Sacred Self-Care ~ you deserve it!

Sometimes even when I’m really busy, or maybe especially when I’m really busy, I give myself permission to do something that’s just for me. For example, going to a yoga class in the middle of the day when I still have a lot of work to do, like I did today. This takes practice because we’re conditioned to feel guilty when we take time out for ourselves, there’s pressure from the outside world to keep going, going, going. To accomplish more. To get more done. To be busy, busy, busy all the time. Somehow, as a society, we’ve arrived at this place where busier is better. wtf! This robs us of the joy of being.

Taking the time to nurture yourself, aka self love, is an essential ingredient to a joyous life. It's not always easy to make the time, but I find that when I do, I feel energized and inspired. When I don't I am depleted, yet despite this, it seems like there are many times when choosing some act of kindness for myself gets pushed to the back of the line.

This brings me to Sacred Self-Care, the act of mindfully and attentively caring for ones’ wellbeing, even (or especially,) in the face of a very busy, hectic life. For me Sacred Self-Care equals a yoga class, a steaming hot bath after a long day, a hike, a cup of tea and my journal. It doesn’t have to be fancy, (although I do love fancy too:), time consuming or expensive, it just needs to make me feel good.

Some of my favorite Sacred Self-Care:

• a hot bath with epson salt, baking soda and lavender oil (I do this almost daily, pure heaven)

• yoga

• a hike in nature

• a day with absolutely no plans, no to do items (golden!)

• infrared sauna (I go to one at a spa near me)

• a massage (which I feel I'm in desperate need of right now due to all the yoga...)

• the Korean spa - If you've never been to a Korean spa you don't know what you're missing! At the one I go to there's a steam room, sauna, salt room, charcoal room, mugwort bath, a cold pool, and their famous scrubs. It's great to just go to use the facilities even if you don't want the scrub, although I highly recommend getting one. You'll be soft as a baby.

There are many layers to Sacred Self-Care and I'm looking forward to exploring them here on the blog in more depth this year.

What are some of your favorite self-care rituals? We'd love to hear.