Hey girl! Hoping that summer is treating you right and that you are outside soaking up all the sun and heat. I’ve finished my summer travels abroad and spending this month enjoying everything that Swiss summers have to offer. I usually fall off my self care practices during these months but I have found a way to do something small each day so I don’t burn out and stay refreshed. No matter the season, it’s always important to take care of our bodies, minds and souls.
Practicing self care isn’t always easy. We all have busy schedules, to-do lists, and distractions vying for our attention. Scheduling some ‘me’ time everyday can usually get pushed to the bottom of the list or put off until tomorrow. Here’s the thing, five to ten minutes of day of ‘me’ can help you ease the stress and put your overall wellness in a good place. Self care practices go beyond the physical needs and include every piece of the deep health pie.
Take A Shower
Personally, I like to end my days with a lukewarm shower, especially in the summer. I find that having a shower in the evening washes away all the dirt and the stress of the day. It’s also a great way to start my evening routine where I spend time pampering myself by doing some skincare, haircare and nail care. I like to listen to an educational podcast, Tides of History, to learn something new and prepare my body for a good night’s sleep.
Exercise
For those of you who are new, fitness is one of my favourite outlets to release negativity and refocus on myself. I like to start my mornings in the gym training. There are less people around 6am especially during the summer and I can go before it starts to heat up outside. My gym doesn’t have air conditioning or windows so the earlier the better. Exercise is one of the best self care practices for both your body and your mind.
Call A Friend
Life can get busy. Sometimes you need to call up a friend and catch up on some girl talk. I have always preferred calling my friends especially as I don’t live in the same country as my girlfriends. Calling a friend is one of best social self care practices that you can do. It’s a calm way to disconnect from the world and have a few laughs to take the stress of the world away.
Daily Exploring Adventures
I love to travel a lot. My definition of travel is not only going to another country but exploring a new city or town in Switzerland or taking a new route somewhere. Travel is all about embracing the magic in the daily adventures. Do you ever feel a wave of relief when you go for a walk outside to clear your head? That’s exactly what exploring the environment around you feels like. You’ll never know who you’ll meet, what you’ll see or discover if you don’t take that first step.
The Self Care Practices of Doing Nothing
The self care practices of doing nothing is a necessity at times. You don’t always have to go do something to practice self care. You can have a day at home relaxing in front of the TV, sleeping all day, not speaking or seeing anyone all day. That is perfectly fine. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised that I like to have days of doing nothing more often then when I was younger. Sometimes the best way to put your needs first in the summer and avoid the heat is to do nothing.
Self care practices are a reminder that you are a priority every single day. It’s vital to take care of your body, mind and soul consistently and not only when you feel burnt out and/or sick. Self care is more than face masks, pedicures and massages, it’s all about making sure that there is a balance between the body, mind and soul. If one of these is overburdened, the others will fall like dominoes too.
There you have it! 5 self care practices that are amazing for summer and will keep you feeling refreshed and more alive. If you are not sure what you self care activity is, explore and try new things out until you find something that you enjoy. Check out my Instagram reel on the five ways that you can ease stress in your life for more tips. Check out my Self Care Activities board on Pinterest for more practices that you can do at home. If you are not already subscribed to the blog, subscribe at the bottom of the page so you don’t miss out on any new blog posts and updates.
Until next time,
Folakemi
