We all have different lifestyles and different needs, we hear so much about self care these days but did you know it doesn’t have to be something that’s a chore?

It’s something which can easily be done and incorporated into your daily life, something that brings you joy, time for you to be you and do what you need to do to promote your health and wellbeing. 

Some benefits of self care include: 

~ Reduce stress

~ Promote health and wellbeing

~ Time to rest, heal and recover 

~ Boost physical, mental and emotional health

~ Makes us feel better

~ Setting healthy boundaries 

~ Helps us look after ourselves better

I totally get it, things can be hectic in life but by switching off and taking time out (even if it’s just a few minutes every day) doing something you love and enjoy can have such a positive impact on our wellbeing, mindset and coping strategies. 

We always make sure that our phones and devices are fully charged and maintained because we want them to work properly, but for some reason we tend to fail and forget to look after and maintain our mind body and soul to the point where we have no energy, become burnt out and left with no other option but to stop, recharge and rest when we are unwell and can’t function properly. 

By doing little things each day it really can make a big difference on everything in our life. 

1. Choose what you enjoy doing.

There are many things that you can do and we are all different, so it’s all about what works for YOU. 

Some may find reading, having a good soak in the bath / epsom salt baths, going for a walk, being in nature, stargazing, watching the sunrise or sunset, crystals, aromatherapy, meditation or yoga their self care thing where as some may find running, listening to music, cooking, having a power nap, dancing, having a therapy treatment, painting, writing, crafts, gaming, a trip to the hair dressers, taking up a new hobby, making time for peace and quiet as ways to re charge their batteries in order to function to their greatest potential, the list is huge. 

We are all different and respond to different things which helps us relax and makes us happy. When we relax we give our bodies the opportunity to heal, release endorphins, serotonins and dopamines (the feel good hormones) I think it's safe to say that in the current climate we could all do with more of those. 

What do you enjoy doing that helps you switch off and makes you happy? (It can be many things, there are no limits - the more the merrier). 

    2.   Set time aside each day.

Start small even if it’s just a few minutes a day, it's better than nothing, it all adds up and you will Thank yourself for it in the long run. 

It can be anything that fits in with your day, 5 mins in the morning, afternoon or evening, or when you are doing other things (for me it’s: 

~ setting aside time each day with self Reiki healing 

~ incorporating Positive affirmations when brushing my teeth 

~ breathing techniques and thinking of all of the things I am grateful for and setting myself up for the day ahead while carrying out my morning Neal's Yard Remedies Organic skincare routine or winding down, reflecting on the day and prepare my mind for sleep with the evening skincare routine.

~ connecting with nature, being outdoors, going to the beach, forests or mountains, (just being outside in general) absorbing the energy, sights, sounds and scents while out walking with our dog, noticing the cycles and changing seasons of the year.

~ taking time out to have a mindful drink of water or coffee connecting to thoughts and feelings. 

These are just some of the things I do, they are ways I find that works for me and is easy to include into my day). 

    3.   Set a goal and build on it. 

If your self care thing is: 

Reading ~ begin by reading a page and build it up to 5 minutes or chapter of a book and more, 

Walking ~ begin with a walk around the block and build it up to the local park or shops, or for 10 minutes. 

Apply it to your chosen self care thing and increase the time bit by bit, and before you know it you will be doing longer chunks of self care automatically with out realising it.

    4.   Set a reminder.

If you find it difficult to remember to make time for your self, set a reminder or an alarm to go off at the same time each day and take that time out. Or link it to something that you would do daily - what I tend to do is breathing techniques when I’m putting my phone, devices or laptop to recharge, it’s simple and effective in helping the body relax and recharge too. 

Give it a go now:

Just close your eyes, focus your mind on your breathing, take a deep breath in through the nose and exhale slowly out through the mouth repeating 3 times or as many times as necessary. It’s easy and can be done anywhere and helps to rebalance the mind body and soul.

    5.   Book a Distance Reiki session.

You can do all of the above and book a treatment to give your self care, health and wellbeing a boost. It’s also something to look forward to, by booking a treatment it holds us accountable knowing we are doing something for our self care and our wellbeing.

Distance Reiki is a form of Energy healing where Reiki energy is channelled to wherever you are in the world at a time convenient for you. Reiki is a great form of self care and helps to 

rebalance: the mind body, soul and energy, 

reduce: stress, anxiety, pain, negativity and depression 

promotes: deep relaxation, sleep, healing, positivity, recovery, detox, calmness, harmony, balance and so much more.

You can book 1-2-1 distance Reiki sessions or try one of the distance Reiki drop in sessions I offer on different days and times of the week see available sessions here: https://www.heulwenhandmadeandholistic.co.uk/SHOP/

If you live near Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan book an in person Reiki treatment (more information and contact details available from my website).

There are lots of ways to include self care into our daily lives, I hope this has helped you in some way to get started into incorporating ways to look after yourself every day.

There's only one of you, If we don't look after ourselves and our wellbeing, who will?

To read more about Reiki and the different services I provide please visit www.heulwenhandmadeandholistic.co.uk you can sign up to the Newsletter there too.