Positive Self-Care Ideas ♡

                                                                      

(This is a subjective point of view and is supposed to be a lighthearted read and in no way is meant to be offensive to any one's opinions and morals.)

While alleviating a tragedy or simply rejuvenating a dull life, we all go through a process of healing. Everyone has their own way of healing & self-care is a potent ingredient in the recipe of this process. These are some positive self-help/ self-care activity ideas that you can include in your routine just for the sake of self-love or self-healing.

“Taking care of yourself isn’t about trying to become perfect. It’s about realizing and honoring, in every moment, that you already are.” ~ Vironika Tugaleva

---What is self-care?---

"Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health."

 

Whether you're going through the general stresses of life or you've gone through some life changing harrowing events, taking care of yourself is an obligation to yourself that you shouldn't put aside for long. 

It's a form of self-respect, it's crucial to care for yourself mentally and physically. Life is just a test, it will continue to happen despite the hurt, despite all the stresses & losses. What you don't want to loose in this journey called life, is the love and care for yourself.

So after a while from that nasty breakup or a tragic loss or anything that kicked you off the trail of a normal functional life, you shouldn't be subjecting yourself to eternal despair, grieving and drying up tears every single time you get the chance to, overthinking and neglecting yourself will only lead to self-destruction. Be kind to yourself. Take baby steps and try to come back to life.

On the hand, there are some who confuse this entire concept of 'self-care'. The thought of putting ourselves first can trigger a sense of guilt, but there is a profound misconception in that. Being generous, kind and serving is a whole different topic than this. Let's not confuse this as being selfish. Self-care is often confused with selfishness, which is completely wrong. The self-care that I write about here is not maligned with greed or an ill-intention towards other souls. It is compassion towards your own soul. Self-care is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we give to other.

--- Simple Activities---

 Take a breather. Observe your thoughts. Practice positive thinking. Read up this post on creating a positive mindset.

 “Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.” – Francesca Reigler

Pray, meditate and give yourself some peaceful time before starting the day.

"Meditation is to the mind what exercise is to the body – it warms and invigorates. – John Thornton"

 Take a walk outside early in the morning and feel the fresh air oxygenate your mind.

"A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world." -Paul Dudley White

 Correct your sleep cycle. Sleep not very late and wake up as early as you can. Starting the day early makes you feel more productive and fresh throughout the day. Take a short nap between your hectic day.

"Sleep, and enough of it, is the prime necessity. Enough exercise, and good food and enough, are other necessities. But sleep—good sleep, and enough of it—this is a necessity without which you cannot have the exercise of use, nor the food. ~Edward Everett Hale, "How to Get the Best of It," c.1892"

Green tea will lighten up your mood and will help you feeling light in order to diminish that groggy feeling when you wake up.

"If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you. - William E. Gladstone, British Prime Minister"

Artificial sugar will always cause sluggishness and exhaustion. Replace all the carbonated and sugary drinks with organic and pure fruit juices. This will give you more energy for the day and keep you from gaining unwanted weight.

Start eating clean. Add more greens to your daily meal. Incorporate healthy salads in your menu. 

"The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison." -Ann Wigmore

Take up home gardening and grow your own herbs or spices. You'll feel a sense of accomplishment.

"Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace."
— May Sarton

Save up and indulge in shopping your favorite items that are waiting in your wish-list. Shopping is form of therapy as well.

"I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist."
-- Tammy Faye Bakker

 Tidying up your room or house can play a significant role in your mood. Clean and clutter free spaces removes so much stress and anxiety.

 To lighten up the atmosphere around you, light up a scented candle in your room, make sure you keep it somewhere safe to avoid unwanted fire.

“A candle, a book and a peaceful person mean three candles for the world!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

Treat yourself with your favorite dessert.You definitely deserve it.

“We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.”
― David Mamet 

Do what makes you happy, for example, take that Henna class or try practicing by yourself. It's a great way to pass time.

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

 Take up short courses of interests you want to explore or skills you want to improve, like cooking, aromatherapy, sewing, driving or anything that holds your interest.

“Do the thing you're good at. Not many people are lucky enough to be so good at something.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars 

 If you have gained some extra pounds, don't get afraid of that scale, set a goal for yourself to loose a couple of pounds per week, stick to your goal and in no time you'll have your desired results.

“Weight loss doesn't begin in the gym with a dumb bell; it starts in your head with a decision.”
― Toni Sorenson, The Great Brain Cleanse   

To set a calm environment while doing a task, take advantage of aromatherapy. There are a lot of essential oils with calming benefits.

Take a bubble bath or a warm shower, this will instantly lift your mood up.

Moisturize your whole body after a shower. 

Doll up once in a while, make your self pretty just for you.

Make your own face masks and have fun in the process.

Apply masks weekly to really give your skin the care it needs.

 Buy organic skincare products or try making your own. It's a safer and cheaper alternative.

Make sure to clean your face thoroughly after makeup. Take care of your skin especially during stressful days, you'll thank yourself later in the future.

Don't forget to treat your feet as well, the skin on your feet is as important as your face. Plus, who doesn't like pretty looking feet?

Be as one with nature and appreciate it. Nature is always refreshing to the eyes and the soul.

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring