Hiya Gorgeous!
Does your life ever feel like a treadmill?
You’re running and running—trying to take care of your loved ones, pets, home, career, community (and maybe love on the planet a bit, too).
Plus, you have a never-ending list of self-improvements to apply: Lose weight. Get stronger. Workout. Meditate. Improve gut health. Whiten teeth. Smooth wrinkles. Drink water. Sharpen mind. Learn new skills. Be kinder. And on and on.
That treadmill can sure get tiring, can’t it, sweetheart?
Too often, self-care feels like just one more thing to keep you running. Another task on the to-do list. A response to the constant pressure to improve. But what if there were a better way?
Real self-care should feel nurturing, not nagging.
So if the idea of self-care feels like a burden, recognize that it’s probably because you’re putting pressure on yourself to do “all the things”. Instead, give yourself permission to simplify. Start by focusing on just a few healthy habits to help you love yourself the easy way. That’s what I want to explore with you today.
Now let’s explore a few healthy habits you can try.
6 Simple Self-Care Practices to Love Yourself with Today
1. Start your day with introspection
Here’s how I greet each morning: I wake up, light a candle and meditate for 10 minutes. Then I make tea, write in my Results Journal and maybe read something uplifting. That’s it. When times are stressful, it’s easy to turn on the news or pop open social media and feel the energy seep right out of your body. Instead, make a vow to start your day by filling your well. If you have to get up 15 minutes earlier, do it. That time of sweet self-care will be well worth it.
2. Nourish your body first
What you eat is who you become. By choosing to nourish your body first thing, you’re setting the tone for the rest of the day. Water, green juice and avocado toast (or a hearty smoothie!) will give you a boost of sustainable, nutrient-packed energy. If you love coffee, guess what? You don’t have to give it up. Instead, just try adding in a smoothie or some green juice first. Give your body a healthy burst of nutrients, alkalinity and antioxidants, then sip the joe.
I call that my add-before-you-subtract principle, by the way. So much nutritional guidance hinges on deprivation—on what you give up. But I believe true health is about abundance. It’s about piling on the good, deeply-nourishing stuff. Once you add enough goodness to your plate (or your life!), the mediocre is naturally crowded out.
3. Talk to your cravings
As your day unfolds, notice if you find yourself battling cravings. Maybe it’s cookies, chips, a mindless hour of Facebook scrolling, or a smoke. Those cravings aren’t always about the sugar, caffeine, or whatever it is you’re jonesin’ for. In fact, they rarely are. More often, they’re a plea from your higher self. Instead of mindlessly acquiescing to the urge, ask yourself what desire it really represents.
Do you need more sweetness in your life? A time out from stress? Some love? An apology? A chance to rest? What’s the craving attempting to fill for you? And what could you do to satisfy that itch (and your soul) instead? Remember, you’ll get better results if you add something to serve that deeper desire than if you try to subtract the craving itself.
4. Practice The Daily Ten
You feel better when you move your body. There’s no denying it. But it does feel challenging to fit in a daily workout, doesn’t it? So let’s start with something more attainable: Just move for 10 minutes. Even when you can’t do a full-blown gym workout, you do have 10 minutes to move. Let this be something easy and something that feels good to you. Take a stroll, stretch on your living room floor, or turn up the tunes and shake what your mama gave you!
5. Cultivate what nourishes your soul
Your plate doesn’t contain all the answers when it comes to nourishing your sweet self. We all need soul-nourishment, too. We need to make space for the activities that bring us joy and fulfillment. Without them, we wither.
These go beyond our daily routines, too. You may enjoy your job, but it won’t always satisfy you. I’m sure you love your family, but they can’t always be around (or pleasant!) to encourage you. So what’s one thing you could do that would bring you some smiles this week?
Maybe you should take a few minutes to draw or paint or dance. Perhaps you could call a friend, take a bath, or love on your pet (or foster a new one!). It can be anything that renews your spirit. So what is it for you? What nourishes your soul? What makes you feel more connected, happy, or of service? Whatever it is, do more of it this week.
6. Have compassion for yourself
Unfortunately, suffering is a natural part of life. We can’t avoid it—especially now with the collective challenges we’re all facing. The trick is to acknowledge your struggle and then bear-hug it with compassion. Compassion is the medicine. Once you apply compassion you’ll be able to take the lessons and move through the discomfort. Residual ouchies may remain, but they won’t harden you. We all have scars. They give us character. I have old wounds on my knees from bike crashes and canoe flips. And then there are the cancer scars. All of which are a part of me now, neither pretty or ugly, just there—inviting me to practice some self-compassion.
If you do nothing else to love yourself today, start by offering yourself a bit of kind compassion.
Breathe. Smile. I love you. You love you.
Progress Not Perfection
I’m done with the pressure-packed, “do all the things” definition of self-care. Aren’t you, toots? It’s just not worth staying on that treadmill.
Our new mantra for self-care is progress, not perfection. Often, when we start from an extreme place and seek extreme results, we set ourselves up for extreme disappointment.
Instead, let’s reimagine a new, gentle kind of self-care. One where a few healthy habits make our lives feel more steady. One where we feel nurtured—body, mind and spirit.
As you step forward in self-care this week, remember: Simplicity. Ease. Grace.
Let the turtle be your guide. Slow and steady, my glorious friend. From a spiritual perspective, there is no race, anyway. There’s only growing.
Your turn: What’s one simple thing you’ll do to nurture yourself today?
Growth & grace,
I’ll definetely cut my animal consumption by half next year. Good advice!
Thank you so much just the picker upper I needed to jump start a “new me”. Article was empowering. I can now do all things I thought I couldn’t or didn’t want to do.
Thank you so much.
Claudette Gentle
Hi Kriss!I love all your articles they make me smile and to be positive,unfortunately what im going through now its really hard,ive been diagnosed with lupus and it made my pacreas inflamed also joints pain ,terrible headaches,ive been trying to do a juice fast but im failing all the time is there any good advice that you could give me ?it would be fantastic,im looking forward to your replay.
With lots of love Andrea.
This is just what I needed to hear in a way that others wanting to shift will understand. The part about the sweets is getting so much easier although they do call me. Thanks for the advice and I am in process of taking a closer look as I practice what I preach–clean nutritious food.
How much better does it get?
Thank you Kris. As usual, insightful gentle and kind, and funny!! I feel better already. My daughter and I enjoy sharing your blogs. You’re a big part of our growth together.
Love this! So well said and much needed. Thanks for the guide. I started sitting quietly at night after I work out. It took a couple of days but the rest of the house to stop banging on the door but they have. It’s been lovely. Peace and quiet. Just the other night I added a candle to my nightly ritual.It adds just the right zen, relaxing atmosphere to the room. Even my husband noticed and it’s a nice setting just before bed. It’s funny, too, because I just started reading a book about how the voice in my head isn’t me – exactly how you said it. I think it’s called The Unteathered Soul. I just started it and it’s an interesting thought. Thanks again! I just found you the other from Marie Forleo and you both have been so fabulous!!!! I aspire to be like the two of you. Successful and happy.
I am so eager to get started. I eat vegetables and drink lemon water all day. Is that healthy? Is there something I can get delivered to my home. I have fibromyalgia with arthritis. I am bipolar and I also have insomnia with disk problems in neck and lower back. I have migraines as well as all over body swelling and female problems. What do you suggest? Do you have a book that I can get by mail also. I’m 38 and I am 7 ft 8 inches and weigh 176 lbs. I don’t get much exercise. Always in pain. I enjoy your recipes.
Love the Cleanse for 2013 blog … Thanks!
Bear witness to the negative self talk. The voice in your noggin isn’t even you. Wow! I think I just had a aha moment. I listen to that voice too much! Thank you so much!
Thank you – I needed this motivation today!
Thanks for this! I’m a new vegan and am finding your books and resources extremely valuable in my pursuit of clean eating. Awesome tip on the yogaglo website. I’m checking it out now.
Great Article. I love hearing these things, I am a dietician for the US Army and my life has revolved around educating healthy living. Thank you for letting your voice be heard and do know your hard work saves lives! XOXOX
All about the green juice! My favorite one is Kale, Cucumber, Green Pepper, and Apple. So freaking delicious! I just got into coffee for the first time and it’s not bad! Not quite as refreshing as my juice, but then… what is? Thanks Kris!
Great Post, I always have more clarity when I read your posts. Thank you!!
interesting
I feel motivated!
I just wanted to say that I have recently lost 200lbs, took me a year to do it and I am working on losing more, I watched Food Inc the other day and saw you on the show. The point you make about one of the important roles for being healthy is spiritual health, that is so true. People forget about this part and fail to fix the reason why we over eat. I believe obesity is a symptom of something missing in our lives.
Love this Kris, I am ready to do my cleanse next week, green juice love here i come! ps- Love the pic with the baby dear!
I must say that you always help me with the “bad” self talk and self forgiveness. Just when the little voice starts saying “my butt is too big” or I eat a piece of chocolate. You remind me that I am good and lovely. That eating chocolate is ok. That being human is ok. And tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it……yet!!!
Hi Kris, Just heard about you from the Prevention Magazine this month so I logged on to your website. I like your excitement and passion for life. I do can be impulsively passionate so I like the excitement I sense from your writing. I’m looking forward to your newsletter and trying your recipes, etc. My husband and I just started a daily green drink about 3 months ago and we love it!!! Thanks for sharing your life and your passions!!!
Sue