Hey beautiful, today I’m letting you into the must-have 5 step self-care action plan for you to use in 2021. The truth is… Self-care is about so much more than spa days, face masks, and Instagram selfies.
Don’t get me wrong. Pampering yourself in all kinds of ways is an awesome way to show self-love. (You know the boys from Queer Eye would agree!)
But a consistent, wisdom-driven approach to self-care is the #1 way to live a long and healthy life.
Plus… When you know how to practice self-care so that it’s specific for your dosha…
And it includes practices that you know will help you heal and feel great in your skin…
Self-care is the best health care you’ve got.
The way you take care of your body TODAY has a huge impact on how healthy you will feel tomorrow.
So I want to help you create a “must-have” self-care action plan. One that includes preventative healthcare… Since daily self care and preventative health go hand in hand.
I mean… come on. When you consider how much healthcare costs these days, it’s clear that we can’t afford NOT to take care of ourselves!
It may seem like a stretch at first… But implementing each of the following self-care steps is the most powerful investment you’ll ever make in your health. Plus, you’ll create a daily practice that costs way less than pharmaceutical medications or hospital bills.
Self-care is revolutionary, so let’s take action!
The Top 5 Self-Care Action Steps That Will Change Your Life!
Mindful Meditation
Meditation is a powerful practice meant to declutter the mind.
A common myth is that you have to completely clear your mind of all thoughts to be “good” at meditation. Or to be meditating at all.
That’s just not true.
We call meditation a practice for good reason and you don’t have to be “good” at it the first, 3rd or even 108th time you do it!
If you’re new to meditation, try guided practices and meet yourself exactly where you are.
When it comes to guided meditations, I’m a huge fan of the app, Insight Timer. It’s free and there are thousands of free meditations to choose from.
Some of my favorite teachers include Tara Brach, Lisa A. Romano, and Jennifer Piercy.
Fabulous Benefits of Meditation:
- Improves Memory and clarity
- Reduces the effects of stress
- Prevents compulsive behaviors and weight gain
- Lowers blood pressure and supports a healthy heart
- Controls anxiety that comes up around the pressure of day to day tasks
Connect With The Elements
We’re all made up of the same five elements that make up the planet (as we know it): ether, air, fire, water, and earth. We see these same five elements represented in the doshas.
Connecting to the elements – both in nature and within YOU – is such an important part of having a self care routine.
Not only does it help you relax and connect more deeply with yourself and nature…
The wisdom of your body works with the elements to help you stay balanced and self-aware.
Here are some tips for how to connect to the elements:
- Plan a daily walk and notice what it’s like to feel the breeze against your skin and the earth beneath your feet
- Take a soothing bath with essential oils that smell awesome to you
- Plant a garden and get your hands in the dirt
- Meditate on the sensations in and around your body for a few minutes. Do you feel cold? hot? wet? dry?
- Go for a hike or spend the day in nature
- Open up a window just to feel the air kiss your cheeks
Restore With Yoga
Restorative yoga is a powerful practice that doesn’t seem to get enough credit.
It can be the juiciest, most revitalizing yoga practice ever – and feel like a well-deserved nap!
The main focus of restorative yoga is on opening up your body and allowing more energy to flow. It’s an ultra-nourishing practice that re-fills your cup and helps revitalize the mind, body, and spirit.
Restorative yoga tips:
- If you’re doing yoga at home, make sure you have the props you need. If you don’t have bolsters or blocks, use books and pillows or towels and couch cushions
- Calming the breath calms the body, so focus on slow, deep, intentional breathing
- Don’t force a stretch, the key is to allow your body to open at its own pace and to its own “edge”
- Try a guided practice that’s specific to your dosha – it will increase the healing effects
Nibble On Nourishment
Food is medicine!
Everything you consume becomes part of you. It only makes sense to eat foods that nourish and fuel the body.
Ayurveda teaches us a lot about food pairing and which foods are best for your dosha.
A great Ayurvedic recipe resource is my cookbook, which you can get here!
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep is one of those pillars of health that should never be overlooked… yet it so often is!
Did you know that humans are the only mammals that willingly delay sleep?!
I’ll tell you something…
When you prioritize sleep, so much about life becomes a breeze.
Ayurveda’s tips for a good night’s sleep:
Vata: You’re a light sleeper. Try sipping on warm milk with ghee, cardamom, and nutmeg after dinner. Or, take a warm bath before bed and massage your feet with oil to help you feel grounded and ready for slumber.
Pitta: If your mind doesn’t wake you up at night, then the night sweats might! Try to eat your last meal by 6 or 7 pm and go to bed before 10 pm to make sure you get a good night’s sleep.
After 10 pm, you’re in the Pitta time of night and this is when you tend to get a “second wind” or “second fire.” Once you hit that point, it’ll feel more challenging to go to sleep and stay asleep. So bedtime is especially important for you.
Kapha: Sleeping is your past-time and it’s no problem for you to get long, restful, and sound sleep. Try to limit your sleep to 7 or 8 hours maximum – to prevent waking up tired and groggy in the morning.
You can also aim for waking up with the sunrise or no later than 8 am.
Want to dive deeper into the subject of sleep and how to get more of it? Click here.
Ready to take action on your must-have self-care action plan?
It only takes one small change to make lasting impacts in your life.
It’s time to reclaim the way you do self-care! The perfect place to start is with my new mini-course: The Dosha Remedy: 7 Self-Care Habits That Make Vibrant Health Easy. Click here to check it out!
