Plan a Self-Care Day

This post and photography are courtesy of Nic Abraham.

Self-care is a proactive approach to physical, emotional and mental health. Proper self-care can help maintain balance and prevent certain illnesses. Many of us are busy and have a million things on our plate, but in order to present our best selves and show up for others, we must take some “ME” time now and then. We need, at least, one day a month that is entirely devoted to self-care!

I once asked a room full of women what their favorite form of self-care was, and a variety of responses came up. From prayer to dancing in the mirror to savoring a glass of wine–there’s no wrong way to care for yourself. The practice looks different for everyone, but to help you along the way, I’ve created a self-care guide to ensure you have a relaxingly-awesome day.

Treat Yourself to Fresh Flowers

Start your self-care day off right with some fresh flowers. Just seeing them will put you in a good mood and evoke a smile. Not to mention, they smell amazing.

Flower options: Roses, Potted Marigolds and Hydrangeas

Create a Morning Diffuser Blend

Essential oils are a great addition to any day. The aromas can improve psychological and physical well being, and provide a nice pick-me-up. Take advantage of these natural mood enhancers with this powerhouse diffuser blend. A total of 12 drops, and you’re ready to start your day.

4 drops of Grapefruit Essential Oil (Reduces depression symptoms, balances mood and stimulates the immune system.)
4 drops of Lemon Essential Oil (Reduces anxiety and depression and provides an extra dose of energy.)
2 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil (Increases alertness and wakes you up while stimulating creative juices.)
2 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil (Improves brain function and perks you up.)

Journal

There are many positive benefits to keeping a journal. The process of journaling can help with personal growth, heal from past hurts, improve mental and physical health, increase self-esteem, and flourish in tough situations. Journaling also enables you to develop an attitude of gratitude and:

Increases self-awareness
Helps manage stress and anxiety
Aids in a calm and clear mind
Releases unaddressed feelings and emotions
Reduces negative thoughts
Helps express emotions about challenges and successes

No matter if you’re journaling about a specific moment in time or current life, these written conversations are only for your eyes and should be as transparent as possible.

Take a Meditation Walk

A meditation walk provides an unparalleled level of peace. Not only is walking good for your physical body, but it’s also good for your mind. Walking without the additional noise of music or an audiobook can help you process your feelings and emotions. This form of mindfulness is known to reduce stress and build one’s ability to focus. You can meditate on a scripture, mantra or simply allow your thoughts to take over. Peace awaits.

This walk can be in your neighborhood or at one of Northeast Ohio’s beautiful and peaceful trails. Visit the Cleveland Metroparks’ website to plan a trip.

Make a Fresh Fruit Salad

Fresh fruit is the perfect addition to any summer day. On top of satisfying a sweet tooth, enjoying in-season fresh fruit ensures it will be perfectly ripe and taste its best. Some in-season fruits include apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, kiwis, peaches and plums, raspberries, strawberries and watermelon.

For a sweet and tangy fruit salad, try blueberries, kiwis, peaches, strawberries, or a melon mix of cantaloupe and watermelon.

Break a Sweat with a 30-Minute Workout

Exercising helps you feel better, increases energy and adds years to your life. With at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day (150 minutes a week), you will sleep better and be a happier person. It can be fun, especially if you make a motivating playlist. Try a class (online or in-studio) or complete the 30-minute workout below. I promise you’ll enjoy working up a sweat.

Warm-Up: 3 minutes

Workout: Complete each move for 45 seconds, then take 15 seconds rest, repeat set three times.

Jumping Jacks*
Air Squat
Front Lunge
High Plank Hold
High Knees
Burpees
Ab Crunches
Skaters

Cool Down and Stretch: 3-minutes

*If in need of a low impact option, take out the jumping.

Whip up a Veggie Quinoa Salad

This is my favorite summer salad! The veggies and quinoa are filling and nutritious, as well as sweet and tangy. It’s the perfect lunch or snack and tastes fantastic. If you’re looking for a delicious and healthy option for your self-care day, this is it.

Ingredients

3 cups of cooked quinoa
1 cup of cut broccoli
½ cup of diced peppers
½ cup of Italian dressing
¼ cup of maple syrup
¼ cup of diced red onions
¼ cup of dried cranberries
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Instructions

Cook the quinoa according to package instructions and allow to cool.
Mix all ingredients, stirring thoroughly.

Click Here to Print the Recipe for the Veggie Quinoa Salad.

Take a Relaxing Bath

I bet you didn’t realize you had enough in your home to enjoy a relaxing bath. Well, you do! With just a few ingredients, a pleasantly-scented bath awaits that will soothe your mind and body. Let’s get into it.

This relaxing bath uses Epsom salt and sea salt. Here’s why.

Epsom Salt: Relaxes mind and body; relieves stress; soothes sore muscles
Sea Salt: Detoxifies the body; hydrates and revitalizes skin

Next, you will want to add a few essential oils to take advantage of the many benefits. I prefer the following:

Frankincense: An antidepressant; immune booster; relieves anger, anxiety and stress
Geranium: Balances hormones; great for skin; relieves stress
Lavender: Helps with anxiety, insomnia, and mental clarity; relaxing; relieves headaches, nervousness and restlessness
Orange: Helps with nervous anxiety, depression, and disorders; uplifts spirits
Rose: Boosts confidence; relaxing and calming; relieves anxiety and depression
Vanilla: Helps with mental clarity and relaxation; offers tranquility; relieves anxiety

Oh, and toss in a few fresh or dried rose petals. They are fragrant and add a little tint to your water—a great addition.

Click Here to Print the Ingredients and Instructions for the Relaxing Bath Recipe.

An excellent way to end your self-care day is with a good book or soothing music and a Root candle. And you can look forward to a sound night’s sleep.