With a busy holiday season just around the corner, there's no better time to practice self-care.
Just how might you do that?
Well, it could mean taking time to reflect on everything you've accomplished this year, no matter how great or small.
It could mean finding activities that replenish you - hiking in nature, catching up with a pal, or curling up on the couch with a juicy novel or Netflix.
No matter which activity you engage in, practicing self-care helps you cultivate not only self-lovebut also feelings of gratitude as you honor yourself and tune into your body’s needs.
Another benefit of practicing self-care regularly?
Well, it can help you minimize the stress in your life so you can prevent burnout, something that so many of us are experiencing right now!
What’s the deal with burnout?
Like many others I've been suffering from a classic case of burnout over the past few months...
At first I refused to fully acknowledge it because how could I, a health & wellness practitioner, fall victim to burnout?
How could I have not seen the warning signs?
How could I not hold it together and take my own advice?
To be clear, nothing catastrophic has happened to me personally ...but over time, minor stressors began to pile up -- feeling the weight of the world as a highly sensitive person, feeling isolated in this pandemic, having to move homes in a short amount of time, and maintaining my responsibilities to Free Flow Botanicals alongside teaching classes and coaching clients.
At first, I felt so ashamed and afraid to speak up.
But then came the beautiful reminder that I so needed to hear:
I'm human. I'm not perfect. And I still make mistakes.
What were some of the warning signs of burnout?
- Feeling exhausted despite getting 8-9 hours of sleep
- Feeling overwhelmed by daily responsibilities
- No longer feeling the usual excitement I had towards things
- Back and shoulder pain, and lots of it!
As a holistic health practitioner I knew that I needed to address feelings of burnout as soon as possible and to find ways to better manage the stress in my life.
Because chronic stress when left unmanaged can not only lead to burnout but also the following health conditions:
- Increased inflammation
- Decreased immune function
- Insomnia
- Impaired memory & concentration
- Anxiety or depression
- Digestive & menstrual problems
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Skin disorders
Thankfully, now that I'm aware of my burnout I'm actively taking steps to reverse it.
And hopefully I can inspire you to take action against any burnout you're experiencing, too!
What I've done to offset burnout
- Checking in more with my body during the day
- Spending less time on social media, taking a break from making videos
- Meditating more frequently, not just in the mornings but throughout the day
- Finding ways to nourish my body during the Fall season
- Getting outside to walk more - taking slow, deep breaths while looking up at the sky & trees around me
- Listening to grounding, soothing music
- Spending an hour before bedtime winding down,steering clear of electronic devices
- Taking part in beauty rituals that nourish my skin and soul
What I’ve described encompasses activities that, when performed regularly, become a ritual which is defined as "a series of actions or type of behavior regularly and invariably followed by someone.”
Benefits of a daily (beauty) ritual
- The opportunity to create personal time & space
- Ground & restore your nervous system
- Tune into your inner rhythms
- Cultivate a healthy habit
- Improve overall well-being
- Inspire and encourage loved ones to do the same
Creating a beauty ritual for yourself
If you’d like to create your own beauty ritual, but don’t know where to start, don’t worry I’ve got you covered!
I’ve put together two self-care kits to help you tune into your body’s inner rhythms while promoting rest and relaxation throughout your days and evenings!
The Gemstone Ritual Kit helps you relax & unwind while elevating your skincare ritual. This 3-piece set was created to support you in getting glowing skin through facial gua sha massage, a technique that offers numerous benefits for skin & overall health.
2) Bliss Kit
Enter a state of bliss with our limited edition Bliss Kit, a thoughtfully curated set of high vibrational plant based products that promote rest & relaxation.
Promote relaxation while supporting an important cause
This holiday season, a portion of every purchase of the limited edition Bliss Kit goes towardsAAPI Women Lead and the #ImReadyMovement.
I've decided to partner with this Oakland-based nonprofit because of their mission to amplify the voices of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) women and girls in local communities and beyond.
With the tragic shootings that took place in Atlanta earlier this year along with the ongoing acts of violence against AAPI women, choosing to support AAPI Women Lead's efforts is something that gives tremendous meaning to my life and the work that I do.
So please show your support for our AAPI communities by purchasing a limited edition Bliss Kit this holiday season!
AAPI Women Lead and the #IamReady Movement aims to strengthen the progressive political and social platforms of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the US through the leadership of self-identified AAPI women and girls. Our goal is to challenge and help end the intersections of violence against and within our communities. We do this work in solidarity with other communities of color.
Give yourself the gift of relaxation
I hope you’re feeling inspired to create your own beauty ritual, whatever that may look like.
Because taking time each day to tend to your needs will allow you to fill your cup so that you can give to others from a place of fullness.
So go ahead and give yourself the gift of relaxation.
It’s by far one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves and our loved ones right now!
Looking for holiday gift ideas for the natural beauty in your life?
Check out Free Flow Botanicals' 2021 Holiday Gift Guide, full of great gift ideas to meet your budget and needs!
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