Let’s practice self care. Want in on my personal trend for the year? Each year I focus on a word for business and personal growth. This year, my business word is growth and my personal word is self-care.

1. Practice saying no

For some reason, this one seems to be more difficult than going to the dentist (hi mom) for some. Some of my clients would rather wring themselves dry and walk the plank before saying no to the 17^th event of the week. Saying no is a major way to practice self care and create healthy boundaries in your life. Here’s a scenario for you.

• Friend: Hey Ashlee, I know you’re super busy but I really want you to come to my party. We are having chili and our best friends over. It’s every Tuesday at 7.
• You: Thank you so much, X. I would love to come once a month but I am taking time to focus on my health and well-being. How does the 3^rd Tuesday of every month sound? I can’t wait to spend some quality time with you!
• Friend (2 options):
  • 1: Yes, this sounds perfect to me. I am so glad you’re taking care of you. I really want to try that now, you’re inspiring!
  • 2: Umm, okay then? That’s a little weird butwhatever.

Ahem, ^^ is your cue to either run or gently redirect them and ask for their support if you wish to continue your friendship. Surround yourself with uplifting and supportive people, you’re worth it.

2. Create a morning routine

Oh hello there. If there is one thing I tell my clients when they first come to me it’s to take it back to the basics and create a sustainable routine. A routine that is sustainable starts with a few simple tasks like having 8 oz. of filtered water the second your eye balls open, washing your face with non-toxic cleanser, leaving your phone away until sunrise and making a nice warm cup of herbal tea or a bulletproof drink.

Then, once you’ve done that for a week or two you can add to your routine. Before you know it, you will practice self care like a wizard! Workout 3-5 times a week, walking during sunrise to reset circadian rhythm (internal clock), taking the pup out for a walk, going on a morning hike on X day and reading a chapter each morning. People (like me) who have routines aren’t born with them. We work diligently to stick to them and make them healthy habits. Best of all, you can too!

3. Get in bed by 9

Did you know that “shift-workers” are anyone who is up between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. for 14 days out of the year? I have clients all the time say to me, “Ashlee, I’m fine with my sleep. Shift workers are the ones that have a real problem.”. Then, they’re always shocked when I give this information back to them.

That 14 days can add up real quick, think of mommys! Rethink your sleep schedule, turn off electronics at sunset or at least 3 hours before you go to bed and be in your bedroom without electronics by 9 p.m.. What you do after 9, I don’t need to know. Just keep screens and snacks out of your room. Here are some ideas:

• Get jiggy with your spouse
• Read a book
• Stretch
• Meditate
• Read your bible or pray
• Draw or paint
• Talk, you know, to another human

4. Carve out 1 hour (minimum) per week to do something you love

Maybe you love to dance? Paint? Hike? Knit? Box? Climb?Draw? Photograph? Read? Travel? I’m about to ask you a question my husband asks me all the time. Why don’t you just do it?! Pick a day you can make one hour just for you to do what you love. Find a day to practice self care. If it’s painting, find a studio or go get some brushes. Want to travel, take an hour each week to plan your next trip and before you know it you’ll be in Peru! You can make excuses all day long and I don’t want to hear them and neither does your body. You’re worth it, do it babe.

5. Save up & practice self care

Make this want you want but don’t skip out on it. You can skip Starbucks 1-2 times per week and save over $10. Then, by the end of the month you will have at least $40 to either continue saving or to treat yourself with. You can save that $40 a month for 4 months and have $160 dollars to:

• Get a massage with
• Go for a girls’ weekend
• Try a new restaurant
• Buy a new product you’re wanted to try
• Continue saving

Whatever you do with is, treasure it and applaud yourself for saving. It’s not always easy so, you’re doing an amazing thing. Be sure to tag me @simplholistic or email me a photo of you doing / buying whatever it is!

6. Have a monthly at-home spa day

This one I especially love because even though spas can be expensive and most of the time filled with toxic chemicals, we control the price and ingredients in our home. Set up a diffuser like this one from Organic Aromas, put in a few drops of your favorite blend and diffuse away.

I use their nebulizing diffuser which is different than one that takes water. The nebulizing diffuser covers more area and is more potent plus, there’s no water involved. Add drop 7 drop of whatever oil I am in the mood food, turn in on and smell the goods immediately. The aroma lasts for over 6 hours in our home. It’s the perfect way to practice self care. Then, get some non-toxic skin masks, exfoliator, toner, serum and cover your eyes with cucumbers. Now you’re dreaming!

7. Swap the screens for something else

For the love of all things, we are downright addicted to our devices. Hey, I’m not pointing fingers and if I am, there’s one pointing right back at me. I am just as addicted as most people but I have recognized it and am working on it. Social media fasts, screen time trackers, no-electronics hours and other initiatives are going down in my home. We need to practice self care.

Did you know – on average – we reach for our phones over 150 times per day. The Instagram app is mindlessly opened an average of 84 times, then Facebook, then Pinterest, then back to Instagram. Let’s swap it for:

• Time with people we love
• Hanging out with our pets
• Walking, hiking, moving our bodies
• Reading, writing, drawing
• Clean up the house
• Do a work project you’ve wanted to do
• Hang out with the kids, build a fort
• Try a new recipe
• Take an Epsom salt bath (magnesium babyyy)
• Pick up a new hobby
• Go for a bike ride
• Do ANYTHING, literally anything else

So, what are you going to do differently today? What is your word for the year? Comment below and let’s create some accountability.

Thanks Organic Aromas for gifting me this beautiful diffuser. My house smells good & it matches perfectly with the theme of our little beach home .