The Thin Line Between Self Care and Self Indulgence

This post is sponsored by Champneys Spa.

It has been a complete whirlwind of a week. We have been frantically shopping for things to take back home to family, packing our bags, getting clothing altered and fixed up and the hundred other tiny errands that need to be done before we are off to India next week! This year started out quite stressful as well because we are getting some home renovations done and trying to manage that along with our preparations for the India trip. This is not counting the driving lessons and test I was giving, crazy amount of work stress and trying to make sure the blog is in semi-presentable state. (Basically, this first paragraph is my excuse as to why this blog post wasn’t published on Monday.)

Dj and I were chatting recently and realised our last holiday was in September which is more than 4 months ago. The last four months have been quite tough and sometimes tedious and I realise how much I need this time off. Can’t wait! Its been a very stressful half year for me but there are a few things that have kept me sane. I wanted to talk about this as well as some things I want to do once I am back after this slightly hectic holiday in India to just chill.

I recently admitted on Instagram the amount of junk food I end up eating. Its quite shockingly and I am thoroughly ashamed. And I remember how it started. It was just stress about all the various projects I had going on and started buying a bag of crisps on my way home from work. I also justified all this junk food eating to myself by saying it was just being cosy in winter and practicing self care. Bullshit.

There sometimes seems to be a thin line between self care and self indulgence or downright destruction. The main difference is not to only think of something as self care if it makes you feel good only in that moment. And somethings can be self care even if not comfortable or fun.

Exercise.

I think I have finally found my holy grail exercise routine. I now believe if you don’t like exercising its only because you haven’t found your ‘thing’ yet. I have tried gyms and classes and finally settled on an exercise class in the nearby park for summer and hot yoga, hot pilates, reformer pilates and barre in winter. Like almost everyone else right now I use Classpass (you can get a discount for your first month) and its been really working for me.

Quite early on I realised the crazy HIIT and cardio classes were not for me. It was a great adrenaline rush once I was done but I never looked forward to those classes and in a small way, always dreaded them. I don’t know why I pushed myself to do it for so long but I just thought thats what we were supposed to do. But yes, exercise IS supposed to be fun.

Home made food.

I love going out to eat and enjoy the eating out experience but there is nothing like home made food. There is no substitute for it.

Travel.

My idea of travel has always been about adventure. It has to be something new and crazy. But I have recently realised travel for rest, relaxation, a change of scene, to be in luxury, to be lazy – basically to just ‘be’ is just as fun, special and rewarding. And sometimes exactly what you need. I now wish DJ and I had taken a chance to go on a short relaxing trip in the winter. Something like the Champneys spa break packages which I came across sounded perfect. The best part is some of their spas are so easy to get to and require minimal travel planning. I regret this now and wished I had taken a weekend in the winter and gone for it!

Skin care.

I know – this sounds like an obvious one. But hear me out. My skin care routine (it might be a stretch to call it a routine but thats another blog post) is just part of my routine. And there is something to be said for the predictability and comfort of routine. In the morning its helps me get ready for work and puts me in the frame of mind for work. In the evening its a part of the winding down process, getting ready to go to bed.

Reading.

You know this whole new hype about meditation? I completely misread what it means and thought it literally meant staring into a candle for hours. Now to you, meditation might mean that. Staring into a candle for hours might relax and rejuvenate you but if it doesn’t thats ok too. From what I understand meditation means to be in the moment, relaxed, not thinking about the hundred other things in your life.

Reading is my meditation. I felt I had lost the feeling of being completely absorbed in a book. You know when you are totally taken in with a book and then finally look up and realise its evening and you thought it was still lunch time? That feeling is amazing and I am so glad to have managed to get back to that.

My advise on this would be try different things. Reading, walking, cycling, writing – even playing video games can be your meditation if you are completely stress free and lost in your world. You will get no judgement from me on that.

And now after I am done with this post talking about relaxation and self care I am off for the least relaxing thing ever – two big fat Indian weddings! I cannot put into words how excited I am about this. Make sure you are following on Instagram and Facebook so follow along for all the craziness and wedding fashion!

All photos taken by DJ and were taken in and around the beautiful Hampstead and Hampstead Health along the Hampstead Circular short route.

– Anisha