#add it to my selfcare writing routine

[thestrawberrygirly]

romanticize your life🍓🍰

⋆｡‧˚ʚ🧸ɞ˚‧｡⋆

𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆, 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒓𝒂. 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔. 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒖𝒑𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆. 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏.

~ let's learn about how to enjoy the little moments of your life in few major points ~

🌷art of living a slow life🌷

learn to do nothing at times in your daily routine without getting bored. do not touch your phone or any electronics you own, just try to feel that moment of life by silently sitting under the nature listening to the little insects talking to eachother or quiet wind trying to communicate with you. ground yourself feeling the mother earth loving you. sitting under a tree helps you get positive energies flowing in your body, hugging a tree also cleanses from all the negativity you might have carried from other bodies and it converts into positive ones.

rest your body giving yourself some time to recharge yourself. hustling isn't always a solution of chaotic life, give yourself some time for selfcare and embracing the simplicity of slow pace life. show gratitude towards what you already have in the present moment and love your life.

🌷journaling is important🌷

owning any journal can actually change your entire life. build a habit of writing about your day and your feelings in your daily journal, it not only improves your precious mental health but also keeps you away from mindless scrolling in your phone.

if your mind goes blank by the time you pick up your pen like

"what should i write in my journal?!"

then i got you girl!!

don't stress your mind thinking of writing perfect story of your life, do not think about mainting any aesthetic of your journal. simply just start writing about your day, write about the tiny parts of your day which made you feel good, may it be the group birds flying towards the west or clouds trying to chase you. if you feel like to not write anything at that moment then just doodle whatever your mind imagines. i'm sure your mental health gonna be healthier and your life will be improved. you will literally start loving your life and yourself.

🌷 flower selfcare 🌷

treat yourself like a fragile little flower, water yourself with all love and care for yourself. wake up early in the morning like 6 am or 7? and open your windows let the fresh air hit your body and your environment. clean your room with a bright mind thinking with all positiveness. take a cozy shower and do your beautiful skin care. drink enough water daily to make your skin glow. move your body, do pilates and also stay still for 5 minutes or so being calm going in your meditative state.

go on a walk especially in early mornings, it will make your mind fresh and you will love the early morning atmosphere I swear. reading books also helps you think widely and positively, learn to add the habit of reading any book (non academic ones) daily. one important thing I would like to add is forget the need to always be doing something; it's completely okay if you didn't worked anything important today, it's completely fine if you rested today, give yourself some rest.

🌷 be calm 🌷

have patience, do not get triggered

learn that no one can trigger your emotions without your permission, be calm and think about only yourself not caring about what others are trying to feed you in your mind. become your own positivity and don't ruin your aura.

"becoming less reactive is a huge part of growth and decreasing stress. if you let everything get you worked up. you're damaging your mind, body and spirit."

neurologists claim that whenever you resist acting on your anger, you're actually rewiring your brain to be more calmer and loving. also being calm makes your mind find solutions of every problem that might occur. just trust yourself and love the calmness. being calm also makes you 10× more attractive so.......just don't think much, got it beautiful?

make your life like a movie! snap nice pictures, feel like the star, light a candle, read books, take walks, dance to your favorite tunes, treat yourself, do what makes you happy. It's your life, own it, and don't let anyone steal your joy!

- 𝘫𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 🍓🧸🍰

[daintybunniblog]

age regression journal prompts

draw a bento box

write down your chores

make a little space playlist

list items that are your favorite color

make a magazine collage

list what you want to do in each season

list your stuffs names and descriptions, draw pictures of them

list your favorite little space apps

list your stressors/triggers

list crafts you want to create

list your morning routine

list your night routine

write your favorite little space movies

write out any guidelines or rules you have when regressed

list your favorite agree books

list your favorite animes

write a letter to your future self

make a wishlist (birthday, Christmas, etc)

list your favorite agere video games

make a sticker collage

list activities to do when regressed

use a page to "brain dump" your current thoughts, even if it's just babbling

draw a racetrack for a toy car, add obstacles and scenery

make a collage inspired by yourself

dedicate a page to one of your special interests

about me page

likes and dislikes

draw a what's in my bag page

make merit badges

glue in coloring book pages

write out a selfcare exercise

design some pacis

make a sticker chart

write down your favorite selfcare tips

write a list of your favorite social media pages/accounts

describe yourself using only stickers

make a little space bucket list

draw your dream castle

draw your dream playroom

list out things to do when you're sick

more to be added!

[aphroditestearsofjoy]

#𝟏𝟎𝟎𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 - Week 1

Although I am (extremely) new to the self improvement community on tumblr. I have seen the #𝟏𝟎𝟎𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 challenge from @dreamdolldiary come by a few times amoung self improvement creators. Because of my curiosity, I have finally read the challenge and I immediately knew that this was the ideal challenge for me to start my self improvement journey! The "goal" of this challenge is to start with holding yourself accounteble and to build healthy habits.

So these were my first few weeks of attempting following this "challenge". And it went absolutely horrible, but I learned a lot from it.

The first 2 days of this challenge I felt very confident and good. But I completely broke down after that. I completely ignored this challenge for the next 2 weeks, because I wanted to focus on school. But because of that I forgot myself and selfcare, after that it didn't take long to stop having motivation for school too. Around this time of year I almost always get a little 'winterdip', but this year it was so massive that I stayed home the past week because I could not find the energy to move or do anything. I was probally already overworked when I started this challenge and expected way too much from myself.

What I'm going to do is analyse the situaltion, break the causes in small parts and find solutions for my problems. I will end this post with a plan for "week 2".

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 "𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐩"

☙ 𝟏. My biggest problem is that I value my results over my wellbeing. But because of that I feel so horrible that I am also not able to preform well. And that involves slowly into a burn-out.

What I will do is prioritise my goals my physical, mental & emtional goals. While slowly adding more other goals to work on. To help balance schoolwork & my wellbeing. I will make an overview the schoolwork that needs to be done weekly. Then I will decide what to do from that list when planning out my day, I will plan my studying sessions based off the time that I have to study that day. When I don't have the time to finish, I will let it go and do it another day. I will try to do as much work as possible on school days, but what I can't get done in that time, I will make in the weekend.

☙ 𝟐. I have the tendency to stress over the smallest thing, but I will nog give myself the space and time to process those. In my night/ evening routine I will add 10 minutes of non-stop writing. That way I can get my feeling out and if I notice that someting is really bothering me, I will take time for it the upcomming day.

☙ 𝟑. I will make time for a self care day. Saturday, after I return from work, I will make a nice lunch and drink for myself, read, take a bath and do fun things! (Like a mini movienight).

☙ 𝟒. Learn to let go! I have the ability to make myself so incredibly, by simply not leting go of the thing that do not serve me. I carry other people's trouble's, other people's expectations and lot's of other thingsI have no influence on. But even the things I have influence on, will not get better when I worry about it.

To let go, I must acknowledge what is bothering me and that stressing over it won't help me. Writing out my problem may help with this.

𝐌𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤

☙ The main focus for week 2 will be my physica, mental and emotional gaols:

♡ Physical I follow my weekly work out-plan. I eat healthy. I use my skincare consistantly. I go to bed before 10 pm.

♡ Mental I make time for self love. I plan out my day and follow my plan. I journal daily.

♡ Emotional I do the things that bring me happiness and fulfillment. I write the things that bother me down. I allow myself to feel my emotions fully.

I will accomplice these goals by panning my days around them.

☙ I want to go on a nature walk upcomming week. ☙ I plan out all the work i am supposed to do. ☙ I am productive in school. ☙ I start following my morning & night routines. ☙ I read when I'm bored.

Thank you sososo much for checking in with me, lovelies! ⚝☁ I hopefully see you next week! If you have any tips and/ or encouregement, pease do share. Bye bye ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ♡

[elle-blogging]

If you read anything about student life, let it be this post

As someone who lost a close friend from class last year I want to tell every student I come across a few things that you need to learn in order to have a healthier life as a student or as a worker.

No one can take care of you, better than yourself. You have to ask for help if you need it. You have to listen to your own body and understand that you've reached a limit. That you can't keep crossing those limits little by little in order to achieve your goals sooner. If you keep asking more and more from your body, it's going to give out.

You are the one who has to learn your limits and be more forgiving with your body. You have to be grateful that it has brought you this far in life and given you everything it can. You have to thank every cell in your body for putting up with society's demands.

I've developed my own systems to do as many things to heal and thank my body for everything it does for me. Maybe some of them will be helpful to anyone here who is willing to read this, and who feels like this resonates with their needs.

1. Plan ahead of the semester: I always add the important dates on a google calendar and a physical calendar (writing helps memorize better)

2. ALWAYS stay up to date with assignments: it can feel a little tough to follow the classes rythm, but I find that staying up to date always helps when exam season begins. I always understand what topic is being discussed in each class because I'm not falling behind.

3. Scheduling time for selfcare too: whatever selfcare means to you, make sure you have a time set for each day, that no one can take away from you. No calls, no meetings, no work or anything. Sometimes we don't allow ourselves enough time to heal because we feel like we should be doing something else. But I noticed that I can work better when I tick things out of my "personal to-do list" like walking my dogs, playing with my cats, working out for at least 30 mins, stretching or laying my yoga mat on the floor and meditating (I stuggle a lot with quieting my mind but when I do it's like a blessing, and so energizing).

4. Distance yourself from "social media": recently I noticed my instagram algorithm is rotten and it just shows awful stuff to keep me engaged, I keep scrolling to find the content I'm looking for but the algorithm just ignores your preferences on purpose. I lose so much time doom scrolling that i lose energy to do the things that make me feel happy or like I'm doing progress.

5. Rest at night: when my friend passed away I struggled so much to sleep at night in the darkness. But at some point I started using a sleep mask to keep my eyes closed and it felt like my thoughts were only focused on what was going on in my mind and body, instead of seeing things in the darkness of my room. Being able to finally sleep has pushed me out of the worst part of grief.

6. Eat healthy: Well I gained over 10kg since I starded university and all it does is make me feel heavy and tired, I sweat a lot more and nobody wants to feel disgusting all day just to come home tired and in dire need of a shower. Also, I can barely fit in my pants. I'm still working on my weight and diet, but it's not within my financial possibilities to eat healthier foods on campus.

7. I think this is the most important, but try to learn meditation: I used to think mediation was boring and I would become some sort of weirdo if I went down that path, but all meditation does is train you to calm your mind, slow your thoughts, seeing things more clearly, working from a calmer headspace.

I still struggle to find the best time to fit all these things within my daily routine, but being consistent, especially in times of high stress, can be so life changing. It can define whether you do things as best as you can with the very little mental health you have left, or if you do them with time, and in a way you're satisfied with the results.

I don’t have a nice way to wrap this up, but if you read this far, and if you’re going through something similar, I want you to know you’re not alone. You don’t have to power through like nothing happened. Life is already tough, so be gentle with yourself. I’m trying to be, too.

[baby-witch-eli]

Quantifying my Craft

I found this lovely post by @breelandwalker, who I totally recommend checking out, and it inspired me. My cards and horoscopes have been pushing me to reflect on my goals lately so this is exactly what I needed right now! I decided I'd give it a go.

Broad Concepts

I like to follow western traditions; Celtic traditions in particular are near and dear to my heart. This is why I chose to focus my worship in the Celtic Pantheon, and I'm currently working on building a relationship with Brigid. I would consider myself an eclectic, although divination and nature magic are my two main areas of focus. While I like to ask others for advice while I learn, magic is something I prefer to practice on my own. I've only been practicing since late January, interestingly enough I started around Imbolc. So far I've found intentions are the most important aspect of witchcraft and it has helped me greatly to practice intention in all aspects of my life.

Working Space

I began constructing an altar to Brigid yesterday. Frustratingly enough, my mother is going to have me put away all my small little items and decorations tomorrow as we're trying to sell our house. We won't be moving for a few more months though. I'm hoping I'll be able to keep the altar up but I'll look into online altar options if needed. I already keep an online altar to myself on an app called #SelfCare that I would highly recommended.

Right now my altar to Brigid has a white candle in a green holder; a sailor's knot I wore around my wrist until it started to come undone; a silver bell for music and creativity; the first piece of pottery I ever painted; a picture book of the traveling I did around Michigan a few years ago; an empty journal I hope to fill with art and poems dedicated to her; and a beaker (cauldron stand-in) I dedicated by burning a sigil in that holds nineteen white rose petals and a whisker my cat lost. I'm charging a carnelian and working on a piece of fox, the spirit guide she sent me, embroidery to add to the altar. It's positioned on top of an organizer I have on my desk, which is pushed up against a window.

There's a spot under my porch I wanted to use for meditation but I discovered I'm too jumpy and distractible to meditate outdoors. I don't like having my eyes closed when out of the open and I have an exaggerated startle response. Instead, I find it better for me to meditate in the bath. Sitting in water at least ankle deep with the lights off, after everybody else has gone to sleep and when the moon can shine through the window, is the ideal place for me to sit and follow a guided meditation. I find meditations that take me on a journey through my astral space are the most effective.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to have my own space where I can freely spread my altars and workspaces throughout the house. I want to be able to fill it with plants and books and cards and candles. While I'm at home trying to avoid suspicion from my Christian family, I just have to make the most of what I have.

Tools

My first deck is on the #SelfCare app. I call it my "Familiar Deck" as that's the one I'm most connected with. It's brutally honest, which I love. My second favorite deck is the "blue-eyed" deck I use for my Daily Draw. Another brutally honest deck and one I find to be very accurate. When asking Brigid questions, I prefer to use the Yes/No deck. It gives you your answer and is also good at accurately conveying "secondary," not yes/no, messages. You'll notice all of them are online and that's because, once again, I live with my Christian family and must be covert.

I have a quite a few crystals as I, thankfully, was interested in collecting them when I was younger. The tumbled crystals I have are small and few; most of my crystals are raw. I keep forgetting to charge them when there's a full moon out. I'll have to set a reminder or something to that effect. At the very least, I'm happy that I don't have to bother with trying to obtain any without my parents becoming suspicious. One of these days, I'd love to start collecting rings and wear several. It's also silly little dream of mine to get an onyx pendulum someday.

As far as books go, I bought a beautiful journal I've dedicated as my grimoire. It's dark blue with shiny, gold space decals. I would love to collect witchy books but I don't have money and I couldn't get away with it while living at home. I hear there's an excellent discord that stores witchy books and I think it's something I'll look into. For now, my information comes from my internet research. Thankfully, I did debate for several years, so I know how to find sources from accurate cites, but it certainly takes a lot of work to find good information that way.

The Year

I’m interested in learning more about the Wheel of the Year and incorporating it into my practice. Imbolc is especially important to me, as I worship the goddess Brighid. I missed it this year but I hope to celebrate it in the future. I have yet to study the important of dates outside of astrology so I’ll have to make sure I study it more.

History of My Magic

Honestly, I’ve always felt a very strong pull towards magic. I was raised in a very religious family though so I was always afraid that answering the call would condemn me. I grew up reading as many fantasy stories as I could, connecting with any animal I was able to, and spending as much time in the woods or by water as I could. The woods and the water have always felt full of magic to me and inspired me to want to practice witchcraft. Ever since I was little, I’ve had a great fondness and affection for the moon and stars. I’ve also always felt very drawn to Celtic folklore, magic, and Irish culture. I have distant family ties to Ireland and even though it’s a relatively minor aspect of my heritage, it’s always felt the most important to me. Movies like Song of the Sea and Brendan and the Secret of Kells helped tighten my bond with it. I even started learning as much as I could about the Fae after some books I read piqued my interest. I’ve always been the kid who kept a firm belief in magic even after all my friends “outgrew” it.

It took me a long time to finally answer the call to magic. Like I said, I was raised in a religious household. My grandparents even accused me of being a witch when I went through my Harry Potter phase! It actually made me rather pleased. There were a few times I came very close to beginning practicing witchcraft but I shied away for fear of Hell. It wasn’t until I finally was able to distance myself from the church earlier this year that I decided to start practicing magic behind my parents’ back. I’m very glad I did.

Progress

I’ve only been practicing for a few months. I’ve been very busy with college so it’s been pretty lax so far. I’m trying to build some sort of consistency. The end of the semester is a bad time for that, for sure. I’ve really connected with astrology and tarot-reading. Learning about the symbolism of different bugs and animals has also been something I’ve honestly also done, so it’s nice to be able to incorporate that into my practice. Dragonflies have always been signs of good luck for me (or bad omens, as the one time I saw one dead was one my Grammy found in her garage; she showed it to me a month or so before she passed away from cancer).

Recently, I began meditation. I met my spirit animal, a brown-eyed fox, who I ended up learning was sent by the goddess Brighid to guide me. I contacted Brighid about twice and set up an altar for her. The first time I heard her speak to me was when she was telling me I don’t drink enough water (I haven’t met with her since I pulled an all-nighter for college and I’m sure she’s not particularly pleased with that). I’m hoping to get back into my meditative practice soon. I’ve also needed to meditate to ask about a crow or raven that my sister and I kept crossing paths with while going out to lunch together. I’m not sure if it’s a sign of something or if the Morrigan wants to contact me. I’ve also heard the name Cernunnos repeated in my head lately so I’ve wanted to look into him too. I didn’t think I’d have anything to do with deities after my experiences with Christianity but Brighid quickly changed my mind.

Final Notes

I actually started writing this post a week or so ago but life got crazy. I’m in the last few weeks of my Freshman year of college, so it’s hectic. Right now I’m staying at a cabin in the mountains over the weekend, so I’m hoping this will give me the chance I need to wind down and reconnect with Brighid and my higher self. I’m hoping to get a daily routine going for my practice over the next few weeks.

[consulting-celiac-in-the-tardis]

21 Easy (and Cozy) Self Care Ideas to Practice this Winter

New blog post! Now that winter is making days shorter, colder and darker, it's more important than ever to make self care part of your regular routine. And I'm not talking about the Instagram #selfcare that requires fancy bath bombs or expensive lotions. I'm talking about 21 easy ways that you can get cozy and relaxed this winter, whether you're a college student like me, a busy mother of two or a full-time worker with a demanding job schedule.

Some of these self care ideas may seem obvious, but others may surprise you - and many of them are scientifically-backed ways to tackle stress. So regardless of how busy you may be this holiday season, check out these 21 ways you can add more self care into your holly, jolly life.

1. Make yourself a warm, welcoming drink.

On cold winter days, it probably feels natural to reach for something cozy to warm you up. If you're really looking for help relaxing, though, fill your mug with tea. Research has found that drinking tea can help lower people's stress levels. Plus, it can be pretty dang delicious! (If you have celiac disease, just make sure it's gluten free).

2. Watch a sappy holiday-inspired show or movie.

Sometimes, we don't need an award-winning movie or TV show to enjoy ourselves. At least a few times this winter, embrace your silly or sentimental side by watching a bad Hallmark movie or bingeing your favorite holiday baking show. (And if you eat chocolate while doing it, that's obviously worth bonus points).

3. Go thrifting for cute and comfy winter clothes.

Updating your wardrobe for winter doesn't have to hurt your wallet. Instead, make looking for comfy hats, mittens or scarfs a fun adventure by hitting up your local second-hand store.

4. Be your own masseuse.

Massage has been shown to reduce people's physical tension and mental stress - and if you have a chronic illness or chronic pain like me, a good massage is always a good idea! You don't need to hire a high-end masseuse to reap some of these benefits, either. Give yourself a massage instead by rubbing your own muscles while lotioning up after your shower or using a tennis ball or foam roller to break up any knots and tension. Pair this massage with a relaxing bubble bath and you have the makings of a perfect self-date night.

5. Set aside extra time to read a book, just for fun.

I know that winter can be a busy time with friends and family, but don't forget to set aside some alone time in your schedule. Add a good book into the equation, and your quiet night in will be extra enjoyable.

6. Bake yourself something festive!

Besides getting to eat a delicious pumpkin or apple inspired treat, you'll feel nice and cozy when your kitchen is warm from the oven and smelling like the holidays. (And if you need some ideas for gluten free pumpkin desserts or baked goods, try out this recent round up of mine!).

7. Walk it out (outdoors or at a local gym).

Depending on the weather where you live, going for a walk outside might not be an option. Even if you have to go for a walk inside, though, your brain will still thank you. Research has found that exercise can drastically improve people's mental health, and even just walking will lower how often people have "bad days."

8. Take up a new, indoor hobby.

And if being outdoors is realllly not an option, starting a new hobby that takes place indoors is ideal. Start putting together puzzles, learning how to cross-stitch...or even practicing rock-climbing, like I did last year! Who knows - you may end up finding a hobby that you love doing year-round.

9. Try out hot yoga.

Because there's no better escape for winter weather than a relaxing, mantra-and-stretch filled session of hot yoga.

10. Light one of your favorite candles.

More research still needs to be done on the benefits of aromatherapy, but science seems to suggest that certain scents can help us chilllll out. Find a scent that you enjoy, like lavender or peppermint, and experiment with burning different candles and seeing which smells work best for you!

11. Purge your social media feeds.

You've heard of spring cleaning, but winter is another great time to set yourself up for a fresh start in the New Year. If you find yourself spending more time than ever on social media since it's too cold or dreary to go outside, pay attention to how each account makes you feel and ditch the ones that aren't doing you any favors.

12. Get crafty and let out your inner child.

Create a wreath to hang on your door, use colorful pens and papers to create homemade cards or just doodle in a notebook. These kinds of creative activities have been linked to improved mood and creativity the next day...plus, you might end up with some very cute gifts to give this Christmas. Win-win!

13. Pamper yourself with a face mask.

I've only started using face masks this last year, and the hype is worth it. My favorite is a simple mix of honey with cinnamon that I apply on "problem areas" for around 10-15 minutes before washing it off, but there are tons of safe (and even delicious!) face mask recipes you can find online. No fancy or expensive ingredients or products required. Plus, dry winter skin will definitely thank you for the extra TLC.

14. Dust off your crockpot and experiment with a new yummy recipe.

I know I've certainly been lax in using my crockpot lately, and it can be hard to feel motivated to start cooking dinner first thing in the morning. But your future self will definitely thank you for the little bit of prep you do earlier, and winter is the perfect time to whip up something warm and gooey. May I suggest my crockpot stacked enchiladas or vegan mac and cheese?

15. Throw a pajama party.

Whether you have a solo party or invite friends, spend a whole, blissful day hanging out in your PJs.

16. Do something nice for someone else. 

Acts of kindness have actually been scientifically shown to improve people's physical and mental health, so passing it forward this winter is actually a win-win. Donate to a local toy-drive, send a care package to a solider or pay for the next person's coffee in Starbucks. Little acts can have a big impact.

17. Start a gratitude practice.

If you're the journaling type, you can start writing what you're grateful for every day in a notebook. Otherwise, sticky notes or just thinking about two things you're grateful for each morning or night will still give you a positivity boost!

18. Set aside time to play your favorite "pointless" game.

Whether it's Sudoku, Words With Friends or a video game that you used to play for hours every day in high school, give yourself permission to just sit back and play for a little while. I know that during most of the year, I'm a major multi-tasker and anytime I do get to play a game, it's because I'm traveling or waiting to start another chore. So chillin' (pun intended) with my gamer self during winter is one of my favorite ways to relax.

19. Declutter at least one part of your house.

Along with purging your social media feeds, on days when cold weather keeps you in the house, you might try purging cluttered corners as well. Decluttering can not only improve concentration, but it can also improve your mood, lower your stress levels and give you a better night's sleep. And if you play your latest Netflix binge, favorite podcast or an epic holiday playlist in the background, you can make decluttering feel a lot more fun too.

20. Stretch yo' body.

At least for me, finding the motivation for a hard workout feels a lot harder when it's cold, dark and dreary outside. So on days when you feel like you're in a funk but don't feel up for a full workout, do some gentle stretches (even in the comfort of your own bed!) instead. It will loosen up your muscles, slash your stress and might even help you be more productive at work.

21. Choose a mantra for the upcoming year.

Obviously, you shouldn't spend all winter pining for spring...but it can't hurt to spend a little time reflecting on what you want from the upcoming months. In 2018, my word or mantra of the year was "discomfort." In 2019, it was "open." And while I haven't decided exactly what word I want to keep in mind during the start of a new decade, I think something similar to "change" will end up winning. What do you want to get out of this Spring? You still have some cold weeks to help you figure out your answer!

The Bottom Line of Self Care During Winter

As the days get colder and our social schedules get busier, it's easy to let self care fall to the bottom of our to-do list. I know from personal experience, though, that you can't run on empty...and when you better yourself through self care, you're also empowering yourself to be a better friend, family member, and personal overall! So this winter, give yourself the gift of self care rituals...and if you need even more ideas, feel free to check out my previous roundups: How to Create Your Own Self Care Retreat in 5 Easy Steps; 15 Self Care Activities You Can Do Without Leaving Bed; and 21 Self Care Activities You Can Do in 15 Minutes or Less! How are you taking care of yourself this winter? Give me more of your own self care ideas in the comments below! via Blogger https://ift.tt/2OKlqR3

[kdpinterior]

63 Editable Canva self-care Journal Templates : Contains : Self Love My happy place Life balance wheel My ideal life Mood tracker Selfcare checklist Self care goal Daily manifest Daily self-care routine Gratitude exercice Self care exercice Self assessment Self-care goal Mindset exercise Limiting belief ... And much more .. Ready-to-edit and customize for Amazon KDP. It Can be resized in Canva for different sizes and page lengths. Used as KDP self-care wellness Journal/notebook interior … Used as digital and printable. Size 8.5x11''. LEGAL INFORMATION These prints can be used commercial purpose and use as your book interior in print or digital form and then sell the book online. You can’t sell this item as it is to third parties as a digital book interior. QUESTIONS? If you have any questions about this print, please use the “Ask a Question” button next to the price and we’ll get right back to you as soon as possible. There are a lot of advantages to self publishing over traditional publishing, To be a successful author, it needs hard work! Self publishing requires you to have knowledge of every aspect of the publishing process, like designing, formatting, and marketing. Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing make self publishing accessible to everyone, but it can feel overwhelming to independent authors. What do you need to use Amazon KDP? What technical skills do we need to meet Amazon KDP requirements? How to promote our book? Here are seven tips and tricks to hack Amazon’s self publishing platform and be a successful author. 1. Make Your Book's Title and Description Perfect: Self-care self love journal A good Amazon book title and description are important for your book to rank well on Seo. Your book description gives readers a taste and overview of your writing skills and tells them exactly what to expect when they buy your journal or planner . Your journal title and description should look professional. A poorly written description have huge impact on sales. Run your blurb through a grammar checker to check for mistakes and readability. Aim for a genre-appropriate, specific set of rich keywords. Self-care self love journal We’ll talk more about keywords in the next section. Amazon will allow you to use HTML formatting on your descriptions, so get the benefit of this awesome feature. You will be able to organize your keywords. 2. Use long-tail keywords like Self-care self love journal. One of the most important aspects to getting ranked on Amazon self publishing is the seven keyword boxes. They allow you to add up to forty-nine characters. A keyword is a word or phrase that people type into the top search box on Amazon to find a specific journal or planner... You need to focus on specific long-tail keywords. Instead of a broad, short-tail keyword, you might enter Self-care self love journal (a specific long-tail keyword). You can research these using a keyword research tool like Google Keyword Planner Tool, hire an expert in KDP categories and keywords, or simply search for them manually by yourself. Look for keywords that give you only a few results, not thousands, to beat your competition. 3. Choose Extra Categories Amazon KDP has preset categories for books, and it’s hard to choose the best one for your work. When you upload your journal or planner interior, you can select two Amazon categories. Your book might fit into multiple categories. You can also increase your chances of being a bestseller in a category when you choose less competitive categories. A little secret : you can add additional categories with these simple tips : If you can call KDP customer service, KDP will allow you up to eight more categories, for a grand total of ten! 4. Purchase a High-Quality Designed Cover The first thing that Amazon visitors see is your book’s cover. A high quality cover can make a big difference and impact your sales numbers. There are a ton of elements that impact whether a book cover is engaging.

Various classifications have different expectations. A basic cover does not take into account genre trends and expectations. A nonfiction book should not look like a kid's activity book or vice versa. Unless you’re an experienced graphic designer, avoid using tools offered by Amazon. Find an experienced designer who is familiar with your theme and check their portfolio. Try to reach out to other authors for recommendations, or browse Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to find a freelance designer who works with other authors. 5. Emphasize covers and interior design. The quickest way to a one-star review is an ugly book cover or interior. When your print book format is a mess, Amazon's visitors will move on to the next competitor. Don’t gloss over this step. There is a lot of software, like Canva, Photoshop, or Illustrator, that allows you to format your book and make it look professional. You can also outsource your formatting to an expert. In our case, the Self-care self love journal is already formatted for KDP, so you will save a lot of time and money. 6. Adjust Prices for International Markets When you publish a journal or planner on Amazon KDP, make sure that you adjust the price accordingly .99 : This is a marketing psychology that works on any markets. If KDP adjusts the price automatically for other markets, You can manually change it to international prices, however. You can add a .99 to the end of each price for each currency. And keep your eyes on royalty rates. You should also monitor the pricing boundaries for 30% and 70% royalties for each currency. 7. Becoming an Affiliate for Your Own Book Promote affiliate links for your own book and earn 70% royalties! Use your Amazon affiliate link on social media, website links, and anywhere else you can think of. Your amazon affiliate link allows you to earn additional 4% on the selling price of your book. It seems like not much, but that additional 4% can add up quickly with enough sales. Keep in mind that you only get this income when someone buys through your affiliate Amazon link, not from Amazon's search box. Finally, make Amazon KDP your friend; Using tips and tricks like these can assist you in succeeding on Amazon KDP.

[myourlife]

Hi sweet folks! Maybe some selfcare inspiration for you out there! 🤗💕🌞 Since a while, this is my new morning routine!☝ Beginning the day with the questions: What can I celebrate?🎈 What can I give others?🎁 How can I grow? 📈 After thinking about that I drink a lot 👄💧 to hydrate my body after a night of sleep (which is great for your skin, alertness, liver, muscles and joints, memory, immune system and mood!), then I meditate for a while ✨ and finally, I decide what my top 2 priorities are 🔝 (because of the fact that I often want to do much more than I can accomplish at the end of the day).

It gives me a happy, strong and fresh start 💪😊 The feeling of having control to make everyday a day worth remembering - or at least a day to be glad to be on this weird yet prodigious world! 🌍🙌

Hopefully this will give you some new ideas 💡! I’m pretty curious about your morning routines! Actually I would like to add to mine to write morning pages or to dance every day for a while, which I both do sometimes but moreoften I can’t manage to do because I end up being in a hurry…… 📕📝🙆⏰

Well, what is your morning routine? 😃 How do you start your days with lovely (self)care? How did you get there, to make it your routine? 🙏📌 I’m curious! 😃

Greetings from The Netherlands, enjoy the day! 💫💋

[tryingtimi]

Isn’t writing a fanfic about your own stuff to your friend is just one of the greatest friendship goal?

That fanfiction could be golden tho, I’m 100% sure!!! I’ll just add “scrolling over every Martin and Eckehart tag” to my selfcare routine, so if you guys has recs, please tell me, so I can check them out when I got some spare time.

Also, which one of their interaction is your favorite so far? Goes for both of you @aschlindartroom and @valkyrie-the-bogwitch !

Fluffy Facts Tag Game

Tagged by @tryingtimi! Thanks so much.

Rules: List 5 or more cute or wholesome facts about your WIP, either events that happen or worldbuilding details or the like! Then tag some people you'd like to see do the game, too!

Second Serpent is notably lacking fluff for the most part, but there is definitely some light in the dark. *pops knuckles* Let's get crackin!

The H.O.U.N.D.s may be Schmidt & Foster's private political assassination squad, but during the Reconstruction (after the war), some of them were assigned to accompany the "Riders." These were specially selected military personnel who were sent to all corners of the earth in search of the last humans, acting as peacekeepers to offer a final refuge in New London. The H.O.U.N.D.s, with their special abilities, assisted these Riders by reading minds to break language barriers, liberating slaves, and providing support. There are many cultures that would have been lost after the closing of the dome without them. The H.O.U.N.D.s may be a tool, but they have been a tool occasionally used for good.

Martin and Eckehart, despite how dark the political B-Plot of Second Serpent becomes, are a huge source of fluff and giggles. They start their story as two very different people who are thrown together under strange circumstances. They open up, learn to trust each other, and after a 10-year slow burn and a lot of growth, they fall stupidly ridiculously in love. A scene with them is always bound to be either funny, aw-inducing, or heart-wrenching. Good chemistry, these two.

At its core, Second Serpent is a story about a group of emotionally isolated people learning to care about each other and themselves, even when it comes with the risk of being hurt. And it's about chasing ideals even when it seems hopeless. In a world that feels so very, very dark, the desire to be close and to be happy are never far away.

During the NWW, the sacking of museums and decimating of civilizations led to a 2nd Dark Age. And so, one of the most lucrative careers in New London is being a "Librarian." They are the well-read, historically-learned sages of the new world, who catalog and restore any piece of the old world they can find. Studious and life-long learners, this profession is grueling and tedious, but for their effort, they are HANDSOMELY paid. At the time that the story starts, The Librarian Society for Restoration has just published its 97th volume of their "world history" series, which is a very thorough accounting of major events as they know them.

In a later book, Seung will be pseudo-adopting a pair of psychic children. One of Seung's big arcs is shedding her hero worship of her father and finding her own way of living. Though she will never be their mother, by taking care of them, Seung has a chance to see a different way of parenting. Learning to be soft and affectionate rather than hard and exacting-- to extend a hand in comfort rather than a fist in anger.

Edit: WHOOPS. Almost forgot to tag people. Let's see... @valkyrie-the-bogwitch, @dgwriteblr, @andromeda-rising-897, @lunarmoment

[sabine-abnashjot]

Finally! 🤩🤩🤩 Getting my hair done @hairmerchants - amazing eco friendly hairdresser 💆‍♀️-- but this time I had to organise my lunch first! I was very busy today, starting with corporate yoga 🧘‍♀️at @mountloftyhouse and then other work, focusing on my book writing. 👩‍🎓 I was running out of time and could have just gone to a cafe, but decided not just any cafe, a super healthy one! 😁 🌟🌺As part of my self care, everything adds up. Every little thing. 🌏I may not have my nature walk every day, and some days I may not have food that I would consider optimal, - but whenever I can, I'll go out of my way to get good, high quality, clean, fibre and protein rich food, from a good vibes place lol ... I have a few favorites and I've been asked to share more about them, so here is this one! I love their range and food!!! 🌈🍊Caters for vegans and so many incredible smoothies and healthy juices! The cups are eco. Naturally. ☺️👌 So just enjoyed these and now hair time!! 😁 👌😎Got to flow with what you can do. Self care can be joyful, and a lovely journey in my books! That's how I help my clients embrace this, daily, with joy and grace & ease! I love it!!! 😉 🍒There are so many ways to self care! What are your ways? 💛 🍉Mine are: Salt & essential oil baths Massage Facials Beach walks Being under trees, in gardens Sitting under the stars And amazing healthy food! Spending time by myself Meditation Quality time with loved ones ☺️😍🤩 Then of course: deep, healthy sleep at night! I have tools /routines for that too! 🧘‍♀️💃🌻🍉🌻 Have an amazing Wednesday!! #selfcare #joy #ecofriendly #kundalinistudio #womenscoach #grateful (at Nutrition Republic) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8vB_5UDhFr/?igshid=1rrjtouffcu24

[danika-alice]

Everyone’s self care is different. My self care is tailored to me and what benefits my wellbeing. Today my self care has consisted of allowing myself to lay in bed longer than I normally would to let my body rest. This works for me because it helps my mind and body relax, it doesn’t mean it is something that work for others. Exercise doesn’t seem to benefit me, I don’t know why but whenever I have purposely done exercise my body crashes hard, so I’m going to listen to my body and not add anything extra to my plate. The thing is my Doctors suspect I could have fibromyalgia or myalgic encephalomyelitis (aka chronic fatigue syndrome) or both. He said that low impact exercise can help with fibro but can sometimes make m.e worse so for now it’s all guesswork and trying to stay in tune with my body as much as I possibly can. There’s always different levels of illnesses, it can affect people in completely different ways, so what works for your mental health and physical health may not always work for someone else’s even if they have the same condition as yourself and we NEED to be more mindful of that. I’ve felt insanely ashamed when I’ve tried to exercise to help loosen my muscles and such and all it’s done is leave me in a complete and utter set back, a flare up, a crash. Whatever you want to call it. I’m not writing exercise off, I’m just saying please don’t preach at me with how I should be doing what you’re doing because it worked wonders for you, don’t push it down my throat when I try and explain how it wouldn’t work for me because I don’t have the energy to explain to you why I’m not able to do what you can. I appreciate advice of course, I think what I don’t appreciate is being made to feel like I’m doing MY self care wrong. So if you’re feeling like your self care doesn’t match up to someone else’s please try and remember it’s not for anyone else, it’s for you to help you manage your days, not theirs but yours. If going for a run helps you, that’s awesome! If meditation helps you, that’s awesome! If resting helps you, that’s awesome! If routine helps you, that’s awesome! Whatever helps you is great! #selfcare #wellbeing #chronicillness #spoonie

[kdpinterior]

self-care Journal 63 Pages PDF : Contains : Self Love My happy place Life balance wheel My ideal life Mood tracker Selfcare checklist Self care goal Daily manifest Daily self-care routine Gratitude exercice Self care exercice Self assessment Self-care goal Mindset exercise Limiting belief ... And much more .. Used as KDP self-care wellness Journal/notebook interior … Used as digital and printable. Size 8.5x11''. Notes : Only PDF FILE it's not editable LEGAL INFORMATION These prints can be used commercial purpose and use as your book interior in print or digital form and then sell the book online. You can’t sell this item as it is to third parties as a digital book interior. QUESTIONS? If you have any questions about this print, please use the “Ask a Question” button next to the price and we’ll get right back to you as soon as possible. There are a lot of advantages to self publishing over traditional publishing, To be a successful author, it needs hard work! Self publishing requires you to have knowledge of every aspect of the publishing process, like designing, formatting, and marketing. Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing make self publishing accessible to everyone, but it can feel overwhelming to independent authors. What do you need to use Amazon KDP? What technical skills do we need to meet Amazon KDP requirements? How to promote our book? Here are seven tips and tricks to hack Amazon’s self publishing platform and be a successful author. 1. Make Your Book's Title and Description Perfect: Self-care self love wellness A good Amazon book title and description are important for your book to rank well on Seo. Your book description gives readers a taste and overview of your writing skills and tells them exactly what to expect when they buy your journal or planner . Your journal title and description should look professional. A poorly written description have huge impact on sales. Run your blurb through a grammar checker to check for mistakes and readability. Aim for a genre-appropriate, specific set of rich keywords. Self-care self love wellness We’ll talk more about keywords in the next section. Amazon will allow you to use HTML formatting on your descriptions, so get the benefit of this awesome feature. You will be able to organize your keywords. 2. Use long-tail keywords like Self-care self love wellness. One of the most important aspects to getting ranked on Amazon self publishing is the seven keyword boxes. They allow you to add up to forty-nine characters. A keyword is a word or phrase that people type into the top search box on Amazon to find a specific journal or planner... You need to focus on specific long-tail keywords. Instead of a broad, short-tail keyword, you might enter Self-care self love wellness (a specific long-tail keyword). You can research these using a keyword research tool like Google Keyword Planner Tool, hire an expert in KDP categories and keywords, or simply search for them manually by yourself. Look for keywords that give you only a few results, not thousands, to beat your competition. 3. Choose Extra Categories Amazon KDP has preset categories for books, and it’s hard to choose the best one for your work. When you upload your journal or planner interior, you can select two Amazon categories. Your book might fit into multiple categories. You can also increase your chances of being a bestseller in a category when you choose less competitive categories. A little secret : you can add additional categories with these simple tips : If you can call KDP customer service, KDP will allow you up to eight more categories, for a grand total of ten! 4. Purchase a High-Quality Designed Cover The first thing that Amazon visitors see is your book’s cover. A high quality cover can make a big difference and impact your sales numbers. There are a ton of elements that impact whether a book cover is engaging. Various classifications have different expectations. A basic cover does not take into account genre trends and expectations.

A nonfiction book should not look like a kid's activity book or vice versa. Unless you’re an experienced graphic designer, avoid using tools offered by Amazon. Find an experienced designer who is familiar with your theme and check their portfolio. Try to reach out to other authors for recommendations, or browse Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to find a freelance designer who works with other authors. 5. Emphasize covers and interior design. The quickest way to a one-star review is an ugly book cover or interior. When your print book format is a mess, Amazon's visitors will move on to the next competitor. Don’t gloss over this step. There is a lot of software, like Canva, Photoshop, or Illustrator, that allows you to format your book and make it look professional. You can also outsource your formatting to an expert. In our case, the Self-care self love wellness is already formatted for KDP, so you will save a lot of time and money. 6. Adjust Prices for International Markets When you publish a journal or planner on Amazon KDP, make sure that you adjust the price accordingly .99 : This is a marketing psychology that works on any markets. If KDP adjusts the price automatically for other markets, You can manually change it to international prices, however. You can add a .99 to the end of each price for each currency. And keep your eyes on royalty rates. You should also monitor the pricing boundaries for 30% and 70% royalties for each currency. 7. Becoming an Affiliate for Your Own Book Promote affiliate links for your own book and earn 70% royalties! Use your Amazon affiliate link on social media, website links, and anywhere else you can think of. Your amazon affiliate link allows you to earn additional 4% on the selling price of your book. It seems like not much, but that additional 4% can add up quickly with enough sales. Keep in mind that you only get this income when someone buys through your affiliate Amazon link, not from Amazon's search box. Finally, make Amazon KDP your friend; Using tips and tricks like these can assist you in succeeding on Amazon KDP.

[consulting-celiac-in-the-tardis]

15 Self Care Activities You Can Do in 15 Minutes or Less

New blog post! I get it: when life gets busy, setting aside time for self care can seem impossible. However, self care activities are perhaps the most important when your to-do list seems like a mile long.

As I start my third month of grad school, I can definitely relate. In fact, this past weekend felt like nothing but food prep, grading papers, lesson planning, squeezing in a few hours of socializing, blogging work and sleep. Hence, this list of 15 self care ideas that take 15 minutes or less!

Whether you're a college student, a first-year teacher, a badass full-time worker or the parent of three hyper kids, here are 15 fun ways to add 15 minutes of self care to your life this week! 

1. Write - and send - a letter.

There's something endearing about handwritten letters. It takes more thought and effort than shooting off a text or Facebook message (though I'll never turn down a funny meme or random "thinking of you" text from my besties). If the person you're writing to values letters like I do, your reminder to smile might even end up pinned to a bulletin board in their room. 

Plus, the act of writing a letter can be rewarding in itself. Research has linked expressive writing - including writing letters - to improved mood, reduced stress levels and an overall boost in wellbeing. 

So why not pick up a pen, a piece of paper and give a loved one an old-fashioned surprise? 

2. Unleash your inner yogi and stretch it out. 

First of all: it doesn't matter if you've never done yoga or have no idea what kind of stretches you "should" be doing. The goal of "self care" activities like this is to, well, care for yourself. So let what feels good guide your stretching!

If you have fibromyalgia (or another muscle-related chronic illness) like me, taking mini stretch breaks is vital. Sometimes, I get so "into" my work that I don't realize several hours have past and my shoulders are hiked up to my ears. Being more aware of how my body is feeling can prevent a migraine or extreme body aches from sidelining me hours later.

If you want to follow a "proper" yoga routine for your 15 minutes of stretching, I highly recommend Fightmaster Yoga on YouTube. Otherwise, you do you!

3. Watch a cute cat (or goat...or any adorable animal) video.

Admit it: there's something insanely relaxing about watching baby goats in onesies practice jumping or seeing a kitten play peekaboo. You're also not the only one whose stress level drops after watching a cute animal video. Scientists have actually discovered that cute videos trigger a release of dopamine - AKA, one of our "happy hormones" - in viewers' brains. 

Apparently, people's love of cute things has ties to evolution; basically, our brains are trying to ensure we properly care for our adorable infants. All that really matters, though, is that you now have a science-backed reason to crank up the cat videos during your Monday lunch hour!

Like this post? Then tweet me some love by clicking here: "Too busy for #selfcare? Then check out these 15 self care activities you can do in 15 mins or less! #health #selflove http://bit.ly/2y6j2vm"

4. Throw a (solo or friend-filled) dance party.

Do I really need to explain this one? Dancing is fun. Dancing to your favorite pick-me-up songs is even more fun. And dancing without worrying what anyone thinks of your super groovy dance moves is a blast!

The hit of adrenaline from your mini-burst of exercise doesn't hurt either!

5. Go for a walk in nature.

Can’t stop thinking about the mistake you made during your big presentation or the annoying co-worker who works at the desk across from yours? Then taking a walk outside is exactly the self-care��tip you need. 

Everyone has moments of brooding, or nonstop thinking on negative parts of your day or life. Research has found, though, that spending time walking outside in nature can decrease brooding and improve mental health. And even if you aren’t brooding, spending some quality time with your local park can’t hurt. So find a nature trail and get walkin’! 

6. Prep a delicious dinner.

If you're a foodie like me, a delicious meal is a great way to show people that you care. Sometimes, though, we forget to show ourselves the same edible self love! 

Even if you're short on time, you can lay the groundwork for a delicious meal later on. Cut up some veggies that you can roast while you work; put your choice of protein in a marinade to soak up flavor while you're away; throw a bunch of ingredients in the slow cooker (following recipes like these!); or even Google and bookmark a recipe that looks yummy and easy to make. 

Remind yourself that you need fuel to kick life's booty...and that you're worthy of making fuel that actually tastes finger-lickin' good! 

7. Look at your calendar and schedule at least one "just for fun" activity that week.

Once you get in the mindset of "work, work, work," it can be hard to remember to give yourself the social breaks you need. Prevent yourself from putting on "productivity blinders" by spending a few minutes adding at least one fun event into your weekly schedule. 

Of course, we all have different definitions of "fun" - and as long as you're enjoying yourself and taking a break from work, anything is fair game! Have a spa; go for a walk with a friend; curl up with a good book in your favorite coffee shop; binge watch Netflix for a few hours in your PJ's. The choice of how to have fun is up to you!

And if an even more amazing social opportunity comes your way - like a girls' night out - you already have some time set aside in your schedule to join in.

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9. Start and finish one (tiny) chore.

Raise your hand if you've ever felt like you have so much to do, you don't know where to start. Between blogging, teaching, taking classes and doing everything needed to stay alive, I can 100% relate. One self care tip I've started following regularly, though, is doing little chores any spare chance I get...and patting my back for a job well done.

For instance, let's say you need to finish a 10-page paper, write and publish a blog post and reply to five important emails. Which should you start with first? While it may feel the most rewarding to finish your paper or blog post, it'll probably take less time to shoot off a couple emails - and then you'll already have succeeded crossing one "to do" off your list! 

8. Work it out (literally)!

You may already know that exercise is an easy way to boost overall health, with studies finding that exercise increases endorphins (aka, the “happy hormones”) and norepinephrine, a chemical that can improve your brain’s reaction to stress. Not to mention all the physical benefits exercise offers. 

However, you may not realize that even 15 minutes of exercise can make a difference. Research shows that short (as little as ten minute!) bursts of intense exercise are just as effective as 45-minute workouts in improving heart health and other indicators of fitness. And trust me. If you do a 15 minute HIIT workout or even just a moderate weight lifting session, you still get that endorphin rush! 

Some of my favorite short workouts are quick targeted workouts (like abs or cardio) on the free Nike+ Training App; a random combination of jumping jacks, jogging, push-ups or whatever other exercises pop in my head; or even a short 15-minute sprint on the treadmill or elliptical. Find what works for you and for your body, and stick with it.

10. Get lost in a book.

When you’re feeling stressed out, what’s a better escape than visiting another “world” through a good book? It turns out that there are way more benefits of reading than you might expect. Studies have found that reading for as little as 30 minutes a day is associated with a longer lifespan and a more extensive vocabulary. Reading even a chapter of a fiction novel has also been linked to increased empathy. Talk about self care that doubles as self development!

If you love reading but never have the time (trust me - as a grad student earning an MFA in writing, I can relate!), start scheduling 15 minute reading breaks into your week. You’ll be amazed at how much you look forward to putting down your laptop and picking up a book instead. 

11. Eat something delicious.

“Comfort eating” has a slightly negative connotation nowadays, with it often associated with unhealthy binges on junk food or mindless snacking. While it’s unlikely that either of those two habits are healthy, I do think there are times when you just need a big, juicy burger or creamy bowl of ice cream. 

Food is fuel - but it is also memories and quality time with friends and family and, yes, sometimes exactly the kind of comfort you need. So if your brutal week calls for a visit to a local bakery for a cookie the size of your head, eat and enjoy the dang cookie - and then keep kicking life’s booty! 

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12. Explore somewhere new.

You don't need hours - or even days - away from home to go on adventure somewhere new. Oftentimes, there are plenty of hidden gems to explore near your own front yard. Instead of swinging by Starbucks like usual, check out the cute local coffee shop a few blocks away. Take a different path around your favorite park. If you're a foodie like me, you might even want to spend your 15 minutes walking around a new-to-you grocery store. (Does anyone else love finding new grocery stores, or am I just weird?)

Who knows - you may find your new favorite local hangout!

13. Give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing.

I'll admit it: I’m slightly addicted to productivity. Even when I’m taking a break from work, I’m usually working out or working on a side project like baking or blogging. If you can relate, why not give yourself the gift of 15 minutes spent doing absolutely nothing? 

Lie in bed, waste time scrolling through Instagram, watch the sunset, do some people watching. Those fifteen minutes of “nothing-ness” are yours to do with what you wish. Just don’t do anything productive! 

14. Call home or a good friend - and be honest about how you're feeling.

When you're jumping from one obligation to the next, it's easy to forget to check in with the people you love most. So why not make calling home an official part of your weekly schedule? Researchers have reported that hearing a loved one's voice can actually trigger jumps in particular hormones and nerves. In fact, one study found that hearing a mother's (or father's) voice caused a jump in pleasure areas of children's brains.

Don't just talk about the weather either; really talk. Advice from an old friend about a problem you're struggling with or some reassuring words from mom may be exactly what you need.

15. Look back on your week and make a list of everything you’ve done, no matter how small. 

It never hurts to remind yourself what a true badass you really are! Sometimes we can get so focused on the things we still need to get done or the mistakes we’ve made that we forget about everything we majorly #slayed that week. So take 15 minutes to review everything you’ve kicked booty at during the week - and don't forget to mention the small stuff, too. Research has found that, when people acknowledge their small successes, they not only boost their self confidence, but also have more motivation to work. This isn't bragging - it's setting yourself up for another killer week!

Like this post? Then tweet me some love by clicking here: "Too busy for #selfcare? Then check out these 15 self care activities you can do in 15 mins or less! #health #selflove http://bit.ly/2y6j2vm"

Regardless of which of these self care ideas you want to add to your weekly routine, one thing is certain: no matter how limited your free time, there's always time for a little self love.

And as I prepare for another crazy week of grad school, you can bet that several of these self care activities are landing on my to-do list! What's your favorite self care activity? Which of these would you want to try first? Tell me in the comments!

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