28 Days of Loving Self-Care in February

There are so many days to celebrate in February. You can easily turn them into self-care days because February is all about the love! This month, I’ve incorporated a rose theme into many of the suggested activities. Download the self-care tracker below and do them all! February self care challenge.docx

1 Today is Dark Chocolate Day. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which help strengthen your immune system. But you don’t want to eat it in large amounts. So, for Mindfulness Monday, savor a small amount of dark chocolate, mindfully and slowly. Mindful activities like doing one thing completely are good for your mind and body.

2 Tart cherry juice is rich in melatonin. Choose this for your evening drink instead of wine and you will sleep better. Melatonin is helpful in It also reduces inflammation and can help painful joints. It also has shown to be a protective factor against the corona virus.

3 Today is Workout Wednesday. I decided to employ a rose theme for self-care this month. Here is a “Rose Yoga” workout to try.

4 One nice thing about the pandemic is the ability to work from home. You may  not have to look professional every day and you can have some fun. How about a tattoo – a temporary one? For the Valentine month of February, here are some pretty rose tattoos. They are only $1.50. Where will you wear one? Wearing temporary tattoos can be a form of positive rebellion — helping you step out of your patterns in a safe way while avoiding destructive life choices.

5  Today is Wear Red Day for Women’s Heart Health. It’s an easy way to raise awareness of an important health issue. Contribution is a form of self-care because it makes you feel good about yourself.

6 In the UK, there is a social movement on this day called Time To Talk. It involves having conversations to support each other and lessen the stigmas of mental illness, like depression and anxiety. On this day, they encourage people to ask each other “How are you?”…twice. And then listening to the answer. Sounds like a good idea to try!

7 Today is Send a Card to a Friend Day. And Valentine’s Day is in a week. After you pick out your cards, pick up some of the new “LOVE” stamps from the post office. Sending greeting cards is a safe way of connecting wth loved ones and friends that don’t live in your household. During the pandemic, connection is more important than ever.

8 It’s Mindfulness Monday, again! Here  is a Valentine mandala you can print and color. Coloring mandalas is a creative way to relax and manage stress. 

9 Today is National Pizza Day! You can make your own pizza for a fraction of the cost of delivery and it can be a fun family activity. I like Mary’s personal pizza size crusts (3 to a pack). Any canned sauce can be pizza sauce with the addition of a little oregano and some garlic powder. Tomato sauce is rich in Lycopene, an antixoidant which is good for your heart.

10 It’s Workout Wednesday! Last week was yoga and this week is strengthening with weights. Here is a Valentine workout with free weights to try.

11 Make it a thankful Thursday and list 11 things you are grateful to have in your life today.

12 Do you miss mani-pedis? I know I do. Brighten your toenails with some rose pink or red nail polish.

13 Today is Galentine’s Day. It’s a made-up holiday from the TV show, Parks and Recreation. It’s a day for women to affectionately celebrate their female friends. On a good year, you might decide to go out for chocolate fondue or a wine tasting. But this is not a good year, unfortunately. So, why not get together, virtually, for a watch party? I’m watching the star-studded movie, Valentine’s Day. It is $3 to rent on YouTube. Here’s the trailer…

14 Happy Valentine’s Day! Chocolate and roses are nice but a French breakfast is my idea of romantic. Did you know you can order a contact-free Sunday brunch? La Madeleine offers omelettes, Quiche Loraine, croissants, cappucino and even $5 Mimosas to go!

15  Today is a Federal holiday so some of you will have the day off. Take advantage of your time to relax on Mindfulness Monday with soothing essential oils. Essential oils need to be diluted in carrier oil before you can apply them to your skin. I like essential oils that are already diluted and packaged in a convenient roll-on. I have the lavender scented “Chill Pill” Aura Cacia one in my self-care kit. But Aura Cacia also makes a rose oil roll-on. Rose oil helps you relax and is good for your skin. They are sold in grocery stores and online.

16 Today is Mardi Gras! I like to make a Creole/Cajun dinner for Mardi Gras. I also came up with a respectable non-alcoholic Hurricane! Here are my gumbo, salad, bananas foster and hurricane  recipes for Mardi Gras — add a King Cake, some beads and Preservation Jazz Hall tunes and you have a celebration worthy of the Big Easy.

17 It’s Wednesday and you know what that means! Time to work out. This is an oldie but a goodie. If you have not worked out in a while, you should not find this toning workout too difficult or too fast.

18 Do you have a self-care kit? It’s easy to make. All you need is a small box (I use a plastic “school” box) and some inexpensive items that help you relax when you’re feeling anxious, stressed or down. My self-care box has an Aura Cacia lavender essential oil roll-on, a Whole Foods organic peppermint lip balm (I dot it on my wrists — the smell of peppermint helps relieve depression), a Tangle fidget, a hackey sack to squeeze, some hard candy and a lollipop, an essential oil mini pillow spray, a trial size Jergens rose body butter lotion, some crystals and a booklet I made from a mini photo album of things to do when I feel stressed or blue. It has been a real help during the pandemic. What would you put in your kit?

19 Would you like to wake up looking refreshed? A satin pillowcase can help. Less costly than a silk pillowcase, a satin pillowcase helps reduce skin creasing and “bed head” hair. Some people sleep more soundly on one. 

20 Rose quartz is a light pink semi-precious crystal that is associated with romantic love, friendship, platonic love and self-love. Make a rose quartz bracelet and carry that good energy around with you. All you need is a strand of beads ($2 to $10, Michael’s craft stores or Joann’s Fabrics), some .5mm Stretch Magic and jewelry glue (Wal-Mart) or E6000 to hold your square knot secure. Not into bracelets? Buy a rose quartz stone for your pocket, desk or night table. Small ones start at about a dollar from crystal shops.

21 Bubble baths are the ultimate in self-care. Last month, I shared some of the health benefits. Relax in a rose-scented bath with this affordable trial size of rose and peony scent body wash from Method ($2, Target). This would make a nice addition to a self-care kit for yourself or to gift to a friend. Other brands with rosy scents include Dove, Olay and St. Ives.

22 Mindfulness Monday is here again. Has the pandemic or other stressors caused you to be more anxious than usual? I know that is true for me. Here is a guided meditation.

 

23 Rose hip and hibiscus tea is a scarlet red herbal blend that is full of flavor and rich in vitamin C and other nutrients. In addition to being good for your immune system, rose hips can help alleviate arthritis and hibiscus can lower your blood pressure. Look for these ingredients in Celestial Seasons Red Zinger tea, Twinings Holiday Berry and many other varieties sold on Amazon.

24 Did you know that trying new dance routines is good for your brain? This is one of the best bellydancing videos I have tried. The instructor patiently and slowly goes through each movement so you can perfect your form, while remaining safe. Bellydancing uses muscles we don’t activate everyday but these moves can strengthen your arms and core. I don’t recommend certain bellydancing “exercise” videos (Leilah Isaac is a big “no”) because they go TOO quickly and pay less attention to form. The result, especially for a novice, could be injury.  Another excellent video/instruction book set was published by Barnes and Noble by Carolena Nericcio. You can find it second-hand on Amazon.

25 Cold, winter air and forced air heat leads to dry skin. I tried this rose-scented lotion and really liked it. You may be able to find the trial size for your self-care kit: Jergens Body Butter Rose. 

26 Proponents of rose quartz face rolling say it drains lymphatic system, reduces eye circles and minimizes fine lines, while relaxing tension and decreasing stress. Some people chill them in the refrigerator. You can find YouTube videos that demonstrate how to use them. The least expensive rose quartz face roller I have found was $5 at Five Below, making this an affordable, feel-good splurge.

27 One of my favorite, low-carb breakfasts has the colors of Valentine’s Day. It’s just plain, whole milk yogurt, topped with fresh raspberries and a drizzle of honey (if desired). It is so satisfying, it will keep you full until lunch-time. Raspberries are low-glycemic so they do not raise your blood sugar as quickly as some other fruits. This also makes a good smoothie!

28 Today is International Hygge Day! That is the Danish term for an important part of their culture that is truly the ultimate form of cozy, gentle, relaxed-pace self-care. Hygge can get you through the last cold days of winter. It characteristically involves

• Quality time with your friends and family (or if alone, a pet or soft blanket)
• Maintaining healthy work/life balance
• Mindfulness
• Less of an emphasis on “things”
• Deplugging from social media and TV
• Soft lighting: string lights, candles and fireplaces
• Warm, fuzzy socks and soft, oversized knit sweaters
• Snuggling with cushy throw blankets, sofas and pillows
• Comfort foods and oversized mugs of steaming tea, coffee or hot chocolate
• Having a leisurely coffee break or  brunch 
• Favorite books, crafts, knitting, etc.