Self Care Sundae... yumm

It's a new era, one where we spend the majority of our days working, preparing for work, in the vehicle getting to and from commitments, taking care of the needs of our family in our "spare time", and not to mention taking care of our homes somehow before we fall flat in bed ready for sleep.

Stress is the name of the main character in our motion picture called life, and to keep it at bay, we have to SCHEDULE time for ourselves in order to relax.

But why? Why should we make the time to do this so-called "relaxing"? Not to mention, what do we actually do when we take this important time for ourselves?

The answer is simple.

Your body is your temple.

Your mind is your sanctuary.

You may not have been given a title at birth like Queen, or Duchess, however you are allowed to treat yourself as one.

If you were a queen, would you allow yourself to be underappreciated?

Be run down?

No, you would push hard for what you want, still taking account for the needs of your people, and still making sure your needs at met. You'd soak in milk baths, feed yourself the most beautiful array of fresh food, and dress in the most exquisite crushed velvet robes.

You would not be looking for a prince to come and save you, or a dam in distress to take home and care for your chores, instead you would look for an equal partner, a King or Queen, to stand by your side, and help you hold the fort.

If you are depleted, you will eventually run empty and your body or mind, or both, will give up. The answer as to how you take care of yourself is not as specific as a recipe, but rather it's like a buffet of wonderful toppings to add to your sundae.

Number one, start with a solid base.

Know what you're pushing for. What are your passions and dreams? We spend approximately 50% of our total time in life at work. Make sure your job helps you, not hinders your growth in life. Do what you love, you're never too old to go back to school, or talk to experts to help you turn your dream into a reality.

Number two, choose the layers appropriately.

The people you choose to partner with, this means life partner, best friends, co-workers turned amigos, or groups you associate with, can either bring you up in life, or suck the life and joy out of you. It's not that the ones who we don't match up with are bad people, or better/worst than us, it's that we are all in different places in life, and want many different things. Choose a partner who will see you as an equal, who you both share respect, and trust for one another. Choose friends whose beliefs are in line with your own, who you can feel safe with, and know that they will encourage you.

Number three, the glass matters.

Whether your taste is minimal, or extravagant, antique or brand new, decorate your body, your home, and your life with your flair. Express yourself, and don't be afraid to beat to your own drum. Remember, material items can not come with us when we die, so don't live to pay off our purchases, instead live within your means, and learn a want from a need.

Number four, start sprinkling the extras.

Now it's time for some fun, like we weren't having some already!?

We enjoy our job, we're happy to come home, and we feel blessed with the people in our lives so next we need some quality "me" time:

Some idea's are...

-Take a bath, throw in a bath bomb, light some candles, listen to your music

-Go for a walk, whether in the morning, or a lunch, or in the evening

-Don't rush yourself in the morning, wake up a little early to sip your tea or coffee

-Yoga, even if it's only 20 minutes a day

-Crank the tunes while you get dressed in the morning, dance around and even sing

-Get a manicure, or a pedicure. Go crazy, choose bold colours.

-Take extra care of your skin, use organic skin care brands and embrace your beauty

-Cook some new dishes, find some inspiration and use fresh herbs or market fresh ingredients