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Are you in need of a little self-love and indulgence? You don’t need the money for a day spa to enjoy a day of pampering.
You can reap the benefits of nurturing your mind, body and soul right in the privacy of your home. Follow the eight steps below to create the perfect self-care day routine that will leave you feeling renewed.
Your perfect day begins with a bit of prep work the evening before. It’s challenging to relax in a cluttered environment, so make your first step cleaning up your pad.
When you spruce up your place, pay attention to the details that exclusive spas often notice. Harsh overhead lights can spur migraines — can you set out some electric candles for soft illumination? Your sense of smell matters, too. Fill your aromatherapy mister with relaxing scents like lavender, and spritz the pillows and towels you intend to use in your self-care day routine with a diluted mixture.
One of the cruelest inventions known to humankind may be the alarm clock. Who enjoys getting blared out of slumber each morning?
Make step one of your self-care day routine neglecting to set your alarm the night before. Better yet, clear all the melatonin-interrupting electronic devices out of your bedroom so you wake up without distractions, the way nature intended.
When preparing for your self-care day, stop by the store and pick up ingredients for nourishing meals that feed your body and soul. You can go gourmet with spa-inspired dishes like a healthy detox salad.
Sometimes, it’s comfort food you crave the most. Invent a healthy twist on fried chicken using almond flour breading instead of the gooey, gluey white stuff.
You probably don’t take nearly enough time to let your food digest after most meals. Make part of your self-care day routine allowing your body to absorb nutrients while your brain soaks up some goodness.
Download an uplifting book on your Kindle or dust off that one that has sat on your nightstand forever. Treat yourself to an uninterrupted hour to read.
Are you feeling a bit lonely after all the isolation of quarantine? If you and your best buddy are both safely vaccinated, why not plan an outing together? Easing loneliness qualifies as self-care.
However, if you haven’t yet gotten your shots or live far away from loved ones, set up a time to chat. You can turn on the video camera and Facetime or talk by phone the old-fashioned way if you have had enough Zoom fatigue.
Exercise is a glorious form of self-care. Who said that movement has to involve pain? You can find gentle workouts on YouTube designed for recovery days that help you stretch and tone without getting overly sweaty.
However, if you enjoy nothing more than a long run or a HIIT class, go ahead and indulge. Exercise raises your endorphin levels, natural body chemicals that help to ease pain and improve your mood.
Has it been a long, cold winter where you live? Why not make part of your self-care day routine involve getting outdoors and soaking up the sun?
If you live near the shore, you can spread your towel on the sand and watch the waves crash. If you are more of a mountain goat, why not pick a challenging trail to tackle for the exercise and fresh-air benefits?
Research indicates that getting outdoors can improve your immune system and your mood. Mother Nature can sometimes do what antidepressants and therapy cannot, especially if your blues stem from cabin fever. Plus, you’ll produce natural vitamin D from sunlight exposure that also provides numerous health benefits.
The perfect finale to your self-care day routine is a relaxing soak in the tub. The warmth of the water alone helps to relieve sore, achy muscles. You can go a step further by letting the magnesium and sulfates in a few tablespoons of Epsom salts ease your aches and pains.
Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and herbalists believe that it can absorb therapeutic teas when applied topically. Why not add a few of your favorite brews to your soak? Use caution — some blends, like those containing turmeric, can leave yellow stains, but most rinse down the drain.
If you want to create the perfect self-care day routine, follow the eight steps above. You don’t need tons of money to nurture your body and soul.
