Did you know that September is Self-Care Awareness Month? I was today years old when I learned about it. Perfect timing, too, as I have been ruminating on this post for days now.
Self-care is underrated, but there has recently been a surge advocating it. More than slapping on face masks and lighting some candles though, self-care is any activity that we do deliberately to focus on taking care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. It's a simple concept in theory, yes, but it is something we very often overlook.
It is important to carve time from our daily hustle and bustle and smell the flowers, so to speak, because good self-care is key to improved mood and reduced anxiety. The weekend before last was one of the most restful weekends I've had: rain pitter pattered outside and I was so cozy on the a sofa reading my Kindle while nestling a mug of freshly brewed coffee and listening to Taylor Swift's Lover album. Definitely a Pinterest-worthy day. Here are some of the other things I do to practice self-care:
Write
My current favorite journal is my customized medium Quest Journal in Canary that I got from I Love BDJ. It's such a happy color! There are two fillers: the monthly and weekly undated filler and filler with blank pages. The monthly view gives me an easy view on the important events for each month, and the weekly view has more than enough space for my to do lists. I jot down my daily tasks here every day, and I get immense satisfaction from crossing out each item. The blank filler is for my notes and things I am thankful for.
I feel like I have become rusty as I don't get to write nor blog as much as I want, but I'm hoping this exercise will help me get back to my writing groove.
Look at pretty little things
The newest addition to my desk is my Alice in Wonderland Nendoroid Doll which is a gift from my boyfriend. She's completely poseable and has replaceable hands! I want to get her cute outfits and face plates with various expressions, too! Ughhh so cute!
Eat healthy food
I am so happy that my former boss RJ opened a Saranglayap branch in Metro Manila to add to their first branch in Baler (that J and I tried to visit but was closed when we went there for our anniversary). It's in Maginhawa, Quezon City though and it's still too far from me so I'm hoping they can open another store in Makati or Taguig. Shown here is the Vitality Classic Smoothie Bowl with sugar beets, mango, pittaya, and acai. Yum! So good!
I don't wander beverages sections of supermarkets that much so I'm happy to have discovered the new Alaska Yoghurt in the office. They're made of milk, yoghurt, and real fruit juice and THEY'RE SO GOOD! I keep on switching between Blueberry and Strawberry as my favorite, heh. And look at them matching my laptop case, makes me go heart eyes emoji.
Read
I get lost in mindless scrolling on social media sometimes and I don't get to read as much as I used to, but I try to read at least one chapter before bedtime. I like anthologies because I get bite-sized stories that make me feel like I'm reading more than I really am. My last read was Bojack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg's collection of short stories, Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory. I really liked most of the stories and it's a book I won't forget for a long while.
Look at pretty colors
Makeup especially eyeshadow palettes, and watercolor pots, and crayons, and book spines, and flowers...the list will never end.
Put makeup on.
Whenever I feel like I'm not myself, I just put a little color on my face and watch myself transform. On my eyes are Ellana Loose Mineral Pigments in Bluebell, a shade given to me by Ellana owner/ founder Theresa herself when I visited their office for an event around two weeks ago, and on my lips is Avon Mark. Prism Lipstick in Energy Flash.
When all else fails, I lie and ignore the world.
Just kidding. My job actually doesn't allow me to do that. But I do have deep pockets that I have stashed with little moments and memories that bring me joy so that I have something to pull out any time I need to. And that, my friends, is-what I think-the most important thing to do.
Write
My current favorite journal is my customized medium Quest Journal in Canary that I got from I Love BDJ. It's such a happy color! There are two fillers: the monthly and weekly undated filler and filler with blank pages. The monthly view gives me an easy view on the important events for each month, and the weekly view has more than enough space for my to do lists. I jot down my daily tasks here every day, and I get immense satisfaction from crossing out each item. The blank filler is for my notes and things I am thankful for.
I feel like I have become rusty as I don't get to write nor blog as much as I want, but I'm hoping this exercise will help me get back to my writing groove.
Look at pretty little things
The newest addition to my desk is my Alice in Wonderland Nendoroid Doll which is a gift from my boyfriend. She's completely poseable and has replaceable hands! I want to get her cute outfits and face plates with various expressions, too! Ughhh so cute!
Eat healthy food
I am so happy that my former boss RJ opened a Saranglayap branch in Metro Manila to add to their first branch in Baler (that J and I tried to visit but was closed when we went there for our anniversary). It's in Maginhawa, Quezon City though and it's still too far from me so I'm hoping they can open another store in Makati or Taguig. Shown here is the Vitality Classic Smoothie Bowl with sugar beets, mango, pittaya, and acai. Yum! So good!
I don't wander beverages sections of supermarkets that much so I'm happy to have discovered the new Alaska Yoghurt in the office. They're made of milk, yoghurt, and real fruit juice and THEY'RE SO GOOD! I keep on switching between Blueberry and Strawberry as my favorite, heh. And look at them matching my laptop case, makes me go heart eyes emoji.
Read
I get lost in mindless scrolling on social media sometimes and I don't get to read as much as I used to, but I try to read at least one chapter before bedtime. I like anthologies because I get bite-sized stories that make me feel like I'm reading more than I really am. My last read was Bojack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg's collection of short stories, Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory. I really liked most of the stories and it's a book I won't forget for a long while.
Look at pretty colors
Makeup especially eyeshadow palettes, and watercolor pots, and crayons, and book spines, and flowers...the list will never end.
Put makeup on.
Whenever I feel like I'm not myself, I just put a little color on my face and watch myself transform. On my eyes are Ellana Loose Mineral Pigments in Bluebell, a shade given to me by Ellana owner/ founder Theresa herself when I visited their office for an event around two weeks ago, and on my lips is Avon Mark. Prism Lipstick in Energy Flash.
When all else fails, I lie and ignore the world.
Just kidding. My job actually doesn't allow me to do that. But I do have deep pockets that I have stashed with little moments and memories that bring me joy so that I have something to pull out any time I need to. And that, my friends, is-what I think-the most important thing to do.
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