Welcome to October: Self-care, A New Ritual, and Fresh Starts

September went out with a big bang. I have to say, it was one of the most eventful months of my year so far. Learning to cope with changes and exploring new versions of myself as I unlock ‘new levels’ in my journey has been fascinating. The ups and downs and roller coaster ride is nowhere near over; I’ve learned some powerful lessons and feel much more prepared for the new year. Plus, it’s my BIRTHDAY MONTH!!! Yay! Officially accepting gifts now 😉

I have been silent on my blog for most of September as I absorb changes, allowing myself to feel and accept the emotions related to my last blog post. If you’re unsure what I’m talking about you can read about it here. I’ve poured myself into dealing with emotions properly and allowing them to ebb and flow as they come. Remembering that it’s ok to have bad days, shit – even Beyoncé has bad days! During this time, I’ve established a few self-care routines and rituals that I incorporate into each day and I wanted to hop on here and share. A few of these lifestyle changes have been small but if you’ve ever read “The Compound Effect” (if you haven’t read it, you should – it’s amazing. You can find it here.) you know that’s the way to go.

Either way, I am proud of the way I’m entering my new age and 2019. OMG! I can’t even believe the new year is almost here. The roller coaster continues; each day is an exciting new adventure with lessons to be learned around every corner. New opportunities present themselves constantly as my brand has continued to grow and evolve. I’ve officially established my mission and vision for the future. This new year is going to change my life dramatically and I hope yours changes dramatically for the better too. Let’s do this!

Daily Self-Care Routine

I have discovered that my boyfriend’s way of sleeping (making the bedroom into a quasi-cave) is enveloping me in a blanket of “I can’t get up properly in the morning”. I felt exhausted, drained, and super groggy. I hadn’t realized the lack of natural sunlight in the morning was responsible until we spent a few days in North Carolina at a beach house. With no caves present we were forced to sleep with beautiful sunlight streaming in from three angles. I woke up early each morning, energized and ready to go.

Since we’ve gotten home I’ve started a new ritual; I pull the shades back each evening and have woken up when my alarm went off each morning. I haven’t been groggy in the AM since. I put the shade back when I get up, so he can still enjoy his cave. Win-win!

It’s time to shine some light into your bedroom situation.

 GRATITUDE AND OILS

Each morning I immediately go to the kitchen, take my ‘magic beans’ (AKA my daily dose of fruit and veg) then I start oil pulling with coconut oil. Oil pulling is the act of swishing an oil around in your mouth for an extended period of time to draw out bacteria. There are some really amazing articles explaining the numerous health benefits of oil pulling. One I’ve noticed pretty quickly – my teeth are a few shades whiter!

As the next part of my morning ritual, I sit at my desk and write in my gratitude journal. I include affirmations, my plan for the day (usually I focus on the emotional plan since I have a calendar for my daily tasks), and 3 things I’m grateful for.

Start your morning with a positive punch in the arm.

STRETCH THOSE LEGS

After I’ve gotten ready for the day I take the puppy for a walk. I’ve decided to make this a ritual each morning before winter, so it will become a habit before the cold-weather excuses kick in. Usually, we walk for 10 – 30 minutes depending on how much time I have. Besides, getting your entire body into the sunshine and starting your day off with a walk makes the whole day better!

Soak up the sun.

 FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I close each day with a legs-up-the-wall pose and my book in hand. I try to read the number of pages that feels right for how I’m feeling. I don’t care if I only read 2 or 3 pages or if I devour several chapters in one sitting. I find it much easier to allow myself to do whatever feels natural instead of forcing anything. Yes, they say someone who reads well should read 10 or more pages a day. But, if I don’t read 10 pages, I don’t care. I’ve found that I’m a bit of a rebel. As soon as I start telling myself ‘you have to do 10 of this each day’ or ‘you aren’t going to do this at all for an entire month’, my immediate reaction is to rebel and do the opposite.

Balance, people, balance!

There are still a few things I’m still struggling to fit naturally into my daily routine. For example, I need to start spending time each day stating affirmations. Yes, I write one or two down in my gratitude journal and that’s a good start. However, I never find myself repeating them throughout the day or saying them into a mirror.

I also need to work on visualizing. I have a vision board and I look at it regularly. But, there’s a difference between ‘oh, that’s nice’ and a serious contemplation of what each picture means to me and putting myself into those dreams.

If you have any suggestions or ways you have implemented actions into your daily self-care routine – pop them in the comments below or message me directly. I can’t wait to hear them!

My hope is that you can clearly see, and choose to take advantage of, each new opportunity that comes your way this coming new year. Grab the reins of your life; take that leap, quit that job, go after that big client, or seal that huge deal. Whatever it is: Be bold. Be Passionate. Be Fabulous.

Love,

Emma XOXO