Sunday's Self Care Tips with Caroline Diani

As we continue to navigate our daily lifestyle shifts during this time, I think it's important to take steps to connect with ourselves and others. It's easy to get wrapped up in the fear of the unknown, but refocusing our energy on self care and finding silver linings can make a big difference in how we feel and, in turn, what we can offer our community. 

The easiest way to ensure I make time for myself is to schedule self care into my day like I do with meetings or taking Nala for a walk. It doesn't have to be extravagant or lengthy, just a few things to help shift my focus and reset. These are a few of my tips for staying calm and centered during this time and always.

JOURNAL

Spending time at home can be a great opportunity to reflect. One of the best ways I have found to do this is to write down my thoughts in a daily journal. It has been helpful in alleviating anxiety and stress. 

Another thing I like to do, is to go into the garden and cut a little greenery to put into my favorite vase. It's a great reminder that no matter what is going on in our lives or the world, nature is a constant source of calm and eternal beauty. 

RELAX & REST

Taking time to relax and rest is always important, but right now it's even more so. I know how hard it can be to wind down at the end of the day, and like many of you, I also know how hard it is to take a break from trying to keep the business going and take care of the ones you love. In these last few days, I found it very helpful to schedule an end to my work day, and tuck in to a pot of hot herbal tea.

TAKE 20 MINUTES FOR YOURSELF

While I strongly believe that with adversity comes opportunity, constantly fighting through challenges takes it's toll. For me, indulging in a walk around the neighborhood with Jeffrey and Nala is amazing, but I'm also trying to regularly draw a hot bath and soak for 20 minutes. I'm reminded of the class I took on Vedic meditation, and these baths are the perfect time to recharge and reconnect with the simple act of breathing. 

And when I'm pacing around the house (and let's face it, we're all mindlessly pacing at times these days), I've decided to give my feet a little extra love by sliding them into these fluffy, faux fur Cloud Sandals. It's a simple pleasure that helps ground me in a little comfort... and they make me smile.

This weekend, I decided to create a little gift box filled with some of my favorite self-care items. I hope that it can bring a little light and joy to you or to someone you love.

And this seems like the perfect time to share with you a poem that I just came across...

And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.

-Kitty O'Meara

I hope that this week you find some time to connect with those you love, and spend a few moments taking care of your self. I thank you for your love and support, and as always, I am here for you. We will get through this together.

Caroline xo