Sunday Rituals and Essentials
Personally and professionally this week was a long and trying one. But, hey, no one ever said following your dreams was going to be easy. Trying to put out a blog and carry a full time job requires a good dose of hustle but sometimes your body has just had enough. I think it’s just as important to know when you need to take some time and pull back as it is to be able to push yourself through.
This weekend my body was speaking to me loud and clear (read: I fell asleep at 7:30 PM). It was time to pull back. The older I get, the more I’m paying attention to these signals – whether it’s anxiety, depression, exhaustion or a breakout, my body is constantly telling me where I need to tweak things. As if on cue, the universe threw me a bone and a last minute change up in my schedule gave me a four-day weekend – a rarity in the world of retail management.
I was so excited to spend a Sunday doing things that keep me healthy and happy. Sunday rituals are a big part of that for me so I thought I’d share some of my essentials:
After spending several years in a high-pressure academic environment that left me little time for much of anything else, I realized the importance of creative outlets in my life. Huck is an incredible magazine that launched in 2006 in the UK. It celebrates free thinkers and counter culture and it is absolutely impossible to not feel inspired after reading one of their issues. Creativity has become a priority in my life and Huck helps me keep those juices flowing.
2. The 52 Lists Project by Moorea Steal
The 52 Lists Project is a brilliant creation by Moorea Steal – it is a year of weekly journal prompts that get you thinking about your life. With prompts like ‘list all the things that make you feel powerful’, ‘list the ways you can love yourself more’, ‘list your greatest comforts’, it’s a great tool for anyone who is trying to live their life in a more mindful way. I have gifted the book to many of my friends and we’ve found it can really help give your life some clarity and direction when you need it most.
3. Origins Clear Improvement Face Mask & Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
There’s no better day for facemasks than Sunday. It’s the day I go the extra mile for my skin and I love to do Origins Clear Improvement face mask to get rid of some of the dirt and grime from the week. I follow it up with Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate – I don’t know how it does it, but my skin feels softer and looks more even when I wake up and that’s a great way to beat the Monday blues.
4. Fresh Food
Food is a huge part of my life – I’m Italian and our family gatherings center around meals. My grandparents have an amazing garden full of fresh produce that make any dish taste amazing. The rosemary pictured above was clipped from their backyard and is still going strong in a mason jar at my apartment. I’ve been cooking with my mom since I was a kid and it’s one of the first things I like to do when I spend time at home. She’s a great teacher and has a penchant for buying the best cooking ware in the game. Meal prep on Sunday sets you up for a healthy week and I’m grateful I have all the ingredients and skills I need thanks to my lovely family.
5. Diptyque
I love cleaning. It’s weird, but nothing makes me happier than clean sheets at the end of a long day. My Diptyque candle cost me a pretty penny – but, man, these candles are a really lovely treat. I burn mine after I clean my apartment so my space smells amazing. It’s an important part of treating myself because we all deserve a little luxury.
Now excuse me, but I’m off to cook and clean so that, tonight, I can light a candle, cuddle into some clean sheets and dive into my new issue of Huck.
Happy Sunday everyone!