Self-Care Rituals for Winter
Well, the holidays are over, and winter is in full swing. Days may be getting longer, but we still have a ways to go until we see 8 p.m. sunsets again.
We have put together a quick guide to some of our go-to ways to practice self-care when winter gets a little too dark and dreary – and of course some Shoppe Geo products to help you along the way!
Journaling
Two of our favorite things to journal about are our dreams and our gratitude.
Start your mornings by writing down everything you can remember from your dreams the night before. Some days this will be very detailed, others abstract, sometimes you will just remember flashes of images or tiny details. This is a great exercise to get in touch with your higher self and it is also a helpful way to get your mind moving in the morning – especially when waking up before sunrise is making your mornings sluggish!
Finish your evening by writing down everything you are grateful for that happened during that day. During stressful OR monotonous times, this is a wonderful way to keep yourself grounded and your outlook in perspective. Even on a day when life is feeling bleak or stagnant, it is helpful to focus on the small gifts of the universe – was your coffee the perfect temperature on the first sip? A load of laundry was finished without any stray socks? You found your missing lip balm in your other coat pocket? Keep track of the little joys. They add up.
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Yoga
Getting endorphins flowing is one of the best ways to break out of the seasonal blues. We’re not going to tell you to start training for a marathon or anything, but raising your heart rate and breaking a sweat even a few times a week can make an enormous difference.
Of course, our favorite ways to get the blood flowing is with some yoga. Set personal intentions for yourself before each practice or have an instructor (online or in person) set one for you! You can find tons of free yoga classes for any level of yoga practitioner on YouTube. This is a fantastic place to start if you want to expand your yoga knowledge and create a daily ritual for yourself.
Aside from endorphin-boosting, yoga is a very grounding practice. Even doing a quick 5-minute flow can help keep anxiety or stress from spiraling out of control. It can also assist in settling the mind after a long day of working, or scrolling through the news, or just being alive. Use this time to connect with your higher self to find new, enlightened perspective – both on and off the mat.
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Meditation
Speaking of settling the mind – meditating is a historically tried and true method for achieving inner peace – even just for a few minutes. The main goal when meditating should be to gain awareness for the present moment in time – clearing the mind of all else. This is, of course, far easier said than done – but no pressure! Taking a simple, quiet moment to yourself to focus on your breathing is a fantastic start already.
Start your meditation journey with our Meditation Stones – a boxed crystal collection that includes 7 genuine crystals, and a guide to the metaphysical properties of each crystal, and hand mudras (or hand postures) to use when meditating.
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Affirmations
If you know us, you know we love affirmations and mantras. Speaking kind and encouraging words to yourself can be as powerful as hearing them from another person. For a boost in self-love and clarity on dark days, grab a piece of rose quartz or citrine, look yourself in the eye in a mirror, or put a pen to paper and say:
I look to brighter days on the horizon
I find the light in each day
I find the peace in each day
I let my mind support my body, and my body support my mind
I love myself unconditionally and unwaveringly
Is there more you want to say to yourself? Is there something you wish you could hear from a loved one? Add it to the list of affirmations! Be creative. Challenge yourself to come up with a new affirmation every day. Life is less lonely when you enjoy your own company.
