It’s about time I wanted to share my updated self-care routine. OR at least share the go to self-care things I swear by in my life.
As many of you know, I am big on self-care because I believe it’s a necessity on our growth journey to self-love.
Having those go-to activities or go-to items that make your day is important to keep consistent in your life, for these small things are really building our independence and our time with ourselves.
I have my five rules for my personal self-care:
(1) Music is necessary
I have a few major playlists that I will constantly have on. Recently I went on a rampage to update my playlists, and actually it was really fun. I was initially kind of forced to because I had no storage on my phone, but recreating playlists and updating them is actually really entertaining. I forgot about so many songs and artists until I updated them. My playlists are as follows: “iced oat lattes in the mountains” (this is kinda self explanatory, but I name a lot of my playlists on my personal feelings, but essentially this is my granola playlist that has been in the making for like three years), “you’ve got soul” (personal favourite that I use on many occasions), “*moon crescent emoji*” (I made this playlist for my ‘healing era’ and it just reminds me to find stillness in moments of vulnerability), “best of both worlds” (Hannah Montana said it first but I think it is a necessity of life to have a classic Disney playlist).
(2) Night skincare
It has taken me a while but I have finally established some of the steps of my own personal skincare routine that have helped me so much. I invested a bit, I will be honest, but I do live by these products for my skin care.
This is my current set up:
It’s simple, there are only three items, but I swear this is my favourite routine of all. I have quite sensitive skin so it’s sometimes hard to find the right products in order to prevent irritation and other effects. I know it can get a bit pricier when it comes to skin care, but investing in these products are really life changing. (all linked down below:)).
(3) Reading for the soul
I’ve recently taken up reading again. Actually, I tried to take up reading again (I thought I would be more honest with that). Over the summer of 2022 I started up and read some of the Colleen Hoover books in literally a couple days. And I bought a bunch more books to read as well. But then school started, and I didn’t get around to reading them. But I thought I would share my current lineup, including those I’ve read and those I plan to read!
One of my favourites was Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover. I literally finished it in two days. craziness. This picture was where I finished the book. Seriously cried my eyes out at this lookout as I walked my family friends’ dogs and took a reading break to finish. I find that her books are pretty easy reads. But they are so consuming and make you really immersed in these worlds.
Link: ugly love <3
If we are on the Colleen Hoover kick, I also read ‘It ends with us’ and that was also finished in two days. I could not put the book down. Also I find with her books, that once you realize the meaning of the title, everything makes sense and then you have to finish the book to see what happens.
I am in the middle of reading Maybe Someday and It starts with us as well.
I also recently bought a book called The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (LINK <3) and it is about Ernest Hemingway and the journey with one of his wives. Something intrigued me about the book so I had to buy it. Maybe I’ll do a review for it too <3.
Anyways, reading is a really good escape from everything. It just leads to some other world away from reality and brings such creativity and artistry to life.
(4) I’ve started writing my thoughts. Not out on paper, but in my notes or some special way, I write what I have been thinking. What I have been feeling. There are things on my mind, things that I don’t always see fit to say, or find it’s the wrong timing. And sometimes I feel like there aren’t many people I can talk to about my thoughts. So I write them down. Anything and everything. And a lot of times, I do look back on them, to remind myself that there was a point where I struggled or was more deep in thought than usual, but I got through it. Because when I read these past moments, I know that I have grown. And changed. And it just shows me that I am capable of it. Sometimes I lose sight of that. And I need a little guidance. And I think a lot of us think we need to find this guidance elsewhere, from other people. But really we can find it within ourselves. I learn a lot from my thoughts, what I choose to write. And it goes to show that my focus changes, my feelings change, and what bothers me at points in time may just be in the moment.
I recommend trying this. Because truly in this world, we are capable of growth within ourselves. And we can really learn from the observation of ourselves. In psychology, some call it ‘introspection’ or a few other names. Looking within, and observing our own mental states. I think it could be used for ourselves. We can observe how we feel when we write down our thoughts and how we are feeling. I truly believe that if you take the time to write down your thoughts sometimes, whether it is on paper or on your own computer, that it will really make a difference in the long run.
I hope you have enjoyed a few of my self-care steps:)
STAY KIND 🙂
with love
grace <3