Self Care.

Whether it's sinking into a steaming hot bubble bath with a glass of vino, cosying up and watching the crappiest chick flick film whilst inhaling a box of celebrations or just sitting in ya room staring into a blank space, whatever floats your boat, everyone needs to take some zen time to just sit in their own bubble without being nagged left, right and centre. If you find it hard to catch some zen vibes, then i'd advise you to chuck your phone out of a moving car (has been done in the past, by accident of course and no I 100% wouldn't reccomend it!) or alternatively just 'accidentally' lose your phone in another room or give it to someone who you trust won't lose it for you or decide to help themselves read your texts. 

I thought I would jump on here to dish out my personal self care tips 101 since i've learnt that self care is important if you don't wanna feel like your stuck in a ditch or your so knackered you feel like your having an out of body experience from being so brain dead that you have to be the party pooper and cancel every known plan under the sun.

#1 Run that bath

I'm all for a bubble bath, filled with lots of luxury oils, lighting so many candles there's a possibility of a mini house fire joining your session and sitting back into a bath which looks like you've built yourself an igloo to crawl into from all the bubbles. But on a serious note, you don't need to faff around with all this romantic, fancy pansy bubble crap and counting through the pennies to buy a luxury oil which potentially could make you feel like your a fish with scales. All you need to do is run to your nearest boots/tesco/superdrug, anywhere where they have a shower gel section and grab a bottle of scented gel which your keen on smelling like after you've got out of your bath after spending 20 minutes soaking and looking like one of your gran's pals. 

I have about 3-4 baths a week and honestly it does the trick with sleeping and feeling relaxed. Just remember to check the temperature of your bath otherwise you'll be overheating/potential to get third degree burns when you put your foot into the tub. Also a good book always helps.

#2 See your gals

Organising and seeing your pals is the best thing for self care. Whether its a pint or five at your local, going on a coffee date and sitting gossiping for hours and hours or being rather British and heading out for a brisk walk of all about 20 mins before calling it a day and slip into a pub for some grub. 

Spending time with your mates is cracking, they make you see the bigger picture of things, talk some down right sense into you and also can crack you up into giggles that you feel like you have exercised your cheeks and split your sides into half. It also becomes more special as you get older as everyone has their own busy lives filled with 9-5 jobs nowadays, at uni, shacked up in a love life and other family commitments so setting time is important.

#3 A book and a gin

Whether its only 10 minutes or a whole afternoon, grabbing a good read and your fave beverage of choice can help you feel like you've got your shit together just that little bit more. A book and drink combo can never go wrong, unless you've messed up the book to drink ratio and you end up off your rocker and come to the sudden realisation that all the words seem to become rapidly blurry and don't seem to make sense. That's when I would personally reccommend to shove the book to oneside, put the beverage down and find your nearest sofa or bed and take a power nap to minimise any sort of hangover. 

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#4 Take yourself out for the day

Literally just up and leave everything for a day. I don't mean walk out of your day shift at work but I mean when you have a free weekend or day off, just take yourself off for the day to do something you wanna do without having to ask what anyone else wants to do/say/need. Whether it's just the morning to walk into town, nosey about at the shops and drop £30 at primark before grabbing a coffee or whether you jump onto a train and adventure off to another city for the day and explore, it can really clear your head and have some alone time to think and chill out. 

#5 Family time

Yes everyone has their fair share of a family who can do your head in and in record time. However, you can't beat a bit of family banter/chats/gossip/competitive game playing. Even if you all live in various places across the UK or globe, just having a natter with your mum on the phone or sending a funny meme that is a secret joke that only your sibling and you get (mainly bonding over a meme that usually has something to do with our mum!) can lighten your mood and get you out of a funk. My fave kinda family days is playing a competitive board game which ends up being a blood sport along with having a few bevvies down the local. Also can't beat a good ol' bitching session as your family tend to be the most brutal and honest people ya know cause they know you can't get rid of them, even if you want to. Family will pick you up when your being a debbie downer and struggling, drag you down a notch if they can tell you need to get off your high horse in the most savage brutal manner (sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!) and be there to make you cry laugh and reminisce about all your childhood memories. If you can't be yourself around your family, find someone who can take on that role. 

#6 Pamper time

I don't mean talking all things pampers nappies, I'm talking about treating yourself to a nice manicure or using that new body scrub you've been saving for that wet weekend where you wanna cosy up on the sofa and watch a crappy film. Sometimes all it takes is to wind down by having a bubble bath, whacking on a face mask even making you shit yourself when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the bathroom mirror and finish off by dollying yourself up by painting your toenails. Something simple, cheap and easily satisfying. Even when you paint your nails like a 5 year old and spend most of the night drowning yourself in superdrug nail varnish remover to get rid of the edges. So much so, if you were near a naked flame you'd go up in seconds from the sheer amount of solvent you've just poured on yourself. 

Whatever suits ya, if it makes you happy then do it. At the end of the day, if you are feeling fed up and drained you aren't gonna be much use to the people around you. If you take small steps in looking after yourself, your gonna start to feel a bit more human, happier and stronger to help and support your loved ones. You'll be able to go out and do that thing you've wanted to do for ages because you will have looked after yourself rather than going at full steam ahead, wiping yourself out and feel like lumping it all in. It's not worth it I tell ya that babes. 

What do you do to keep yourself in check and catch those zen vibes?

Speak soon. 

Love,

T

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