5 Ideas for Better Self Care
Hello, Seed friends! Chances are, you are reading this quickly. Maybe you have multiple tabs open on your laptop. Perhaps you're also answering work emails or packing school lunches. I'd like you to pause for a moment and consider adding just one more thing to your agenda -- to commit to self care.
First, though, let's look at the definition of self care. Everyone seems to be talking about it, but what is it?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines self care as "activities individuals, families, and communities undertake with the intention of enhancing health, preventing disease, limiting illness, and restoring health. These activities are derived from knowledge and skills from the pool of both professional and lay experience. They are undertaken by lay people on their own behalf, either separately or in participative collaboration with professionals."
Let's take a look at some of our suggested self care practices:
1. Get creative! The American Holistic Nurses Association suggests creative expression through music or art.
Have you seen the myriad adult coloring books on the market these days? I took the plunge a few months back and am so happy I did. The act of thoughtfully sitting with my gel pens in front of a coloring book is soothing. The ones in the above photo are my favorites. I sit on the sofa in front of a fire with a cup of hot tea and color after the boys go to bed. It really is a relaxing experience.
2. Try yoga.
I go in the evenings every now and again for 75 minutes of Vinyasa (hot) yoga. It takes place in a dimly lit room and is quiet. Unlike the gym, which is a high-energy, loud place that seems to put my senses into overtime, my yoga ritual is relaxing and cathartic. This form of yoga is actually ideal for self care.
There have been multiple studies about the relationship between yoga and stress. Many link a reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms to regular yoga practice. Combining stretching, flexibility, and deep breathing, yoga may quickly become a favorite part of your self care routine.
3. Engage in healthy eating habits.
You are what you eat. While it is okay to treat yourself to an unhealthy splurge in your diet, if you choose fresh fruits, veggies, seed, nuts and other wholesome food sources, you will be providing your body with the fuel it needs. You take care of your nails, your wardrobe, washing your car so it's shiny -- so why not treat your body with the same attention and care? You have ONE body. Respect it.
4. Turn your bath into a self care ritual.
Turn the lights down. Light a couple of candles and turn on some soft music (listening to soft music is also a form of self care). Soak your troubles away and enjoy the warmth and quiet of bathing. Spritz our Relaxing Blend Body Oil into your bath water and relax. Add some of our lavender-infused body wash onto your loofah and indulge in the relaxing suds. Close your eyes and just be.
5. Use aromatherapy.
This is one of our favorite recommendations. American College of Healthcare Sciences President, Dorene Peterson, BA, Dip.NT, Dip.Acu, RH (AHG) explains, "Aromatherapy is one effective self-care method we can use to stop stress from taking root in the body. Aromatherapy triggers the relaxation response, necessary for self-care."
Here at (seed), we believe in the many benefits provided by essential oils in aromatherapy. Essential oils are the backbone of aromatherapy and we have more than 1000 possible blend combinations for you to create in our Custom Blends line.
Here are some suggestions:
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