Setting the Intention for Self-Care

​Written by Marissa Goulbourne, owner of Prana Prenatal Yoga

A few years ago, I stopped making resolutions on January 1. It became overwhelming to come up with a list of things I was committing to “fixing” about myself starting on the first day of the year, when historical data showed that by the end of January I had given up on said list. Also, why does a new calendar automatically mean we need to come up with a “new” version of ourselves?

I began to gravitate towards the idea of setting an intention for myself instead of resolutions. By setting an intention, I was committing to purposefully incorporating the intention into all areas of my life as much as I possibly could. When I had set the intention to protect my peace, I constantly found myself asking if what I was doing, saying, feeling, or experiencing was in line with my intention, and I would try to react accordingly.   

It’s no secret that this pandemic has taken an extremely heavy toll on women, especially working mothers. Burnout, emotional distress, and revenge bedtime procrastination are all too common.  We cannot pour from an empty cup, which is why we need to prioritize ourselves and set the intention for self-care. Many people think self-care is just getting a mani/pedi or a massage. There is definitely a place for those in self-care, but it’s also so much more than that. Practicing self-care intentionally means incorporating it into your daily life. While I love a good hot stone massage, at this point in my life I am not in a position to schedule one every single day. However, it’s still important to prioritize some daily “me time” instead of impatiently counting the days until the stones are resting on my back.

Putting yourself first is hard work. I get it, we’re busy – we wear so many different hats and more often than not are unsung heroes, but the responsibility of recharging ourselves ultimately falls on us. Waiting for employers, partners, family members, or friends to prioritize our needs can often lead to miscommunication, resentment, and ultimately wasted time.

Now that the honeymoon phase of the “New Year, New Me” resolutions have most likely subsided, this is as good a time as any to set the intention for self-care. Not sure where to start? Below is a list of 50 self-care ideas you can try. Make this list your own! Some ideas might resonate with you more than others, and you might even decide to create some type of routine (#mondaymeditation). The important thing to remember is that you owe it to yourself to prioritize yourself, even if just for a few moments, each and every day.

1. Take a yoga class (bonus points if it’s with Prana!)
2. Cook or treat yourself to your favorite meal
3. Create a playlist of ten songs that make you smile
4. Meditate for 5 minutes
5. Go for a short walk outside (bonus points if you listen to your playlist)
6. Write down 5 things you are grateful for
7. Get a manicure/pedicure
8. Next time you go to the grocery store, treat yourself to something you’re not sharing with anyone in your house (if you've ever seen me in the parking lot of a grocery store eating Tate’s chocolate chip cookies, this makes sense now)
9. Make a fruit smoothie
10. Get a massage
11. Schedule appointments that serve your well-being (annual physical, teeth cleaning, eye exam, therapy, etc.)
12. Need to sweep or mop? Turn it into a dance party with that playlist of yours
13. Slowly and mindfully drink a glass of water
14. Take a nap
15. Call a friend
16. Light a candle
17. Dedicate 20 minutes to reading a book or magazine
18. Listen to a podcast
19. Buy a new bra (FYI the generally-accepted lifespan of a bra is between 9 and 12 months)
20. Exfoliate your skin
21. Gua sha your face
22. Paint or color a picture
23. Watch your favorite show, movie, or documentary
24. Book a spa day
25. Connect with nature (there are plenty of nature trails and preserves in Westchester and Fairfield Counties!)
26. Organize and declutter your closet
27. Volunteer with a local organization
28. Empower yourself to say “no” to something – it’s a complete sentence
29. Try a new workout
30. Journal for 10 minutes
31. Unfollow accounts on social media that don’t serve you
32. Practice positive thinking
33. Sit in silence for 10 minutes
34. Cry!
35. Turn your phone off for an hour
36. Rearrange your furniture
37. Turn on an essential oil diffuser
38. Play a game
39. Write a poem
40. Book a beauty day (hair, facial, wax, etc.)
41. Do a puzzle
42. Visit a museum or art gallery
43. Recite some self-love affirmations
44. Write someone a letter
45. Brighten your space with some flowers
46. Go to a movie theater alone
47. Give yourself a “binge-watch TV” day
48. Commit to 8 hours of sleep at night
49. Create your “bucket list”

  50.   Plan your annual momcation (stay tuned for a blog post on this)!

I'd love to hear about your journey with self-care! Comment below, or email me at [email protected]