We’re now at the end of the first week in February and I’m curious to know how it’s going for you. Have you been weaving in little bits of extra self-care into your life? Are you noticing any differences, subtle or big? 

If you’re struggling to make changes, that’s okay. Make your first act of self-care not worrying about doing more self-care! I want you to release any notion of “should.” If you feel like you “should” be doing more self-care because it’s such a buzz word, let that go. Only do something if it makes sense and works for you. Not everyone gets on with meditation. Not everyone enjoys bubble baths. Not every one needs to declutter.

Instead of following trends, listen to your soul and follow what it needs, which will be unique to you. When you do something which lights you up and genuinely makes a positive impact in your life, it’s so much easier to keep that momentum going instead of turning it into a chore. Once you’ve found what works, making it part of your typical daily routine then becomes a joy rather than a struggle.

Here’s a few thoughts on how you can start to make self-care a habit instead of yet another thing to stress about not doing:

Decide what self-care looks like to you

If you’ve been neglecting yourself for a long time, self-care could be something as simple as spending five minutes a day reading a book, booking an appointment with a hairdresser, or updating your wardrobe. We all have different needs, so starting by determining what yours are is the first step towards meeting them.

 Be kind to yourself

We’re always so hard on ourselves. We hold ourselves up to much higher standards than we do anyone else. 

Start being your best friend and if you notice any negative self-talk, switch it up and talk to yourself as if you were speaking to a friend. What advice would you give them? What would you say to make them feel better? You might find it helpful to talk to yourself in a mirror to remind yourself of the awesome individual you truly are. 

Stop trying to push through

When you’ve got a million and one things on your to do list, you’ll tend to keep going and keep going… until you fall over. We tend to overestimate what we can do in a week but underestimate what we can do in a year, so stop beating yourself up about chewing through your entire to do list every day and instead do what you can. A little progress every day will pay off in the long term even if it doesn’t feel like at first. 

Eat properly

Eating regularly and eating nutritious food while avoiding junk is one of the biggest ways you can treat yourself. When you nourish your body, it automatically lifts your mood and helps you be more productive and energised. If all you do is overhaul your diet, that’ll be a massive step in your self-care routine. And note I said overhaul your diet, not go on a diet. It’s not about calorie counting or depriving yourself of anything; rather it’s about choosing foods which are wholesome and feed your mind, body and soul. And if you feel like a treat, go for it! It’s not about depriving yourself. If you’ve been nourishing your body, having a glass of wine or chocolate bar really isn’t going to hurt. 

Do something to feed your soul

So once you’re feeding your body properly, think about how you can feed your soul. This could involve meditation, mindfulness, going on a retreat, learning more about a particular spiritual practice, journaling or even simply going for regular walks in nature. The more you take time to listen to your soul, the more you’ll learn about what you do need to do to care for yourself and the easier it becomes to build healthy habits which serve you. 

The Journey into the Chakras retreat is a great way to discover what you need to take better care of yourself. Spaces are limited, so book in now!