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The Art of Self-Care (featuring Vira!)

Writer's picture: Melissa SarakinisMelissa Sarakinis


Self-care is an important aspect of maintaining both physical and mental health. It’s about taking the time to prioritize your own well-being and engaging in activities that nourish and sustain you. While self-care looks different for everyone, there are a few key practices that can help you maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

  1. Stay active: Exercise is a great way to boost your mood, reduce stress, and improve your overall health. Whether it’s going for a run, taking a yoga class, or simply going for a walk, making time for physical activity can be a great way to practice self-care.

  2. Be consistent about healthy habits: Small, daily habits can make a big difference in your overall health. This can include things like getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and washing your hands regularly.

  3. Designate time for yourself: It’s important to make time for yourself, whether it’s setting aside a few minutes each day for meditation or making a regular date with yourself to do something you enjoy.

  4. Eat a healthy diet: Nourishing your body with healthy, whole foods is an important aspect of self-care. This can include incorporating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your meals, and limiting your intake of processed and sugary foods.

  5. Take breaks when you need them: It’s important to take breaks and give yourself time to rest and recharge. This can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths or stepping away from your work for a few minutes.

  6. Engage in activities you enjoy: Do things that bring you joy and make you feel good. This could be anything from reading a book, to painting, to playing a musical instrument. The feeling of “flow” when you’re fully immersed in an activity is a pleasant experience and a great way to relieve stress and improve performance. Being creative also gives us an outlet to express our emotions in a safe way and connect with our spiritual side.

  7. Practice gratitude: Focusing on the things you’re grateful for can help shift your perspective and improve your overall well-being.

  8. Seek support when you need it: It’s okay to reach out for help when you need it. Whether it’s talking to a friend, family member, or professional therapist, seeking support can be an important aspect of self-care.

  9. Take care of your physical needs: Make sure you’re meeting your basic physical needs, such as getting good sleep by avoiding screen time before bed, eating a healthy diet, and staying hydrated.

  10. Set boundaries: It’s important to set limits and boundaries to protect your time and energy. This can include saying no to commitments that don’t align with your values or taking breaks from social media to disconnect and recharge.


Specific activities that can be part of a self-care routine include:

  • Movement/exercise

  • Yoga/stretching

  • Reading/learning

  • Singing or listening to music

  • Sitting in silence/meditating

  • Walking or running outside

  • Writing down what you're grateful for

  • Listening to audio books or podcasts

  • Setting an intention for the day/week

  • Sipping your favourite morning beverage

  • Taking a cold shower

  • Journaling

  • Making your bed

  • Making love


When choosing activities to incorporate into your self-care practice, it helps to make sure that your practice touches on all four pillars of self-care: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. While we hear a lot about physical self-care, including eating right and exercising, people sometimes forget about the other three. For mental self-care, activities involve doing things that promote learning, thinking and personal growth, like reading a book or learning a new skill. Emotional self-care may include activities that help you acknowledge and express your emotions, like art or gratitude journaling. Spiritual self-care helps us develop a deeper understanding and connection with God or the universe (depending on your own personal beliefs) and allows you to connect with your higher self. This can include meditation, prayer, or being out in nature.


This isn't the time to be hard on yourself, perfection is not the goal. It's a time to refuel, replenish, and rejuvenate. I suggest scheduling your new self-care practice in your calendar with a daily reminder. Committing to this time every day is what makes your practice so powerful. Health is a journey, not a destination.


I highly recommend starting your daily practice first thing in the morning. It's the best time to start because you have zero distractions and are most clear, open, receptive, and creative. A morning practice will also set the tone for your day and create a positive momentum that will carry you through the day. For me, a morning run (especially in the cold winter months with my RPM girls) gives me a burst of energy and unstoppable excitement for life. I also like to take baths with Epsom salts, do yoga, get a massage, or go for osteopath or acupuncture treatments.


Remember, self-care is not a one-size-fits-all strategy and what works for one person may not work for another. The key is to find practices that nourish and sustain you, and then make them a regular part of your routine. Allow your self care practices to be fun, guilt free, and enjoyable. Give yourself permission to take the time to fill up your own cup so you can make a difference in your life and others from a place of vitality, wellbeing, and good health.


Vira’s Favourite Things












Hello again, Vira here! In this edition of the blog, I wanted to share a few of my favourite things that you may find useful in your self-care journey.


S'well water bottles


Keep your drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours with these colourful, sleek, triple-walled stainless-steel bottles. I love my Swell bottles so much that I carry one filled with water at all times to ensure I am staying hydrated throughout my day.


B MAT yoga mats


The main reason I love this yoga mat is that it offers superior grip. They are also extremely durable and eco-friendly.


Bala Bangles and Weights


Sometimes getting to the gym can be challenging so having some light weights at home can help ensure you get in a workout at home. Bala offers a range of beautiful functional fitness equipment including their Bala Bangles which are weighted ankle bangles that are great to add to your body weight exercise routine as well as various light hand weights.


Theragun


Working out regularly can lead to some muscle soreness and it’s not realistic or feasible to get a daily massage or treatment so I swear by my Theragun to help alleviate muscle soreness and help me recover from my workouts. The Therabody percussive therapy massage guns provide deep muscle relaxation and pain relief. I have the Theragun Prime model but they are offered in a range of models depending on your needs and budget.


Pukka Herbal Teas


A good hot cup of herbal tea really helps me to relax in the evening. Pukka herbal teas are organic fair trade herbal teas are both delicious and offered in beautiful colourful sustainable packaging. My favourites are the Three Cinnamon (like a dessert in a mug), the Chamomile, Lemon & Manuka Honey, and the Nighttime blend of oat flower, lavender, and lime flower.


Five Minute Journal/High Five Daily Journal



If you are like me, journaling can be a little daunting when you are staring at a blank page. That's why I really like guided journals that have prompts to guide you, like the Five Minute Journal or my other favourite, the High 5 Daily Journal by Mel Robbins. Both are motivational journals to help you to cultivate gratitude by providing writing cues and they are designed to build your confidence in manifesting your goals and dreams by using proven principles of positive psychology.


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Before you go, we invite you to reflect on the following questions and leave a comment to inspire others!

  • How do you nourish yourself holistically?

  • What does self-care mean to you?

  • What do you love to do?

  • What energizes you?

  • What is your personal care routine?

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