6 Self-Care Ideas For Happiness

Sometimes life gets in the way.  You are busy, tired and overwhelmed.  How do you find the happy in these moments?  Your answer – self-care.  You need to master the art of treating yourself.  No one wants a resentful partner, impatient mom, or absent friend.  In order to show up for everyone else in your life, you need to show up for yourself first.  I’m aware the practice of self-care doesn’t come natural to most, and it’s hard to shake that guilty feeling like you should be doing something else instead of getting your hair done, working out, shopping?!, etc.  So to help you out I’m sharing 6 Self-Care Ideas For Happiness.  These are simple things you can do this month that will significantly make you a happier, healthier person.  The grand idea of ‘self-care’ can seem a bit cliché – so by providing very specific examples, I hope this inspires you to take a little time for your gorgeous self.

Workout

Get your endorphins pumping and sweat!  There is nothing as therapeutic for your mind, body and soul than a really good workout.  Looking for something new?  Check out the Pure Barre Platform class which recently launched at select studios!  It’s a fast-paced cardio workout that utilizes their traditional Pure Barre moves.  Play the video below to see it!

Meal Prep

Your nutrition will rule your day.  If you’re eating clean, you feel good.  If you’re not, you feel bad.  Pretty simple.  The best way to ensure a healthy diet is to stay on top of it and be organized a.k.a Meal prep.  This may not seem like a traditional self-care practice, but by planning out your meals, you are giving yourself freedom throughout the week and essentially making your life a heck of a lot easier.  This Cherry Pecan Grain Salad can be pre-made and stays fresh in the fridge for 3 days.  Try it!

Recipe by Whole Foods Market:

Serves 2

2 cups cooked pearl barley

1/4 cup salad dressing or lemon juice

2 cups packed baby arugula (I prefer organicgirl!)

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1/4 cup dried sour cherries

1/4 cup roughly chopped toasted pecans

2 tablespoons blue cheese crumbles

In a small bowl, toss barley with dressing.  Layer barley and remaining ingredients in two wide-mouth jars.  Top with tight fitting lids and refrigerate until ready to serve and up to 3 days.

Ingredients available at Whole Foods Market.

Create Ambiance

Create a space in your home that feels luxurious.  Add fresh flowers, a reed diffuser or a candle – illicit those feel good vibes.  Your sense of smell is incredibly powerful and has the ability to change your mood immediately.  I’ve recently added the Antica Farmacista Champagne Reed Diffuser to my new bedroom and love the fragrance!

Gift Yourself

Who doesn’t love gifts in the mail?  An easy way to treat yourself every month is to sign up for a box subscription.  If you’re looking for something unique, try the 3b Box – Beauty Beyond Borders which includes beauty products from Korea, Taiwan and Japan.  The premise is that Asia is 10-12 years ahead of the US when it comes to skincare innovation – so it’s definitely an interesting concept worth checking out!  And of course bonus points for a beauty self-care box.  :)

Love Your Locks

One of the most common self-care practices is getting your hair done by a stylist – whether it’s a new cut or color.  Most women do this about every 6-8 weeks.  But what about your shampoo?  How much thought do you put into it or do you just grab what’s on sale?  I’m challenging you to love your locks this month and read your hair care labels.  Are they natural?  Do they have amino acids?  Are they sulfate free?  I just switched over to Hydrate Shampoo by Maple Holistics and it’s perfect for the changing season (i.e. combats a dry scalp).

Sign Up for a Yoga Retreat

A yoga retreat can be the ultimate self-care solution, especially this time of year, when the days become shorter and the skies a bit grayer.  Sometimes you need an overhaul – an entire weekend of taking care of yourself to bring back the happy.  I’m attending the Nourish Women’s Self-Care + Yoga Retreat November 4th-6th.  You can read this post for more details.

I hope you find some inspiration in one (or more!) of these ideas to practice self-care this month.  I promise it will lead to happiness.  ♥

XoXo Portia

Disclosure:  I received product to try and review for this post.  The opinions expressed here represent my own, which I take great pride in providing pure honesty…because I’m OBSESSED with sharing the Good!