Sunday is for Self-Care
A self-care Sunday is a time to slow down and unwind. It is a day for rest and gentle nourishment. Whether you’re off for the day’s work, you’ve had a long week, or it’s simply cold outside and all you need is a warm and cozy day to tend for yourself. Dedicate your Sundays for rest and wellbeing, letting go of all the tension from the week, so that you start fresh and regenerated. Here are our top self-care tips & tricks for the perfect Sunday ritual.
4 Recipes for your Self-Care Sunday
1. A Steamy Bath
Treat yourself to a steamy bath for your self-care Sunday. Baths are great ways to let go of tension that is stagnant within the muscles and tissues of the body. Warm water helps to ‘sweat out’ unwanted toxins and relax tense muscles. This can aid in unwinding and relaxing, especially after an enduring week. The following recipe uses floral, woody and grounding oils to help calm the body. Feel free to combine any essential oils of your liking, diluting up to 10 drops in 1 tbsp of carrier oil.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Epsom or sea salt
- 1/3 cup bicarbonate soda
- 1 tbsp carrier oil (ie. sweet almond, jojoba or olive oil)
- 2 drops clary sage essential oil
- 3 drops lavender essential oil
- 3 drops cypress essential oil
- 2 drops cedarwood atlas essential oil
- optional: lavender buds or flowers of your choice
Mix ingredients in a bowl and pour into a warm bath. Bathe for as long as needed, soaking in the essential oils and aromas, relaxing and letting go of all the tension stored in the body.
2. DIY Exfoliating Body Scrub
Letting go doesn’t always have to be emotional, it can come in the form of letting go of toxins and stagnation within the body. A regular exfoliating practice helps get rid of old and dead skin cells, improving the skin’s clarity and texture by unclogging pores and boosting circulation.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup ground coffee beans
- 1/2 cup cane sugar
- 1/2 cup sweet almond, jojoba and/or grapeseed oil
- 15 drops lemon essential oil
- 10 drops cedarwood atlas essential oil
Blend dry ingredients with the oils in a clean bowl and pour the mixture into a sterilised jar. Store in a cool, dry place, or refrigerate for up to 6 months. Use when needed, massaging your hands and calves in a gentle, circular motion.
3. Facial Steam
This facial steam is the perfect treat to your self-care Sunday. Peppermint, thyme and lavender are renowned for relieving the respiratory tract, relaxing the nervous system, and cooling down the body. This recipe is especially beneficial for symptoms of colds and flus.
Ingredients:
- a bowl of warm water
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil
- 2 drops thyme essential oil
- 1 drop lavender essential oil
Mix ingredients in warm water. Take caution with the temperature, making sure the vapour won’t burn the skin. Grab a towel and wrap it around your head and the bowl. Breathing in the aromas and steaming for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Lymphatic Oil Massage
Lymphatic oil massages are a great way to release tension that is stored in the muscles and tissues of the body. This can help facilitate the movement of blood flow throughout the body’s organs and cells, leaving you relaxed and rejuvenated.
Ingredients:
- 30 ml sweet almond oil
- 2 drops cedarwood atlas essential oil
- 2 drops ginger essential oil
- 1 drops rosemary essential oil
- 1 drop lemon essential oil
Blend ingredients in a sterilised 30ml dropper bottle and use when needed. For a lymphatic oil massage: blend the oil between your hands and massage, starting from your feet, going up towards the direction of your heart. Incorporate long, soothing strokes against tender muscles, adding pressure and stimulation when needed. When you reach your heart, gently tap against your chest in a continuous, vibrating motion. Repeat for as long as needed.
Enjoy, unwind, relax.
These are just some of the many ways you can make space for yourself on a Sunday afternoon or eve. Brew a cup of tea, and tend to the parts of yourself that are often neglected. Make way for the old to be released so that you begin your new week feeling fresh and renewed.