Self Care for the Soul!

Welcome back my lively readers! I'm back on another lovely #WellnessWednesday to dig deep into all things SELF CARE! Now, whether your self-care is designated by day (#SelfCareSunday) or by whichever way the wind blows that week, I'm ready to dive into all elements essential to self-care!

Most people practice self-care subconsciously while others have weekly routines and regimens. Let's discuss types of self-care, common practices, and I'll let you in on my favorite and habitual self-care necessities.

Before we get into the fun stuff, let's break down the basics. Self-care can easily be defined as practicing activities to improve or maintain one's well-being and happiness. These activities usually fall under one or multiple of the Eight Dimensions of Self-Care. These dimensions including Emotional, Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Social, Environmental, Financial, & Career.

Though many do not dissect self-care by category, they all fall under a specific wellness area in your daily life. Somethings we do daily are considered self-care such as showering, eating, sleeping, which all fall under the basic level of physical self-care.

When looking at self-care through it's dimensions it may seems like a lot. However, incorporating intentional self-care into your daily routine can be very simple and can cost you very little time. Like anything in life, go at it in chunks and before your know it you'll be an expert in your own world of self-care. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to indulge, this is ALL ABOUT YOU.

Self-care journeys, like life, are a rollercoaster ride. Some weeks it's easier to find time to spend on yourself than others. No matter how diligent or nonchalant your self-care routine is, just make sure you give it your best effort. Some weeks I follow a system of self-care, while others I do what I can & remember to be gentle with myself in other ways.

Being honest, I delve into all dimensions of self-care in different ways throughout my week. Some are planned while others can be spontaneous. However, my non-negotiables go a little something like this:

Monday: Clean & cleanse my space. This for me gets my week going. Every Monday morning I like to clean my room followed by cleansing my space with sage wrapped in eucalyptus leaves. There are so many benefits to using eucalyptus and for me personally, it relaxes my entire being.

Tuesday: Budgeting. Tuesday is when I get paid so I like to sit down, go over my finances, put what I can in savings, and pay some bills. Though it may not seems like it, paying a bill is self-care, honey. Yes, it sucks to see my money go to basic living essentials like rent or car payments, but it's also rewarding to know that you have the ability to sustain yourself financially.

Wash Day: Now all my curl-friends can agree with me on this, wash day is a STRUGGLE, but it makes me look and feel like a new woman! My wash day varies throughout the week. I try to wash my hair 1-2 times a week to maintain my natural oil balance. I'm always looking into new products & regimens so if any curly haired beauties have any tips or tricks, please leave them in the comments below!

Burning MakingMagicalCandles: Okay, shameless plug here for one of my absolutely FAVORITE small businesses. If you have yet to try THE amazingness that is MakingMagicalCandles please do yourself a favor & go explore this shop on Etsy! These powerful intention & healing candles will truly be magic to your nose & soul! I'll be honest, I have almost the entire collection of candles which I burn to fuel different intentions I am either healing through, manifesting, or exploring. I would give you a top 3 favorite but um, I love them all so... My current go-tos that I have rotating right now are Divine Space (which has eucalyptus in it so I burn this while I clean), Aligned Self, and Magical Connection. However, I'd like to give an honorable mention to Cloak of Protection for smelling exactly how I want my man to smell on date nights & protecting me from negative energy simultaneously.

The rest of my self-care indulgences are usually spontaneous. However, I do have go-to practices to share with you all.

Socially, I love to go on adventures and try new things with my friends & family. I try to connect with loved ones 2-3 times a week if manageable. Social connection is important because there's always something new to learn or experience from another person. It sparks growth and change in our lives as well as fueling that desire to feel loved and appreciated.

I also take great pride in my physical and environmental well-being. Though I'm no expert, I take care of my mind, body, and soul daily through physical activities like walking, exercising, hiking, and more. Being outdoors makes me feel rejuvenated so I am so excited that we're finally seeing beautiful weather. This summer I plan to do all I can to maximize my time in nature. There are quite a few waterfalls and parks I hope to hike and swim in all throughout the Tri-State area!

While moving your body is important, it is just as important to maintain a balanced diet & lifestyle. This is why I became a wellness coach with Herbalife Nutrition. It keeps my mind at ease to know that I consume necessary vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients daily without really trying while also helping others do the same! I also have enjoyed trying healthier recipes and meal prepping. It's honestly crazy how much your taste buds and cravings change when you start feeding your body what it truly needs.

When looking to feed my intellectual & spiritual baskets, I love to read, write, draw, and paint. My blog, Liv A Little Writing, was born through this. Writing has always been a passion of mine whether it be creative, journaling, etc. My Mom always says I have a way with words and always know the right thing to say.

However, my love for reading is newly found but growing everyday. I've learned I love to read adventurous, magical, and mysterious books. Some of my favorites recently include "The Children of Blood & Bone" series by Tomi Adeyemi and "We Set the Dark on Fire" series by Tehlor Key Mejia. I also enjoy a good memoir from time to time. My top 2 favorites are "To Selena With Love" by Chris Perez & "We're Gonna Need More Wine" by Gabrielle Union. I'm always looking for new reads so please drop any recommendations in the comments below!

Drawing and painting on the other hand have been loves of mine for as long as I can remember. Growing up I had a little notebook that you could catch me drawing in late night listening to music I downloaded onto my laptop off limewire (LOL). Art class was always one of my favorites. I loved to explore my creative abilities. There honestly is not a form of art that I do not enjoy. I'm currently working on a portrait dedicated to my Tio Josh who passed away when I was 9. My uncle & I were very close before he passed away. He was like my second father & is actually the man who raised me to be a die hard New England Patriots fan.

A couple of weeks ago, my mother & I were doing some spring cleaning and I stumbled upon a painting of myself as a toddler that I've always had hanging in my room. I asked my mom who made it & she told me it was my Tio Josh. That same night I began sketching my portrait of him. I feel it's only right that I return the favor.

Well my lively readers, that concludes our #SelfCareSegment here on Liv A Little Writing. My hopes are that you learned something new revolving the world of Self-Care or maybe found a practice you may decide to adopt into your own routine. Either way, continue taking much needed time for yourself, your goals, and your passions. Also, drop any self-care practices I may not have mentioned that you enjoy down in the comments below. I'll be connecting with you all again very soon!

Until then,

Liv A Little ♡