Best Ways To Pamper Yourself
There is nothing better than relaxing and taking the time to pamper yourself. Give your body and mind some self-love. Take a break from the stressors of life, and show yourself some TLC. Here are some of the best ways to pamper yourself.
FOOT STEAM/ MASK
They say the eyes are the window to your soul, but your feet are the link to your entire body. There are important nerve endings in your feet that send messages to the brain to keep you healthy. The feet keep your body aligned to improve your posture, and they also help influence your organ function. Keep a simple foot regimen to not only improve the appearance of your feet but also your entire body's health. Prepare a foot soak, scrub, and mask, and don’t forget to moisturize.
Tip: You can also do a foot mask overnight!
SCALP TREATMENT
I have recently begun taking better care of my natural hair to allow it to flourish and grow. One of the most important things I’ve discovered is the impact a healthy scalp has on your hair. You cannot simply treat the ends of your hair and expect it to grow long. Hair grows from the scalp, so take care of the “fertilizer” so to speak. There are great scalp treatments you can purchase online, but you can also make one for yourself. Take 20 minutes of your time to apply the mask and give yourself a good scalp massage.
MEDITATION
Every day seems to get busier, and busier. With a growing to-do list, and so much to keep up with on social media, and with the news, with work or school, and family life and friends, it’s hard to find time for yourself. Sometimes you just need quiet to take a breath, relax and be alone with your thoughts. A creative mind needs to be fed with silence to create. Take a few minutes of your day, when you wake up, or before bed, even just 10 minutes on your lunch break to meditate. Find a quiet place, and free your mind. It relieves stress, and it might just be the answer you need if you’re trying to make a life-changing decision. My favourite meditation apps for both IOS are Oak for beginners (IOS only) and Calm for more seasoned vets (both IOS and Android).
CANDLE-LIGHT DINNER
In my home, after about 6 PM when the sun goes down, the lights in my house are either dimmed or completely off. I enjoy the darkness. It helps your body wind down for the night. I put my phone aside, and if I feel like watching some TV before bed, then I always have the blue light dimmed. I light candles around my room and enjoy a subtle glow. I find it really relaxes me and helps your body recognize that it is almost time for bed.
The blue light from the computer tricks your mind into thinking that it is daytime so you don’t feel tired. Cook yourself a nice meal and put on a candle at the dinner table. Enjoy some nice jazz or blues music in the background and have a quiet dinner. Just because you’re single doesn’t mean you can’t take yourself on a date. If you have a partner, have a nice meal together, its a plus because you can even prepare dinner together too.
NATURE WALK
When I was little, I used to love going outside. So much that it was a punishment to stay inside rather than be outside with my friends. Now, I barely get the time to go outside for so much as 10 minutes since I’ve gotten my first big-girl job (oh adulting). The few times I go outside I really enjoy the walk. The cool breeze, the freshly polluted air, just the feeling of leaving your house and walking alongside the road has a therapeutic way of clearing my mind. It gives your body some much needed exercise and while it is still light outside, get in as much as you can. Go down the lake to even take a walk around your neighborhood (in the daylight of course). Do it asap because…Winter is coming.
A DAY WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA
These days it’s like I can’t go 10 minutes without an email, or alert popping up on my phone. While it’s nice to be so connected to everything and everyone at the click of a button, it only leaves you multitasking on so many things all at once. You’ll realize at the end of the day, that you got little to nothing done. Take a breather from social media, from answering phone calls or messages for a day. Put down the phone and get some reading done, do some housecleaning or a DIY project. You’ll be able to get so much done in your day and it will leave you feeling very productive.
JOURNAL
Journalling helps you get your thoughts out on paper. There are often things you don’t want to talk about, or to anyone in particular but it is still important to think about and get off your chest. Here’s where journaling comes into play. It can help you work through a difficult problem you are facing, reflect on your life, or check in with the goals you set out for yourself. You’ll find you feel much lighter after getting your thoughts out on paper, and you’ll free up thinking space for other things you want to work on.