YASSSS! You’ve officially decided to start a radical self-care journey! First, I want to congratulate you on intentionally deciding to put yourself first! This is such a big step and probably the best decision that you will ever make. After the initial excitement wears off you’ll probably be thinking to yourself “Now what?” *Cue Internal Panic*
“What did I just get myself into??“, “There’s not a radical bone in my body!! “, “I’M TOO YOUNG TO SMASH THE PATRIARCHY!” SNAP OUT OF IT GRRRL! As always, I’ve got you covered. 🤞🏾✨ The term “radically life changing journey” can seem a bit… overwhelming, and trust me I have been there. I actually have a couple properties there.
The most reassuring piece of advice that I can give you is that you are completely in control of your radical self-care journey. Radical self-care journeys are completely unique to each individual because it is all about YOU, which means that the pace that you go and how you decide to spend your time is completely up to your own discretion. Some grrrls prefer to swan dive head first into the radical self-care deep end, and others prefer to sip a Piña Colada by the shallow end. Whatever your vibe is, here are five sink-proof ideas that you can add to, or use to begin, your radical self-care routine!
1. Spend More Time Outside
When I first started my radical self-care journey it was the dead of winter. I know, perfect timing. If you’re from the northeast you know that cold is an understatement for the temper tantrum mother nature throws during the snowy seasons. On top of the frigid weather conditions, I never ever EVER! considered myself much of an outdoor person. If I was outside nine times out of ten it was just to transition to another indoor location, but for some reason I didn’t care anymore.
I had every reason to stop before I even started and I still kept going. This is NOT me telling you to brave hazardous elements in the name of radical self-care because I probably shouldn’t have either. But that’s why I share my story, so that you can learn from my mistakes and know that when you eventually make your own mistakes because there is no such thing as perfect that you are not alone. There are plenty of ways to achieve this step ✨safely✨.
Starting small is better than not starting at all. If weather permits, try going for a leisurely walk, or simply sitting outside and soak up the sun. If your alter ego is sporty spice then feel free to kick it up a notch! If the weather isn’t cooperating with your plans to achieve greatness, then you could always open your window and let in some fresh air or just open your curtains and sit within a sunspot in your house. This tip is so underrated, you’ll thank me later! Whatever activity you choose based on your comfort level and local weather conditions, spending more time outside is proven to have a positive impact on mental health by helping to relieve anxiety, stress, and depression.
2. Spend More Time In Your Kitchen
This is the funniest piece of advice for me to give out because when I first started my self-care journey my idea of cooking was reheating dino nuggets and mac and cheese. Grrrl, I could not cook… at all, so this is a full circle moment for me because now I could probably last two rounds on Master Chef Jr.
I probably don’t have to explain to you the direct correlation the food you eat has on the state of your overall health, and I have zero interest in pretending to police your plate. Buzzkilllllll. Instead I want to talk about how much fun cooking can actually be! For me cooking is less about how the meal I am making turns out and more about the experience I create for myself while doing it.
The key to actually enjoying spending time in the kitchen is a popping playlist! Set the mood grrrl! Are you in a fun and bubbly mood? Throw on that grrrls night playlist that makes you feel like you have Megan knees™️! Caught the travel bug? Listen to French cafe music and pretend you’re on top of someone’s head controlling their body by tugging on their hair. Oh wait, that’s the plot to Ratatouille. Get lost in the vibe that you are creating so that you forget that you’re actually doing work. Create a space where you aren’t thinking about anything other than being present and living in the moment. And the best part about this tip is that after you’re done there will always be a delicious surprise!
3. Spend More Time In The Mirror
It’s not like I was ever *afraid* of looking in the mirror but I’m definitely guilty as charged for avoiding it a time or two. Radical self-care is all about starting the journey back to yourself, so as scary as it seems you can run but you can’t hide from the sight of yourself or spending time with yourself either!
This tip may seem like the easiest one but it can actually prove to be very challenging for some, and that is perfectly okay. That’s why you are on a self-care journey, it won’t always be difficult to do, eventually you will feel more comfortable. Try to add a little more time outside of your daily habits that require you to look in a mirror and really focus on yourself.
The time you spend looking at yourself in the mirror is completely up to you, it’s your ✨personal time✨ to connect with yourself. When I first started to spend more time in the mirror I felt… awkward. Umm, How long am I supposed to stand here in silence like a zombie? As soon as my eyes met an insecurity I stopped looking, which cut my time with myself short and made me feel even worse. So I decided to start off by finding one new feature to admire or one new quality to appreciate.
Just by making that small change I began to notice an increase in my confidence. Before my mind could find ways to make me feel insecure I already developed a list of new things that I found pride in. Soon it became a habit to look in the mirror and love what I saw! I wasn’t just looking in the mirror anymore, I was singing and dancing and having fun enjoying my own company. I was on tour performing mirror concerts every night. Beyonce WHO?
You are officially ready to start your radical self-care journey! You are doing an amazing job and I am very proud of you. Remember not to push yourself too hard or be unkind to yourself along the way. Any action taken to move forward and create a positive relationship with yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually is progress. Leave me a comment and tell me which way you are going to start your radical self-care journey! Now go have fun with it and ✨stay radical✨
