Routines and Rituals
my thoughts on *self-care*
taking time out of my week/day to relax and take care of myself is super important to me. simple, mindful acts help me feel at peace. cleaning, moving my body, learning, resting and reflecting are rituals that I am constantly exploring and expanding upon.
skincare lies at the heart of my self-care, as taking care of my skin helps me feel more balanced and confident in all aspects of my life. doing a mask helps me ‘reset’ not only my skin but my approach to care, cleanliness, and mindfulness. it inspires me to take care of my body, inside and out.
my favourite masks right now are garden city essentials’ honey and clay, and the beautiful clay polishes gifted to me by .eluo..
you can read more about my skincare rituals on their blog ♥ .
& my favourite ways to unwind
another skincare fav during the cold weather are salves/balms/butters! the all purpose salve from lauren’s all purpose (use my link for 15% off!) and the internet’s fav egyptian magic skin cream are my go-tos for dry skin, brittle hair, and just about anything else.
candles, incense, and oil diffusion
growing up, incense were such a large part of my relationship with my thai heritage. burned in memorial, in prayer, and in moments of cleansing; i hold strong ritualistic value in the short window of falling fragrant ash.
lighting incense in memorial for my grandparents, at their beautiful pagodas in buriram, thailand.
my fav vitruvi scents at the moment are ceremony, retreat, and bergamot.
my favourite rituals are those that cleanse my space (and consequently, my mind) through scent. lighting candles and incense with matches in the winter is the most ritualistic act i can fathom. the sudden warmth and light from the match, the slow-burn of a cotton wick or handrolled incense stick.
“while routine aims to make the chaos of everyday life more containable and controllable, ritual aims to imbue the mundane with an element of the magical.”
my low-stress morning routine:
wake up
drink a glass of water
light an incense/diffuse ‘retreat’ by vitruvi
20ish mins of yoga/stretching
shower, brush teeth
skincare routine
cbd
smoothie & a bagel
get dressed
plan my day
go to local cafe for an oat milk flat white
movement ~ ~ ~
the act of moving my body for release, comfort, and warmth is one of my main focuses for 2020. with the pressure of intense and result-driven workouts constantly in the air, i am putting a lot of energy into moving my body just for the sake of movement. doing yoga daily has personally become a very healthy approach to being active — emphasizing stretching, flexibility and breath instead of an idealistic body image or ‘end-goal’.
while moving my body has become a daily routine, creating a comfortable and calming space to practice in is a ritual.
unrolling my mat,
lighting incense/diffusing a calming oil blend,
clearing mental clutter,
tuning into my breath,
feeling proud that i made time to check-in with myself.
changing my mindset around cleaning
i have always loved cleaning. i feel most relaxed and inspired in a neat & tidy environment.
but while the act of cleaning my space feels rewarding when finished, it can also become a hugely overwhelming task. over the past couple months i’ve found it harder and harder to keep my space clean, and have been working to find ways to motivate myself.
the biggest shift for me has been a cleaning to make room for new and clear the old mindset. this makes things feel less like a chore, and more like a pre-requisite to routines i enjoy. before i can have a good night’s sleep, i must make the bed (and have clean sheets!). before i can prepare a nourishing meal, i must have clean dishes readily accessible. before i can get dressed confidently, i must put all my clothes where they belong.
idk if this rambling about cleaning is helpful/significant to anyone other than myself, but here’s hoping!!!