Village Living Magazine - MIDTOWN - February 2019

WELL-BEING
The Modern Moms’
Guide to Calming
Stress – Part 2 of 3
Simplicity in Self-Care
BY SINDY SHIN, ND CREATOR OF THE CALM MAMA METHOD
Have you ever wanted to build self-care habits, but you’re
not sure where to start? This can especially happen when it
feels like you have very little time for yourself and when the
majority of your time is spent taking care of others. When
I find myself being pulled in many directions and time feels limited, I
find getting back to the basics of self-care, is the best place to start.
I saw an Instagram post the other day that read: Don’t forget to drink
water and get some sun. You’re basically a houseplant with more complicated
emotions. It made me giggle because, it’s sort of true! What keeps us
alive and well is reflected in nature. Water to grow, nourishment to
flourish, air to breathe, and connection to nature to thrive. It also
reminds us of how simple self-care can be, such as drinking water.
On average, we need to be drinking 30 mL of water per kg of body
weight. What that looks like, is just over 2 L for 68 kg (or 150 lbs), and
you’ll need more if you’re an active person. Hydration is essential for our
health, but is so often overlooked. We tend to see things as being more
complicated than they really are. So, I’d like to share three simple, selfcare
strategies that you can get started on right away, and that will make
a real difference in how well you feel.
Self-care is essential when you’re busy trying to balance it all. It
might feel impossible sometimes to find the time, but taking a minute
to hydrate, a break to eat a meal, and a moment to treat yourself, truly
helps release stress - mentally, emotionally and physically. Integrating
simple self-care into each day has been a saving grace for me, as I
navigate my busy mom life. I hope you feel supported as you embrace
these self-care tips in your life, too.
In health and well-being.
3 Ways to Embrace
Simplicity in
Self-Care Today:
1
FILL
2
NOURISH
3
TREAT
YOUR CUP, LITERALLY. Aim to
consistently drink water throughout
the day. If you’re already a superstar
with drinking water, then keep it up!
If you’re behind in reaching optimal
hydration of at least 2 L of water daily,
start slowly by simply increasing your
water intake by 1-2 cups this week.
Gradually increase and before you
know it, hydrating well will be a
natural habit.
TO FLOURISH. Eat your
meals and snack when you need. The
term ‘hangry’ comes from irritability
that stems from hunger, and we all
know being hangry isn’t good for
anyone. Be sure to nourish and fuel
with food and take the time to sit when
you eat. Find pleasure in your meals
and release any guilt that might be
associated with your food choices.
Simply by slowing down enough to sit
and enjoy your meal, you are already
doing wonders for your overall state
of well-being.
YOURSELF. Do something really
nice for yourself today. For me, it might
look like listening to my favourite music
while doing nothing else, enjoying a
quiet cup of tea, calling a friend I miss,
or grabbing that latte that I might
normally skip, but really love. Whatever
this looks like is completely up to you.
DR. SINDY SHIN, ND As Calm Mama Founder, Sindy helps over-stressed and overwhelmed moms gain the calm control they desire to
thrive with vitality, power and grace. Connect at www.qwellness.ca, and learn more at www.sindyshin.com
24 VILLAGE LIVING MIDTOWN