BY STEPHANIE VALENTE
Here are some things I do when I’m feeling tired or need some care:
1. Meditate with an items that is sacred to you. Whether is a precious stone, a favorite heirloom, or a beloved tarot card, bring this item with you when you focus on your breath and body.
2. Journal. Whether it's morning pages, afternoon scribbles, or night writing, put pen to paper and let your stream of conscious flow.
3. Take a sea salt bath. Pop on some tunes, maybe add a bath bomb, and soak away.
4. Make a short gratitude list. What are you thankful for today?
5. Explore. Whether you live in a rural area or a bustling city, go see what's around you. Don't plan your route.
6. Do it up with some face masks. Score a bunch of masks at a drug store or make one with common kitchen ingredients like honey and brown sugar.
7. Send yourself a love note. Bust out your phone and record a message for yourself. What do you love about yourself? What is something positive that happened to you today? What are you wishing for?
8. Get moving with a five minute workout. Yoga, pilates, stretching, lunges, squats, and more... get your muscles warmed up with a simple and quick (and free!) fitness video on Youtube.
9. Make a playlist. Curate some grooves for all sorts of simple and relaxing activities like cooking, making coffee, chilling out, napping, relaxing, walking, you name it.
10. Cast a self-love spell. Whether it's a tried and true magical spell or a new ritual, get yourself to accept and fall in love with yourself.
11. Develop self-care rituals and traditions that are totally-you. Do you have a favorite lounging outfit? Do you make tea and watch one of your favorite films? Do you dance around your living room before going to sleep? Whatever it is, put it into practice.
12. Turn off your phone. Shut. It. Off. For at least ten minutes. See what happens.
13. Phone a friend. Catching up is good for you.
14. Send an email... with a twist. Write someone in your life a short and positive letter without expecting any praises in return.
15. Unsubscribe from e-mail newsletters. It's clogging up your inbox, draining your wallet, or just plain out distracting you.
16. Spend time alone. Because it's glorious.
17. Get lost in a book. Discover yourself... somewhere else... in another plot.
18. Zone in on a podcast. Whether it's self-help, an indulgent romance tale, comedy, or something new, listen in.
19. Take a pause and repeat some affirmations. Step out from your current situation, take some deep breaths, and recite some empowering mantras.
20. Ground yourself. There's isn't one way to ground yourself – but always set intentions in your practice. Other ways to ground include visualizing, carrying or wearing Smoky Quartz, go out in nature, express gratitude.
Stephanie Valente lives in Brooklyn, NY. She has published Hotel Ghost (Bottlecap Press, 2015) and waiting for the end of the world (Bottlecap Press, 2017) and has work included in Susan, TL;DR, and Cosmonauts Avenue. Sometimes, she feels human. http://stephanievalente.com