Happy International Self Care Day, everyone!

Let’s talk about self-care. I was recently chatting with my friend Erin about the topic. We are so passionate about self-care that we decided to team up and share with you some of our tips and tricks for taking care of your mind, body, and soul. You can read her post here. Spoiler alert, her post is as delicious as it looks!

Let's talk about routines. Growing up, we're sold this idea that every day must start with an alarm clock, rushed shower, instant coffee, and a rough commute to the office. After getting my first job at a startup, I instantly gained 15 pounds and all things self-care went out the fucking window.

After leaving New York City, moving to Los Angeles, and freelancing full-time, I found myself far enough from my comfort zone and friends to revisit my daily habits.

Here's my current morning self-care routine.

 

Here's why you should try your best to wake up without an alarm clock

Ok, let's chat. I used to be the kind of person who set 15 alarms, no joke. I would set one for every 5 minutes starting at 5 am. Born and raised in New York and quickly moving into NYC, I fell into the trap of overworking and undersleeping. I was always in a state of movement.

I'm very thankful, my constant movement has led to many breakthroughs in my life and career, but I needed to rethink some habits.

After meeting my partner last year, he inspired me to start waking up alarm clock free, naturally. Now, I know this may not work into everyone's lifestyle. But I want to challenge you to get on a regular sleep routine. You'll find that if you wake up and go to bed around the same time daily, your body will start to wake up a few minutes if not earlier than your alarm clock.

 

My secret to staying happy, positive, and clear minded

How waking up before anyone else helps my mind and mood

On top of waking up naturally, something I am slightly preachy about is waking up before anyone else in your home. Whether you live with your family, friends, strangers, or a significant other, I find it very relaxing to wake up at minimum an hour before them. I personally prefer to wake up two hours before anyone else in my apartment.

It gives me time to myself, time to think, and allows me to start my day my way. I feel more in control of my life, day, and mood when I do this.

Essentially, starting my day on my own terms allows me to set myself for success. Try it, especially if you're traveling and let me know what you think.

 

How I increase my brain clarity by avoiding technology in the morning

When I first wake up in the morning, I do my best to leave my phone wherever I left it and take on the morning as described above. I usually find that I have the most creative and clear thoughts in the morning, so instead of jumping on my computer to document them all, I grab my bullet journal or a Muji lined journal and brain dump my morning thoughts. I consider this a form of meditation.

Speaking of meditation...

 

Here's why you need to find your own form of meditation

Personally, I find some forms of meditation to be too "woo woo" for me. Instead, I've found my own means of meditation in the form of journaling, cleaning, and spending time alone.

If you're looking for guidance during your meditation, try the app Headspace. 

 

Here's what to do if avoiding technology is hard

If you have a hard time not using technology, try using the app SelfControl. It's a free app for your computer that can block certain or all websites for a certain amount of time.

Alternatively, there's an app called Freedom you can use that does the same thing. It exists for mobile phones, tablets, and computers.

One more note on technology, I like to use an app called Flux. It adjusts the brightness and temperature on your computer to match your environment which can be helpful for avoiding harsh lighting that can affect your mood or sleep.

 

A simple stress-free morning routine for your body

I try my best to get out of bed when I wake up naturally and feel rested. I'll grab a spoon full of coconut oil and oil pull for 10-20 minutes, swapping out the oil mid way. Oil pulling is great for removing toxins from the mouth.

It was recently discovered that the bacteria in your mouth is linked to migraines. I personally found that if I oil pull when feeling sick, my symptoms reduce or disappear after oil pulling.

After this, I rinse my mouth with tea tree oil and water followed by a shot of ACV mixed in hot water.

I'll put a pot of water to boil to make tea or start making my coffee at this point followed by taking my morning supplements, drink athletic greens with inner eco, followed by an anti-inflammatory health shot of my choice.

When it comes to beauty, I follow a simple non-toxic beauty routine and pretty much never wear makeup unless there's a special event going on. 

I follow up by going for a morning walk, stretching, and I try my best to do something athletic in the morning to get my blood pumping. Realistically, I do this because it's the only way I stay accountable.

I know that was long, but I hope you found it helpful.

 

Recommended reading: Self Care Smoothie Hack

What are your self-care tips? Comment below for a chance to be featured in my next blog post!