12 Ways to Indulge in Self Care

Being a mother has certainly shown me how tough it is to be a parent. A lot of parents (mostly women in my opinion) tend to sacrifice themselves in the way of time and attention, for the sake of their children. The little time you do get to yourself is spent on chores, running errands, and the like. But I've realized that it's very important to intentionally take time for self-care. Self care does not mean that you're being selfish and neglecting everyone else's needs. It just means that you realize that you also need to be taken care of. In today's post, I'm going to share some of the little ways I indulge in a little Self Care, and I hope you'll share yours with me in the comments as well.

1. Have a cuppa - Anyone who knows me will tell you that I enjoy drinking tea. Sometimes I drink tea twice a day. My favorite kinds are Earl Grey, Chamomile and fruity teas. At other times, I prefer a cup of hot chocolate. On some mornings, I throw back a cup of cocoa and put in a teaspoon of coffee to give it a kick!
2. Or a glass of wine - This girl appreciates a glass of wine every now and then. I prefer sweet wines, and will stick to just one glass since I'm a lightweight. It doesn't have to be an expensive bottle of wine either - thanks Aldi!
3. Comfort food - This might be part of the reason why I've gained weight again, but sometimes, eating comfort food can be a form of self care. As long as it's something you enjoy eating, and for me, quick to make. Some of my comfort food includes cereal (Cornflakes or Honey Nut Cheerios), a peanut butter sandwich with a mug of cocoa, and every now and then, Indomie/Ramen noodles!
4. Netflix and chill - I love watching different series on Netflix. In the past year, I've watched The Crown (which is my favorite, as I'm low-key obsessed with the Royal family), Cable Girls (a Spanish drama series with this foine-as-heck actor), Grace and Frankie (lovely comedy series) and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I used to enjoy watching documentaries - especially ones focused on Travel/Food. Occasionally I'll watch the odd movie here and there. I typically get on Netflix when everyone else has retired for the day, so I can enjoy what I'm watching in peace and quite.
5. Magazines - If you come to our house, some bookshelves are full of old magazines from when I had multiple subscriptions like 10 years ago. I recently subscribed to a new one, and I can't wait to dig in! I like magazines focused on women, fashion, beauty and lifestyle.
6. Digital Detox - I wish I did this more often, but I have realized that sometimes, turning my phone off gives me a sense of calm and peace. There's no pull to scroll through Instagram, or check Whatsapp messages, or check to see if anyone commented on a post, or even read depressing news. Sometimes, I turn off my phone for 2 hours or I leave it in a different room and it's almost as if my mind breathes a sigh of relief. If mental relaxation isn't self care, I don't know what is.
   
   
   
7. Beauty - I've shared my skin care routine here before, and having a mini spa session at home can be quite relaxing. It doesn't need to take a long time, but you'd be surprised how leaving a face mask on for a few minutes can help you feel refreshed. I also like to paint my nails, even though I went a long time without doing it because I wanted to go to the salon. I decided to just do them myself since I have nail polish at home anyways. Some may consider wash day (hair) to be self care, but it's a little on the stressful side to me. 
8. Lighting candles - Some nights before bedtime, I light a few sweet smelling candles and just enjoy the scent in the air and the flickering lights. 
9. Listen to worship or spa music - There is nothing like listening to worship music and just being in God's presence. Self care also includes taking care of your spiritual needs. Putting on some great worship music can help set your spirit at ease, and in God's presence, a sense of peace. 
10. Listen to a podcast - Podcasts are great! There are so many ones on different topics to choose from. My favorites are Jesus and Jollof, and The Simple Sophisticate. I like podcasts that are uplifting, funny, or inspirational. As a matter of fact, this post came about because of a recent episode of The Simple Sophisticate!
11. Take a Nap - I think that a lot of people don't get enough sleep regularly. As I've realized in the past week or two, getting a power nap in the middle of the day is oh-so-refreshing! Yesterday my parents took Cocoa to a birthday party, which left me with a few hours to myself. I was actually confused about what to do - nap, clean, run errands, etc. I eventually decided to clean up a little bit, have a cup of tea, and while trying to post on Instagram stories, I noticed I had bags under my eyes. That helped me decide to take a power nap - for some weird reason, I felt guilty about wanting to nap. But I'm glad that I overlooked it, and boy did I enjoy that nap!!!! It was just about 30 minutes long, but I feel so refreshed and feeling like I can take over the world like Pinky and The Brain. After I woke up, I worked on a video for my Youtube channel, and then painted my toe nails. 
12. Journal - A lot of experts say that journaling, and writing out your thoughts helps you deal with managing stress. I wish I could say that I did this often, but I haven't in a while. However, when I do take the time to journal consistently and pour out my thoughts, dreams, fears, goals, prayers, etc, it tends to give my mind a break.

What types of things do you do to take care of yourself?

Have a pretty week!