Beauty | Handle With Care - Sunday Self Care

Handle With Care - Sunday Self Care

Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first, it means me too! Be more intentional and do what nurtures your mind, body & soul. It's hard but it's possible.

At the start of the year, I participated in a 30-Day Self Love Challenge. A fellow blogger mom, Ashley of @MommyWeek, sparked this great initiative. I've really been focused on consistency lately and starting the year with this journaling challenge has helped. #mwselflove



I also recently read a tweet from The Financial Diet that stated self-care in a very succinct definition.  

Self-care is:
-taking a break when you know you're getting burned out
-feeding yourself healthy, flavorful meals
-filing your taxes on time

Self-care is not:
-doing whatever feels good in the moment, regardless of how much it might hurt you or your relationships later on

— The Financial Diet (@TFDiet) April 11, 2019

Just being able to apply that definition aptly reminded me of the beautiful external body I been gifted by the creator, yet often neglected in the pursuit of perfect mom/perfect wife life. 

What Are You Going To Do About It? 

All of this discussion of self-love sparked a desire in me to take my self-care routine up a notch. I’d ordered a Target beauty box almost a month ago but had yet to open it. Why? Well, the answer is simple. I wasn't wholeheartedly practicing what I was preaching to myself in the mirror. Yes, our glow-ups on the inside are just as important as the outside. Yet, trivializing things that actually matter to you, although merely external, is still an act of disservice to you as well. 

You might also like: BEAUTY | TARGET BEAUTY BOX - SUMMER EDITION

Small Steps Matter

I love pampering myself (by myself). Yet, the real goal is to actually get to pluck, shave, or exfoliate while not rushing through the process and completing it haphazardly. By the time I'm done, I want to feel refreshed and overall better about myself. I've tapped into my own sense of self-awareness and genuinely know that these activities are mood-boosters. 



If you respond to external self-care similarly, maybe picking up a beauty box or just giving yourself time to work on something you're neglecting can help. For you, it can be as simple as committing to removing all makeup, washing and moisturizing your face/décolletage area before bed religiously. 

Practice Acts of Self-Love

No one ever asks how your relationship is within yourself. Start by answering the question, “What do you love about yourself?” I've realized that for me, taking pride in my exterior appearance is important to me. It is a vital part of how I operate as a person and I'm re-dedicating myself back to its daily maintenance. These practices are not done in a manner that is overly indulgent but more so these are acts of self-love. Grooming is not indulgent and I'm working very hard on my feelings of "mom-guilt" when I purchase something just for me. Initially, I'd believe, if it's not benefitting our household, then it's not a necessary purchase or action. I hope to inspire others to love themselves beyond the values of their bestowed titles. 

"Get the expensive conditioner Shan!" I'd say to myself as I internally haggled over the price of something desperately trying to find it valuable enough to purchase without a steep discount. Going back to the aforementioned Small Steps, I love myself enough to maintain my hair wash day regime. I love myself enough to understand that caring for my hair today helps me to exude confidence in my appearance tomorrow. That confidence then trickles from my heart into every step I take. A confident, comfortable, and self-loving woman is valuable to her household. 

The Takeaways

• Confidence is comfort and comfort helps me to experience joy. 
• Self-love is about unabashedly living life on your own terms. 
• Self-care is about cultivating joy, healthy relationships, and confidence.  

You might also like: Beauty | Self Care Sunday Vlog 

Til Next Time,