Simple Self-Care

Written by Olivia Lux

Simple Self Care Self care tip of the day: Set a list of goals to accomplish.

I like to do mine in the evening for tomorrow, but there are no rules, do what works best for you! You are worth the time! Remember, it is an act of self love to make that list realistic and attainable. So often, we set our goals based on a "good" day. A day where we felt our best! Our energy was high, our mood was elevated, we were productive! We reflect on our days and say "Wow! I actually got so much done today!" It's certainly a fantastic feeling. However, the fact is we don't have those days everyday. Often our normal selves can accomplish far less on a normal day. When we make those good days our basis of judgement for the rest of our time, we set ourselves up for disappointment. When we aren't able to check everything off our list, we feel we haven't succeeded, despite the many wonderful things we may have accomplished. Or perhaps we DO finish everything, but in doing so we overexerted ourselves, and now we need to spend the next few days recovering. Sometimes, we begin to feel so defeated that we become paralyzed with guilt, shame, frustration, etc., and stop even setting the goals to avoid discomfort. In a society that places so much value on productivity, it's no wonder we feel such pressure to achieve. When we allow ourselves to accept the reality of our capabilities, we open ourselves up to so much more inner peace. We remove unreasonable expectations off our shoulders, and open up a new door to loving our authentic selves. When we are able to check everything off our lists, we feel a sense of accomplishment! And the best thing about it, is that this time, you can have that feeling over and over again. You set yourself up for success! What should your list look like? Whatever you want! It can look different everyday if you want. Maybe you don't want to do one every single day, that's cool! Maybe you have 2 goals on your list or maybe you have 20. Maybe you set physical goals, maybe you set emotional ones. Want to type and color code it? Great! Want to scribble it on the back of your hand? Fantastic. Reminder, there are no rules. You are worth the energy, no matter how much energy it is. Tonight, my list is separated into two categories. Responsibilities and Self Care.

For every responsibility I list, I also add an act of care. This strategy works best for me, because it helps me to remember the importance of taking time for myself! For me, 6 smaller tasks is a very reasonable Saturday expectation. Perhaps I'll even finish more, but I do not have to!

Reflection Opportunity:

•What is my energy level on a normal day?

•Does my current To-Do list (even if it's just mental) fit that energy level?

•What changes can I make to my expectations to allow myself more peace

Olivia Lux

Brand Ambassadress, Holistic Lifestyle Advocate Student