A Little Self-Guide for Self-Care!

ohhh, that wonderful beating in our ears, thoughts racing through our head, sleepless nights, and the constant fast paced rush through life feeling that reminds us that we are alive. We all know it too well. Life is full of emotions, are we good enough parents, are we working hard enough, are we balancing everything perfectly? This ebb and flow of life can get in the way of living well-fulfilled, healthy lives. We are programmed to do more, do better. We put everyone before ourselves in the hopes that we will live selflessly and feel purposeful. But how much of this energy is draining us? How often do we stop and say "am I taking care of me"?

Most people consider the act of self-care as an act of selfishness. That could not be further from the truth. Self-care is often overlooked, ignored and considered a luxury. That once in a blue moon massage you get for your birthday or the glass of wine you have after the kids go to sleep but how much is that supporting your own needs on the regular? It is so important to care for yourself before you care for others so you can be the best version of yourself. Self-care can look differently for everyone. It could be carving out 30 minutes at night to read a good book or for others taking a bubble bath. It doesn't have to be an all day elaborate affair. It could just be fulfilling a need you would otherwise normally ignore.

Stress plays such a huge roll in our health. It is partially responsible for so many diseases, cancers, premature aging, and many skin conditions. After all, when you breakdown the word disease it becomes DIS-EASE. Think about it. When we are stressed we are in a constant state of tension. We aren't thinking clearly, eating healthy, sleeping well and probably skipping our regular workouts. But it's more then that. Almost 40 million adults between 18-54 suffer from anxiety disorders in the US. It's really easy to fall into horrible habits or to not know what to do when life seems unmanageable. When we are stressed out our bodies release the "stress hormone" called cortisol. When we are too stressed and the body is releasing too much of this hormone it can disrupt a lot of different functions of the body, but especially the skin. High levels of cortisol can overproduce sebum levels in the skin which is essentially excess oil production. This can clog your pores and create inflammation and bacteria which can become acne lesions. It can also magnify other skin conditions like rosacea, psoriasis and eczema.  Cortisol also accelerates the aging process of the skin, enhancing unwanted wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and overall ruddiness.

Having a self-care kit when the going gets tough is an easy reminder that taking care of yourself can be at your finger tips at any moment and it doesn't haven't to seem like this unattainable task. Put together a basket of the things that bring you to your happy place. You don't have to do everything at once or even more then one. But on days you feel like you need a little more love for yourself, maybe the cup of tea before bed so you sleep better is as crazy as it gets. But that's ok, because you listened to your own needs for once and that's one step further then you took in the past.

This is a little look into my own self-care kit and what brings me to my happy place or gets me out of my head when stress is at a high. You can copy mine if you can't get started but this is a little run down of why I chose these things to help me along my calm journey. I want to start by saying that I think managing stress should cover all 5 senses and the mind.

1. Music, A podcast, or a guided meditation: (hearing) As we know hearing is one of our senses and a very powerful one especially when it comes to reducing stress. In my own life, getting out of my head is something that needs to happen first, before I can truly relax and the only way that I really get out of my head is by distracting my thoughts with music I love or listening to a podcast that talks about something I'm really interested in or even a guided meditation podcast. I have been really loving the guided meditation ones especially on those difficult nights where I can't sleep. 
2. Natural Calm: (taste) This has become a must-have item in my house. It is a magnesium powder that tastes like raspberry lemonade and you put it in hot water and drink it like a tea. It literally calms your whole nervous system down. It's perfect to wind down with at the end of the day. It can definitely make you sleepy so I suggest nighttime use.
3. Journaling: (mind) This one felt a little silly and juvenile at first but I've truly learned to love journaling my thoughts. It could even be as simple as writing lists for the next day or writing 5 things your grateful for at the end of each day. It really helps to get things out and organize your thoughts better so you can eliminate stress before bed and to allow you to have a more peaceful day ahead.
4. Reading: (sight) If you don't know who Cleo Wade is I suggest you drop everything you are doing and look her up. She is everything. I literally carry this book around with me at all times to lift me up when I need it or to remind me of where I'm going. She wrote a guide that is meant to be re-read over and over. I even bookmarked all the pages that resonate with my life at the moment. I find that anyone on this planet can relate to this book in some way and it really does lift your spirits and give you hope. This is just my choice. Pick a book that resonates with you or even a magazine that relaxes you. 
5. Tea: (taste) Tibetan and Buddhist monks have used tea for thousands of years as a spiritual practice before meditation or martial arts. There is a very spiritual link to tea when used specifically to balance your chi energy. Whether you use it for this purpose or just to drink it for the taste or relaxation properties of an herbal tea such as this Trader Joes Well Rested tea, it can definitely calming benefits as long as its void of caffeine.
6. DoTerra Balance Blend Essential Oil: (smell) As a "wellness advocate" I have become rather familiar with essential oils and all of their beneficially properties. This is one of my favorite oils for when I feel like I need to come back down to earth. It is a grounding blend that eases anxious feelings while providing full body relaxation. You can either diffuse it or apply to the bottoms of your feet with a carrier oil.
7. Crystal Healing: (touch) This is a therapeutic healing practice that uses certain crystals to cleanse the body of negative energy while allowing positive energy to flow inward. They can balance your chakras. If you are interested in a practice like this there is plenty of information on the internet on how to begin your chakra balancing practice. 
8. Calming "Sleep" Balm: (touch) This is a homemade balm that I make which contains a few balancing and calming essential oils. I apply this to the bottoms of my feet, over my heart and behind my ears before I sleep. It promotes relaxation and better rest. Ask me about it at your next visit.
9. Palo Santo wood: (smell) Similar to burning incense, burning palo santo wood has medicinal and therapeutic healing benefits. It has been used by many people for spiritual purifying, energy cleansing and healing. It has even been used to relieve common colds, flu, stress, headaches, asthma, anxiety and depression. I personally find the smell so calming but it's not for everyone, so once again pick something that calms you. 
10. Warm Eye Pillow: (touch & smell) warm up an eye pillow or even a regular heating pad in the microwave and apply to a part of your body that provides a comforting feeling. I personally love the way it feels over my eyes or on the back of my neck after a long day. 
11. Face Masks: Let's face it, we all need a little pampering sometimes. Even if it's to ourselves. Apply a sheet mask for 10-15 mins and veg-out. I love these ones from amazon. They contain tea tree oil which is great for minor breakouts and evening skin tone. Place it in the fridge before using it for an extra cooling sensation. 
12. DHA or Fish Oil: (mind) I take these everyday but if you aren't a supplement person it can benefit you even if you take them when you are feeling extra stressed or anxious. These are really high in omegas which is fatty acids that are great for the brain and can actually lower feelings of depression and anxiety when taken regularly or in larger doses. I personally can feel a huge difference when I take these and when I forget. 

These kits should be personal to you. These are my go-to's. Hope that you found this helpful or that it can get your started on your journey to calm and relaxation. Take time for you. Your body is a temple. Treat it like one. You deserve it!