Who would have thought spring was shaping up to be this hectic. It literally feels like we’re living inside of a suspense movie. And with all that’s happening it’s easy to get swept into the madness and taken off track if you don’t take control of your thoughts. To combat the noise, I’ve put together a list of wellness practices we can all implement into our daily routines to stay grounded and keep stillness within amidst the chaos. Here are a few of the self-care rituals that have been helping me maintain inner peace.
MAKE A PLAN FOR YOUR TIME AT HOME
One upside of the downtime is we’re all experiencing is having extra time to spend with ourselves and family. It’s the perfect opportunity to tap into what you’ve been missing out on, planning to do, putting off, and or wanting to explore. The best way to get it all out on your head and onto paper or doc if you’re a digital babe is to make a list of all the things you’d like to get done during this time. Now, this isn’t pressure to reinvent the world or write a Noble Peace Prize-winning novel. It’s just time to do whatever you want to do. Whether that’s working on passion projects, catching up on shows, or simply relaxing, you get to decide. But it’s great having it all written down in one place to reference during your time home. Plus, it takes away the anxiety of having a to-do list running at the back of your mind. I’m planning to get some much-needed rest, but also catch up on creative projects I’ve been wanting to do for the longest.
MEDITATE
I just started mediating at the beginning of this year and it’s really been life-changing because it gives me the skills and know-how to channel my peace at any given time. At first, I was a little nervous to try it because I wasn’t sure what I was opening up myself to spiritually, but I’ve found that it’s more about learning to breathe effectively and check-in with yourself more than anything. During my first session, my instructor gave an analogy that sums up meditation really well. He placed dirt in a cup of water and had us all watch the dirt settle to the bottom. Mediation essentially does the same for the mind. It settles our scattered thoughts and brings them all to stillness by only focusing on your breathing. When you focus solely on your breath going in and out you’re completely in the present moment not worrying about life’s “troubles.” Plus deep breathing from your stomach alkalines the body which is super beneficial for your immune system. Deep breathing tells the brain you are not in flight or fight mood, it takes down your blood pressure and heart rate, and lessens fear and or anxiety. Practice meditating for at least 10 mins a day and it’ll be sure to help you remain calm. Some great apps that offer free guided mediation are Oak, Calm, and Meditation & Relaxation.
PRAYER
Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen. More than ever we need to hold onto that belief. With the level of uncertainty going on, the only thing we have to ground us is our faith that we will see through yet another hurdle. Daily prayer is one way to build strong faith that’ll remind you of who you are and keep your spirit alive unable to be consumed by fear. Practice telling yourself your own unique mantra or word that’ll keep you mentally strong during this time.
JOURNALLING
If you don’t know by now, I’m a big advocate for journaling. It’s really helped me get closer to myself and it’s soothingly therapeutic. Every day set aside some time to check in with yourself to see how you’re feeling and what’s on your mind. Writing exactly how you feel without any inhibitions really helps you to clear your mind and get those thoughts out of your head onto a page. That simple act does wonders to bring about clarity and self-awareness. It’s also great to practice writing down things that you are grateful for each day. Some days you might have more to say than other days but that’s totally fine and normal. Just let it flow. Whatever comes up comes up and over time you’ll be able to catch patterns of things you regularly think about. Daily journalling also helps you connect the dots and reveals why you do certain things the way you do. It’s kind of like self-therapy. It’s really exciting to see what comes up every day.
TAKE COLD SHOWERS
I know taking cold showers doesn’t seem fun at all if that’s not your thing, but I promise it’s so refreshing! The good news is you don’t have to take a cold shower all the way through. You can turn on the cold water for 15, 30, or 60 seconds at the end of each shower. The goal is to build up to spending more time in cold water. A cold shower helps alkaline the body and gets the blood flowing so if you’re not much of an exerciser this is a great supplement. Blood flow is also known for keeping disease and viruses at bay because the movement doesn’t give sickness a chance to settle in your body. A cold shower also gives you an energy boost and it’s a great way to shake yourself out of sleepiness if you struggle to wake up in the morning. I came across the benefits of this practice while watching The Goop Lab on Netflix, where the staff from Gwyneth Paltrow’s media company Goop undergo a series of extreme wellness experiences to later report if it’s worth it or not. They brought on Win Hof, an expert on the benefits of the cold who taught them about using the cold for health benefits and the results were amazing. You can also check out his app the Win Hof Method if you’d like to get into his practices.
CREATE
Creativity brings about a sense of hope and joy. All the things we need at this time. If you’ve been meaning to get started on or finish a passion project now is the time to get creative and tap into your creative energy. Creating a great way to be present and focus on something that satisfies your soul.
REST
We don’t know if we’ll ever have a global standstill like this ever again so there’s no better time to just simply live without any obligations or mandates. Rest is just as important as doing and in fact resting is doing something. Our minds and bodies need time for renewal so finding ways to do that in this time off is crucial. Catch up on some z’s. Lay down and just lounge. Watch your favorite shows and just decompress. You deserve it.
SPRING CLEANING
I recently redid my room and I couldn’t have done it at a better time since I presume I’ll be spending even more time here now. It’s one of the best things that I’ve done for myself in a while and it really reaffirmed for me how important it is to create a safe space or sanctuary for yourself. As much as you can make your space comfortable and clean. Go through your closet/ storage and get rid of things that are weighing you down and no longer aligns with who you are at this very moment. You’ll feel the energy shift and looking around at a beautiful space on the outside will make you feel tons better on the inside.
