We charge our cell phones and fill our gas tanks without feeling guilty, so why do we have a different take when it comes to our bodies? How can we make staying fully filled not just a priority but something that becomes second nature to us?
“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” - Eleanor Brown
6 Types of Self-Care to Help you Stay on Full
Physical
Physical self-care is, as we all know, taking care of your body - movement, nutrition, and rest. Making these things a priority is hugely impactful to your overall health and well-being.
Sensory
Sensory self-care is heightening your senses. Why does this matter? Heightening your senses is a great way to stay in the present moment and really treasure the here and now. We often do this on vacation, like when we dig our toes into the sand. Some other ideas for heightening your senses could be … light your favorite candle and really appreciate how it makes your space smell and feel, go to a museum and take in the beauty of the art showcased, take a walk in nature without any technology and really listen to the sights and sounds around you. These really simple acts somehow make you appreciate life and the world’s beauty. This is good for the soul.
Emotional
Emotional self-care is becoming aware and staying in tune with your emotions. Become mindful of your triggers and thought patterns. Find ways to face them and work through them rather than push them away and bury them below the surface. Some ideas to practice emotional self-care might be … journaling, meditation, creative outlets such as painting, creating or cooking. Listen to podcasts or read books on mindfulness & thought work. Two of my favorite podcasts on this topic are Brook Castillo’s The Life Coach School and Kara Loewentheil’s Un*uck Your Brain.
Spiritual
Spiritual self-care for some is time spent connecting to God - through reading scripture, devotionals, listening to music, time in nature, time in church or time serving others. We all feel closest to God in different ways and that’s ok. There isn’t one right way to do it. Find out the way that is meaningful to you and practice it regularly. For others, spiritual self-care is a connection to the Universe or to your purpose. Either way, the goal here is to nourish your soul and strive for inner peace. Some ideas to practice spiritual self-care … serving or giving to others, time in nature, music, and reading.
Intellectual
Intellectual self-care is the growth of your mind. Challenge yourself. Our minds need growth. Without it, we lose part of ourselves, we begin to feel “stuck” and stagnant. Learning something new stimulates our soul, it energizes us. Learning something new can bring the same excitement and passion to our souls as falling in love. Some ideas to practice intellectual self-care … read a book on something you’d like to learn more about, look for ways that you can challenge your way of thinking, be open to new ideas and things to do, start a new hobby, and listen to interesting podcasts.
Social
Social self-care is creating a sense of belonging in your life. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, we all need connection. Find ways to regularly connect with those you love and also with aquaintances and strangers. Some ideas for social self-care might be … join a women’s group in your community or church, strike up a conversation with the bank teller or someone behind you at the grocery store checkout lane - even a friendly exchange of “hello” can give both of you the sense of being seen, reach out to an old friend who you haven’t connected with in a while or join a class to get to know new people. Honestly, the options are endless here, but we often underestimate the importance of connection.
“When things change inside of you, they change things around you”
Take some time this month to focus on how you can recharge & stay fully filled.
We do it for our cars and for our technology, it’s time to realize that it’s important to do it for ourselves so that we can best serve ourselves and those around us.
As always,
“Keep shining beautiful one. The world needs your light.” - unknown
This month’s Soul Kandy is brought to you by:
Soul Kandy Gift Boxes & Care Packages - We help you love them well.