Hello beauties,
I hope you are all feeling bright, energetic and sparkly today. But if you aren’t, perhaps this post is for you.
We all have stressful times in our lives when work, to-do lists, deadlines, obligations and sometimes even family members, can creep up and put too much pressure on us. We start feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stressed out, negative and basically unable to cope.
Except, are these the things putting too much pressure on us or is it possible that it is us who are putting too much pressure on ourselves? I know that’s certainly something I’m guilty off. Energy flows where attention goes and if we are putting all our attention into the thoughts like “how on earth am I going to get this done on time’ and “how can I keep them happy” and “I need to do this, this and that before I can relax” then is it really any wonder that we constantly feel like we are in an ongoing race against our dear friend, Time?
We need to recharge, we need to look after ourselves first, we need to prioritise our own wellness. And no, it is not selfish to put yourself first, its altruistic, its essential, not just for your own wellness and happiness but for everyone around you. Because we can’t pour from an empty cup and if you haven’t looked after your own needs and happiness then you are only giving to others from a place of emptiness, necessity and resentment. But if you are full of happy beans, positivity and light then your cup is overflowing and that’s when you can give even more, and you can do it from a place of love. Self care is giving the world the best of you instead of what is left of you.
Let that sink in.
Self-care is ESSENTIAL for your health and will lead to a balanced, healthy, and happy life. Mental self-care, emotional self-care, physical self-care, and spiritual self-care. They all contribute to our overall health because everything is connected.
So what does self-care mean?
It means, being active, nourishing your body with healthy food, getting enough sleep, and the good quality kind, coping appropriately with emotions (like stress, shame, grief, and disappointment), taking the time to socialise but also taking the time for yourself, solitude is healthy too, being mindful, practising gratitude and most importantly taking the time to just rest. You don’t expect your phone to function without charging, so why do you think you will?
Practising self care in order to reduce stress in your life can pay huge dividends in terms of saved time, saved money, improved health (as stress is a leading cause of illness) as well as bettering relationships. Most of all, it can create a more peaceful and comfortable mental environment.
The thoughts that we have contribute greatly to our overall confidence and happiness, so reframing negative thoughts or distorted thoughts is an important thing to learn how to do.
Of course, diet, exercise, hydration, and sleep are all extremely important when discussing physical self-care.
The major stressors on our body are lack of sleep, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and sugar. Ironically, we often turn to these substances as a shortcut to dealing with stress, but they are more often than not inhibiting a peaceful frame of mind.
Get creative and find healthy substitutes for these products. Today, we have so many tools: sleep apps, meditation tapes, healthy food alternatives, herbal teas to choose from. Look at it as an adventure and find something that suits you. Trust me, your body, mind and soul will thank you!
And be active! Yes I know, engaging in physical activity is probably the last thing you want to do when your stressed, who has time for jumping jacks when there’s washing to be done?! But the jumping jacks will help, I promise!
Stress releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, getting moving can help trick your body into believing it has successfully executed a “fight or flight” response, which in turn dials down the stress. So, be active, do anything that gets your heart rate up, go for a brisk walk, bike ride, exercise class (ahem Lunamix anyone?) or just turn the music up high and dance around the living room (my personal choice) and then notice how it affects your mood and mental state. When we honor our bodies with physical activity, we get our blood circulating and our metabolism revved up, and we feel and look good, all of which can affect our mental health. See, told you.
Next up, emotional self care. It’s so important to be comfortable sitting with our emotions, and being able to speak and live our truth. Be assertive, know your Satya, your inner truth, and speak it bravely. So often when we’re faced with a problem or conflict, we cower because we lack the skills needed to successfully navigate the situation. Leading you to, you guessed it, emotional and mental stress.
So learn how to stand up for yourself and express your opinions and beliefs while still respecting others. Assertiveness is not the same thing as being dominating or demanding. It’s simply standing strong in your core opinions and not backing down because you’re too afraid to rock the boat. Assertiveness can lead to win-win scenarios, which are always the best for everyone involved.
And meditate, be mindful, be grateful. Take the time to be quiet and still, even just for 5 minutes and connect with yourself. How are you? You ask that question a million times to other people, how often do you actually ask yourself. And then be honest with your answer. It’s ok to not be ok, it’s ok to let those feelings surface because we need to get them to the surface to be able to let them go.
Connecting with your spirit in the quiet moments of the day and anywhere in between is what spiritual self-care is. It’s about creating practices and habits that will serve you, restore your energy, renew your spirit, and give you peace of mind. Go to yoga classes, spend time in nature, focus on your breath and having a gratitude practice or moment of thankfulness each day helps us stay grounded and mindful of our blessings. I have a buddha in my house, and every time I walk past him I touch his foot and offer thanks for something I am grateful for, it keeps me grounded and always makes me smile.
So that’s it. Just look after yourselves beauties, be your own mother, bestie and lover. Be kind and compassionate with yourself and your needs and love yourself first, because that’s who you’ll be spending the rest of your life with.
And if you ever need a little extra support or advice about please message me, I’m always here for you too.
Keep your inner lights shining bright.
The light in me sees and honours the light in you.
Lots of Love,
Siobhan
xxx
