This is NOT going to be a post railing against self-care because I am a HUGE supporter of self-care.  I think it’s something that everyone needs to do and I think it is a missing component in many people’s healthy living/seeking routines.

That said, there are times when self-care is the exact opposite of care and that is a problem.

One of the beautiful things about self-care is that it comes in many different forms.  You can meditate, do yoga, read a book, listen to music, go for a walk, go to the spa, get a massage, light a candle…. and on and on and on.  It’s wonderful because it’s just one more way you can customize your health to your needs.

But this is also self-care’s curse.

So many ways to self-care mean it’s really easy to feel overwhelmed by the options.  Self-care and the health industry have really expanded and grown in the last few years. It seems like everywhere you turn, there is another article, book, product being pushed at you that promises they are the end all be all of self-care.  And if you don’t do it/buy it/read it, you are failing.

At least that’s what it feels like to me.

For the longest time, every time I saw a new self-care technique or idea, I felt like I had to add it to my routine.  Because if I didn’t I was obviously failing and my health would suffer and I would ruin all that I had done.  That’s clearly silly but that is how my brain works. 

Self-care is meant to add to your life but not in a stressful way.  It’s meant to fill up your cup in your own unique way so you can give and grow in other areas of your life.  You shouldn’t feel overwhelmed and you DEFINITELY shouldn’t feel like you have to spend a ton of money to care for yourself.  If you can and that’s what makes you feel cared for and full, great.  But if not, there is plenty you can do without buying a single freaking thing.

My point?  Don’t let a self-care routine make your probably already stressful life more stressful.  You don’t have to do all the things, read all the things, or buy all the things.  And if for some reason you can’t fit self-care into your routine right now, that’s ok too.  Maybe your drive to pick up the kids from school is your only spare moment and if being alone for those 15 or 20 minutes fills you up, you’re doing it just right. 

Now, because it’s Monday, it’s time for meal prep stuff. Because you also need to fill up your belly 🙂

I had some freezer stuff already made that I plan on using, so this week was all about sauces and ways to make dinner taste awesome.  And vegetables.  Always vegetables. 

• Allllll the vegetables because they are awesome.  And cut vegetables are the easiest way to make dinner go way faster on a busy night.
• Cashew butter because I told you I’m obsessed.  I also used it in a few things like…
• Satay Sauce because I’m testing out a new recipe and I gotta use that cashew butter somehow.
• Magic Green Sauce because I love A Pinch of Yum and she loves this sauce.  I also happened to have a few pistachios left and needed a way to use them.
• Creamy pumpkin sauce because I’m testing a Thanksgiving-ish recipe and obviously needed pumpkin.  You can get a little Thanksgiving-ish with your meal prep with some of these ideas.
• Hardboiled eggs because the husband takes them every day for snacks.
• Egg wraps because they were fantastic last week.
• Baked sweet potatoes because they are dinner tonight and it’s way easier to bake them before.  Plus, cooled sweet potatoes give you all the resistant starch.  Which sounds bad but is good.
• Broccoli and bell pepper hash because –> stuffed sweet potatoes and easy side dish.
• Some gummies because I’m testing out “vita” gummies.  Not as gross as it sounds.