Start a Self Care Routine

A great and simple self care routine is what keeps me on track with life. When I’m not following a basic self care routine, I feel grumpy and discontent. These negative feelings remind me to do the things I love, and self care is one of them.

Trust me, there are days where I would rather take a nap than get up and put on a face mask, but I know it will help me feel better. When we are taking care of ourselves, we are happier. Here is what I include in my self care routine:

Epsom Salt Bath

This is easily one of my favorites for self care. It’s simple, and yet can change my entire mindset. I ordered a large bag of epsom salts from Amazon because I was taking epsom salt baths weekly. I free pour it into my bath water once the water has filled to the desire level, but I would say about 1 cup of epsom salt is perfect. I also add baking soda (1/2 cup) and a few drops of essential oils. Lavender is great for relaxing and tea tree is great for cleansing (I use it when I’m sick). My favorite day to take this detoxing and relaxing bath is on Thursday when my work week is getting to me. It resets my mind and helps me relax. I usually wake up Friday ready to take on the world and enjoy my weekend! It’s also great to do on a Sunday to relax before the week begins.

Face masks

My face is super sensitive, so I have to be careful what I use. When I feel like I need to deeply detox my skin or I’m having trouble with breakouts, I love using bentonite clay. I use 1 tbsp of bentonite clay, 1 tbsp of raw apple cider vinegar (I recommend this over water – it mixes better and is better for your skin), and a few drops of essential oil (usually lavender or frankincense) stirred in a small glass bowl with a plastic utensil. You must NOT use metal with bentonite clay as it will deactivate the properties.

I leave it on my face for about 15 minutes before gently rinsing and removing with a washcloth. I follow it up with a splash of cold water before drying my face and applying a small amount of jojoba oil to replenish moisture. If I’m wanting a gentler face mask, I’ve been loving Feeling Beautiful Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti Stress Mask that I got from Ulta a few years ago…I’m ready to try a new one too soon!

Hot Yoga

I’m not a huge fan of working out, but I have found that yoga is my soulmate workout. When I tried hot yoga for the first time, I hated it. I hate sweating, why would I do it on purpose for an hour+? A few months later, my body was craving something and I finally figured out it was yoga. So, I did my research on yoga studios in my area and I kept coming back to the hot yoga studio I had gone to.

I decided to try it out again. When I walked in, they offered me 50% off any of their packages since I was a returning first-time student. Before even trying out my second class, I committed to one month of unlimited hot yoga. My goodness…I’m so glad I did. I love the heat. I can move easier and I love the ambiance of the studio. I have tried the yoga class at my gym, but it’s not the same spiritual experience for me. Even if yoga (or hot yoga) isn’t your thing, find YOUR soulmate workout! Taking the time to honor my body is an amazing part of my self care routine.

Reading

I absolutely love curling up with a good book. You can usually find me reading a personal development book since those are my favorite! These have been some of my favorite books:

• The Four Agreements
• The Universe Has Your Back
• You Are a Badass
• The Miracle Morning

Manicure

I was anti salon manicures for a long time. I used to get acrylics and they destroyed my nails, and I couldn’t justify the $15 for someone to just polish my nails (looking back now…why did that seem like so much to me!?). This past year, I changed my tune when I needed a simple, inexpensive way to pamper myself. Not to mention, I was tired of messing up polishing my own nails. I made an appointment at a local nail salon for a simple manicure and let me tell you…it was the best and smallest investment I have made in my confidence!

I love how nice my nails look and I love the cuticle maintenance too. I usually try to go every payday. When we moved a few months ago, I was dying to get a manicure (there’s no point when you’re digging your hands through boxes to pack/unpack). I finally broke down and scheduled an appointment. It made me feel so much better.

There are tons of small things I do too. It’s all about what brings you joy, even if it is simple. I hope this list gives you some ideas and inspires you to create a self care routine in 2018!

What are some of your favorites for pampering?

The gorgeous photo for this post is by Leonardo Wong on Unsplash