Self care and mental health tips for the real world.
We never stop. As women we are always on the go: cooking, cleaning, working, doing. We forget that taking care of others includes taking care of ourselves.
Our own guilt plays a role in how much we do and how little we stop to think about us. We feel guilty about relaxing, letting others down, and having to tell others no.
Guilt prevents us from realizing that self-care is not selfish; self-care is self-love. [Read more…] about Why Self-Care is Not Selfish [Guest Post]
Chocolates and flowers are always nice. But what about self care gifts for moms that nurture the mental health or self care needs of the special woman in your life?
Mothers put a lot of (physical and mental) energy into helping those around them. While I’m not a traditional mom myself (although I do have three fur babies!), I can imagine the role feels a little thankless or, umm… exhausting… at times.
With that in mind, here are some alternative ideas: mental health-conscious self care gifts that work any time of the year. [Read more…] about 15 Self Care Gifts for Moms: Support Her Mental Health Any Day of the Year
This year is my wedding year! And since Google somehow knows everything about our lives, I’ve been suddenly presented with more online ads about weight loss, wedding diet or workout plans, and other ways to physically prep for the big day.
With a constant stream of messages like that, it’s no surprise women feel pressure to change their bodies for the big day—or for any big event. But I think it’s very harmful and I think we owe it to ourselves to not make weight loss the focus for any of it. At the very least, let’s put it on the back burner.
Let me tell you why I feel this way—then tell you what I recommend instead of pursuing weight loss before the big day, or ever. [Read more…] about The Best Pre-Wedding Diet is NO Diet. Focus on These 9 Things Instead.
You don’t need a designated day to spur positive change in your life.
That about sums up my feelings on making a New Year’s resolution. I’ve personally found the most success focusing on improvements as an ongoing part of self-care long-term—versus at one time of year.
At the same time, I don’t see anything wrong with using the end of the year as an opportunity for slowing down to reflect on what you’d like to improve or change. [Read more…] about No More New Year’s Resolution: Try These 8 Positive Intentions Instead
For much of my life, I hated the present moment — sitting still, noticing my own breath, trying to just be where I was.
In my mind, these were all things reserved for monks and people with some kind of scary, non-human inner calm. People who were normal, I guess.
And then, one day I actually tried meditation. Sitting and being “in this moment.” [Read more…] about How to Live More in This Moment: 5 Little Ways to Slow Down and Be Present
I love the holidays, but there was a time in my life when the food part of them caused me a lot of stress.
Whether it was Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s, each time I would promise myself I’d be “good” and not go crazy on the food, especially the vast array of delicious desserts my family would bring to share.
And each year, I’d disappoint myself. I’d not only “give in” to allll the sweets, I’d also find myself eating them uncontrollably. Eating until I was sick, feeling bloated and light-headed and swearing that was IT… then finding myself back for more 20 minutes later, in an attempt to feel better. [Read more…] about Intuitive Eating for the Holidays: How to Enjoy Food Without Guilt
