“As everything in nature, if your life isn’t supported by grounded energy, it will wither and lose its vitality.” ~ Sonia Choquette
Modern day society has us overwhelmed with busy, non-stop schedules and endless to-do lists that can be completely draining. This detaches us from the abundance of beauty that life has to offer. There is no value in working beyond our means to exhaustion. Nothing truly matters unless we are happy. Seek experiences that make you feel inspired and well energized. Life is intended for living, enjoy it to the fullest!
Allowing time for your personal health and well-being is vital. When providing optimal care for the self first, healthy, balanced experiences follow. By recharging and replenishing yourself, achieving goals and challenges will become easier. To build a well working foundation of source energy, it is wise to create an individualized SELF-care plan encompassing mind, body and spirit.
Here are a few suggestions of activities people incorporate into their routines to restore source energy:
Begin the day with a positive intention- Some of the best days are those that begin with presence and purposeful intention. Rather than starting the day on the fly, you have the ability to create a space of serenity just for you.
– Find phrases or affirmations that connect to your spirit and say one out loud every morning.
– Initiate a “theme” for the day and live by it. For example, enjoy a day of love, family, productivity, relaxation, etc. Whatever it is you wish to set focus.
– Write down a task for the day that will make a positive impact on your life and commit to completing it.
Practice gratitude- An attitude of gratitude improves health, reduces stress, provides a happier frame of mind and strengthens relationships with ourselves and others. Acknowledging and appreciating what we are thankful for puts situations into perspective, allowing us to see and think differently. When positive aspects are recognized, negative components begin to disappear making it difficult to become stuck and complain. As we realize the fortunate privileges we have, it lessens our needs of wanting more all of the time. Make an effort to note at least one thing you are thankful for everyday.
Stay well hydrated and nourished- The human body depends on water for survival as it makes up more than half of your body weight. Every cell, tissue and organ requires water to function at optimal capacity. Some sources suggest intaking a minimum of half your bodyweight in ounces per day. If urine is not clear or light yellow, you are likely dehydrated. Drink water first thing in the morning and all through the day. Carrying a reusable water bottle with you will encourage rehydration consistently. Water is absolutely essential for good health. Also, eating healthy, meals and snacks throughout the day provides the necessary nutrients for your body to operate properly and maintain a steady blood sugar, preventing you from feeling fatigued and moody.
Regular exercise and physical activities- Simply keep your body moving. The body retains a great deal of physical and emotional stress. Staying active promotes physical and psychological health by relieving stress and releasing endorphins. Stretch, go for a walk, jog, enjoy a hike, ride a bike, hit the gym, dance/move to your favorite music, engage in any hobby that keeps you in motion! Make an effort to include a minimum of 10-30 minutes a day for physical activity.
Quiet time and reflection- Be sure to take some much needed down time that you deserve. At times all we need is to sit still. Take moments to breathe throughout the day. Cleanse your mind, connect to your body and recharge. Reflect with meditation, journaling, visualization, breathing exercises, a soothing bath, massage, yoga, anything that induces peace and poise. Massage is a spectacular way to engage our breath, mind, body and spirit, creating perspective on how everything is connected.
Obtain an appropriate amount of sleep – There is no magic number when it comes to how many hours of sleep are needed. Similar to any other human characteristic, the amount of sleep you need to function best may be different than somebody else. Find a sleep schedule that works well to keep you feeling re-energized, rejuvenated and ready to carry out daily tasks to the best of your ability.
Be of service- Helping others generates a wonderful sense of worth. Volunteer in your community, offer assistance to a family member, friend, or colleague. While sharing your time and energy is rewarding, be sure that your own needs are cared for before saying yes to every request from others. Over extending our charitable efforts can in fact turn into the opposite if we don’t provide balance for ourselves.
Maintaining a self-care routine doesn’t imply that one must incorporate each activity every single day. It’s sole purpose is to provide simple guidelines to create healthy habits and gentle reminders of what makes you feel good. Including even a couple of these activities each day will boost both mood and energy! When you need to move forward or get clear about something, revisit these self-care tools and take it one step at a time. Being an active participant, making an effort to evolve with the changes is key to a successful routine. Be open to finding what “tools” work for you to ground your energy and restore vitality. You get out of it what you put into it.
What are your ultimate self-care goals? Imagine you had no time restraints, what would your day look like with an individualized self-care routine?
Is there an activity in your routine that we didn’t cover? Please share in the comments below!
