Welcome back to the blog, and happy November! I absolutely love this month because it's when the true festivities begin, and you feel the coziness of the season. Whether it's the warm cozy drinks, comfort movies, the fall fashion, or spending more time with loved ones, November is a great time to slow down and romanticize the little moments. So, for this week's blog post, I wanted to share a few self-care practices that will help you slow down and feel calm. These are all great when you feel more stressed and need to feel more grounded. Read below for my suggestions!
1. Get cozy and read a feel-good book
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There's something about getting cozy and reading a book that never fails to make me feel good. I think it's getting lost in the lives of new characters that's just so fun, but also is really grounding. I absoultly love reading romance novels because they're light, usually have so many good messages, and just remind me to not take everything so seriously. A few of my suggestions for good romance books that are perfect for Fall are: Yours Truly by Abby Jiminez (currently reading and love it so much!!), Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, and Book Lovers by Emily Henry. All these books are so comforting, and give you that feel-good energy like your favorite rom-com movie would! I love reading a few pages before going to bed because it helps me feel more calm and I love getting lost in the world of fictional characters for a bit! You know?!
2. Watch a comfort movie
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Apart from reading, something else that's so comforting and grounding for me is watching a go-to rom-com movie for more of that cozy, feel-good energy! I feel like it's the act of knowing what happens in a movie that you've already watched that can be so affirming and make it a comfortable watch. Also, with a chill comfort movie, you can kind of just relax and not have your full attention on the movie so it can be a great way to wind down for the night. So, the next time you just want to de-stress and feel calmer, get cozy on your couch with a blanket, some tea, and a sweet treat, and turn on your favorite comfort movie. A few of my holiday comfort movies are The Holiday (such a good classic that never fails to make me happy), Falling for Christmas, and then some traditional rom-coms like Devil Wears Prada and The Proposal.
3. Go for a walk and get some fresh air
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Lately, going for walks outside has been so therapeutic and de-stressing during this season. Getting fresh air, moving my body, having some "me time", and just listening to my favorite music (which has lately been That's So True by Gracie Abrams) has just made me feel so good daily! First, movement is medicine. Any movement in the body releases endorphins and makes you feel happier. Being outside with nature is just so grounding and can be such a great way to relieve anxiety daily. And then I just love listening to my favorite feel-good songs, whether upbeat or just some Taylor Swift, of course! I know it can be challenging, but trust me, carving out time for self-care and going for a walk will be so beneficial for your mental health and feeling more grounded. And to get myself more motivated, I love throwing on some cute gym clothes because why not?!
4. Do a passion project that gets your creative juices flowing
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Something that always brings me happiness and joy daily is working on my passion project, which genuinely is Self-Care by Esha! I feel like working on a creative project gets your creative juices flowing, and that can be helpful in de-stressing on a daily. Parts of working on my blog that I love are creative writing and writing blog posts, creating graphic designs, and just being able to be creative! Some great passion projects can be painting, journaling, writing blog posts online and sharing thoughts with others, knitting, doing some kinds of arts and crafts, creating a Pinterest board, and just being able to be creative in a way that feels good for you. So, take some time in your day to find a creative outlet for yourself, that helps you just feel happier and more grounded.
5. Have a night of indulging in a long self-care/skincare routine
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One of the best things for reducing stress and relaxing is taking a long, everything shower and just having a calm evening routine. Sometimes just taking a long shower, double cleansing your hair, conditioning, doing a hair mask, putting on lotion, and then doing a long skincare routine with all our favorite products is the self-care our minds and bodies need. Having a day where we can close work for the night and take some time for ourselves is the best feeling. It honestly signals to our brain that it's time to unwind and relax, and that can help us calm the mind and body. So, make some time for yourself to indulge in a nighttime routine that feels good for you. Whether it's taking a bath and reading or doing a little at-home facial and watching a Nancy Meyers movie, some alone time to self-care can truly just be what we need sometimes.
I hope some of these self-care rituals help you find your calm this season, and lean into the beauty of romanticizing the little things! Take good care of yourselves.
Xo,
Esha
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