Better Self Care in 2017

​It’s the start of a brand spanking New Year, a good time for all of us to "Reassess, Reset & Renew” our commitment to our health and wellbeing. So, if you’re hoping to kick 2017 off right by inject more self-care into your life, may I suggest you book a massage some time soon (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) and then try out a few of the tips below…

​Be still: Taking time out to slow down, be still and clear your mind on a regular basis, is one of the best ways to do yourself a world of self-caring good.
 
Practice Acceptance: Though there is absolutely nothing wrong with striving for better or more (within reason), the next time you notice a stressful reaction coming on, check in to see if you’re resisting something you’d be better off learning to accept as it really is.
 
Adopt an Attitude of Gratitude: The idea of scarcity is so firmly entrenched in our society that the vast majority of us spend the bulk of our time focused on what we don’t have, rather than giving thanks for what we’ve already got. Turning your attention to all the blessings in your life (however large or small) will help you see your circumstances in a much more positive light.
 
Eat well: Choosing to eat a balanced diet with healthy, organic and whole foods is the best thing you can do for yourself. Just be sure to watch those portions.
 
Create Joyful Rituals: Read something uplifting every morning to start your day off right. Put your thoughts down on paper before you go to bed at night. Or treat yourself to a daily stroll on your lunch break, to ditch some workday stress. Make it your daily practice to do just a little bit of whatever makes you feel good to infuse more joy into your life.
 
Nourish Your Mind: Feed your mind with whatever makes your heart happy. Indulge in more learning, reading poetry, or anything else turns your intellectual crank on a regular basis.
 
Do More of What you Love: Love to dance, travel or meet new people? Figure out what really moves you and then carve out time in your schedule (and budget as necessary) to do more of it.
 
Exercise…Consistently: You know your body was built to move, so give it what it needs. Pick a form of movement you love (e.g. yoga, running, dance or tai chi), and just go for it, often. Your body will thank you for it.

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Breathe Deep: The shallow breathing (from your chest) that often starts when you’re confronted by a stressful situation, is also stress inducing. So, make engaging your diaphragm to take big, deep and calming breaths a habit.
 
Get more Shut Eye: A good night’s sleep plays a key role in maintaining a healthy weight, your energy levels, and reducing any feelings of stress you may experience. That’s why getting a minimum of 8 hours of sleep every night, is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
 
Cherish your Connections: Is there anything more soul nourishing than connecting with your tribe? The people who love and support you through thick and thin? Of course not! So, why not spend more time in their company?
 
Unplug: Taking a screen break by shutting off ALL your electronic gadgets for a day, a week or even longer (if you can swing it) is a surefire way to recharge your (mental & emotional) batteries, when necessary.
 
Get Out Into the Wild: There’s nothing quite like the sense of calm being surrounded by nature can bring on. So heed the call of Mother Nature by strolling through a wooded area, hitting a hiking trail or relaxing on the shores of a quiet lake, to get away from it all. 
 
Track Your Accomplishments: The fast pace of life makes it easy to loose sight of the progress you’re making. By making a list of your accomplishments as you work towards achieving your goals, on a daily or weekly basis, will keep to motivated to keep on keepin’ on when times get tough.
 
Keep it Cozy: Create a comfy, cozy and inspired space in a quiet corner of your home that you can hideaway in whenever you need some quality “me time.”

Got a few self care tips of your own to share? Please leave them in the comment section below.