Does fitting self care into your day can feel too hard?
Here are 5 ideas to make self care simple AND fulfilling.
- Dance to a song which makes you smile
It might be a song your parents loved or one that reminds you of a holiday. My go-to songs are “Faith” from “Sing” or anything by Michael Jackson.
Dancing is such a brilliant self care practice because it takes us back to fun times; dancing gets our body moving – which gets any stuck energy or emotions moving too; it is something that our kids love to do with us or we can do once they’re asleep; and which can really fill us with joy in just 3 minutes.
2. Lye outside and watch the clouds or stars
You can do this at the beach, the park, in your backyard or verandah. Once you are lying down, take 5 big deep breaths– this will calm your body. Look up at the sky and notice what shapes you can see … let your mind drift … feel the sun on your face … the cool on your cheeks … push down on your back to feel the support of the ground.
Close your eyes for a few moments, put your hands over your heart and ask “what do I need to connect to myself today?”
Listen for an answer. If one comes to you, see if you can make this happen. If you do not hear anything, be patient and try again.
3. Listen to a TED talk
TED talks are always full of ideas; and as the Mum of young kids this is something I miss and crave.
Scroll through the app / website and see if anything piques your curiosity.
If you feel like you don’t have time for this – I understand; try listening in the car, or as you are making beds or dinner. Sometimes it can take a few days to listen to a 12 minute talk!! But it is worth it; this simple change can transform a daily chore into a powerful self care ritual.
4.Listen to Yoga Nidra to fall asleep
Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation. The brilliance is that it is effective whether you are awake or asleep. So put it on, close your eyes and reap the benefits of deep rest and relaxation.
Yoga Nidra can also be used for naps or quiet time during the day, and for kids.
You can find Yoga Nidra meditations on free apps like InsightTimer.
5. Gratitude to finish the day
Finishing the day by noticing and appreciating the good things that have happened is a game changer.
Firstly, it helps us to focus on the bits of the day which went well rather than being overwhelmed by the challenges.
Secondly, when we reflect on these good bits of the day, we marinate in this beautiful energy for the next 8 hours of sleep (wishful thinking!!)Practising gratitude might look like discussing the best bits of the day at dinner or bedtime, it might be writing down 3 things you are grateful for, or simply running through the day noticing these moments before you go to sleep.
About The Contributor: Clare Foale is the Founder of The Mim Zum Connection. She helps women with self-care mentoring, offers a membership and holds events for self-care.
Insta / FB: @thezimzumconnection
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