Welcome to the first official day of your 25 Days of Self-Care box! I thought it would be good to start this little self-care journey with a practice that I find helpful when I need to ground myself.
Today, we start with stepping into the role of the observer. Not only does embracing this role help you gather a better understanding of certain situations, but it will also help you come to conclusions that are not based on an emotional response. As stress often runs a little high this time of year, the ability to stop and take a second to observe the situation will not only help manage the tension of the current moment but also how to identify the stressors early on and avoid them.
We live in a society of constant consumption, a cycle that feels even more relentless during the holiday season. Observation, however, can be the antidote to this overwhelm, inviting us to pause and reflect. When I feel dysregulated, I find it helpful to step back and observe—not just my emotions but their root causes. Sometimes it’s as simple as needing a glass of water, or realizing I’ve spent too much time scrolling Instagram. This act of mindful observation helps me process and recalibrate, allowing me to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.
That’s why I wanted to begin our 25 Days of Self-Care journey here, with the practice of stepping into the role of the observer. Ground yourself by noticing what’s around you—what you see, smell, hear, touch, taste—and reflect on how this changes your emotional state. Over the next few weeks, think about ways to step back and focus inward, especially when life feels overstimulating. The ability to pause, breathe, and observe can be a powerful tool for navigating the season’s stressors with clarity and calm. For a little extra inspiration, I recommend one of my favorite grounding practices from Yoga with Adriene’s 30-day journey:
JOURNAL PROMPTS
- Take a deep breath and take notice of what is around you. What can you see, smell, hear, taste, touch? How does noticing these things make you feel? Did it change the way you were feeling? I often go to this exercise when I’m feeling very overwhelmed.
- What are different ways that you can step back from the external world and focus on internally? How would these be especially beneficial over the next few weeks?
- When in a situation where you’re overstimulated, what are some indicators you can look for to realize that stepping back and observing would be beneficial for regulation?
- What advice would a calm and centered version of yourself give to your current emotional state?
TODAY'S GIFT
Today’s gift, for all of the boxes, is a new take on an old favorite. Depending on how long you’ve been a part of the Apothecary 19 family, you may or may not know that a lot of the products that I make for the shop are born from my own daily rituals. (I have a lot of them 😅) This oil is a version I first made for myself in a time of deep reflection. I wanted something that resonated with me when I felt the need to look inward and observe.
I build this blend using the plant correspondences for self-discovery and observation. As you embark on this self-care journey over the next 24 days, I wanted you have something close to my heart; something that supported me at the beginning of my own journey.
This oil is versatile and grounding, a blend of fractionated coconut oil and fragrance, diluted for safe, direct application. Use it on your pulse points during meditation, in bath water for a calming soak, or even to add intention to everyday acts like cleaning or consecrating tools. However you choose to use it, let it be a companion as you explore moments of observation and self-care.