January 3 is International mind body wellness day, a tip of the hat to the connection between mind, body & soul, this day is dedicated to promoting the importance of mind body wellness, in recognition that a healthy mind and healthy emotions play a key role in maintaining a healthy body. The start of a new year is the perfect time to turn over a new leaf. After the busy rush of the year drawing to a close, and the fun of the festive season, the 2023 new year is a great time to invest in yourself, by dedicating time to your own self care. Self care rituals are a great way to help maximise your mind body wellness in 2023.
How to prioritise mind body wellness in 2023
If the words self care get you drawing a bit of a blank, don't worry. You may be asking: "What does self care really look like for me?, or How can I possibly fit this in?". It sounds simple, but so many of us are left dreaming about it, not doing it. So today we're going to break it down and get to it.
First: How can I fit this in? If we can begin to believe that mind and body wellness are interconnected, and integral to each other, then it follows that we need to act holistically to tend to both the mind and the body, as one, and we will begin to view this care as necessary to maintaining the health of both body and mind. To take this mindset into 2023, as we are setting goals, and setting up a new routine, we need to naturally begin to prioritise this focus and the time it requires, until it is part of our everyday. Just like we generally don't need to "prioritise" having dinner each night, we just do it, we make it our aim to have our self care rituals built into our day, and shift our mindset to view them as integral and necessary to our being.
Start small with self care rituals
Start small and build up. Just start one self care routine this week. Here is an example I like to use to highlight why it's great to start small: You wouldn't put 100 books on your bedside table to read, as this would be innately stressful due to the expectation it creates, and would be counterproductive to the relaxation reading brings for most people. Similarly, whatever your end goal, by starting small this ensures you can achieve it. This will make it far more enjoyable, positive, and leaves you saying "I did this".
Next: What does self care really look like for me?
This question allows us to be creative, which we can all derive a lot of joy from:
What does self care really look like for me? Self care rituals are many and varied. As with anything in life, we are all different, and we all have our own personal style and preferences. It follows that with self care rituals, what some people like, won't be everyone's cup of tea. The secret is really simple. Decide on an area of body or mind which you want to focus on. Then find those things which you love. It's that simple.
For example, you may wish to focus on body detoxification, or skin cleansing. You may wish to focus on yoga and meditation for the mind. You may wish to focus on healing nourishment for your body, and choose to undertake small changes to your diet and nutrition. Or you may simply choose to select some of your favourite natural oils and use them in your bath, or perhaps in a diffuser, for aromatherapy. Be guided by what you are most drawn to. Notice what you think your mind or body would benefit from most, and make it a goal and focus are to slowly manicure.
Setting yourself up for success
Once we believe this is right for us, and we're committed to turning a new leaf, and giving it a go, we need to set ourselves up for success by integrating our new practices into our everyday. Start in the morning. Anything important needs to be prioritised at the start of the day, not left to the end. If you have the opportunity to work from home, block out 30 minutes mid morning for yourself, be it for yoga, exercise, playing an instrument, a skincare routine, or having a nice cup of tea. Whatever you have chosen to focus on, prioritise the time, and do it in the morning.
Don't expect it to occur every day
Life is unpredicatable. Setting yourself up to do self care rituals every day is a huge target which is probably unrealistic when just setting out. A realistic goal is every other day or perhaps 3 times per week to begin with. If you can achieve 3 times per week, you will feel you have accomplished your goal and you can build from there.
Celebrate your success. Feel your new you blooming
When you sail into week 3 having nailed it, with your new self care space established, don't forget to congratulate yourself! Take time to feel and appreciate the benefits of the new space you have created for yourself, to cultivate your own brand of mind body wellness.
Happy International mind-body wellnesss day. Hope you feel inspired to create your own mind body wellness goals for 2023!
Be your most natural self xx
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