The Importance of Self Care

‘It is essential to our well-being, and to our lives, that we play and enjoy life. Every single day, do something that makes your heart sing’ ~ Marcia Wieder

If you’ve ever walked around the Wanderlust office, you’ll notice that we love a good quote, or 20. And a good 19 of them would be about self-care or well-being. We tend to zoom in on the importance of self-care…a lot!

Truth is, it’s a topic we feel so passionate about because we deal with clients every day who are suffering from burnout and/or compassion fatigue, women who have emptied their cups giving everything they have to everyone around them, leaving little for themselves. We all know that saying, right? ‘You can’t pour from an empty cup’. As women, our lives are busier and more demanding than ever, with ‘to-do’ lists that are seemingly never-ending.

It's the old ‘mango seed syndrome’, the mother who divides the mango cheeks among her family and is left with only the scraps that remain on the pip for herself. We give much of our time and energy to the demands that work and family place on us, and forget to see to our own needs leaving us exhausted, depleted, often resentful and unhappy with little left to give.

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of waking up one day and finding yourself stressed out on the never-ending treadmill of life and forgetting the importance of stepping off that treadmill every now and then and taking time for yourself. Empty cups are no good to anyone so it’s absolutely crucial that we get our heads around the importance of self-care, make a plan and make it a priority.

Self-care is no longer something we need to feel guilty about. It should form part of our basic health care routines and should be incorporated into our daily lives. When we take time out to feel good about ourselves both physically and emotionally, we are so much more resilient and capable of handling life’s stresses. It also makes us better caregivers, so it’s a win-win. And the best part is, self-care doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming.

Here are a few ways we can refill our cups:

• Take a bath with your favourite book, add bath salts or essential oils. Light some candles and listen to some soothing sounds to make it extra relaxing and a bit spesh

• Spend time in nature, whether it’s a nature walk, a walk on the beach, or finding a sunny spot in a park, it will help your body, mind and spirit

• Create a morning ritual that you love, one that is achievable, that makes you jump out of bed and then reward yourself for sticking to it

• Stop checking your phone every 5 minutes. Turn off socials for an hour a day and enjoy some mindful, device-free time

• Drink water. If you struggle with this, shout yourself a cute new water bottle that makes you want to drink more or make your own special infused blend with fresh chopped strawberries, mint, lemon or lime, cucumber, watermelon, blackberries, raspberries, or ginger and maybe add some power-house chia seeds

• Participate in a women’s circle or a sound bath – it’s surprisingly empowering

• Use a magnesium body spray every day (we promise it will change your life)

• Find a guided meditation app that you love and set aside 15 mins a day for a month, then look back and take note how you felt before and after

• Create a self-care play list – add all your guilty pleasures, and any fave feel good tunes that are guaranteed to put you in a good mood

• Start a new hobby – think ceramics, candle or soap making, an art class, photography – anything that you’ve always wanted to do but never had the chance

• Practice deep breathing or mindful breathing

• Create a bucket list and start making moves to get ticking

• Find a sunny spot for a cuppa and a few mins of quiet self-reflection

• Have a night in with your fave soppy rom-coms

• Go for a brisk walk out in nature

• Start journaling. Make a note of what went well today & why?

• Book in for a day spa, or a massage or facial

• Take that guilt-free nap you’ve been needing for soooo long

• Sign up for that yoga class that you’ve been meaning to take

• Eat nutritious meals that nourish your body

• Create boundaries, if you find yourself saying yes when you really should be saying no & when it’s going to cause you stress or anxiety, just politely decline (no one really minds, promise ;))

• Moisturise – find a yummy smelling natural moisturiser and lather yourself in that stuff!

• Pamper yourself. Whip up a natural face or hair mask and add a mani & pedi combo for good measure

• Place divine smelling things around your home or office, think candles, incense or essential oil diffusers

• Prioritise sleep – make sure you’re getting 7-8 hours, this too is life-changing and essential for optimal well-being

• Join a group ~ whether it’s a sound healing group, an amateur performance troupe, a book club or whatever takes your fancy, you’ll feel refreshed knowing you’ve done something just for you

• Allow yourself to do nothing – we all need time to space out and vegetate, this is often when we stumble across our most inspiring and life-changing ideas (it’s where the magic happens!)

• Take a last-minute getaway ~ jump online and find yourself a last minute deal for the weekend and take in the fresh air with a fresh perspective

• Plan a girl's night in (or out, whatever takes your fancy)

• Book in for a salt float – these things blow my mind. The change in mood and feelings of well-being after a float is really quite astounding

• Retreat yourself!! Take the plunge and book a wellness retreat. We are a bit partial to this one and we highly recommend a Wanderlust Wellness Retreat in beautiful Bali (of course) but if you’re time-poor or keen to stay more local you’ll find many amazing local options online too.

• Anything else that you want to do and that will make you happy, the possibilities are endless…

The main point to keep in mind is, just do more of what you love, or discover new things that give you joy. So, we’re putting the call out as a bit of a challenge. Make self-care a regular practice and let us know how much better you feel in 4 weeks' time.

The Wanderlust Wellness Retreat team x