This post has been inspired by @Nectarapothocary‘s post about her “12 Ways to Fill Your Cup”. The idea of a cup overflowing pairs so well with the holidays. Here are our ’12 Ways to Fill Your Cup’ to help you stay grounded and balanced this holiday season no matter what may come swirling your way.
- Take Time for Tea.
The simple ritual of making a cup of tea pulls your mind into a state of calm, allowing you to slow down and be in the moment. Allow yourself the few minutes it takes to prepare a cup of tea, pausing to notice the aroma and savor each sip. I love this quote from Lititia Baldrige, “Tea time is a chance to slow down, pull back and appreciate your surroundings.” - Make a Note.
If you’re like me, your brain is full of a never-ending list of need to do’s. I find that making lists and then breaking them down into bite-size pieces helps me focus on what’s important right now. All you need a pen and a piece of paper – receipts and scrap paper are often my go-to. When your brain is running and you are trying to focus, take a beat and write it down. It will not only clear your head to make room for other things, it will calm the anxiety of forgetting it. If the paper makes your anxiety climb, try opening a note app on your phone and jotting them down that way!
Try it for yourself. Look at the hashtag #bulletjournal for inspiration. - Do Less.
‘Learn to put your needs before others wants.’ It’s so easy to over-commit this time of year. I encourage you to really check-in with what you are agreeing to. Are you putting someone else’s ‘wants’ before your ‘needs’?
- Take a Break.
Some days you just need a break. A moment to breathe. Walks are a wonderful way to accomplish this. Studies have shown that being out in nature can help reground the mind and body.
There are times though where walking outside, while preferable, isn’t an option. So for my kids and myself, we walk around the house. We go on to the porch, we walk around the kitchen, we walk upstairs and look out a different window, or we just gaze at the clouds.
Taking these moments to step away allows your mind to reset. Calming your soul and allowing you a moment to just breathe and be. These snippets are so crucial in restructuring our systems and our mindsets.
- Adaptogens.
Adaptogens are a group of herbs that help the body adapt when in stressful situations. These specific groups of herbs can also improve stamina, provide resilience, and balance the body. Like your body’s protectors and personal trainers, the can strengthen a weakened immune system, improve mental clarity and focus, restore energy and even balance hormones.
There are several adaptogens out there and unfortunately, they are not a one size fits all solution. Each one has it’s own gifts and energetics. One of my favorite go-to adaptogens is Organic India’s Tulsi (Holy Basil) teas. Holy basil is a wonderful, delicate, slightly-licorice, sweet-tasting herb. It not only helps balance anxiety within the body, but it has also been shown to clear mental fog. It blends well with other herbs and teas like rose or chai. We love adding it to our coffee, drinking it on our own, or pouring it into our smoothies. Other herbs like Ashwagandha, Astragalus, and Ginseng (Panax) has been shown to boost the immune system, provide stamina for the body, and calm nerves. - Take a Shower.
For me squeaking in a shower changes my day drastically. Even if it is in the middle of the afternoon because I overslept and had to choose between eating and showering. Making this daily ritual a priority helps me take a moment to breathe and decompress.
For some lighting a candle or burning herbs/incense, before they step in helps release the negativity of the day.
If you need something to help you focus, I love this from @nectarapothocary,
“G U I D A N C E “What to focus on – feelings & emotions before & during cleansing; how the water feels on your body; if this feels more like a physical cleanse or an emotional cleanse. Reflection – what did you enjoy the most; what was the most challenging; what was released; how do you feel now?” 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗, 𝙴., & 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚣, 𝚃. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙶𝚞𝚒𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜: 𝙰𝚗 𝙰𝚢𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚌 𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚑 - Oiling.
In the Ayurvedic healing tradition that Rachel Peter, teacher of the Embody Ease course, teaches, daily self-massage with oil is considered an act of self-love. In fact, the Sanskrit word for oil, sneha, can also be translated as “love.”
This daily self-care ritual has many health benefits, such as: reduces the effects of aging, increases stamina, improves detoxification, calms the nerves, and hydrates skin.
One of my favorite oils is Toasted Sesame Oil. I LOVE putting just a drop on my hands in the winter and rubbing it in. The smell and warmth are intoxicating to me. While you don’t necessarily have to use kitchen oils, finding an oil or cream to apply to your body is a wonderful, luxurious treat for both you and your skin. - Get Up With the Sun.
While getting up with the sun is something I haven’t done since my teen years, the idea has always intrigued me. There is a saying in parenthood that if you get up with the sun you have time for you, as everyone else is still asleep. Since I have become a mother, I have found this to be quite the opposite for me. But I still love the idea.
If you are able and willing, wake up before everyone else and steal the sun for you. Just for a moment. This beautiful time of day. - Take a Moment.
Taking a moment to acknowledge what we are grateful for has a pronounced effect on our overall sense of well-being. It makes us happier and improves our health and relationships.
For me and mine, we create a wall of thanksgiving in which we write down things we are thankful for, no matter how big or small. This helps us remember what’s important throughout the year. When my girls were little we wrote our thankful items on leaves and hung them on branches. This was a fun way to incorporate them in the holiday. - Light a Candle.
Yes, the simple act of lighting a candle can be an act of self-care if you put the right intention behind it. The burning flame in the background provides a soft focal point, a gentle reminder to be present in the moment.
Need a grounding quality? Look for candles that use earthy essential oils like frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, pine, or vetiver. Looking for a pick-me-up? Burn candles that have essential oils of citrus and mint-like orange, lime, grapefruit, mandarin, tangerine, spearmint or peppermint.
Never add essential oils to a burning candle, as it will ignite. - Get Creative.
When was the last time you doodled, painted, colored or scribbled? Getting creative is extremely therapeutic! Using art as therapy can be as simple or as complicated as we make it.
I have recently taken up doodling zentangles. I find these simple sketches to be therapeutic and calming. Not to mention their supplies are so simple: a pencil and paper. I can take these things anywhere, or just carry a pencil or a pen in my purse and doodle on old receipts or notes in my bag.
This simple act of self-care helps me decompress, allowing me to respond better to situations. - Utilize Plant Allies.
If the approaching holiday season, stresses of consumerism, social obligations or the start of the world weighs heavy on your heart then Holy Day may be the perfect plant ally for you.
This gentle heart-opener offers fresh forces of optimism by strengthening our connection to the universal truths of Compassion and Love – helping us to remember what the hub bub is all about.
To find out more about Holy Day check out nectarapothecary.com.
If you try any of these tips, leave a comment below and let me know how it worked for you.
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