Improve Yourself Today

One of my resolutions was to continue implementing what served me well in 2020 and continue all of it. In 2020, self-care 100% saved me. And I'm not just talking massages and facials. I'm talking about real self-care, like difficult conversations, setting boundaries, and falling in love with myself.

"Change is your friend, not your foe; change is a brilliant opportunity to grow."

— Simon T. Bailey

To me, to improve is to change things up. With that said, I’m sharing some ways I show myself some love that may also, spark with YOU. Take what sounds good and ignore the rest, because, at the end of the day, self-care and self-development are going to look different for all of us. 

Self-care for physical health 

During quarantine especially, it has been so important that I get outside or into some sunshine every day. I also recommend taking a walk or moving your body in a way that aligns with you once a day. It's crazy what a mood shifter this can be! If you're a fitness junkie like myself, it can be really rewarding to add new workouts to your routine. On a given week, I bounce around from Yoga Sculpt to Pilates, HIIT, running, or a combo of a few.

When you're working out, don't forget about stretching! This really helps prevent injuries and feels amazing. One of my goals is to become more flexible this year! Speaking of goals, print an accountability calendar and check off your fitness and eating goals. This year I also implemented intermittent fasting. If that's too much for you, start replacing breakfast with a protein shake full of fruits + greens instead. Heavy breakfast zaps my energy. To me, self-care is also limiting my sugar and booze consumption to a couple of nights a week.

Okay, now the for the fun stuff! I've made it a goal to get 8 hours of sleep a night (luxurious, am I right?!) It's also been really fun for me to watch a tutorial online and learn how to create a new make-up or hair look! If you're looking into taking better care of your skin this year, learn how to give yourself a legit at-home facial with fun props! I've loved using my crystal face roller and Gua Sha.

Self-care for mental health

Mental health and self-care go hand in hand if you ask me. I know that when I'm not taking care of myself, my mental health deteriorates. I have a bunch of small tips that really do make a difference when you're taking the time to implement them. The easiest one in my mind is establishing a morning routine for YOU. During my morning routine, I love writing a quick and simple gratitude list! Reminding yourself of all that you have to be grateful for is a huge first step in your mental health self-care checklist. Pro-Tip: Make your bed every day. Another simple thing that always makes me feel so good.

Next up, journaling, breathwork, and meditation. I start my morning with 10-minutes of meditation, often from bed. Breathwork has become a huge part of my morning routine as well. I do a quick 5 seconds in, hold 5, 5 seconds out - slowly. It helps to ground me! When it comes to journaling, everyone is totally different. My go-to journal right now is the Dot Journal. A dot journal is a planner, to-do list, and diary for every aspect of your life: work, home, relationships, hobbies, everything.

As my day progresses, I love to listen to an inspirational audiobook or podcast. It's great during a long drive, on a walk or runs. Making sure I take time off of social media has been huge too. And damn, this always feels good. Another huge piece of my mental health self-care checklist is simplifying my systems. Signing up for grocery delivery has legit changed my life. This allows more time for organizing your life. Closet, drawers, your car - whatever you need. I'm literally a better person when my life is clean.

Confidence boosters

This is so important - tell yourself something you love about your body every day. We're all our own worst critics. If that doesn't work, call a girlfriend. Finally, my last few self-care tips are these;

+ Enroll in a course to further your career
+ Read before bed instead of watching the TV
+ Teach yourself a new skill
+ Apologize or forgive someone. Stop carrying the weight
+ Give yourself permission to rest

Comment below and give me all of YOUR go-to tips!