dinner and listening to podcasts I love! I try to plan out healthy dinners that will last 1-2 days for myself weekly (I hate it half the time lol) and I listen to my podcasts while I cook. Some of my favorite podcasts are Crime ones, Madison Ciccone’s, Glee podcast, and other random ones I find.

• Connecting with my friends & family: Weekly consistent connection with my social circle! Making sure I’m making time for people who fill my spirit and make me feel whole. Whether it be sharing dinner, grabbing drinks, or being outside together, I always feel better when I’ve seen my peeps.

• On the flip side of that...saying NO when I want to be home nestled in my covers and reading or catching up on Netflix. It's okay to need time for you--sometimes time home is better than any night out.

• Getting my nails painted! I try to go every 3 weeks or so, also because I bite my nails and it keeps me in line.

• Calling my parents: Uhmmm every night! My poor mother!

• Facetiming my siblings: This helps promote the connection even with them far away. It makes me feel close to family and it's beyond nice to laugh with my peeps.

• SKIING! You guys know I'll be devestated when this winter is over...ski season is my ultimate form of self-care. It allows me to lose myself doing what I love and fill my soul.

• Reading for 1-2 hours before bed: HAI SMUT!

• Mindfulness: Breathing techniques and participating in reflection that brings me close to myself again.

• My chiropractor and acupuncture besties!

• Self care can also looking like walking around from toxic people, relationships, or friendships that hurt you.

This list is just a few of my favorite ways to pour back into me. Make your own list! What does it look like? Is it full? Do you wish you did more? Do you feel you're lacking in some of the areas?

I know you're probably thinking "But Charlotte, I just don't have the time..." Get creative! Block 15-20 minutes off of your calendar or during your day to be intentional with it. Habits aren't just going to mold themselves without you putting in the work. Self-care can look like so many different things.

Self-care looks like choosing you. Setting the boundaries around your own time, mental health, and needs. It isn’t selfish at all—in actuality, it can keep you from burning out and not doing your best work. It’s crucial to excel and succeed.

Charty’s homework for the week is to find 2-3 small self-care activities and schedule them in!!! You got this!

XOXO,

C