Radiance is light or brightness. We all seek ways to bring light into our lives, even if we don't realize it. Living a radiant life can mean many things, but most of all it means taking time to take proper care of ourselves.
By embracing the need to live a radiant life, we can ultimately become happier, less stressed out and more in tune with the world. We’ve compiled a list of ways for a self care plan, many with science-backed results. Read on to find out how you can add light to your everyday.
1. Keep It Simple.
Doing small things that nevertheless make you happy can add a lot of radiance to your life. Maybe it’s getting cozy in your armchair with a delicious book, or taking a leisurely walk through the neighborhood. Maybe it’s drinking a cup of piping-hot cocoa, or meeting up with a friend for a fun lunch. Small things can greatly boost your mood if you make them a regular part of your life.
2. Make Happy Plans.
Planning things you can look forward to can add a ton of brightness to your life. Anticipation is powerful, especially when it’s something happy that awaits.
Anticipating a special event, such as a holiday or your birthday, can boost your mood and energy levels. It can make you feel happier as you eagerly await the day. Counting down the days can bring you joy to your life.
3. Indulge In Sleep.
Studies show that sleep reduces stress, while lack of sleep disrupts brain cells. We all feel tired and cranky when we don't get enough sleep, even without science proving its importance. Getting the right amount of sleep is crucial for feeling good.
Create a pre-sleep ritual that will allow you to fully indulge in the process. Lavender for sleeping is a proven, gentle way to fall into a relaxing sleep. (Our Sleep Tight kit can help!)
Made with lavender essential oils, dab the balm on your temples and wrists, do some deep meditative breathing with a candle, or drink a cup of chamomile tea. If you’re feeling especially distracted, try using an eye mask to make sure your brain sees pitch black.
4. Embrace Self-Love.
We need self care days. Make it a habit to do things for yourself that make you feel good, whether that means eating ice cream or taking a hot bath. If you pick the second option, use the Lavender Bath Bombs. It has calming essential oils and moisturizing oils like moringa and coconut oil to relax and hydrate your skin.
Self-love is not just about vacations or buying things. It's about accepting yourself, flaws and all, and embracing who you are.
Building confidence, changing bad habits, and forgiving yourself for mistakes are ways to show self-love. Practice these to improve self-care. A focus on inner beauty rather than outer can also go a long way.
5. Take A Break.
Life is all about balance, or it should be anyway. If we’re overworked, it will ultimately show as stress and may even lead to sickness. If we’re too busy with too many balls in the air, it can lead to all those balls coming crashing down. Taking a mental health day helps.
Knowing when to take a break is essential to living a balanced life. Self care practices can mean taking a weekend to yourself or going on a short trip. It can mean doing absolutely nothing but chilling in front of the TV or with a good book for a full day. The key is keeping a balance between school or work and leisure time.
6. Remember Nature.
Research has shown that exposure to nature has a stress-reducing ability that ultimately makes people feel calmer and more relaxed. A nature hike or a day at the beach can greatly relieve stress and brighten up your life.
Of course, it can be difficult to find nature if you live in an urban setting, but even going to the park or working in a garden can help you get that much closer to nature. Try to make nature a regular part of your life, and let the radiance roll in.
7. Let Go. A truly radiant life is one without clutter. And we’re not just talking about clutter around the house, although cutting down on that can be extremely rejuvenating. But even clutter like a relationship or job that are no longer working can have a huge negative impact on your life, robbing it of radiance.
Learn to let go of what is not working for you. It can even mean a certain kind of lifestyle, like one that involves too much work and not enough rest, or one that is too sedentary and could use a boost from more exercise and healthier eating. Clearing clutter and removing excess items brings a burst of radiance.