“The spreadsheet mocked me from my laptop screen, a colourful array of cells demanding my attention. Deadlines loomed, emails pinged, and the weight of ‘adulting’ pressed down on my shoulders.
Suddenly, a rogue Nerf bullet whizzed past my head, snapping me out of my zone.
Working over the Christmas holidays whilst visiting family, my nephew, giggling uncontrollably, burst into the room, with eyes so full of joy.
In that moment, the absurdity of it all hit me. When did life become so… serious?
When did spreadsheets become more important than spontaneous Nerf battles?”
My mum had bought all the kids a nerf set for Christmas, encouraging the cousins to play and make core memories.
It was a great idea and got me thinking about what I used to love doing as a kid.
My memories made me smile.
How can revisiting those activities or interests help us reconnect with our inner child?
When was the last time you organised something that you knew would fill your cup, feed your soul and light you up?
When you are young, you are in such a rush to grow up. When you are in the trenches of adulting, it’s sometimes hard to remember how to play and have fun.
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“When your inner voice whispers to you that you need more fun in life, you listen. That is what consciously designing your life is all about.”
What memories made me smile?
Slumber parties with my besties!
The answer was clear.
I need a sleep over with my girlfriends.
I need a soul-care slumber party!
My favourite people, the ones that you can talk about anything with, laugh so hard you cry, feel so comfortable you can be silly, paint each other’s nails, listen to music, dance in your pyjamas.
With the joyous cost of living crisis swamping our lives, it can be easy to pine for a girl’s weekend knowing it’s out of the question for the foreseeable future.
We don’t need to book an expensive accommodation and drive hours away and we certainly don’t dismiss the idea as impossible to organise.
Hell, we are the CEO of our worlds, we make things happen every day! We can creatively arrange for the family or flatmate to vacate for the evening. Get husbands or partners to go camping or hit the in-laws up for an overnight visit (minus you).
Being an adult allows us to make the rules in our lives and I am not negotiating on adding things to my schedule that fill my ‘fun cup’. That sounds really weird. But you know what I mean.
“This is no joke; self-care is essential to the quality and longevity of your life”
Discovering a statistic from Dr. Gabor Mate recently that 80% of autoimmune diseases develop in women, essentially because we put everyone and everything ahead of our own wellbeing, really solidified my purpose of helping women make their wellness a priority.
Resistance from the people closest to you will inevitably happen. They are not used to you organising something that does not focus on them.
Self-care for you, is essentially self-care for them.
If they can’t handle giving you space to recharge, show them that statistic and see how they would feel about caring for you when you are sick, or losing you early because you develop a disease caused by your selflessness.
Can we make this a thing?
At a minimum once a year?
‘Celebrate your soul sisters’ day’
It may be unofficial, but I am planning it.
Practical Tips – Planning a Soul-Care Get-Together
- Future Book – lock in a few dates with the girls, ahead of time and honour those arrangements.
- Decide who is hosting on each date.
- Claim the house for the evening.
- Have fun with the planning!
Design it your way!
- A pamper party – BYO products or chuck in for some facial essentials to share and utilise each time you get together. This is a great way to use quality products and much cheaper than a facial.
- Cook a beautiful dinner together or order your favourite take away.
- A twist on your book club.
- Combine it with an interactive murder mystery game – go all out on the theme.
- Play the old tunes and reminisce on the memories that pop up!
- Bring out the year books and photo albums! Remember those?
- Dance, be silly, laugh out loud, watch that movie, eat your favourite snacks.
Friendships need time and care too!
Tell the girls how much you love and appreciate them.
Fill your fun cup!
Seek out experiences that make you laugh until your sides ache, that bring a genuine smile to your face, and that leave you feeling lighter and more joyful. These are the moments that truly light you up from within.
Conversations that Connect
Engage in discussions that go beyond the surface, conversations that delve into meaningful topics, explore new ideas, and challenge you to think differently. These are the connections that feed your mind and deepen your understanding of yourself and the world around you.
Memories in the Making
Actively create memories that you’ll cherish for years to come. These are the experiences, big and small, that weave the tapestry of your life – the adventures, the quiet moments of connection, the shared laughter, and the milestones celebrated. These are the treasures you’ll hold onto long after the moment has passed.
The Power of Female Friendship
Female friendships are awesome when you find your tribe. The unique bond between women can be a powerful source of support, understanding, and joy. A team of cheerleaders who lift each other up and provide a safe space for vulnerability.
Rituals of Reconnection
If sleepovers are not an option or not your thing, get creative. Create a ritual that aligns with your soul squad. Other ideas can be nature walks and picnics, discover new places in your local area. Join creative workshops or learn a new skill together, share a meal together, take turns cooking or cook together. or even just time to hang out.
Permission to Pause
Life has become so fast paced and often isolating beyond our core routines. We need to prioritise friendships and make time to reconnect in fun playful ways that bring us joy.
Guilt free joy, it’s good for you. Gift yourself the permission to slow down, prioritise fun and friendship, in whatever way that feeds your soul.
It’s all about intentionally filling your life with experiences that resonate with your authentic self, that bring you joy, connection, and a sense of purpose. It’s about actively participating in creating a life that nourishes your soul on a deep level.
Soul-care practices can be an antidote to the stresses of daily living.
