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Beauty Home Lifestyle Mind7 Simple Ideas for your Self-Care Routine
The term Self-Care has taken off this past year. Self-Care while always been essential, it is now even more essential than ever before! Taking care of yourself is important, and doing so will certainly help your mental and physical well being.
What exactly is self-care and what can you do to amp up your self-care routine? An act of self care or a self-care routine can include something as simple as enjoying a cup of tea, a long shower, getting dressed into something other than sweatpants (#athomelife), or sitting down with a People magazine (you know you want to!).
Self-Care
Self-care is the action of taking care for oneself. Pretty straight forward right? So why then, is it hard to do? For one, we tend to feel guilty if we aren’t doing something else or looking after someone else.
Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that if you don’t take care of you, how on earth are you supposed to take care of others? Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. And it doesn’t need to be an hour long bath, it can be many other things in small or larger amounts of time. Read on for 6 simple ideas you can include into your self-care routine.
1. Meditation
10 minutes. That’s all you need for an effective meditation. Start with one minute and work your way from there. Click here to read a past blog post on how to start! The key is to release your thoughts and let go. Take a full breath in taking in the good and breathe out releasing what no longer serves you. Surround your body with positive energy and simply take a time-out!
2. Journaling
Journaling is also effective! Getting our thoughts, feelings, rants, gratitude, poems, affirmations, lists (or whatever it is you need to get out) onto paper is absolutely freeing and cleansing! Give it a try, grab a scribbler, notepad or buy yourself a fun journal for motivation to get you started. There’s no right or wrong to journaling AND no one has to read it.
3. Get in a workout
Roll out the mat! Spend 10 or even 20 minutes on the yoga mat.
Don’t have a Yoga Mat? Do some squats, lunges, burpees, jumping jacks, get that heart pumping! Exercise releases endorphins making you feel oh so good.
The best workout is to simply get outside! Bundle up if it’s cold and go for a walk around the block. BONUS, spending time outdoors in nature can double as meditation (a 2 for 1 self-care deal).
4. Spa Time at Home
The most popular form of self-care is some Spa time.
Try a solo bubble bath full of Epsom salts & a few drops of lavender essential oil, or trade that for 10 minutes under a warm shower.
Spa day! At-home Spa Days have become popular. Try a facial mask, doing your nails (with a new nail color is always fun) or even a full pedicure. Give yourself some love, all the pampering is good for the soul.
My personal go-to is enjoying a marine mud mask and doing my nails at the same time, have some fun with it!
*** CLICK THE IMAGE AND GET THE MARINE MUD AT A SPECIAL PRICE *** (offer only valid until January 31, 2021)
5. Cook a healthy meal
Good food makes you feel good. Yes, it takes a bit of time and maybe a trip to the grocery store, but your body will thank you for it! Don’t know what to make? Head over to the land of Google, it is full of wonderful recipes. OR invest in a Cook book (yes, people still use cook books).
6. Read a book
Drop the screen time and grab a good book with your morning coffee or read a few pages before turning in for the night. Getting lost in a good book is like going on vacation without leaving your home. You can turn to a book to learn something new, for some personal development or simply get lost in a good novel.
7. Light a Candle
Lastly, simply lighting a candle is a very soothing form of self-care. Light a candle and have a sit down to enjoy it for a minute or 2. The candle’s aroma & ambient lighting create a sense of calm. A lit candle during your meditation or bubble bath is a wonderful addition and deepens the sense of relaxation.
Taking care of you is essential.
Self-care is necessary, and it doesn’t have to take a big chink out of your day. I hope you’ve enjoyed these ideas to add to or get started with your self-care routine! Be sure to check out our other blog posts and sign up for our newsletter in the form below. Thank you so much for the support.
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Home Home & Garden Life & StyleEssential Oils that you need to start with
From household and beauty DIY to diffusing and aromatherapy, essential oils have taken over the last few years. Thank goodness. Aromatherapy is real y’all! But where do you start? There are so many brands of essential oils and oil blends. Let’s go over the staples of essential oils you need to start with.
*** this post contains affiliate links ***
1. Lavender
It’s the most popular oil, and for good reasons! Lavender helps calm the nerves which makes it a great essential oil to diffuse in the home and especially in the bedroom for a peaceful sleep.
Use a few drops in the bath with some Epsom salts or Himalayan sea salt for a relaxing, soothing bath encouraging stress release.
Lavender essential oil can also be used on cuts, scrapes and even as a spot treatment for acne. Using this or any essential oil topically has to come with a warning label. ANY essential oil is potent, so they are best to dilute when using it on your skin and try a test area first as you may even react to them.
2. Peppermint
The one essential oil you should never go without. Be aware that this is an extremely potent oil and will sting the eyes if near them! Clear your mind by rubbing a drop of two of this heavenly oil on your temples and third eye. Doing this is also a great practice for aiding in the relief of headaches.
Add a few drops along with your lavender essential oil to the bath or use it on its own to help relieve stress.
Diffuse it in the home for a refreshing smell.
3. Frankincense
Historically, Frankincense has literally been used forever!! And rightly so, there are a number of Frankincense essential oil benefits including promoting relaxation and tranquility. Topical uses also are said to benefit skin tone, and overall promote healthy looking skin.
Diffuse a few drops in your favorite diffuser especially nearing bed time to chill out and enjoy this lovely aroma (another one of my favorites) and one I will not go without. If using topically, be sure to add to to a carrier oil like all essential oils should be, they are potent and to be used carefully.
4. Eucalyptus
The BEST oil if you are feeling a bit congested and one I add to the shower! Add a few drops to warm water in a glass dish and let is steam in the shower with you. Honestly, It’s the best!
Other benefits of eucalyptus essential oil include applying it to your chest (with a carrier oil) when you are congested. It is known to keep the bugs away (bonus!!) and helps you breathe easier.
Diffuse a few drops in your favorite diffuser, steam it in your shower or apply it to your chest (with a carrier oil).
5. Lemon
Lemon essential oil is THE household staple! Many household cleansers can be made with this oil, here is a simple recipe that I use:
- 2 cups distilled water,
- 2 Tbsp. white vinegar,
- 10 drops lemon essential oil.
Add all the ingredients to a GLASS spray bottle. Yes it has to be glass as essential oils will eat away at plastic.
Along with a great ingredient as a household cleaner, enjoy this invigorating aroma in the home by adding a few drops to your favorite diffuser.
Those are the essentials for essential oils that should be in your home. They are a great starting point especially if you are new to essential oils. Always remember, these tiny bottles contain powerful oils. Please use them carefully and with respect. Never ingest an essential oil unless advised by a pro and love the world of essential oils.
Thank you for reading and please leave a comment or share this post with your friends. Be sure to check out the other blog posts as well! Have an amazing day.
Interested in starting a business with essential oils? Reach out or sign up as a Young Living Distributor HERE!
Beauty Home Home & GardenEucalyptus and its many benefits
I’ve used eucalyptus essential oil for years! I mean years… if there’s a hint of chest congestion, I’ll mix a few drops with a carrier oil and apply to the chest & back. I also use it generally as a room refresher! Here’s a list of many benefits you can enjoy from this wonderful plant.
This is the plant that those cute Koala bears love as it is native to Australia where most species grow as a tree. There are actually more than 500 species of eucalyptus. The species most of us home gardeners will commonly use is known as the globulus or Globe Eucalyptus.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
How to use this wonderful Essential Oil and its list of benefits!
First of all, when using essential oils remember they are super potent, it is recommended to use with care and always try a test spot if using on the skin. Also, dilute it with a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, jojoba oil or coconut oil (my personal favorite) to reduce the essential oil potency and ensure the skin stays hydrated as well. Some essential oils seriously dry the skin and can hurt if applied directly.
There are many benefits, but the reasons I use Eucalyptus applied topically as it can help with:
- Chest congestion
- Breathe easier
- Soothe joint pain
Eucalyptus is also known to help with relaxation, and can even be used as a bug repellant!
How-to apply topically
Add a few drops to a carrier oil listed above and apply to the chest to help aid with breathing easier especially if you are stuffed up. You can also apply this to your stiff joints to ease joint pain. I feel eucalyptus oil should come with a warning label as this stuff can be strong on the nose!
Using eucalyptus in the shower or diffuser
- Add a few drops into your diffuser as directed
- Hang full eucalyptus branches or a sachet of dried eucalyptus leaves in the shower and enjoy the scent of eucalyptus in the shower steam.
- Add a few drops to a steam bowl, reed diffuser or clay diffusers
- If you have a natural luffa, add a couple of drops of the essential oil to it either use or let the steam of the shower disperse the essential oil
- PERSONAL TIP: I put a few drops into a glass dish and add the warm shower water to it while I do my thing in the shower. It actually disperses quite nicely with the steam.
Breathe easier, feel chill and enjoy all the benefits of this wonderful plant!
Thank you for reading, be sure to check out all the other blog posts as well. Health & Wellness, Life & Style, Beauty, Home & Garden.
Living well, It’s not a fad, it’s a lifestyle!
