Do you want to wake up excited to get out of bed and conquer your day? Yes, of course you do! Do you want to feel energized and nourished thoroughout the entire day? Yes, of course you do! What about this, do you want to give yourself the time needed to do all of that? Ah, you see not always that easy, is it? Sometimes what we want isn’t always in alignment with what we are willing to do to get it. In this post, What is Self Care + Why You Need It To Feel Whole, we will cover everything that self-care is and isn’t, my top self-care practices, and hopefully inspire you to create the space necessary to practice more self-care so you too can feel nourish from the inside out?

What is Self Care + Why You Need It To Feel Whole!

The concept of self-care and feeling whole really go hand in hand and is always on the top of my mind here at LSN. I’m a BIG believer that these topics should be revisited, refreshed, and reinspired as often as possible. And there is no better time to check in about how you’re treating yourself than now!

What is Self-care?

While most of us think of self-care as purely physical such as manicures and massages, which I think are totally great ways to practice self-care. I believe that self-care actually starts from the mental and spiritual realms of our everyday lives.

Self-care is daily acts of service that ground you, keep you centered, and make you feel like your best self every day.

For many of us, uncovering what our best self looks like is a process of its own and typically that’s where it starts. Self-care is the process of self-discovery and the daily actions of fostering that discovery.

Self-Care Will Look Different for Everyone

Self-care, to me, is revisiting my Morning Routine, adding daily meditations, journaling through my limiting beliefs, reading self-development books, walks in nature, and saying no to things that don’t serve my highest good.

Self-care will look different for everyone because we are all so different, our needs & desires are different.  The key is looking inward, and taking inventory of what it is your body and mind deserves. What relaxes and rejuvenates you might not have the same effect on your best friend or sister. That’s okay! It’s called “self-care” for a reason — it’s for yourself!

It’s great to see people prioritizing self-care — check out how others are practicing #selfcare on Instagram!

For many of us, our favorite ways to show ourselves some TLC is obvious. Here’s a hint: it’s usually the simplest things that cause us to slow down and decompress. Though if you’re still unsure about how to get started, try this exercise: grab a paper and pen and ask yourself the following questions.

What’s your favorite thing to do by yourself?

If you had a whole day to yourself, what would you do?

What things ground you when you’re feeling overwhelmed?

Use these questions if you’re struggling to create your own self-care list. As a mom, I know the importance of self-care and how it affects my whole family. Below are some of my favorite self-care practices, and you can find more on my Top 10 Tips For Practicing Self-care. I totally recommend you try some of these and see if they feel as good to you as they do me.

LSN’s Top 10 Self-Care Practices

01. Journaling

This is the one I probably use the most. Journaling has been a major part of my recovery from depression, anxiety, and self-doubt, and has fostered so much love & connection within myself. I recommend this to anyone and everyone who struggles with finding clarity and want to connect to their authentic truth.

02. Yoga

This will look different for everyone but find some way to honor your body. Part of  The LSN Philosophy is conscious movement, from how we walk, move, sit, and stand, to how we hold our body is a reflection of our state of mind. And it has a huge impact on energy levels, mood, sleep, food choices, concentration, stress levels, and self-esteem.

Lately, I’ve been honoring my body with yoga but this could also be taking a nap, putting on make-up (even when no one will see me) or I’ll go out without make-up. Honoring your body is a great self-care practice.

03. Meditation

This could technically go in the category of honoring your body but it just had to have its own place in this list. The ability to be in a place of sanctuary, away from the noise, crowds, and clutter isn’t actually that far away. It’s within us! We just have to remember that it’s there and available when we choose to use it.

Cultivating a daily meditation practice is one of the best things you can do to feel whole and centered!

04. Nature Walks

Something about spending time in nature is just so rejuvenating and has a way of grounding us back into ourselves. I recommend combining time in nature with another self-care practice like reading a book, doing yoga, or taking a nap.

05. Being A Student

Allowing myself to be a beginner at something I’m not good at but want to be, is one of the most compassionate things I could do for myself. For you, this could look like learning something new, reading a book that helps you grow, or even taking a class to invest in your future self. These are all great things where living life as a student can really help to become your best self.

06. Saying “No”

As much as we believe we can do it all, we can’t, and we shouldn’t try. Saying “No” is the start of creating healthy boundaries, and creating space for better things to come into your life.

07. Gratitude

I have come to the conclusion that a thankful heart is a happy heart and being happy isn’t something that just happens, it’s a choice we make. Gratitude is the best way to create a loving relationship with yourself, other people, and the world around you. Start with the things you are grateful for within yourself and work your way out.

08. Girl Time

This has been a work in progress as I’m naturally a loner. But cultivating female relationships has been the most beneficial thing I’ve done this year alone. In times of need, these are the women that help me see who I truly am. These women challenge me to be the best version of myself, calling me out when I need it and supporting me through the great, and not-so-great, moments of my life. Plus, having girl time is just so much fun!

09. Social Media Detox

It’s okay to put the phone away and set boundaries of how & when you will be on social media. In fact, I’ve taken several social media hiatus and plan to keep this a regular practice in the future. It’s totally vital for my self-care practice and is going to be so good for me in the long run. I totally recommend you try it for a week and see how you feel.

10. Clean Up

Cleaning is very therapeutic for me, it gives me a sense of completion and resets my whole perspective. For you, it can be your physical environment, like cleaning your room, house, car, or whatever feels good for you at the moment. It could also mean cleaning up your side of the street meaning taking ownership of your part in any situation and doing your part to clean it up. Or even cleaning out what doesn’t serve your highest good. Whatever it is cleaning up can be a great self-care practice.

Simplify your self-care practice by doing the little things that ground you. These are just a few of my favorite self-care practices that don’t cost a single penny to start. You don’t have to buy a fancy new beauty product or a luxe massage service to practice self-care.  Here’s a gentle loving reminder that self-care doesn’t cost a thing and is always at your fingertips right now.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVE?

What are your favorite forms of self-care? What effects have you seen in your life after creating a self-care practice? Comment below — or tag @livesimplynatural so the LSN community can see it too. It may be just the thing that someone else needs to read!