Evening Self-Care Rituals :
Build peace and ease of body , mind , and spirit
Written by : Dr . Jennifer L . Yocum , Licensed Acupuncturist and Nicole Maisel , Licensed Massage Therapist
Self-care is the practice of taking an active role in your health , well-being , and happiness . Anything that benefits your body , mind , or spirit can be considered self-care ; it does not mean that you are being selfish in any way . It ’ s particularly important to include in your life in order to combat personal and environmental stressors . Unwinding from your day is an important part of your self-care routine . Having intentional activities that signal the end of the day gives you a mental
16 LakeTalk February 2024 and physical advantage for processing and expressing your experiences . Here we share evening self-care rituals to practice this winter to bring you in touch with the deep calm and stillness of this time of year .
Whether or not you realize it , you have an evening routine in place . It currently may include things like brushing your teeth , washing your face , and / or tucking your kids into bed after reading them a story . It may seem overwhelming at first , but there are simple ways to bring more self-care into your evening routine :
• Slow down . Leave the busy bee antics behind , and start to move slower around your home . This will activate the rest / digest part of the brain and prepare you for restful sleep .
• Cleanse away the day by taking an evening shower with Frankincense or sweet almond scented body wash , or use a relaxing Epsom salt bath scented with lavender essential oil .
• Create a playlist of soothing music that helps you feel relaxed and at peace .
• Hum your favorite songs while you cook dinner or before bed to relax the body and mind .
• Take an evening stroll . Clear your mind with a simple 30-minute walk . This simple self-care routine gives you space and time to relieve stress , and you may even find that you observe