With our busy daily schedules, sometimes, we tend to forget that we also need to dedicate time for ourselves. We are not a machine, and having just enough time to catch our breath before continuing our daily runnings is not enough. It’s important for all of us to take time to clear our minds and rest as much as possible.
Within this blog post, you’ll find some general tips and self care routine ideas that you can follow based on the what I follow to self-care and help relieve myself from the stress and negative energies.
Creating a Self-Care Routine
I think the first and most important part for me was creating a routine. One that I could easily do with no hesitation or without having to think whether or not I had the energy to do it. I thought about the things that brought me peace and serenity – no matter how little – and I turned them into a routine – sort of like a ritual.
We are all busy, but keep in mind that it is essential to spare some time to take care of your wellness. This does not have to take an hour. Simply stopping for 5 minutes to check in with yourself is already a start!
Lighting Scented Candles
For me personally, I find lighting a candle (or a bunch of them 
) very therapeutic. So when I want to spend some time for myself, the first thing I do is light a few candles. The act of lighting a candle itself holds a powerful meaning. It kickstarts the whole process.
The smell of the scented candles can help to stimulate your brain and deliver psychological effects — Aromatherapy. For me, candles represent peacefulness. It sort of signals my brain that it is time to release all energies, clear my thoughts, let loose and relax.
The candle light also creates a beautiful and warm ambience which may help you to put yourself and your thoughts at ease.
Making Herbal Tea
After lighting up the candles, next on my list is making tea. I have a large pot which my grandma gifted me and I’ve been using this a lot for tea.
I tend to go for Lemon & Ginger tea when I want some quiet time alone. I put a tea bag in the pot and fill it up with hot water and I also add a cinnamon stick and extra lemon juice to give it a bit more flavour. You can use any tea you wish. If you are not a fan of tea, you can try this with other drinks that bring you joy, e.g. coffee or a glass of wine.
Writing in Your Journal
Something I like to do in my free time is writing. Writing can help you branch out your thoughts and give your more clarity.
If you have a journal, this might be something that you do on a regular basis. If you don’t have a journal, think about getting one! You can write about anything you want – whether it’s about the great day you had yesterday or the thoughts that are roaming relentlessly in your mind and keeping you awake.
Keeping a journal can have a number of benefits. It can help you find inspiration, release stress and anxiety, as well as keep note of your progress amongst others.
Reading
If writing is not your thing, I would then suggest reading. Reading is important and it helps us in countless ways. It equips us with knowledge that can strengthen and provide us with more maturity in certain situations. If you are into writing, reading will most definitely broaden your vocabulary and enhance your comprehension and writing skills.
Reading provides you with mental stimulation and can turn into a great stress reduction. This something you can do even if you just have 5 minutes of time, like when you’re waiting for the bus or whilst drinking your starbucks.
Take a Bubble Bath
For me personally, this remains one of the best ways to relax and clear my head. Taking a warm bath will not only benefit you mentally, but it will also help heal you physically.
For my bubble bath I usually like to dim all lights and surround the tub with a few tea light candles. This creates a magical atmosphere and it makes it all more fun.
A warm bath will help cleanse and nourish your skin. It will also reduce inflammation in your body and soothe sore muscles. If your water is hot enough, it will make you sweat – this a great way of letting toxins flow out of your body. In addition, taking a warm bath before going to bed will lead to better sleep. It will help you fall asleep faster and remain in a peaceful deep sleep for longer.
