I gotta put me first Luscious-- self care ideas

Originally published on February 25, 2018. Over four years later and this list still hits. OG list with some 2022 edits.

1. Listen to dope music. Press play and vibe to it while you read the rest of this post. I'm talking about the kind of music that can take you somewhere else, not just in your mind but in your soul. You'll know. 

2. Take care of the outside, to take care of the inside. It's not always true what people say, "When you look good, you feel good", but it's worth a try. No need in going through a struggle and looking like you're going through a struggle. Shower, shave, get a wax, do your hair, paint your nails and toes, change your hair color. Do whatever it takes to make you look beautiful. Put your favorite picture of yourself as the screensaver on your phone or laptop. Regard yourself as beautiful in every form. 

3. Read inspirational quotes and scriptures. I live by quotes and scriptures, especially randomly. Follow inspirational accounts on social media. Download apps that send you quotes and scriptures throughout your day. Decorate your personal space with words of affirmation. Put your favorite quotes as a screensaver on your phone or laptop. Force yourself to think positively, until it's no longer forced. It sounds cliche, but you are what you consume. Put the words you need in your environment and your environment will change.

4. Write. Get all your feelings out of your head, and onto paper. Write down how you feel, how you want to feel, what you deserve, what you realize, what you affirm, your goals, your fears. Don't think, just write. Tried and true. Journals will always be that girl. Writing will always be in style. Not in your notes app, not in a blog post, not on social media (please, not on social media). In a journal. Write.

5. Be naked, in all ways. Nudity is often associated with sex, but it's so much deeper than that. Being naked forces vulnerability. You can't hide from anything about yourself when you're naked, physically and mentally. Be open and honest with your true self. Look at yourself. Learn to love what you see. Appreciate the true you. Lean into the vulnerability. You'll be pleasantly surprised. Might want to masturbate too. You'll be surprised there as well. 

6.Treat yourself. I am a retail therapy guru. Sometimes when I don't feel good I buy something. This can be dangerous if you have expensive taste, but treating yourself doesn't have to be something extravagant. Ice cream. Candle. Mani + pedi. Phone case. Shoes. Food. Massage. Make yourself feel special with a little "from me to me" gift. You deserve it! I still encourage the spending, but remember that financial wisdom is a form of self-care. Splurge when you can, but save before you splurge. You don't always deserve it and I am not a guru. 

7. Speak to yourself gently.  What you say to yourself matters. It's weird at first; looking in a mirror and saying "I love you", "You are beautiful", or "You matter to me. It's very weird, but positive self-talk is essential. We all love to receive praise, but forget to give it to ourselves. How you speak to yourself is how others learn to speak to you. You've done much weirder things while you're alone than talk positively about yourself. I would venture to say that this may be on the less weird side for some. Start talking in private, so there is no confusion in public.  

8. Ignore the world for a while. Mainly the social media world. Looking into the lives of others can lead to you not appreciating your own. Unplug from what they're doing and plug into yourself. Trust me, no matter how beautiful their life looks to you on the outside, they have their days too. When what's happening with them is starting to be negatively weigh on what' happening with you, it may be time to check out. Whatever it is you think you'll be missing, will be waiting when you get back.

xo,

BLT