3 Simple (And Very Fun) Ways to Invest in Yourself Daily

Making a big deal about small things is a happiness life hack

Welcome to December. This month we will be exploring the interconnectedness of Mental Health & Money.

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GOOD MORNING, TEAM.

When you’re looking to improve your everyday life — whether the point is to make work more meaningful, feel more invested in your life purpose, or have more energy — enhancing your already-built-in-habits is the easiest, most efficient way to make your days fulfilling instead of boring.

Here are 3 simple ways to invest in yourself every day, for the sole purpose of feeling awesome. Because when we feel fabulous (and we dress fabulously), great things happen.

1. Get ready like a goddess.

I have talked about this one before. Tara Schuster, author of Buy Yourself The F*cking Lillies, advises her readers to “Greet the day as the sovereign ruler that you are,” referencing Cleopatra vibes as she makes herself a witchy brew (aka fancy caffeinated beverage), lights a delicious candle as she writes, and gets a good sweat in.

“I take the time to act as if I am a powerful empress: confident, expansive, and enthusiastic about the work of the upcoming day. I listen to Frank Ocean on my ear pods. I anoint my skin. I paint my face with BareMinerals tinted moisturizer. I coat my eyelashes in Armani's Black Ecstasy mascara because I'm pretty sure that is what Cleopatra would have favored.”

2. Make a big deal about your meals.

Aka treat mealtime like celebrations. Put some music on, take your time chopping and sautéing and seasoning, and enjoy the art of cooking. Maybe even put a cute apron or outfit on.

Setting the table for a random Wednesday breakfast or dimming the lights for dinner could be exactly what you need to shake things up in your house as we are all so sick of quarantine life we could snap.

3. Make bedtime special.

Slip into silky PJs that make you feel good about yourself and your body instead of your college t-shirt and sweatpants. Light a candle in your bathroom while you wash your face and brush your teeth instead of rushing through it like a maniac.

Getting ready for bed doesn’t have to be boring. It can be soothing and sexy.

Unrelated But Related Note

My theory on why we are so stressed out? Especially during the holidays? We take life way too seriously. We care WAY TOO MUCH about what other people think of us. We don’t laugh enough and we definitely don’t play enough.

As we head smack into the Christmas season, keep these things in mind.

Takeaway

When you feel better, you look better. When you look better, you perform better. When you perform better, you’re more confident in your work and personal pursuits in the realm of believing in yourself, taking risks, and getting more accomplished.

It’s all about enhancing your feel-good rituals — connecting your already put into place habits with some extra-ness, and committing to them.

SO! Own your daily rituals. Own your decisions. Own your you-ness.

Mantra This Week

My past doesn’t define my future.

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Thanks for reading today! May you have a good week and a Merry Christmas.

PS. If you like these newsletters, do be a nice elf and spread the word. I’ve been getting a lot of “Thank you for writing about this” and “I needed to hear this” emails, and THEY MAKE MY LIFE. I want them to make your life, too.

PPS. If you want more of Take A Sip, consider signing up for the Sunday Newsletter, where we explore The Best Of in Mental Health + Motherhood + Fashion + Friendship. This past Sunday I talked about a life-changing parenting tip (that will make your life, as a mom, so much easier, I promise).

Keep being you.

XOXO,

Ashley