Elizabeth Whelan is an expert in health, self-care and wellness and is the Director of Zestivo. In 2015, she established Zestivo to offer hands-on practical skills in order to help individuals increase their productivity and improve their daily lives. She helps people put positive targets in place in order to maximise their productivity and achieve their personal and professional goals.
The Importance of Daily Self-Care Rituals
Self-Care can sometimes fall by the wayside. In this busy and uncertain world, there is a strong tendency for everyone to focus on many aspects of their lives rather than on themselves. How many times have you put other people and things first either at work, at home, or in relationships Unfortunately, as we all know if we persist with this approach to life we will encounter many challenges, physical, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as we age. It is therefore important, that every one of us puts time aside for ourselves and this is where your daily self-care comes into play.
Having a Structured Self-Care Approach
Self-Care is defined as a methodology which commits you to take care of yourself in a structured and processed manner. Some people think that self-care is selfish, when in fact, the opposite is the case.
By putting aside time for your self-care, you build up your strength, resilience, and mental stamina to deal with daily tasks or challenges that may come your way. When you choose to take a specific approach to change and improve the quality of your life, be that taking a lavender bath to relax, running a marathon, or starting a mindfulness meditation practice, you will experience the powerful effects of using small changes to make a quantum shift in your life.
It is not just about putting time aside; it is about using that time in a structured and constructive manner to make a difference in your well-being and ultimately your life’s journey. Self-care should be central to your daily routine and not be rushed or slotted in at the end of the day after everything else. Believe me, a good self-care programme will benefit all aspects of your life.
The Importance of Daily Habits and Rituals
Your brain thrives on daily habits and rituals, and these daily habits and rituals will help you to stay focused, positive, and productive keeping you on track throughout your day. Similarly, you should not feel guilty about your self-care plan. It is not about saying no to someone or something but about saying yes to make you a better-equipped person all around.
Self-care by its very nature improves your physical and mental wellbeing, aids better health, positive relationships, and many other benefits in between. To avail of an effective self-care plan, you do not need a gym, expensive equipment, or lots of financial investment. It is very simple to implement some powerful daily or weekly techniques which can be a game-changer in your life.
So how you do implement Self-Care into your Daily Life?
Some examples of implementing self-care rituals into your daily life include eating healthy, finding that exercise modality that suits your unique body, hydrating yourself, having a regular sleep pattern, enjoying nature and your surrounding environment, maintaining a hobby that lifts your mood, expressing gratitude and appreciating the positives in your life.
A self-care programme designed for you and your unique body can be multi-faceted it can start with that positive morning routine setting you up for the day.
Ideally, it could entail energy-boosting techniques which can be applied at appropriate times during the day. For example, if you have an energy slump in the afternoon try some simple breathing exercises. Did you know that your breath is one of the most powerful life skill tools you have?
Mindful meditation is also something that is recommended for you to undertake. It is in the stillness of the body and mind that we connect to our inspiration innovation and true power. Meditation by its nature enhances you physically emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Sometimes by simply tuning in, we are guided to do what serves us in the moment.
Other ways to implement a Self-Care Routine
Some days there can be a constant barrage of negative stories filtering through the tv and social media feeds which can find zap your energy and push you into the fear zone. Once you have this awareness, you can ask yourself “What can I do at this moment to raise my vibration again”. It might be contacting a life coach, an accountability partner or a friend to share how you’re feeling.
Perhaps completing an EFT (Emotional Freedom Therapy) session. This is a self-care tapping ritual that assists you in reversing any negative thinking patterns. The technique also restores balance to disrupted energy, calms anxiety, and helps depression, physical pain, and insomnia. You might decide to go for a forest walk, as getting out into nature has been scientifically proven to improve your mental health as it reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and improves your mood. Numerous studies show that both exercising in forests and sitting looking at trees reduce blood pressure as well as the stress-related hormones cortisol and adrenaline.
There are a copious number of Self Care Rituals that you can access at any time. It is all about making the right choices for the health of your body and mind which ultimately affect how you age. For me it’s tapping into those daily rituals that I know serve me, and help me feel confident, fulfilled, and happy with the life I am choosing to live. At Zestivo our motto is “Make the rest of your life the best of your life”
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Whelan is a leading speaker and motivator, specialising in health, wellbeing, mindfulness, and how to get the best out of your life. She offers masterclasses, individual coaching and regular retreats. For more information on implementing Daily Self-Care rituals contact Elizabeth here elizabeth@elizabethwhelan.ie or visit her website here.
