9 Core Elements CALMBABE

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Boundaries are like imaginary stop signs in your life.  It's not about keeping others completely out. It's about creating an environment of respect and consideration for your personal space, time, and energy. Setting boundaries is required in all relationships be it work, parents, kids, partners, friends, and coworkers.   Where you place your stop signs and where you decide to draw your line in the sand is unique and based on your own personal beliefs and limits.  

You have the right to set boundaries in all sectors of your life.  It can be for relationships, personal belongings, sexuality, time, energy, religion or other facets of your life. but regardless, it's not only important to set boundaries for yourself but to also respect the boundaries of others. 

Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we're doing, and not become overly reactive or overwhelmed by what's going on around us.  mindfulness involves focusing your awareness on the present moment by paying attention to your feelings, thoughts, sensations, and environment in the here-and-now with an attitude of acceptance. Practicing mindfulness can reduce stress, improve focus, decrease depression and benefit in many other ways. 

Mastering mindfulness gives us the ability to respond rather than react. it quiets the mind in our chaotic busy world and connects us to inner peace.  So, consider reading up on how to engage in the practice of mindfulness. 

Maintaining balance in life isn't about staying totally still but by paying attention and recognizing when the equilibrium in your life is off and adjustments are needed to maintain your steadiness. Keeping your balance requires a consistent effort.  Paying attention to your body, and emotions will let you know when you're getting out of balance. Insomnia, tummy trouble, headaches, or irritability can be a few of the many signs that things may be out of balance in your life.  

One of the simplest things you can do to readjust and balance yourself is simply to 

take a break.  It can be taking a vacation or mental health day or a 5-minute timeout to listen to music, take a walk or watch a funny cat or dog video. Simple actions on your own behalf will help you retain balance. 

Self-care is not synonymous with selfishness or self-indulgence.  Self-care is often misunderstood as something we are occasionally allowed to indulge in like a spa vacation in Sedona, expensive skin-care products, or eating out at an ala-carte restaurant from time to time.  It's more than bubble baths, facials, luxury thread-count sheets, expensive chocolates, or mani-pedis.  While these are nice things to do for yourself, it's not self-care as a practice. 

Self-care is about a purposeful engagement in strategies and/or activity that promotes physical, mental, and emotional wellness.

Self-care is unique to each person but for me avoiding triggers and toxic people are at the top of my list of consistent self-care practices. It can be as small as blocking phone calls from an energy-draining, unhappy friend who constantly complains or has a negative outlook on everything.  Other self-care favs for me are reading to escape reality or lighting a fragrant candle while meditating.  

So, find out what self-care means to you and put it into practice routinely. 

Movement is vital to not just your physical health but your mental health as well.  After all, what's good for the body is great for the mind. Regular workouts or purposeful movement can improve your physical health, as well as your mood.  Studies have shown that any type of exercise can help with anxiety, depression, managing stress, and better sleeping. 

You don't need to hit the gym or hire a personal trainer. It can be as simple as walking outside, dancing inside to your favorite song, putting on a YouTube video, and following along.  Whatever you can fit into your busy life to move is beneficial to all parts of your being. 

When I'm washing dishes, I do squats between each dish.  I intentionally do not use my dishwasher because i habit stack my squats on top of doing dishes deliberately. When I'm washing my face and brushing my teeth, I do side leg lifts during that time.  

So do your best to get it in where you can fit it in!  Movement does a body a mind good.

When people discuss nourishment, they are often talking about food.  Now what we put into our bodies is important. However, other areas of our being require nourishment as well. The mind, soul, and spirit need just as much good nourishment as our physical bodies. Just as we should refrain from putting toxic substances into our bodies, we must refrain from allowing toxic thoughts in our brains or toxic people in our lives.

Some small things you can do to nourish the mind, soul, and spirit are as follows:

• Digital detox: Reduce screen time.  Turn off your phone or computer and stay off social media for a day or two.  
• Meditate:  The practices of meditation can help with mood, memory, immune system functions, sleep, and productivity.  You don't have to be a Shaolin Munk to engage in meditation practices.
• Distance:  keeping your distance from those not in alignment with your calm is necessary.  It may be not agreeing to a lunch date or avoiding trips where they may be. It doesn't matter if they are family, friends, or colleagues, creating space between them is essential to your overall nourishment. 

Spirituality is one of the most debated, uniquely personal experiences that any person can have. No matter what faith, religion or spiritual practice you deem necessary to your being, some sort of belief in connection to a higher power is essential to overall balance in life.  

Spirituality is a deeply personal, intimate idea and practices look different to each individual. To some, it refers to their religious beliefs and/or an omniscient god.  To others, it may be completely void of theistic beliefs.  maybe it's a relationship with nature, a full moon ritual, or a connection to the ocean.  So, your truth is your truth when it comes to spirituality.

Spiritual self-care is as important as physical, mental, and emotional. To well-round your self-care balance and practice some form of spiritual aspect is essential to living a joyful, satisfying, well-balanced happy, fulfilled life. 

One of the simplest practices in self-care can be started by simply taking mindful breaths.  Because it's such a simple concept it may be hard to believe the amazing benefits that focused breathing has on the body and mind. 

With every breath you take, realistically you are making a second-by-second decision to simply live.  But the way we breathe, and the depth of our breath have a powerful correlation to how our mind and body feel and respond to everything.  Though the daily automatic function of breathing is part of our body's process is living, intentional breathing is a different process with a different purpose.

Mindful breathing can help with chronic pain, relieve stress, boost your immune system, improve food digestion and help in many other areas of your body, mind, soul, and spirit.   Throughout various moments throughout your day, just take time to breathe mindfully and intentionally to heal your body, balance your mind, fuel your soul and empower your spirit. 

Rest more, stress less is a good motto to live by.  Routinely engaging in moments of R&R is necessary for your whole being.  Resting repairs your body rebuilds cells clears your mind and gives you more energy. Getting the proper amount of sleep is crucial.  Also, your sleep environment and the surrounding decor can contain elements that cause distractions that impair sleep patterns. So, designing your sleep space for proper rest is needed.  If your sleep space is not calming or way too busy, you may want to consider changing the color of your walls, hanging a relaxing picture on the wall, or reorganizing the furniture.  Your sleep space should be like a calming retreat. 

Rest and relaxation are different, but both are equally essential for self-care. R&R might be taking power naps or listening to music or meditation podcasts.  Rest happens when we sleep whereas relaxation happens when we're awake and involves our process of engaging in activities that bring us pleasure and joy.  Relaxation helps clear and calm the mind.  Rest heals and rejuvenates the body. 

There are many ways to engage in a little R&R.  Even in the midst of our busy lives, it's necessary each day to engage in some type of R&R.