Winter Self Care Tips

Are you taking good care of yourself? Pause, breathe and think before you answer. Do you find yourself saying things like, “once this crazy week is over I’ll schedule some ME time” or “February is jam-packed but next month I have big plans for self-care?”

I do… especially as a new mama.

I haven’t been really sick in years and years. If and when I did get a little something it was no big deal because I would just up my supplements and immune boosting routine, and I could usually shake it off within a day or so.

Until last week. I was legit SICK. Like I could not move, talk, type or text. It was BAD.

And what I realized was that although the supplements and immune boosting foods were great, there was one key thing I was forgetting (maybe not forgetting per se, but definitely not prioritizing) and that was self care.

So what am I committing to for real change going forward? Taking care of ME, and for me, that means prioritizing self care and sleep.

New mama or not, we all need to turn self-care up a notch during the winter months because between the cold weather, flu season and lots of time cooped up indoors, it’s even tougher to stay physically and emotionally well.

So what’s a busy gal {or guy!} to do? After all, we can’t just up and hit the spa for the day whenever we’re feeling a little wound-up. How can we sprinkle self-kindness into our everyday lives without sacrificing too much and ending up feeling guilty?

Here are some of my favorite, totally accessible ways to love myself up on the regular:

Winter Self Care Tips:

1. Shake it off – There’s one super simple and somewhat unusual self care suggestion that I LOVE (especially during the dark and dreary winter months) and that’s shaking out your body. Yes, literally standing up and shaking your arms and your legs (anything you can move, shake it!) for a few seconds. When you’re done, take a few breaths and notice how you feel. Feel your breath, feel your body, feel connected to yourself again. It works every time. If it feels weird, throw on your favorite song and call it a dance party!

2. Love your gut up – One of the #1 ways I practice self-care every single day is by taking care of my gut. 90% of the body’s serotonin is made in the digestive tract so literally, when our guts are happy, we are happier too. I recommend that my clients drink bone broth year round, but it’s especially comforting and beneficial in the colder months. The collagen that breaks down from the connective tissue of bones helps heal the lining of the gut and creates a happy home for the healthy bacteria. Healthy, happy gut = healthy, happy YOU!

3. Sweat it out! Moving your body is the best way to care for yourself, physically, mentally and emotionally. Find an activity you enjoy – I love SoulCycle because it feels like a dance party, but do what excites YOU – and make it part of your daily routine… and don’t let the weather stop you!

4. Forgive yourself. Forgiveness is an act of self-care. I learned this from Marianne Williamson. Sometimes we think of self-care as a physical act like going to the spa or taking a bath or journaling, but I love this idea that right now, you have the power to energetically send yourself to the spa for the weekend, just through the act of forgiveness. Thinking about how you can forgive yourself a little bit today or how you can forgive someone else in your life an be such a healthy moment of release. Let go of something you’ve been holding onto and watch how much lighter you’ll feel.

Remember my loves, if you deem it self-care… it is. {Tweet that!} Give yourself permission to take a minute in whichever way feels right for you. That’s the simple formula!

What’s your favorite way to take care of yourself during these colder months? Leave a comment below, or better yet, snap a photo of your “me moments” {like mine above!} and post it to Instagram! Be sure to tag me @RobynYoukilis so I can see your pictures and be inspired 🙂