Tag Archives: self-care

Love Month? Nah, YOU Month

, , , ,
Image-of-illustrated-woman-sitting-in-flower-watering-a-pot-with-hearts

Ah, another February, another Valentine’s Day come and gone. Which means that there’s still time for another unconventional Love Day blog post. Thankfully, I’m not alone this year in my semi-refusal to indulge in all things red, pink, and Hallmark. Instead of going down the path of unconventional romance tales or creep-tastic bloody Valentines, though, we’re going to do something not too far off the beaten road- a little look into self-love, because no relationship trumps the relationship you have with yourself. Even romantic-comedy guru, Emily in Paris’ Lily Collins is in the know, writing “no relationship is greater than the one I have with myself”, in her 2017 biography Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me (and in discovering that, I’ve also just found out that the “when someone shows you who they are, believe them” quote rallying one corner of social media is also from the same biography. Huh, the more you know.)

Well, maybe I should say that this blog is going to delve into self-love through the practice of self-care. Not just any old, five-minute Buzzfeed-read type of self-care, either. Our library shelves are full of ways to take care of yourself, mind, body, and spirit, and I’ve done my best to grab some of the best from our collection. So, if you’re ready to settle in, put on a fluffy bathrobe (or comfy equivalent), and be with yourself (and me) for a little while, let’s dive in.

Continue reading →

The Art of Getting Cozy

, , , ,

“In November, the trees are standing all sticks and bones. Without their leaves, how lovely they are, spreading their arms like dancers. They know it is time to be still.”

— Cynthia Rylant, In November

Here November is, a precursor to the long hard slog of a Canadian winter, and what a chilled November it is. It’s a month of in-betweens and a month of rushing: to get out of the cold, to enjoy what daylight there is, to get our shopping done or take advantage of the sales, to hurry toward our still-far-off holidays and the new year, anything to distract us from right here, right now.

It is, in short, a month that threatens misery and exhaustion…unless you decide to make like the clever creatures of the wild and get cozy. Unfortunately, we live in a society where human hibernation is not really viable (although maybe it could be one day), but that doesn’t mean we can’t get into the spirit of settling in somewhere warm and indulging in comfort.

Continue reading →

Ponytails & Pyjamas: Beauty Routines in Self-Isolation

, , , , ,

Did I brush my teeth today? I wonder as I fire up my laptop for another day of working at home. As I sip my coffee and reply to the latest emails, I become increasingly aware of my unwashed hair, but since there’s no one to see it, what’s the harm in leaving it just one more day? Then again, I do have that important Zoom meeting at 2 pm. I should probably look a little more presentable for that. Surely some muted lighting will help hide the tired, dark circles under my eyes. And there’s nothing that a high ponytail can’t solve.

As each day melts into the next during social isolation, it’s easy to neglect even the most basic self-care rituals. I was never a high maintenance gal to begin with, but I feel myself slipping even further into lazy habits. The problem is, once you start wearing your pyjamas around all day, the malaise can trickle into other areas of your life.

Beauty isn’t just about the superficial. How you feel about your appearance can have a strong negative impact on productivity and energy. You might stop video chatting with your family and friends because you “don’t look good right now.” You’ll probably skip that afternoon walk worried because your hair is frizzy and your grey roots are showing. And now that you’re in your pyjamas – so soft and warm –  a little nap couldn’t hurt. But once you’re in that cozy bed, it’s oh-so-hard to get back up again.

So what can we do to feel better in these challenging times? How can we create a realistic and manageable beauty routine while being kind to ourselves? Continue reading →