Even when you commit your life to following rituals for self-care and renewal you can get hit with a curveball, especially around Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Maintaining your healthy lifestyle, sticking to weight loss goals, or sticking to any kind of self-improvement plan is not easy. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Make it even harder. One wrong decision can lead to a bad habit that seems impossible to break. I’ve been on a long journey with my health and fitness, but I can attest to the many struggles that come along with this personal commitment. However, I’ve found that these challenges can cause you to take a closer look inside to find resilience and remember the many reasons why you became passionate about health and wellness in the first place. And the end of the year is the perfect time to do it.

My interest in beauty, health, and wellness came from my exceptional mother who was a registered nurse. She lived her life serving others and caring for people of all ages with illnesses. Unfortunately, she passed away after fighting cancer but what she taught me never left me. She was always so focused on caring for others that she rarely made time for herself. Many of my family members suffered from health conditions, and I became very health conscious at an early age. But that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t plagued with temptations that were not good for me.

Ultimately, you have to learn to take care of yourself. It isn’t always a natural instinct and sometimes people will even make you feel guilty for putting yourself first. Having a health scare will cause you to refocus your energies on being good to yourself. Self-care Sundays are perfect for taking time to reflect on what loving and caring for yourself means. Through the storms of life, I’ve come up with a few simple self-care rituals that leave me feeling like a functioning human being and I’m glad to share.

Eat More Cake

A moment of tasteful indulgence can make the world of a difference. I find renewal in eating a perfectly prepared slice of cake with a coffee or glass of wine. Usually it’s from the deli at Publix or from Starbucks (although recently I found some darn good slices for $1.00 at Walmart). I take my time to enjoy the flavors and mindfully eat each bite. In that moment, I’m taken away from tribulation and filled with endorphins that say everything is good.

Do Absolutely Nothing

It’s hard to be lazy sometimes but finding balance means being still enough to reflect, relax, and renew. Sometimes it’s okay to take some time to do nothing. That means turning it all off and just listening to some music and laying on the couch. You’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel afterwards. 

Take a Bubble Bath

Grab the candles and your favorite bubble bath. Fill up the tub and get in the water. You might feel anxious at first and have to convince yourself to enjoy the moment. Try to let go of all of your thoughts, plans, and concerns and just enjoy the special little private getaway that you’ve created just for you.

Create a Gratitude Journal

Write down all of the things that you are grateful for. Take some time to think about the many great things that are going on in your life. It can be easy to get stressed and overburdened with daily tasks, but a gratitude journal will help you to think about positive things and feel better about your life. Do you have a great family? Did you make an exciting new dish for dinner last night? Did you finally pick out the perfect nail color? There’s always something to be thankful for.

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