We really should be taking more care of ourselves, we are always on the go- with our busy 9 to 5’s and feeling the need to be online in our digital lives. That sometimes I think we forget to stop and take a breath to just focus on ourselves and look at what we are doing at the moment.
I know I definitely needed to take a moment I can feel myself getting frustrated when I’m not getting anywhere. I am always on the move and I can feel myself burning out so I needed to take stock and look after myself.
What is self-care? I hear you ask, well according to the Self-Care Forum the definition is
Self Care is the actions that individuals take for themselves, on behalf of and with others in order to develop, protect, maintain and improve their health, wellbeing or wellness.
Thinking about that, I wanted to do things that I loved and that would make me feel better, relaxed and more at one with myself. I have been wanting to keep fit for a while and I have had experiences of a range of classes, from Zumba to Dance Fit I have enjoyed doing those classes but I wanted to do something that was bit more zen as it were.
So I started a Yoga class that is within walking distance which is perfect as it means I have not got to stress about travel. And as I write this I am in my third week of Yoga and I really like it, it is £20 for four weeks and it’s on for an hour in the evening once a week. All you need is a yoga mat, comfy clothing and yourself. Each week our focus is on different things and we develop skills and techniques that we have learnt in previous weeks. I thought it would just be about mindfulness and breathing but it’s more than that- it’s stretching and thinking about our lives and how yoga can help that. If you are thinking about going to a yoga class then give it a go. I come back from that class feeling refreshed and less stressed.
That’s the physical side of things but let’s get a bit more personal, self-care to me also means looking after yourself both on the inside and the outside. Recently I have been booking myself into my local salon, getting my hair cut, facials, massages and all things beauty related.
Just little treats to make myself feel better and you don’t even have to pay through the nose for it, I did a lot of price research before booking to find the right price for me. I had to change where I get my facial and nails done as my beautician moved but where she moved to is much better than before. I got a 30min ESPA Facial recently and it was such an experience, it felt more than 30min. I got taken for a consultation and relaxed in the relaxation room and before my treatment, I had an aromatherapy test, where I selected scents and oils that I liked the smells of. This would then determine what products they would use to help me relax and rejuvenate my face.
But you don’t have to pay for self-care, even better than that, you can do it all for free in your home, I like to treat myself by having a nice bubble bath or even having a longer shower and putting on some shower tunes. Do you know what else I like to do? I like to moisturise, especially as it is coming to the colder months my skin can get dry and I don’t put in the time to moisturise my body. So when I am feeling indulgent I add that into my routine.
It can be the simplest of things, like putting on a fresh pair of PJ’s or reading a book with a hot mug of cocoa. Anything that you like to do but think you don’t have the time for, do it. Take the time out and do it, make time for you. Look after yourself and you will feel so much better for it.
Gemma's Journey 