This week, I got a little help from my friends at Garnier Canada to engage in a little self care that went above and beyond my usual self care routine. And I can’t wait to tell you about it!

On edition three of Self Care Sundays; I’m realizing how many of you are actually reading this! So take a moment and send in your comments to me with your questions about self care, about weekends and about having a little bit of time for you! I’d love to answer your questions.

See, I believe that self care isn’t about spending a lot of money, it’s not about getting a massage, an acupuncture session or IV Therapy session every week (who has time for that! – but shameless plug for Cornerstone Naturopathic and our awesome medical team of naturopathic doctors, massage therapist and acupuncturist! #wedirectbill). Self care is about finding these little moments of time in the middle of a long list of “to-do’s” that feed our souls. Self care is about recognizing what we need to do in order to be able to accomplish the goals we want to achieve. And that’s about finding spaces of 20 minutes in the day to bring us joy that we are in charge of. 

That’s key – something that WE are in charge of. For me? That’s doing my hair and putting on lipstick. Say anything you’d like about that being something so frivolous, so “girly”… and for me, that’s the point. If I was a hair dresser or a makeup artist, my daily (consistent) act of self care probably wouldn’t be doing my hair. For me, the point of self care is about doing something that pulls you out of your day to day and adds something exciting to your day! Doing my hair gives me a bit of creativity in my day that I don’t normally have. Cue the list of research articles that shows the benefit of creativity on brain health 😉 

So a couple weeks ago, Garnier reached out and asked me if I wanted to try out their new hair dyes. And I kind of live in this world where I ask “what’s the worst that could happen?”. Answer to that question, not much. And the worst that would happen —— it doesn’t work out and I bump up with my next appointment with my hair dresser***. In the grand scheme of things, not a lot to worry about. So I carved out 25 minutes on a Sunday afternoon and I dyed my hair.

GALS. GUYS. PEOPLES.

This was SO easy. And I actually breathed, and mini-meditated, and read a chapter in my book. I honestly didn’t think that carving 25 minutes out of my day to dye my hair was going to bring me SO. MUCH. JOY. Literally, every new style this week I’ve been like “oh that’s fun!” “oh that’s different” “OH! I like that”. It’s been the perfect act of self care, for someone who doesn’t really like to spend a lot of time on herself. For those of you who I’m sure will ask, I used the Colour #71, and it was the ideal colour for this switch to the autumn weather.

So I’m enjoying the new hair colour, sporting a new bright lipstick because it’s autumn, and still working on reading consistently before bed. If you want to join me with a new hair colour, I’d love of you to try out the challenge with me! Garnier is giving away 10 boxes per month over the next year, and all you have to do is Try It, Rate It and You Could Win It! Just head to this link —> http://bit.ly/NcChallenge to enter!

What’s your daily act of self care? I want to know!

xx

Dr. Ash

*** if you’re a girl with crazy messy hair like mine, give my girl Marieke Bower a call – she’s amazing!

Check out the rest of may Selfcare Sunday Series here and here!