{originally a post from the More White Space blog sereis}

We know it’s important to have a regular exercise and fitness routine. We know it’s important to get a good night’s sleep and to eat the right foods.

So, if we’re doing those things well, is that enough to say we are taking care of ourselves?

Sadly. No. I wish it was enough.

We all need something more–something unique. We all need nurturing, care and support from ourselves in different ways. That’s why I wrote today’s post. I’m the guiltiest of the guilty when it comes to these. I like to say, “well, at least I know what I need to do” but honestly, unless I’m doing it, I know how I feel. I know how I interact with others.

3 Self-Care Routines You Might Not Be Doing…But You Better Start Today

1. Practice Being Quiet.
Stop talking. Stop thinking. Turn off the chatter outside and inside. Silence allows peace to grow. If you’re constantly thinking, working, worrying, talking on the phone, watching tv, reading, it’s like having a radio on in every single room of your house…it gets distracting after awhile…and then totally derails all your attention. It sucks up all your energy.

First Steps:
Spend 5-10 minutes each morning breathing deeply. Keep your eyes closed and just pay attention to your breath. Notice how I didn’t call this what it actually is … meditation.

2. Indulge Yourself Often.
You hold back from having a drink at dinner. You stop yourself from going to dinner with friends. You barely laugh when watching a movie. You never allow yourself to buy 3 pairs of shoes at once. Whatever your indulgence of choice might be, you likely restrict yourself from it often.
(Smack on the hand!) Stop it.

First Steps:
Do 1 super indulgent activity today. Take an extra long shower. Get a pedicure. Stay in your pajamas all day long. Tell your husband to take the kids out for the entire day. Schedule a private yoga session with your favorite teacher. Do something you normally think, “oh I don’t have time for that.”

3. Drop The Guilt
Seriously. I’m the queen of this one. Do you feel guilty when you don’t do something on time? When you think something’s your fault? When your child is unhappy? When your spouse is in a bad mood? When you forget to call someone on their birthday? When you don’t remember to indulge yourself? Stop. Drop. Roll outta that NOW. It’s not serving you or anyone.

First Steps:
The next time you feel a twinge of guilt–often in the form of thoughts like “oh damn, I wish I had done x,” or “oh no, what can I do to fix x,”or “oh no, why did I think to x,”– own that you feel guilty and then ask yourself this questions:

* Why do I feel guilty?
* Did I actually do something to create this situation? If yes, then how can I move forward or find a solution to the problem? If not, you can still help find a solution, but not feel guilty.
* Who am I helping or hurting by feeling guilty? I’ll answer it for you: NO ONE.