Create a Sustainable Self-Care Plan
At Made by Yoke, enlightened living is our daily pursuit. So it’s safe to say that we have a lot of experience in building sustainable practices in self-care. We believe that cultivating balance and vitality into your everyday life should be easy, not fussy. And we stand by our belief that anything that doesn’t make you feel empowered isn’t actually holistic health.
Take a deep breath and keep reading. These are our proven strategies for improving your spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness for the rest of this year:
If you’re looking to…
Manage Stress:
- Ground yourself with a mid-day meditative ritual.
Sure, it makes sense to tack on a meditative ritual at the beginning or end of your day. But hear us out. How realistic is waking up an hour earlier? Or closing your eyes after a long day and not falling asleep? You get the idea. Instead, we recommend breaking up your day with a mid-day respite.
Here’s how: set an alarm for whenever you can spare five to ten minutes in your day (try lunch). Using an aromatherapy eye pillow, follow your breath using the four by four method. Breathe in for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of four, and then exhale for a count of four. Repeat until complete.
- Manage your mood.
Smell is an extremely powerful scent. It can trigger memories and produce a range physiological responses that help control our moods.
Capitalize on the magic of aromatherapy with incense. Our sandalwood incense relaxes and pacifies anxious thoughts to naturally lower stress-levels. Introduce this warming, woodsy scent into your office, studio, or home and set the conditions for a relaxed new year.
(Pro tip: Look for blends that relax and pacify anxious thoughts to naturally lower stress-levels.)
Manage Sleep:
- Invest in the right tools.
The secret to a good night’s sleep is relatively straightforward: darkness + quiet + comfortable temperatures. But we all know that it’s not really that simple. Which is why investing in the right tools really pays off.
Our favorite tool? Silky, luxurious sleep masks. These masks are integral to regulating light infiltration. Unlike other eye masks, our sleep masks are cool to the touch and breathable, meaning you won’t overheat even with the added layer.
- Create a sleep routine.
Okay, okay. Sleep hygiene isn’t the sexiest phrase in the world. However, creating good, sustainable habits is honestly the best way to manage your sleep.
If you’re not sure where to start, work backwards. An hour before you want to fall asleep, head to the showers. Slough off a long day with a dry brush, rinse off in warm water, and moisturize. Then choose a wind down activity that doesn’t emit blue light (put down those phones, ahem) like an enjoyable book or a poignant journaling exercise. The important thing is to stick to a schedule. Aim to go to bed and wake up at the same times each day. Indulging in these wind-down rituals in the evening may feel luxurious, but these small habits will work wonders.
(Pro tip: Include a few drops of lavender or Jasmine Aromatherapy oil in the bath or shower to calm the mind and body.)
Manage Immunity:
- Build on an already established habit.
Healthy habits don’t need to be complicated. One of the easiest ways to form a new habit is to add it onto an already established routine.
This year commit to tongue cleaning each time you brush your teeth. Tongue cleaning, an ancient Ayurvedic ritual, maintains oral hygiene, removes toxins (aka that white film) from your tongue, and improves your ability to taste. Since we know the body is truly connected, we also know improving oral health with tongue scraper improves health throughout the body. It’s a small act, but it gives your immunity an extra boost.
(Pro tip: Clean your tongue cleaner in water and lemon juice to keep the bacteria away.)
What are your wellness goals for the new year? At Made by Yoke, we’re committed to helping you get there. Shop our newest products here and read more wellness tips here.
