Self-care Summer: August Review

Hello! Welcome back! And just like that, the seemingly endless stretch of summer holidays is over, the kids are back in school, and I am back in the studio. In case you missed it, this year I took August off. First by accident, then on purpose to spend time with the family and it was our best summer yet!

I was able to organise many adventures and spend quality time with the family in a way that we hadn’t quite managed in previous years. To sustain this level of constant exertion, I made it a priority to maintain my own self-care. So I could pour from my overflow, and not from an empty cup, as I am prone to doing. Here’s some of the self-care wins that helped me maintain my wellness and sanity over the intense 6 week.

Self-care is making time for your self

Slow Mornings

Parenting is intense, and the 6 weeks holidays up the ante, making it essential to carve out time for yourself. One of my favourite ways to do this is with my Slow Mornings. It’s the only time in the day that I get to sit with my own thoughts, read, journal, stretch and be silent without interruption.

What does a slow morning look like?

My slow morning routine is simple yet highly rewarding and I always feel ready for the day after it. The first thing I do each morning is check in with myself and set my intentions for the day. The list of between 2 and 3 things are rooted in my emotions and how I want to feel  throughout that day. It’s a new practice and I am still figuring it out but I  love the focus on how I feel and what I want out of my day emotionally.

After that, I grab my mat and work-out, I rotate between mobility exercises, strength training and yoga. After my work-out, I make a large pot of loaded coffee and sit at my desk, where I journal for 20 minutes. I read for 30 minutes or more depending on how I’m doing for time. I then check my schedule and tasks for the day before I start my work.

This simple routine lets me check in with myself mentally, physically and emotionally, and allows me to address any issues that arise and adjust my day accordingly. I especially like that it eases me into the day rather than catapulting me into it.

I live and breathe by my slow mornings, and I highly recommend you try your own version of it too. You can simplify my routine even more and get up just 30 minutes before your usual wake up time. Use that time to make a good cup of tea or coffee, and either read or journal or simply sit with yourself and your thoughts. You’ll be surprised at what surfaces either way you’ll not regret it.

Self-care is closing your day

One of the habits I adopted during self-care summer was the practise of closing my day. According to chat GPT, it is a “gentle ritual of intentionally wrapping up your day—physically, mentally, and emotionally—so you can shift into rest with more ease.” I was inspired to start the practise after reading’ Think Like a Monk’ by Jay Shetty, who stated that most of us roll one day into the next, carrying through the same burdens and concerns from the previous day forward with us.

What does Closing the Day look like:

My closing day practice starts with a shower, where I feel like I am physically washing off the day and its stresses (our lavender bar helps invite the feeling of calm and ease into the routine.)

I then make some herbal tea, (I am currently favouring chamomile and honey,) and then I sit at my desk where I review my day at work and at home and I prepare for tomorrow. I tick off tasks, and update my trackers and metrics which I use to create tomorrows to-do list.  This particular practice has helped me tremendously as it means there are no unresolved issues lingering in my head overnight, I can put everything down on paper and plan out time to deal with it the next day.

After that, I journal about my day and anything that came up. Sometimes I reel off pages, other times it’s a small reference at the bottom of my notebook. Length doesn’t matter; it is about whatever I need in the moment.

Once I finish, I close my desk, brush my teeth and get into bed and read until lights out. The whole point of these steps is to help calm and ease my mind before bed. If you have a running to-do list or you are replaying that embarrassing moment repeatedly in your head, you’ll find it harder to relax, and subsequently reduce your sleep quality.  Closing your day is a great way to silence your mind and body enough for it to rest.

Self-care is making time to read

One of the things I did over summer was read. I like reading so was easy for me. This summer I did try reading multiple books at a time in a roaster type system, but I’m not sure that that style of reading/learning is for me. Anyway, the books that I managed to finish and that I liked were, ‘Living with Joy’ by Sayana Roman, ‘Do Less’ by Kate Northrope and ‘Think like a Monk’ by Jay Shetty (Audible).

They all provided unique insights into different topics of self-improvement, time management or business strategy. They also all introduced me to new ways of thinking and doing. Jay Shetty’s ‘Think Like a Monk’ introduced me to the habit of closing my day for better sleep. ‘Do Less’ by Kate Northrope was a solid favourite and she taught me that I can have it all, if, I am intentional and clear on what it is that I want. Similarly, ‘Living with Joy’ by Sayana Roman helped me recognise the joyful things that I already have in my life, and how and where to seek more of them.

Ultimately, my big take away from these books is that intentionality is essential to living the life you want. I experimented and it turns out, they were right, the more intentional I am, the better life gets.  Self-care is knowing what you want and doing nothing else. So is say read for pleasure and explore all the possibilities you have to hand and what life get better.

Selfcare is feeling beautiful

Summer is so busy, and we were OUT SIDE! Most of us are consistent with the evening shower but fail to be consistent with the weekly upkeep. I was smart with it this year and kept it as simple as possible by rotating a few products for maximum effect., My go to bar this self-care summer was Elbows, Knees & Toes, our exfoliating peppermint bar. Paired with my African Sapo, I was kept smooth, soft and supple all summer long and beyond!

On exfoliation days (usually Sunday) I built a lather with the sapo and bar and worked from my neck down in circular motions, getting into all the nooks and crannies, and making sure to go over everything twice. After I rinsed off, I would apply our Shea Magnifique oil on damp skin, allowing it to sink in whilst I did my face routine. After which I would slather on our richly indulgent Bare Butter, to lock in all the hydration. My skin was butter soft for DAYS and I was always sandal ready.

For my everyday AM shower, I gravitated towards our Dead Sea mud bar Muddy Waters. The clay helped to decongest my acne prone pores and provides a very gentle exfoliation. The scent is deliciously intoxicating, a blend of floral herbal lavender and masculine, woody, and moody cedarwood is a match made in heaven and a pleasure to use.

During my everyday shower, I’d only use my shea magnifique to moisturise because it kept me sufficiently moisturised and smooth. This oil is rich enough to maintain all-day moisture to keep my skin soft, smooth and glowing all summer long.

Self-care is taking notes

The mindis for having ideas, not holding them” – David Allen

This quote very accurately describes the reason behind my love of notebooks. Last year I picked up one of my favourite habits, and started carrying and using a notebook. I have what they call a ‘catchall notebook’, which means I use it as a second brain, and write all my ideas, lists and other important and sometimes not-so-important thoughts in it. It’s a really good way for me to keep on top of everything I must do for my family, self and business.

This year, my catchall notebook got a little battered, so I craftily covered it with a cotton print cloth. BUT now, I want something pretty and fancy (because I deserve it) and as a result of my research I fell down the stationary rabbit hole. Between YouTube and Pinterest, I have a wish list as long as my arm, however I did manage to snag myself my first 2025 Hobonichi planner to test out and I am very, very pleased with myself. My fellow stationary fans would understand the magnitude of this statement. Lol.

For me, notebooks are an essential part of my daily organisation and planning especially as a mum and business owner. They are a great way to capture thoughts and ideas as they come without the distracts associated with phones and other tech devices.  If the fancy notebooks and Japanese planners are not your thing, that’s fine too. Just grab yourself a little cheap notebook and make a conscious effort to use it and watch your life get better. The point, as always is to make your life as easy and joyous as possible and a little notebook is a great way to do that.

Summary

To conclude, summer 2025 was all about self-care. A lot of fun was had and it was the perfect balance between rest, play, learning and adventure. I have enjoyed myself immensely BUT “money haffi mek” and I am glad to be back in the studio. Thank you for sticking with me and reading all about my self-care summer, I hope you are able to implement some of the things mentioned to help you prioritise your self-care for a happier, healthier life.

So, until next time…

Be good to yourself.

Mazel

xoxo