It’s the most wonderful time of the year! All jokes aside, warm, sun-soaked days and long summer nights slowly fade into cool mornings and the first signs of fall. Back to school is upon us, and while we’ve all had a fantastic time spending more time together, parents can officially shift focus back to themselves, at least a little!

Your Ottawa skincare experts at Body ‘N’ Bloom have a few ideas of what might get you back into the school year routine. However, we’ve got some self-care suggestions that extend beyond the morning duties of packing lunches and tying shoelaces. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so let’s talk about how to fill it up!

Establish a Morning Routine

Lazy summer mornings are leaving, and they’re taking any chances of sleeping in right along with them. This year, be sure to set aside time for yourself, whether it’s before your kids head off to school or after.

Try spending some time doing something you thoroughly enjoy, whether it be savouring every sip of that morning coffee, meditating, making a healthy breakfast, listening to your favourite music or podcast, or reading. Let this time for yourself center you, preparing you for the chaos the day might bring.

Move Your Body

There’s no right way to move your body, as long as you move it! Exercise lowers your chances of certain diseases and has been long-recognized for its mental health benefits. No matter which way you spin it, exercise makes you feel good!

You can indulge in a long morning walk alone or with your pup, take a local yoga or pilates class, download a workout app, or take horseback riding or tennis lessons. Regardless of what you choose, make it something you enjoy. Exercise is never a punishment for something we ate; instead, it’s a celebration of what our (very strong) human bodies can do.

Mid-Afternoon Self-Love

It’s effortless to get caught up in the rush of the day, and sometimes, that time we set aside in the morning to meditate or exercise is long-forgotten by the time school pick-up rolls around. You can keep the self-care going all day; it doesn’t have to be more than half an hour of your time.

Prep a healthy meal for dinner, take a bath, or go back and read another chapter of that book. Whatever you do, make it count, and don’t hold back on fully immersing yourself in the activity until it’s time to move on. Setting the alarm on your phone can be very helpful!

Treat Yourself at Body ‘N’ Bloom

The expert staff at Body ‘N’ Bloom are waiting to help you transition into your school year routine. While we can’t pack those lunches, we can offer you a relaxing and skin-boosting hydrafacial, or that laser hair removal you’ve been dying to get.

Whatever your skin care needs, we can help. Contact us today to discuss your options. It’s time to set a little time aside for yourself.