Ever since I turned 25, I’ve transitioned into a full on “me, me, me” mode – where all I want to do is dedicate my free time to just doing ME. Lately, I’ve been an advocate for self love/self-care. The most important thing that is often overlooked or well, forgotten. To me, it means taking optimal care of your physical, mental, and spiritual health nurturing mind, body, and soul. There is no right or wrong answer; the important thing is to uphold to YOUR definition and strive to practice self-care wholeheartedly.

I was doing some reflecting a couple of days ago while I was stuck in traffic where I came to an epiphany about life in the city. Living in the city has, unfortunately, led me to develop a thick layer outside of myself. I have grown to become accustomed to chaos and distractions… and be okay with it. While working a 9-5 in the city may seem ideal for some, this can sometimes lead to something I fear the most: an uninspired mundane routine. A cookie-cutter path that simply was not for me.

The mediocrity of this path is something I do my best to avoid as I crave growth and seek inspiration every single day. Because we live in such a fast-paced environment constantly on the go, it’s imperative that we allocate some time in the morning (or night) to do “us” and to simply be in our skin. When was the last time you took time out of your day to shift your focus to just doing YOU? Here are some of my favorite self-focused activities –

1. Read a book // Learning something new and adding it to your skill set shows how much you value yourself that you’re constantly trying to mentally stimulate and open your mind.
2. Go on a hike. Lift weights. Run. Be active.
3. Listen to a podcast // Some of my favorites are listed in my previous post, but in addition to the ones I mentioned, I recently got hooked on “The Life Coach School Podcast” with Brooke Castillo and “Your Kick Ass Life” featuring Andrea Owen.
4. Take a social media break and unplug from your phone // I cannot stress this enough. Key is to disconnect with the outside world and connect INTERNALLY.
5. Do yoga, meditate, light some candles. Be zen // If you’re like me and you don’t want to spend $$ on yoga classes, there are plenty of yoga studios that offer free or discounted donation-based classes. Athleta and lululemon, for instance, host free classes every week. Another favorite of mine is Create Yoga. I recently went to a $10 donation class where all proceeds went to Ph8 Foundation, a wonderful foundation aiming to end global thirst. Going to a yoga studio whose mission and values align with yours is motivating and adds positive energy – SO ideal for self-love, isn’t it?!
6. Start a gratitude journal.
7. Book a photoshoot // I have to place an emphasis on this because lately, this has been my go-to. Booking a “just because” photoshoot is honestly therapeutic. I did this for my birthday because I wanted to capture my transition to womanhood and showcase how I grew to become comfortable in my own skin. And the photoshoot did just the trick. It can get a little uncomfortable especially if you’re not used to being in front of the camera, but trust me – at the end of the session, you’ll feel more empowered in your skin. I highly recommend everyone to book at least ONE photoshoot by the end of the year. I booked mine with Coco Haus Productions!
8. Curate a playlist on Spotify.
9. Declutter your workspace (and mind!)
10. Treat yourself to an at-home spa.
11. Color. Paint. Journal. Be your own creative!
12. Learn to be okay with saying no // This is something I’m continuously working on everyday. It’s okay to say no to invites if you choose to stay home and binge watch all of your favorite shows. Honestly, just do you.
13. Take a nice hot bath (hello, epsom salt!)
14. Get tons of sleep + wake up early.
15. Treat yourself. Splurge a little.
16. Travel.
17. Eat well, but don’t limit yourself. (YES to dessert!)
18. Practice mindfulness.
19. Slow down and live in the present.
20. Practice words of affirmation // Others see you how you see yourself.

It’s important to be self-aware and start prioritizing ways in which we can improve HOW we treat ourselves. Remember, self-care isn’t optional, it is essential. Take care of YOU.

PS – Here’s a Treat Yourself (709 downloads ) downloadable checklist as a daily reminder!

Let me know what some of YOUR self-care tips are. Until next time!