How I Spend My Self-Care Sunday

Self-care and wellness are more popular now than ever. Quite frankly, I’m happy that society has put a spotlight on workaholism, cramming a million things into our schedules and never having any down time. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t work hard, because everything that’s worth having does require a bit of energy and effort, but it’s equally important to hit the reset button.

In fact, according to a survey done by The American Institute of Stress involving a total of 800,000 workers in over 300 companies, the number of employees calling in sick because of stress tripled from 1996 to 2000. To make matters worse, an estimated one million workers are absent every day due to stress. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’m a big fan of self-care. Here’s how I rejuvenate mind, body and soul at the end of each work week.

meditation

A simple guided 5-minute meditation is how I start every day. A meditation in the morning can help reduce stress, eliminate your coffee intake (not in my case hahah), breath more fully and more! I know it can be tempting to pick up your phone first thing upon waking, but studies show that checking your phone and receiving notifications consistently throughout the day contribute to feelings of anxiety. I’d advise you to turn off the alarm sounds and buzzing vibrations and create time blocks for checking emails and text messages.

P.S., if you are local, most Tuesday afternoons, I teach a sage healing breath work meditation class at Unplug Meditation! I will be adding virtual group offerings this Fall so you can meditate with me from the comfort of your own home. Stay tuned!

take a bath

According to Town & Country, at night our body temperatures naturally drop, which signals the production of melatonin—or the sleeping hormone. Soaking in a warm bath will raise your body temperature, and exiting will more rapidly cool it down, thus instigating the production of melatonin, and better preparing you for sleep. Make the most out of your bath with a bath salt. My favorite one lately has been Pacha Soap’s salt blocks. Their bath bombs are made with essential oils, moisturizing clays, and high-quality salts. All you have to do is drop one in a warm bath and let it dissolve. Bonus is that they use minimal packaging and source all of their ingredients sustainably. Sustainable and relaxing is a win-win in my book!

embrace mother nature

I feel blessed and cursed to live in the beautiful city of Los Angeles LINK. There are amazing hiking spots, beaches and the mountains and deserts are only a few hours away but that comes with traffic! You have to be really strategic with drive times in order to avoid the traffic, so I often opt for walking around my neighborhood or local park. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise that you can give yourself and being in nature helps to reset your nervous system. According to Business Insider, research has found that being outdoors helps with mental fatigue! 

Even if I can only get in a 10-20 minute walk with my fiance and dog, it just as important as the 2 hour hike. Human connection in real life is something that we all need. No phones. No computers. Just nature, sunlight, conversation, connection and the earth. If you don’t have someone to walk with, walking alone is just as rewarding! I love having a little “me” time to catch up on my thoughts.

healthy food boundaries

I don’t believe in diets or food restrictions. I eat what makes me feel good. Over the years I figured out that certain foods make me feel less than ideal so I have removed them from my life (alcohol, refined sugar, gluten, pork). I don’t tell myself that I can’t have them, rather I choose to not have them due to the horrible backlash that occurs (headaches, bloating, gas, “hung over” feeling).

There are a few indulgences that work for my blood and body type and I usually work them into my routine on Sunday but anytime I’m feeling a hankering for banana pancakes or vegan ice cream, I have it. No regrets. Zero guilt. Having healthy boundaries around food has become a huge part of my weekly self-care routine because I had disordered eating from about the time I was 8-years-old well into my early 30’s.

skincare

My favorite part of self-care Sunday is giving myself a spa-like facial at home. After my bath, I throw on an Osea facial mask. It’s ultra clarifying and detoxifying, which clears my pores after running around smoggy Los Angeles.

How do you spend your self-care Sunday? I’d love to connect with you and hear all about your routine rituals!