17 health April has kicked off on a pretty dreary note, winter is finally over and we are eagerly awaiting the warm weather of late spring and early summer. It’s only natural to feel a little grey with all the rain after recovering from a seemingly endless winter. So it’s more necessary than ever to start injecting more self-care in your life! Developing a good self-care routine will not only lift your spirits but it’ll help prep you for any pre-summer eating changes you may decide to embark on. It’s too easy to forget to spend time each day nourishing our body and soul in the chaotic New York environment. We all have a million things to do, tons of appointments and no time to ourselves. Well, I’m here to put my foot down and tell you to start making some! “Me time,” or as I like to call it “self-care,” is essential to our well-being, happiness and health so, make it a MUST DO! It’s not always easy getting started so I’ve provided you with 3 easy ways to incorporate selfcare into your busy, fabulous life! 1. MAKE A DATE WITH YOURSELF When you’re starting off, pick one day a week that you can separate an hour or so to do something for yourself. I love having “self-care Sundays” where all day I indulge in everything from yoga, juice with girlfriends, a great meal and a bubble bath before bed. Sounds like too much? That’s okay! Pick one night a week that you can slink into a hot bath, go for a manicure/pedicure or head over to your favorite yoga or Pilates class. Put it in your calendar and treat it as if it were a business meeting! 2. DO IT WITH FRIENDS My boyfriend always tells me basketball is his “meditation.” He clears his mind, let’s off stress and feels refreshed after he has had a couple hours on the court with his boys. What activity does that for you? Get some of your friends on board and make plans to do it once a week. Having other people involved will keep you accountable and make it even more enjoyable. 3. WATCH SOMETHING THAT NOURISHES YOUR SOUL Light some candles, make a big cup of tea, get comfy and turn on something that inspires you and feeds your mind. YouTube, Netflix, Hulu and FoodMatters TV all have great videos that can inspire you to better yourself. I just put up a “Mindful Eating and Meditation Class Video” on my website, gosweetandskinny.com, that you can order and watch at home on your computer if you need a place to start. PLUS, once you learn the meditations, you can start incorporating that into your self-care routine. Cassandra Bodzak is the happy, healthy living guru on ABC’s “The Taste.” She started GoSweetandSkinny.com, where she shares her healthy recipes and tips for living your happiest life, and is the proud author of “Juicespiration,” her no-nonsense guide to do-it-yourself juice cleansing. She works with clients all over the U.S. to help them stop dieting, start eating right and achieve the body and life they love! CASSANDRA BODZAK SELF-CARE: THE SECRET TO A TRULY HAPPY, HEALTHY LIFE
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