Only those that have suffered with their skin can truly appreciate how much it consumes you. It can physically hurt, it’s emotionally draining and it puts a big dent in your confidence.
There’s no magic pill for healthy skin. Healing your skin requires taking care of your physical health and emotional wellbeing, so self-care needs to be high up on your list of priorities. But there are two types of self-care.
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self-care that improves your health and emotional wellbeing long term.
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self-care that allows you to switch off from the everyday chatter in your head.
Self-care type one
One of my favourite exercises from my 1-2-1 coaching is called The Lifestyle Circle wheel.
If I were working with you, I would ask you to draw a wheel and label the parts with key areas of your life including food, mind, body, home, family, exercise, work, and self-image. We would look at how you feel about each part of your life, and we would hone in on areas that need a bit of work. We would come up with actions you can take to bring greater balance across all areas of your life.
Those actions aren’t always easy. They can be bold, uncomfortable, or even scary for you. But it’s the type of self-care that leads to a happier, healthier relationship with yourself. The change you see on your skin is the added bonus. When you take care of yourself internally and externally, physically and emotionally, it shows up on your face.
If you’ve got a copy of my book, The Lifestyle Circle wheel printable is included with your book bonuses, which you can access here.
Or to buy my book, click here.
Self-care type two
The other type of self-care is the type that makes you feel good in the moment. It’s a facial, a bath, a trip to the beach, or an hour to yourself. Something that’s just for you, that for a few minutes every day helps you to switch off from all the big stuff that’s going on.
I like to practice this type of self-care in two ways.
- Daily mini self-care practice – close your eyes and breathe deeply for 3 breaths. Do this every day. It’s a simple yet really effective habit to get in to. Try it now and you’ll feel exactly what it does.
- Weekly deeper self-care practice – choose one day a week where engaging in a deeper self-care practice is a non-negotiable for you. The key is to pick one thing and do it just because it makes you happy.
Self-care inspiration
Here are some ideas to get you started with your own self-care practice this week:
- Get a facial. If you’re giving yourself one at home make sure to include a face mask and relax for 10 minutes
- Take a bath with candles and music
- Exfoliate your body in the shower with a body scrub or exfoliating mitt then moisturise from head to toe
- Get an early night
- Go to a yoga class or practice yoga at home. There are lots of free, good quality yoga videos online
- Go for a run or just head out for a walk in your nearest park or woods
- Head to the beach and paddle in the sea
- Try a 10-minute meditation
- Put on your favourite playlist and dance around your bedroom for 15 minutes
- Meet a friend that you love for a catch-up
- Go to a park, sit on the grass and just people watch
- People watch in a coffee shop
- Read a book – my favourite!
- Watch a movie at home with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn
- Cook a fresh, healthy meal and make enough so you don’t need to cook tomorrow
- Drink 3 litres of water throughout the day
- Put your phone on aeroplane mode for 2 hours
- Say no to that thing you really don’t want to do
- Start or re-start a hobby
- Hire a coach to help you with whatever area of your life you feel is a bit stuck
Hopefully there’s something in the list above that appeals to you. Taking time every day, just for you, is key to looking after your own wellbeing and creating the environment you need to heal your skin.
Remember though, they’re called self-care practices for a reason. You need to keep on practising them to truly get the benefits.