My Holistic Self-Care Ritual

 

Although self-care rituals are only a very small part of self love, I believe that it is a very good starting point. Having a regular self-care ritual creates a routine of taking time for yourself to make sure that you are okay. Often times we are checking in our friends and family, concerning ourselves with their well being but forgetting to do the same for ourselves. Sometimes we even believe that other people are more deserving of our care than ourselves.

Creating a habit out of taking care of yourself builds self-esteem. You come to recognize the difference it makes in your mental well being and just how important you are too. Being selfish sometimes is the healthiest thing you can be.

My self-care ritual has taught me a lot about putting myself first and learning to say no when a situation does not take me into consideration. Something I have learned more recently, is how well it can work in easing a bad anxiety episode. During the last test week I failed to schedule my studying sufficiently and ended up over extended. This took a toll on me and caused a lot of anxiety. I thought I could not afford any time to attend to myself but it had gotten so bad that I had no choice but to take a break.

The simple act of taking the time to attend to my physical well being took care of all the anxiety I was feeling and ultimately made me study better than I ever have! The confidence it instilled trickled down to how well I wrote my tests and believed in my ability to perform well.

A self-care ritual can be anything you want it to be. It can even be as simple as ticking everything off of your to do list or being disciplined in your skin care routine. Mine is a bit more in depth than that. It is pure self indulgence and I am not afraid to admit it. So here is how it goes.

  

Kundalini Yoga

This is my favorite type of yoga. Russell Brand has described it as the "crack cocaine" of yoga, and although I have never experienced that high I think he is right. Kundalini yoga is not particularly strenuous when it comes to poses. It is more breath work than anything else. You walk away from it feeling invigorated and like a brand new person. I believe it is one of the best highs we can experience.

Detox Bath

Bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar baths or Epsom and Himalayan salt baths are my favorites. The benefits to both are plenty. Clay baths draw out toxins from your body so I take them when I have not been eating well and behaving unconsciously. Epsom and pink salt baths are also detoxifying but they also work great for relaxing the body and easing pain so that is something I do when I have had a tough workout or I have back pains from my menstruation.

 Steaming My Face

I started doing this for the sinus relief but the skin benefits that comes along with it is a definitive plus. I use ten drops of tea tree oil in about 500ml of boiling water. I put it in a big bowl, which I put on top of a folded towel to trap heat. I then put my face over it with a towel over my head to trap the steam. Some of the benefits are aroma therapy, promotes relaxation, removes toxins, enhances circulation and cleanses pores.

Mask for Current Skin Needs 

After opening my pores with steam I make use of the enhanced absorption of of products by doing a face mask. I use whatever masks my skin needs at the time but sometimes a charcoal mask is the most therapeutic because of it's detoxifying benefits. It makes me feel like my entire body is being detoxed. Do not underestimate the anxiety relief that comes with a good and soothing face mask.

Herbal Tea

There are so many herbal teas that have been scientifically proven to be amazing treatments for anxiety. Watch for my post on some of my favorites and the science behind why they work. It will be up next week.

Watch an Educational Video

Learning new things is my favorite past time. I have an insatiable appetite for knowledge and learning is therapeutic to me. Right now I am binging on Dolores Cannon interviews and lectures on Youtube.

Reading Spiritual Books

Books often give perspective on your current situation and ones that look at life through a spiritual perspective do that especially well. Next week I will post a list of my favorite books so that I may elaborate. They include spiritual, motivational and books on nutrition.

Watch Comedy or Anime

Allowing yourself an hour or two of indulgence in suspended disbelieve is one of the best luxuries we are afforded in this day and age. Enjoy it but do not over do it. I would not recommend watching a drama. Watch something that will put you in a light-hearted mood and make you laugh. Too much dramatic television can negatively effect our energy as it plays with our emotions while we are in the state of suspended disbelief. So this means taking a break from Love and Hip Hop and maybe turning on some Friends.

This is how I attend to my well being both emotionally and physically. I know everyone has their own methods and I would love to hear some of yours. Comment down below what they are and ask any questions you might have. Also share this with any friends and family members who suffer from anxiety. It could make such a difference.