The term “self-care” is so overdone these days and sometimes I cringe hearing it. Like yeah girl, get your alone time in. I wish there was another way to express the need for “taking care of ourselves” but the fact is, we all need it, crave it, and fulfill it in our own personal ways. For some, it’s a run or yoga class. For others, it’s 5 minutes of meditation before the work day. For me, it’s a multitude of things that fill my cup and help me recharge or prep for my day. Sharing 5 ways I take care of myself that doesn’t involve a workout (which is one way I practice self care but I think that one goes without saying for most people):
Simple Morning Routine
This one is practically impossible with three little boys and trying to get them ready and out the door by 8:30 BUT I still try and be extremely mindful in the mornings. My morning routine isn’t necessarily “simple” but I do the SAME thing each day (and night before) that allows for a calmer morning.
Luckily, my youngest sleeps in until about 7:30-8 and the other two are self-sufficient that they get up, come downstairs, turn on the TV and grab low hanging fruit for breakfast lol (before I make them their real breakfast). This allows me to not get out of bed until about 6:45 or 7 am. We sleep with our blinds open so we wake up with the sun, which is so calming and I do my best to stay off my phone. Looking at it first thing in the morning, scrolling instagram, checking emails or Daily Mail instantly spikes my cortisol (stress). Got enough of that so the phone stays put while I get up and splash my face with cold water (I don’t wash my face until later in the day after a workout and I want my PM Skin Routine to continue to sink in from the night before).
Once I get downstairs, I make coffee + a splash of half/half and vital proteins and make the kids breakfast. Breakfast is a rotation of cereal, yogurt, waffles, and/or applesauce.. it has to be quick and easy over here. My kids are picky but not if that makes sense.. they don’t have specific requests for food and never have any idea what they actually want to eat so they get the same 4-5 things on repeat. Maybe one day they’ll have a refined palette but it’s not today.
I make lunches for the kids the night before so I don’t have the stress of that in the morning. I lay their clothes out the night before as well and they’re at an age where they can dress themselves (minus Parker), which is a dreamy new stage. Once they’re fed and dressed, they play on their own and I am able to sit down and really enjoy my coffee, listen to the news, and check emails, or get a blog post up. We have about an hour of “chill time” before we need to be in the car so honestly this hour, even though my kids are around, is “me time.” They are at an age where they play well together, can work the TV and their iPads and don’t require a ton of help from me.. I mean, yes there is the occasional fight that occurs (insert meltdown) or Parker needing me but overall, it’s relatively calm and it helps set the tone for a good day. **not all mornings look like this. There are days they are at each other’s throats ok?! It’s not perfect, ever. But I am very intentional about making it as smooth as possible for my own sanity lol**
Social Media Break
This goes along with what I mentioned above about not looking at my phone first thing in the morning but sometimes, a complete break is needed. And not just in the morning. I am talking a full week or weekend at times. Scrolling Instagram or Facebook can be triggering.. everyone is highlighting their perfect lives, perfect families, perfect parenting, perfect diet and it’s like UGH. Instagram is a highlight reel and we have to always keep that in mind. No one has it all even though it appears that way at times. No one posts the meltdowns, the drag out fights between siblings, puppies chewing through rugs (Hi Daisy, you cute little monster), our kids eating CRAP, or zoned out on their iPads when we just NEED A MINUTE. We see everything else and that’s when it’s time to take a break from social media and just be present with what you have going on in your own life.
I tend to take my biggest social media breaks on the weekends. Alix and I rarely post on Saturdays or Sundays because we are with our families. Also, we’re boring but that’s a different story. I think it’s so important to put the effort into your own life, your own family, and your own happiness instead of scrolling through everyone else’s. Turn the phone off, leave it at home, or put it in another room and find joy in the everyday happenings around you.
Get Outside
Tough for us in the Pacific Northwest right now with the hail, sleet, rain and snow GOOD LORD!! But when there’s a break in the weather, I always get outside. It doesn’t have to be for a brisk walk.. I just like to be outside and get vitamin D and fresh air. I make the kids go out on the trampoline or kick the soccer ball around and I’ll sit and watch them or we go for a little walk around the neighborhood and say hi to our friends. There are days when it rains non-stop and I sit at my computer for the majority of the day and don’t step foot outside except to pick up the kids from school. That is not taking care of myself. I notice my mood shift and I’m a total downer when I don’t get fresh air. So I try to do this daily if I can.. even if it’s 5 minutes sitting on the porch chatting with my neighbor while the boys play. My favorite shoes to walk around the neighborhood are my black and white Nike’s and my big down jacket that goes down to my ankles. Anyone in cold weather needs this coat.. it keeps your entire body warm and being outside is welcomed rather than dreaded in these colder months! Looking forward to Spring and Summer when we can be outside ALL day every day.. with a cocktail in hand 🙂
At Home Spa
The fact is, I don’t make it to my esthetician as often as I want. Ideally, I’d get monthly facials but that gets pricey, dude. So I have to bring the spa home. Now, I don’t cut corners when it comes to my skincare and have invested a lot of money in my products over the years but there are times I want to feel extra pampered in the comfort of my own home.
About once a week, I will lock myself in my bathroom, put my plush robe and slippers on, tie my hair back, and PAMPER. I’ll do my full skincare routine and add in this facial steamer to open up my pores after cleansing. This allows for my serums (post steam) to really SEEP IN. Get IN there. Sometimes I’ll do a masque, eye mask, whiten my teeth, and massage my feet. Let’s not half-ass this, you know what I mean?! This is all while sipping wine out of my favorite glasses. Naturally.
Pinning and Reading
A number of my close girlfriends are huge readers. Like, 2 books a week. I am so impressed! I used to read all the time but just don’t carve out time to do it all that often but when I do, I remember why I love it so much. The phone gets put away and I dive into bed with a good read and I seriously think it helps me sleep better. I typically read after the kids are put to bed and my husband and I watch one of “our shows” and if he wants to space out on Sportscenter, I like to go upstairs and have my time to read. Right now I’m reading Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover as she is one of my all time favorite authors.
When I don’t feel like reading, I am pinning on Pinterest. I love pinning outfit inspiration, home decor, and recipes. Follow along here! I always have Pinterest open because it gets me motivated and creative.. and drives my husband crazy because I’m always coming up with new ways to refresh anything and everything.. but mostly in the home decor department. But I find my time on Pinterest to be very much “me time” and relaxing. It’s just fun looking at pretty pictures and getting ideas for literally anything you’re interested in.
What do you do to take care of yourself outside of the gym? A bath? Trashy reality shows? I do those too, BTW 😉
xo, Heather
