“You really know how to pamper yourself,” said my mother, as we walked down the Las Vegas Strip and I got lured in by a man offering me a seat in his 5-10-minute massage chair. She was right. I’ve always been a sucker for anything that puts me in the “right” state of mind and I still am. If you don’t take time to take care of yourself, how can you truly be happy in your skin, like really, really happy with yourself? Find the rituals that put you in the right state of mind and stick to it: that’s my motto.
When I properly manage my stress, daily nuances do not consume me and I find it much easier to let go of silly things that are out of my control. As an entrepreneur and creative doer-thinker with a VERY type-A personality, I know that life can get overwhelming when you’re always on the go. It can feel like I am being pulled in several directions as I’m constantly juggling projects with never-ending checklists. So, I’ve got to keep my mind, body, and spirit in check.
Here’s my secret key to a less stressful balanced life. I keep an organized schedule of what I call “Self-Care Rituals with Me, Myself and I.” I’ve noticed that when I put something into my calendar it gets done because I’ve made a commitment to it. So, I’ve decided to commit to myself. I have mandatory practices that I incorporate into my life that help my stress levels. This way, I don’t let pressure get to me and I don’t get burnt out easily. My rituals give me a sense of abundance and keep me grounded and grateful for what I have. I feel lighter, carefree, and more present for others and the things happening around me.
But I also don’t drive myself crazy about having to reschedule something. Because guess what? It’s not the end of the world! If rescheduling is unavoidable then, I just jump back on my routine ASAP.
Here are 2 of my de-stressing self-care rituals and what they do for me. I have many more and I promise to write more about them soon!
Hot Classes– I discovered hot classes a few years ago and I’ve been addicted ever since. I love all classes in heat like various yoga, pilates, and strength training/boot camp classes. Heated classes are pretty challenging and way more intense than a traditional non-heated class. Some classes can get as hot as 100 degrees with 50% humidity. It took me a few classes for my body to get used to the challenging discomfort of the heat. I just love the feeling of pushing myself through it. There are many physical benefits, but I personally appreciate the positive mental state I experience after each class.
Every week, I mix up my workout routine with a variety of classes. For that one hour, nothing else matters to me than being at one with myself and with the energy around me as the music flows through the class. No matter what type of class I take, in the end, I feel brand new, light and rejuvenated. This feeling to me is priceless. Here is one my favorite local spots in Vegas, https://trufusion.com.
Salt Water Float Therapy- Flotation therapy is a way to completely eliminate the noise of my everyday busy life—phone calls, emails notifications, social media alerts—you name it. It’s also referred to as an isolation tank or sensory deprivation tank. For one hour, I am in complete solitude in a soundproof, dim or completely dark (your choice) tank that is filled with warm salt water. Your body naturally floats in the water because of the amount of magnesium salt they put in the tank. I have the choice of playing my own music, but I usually choose to listen to the complimentary soft sound waves which somehow puts me into a subliminal soothing state of mind.
The second time I floated, I told the owner that for a moment I felt like I was in a womb. My vision became blurry and I saw a soft source of light through a tunnel in the distance. I remember feeling a state of safety and comfort. She said many people have also told her about this type of experience and that it doesn’t happen all the time. I felt lucky to have experienced it. Floating is my little mental escape and it gives me a very relaxed, calm, and peaceful feeling. It also helps me with me achy muscles and muscle tension which is another benefit. Here is one my favorite local spots in Vegas, https://www.truerest.com.
The New Year is great time to start your own “Self-Care Rituals with Me, Myself and I.” I truly believe it’s important to find what works for you. Hey, you can actually have fun exploring new things to find out what they are! I know I did.
