SOUL CARE RITUALS

How are you —
mind, body, and soul?

Our reality has been rattled by the seismic earthquake called COVID-19. New boundaries to protect our bodies are starting to wear on our minds: a recent survey by the CDC revealed anxiety symptoms are 3x higher and depression symptoms are 4x higher compared to this same time last year.

Our senses are ultra-heightened during everyday tasks like remembering that mask before running to the grocery store; blue light exposure and screen time has skyrocketed from workday video calls and increased social media scrolling. Air hugs are such cheap medicine in place of the healing power of a warm squeeze.

These broad shifts to our outer life have spurred me to take a deeper look at my inner life - how I’m caring for myself and in turn caring for others. I believe this time requires something deeper than self-care, something more holistic: practicing intentional rituals that nourish your mind, body, and soul, as well as help bridge this distanced reality to keep connecting with each other.

A FEW IDEAS

four rituals

The truth is that four rituals every day can feel like a lot. So I don’t make it a strict practice to make all four happen everyday – my goal is to practice at least one of the four daily so that I’m thinking holistically about my soul care routine.

CREATIVITY

How will I imagine, wonder, or try something new? Creativity isn’t limited to the traditional artists of the world… we are each a crafter of our own kind, capable of bringing something new and different into the world.

Curate a Fall Pinterest board (here’s mine)
Try a new recipe – I recently juiced some oranges and enjoyed fresh squeezed OJ for an entire week!
5-minute pencil sketches
Pick a Fall Phone Wallpaper

ACTIVITY

How will I connect with and move my body? The truth about our bodies is that they are one thing and one thing only: the vehicle by which we will experience our life. Resist the urge to overcomplicate or over-intensify this. Pick an activity that you truly enjoy + commit to doing it consistently.

Slowly do a guided full-body stretch
Follow this Morning Yoga or Calming Bedtime Yoga
Move for 30 minutes doing whatever activity feels best that day: walking, jogging, cycling, etc.
Bust a move to this playlist

QUIETUDE

How will I make space for peacefulness? This category of rituals is probably most like the mainstream definition of “self-care” – focused on making time to get calm and take care.

Try a guided meditation (I love sleep meditations by Peloton or headspace)
Diffuse this essential oil
Listen to this album
Put a little of this body wash in a hot bath for a bubbly, calming soak
Follow my 31 Journaling Prompts for Gratitude
Follow this She Reads Truth Reading Plan

KINDESS

How will I think outside of myself to help others? This is the difference maker between self-care and soul-care. If we each tended to each other in the same way that we tend to ourselves, won’t the world be a softer place? Mark 12:31 reads, “The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Send an encouraging text or inspirational quote to a different person everyday
Ask what five-minute favor you can do for someone
Drop a surprise basket of treats to your neighbor
Send a letter to a friend (#FundTheUSPS)

LET’S DO THIS

Download the Tracker

Printable Soul Care Tracker

$5.00

A minimal 31-day tracker to help you in your mindfulness + soul care journey.

This printable features four prompts for creating soul care rituals including creativity, activity, quietude and kindness. Document each ritual or habit you’re putting in place and then track your progress by filling in the bubbles, as well as drawing your mood for the day.