My Self-Care Routine

My main priority with self-care is to try to accomplish balance in my life. While exercise is essential, my self-care routine involves more than just working out my body and eating right. It also involves taking care of my mind by creating, learning and growing; and my spirit by feeding it God’s Word and exercising the self-control to follow the Holy Spirit rather than the ways of the world.

See Related: 5 Ways to Practice Self-Care This Christmas

Spiritual Health Care Routine

The most important part of my self-care routine is taking care of my spirit! I do this by feeding it God’s Word and exercising the self-control to follow the Holy Spirit rather than the ways of the world.

• I begin each morning with prayer and devotion.
• I get to know Jesus by reading His Word daily and meditating on its meaning.
• I spend time with Jesus by involving Him in everything I do through prayer and by applying what I learn in His Word to my life.
• I share God’s Word with others, attend online church, and spend time in fellowship with other disciples.
• I aim to glorify God with my work and with my lifestyle.
• I maintain an attitude of gratitude, thanking God daily for all He’s done for me, especially at the end of each day.

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Physical Health Care Routine

I workout in the morning whenever my schedule permits. This is because I have the most energy at the beginning of the day. It is also because I won’t be able to have an excuse to never get to my workout if I exercise first. Another benefit is that I can then take my shower in the morning rather than after a mid-day workout.

My workout consists of taking barre classes five days a week. I enjoy barre classes because they challenge me, which keeps me motivated to stick with it. My upper body and core are much stronger, and I am much more flexible and have better balance since I started taking barre classes three years ago.

Currently, each week I take two Classic classes, two Pure Empower classes (more cardio), and one Pure Reform class (resistance training), all full-body workouts. And since things have opened back up, I have added bike riding one morning a week for some additional physical activity. It has been so fun and such great exercise!

Skin Care Routine

I wash my face twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. I used to use Proactiv’s 3-step system but since moving to California it is far too drying to use it twice a day. Now I only use the facial cleanser and follow it up with vitamin C skin care products: Ole Henriksen Truth Serum; C-Rush Brightening Gel Crème; and Banana Bright Eye Crème. In the morning, I also use a CC cream with SPF 50+ UVA/UVB for extra moisture and sun protection.

On the weekends, I do my skin treatments. I exfoliate with Peter Thomas Roth Firm Peeling Gel and I follow it with a mask, GlamGlow Supermud clearing treatment.

I am looking forward to adding two black business skin care products to my skin care routine: Hyper Skin’s Hyper Clear and Black Girl Sunscreen.

Hair Care Routine

I also do my hair treatments on Saturdays. I wash and deep condition it with Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco shampoo and conditioner and dry it with a clean, white tee shirt to prevent frizz and breakage. On the weekdays I apply coconut oil, especially to my ends, each day and give myself two fresh braids to keep them protected. I prefer Moroccan oil, but I ran out. I had some leftover coconut oil and it has been working great. This routine has really helped restore moisture to my hair.

I read in one of those lovely blog posts I referred to in the post What I am Reading This Month that castor oil is great for hair and nails, so I started also applying Briogeo B. Well organic + cold-pressed 100% castor oil to my scalp and to my cuticles.

I really miss getting mani/pedis! I cannot look at my hands or feet without being reminded how much I wish I could get my nails done again. Until it is safe to do so, I hope the castor oil, the collagen peptides, and my vitamins will strengthen my nails and help them grow.

Evening Routine

In the evening is when I create content. Though this is when my energy is at its lowest, being creative is enjoyable and stimulating, so it is usually hard to stop working until late in the night.

To help me relax, I drink tea every evening, usually organic Chamomile tea with lemon. It has several health benefits but primarily I drink it for a better night’s sleep. I add collagen peptides to it for extra skin, hair, nail, and joint benefits.

I also sleep on a silk pillowcase. Not only does it help hair maintain moisture, it also helps skin maintain moisture and prevents wrinkles among many other benefits. I get mine from Feeling Pampered.

Before going to bed, I brush and floss my teeth every night, no matter how tired I am. I also apply Laneige Sleeping Care Lip Sleeping Mask; it helps you wake up with soft, smooth lips each morning.

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Mental Health Care Routine

I have been filling my days during this quarantine with creating content for my blog, building my brand on social media, and networking with other bloggers. It has been helpful in keeping my mind off of the uncertainty of the future.

However, I do take time off each week to maintain balance between work and play. Except for working out on Saturday mornings, I try to reserve the majority of the weekend for rest and relaxation. Unlike on Saturdays when I do some networking, I take Sundays completely off. I attend online church and spend the rest of the day relaxing. This is so I will not burnout from my demanding and time-consuming blogging schedule. The time away from it refreshes me and inspires more creativity for the next week.

The only thing missing from my self-care routine, being alone in quarantine, is the opportunity for social activity. I text and talk on the phone and participate in Zoom meetings but it is not the same. Hoping this will end soon.

What are some of the things you are doing to cope with these restrictions? Please comment below.

Until next time, stay safe; wear a mask! 💕

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 AMP