These are a few of my favorite things. August Edition

One of my passions is self-care. Deeping my practice, I am focusing on my holistic self-care, which means caring for myself in physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational ways. Here are reflections on my top five favorite practices and items that are bringing me joy and gratitude this month. 

BirdTalker – If you live in Nashville then you have a friend or two in a band. Here are some of my friends playing a song that has been on repeat at my house. 

Plan to Eat – Meal planning is one of my personal goals for this year. In trying to save money and time at the grocery store, I purchased a subscription to PlanToEat.com.  Let's be real. This saves me from either going to the grocery store multiple times a week or driving through Chick-fil-a more than any person should. They offer a one-month free trial, but you have to add your recipes into your account. In the long run, I am hopeful that this will save me time, money, AND calories. (This is not an advertisement, but something I have found personally useful.) 

No-Bake Energy Bites  – These are game changers. Game changers.  They are great for breakfast, snacks, and dessert. Since I started meal planning, I added these to my rotation. Make them once and eat them throughout the week. They are great to have on hand for the mornings when you are running late. Compared to cereal, they are also much easier and safer to eat during your morning commute. Check out the recipe at Redefined Mom. 

Rising Strong – Brené Brown is one of my favorite authors and speakers. Her work influences my clinical work and my personal life. Last weekend, I was able to attend her book launch, hear her speak, and meet her while she was on tour in Nashville. It was an incredible experience and I have already begun reading her latest book, Rising Strong. Brown shares, "when we deny our stories, they define us. When we own our stories, we get to write the ending." 

Fitbit Flex – Last year, I was given a Fitbit and I wore it for a full day. This year, I reviewed my practice of self-care and one of my goals was to increase physical activity. Using my Fitbit as a tool to challenge me as well as track my level of activity has become a part of my daily self-care routine.  Fitbit tip: For the first week, begin every day asking "how can I do more steps than yesterday?" Then try to find life-giving ways to reach 10,000 steps a day. 

What are some of your favorite things in your life? What practices or items are bringing you joy? Do you have any highlights from August?