A Self Care Guide to Beauty, Health, and Wellness
When you’re feeling stressed, it can be easy to forgo your self care routine. Engaging in self care requires active participation in order to improve your mental, emotional, and physical well being. While it may take some time to establish a routine, allowing yourself to partake in acts of self care can alleviate an immense amount of stress in your life. Venus ET Fleur® encourages you to take some time to treat yourself like the strong and beautiful (inside and out) person that you are. When you do, you’ll start to see more balance and harmony between your mind and your body. Read on to learn about a few ways to care for your precious self!
Give Yourself a Relaxing Spa Day
One of the easiest ways to slide into a self care routine is to set aside an hour or two at the end of each day to treat yourself to a spa day! Especially after a long day at work, a relaxing soak in the bath may be the thing you need to recharge. Sprinkle a cup of Epsom salts into warm water and put in a few droplets of your favorite essential oils (lavender is especially relaxing) to ease the tension in your muscles. Light a few candles and put on some relaxing music to create a spa-like ambiance in your own bathroom.
Our favorite soothing scent is that of our Rose Blanche Votive Candle. The candle’s fresh floral scent will transport you to another place, where you feel embraced by a garden of roses. The candle also carries notes of freesia, cinnamon, and some zesty notes of geranium for a truly warm and inviting sensory experience. With a 25 hour burn time, this candle will stay with you and keep your oasis glowing through a month’s worth of much needed spa time.
After a relaxing soak, wrap yourself in your fluffiest, warmest towel and put on a sheet mask for your skin. Look for hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, or aloe, so that your skin can feel refreshed and moisturized. Depuff your face and roll away the toxins with a crystal face roller, or slice up some cold cucumbers to place on your eyes.
Set Up a Time For Candle Light Meditation
Either in the early morning or in the late evening (or both), take some time to meditate. There are a number of Apps and online resources that you can use to guide you through breathing meditation exercises, where you learn to control your breathing, which in turn affects your heart rate, blood pressure, and symptoms of stress and anxiety. Meditation re-connects you with yourself and with the beauty and positivity of the universe.
You can also try candle gazing meditation to help bring your mind to a place of stillness. Light a candle and place it on a stool or a table about three to four feet in front of you. Make sure that you’re sitting down with an upright posture and relaxed arms and shoulder. The candle light should be at eye level. Take a few deep breaths, inhaling for four counts, holding for seven counts, and exhaling for eight counts. Keep your eyes on the flame, concentrating on only the flame. Hold your eyes open for as long as it’s comfortable, and when you’re ready, close your eyes.
You should still be able to see the image of the flame, even after you’ve closed your eyes. Focus on keeping that after-image alive and clear. This concentration will help open your third eye. Once the image fades, you can open your eyes and begin gazing into the flame once again, until you feel at peace with yourself.
Declutter and Reorganize Your Home
Take some time to declutter and reorganize your home. Start with one room and make your way through the home. Place your items into three piles—one pile to donate, one pile to throw away, and one pile to reorganize. As you begin to place things into the pile that you want to donate or throw away, imagine yourself living in a home that’s free of clutter and junk that you no longer need in your life. The past is the past! Imagine yourself becoming lighter and more free!
For your kitchen, take a second look at your appliances and inside your pantry. For your bedroom, spend a few hours looking at your closet for clothes and accessories that you no longer wear or use. When you get to your bathroom, wash and reorganize your makeup brushes, skin care products, and hair tools. When you declutter your environment, you’ll start to feel more refreshed and comfortable in your own home. Keep only that which makes you happy, and that which you find to be beautiful.
After decluttering and reorganizing your space, consider investing in some key home decor items you like, that serve as a statement piece for a room. For two story entryways, you may consider a round foyer table with a Serene Vase with Mixed Eternity™ Flowers placed in the center of the table. Accent your home with matching Fleura Vases placed around the home. With a clean home and a few sophisticated rose arrangements, you’ll begin to notice a huge change in your surroundings which will positively impact your physical, mental, and emotional wellness.
Nourish Your Body With Healthy Foods
It can be easy to skip a meal or snack on a bag of chips throughout the day, but nourishing your body with healthy, clean, and whole foods will make a major difference in your mood and behaviors throughout the day. Include a few superfoods into your daily meals, such as avocados, whole grains such as quinoa, berries, walnuts and almonds, spirulina, or leafy greens such as spinach and kale. The more vegetables and fiber, the better! Superfoods are whole foods that are densely packed with vitamins and nutrients to support your body and your brain.
The next time that you’re at the supermarket, take a look at the ingredients on the nutrition label. If you’re having trouble pronouncing some of the words on the ingredients list, there’s a high chance that the item you’re looking at is processed. Try to incorporate more fresh produce and protein such as eggs, fish, and meats into your diet, and fewer processed or frozen foods.
Taking some time to cook your meal and arrange it beautifully on a plate is another form of self care. Knowing that the food that you’re making is healthy for you (or your family) and made with love and gratitude will make you enjoy the cooking process even more. Food plating will improve the presentation of the dish and add even more value to your dining experience, making you feel even better about the healthy food you make. You can also take your eating experience to the next level by setting up your table to the nines. Bring out the fine silverware and your most precious crystal glasses. A healthy (and beautiful) plate of food deserves the full, elevated set-up. For added effect, place a few Le Clair Grand Un rose arrangements around the dining table.
Remember to chew slowly and eat mindfully, savoring the flavors and the nutrients. There’s no rush! Take a break from screens and allow for yourself to relax and savor each of your meals and snacks.
Self care starts with the little things, and when you establish a consistent routine, it only gets easier from there. Browse our special collections at Venus ET Fleur and add some beauty, wellness, and peace to your home life.