Have a Spa Night

It’s important to remember the need to pamper yourself. Set aside a night at least once a week where you take care of you. Light a candle, put on some music, and draw a warm bath with your favorite bath bomb (check out ones that have CBD oil in there for an ultra-relaxing bath!), soaking salts, bubble bath, or essential oils. (I also recommend adding some baking soda to your bath, as it’s been shown to help pull impurities and toxins from the body. Relax and soak for at least 20-30 minutes. I often do this while letting a face mask set. You may also decide to do a hair mask as well while you’re at it. Also, a glass of wine and/or a bowl of Indica is also a wonderful addition to bath time when you’re an adult. Keep a bottle of chilled water nearby too. Sitting in hot water is surprisingly thirsty work.

After your soak, I’ve found it to be very refreshing to wash off in a quick shower after with cool or icy water. Not only does this feel good as it cools you off, but it does wonders for your skin, and even boosts your immune system. Do this for at least a minute.

Afterward, don’t forget to put on your favorite body lotion or cream to lock in moisture. Sometimes I luck out, and my boyfriend will give me a quick massage with my lavender and sandalwood body cream before bed. It helps me to fall asleep and keeps my skin healthy. Plus, massages are always nice. If these are not available to you, make sure you’re still doing them yourself. There’s no sense in letting your skin dry out.

All being said, I would like to mention that this advice applies to both girls and guys. Fellas, I promise you’ll feel amazing. And even if you don’t believe me, taking care of your skin is important to you too. I’ve shared baths with my boyfriend and have done face masks with him too. He enjoys them just as much as I do. Besides, no one has to know what you do on your own at home in your own bathroom, if you don’t want anyone too. So, relax and soak like the rest of us!

It’s Okay to Stay Home Instead of Going Out.

We often sacrifice the time we could spend on taking care of ourselves on things that may take away from our energies. It’s very tempting to go out after work to hang out with friends or go to a bar for a few drinks, and it’s certainly okay in moderation. We often live in the moment so much that anytime someone hits us up to come over or go out somewhere, we’re ready to go.

Many of us feel like we’re missing out if we don’t go. Sometimes, depending on our responsibilities, this can become distracting. And in turn, this can make us feel more anxious and pressed for time when we feel like we don’t have enough of it to get things done. As such, it’s important to remember that you can say ‘no’ occasionally. There’s always next time. Your friends will understand. Maybe skip out on karaoke or bowling night every once in a while, and stay home to have some you-time. Do your spa night, watch a movie, binge a show you’ve been meaning to watch; do whatever you want. Just remember to relax and enjoy your own peace (or spend some time with your partner).

See Your Friends and Family

In contrast to the last point, some people are so wrapped up in their busy lives, they neglect to allow themselves social interaction. Instead of accepting opportunities to go out and see people to take a break from the busy schedules, they don’t let themselves spend any time to hang out with their friends, and even family sometimes. Be it needing to get a bunch of school work done, maintaining a gym routine, or working on hobby or project in your free time, we need to spend time with people to help decompress from stressors in our lives.

While it’s admirable to make sure you’re getting all your work done or are sticking to a goal, it doesn’t help you to over-work or burn yourself out. I’ve always found it to be therapeutic to go visit my mom and sister at least every week or two and catch up on everything going on. The same goes for seeing friends. Unless I work with someone, I don’t see my friends every day, or even every week. Some I see once a month if that. It’s important to remember that even if you’re both busy with your own lives, seeing the people you care about in your life and catching up on everything is great for everyone’s mental well-being. Especially if the people you have in your circle are good influences.

Spend Time with An Animal

Studies have shown that spending time with animals is good for our health. This is especially so with dogs and cats. Sitting with an animal and petting them for awhile has been shown to reduce blood pressure, as well as stress, for both you and your pets. It can also help you with your anxiety or even depression. It’s no secret that the company of animals is generally an enjoyable one, especially in a relaxed setting.

So, make sure to give your furry, feathered, or scaly best friends some extra love! They’ll enjoy it just as much as you will, too! It is a great way to bond with your animals, and when you give them a massage, it allows you to get to know their bodies better. By that, I mean that if your dog starts getting a lump on her side, you’ll notice it before it gets bigger. Or perhaps you didn’t realize they had a dry patch of skin. Giving them extra love can help you give them extra care.

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I hope that you have enjoyed the first part of this self-care series! And, I hope that at least one of these suggestions helps you to practice self care. It’s important to find a balance between your responsibilities and the things that let us restore ourselves. It’s also important to remember that life is not all about working or making money. It’s not about burning yourself out for school, or work, or anything else you do. We all need time set aside to ground ourselves and reclaim our energies, as well as our sanity.

Join me next time as I discuss ways to practice self-care that focus on how you can regain your creativity and your imagination!