o n e - First and foremost; get enough sleep!
You can’t expect yourself to be fully present in life if you aren’t getting enough. Avoid constantly hitting the snooze button in the mornings and in life by going to bed at a decent time to give yourself enough rest. Who knows – maybe you’ll end up using less concealer too!
Helpful tips for a good night’s rest;
That’s right… your cell phone? Set the alarm, put it on the charger and LEAVE IT ALONE! The TV? Turn it off! DVR your favorite late night show or catch the latest and weather tomorrow morning. Just turn it off! In fact, try to skip anything that increases brain activity. For me, this even includes reading – especially if it’s an E-Book. I’ll know I won’t want to stop turning the page. Or, after I stop I will constantly be thinking about it/living it in my head. Plus, if I’m using an e-reader I’ve got that bright screen in my face and that isn’t going to help when I’m ready to call it quits. So, I don’t ever do this directly before bed.
- Add a little pamper into the mix.
Something that not only helps me sleep but also is a great self-care ritual to have (and also allows me to practice a little mindfulness) is doing a little self-care before bed. What does this entail? Take a nice, hot, relaxing bath. Add some essential oils or use some of your favorite bath products. Mine happen to come from Lush! They’ve got ton and tons of great & affordable natural products that not only make bath time more fun and relaxing but also enjoyable. If baths aren’t your thing, go for a shower! They also make shower bombs (or you can make your own - hint hint at a future blog post friends). Simply toss in the shower and as the water hits it, it will vaporize and become part of the steam. You can also use essential oils. We’ll be talking more about this at a later date. But some great essential oils to use for relaxing and calmness are; lavender, chamomile, ylang ylang, sandalwood, marjoram, cedarwood and vetiver.
Maybe you don’t want to shower/bathe the night before. That’s okay. Some other ideas include; face masks, moisturizing/massaging your skin with your favorite *moisturizer or put on some relaxing music and soak your feet and give yourself a mini pedicure.
*coconut oil is amazing for this, but if you’re looking for something that also promotes relaxation – Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy line works wonders!
- Avoid naps during the day – OR napping at the wrong time/for too long
- Keep the lights off
When you get up in the middle of the night; don’t turn the light on. Instead make sure you leave a nightlight out, but not in your direct path. You want to keep each room you enter as dark as possible.
You’ve got the day off tomorrow and you’re sleeping in? Be mindful. Set your alarm, and get up with intention. So many times we get up, turn off the alarm, and then go sit back on the couch. Get up and get moving. Make breakfast, take your shower, check your email.
t w o - AVOID CHECKING YOUR PHONE!
Seriously, once is enough! We’re all guilty of it. In fact, ever since I got the iPhone 6S, I find that I now check it more than ever. With the thumb-print recognition, it’s easier to unlock (and actually more fun! I catch myself doing it constantly more so now than ever). Go on, check your emails, check your text messages and your Facebook, and then PUT IT DOWN!
Some other helpful tips to avoid checking your phone;
Create No-Phone Time Zones
Turn off your phone when you get in the car
Avoid your phone the first 30 minutes of your day. Turn off you’re alarm – that’s it.
t h r e e - Make your entire routine mindful
During those first 30 minutes that you’re now not using your phone; take the time to meditate, or go for a walk/run.
You could even work a mantra into your day, meditate in the shower, take time within the moment! Choose a different color Eyeshadow or notice why you gravitate towards that particular everyday shade. Ask yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Don't just brush your hair. FEEL sensation in your scalp as you brush your hair
Spend an extra minute massaging moisturizer into your skin
f o u r - move or stretch
Go for a walk, a run, complete a simple morning yoga practice or just take 5 minutes to stretch every part of your body from head to toe.
f i v e - make a morning tonic to activate your insides.
No, I promise I’m not a witch! But studies show waking up and drinking lemon water (hot or cold) helps to do some amazing things like; boost your immune system and metabolism, balance your pH, flush out unwanted materials, decrease wrinkles and blemishes, relieve tooth pain and respiratory problems, cure throat infections, reduce fever and purify blood. Lemon is a natural energizer! One little lemon hydrates and oxygenates the body so that it feels revitalized and refreshed.
s i x - eat breakfast
Even if it’s just fruit, eat something. Eat something and take the time to eat it - not inhale it. Who knows when lunch will get pushed back or if something will come up. Savor it!
s e v e n - prioritize your day
Condense the long to-do list. Seriously! Tack it on the fridge, and then pick 3 things you absolutely need to get done and organize them in priority. Ask yourself what do you need to do for yourself today and whether it’s a power-nap, a fancy cup of coffee or a self-care ritual when you get home – DO IT!
e i g h t - write
take time to write in a journal or on your blog. Even if it’s just 5 minutes!
n i n e - Power clean the first 10 minutes
No one can get as much cleaning done in the minutes before someone comes over. I know this all too well. So, first thing when you get up, set a timer and GO! Get as much done as you can and leave the house knowing you’ll come home to less of a mess!
t e n - set an intention for the day
We do it in our yoga practices and meditations. We even do it at the beginning of the year for the following 365 days. So why not for our day? For one day, set an intention the entire day and make it happen! Spend the entire day making it happen
e l e v e n - diffuse an essential oil.
When in doubt when looking for an energy boost, use a citrus oil like orange, lemon, grapefruit or lime. Use an already blended oil like ‘En-R-Gee’ from Young Living or doTERRA’s ‘Elevation’.’citrus bliss…. Some other oils include; lemongrass, peppermint and frankincense.
