As we approach Valentine’s Day, it is good to take some time for ourselves. What?? It’s all about giving gifts to others, right?
Yes and no.
Yes, it is important to take some time to find a perfect gift for the one(s) we love. But that well-spring gets fed from gifting to ourselves first. If we are depleted, we have nothing to share but exhaustion.
I remember when our daughter was born. After a long a difficult labor, I had a newborn who cried seemingly non-stop. (She was only considered borderline colicky!) I never got enough sleep. 11 weeks later I went back to a big job which gave me tremendous anxiety and long hours with people I didn’t respect, like or trust. It was taxing. I continued to nurse her for another 4 months, travel both domestically and internationally, and keep it all going. One Saturday my husband excitedly said that I could do anything I wanted for the whole afternoon. My request? To sleep. My joie de vivre took a serious hiatus. I was depleted emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
As I zombied through that first 18 months, I learned firsthand how precious having adequate energy for your daily life truly is.
I left that high-paying, soul-sucking job and turned the page. Each of us has to decide on the cost we pay for the choices we make. Is it worth the price?
Making a Habit Out of Self-Care
“Conviction makes repetition
Makes habit
Makes change.”
-Carolyn Hax
What small daily rituals do you do that bring you a few moments of joy? Do you acknowledge the joy they bring you? (Your perfect hot beverage in the morning, the observation of the weather, flora, and fauna outside your window as you open the blinds to greet the day? That first whiff of morning air when you open the door?)
What small acts of self-care can you incorporate into your day? Are you a bath or shower fan? Lots of opportunities to imbue your ablutions with all natural, supportive, skin-pampering self-care. From bath or shower fizzies, sugar or salt scrubs, moisturizing body bars, facial serums, and moisturizers, we have a plethora of great products to brighten your day.
Here’s a couple of ideas for baths (when you make time for one):
Relaxing Bath
- 2-4 cups Epsom salts
- 1-2 cups baking soda
- 1-2 Tablespoons jojoba or other neutral oil
- 1 drop rose essential oil (Rosa damascena)
- 2 drops vetiver essential oil (Vetivera zizanioides)
- 3 drops sweet orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis)
Drop the essential oils in the jojoba or other neutral oil. When mixed, add to the salt. Pour into your bath water while you step in. Enjoy the aroma. Soak for 10-20 minutes. No soap, this a soaking bath! Best done in the evening.
Too-Long-Winter Bath
- 2-4 cups Epsom salts
- 1-2 cups baking soda
- 1-2 Tablespoons jojoba or other neutral oil
- 3 drops eucalyptus globulus essential oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
- 3 drop frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carterii)
Drop the essential oils in the jojoba or other neutral oil. When mixed, add to the salt. Pour into your bath water while you step in. Enjoy the aroma. Soak for 10-20 minutes. No soap, this a soaking bath! Can be enjoyed anytime.
(These baths will support you emotionally too.)
Like they say on the planes “put your own mask on first before assisting others”.
Take care of yourself and enjoy this Valentine’s Day celebration of love. Starting with daily, actionable ways you can love yourself!
What are ways that you support yourself?
And Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sincerely,
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