Springtime already! The daffodils are poking their way through, the nights are getting lighter and April showers always make me feel as if the whole earth is getting a refreshing spring clean.
With the post-holiday haze safely behind us, and summer fast approaching, now seems like the perfect time to stop, take a breath, and give your self-care routine a spring clean too.
Why not try adding a few new self-care rituals to your day to help you reconnect with yourself? I promise you’ll really feel the difference in your mood, energy levels, and creativity.
Here are a few of my favourite mini-rituals that will let even the busiest of you sneak a little extra self-care into your daily routine.
Morning check-in.
Mornings can be a rush but it’s well worth getting up five minutes earlier to help you face the day fresh rather than frazzled.
Instead of instantly picking up your phone and scrolling through emails or loading the washing machine as soon as you jump out of bed, start your morning with a few yoga positions or simple stretches to wake your body up. Then take a minute or two to look over your daily goals, write yourself a gratitude list or say a few affirmations — whatever works for you!
Lunchtime energising.
Confession time: how often do you work right through your lunch break? I know, sometimes you just have to, but even when you have crazy deadlines looming it’s so important to take at least five minutes just for you, in the middle of the day.
Take yourself outside and detach from your work for a minute. Focus on the feel of the air on your skin, the birds tweeting, and (hopefully!) the feel of the sun on your face. If you can’t make it outside, or if outside would mean traffic noise and pollution, find yourself a quiet spot in the office, away from your desk.
A few minutes of meditation can be enough to re-energise you and get your creative juices flowing again. One of my favourite meditation tricks is to picture a gently flowing stream. Every time a thought pops into my head, I put it into the stream and let the current carry it away. Give it a try.
Bedtime wind-down.
When it comes to telling your brain that it’s time to wind-down and get some rest, you can’t beat a bedtime ritual.
Clear your mind by making a to-do list for the following day and writing down any worries. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to relax.
Give yourself a beauty boost by smoothing your body in a luscious cream, concentrating on how soothing it feels on your tired skin. When you climb into bed, lie on your back and focus on each muscle, consciously flexing it, and then relaxing it, starting at your feet and working up your body. No sheep counting required!
Connect with your senses.
What do all of these mini-rituals have in common? It’s all about focusing on your senses: the soothing sound of the birds, the luxurious feel of your body cream. Reconnecting with your senses is one of the most powerful ways to help you tune in to the beauty within you as well as the beauty all around you.
Re-discover the power of your senses with the mini-rituals in the Mimosa 5 Senses Rituals ebook. And don’t forget to let me know which one is your favourite!
Enjoy!
Jennie x