This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own.
Have you thought about what your self-care plan will look like this year? It is a good time of year to reflect on any changes you want to make in your life to become a better version of yourself. We all need to improve in some areas of our lives. There is nothing wrong with taking a look at what you can do better.
Whatever it may be, I promise that having some intentions set up will help you reach your goals that much faster. Need to make more time to take care of yourself? I know that is a big question which most of us will answer…yes but HOW!
The first step in making any lasting change is to be aware of what needs to be different. Journaling is a very therapeutic exercise and helps to uncover answers you may be in need of. In my last post, I wrote about the first 10 days of the Intentions challenge from Gratitude Glass Jars that we recently finished in my private self-care Facebook group.
We are starting another challenge in my Facebook group on February 8th called the30 Day Healthy Habits Challenge. I will be sharing simple habits to enhance living a healthy lifestyle. Our Facebook group is a supportive and friendly community. This challenge offers lots of motivation, delicious recipes, and a simple step-by-step plan to reach your goals.
Now that you have these 20 questions, take some time and write your answers in a journal. After that, try to get some alone time to really reflect on how your self-care plan can improve. Stay tuned for the last 10 intention questions coming up in my next post. Stay positive and believe that you are worthy of some regular self-care!
xoxo
Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.
Well, it sure has been an interesting year, to say the least. 2020 was by far the most bizarre year. However, there were still some good things that happened and that’s what I want to focus on. Writing has always been very therapeutic for me. I wasn’t even sure I was going to share this post but thought why not. Maybe it will help someone else who feels discouraged by the events that happened.
Either way, I wanted to write a post to get all of this out of my brain and take a moment to look back on all that happened. I feel proud of the positive stuff and all that I accomplished. We need to remember that good always comes with the bad and if we are grateful we can continue to see the positive in everything!
2020 Rewind on Family Life
It was not an easy year for most of us. Between the kids doing remote learning, the pandemic, and other stressful events, 2020 was a challenging year. This may sound mean but having the kids home was not always easy. I just don’t think it’s normal for them not to be in school. At some point, we all need a break from each other and the kids need to be around friends their own age. I noticed a decline in their mental health. Going forward, we do our best to support them in this unprecedented time and make things as normal as possible.
Family Loss
On top of all that, the kids lost their grandmother due to longtime health issues. She was in Florida so we didn’t even get to see her at the end of her life. She was brought back up to New Jersey to be buried and we couldn’t even have a funeral for her. It was so sad and very frustrating not to be able to celebrate her life.
In addition, I lost my grandfather who was 101 years old. He was a World War II veteran and was married to my grandmother for 80 years! As of this post, she is still alive at 102. Good Italian genes! I am blessed to still have my other grandmother as well who is 93. She had a stroke and is now in a rehab facility. I was finally able to visit her last October and spend some quality time but I have not been able to see her since.
I have not been able to see my family in NJ and NY as much as we normally do. However, we were able to get a couple of visits in. It is so hard not to be able to hug your loved ones! I hope soon this will get better as well. Connecting on the phone and Facetime is just not the same but it will have to do for now. I am grateful everyone is healthy and surviving this crazy time in life.
SOME GOOD NEWS!
I got engaged! We are blessed to have a family house in the Poconos on my fiance’s side. We were able to get away there 3 times in 2020. On Memorial Day, my boyfriend and kids proposed to me by the lake that we visit down the road from the house. It was a complete surprise and I was shocked and extremely touched. That was the best news that came out of 2020 as most of my family and friends tell me! It was a bright moment in a dark and stressful year.
2020 Personal Rewind
While at home during the shutdown, I picked up the hobby of gardening. Sort of. I found a great plant nursery that I visited to get out of the house and find some peace. We had a new patio built so I bought lots of plants and flowers which made it my favorite spot of the spring to hang out! I also tried my hand at renovating a couple of things around the house. In addition, I learned how to sand and restore an old table as well as an old Adirondack chair set.
I took the time off to organize some of the rooms inside as well. A complete overhaul of the kitchen was attempted and I did get rid of stuff we never use. I also cleaned out all of the closets and donated clothes and other items. Cleaning and organizing never seem to be done but I was happy with my progress!
We are blessed to have a pool and that was my favorite spot in the summer. I probably got a little too much sun but I was in my glory. I felt grateful to have a little escape at home.
At the beginning of 2020, I decided it was time to get some weight off that I have gained over the years. I tried 3 different programs that somewhat worked. I only lost 12 pounds. But I will take it considering how much stress there was throughout the year!
Being a spiritual person, I missed going to church but I did find the time to watch mass on TV and also on Facebook Live. I definitely felt a little void in that part of my life although I do keep up on my devotional reading and listen to uplifting preachers.
2020 Rewind on My Business
My Massage Therapy business was closed due to the pandemic starting the second week of March. I thought it would only be a couple of weeks. I was out of work for 5 months. No massage sessions and no chair massage events. It was sad and boring not to go to my office and I missed working on my clients. However, there was lots of time to work on my blog which was fun for me.
When I returned to my office in August, I came back to a very slow schedule. People were just not ready to come back yet. I had my reservations as well but was extremely prepared with all the proper protective equipment and cleaning protocols in place. To be honest, it took some of the joy out of giving a massage. Wearing a mask may not be a big deal to some people. I hate it and feel like I can’t breathe. I guess I got used to it after a while but it definitely is not enjoyable. As I am sure it’s not enjoyable for my clients to wear a mask during their sessions either.
This is the case for now. I have to go with the flow and hope that my business will recover. My hope is that one day it will go back to normal. I don’t know how I will recover those lost months of business. I don’t know if it will ever be the same. Although I have been doing massage therapy for 15 years, I do still love it but it may be time to move on to something more sustainable. Time will tell.
2020 Rewind on My Blog
There was plenty of time to work on my blog in 2020. First, I started with taking a free course on how to set up a blog which was so helpful called Start a Blogging Business- 5 Day Crash Course. Then, I was able to make some great connections through an awesome blogging course I took called Blogging Blastoff 2.0. Therefore, these resources helped me grow my blog and introduced me to a lovely community of bloggers to network with.
Through these connections, I was able to meet people to add to my community as well as collaborate on some really cool projects! I look forward to doing more interviews and writing reviews on wellness-related products and services. Please share anything that you would be interested in reading about!
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I was asked to be a feature writer for a new section on the Leslie W. Blog called The Wellness Chat.
I took a class on expanding my Pinterest account and started growing my following on other social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
As a Blogger, one way to make money with your blog is to become an affiliate. In other words, you promote other company’s products and services and then receive a small commission from any sales from your affiliate links. First, I signed up with some companies that have made a good impression on me and that I believe fit in my wellness blog.
I hope to be able to grow that part of my blog and offers lots of great deals to my community that will help them in their wellness journey. I would love to hear what you think!
Here is the list of companies I work with as of this post. Thanks to ShareaSale for offering this amazing opportunity!
Above all, I am happy to report that we remained healthy and survived the tough times together. Looking back, I am grateful for the accomplishments and I look forward to another year of growth and continued happiness. My wish is that 2021 will be a year of healing and happiness for all.
xoxo
Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own.
Find That Perfect Self-Care Gift
Buckle up and hold on ladies! It’s that time of year when we start to become busier than usual. Self-care tends to be forgotten during this time especially. Because of social distancing, we need to think of ways to entertain ourselves and our families which can be stressful.
Remember to take care of yourself and practice some self-love during this season. I have found some comforts of the season that I rely on to keep me going. Of course, I do my best to stay on track with healthy eating, exercising, and spiritual practices. However, this is the season to allow yourself to indulge in some extra treats. Everything in moderation!
Here is a sneak peek into some of my favorite winter essentials.
A Thoughtful & Unique Self-Care Gift – Subscription Boxes!
CrateJoy Subscription Box– The perfect self-care gift to yourself or a loved one! Receiving a subscription box once per month is a special treat and makes you feel fabulous. Who wouldn’t want some extra self-care treats every month. A Self-Care Gift for all ages is available!
Sleep Essentials
Comfortable Pillows – My Pillow has been my favorite for a while.
Heated Blanket– Sunbeam & Biddeford are 2 good brands we like from Amazon and Kohls. Feels great to climb into a warm bed!
High-Quality Sheets – My picks are Simply Vera Wang & Sonoma Goods For Life from Kohls.
Comfy Pajamas – I like Croft & Barrow and Cuddl Duds® from Kohls.
Relaxing Routine
Massage Therapy – I go every 3 to 4 weeks for wellness visits.
Nothing like a hot soak to relax your muscles.
A special treat for your feet that feels amazing!
A few minutes is all you need to unwind and your feet will be fabulous!
Not sure if this works but I enjoy getting the extra light like I am in the sun again!
Read your favorite book – I am reading Elin Hilderbrand’s books right now and love her stories. I even signed up for a library card! Find your favorite titles at Bookshop!
Skin Savers
Dry Brushing – Great for detoxing and it feels great both wet and dry.
Daily Moisturizer – Find the perfect brand for you and use it daily to quench that dry winter skin.
Serum – I like L’oreal, Neutrogena, and Oil of Olay products.
Facial Roller – It feels really soothing on your face and neck and massages the moisturizer into your skin.
Vital Vitamins
I like thePure Encapsulations brand. Make sure to check the ingredients because all supplements are not created equally and can contain unnecessary ingredients. I recommend buying directly from the manufacturer.
Add these immune boosters and relaxing supplements to your winter routine. Ask your doctor first because sometimes even natural vitamins may interfere with medications.
Zinc
Vitamin D
Vitamin C
Magnesium
Ashwagandha
Make Time for Entertainment
Set aside time to see your friends – Needed to vent and for laughs!
Decorate your home for the Holidays – Get in the spirit!
Shop online – Save yourself the stress and avoid the crowds.
Learn a new hobby – My newest passion is photography.
Try new recipes – Check out my Pinterest page for hundreds of recipes.
Watch a new Netflix series – Loving Schitt’s Creek right now. Very funny!
Watch your favorite Christmas shows – Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph make me feel like a kid again!
Drive through neighborhood light displays – Enjoyable activity with the kids.
Indulge in Your Favorite Treats
Bake your favorite treats – Dark chocolate PB cups always do the trick.
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels – Another obsession of mine!
Pignoli Cookies – My favorite Italian cookie that never disappoints.
Self-Care Gift Toolkit
Having a plan to beat the winter blues is necessary. Take some time and write out a list of your self-care essentials. Cherish this time with your families. Take care of yourself and enjoy the winter season and holidays with your loved ones.
Shop for a self-care gift you know your loved ones will actually use and enjoy!
xoxo
Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.
Sticking to a self-care routine is not so easy but it is possible with some help! Having some balance takes practice and will not happen overnight. In addition, different stages of life bring circumstances that may need to change how you practice self-care. No one is judging and if they are don’t listen to the haters. Do your best and create a life that you can become the best version of yourself.
There are many different approaches on how to practice self-care. I like to make things simple. None of us have the time to waste. Simplifying life is part of any stress management plan. I hope you can figure out what works for you and add some self-care into your daily routine!
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Self-Care Routine Basics
Below are 8 simple steps that all self-care routines should attempt to accomplish. I will briefly describe what each of them means to me from my experience and training as a certified Wellness Coach.
In all of my posts and coaching programs, there is the main theme of the overall picture of health. These include the Physical, Emotional, Nutritional, Environmental, and Spiritual components of health. Having an understanding of each piece will help you manage stress and create an awesome self-care routine that is sustainable.
Stress Management
Being able to cope with the stress that comes up in life is a major factor in maintaining your health. It is essential to commit to some kind of stress management plan and include stress relief techniques in your self-care routine. Without a plan, you will be sure to feel anxious and overwhelmed and not be able to bounce back from daily struggles. Don’t let things snowball out of control. Hot tip- take a break from electronics to lower stress dramatically.
Self-Care To Do’s: Write down some ideas to manage the stress that works for you. Hire a friendly and experienced Wellness Coach. 🙂
Express Your Emotions
The emotional aspect of wellness is just as crucial as the others. For every thought or emotion you have, there is a physiological response in your body. The mind/body is connection is powerful so you want to make this one a priority. Be kind to yourself in your thoughts and actions. A positive mindset is an influential skill to achieve.
Self-Care To Do’s:Daily affirmations, Journal, Seek out a therapist, check out the Positive Mindset Workbook.
Love Yourself & Others
Love is a very powerful healing tool! Self-love is important and it is not selfish to think of your own needs. In addition, being in service to others and your community is a great way to forget about your troubles. God has called me to be in service to others and it has been one of the greatest joys of my life!
Self-Care To Do’s: Schedule alone time, create a pampering checklist, volunteer, or get involved in community service, forgive someone.
Feed Your Spirit
I can’t say enough how my faith has helped me overcome anxiety and depression many times in my life. Whatever you believe in that is positive and helps you manage stress… do more of it! I miss going to church every week but I do set time aside to watch it on TV or online. It is the highlight of my week and boosts my mood and fuels my soul. Peace be with you all!
Self-Care To Do’s: Guided meditation or prayer daily, positive devotional reading, listen to a spiritual or motivational speaker.
Cleanse
This step has a lot of meanings. Cleansing your mind and body is always part of a good plan. Having some control over your environment is helpful as well. For instance, straightening up, cleaning, and organizing your work and home spaces goes a long way in maintaining self-care. My anxiety levels always rise when my home is not clean, cluttered, or disorganized. Therefore, I always feel so much better with an organized and clean house!
Self-Care To Do’s: Use non-toxic cleaning products, storage solutions, professional organizer, frequent donations to clear out your house of unnecessary clutter.
Appreciate
The number one key to happiness is being thankful. Being appreciative and grateful for what is in your life already is an extraordinary self-care practice.
Self-Care To Do’s: Keep a gratitude journal, gratitude app, thank your loved ones consistently for their support.
Restore Your Energy
Making sure you have enough rest is a necessary part of life. Sleep helps you to recover and heal. It is not natural to only have a few hours of sleep per night. It will eventually be detrimental to your body. Not enough rest will make you cranky and negative also. Who wants to be around that! Whatever it takes try to create a sleep routine to follow.
Self-Care To Do’s: Try essential oils to unwind, see a doctor if you have problems with sleep, enjoy a quick nap when possible, take a break from electronics before bed, use sleep apps.
Eat Healthy & Exercise
By now most people realize that eating a healthier diet is beneficial. Enjoy your favorite treats in moderation. Too much-processed food will bring your energy levels down and increase stress. Also, scheduling time for physical activity is an essential part of any self-care routine.
Self-Care To Do’s: 30 minutes of movement daily, stretching routine, meal planning service, nutritionist, use a food tracking app.
Create a Self-Care Routine Today
Now that you have some info on creating a realistic self-care routine – get to it! Let me know if you need any help. Take one step at a time. Life is too short to not be living your best life!
You may enjoy some of my other posts about self-care…
Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach. She has a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.
What do you think of giving yourself just as much attention than you give your loved ones? I have said it thousands of times that if you don’t care for yourself before others, you are sure to succumb to the daily pressures of life. Stress will get to you one way or another. Self-love seems selfish and smug. Guess what- it’s not! Yes, are there people who behave like narcissists and are self-serving? Of course but that’s not what I am talking about and hopefully, that’s not you.
After all, this doesn’t mean that you treat yourself better than others. The trick is to love and care for yourself as much as you care for other people in your life. You know the saying you can’t love someone fully until you love yourself. This is especially hard for mothers. They are called to be nurturing, caring, and serve everyone else before themselves.
“Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives.” – Louise L. Hay
What is Self-Love
In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of self-love is an appreciation of one’s own worth or virtue. If you appreciate yourself with a loving attitude then you will be happier and healthier in life. Growing up you may not have had the best examples of love in your life. Maybe you didn’t learn how to love yourself through your home or school environment.
Self-love can be taught and it is possible to love and appreciate yourself even after experiencing trauma. Sometimes this comes with age. Although, the best time to learn about self-love is as a child. It is so crucial to a child’s mental health to know about self-love. I believe we are all God’s children and his love for us is pure and unconditional. God also wants us to care for ourselves and spread love to others. It would be harder to do this if we don’t love ourselves.
Sometimes, we can look to others for love. There’s nothing wrong with this. We need to equally accept love and give love. However, you need to love yourself first to have a healthy relationship with anyone else. Otherwise, it can turn out to be an unfulfilling and dependent relationship and that’s not healthy for either partner.
Why Self-Care is So Important
Although I was given plenty of love growing up, I tend to be hard on myself and not like some things about my personality or my body. There are stages in life that self-love is really strong and times when you need an extra lift. Having a practice of regular self-care helps tremendously!
Realistically, we can’t always focus on ourselves. But what we can do is find time to recharge and renew our energy daily. Caregivers must do this so your health isn’t stolen away from you too. Our health depends on feeling strong both mentally and physically and when we love ourselves that will be easier to accomplish.
10 Acts of Self-Love
Alone Time
Having some quiet time will help you get to know yourself a little deeper. Think about 3 things you can do in your alone time that can help you develop a stronger sense of self-love.
Evaluate The Negative Influences
Are there negative people or bad habits in your life that destroy your positivity and make you feel stressed? List out a few of those and commit to eliminating those negative influences if you can.
Take Care of Your Body
Choose some physical activities that you enjoy doing and commit to a regular schedule. What brings you joy– walking, running, lifting weights, yoga, pilates, biking. Go for it and release those happy hormones!
Forgive Yourself
Be honest and authentic with yourself. Are there things you have done that need forgiveness? Write down a few things that are on your heart that you need to let go of.
Pamper Yourself
You are worthy of a little relaxation every once in a while! Think about your favorite ways to kick back and indulge. My favorites are taking a bath and going for a massage 🙂 Here are my top 10 self-care practices.
Make a Self Love List to Review Daily
Daily reminders of why you are special and worthy of love. Ask yourself some of these questions. What are your best qualities? What are you good at? List some things you have done for others.
Meditation & Prayer Daily
Sitting quietly in mediation or prayer is a powerful experience and lowers stress instantly. Deepen your connection and uncover new ways to appreciate yourself. Pick a saying to focus on like…
“I love myself, respect myself and accept myself as I am”
“I deserve a happy life full of love”
“My life is abundant and full of joy”
Respect Yourself
Surround yourself with people who treat you with love and respect. Take care of your body, mind, and spirit. Don’t allow anyone to disrespect you and tear down your confidence.
Nurture Your Talent
Seeking artistic expression is a way to practice self-love. Do you like to paint, draw, dance, sing? Making time to be creative helps us to feel child-like and free at that moment!
Be Kind
When your heart is full of love it will overflow to other people. Attract good people into your life when you love yourself. Committing random acts of kindness will spread love into the world and will make you feel fabulous! Overall, we reap what we sow.
“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, cares enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.” – Jean Shinoda Bolen
Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.
