I have some suggestions to help you get through.
When you have a bad day, you might find that you want to grab a drink or eat something unhealthy.  Believe me, I have been there, my go to is red wine, but I can’t do that all the time. These are not healthy habits to have and goodness, what if you are having a bad year??  Things could get really bad. A better option is to work on your self care activities, which can make you feel better and will be good for you at the same time.

Watch Something Funny
Don’t underestimate the power of laughing! If you are having a terrible day, find a way to watch TV or a movie that makes you laugh. Avoid action, drama, and other genres that might make you feel miserable by the end. Binge watch your favorite comedy on Netflix, look up your favorite comedian or turn on the TV to try something new. Laughing is extremely healing and can quickly change your mood even after the very worst of days.  Laughter really can be the best medicine sometimes.

Get Out and About
Some people prefer staying inside and watching Netflix for self care, while others already spend a lot of time indoors. If this is you, then getting out to socialize and meet up with friends might be a better option. When you find yourself doing nothing but working and going home, you may simply need another outlet. Try meeting co-workers for drinks after work or calling up a sister or cousin to have a girl’s night out. Get a little bit out of your comfort zone and it can be very good for you.  If you would like to forego the drinks, you can do an activity with friends, go for a walk, take a class together or just get together and a have a coffee. 

Have a Girl’s Night
As mentioned briefly in the previous section, spending more time with your loved ones can be great for self care. Many people think being alone is the only way to take care of themselves and relieve stress, but sometimes the best thing for you is being around others. Think about your daily lifestyle and what tends to stress you out. You might find that you feel worse when you are constantly alone, but your mood seems to lift on happy hour night or when visiting your best friend. This is a good sign that what you really need is to get out and spend more time with others.

Meditate For 10 Minutes
I know, here I go again with the meditation…but seriously on a really bad day try to have at least a short meditation session. Even if you can’t find a few minutes where you are alone, you can think of other places you might be alone and able to meditate, like when you are going on a walk or run, or while taking a shower.  If you need a minute now, like right now, find a room close the door and breath, deep belly breaths just for a few minutes.  Sometimes that is all it takes to bring you back to a calm state.  I have been known to tell my kids that mommy is on a timeout and lock myself in the bathroom for a few minutes.  You need to take care of yourself so you can take better care of your people.

These are things that I use to help me through the hard days, I hope you find them helpful!  Any of your own suggestions?  Comment below!

​Have a great day!

People come in contact with an endless amount of impurities, toxins, poisons, pollutants, and other agents everyday. These chemicals land on our skin, absorb into the fabrics we wear, and are breathed into our lungs. As inevitable as this may seem, there are a few ways that we can reduce the exposure to these environmental impurities, and one of the best and most enjoyable ways, is through taking a detox bath. This is also a great way to give yourself a chance to relax! So, “What are the benefits of taking a detox bath?” ​you ask, well let me tell you all about it!

This is the month to remember those you love (hopefully this happens a bit more often than just Valentine's day) but don't forget about filling yourself up so you are able to give even more! Now, not all self-care activities involve going for a walk or meditating. There are also quite a few creative activities that will channel your inner artist or writer, and still provide excellent self care benefits. These are things you can do throughout your day to re-center and remember to breath.  Here are some creative and artistic activities to help you practice self care.

Coloring Books
Adult coloring books have been popular for a while, and they are definitely not going anywhere. There are now many different types of coloring books, depending on what you are interested in. You can get gardens and flowers, animals and creatures, or even coloring books with curse words to have a little fun with them. This allows you to be creative and de-stress by simply coloring and not having to worry about anything.  I do coloring pages with my daughter and it really does wonders for my mood. 

Drawing or Painting
Here is another super easy way to be creative and artistic, but also practice self care. Self care doesn’t have any hard or fast rules. It is simply about doing activities that makes you feel good about yourself and can distract you from what is causing you stress and help you spend more time focusing on yourself. You want to make sure all your time is not spent working, cleaning, or taking care of your kids. You should also have some hobbies and activities you truly enjoy just for yourself. Grab a sketchbook and some art tools to draw, sketch, or paint as you wish.  Keep your perfectionist away from this time of self care!  This is about having fun, it is definitely a non judgement zone. To make this simple I like to get one of my drawing books to give me an idea of what to draw so I don’t even have to really think about that part of it.

A New Craft or Hobby
What better way to express your creative side than to learn something brand new? This is the perfect opportunity to get out there and try a new craft or form of art. You don’t have to be naturally artistic to be creative and enjoy any type of creative activity. I love taking a class to learn something new!  There are many community centers that have classes and also there are instructional videos on You tube. Doing the activity isn’t the only way to taking better care of yourself, but also in learning how to do it. Think of some hobbies you always wondered about, like oil painting, making jewelry or metal stamping, or giving sewing or knitting a try.
​
Writing
Not all forms of being creative for self care have to do with art and crafts projects. You can also start writing, which can be very therapeutic for you. This can be anything from writing in a journal to writing short stories or working on a novel. One good practice to start writing is to set a timer for 8-10 minutes, then just start writing whatever comes to mind. Continue writing without taking a break until the timer goes off.  There are also books available that give a subject or a theme if you want a little help.  I will post a link below.
 
https://smile.amazon.com/300-Writing-Prompts-Complete-Exploration-ebook/dp/B074B8MRND/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1550073772&sr=8-7&keywords=300+writing+prompts+book

Have a great rest of your week!

XOXO,
Jules

​
I have done several blogs and posts on the importance of having a morning routine.  I always come back to this because we are always so busy I believe it is really important to take time for yourself.  If you are like me, if you don’t take time in the morning, you won’t get any at all.  So I am here to remind you that if you want to take some time for yourself and practice self care, it helps to start by working on your morning routine. If you are just hopping out of bed, grabbing breakfast, and running out the door, you are probably already stressed by the time you get into your car. Here are a few tips to create a better morning routine.

Catch up on a Good Book
If you can set your alarm for an earlier time, it gives you the chance to catch up on your reading. Find a book that is inspirational and helps motivate you for the day. Read just a few pages or a whole chapter, depending on how much free time you have. This can be while you are having your morning coffee, or when your muffins are in the oven. Take advantage of these quiet moments and become absorbed in your favorite book.  I love devotionals for this or books with quotations.  I leave time for this but not a lot so I like something short and sweet that positively sets my outlook for the day.

A Little QT With Some Caffein
Whether you drink coffee or tea in the morning, you can make this part of your self care ritual. Try to have your first cup of coffee in the morning all alone and in silence. You can read a paper, write in your journal, or sit on your patio and listen to the birds chirping as the sun comes up. This is another great reason to wake up a little earlier than everyone else in your household. You will be amazed by how much better you feel with just a few minutes to yourself.
 I do this a little differently, and I feel this is important to note, you need to find what will work for you! After I get downstairs I make my tea, breakfast and lunch at the same time.  While I am doing this I usually listen to a book on audible.  I have my quiet time in my car in the parking lot at work while I eat my breakfast and drink my tea.  I do this because if I leave early enough I don’t hit traffic, and then I am completely relaxed while I eat.  No stress about leaving on time or possibly getting to work late.  I am sharing this because morning routines can look very different for everyone.

Unplug 
When you are trying to start a new morning routine for self care purposes, you should try unplugging all devices. Don’t try to enjoy a few minutes to yourself by using your cell phone or checking email. At the very least do not check or go on social media first thing. Checking social media too much can add stress and this is what we are working against. I use my phone for audible but possibly for you it would be a good idea to turn all electronics off during your self care time in the morning and not turn it on until you absolutely need it. If you choose to do this, a good practice to try is to turn your cell phone off after the alarm goes off to wake you up in the morning.  This one can be hard as I use my phone to check the time but if you have other clocks this is a great option.

Meditate
The morning is also the ideal time to meditate and repeat mantras. Mantras are sayings or words that help to center your focus and make it easier to meditate. You can also try breathing exercises or traditional meditation. Even just five minutes of this can be extremely helpful in facing your day.  If you want to and have time to, take a walk in the morning and that can also help you to meditate.  For those of you who find exercising in the morning works best for you, yoga is a great option here.

Setting up your morning routine should be fun!  Maybe at first it will be hard to wake up a little earlier but the pay off is amazing.  It can definitely change your mood and for the better.  It is just an example of what small simple shifts in life can do for you and your family!

​Have a great day!