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We all know that we should take care of ourselves. Yet, it can be difficult to find the time or figure out how. When it’s your emotions that need a bit of TLC, the following five ideas for emotional self care can help to bolster you up and keep you going or bring you back from the brink of tears. At the bottom of this article there is an emotional self-care checklist which you can download to help you keep track of when you take time for yourself each week. There’s even space on the checklist include your own ideas.

Light a Candle 

There’s something magical about a single flame. Take a moment to yourself to light a candle, look at the flame and take a few deep breaths. Scented candles can really elevate this experience, be sure to use your favorite fragrance. If you have 90 seconds to sit, breathe and look at the flame great. If you have 10 minutes even better. The idea is to do something small for yourself and to release as much of the stress that you feel as you can, when you light that flame.

Journal 

Writing down what’s going on in your life can be very cathartic. Take a moment each day or when you’re feeling frustrated or crunchy inside to journal. You can just write down your feelings or you can write down the thoughts that are in your head as they come. There is no right or wrong way to journal. Simply put pen to paper and let your hand go.

Create a Gratitude List 

Add gratitude to your list of tools for emotional self-care. When we take the time to think about what we’re grateful for, it can lift our spirits and heal our hearts. Take a moment each evening or every morning to write down three things that you’re grateful for. When you write them down don’t just put pen to paper. When you write down the things that you’re grateful for, take a moment to feel the gratitude. Let the joy swell in your heart as you think about these things that you’ve written down that you are grateful for.

Thank A Friend 

It helps us to feel good when we do good. Your friends are an amazing and important part of your life. When you take some time to thank them for simply being who they are, it is also a form of emotional self-care for you. Take some time, at the very least each week, to thank someone in your life for being the amazing person that they are.

You can do this in several ways. A simple text is a great way to quickly do this without interrupting your day. If you are up for it and can find the time, writing a thank you card and putting it in the mail will surely brighten their day, when they receive it among the pile of junk in their mailbox. You could also send a quick email. Or even take a moment to call and tell them on the phone. If you’re like me you might hope that it goes to voicemail so that you can just leave the message but either way picking up the phone will truly improve their day and yours.

Do Yoga 

Our minds, bodies, and emotions are connected. Doing yoga helps to not only strengthen and stretch your body, it helps to adjust and improve your emotions. If you can, work yoga as a daily practice in to your life. It doesn’t mean that you need to do 90 minutes of hot yoga every single day. It’s simply implies that 5 to 7 minutes of yoga in the morning or the evening can be a form of emotional self-care and help you to feel better. 

Take Action 

Self-care is self-preservation. While it can be difficult to find the time to take care of yourself when you have so much going on with the kids, work, your marriage, and life in general, it’s vital to your existence. When you take care of yourself you are in a better place to take care of others. When you take care of yourself, you’re more likely to show up ready to do your best at work and at home. You now have five ideas for emotional self care at your fingertips. Choose one and work it into your schedule today. To help you take action you can download the emotional self care ideas checklist below and mark off when you do these things for yourself each week. There’s even a space for you to include your own ideas for emotional self care.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, these self-care tips will help.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Rose Gold Mine, my free resource library. You’ll get  free printable worksheets, workbooks, and checklists to help with goal setting, time management and self-care for busy moms.