I’m adamant that self-care is important for every part of our health – physical, emotional, and spiritual, too. When we don’t prioritize our health, we end up trying to draw from an empty well, meaning that we can’t give to others if our own reservoir is dry. I’m not well-equipped to be a good wife, sister, friend, or neighbor if I’m exhausted, hungry, or spread too thin.

It seems simple: take care of yourself, so you can take care of others. But it’s easier said than done because self-care looks different for different people at different points in time. Every year, every season, sometimes even every week, the way I take care of myself looks different because my needs change. While this can be challenging for those of us who are A-type personalities, I’m constantly reminding myself that change is good, and that God provides the wisdom and strength I need to navigate through life.

All that being said, I wanted to share some of the ways I’ve been taking care of myself lately in hopes that they might inspire you to better provide for you and yours. I’m also eager to hear some of your tips for self-care, so that we can cultivate a community of health promotion here at Nutra-Intuition.

1. Hydration, hydration, hydration

The Chicagoland area has been boiling hot lately. A few weeks ago, we even had a heat advisory. I personally love hot weather, though even I will admit that the humidity was suffocating. I was constantly sweating, and constantly needing to re-hydrate. For me, one of the biggest barriers to staying hydrated is remembering to drink water, and it’s hard to remember when the water doesn’t feel appetizing. I recently got this Bubba cup from Walmart for less that $10, and I’ve been sipping nonstop. I kid you not, the ice stays frozen all day — and there’s nothing more refreshing than sipping on ice cold water throughout the day in the sweltering heat. Highly recommend. What are your tips for staying hydrated?

2. Sipping something more fun…

Trying new foods and flavors inspires me to eat a varied diet and continue to enjoy food rather than getting bored and allowing my relationship with it to become dysfunctional. A few years ago, my husband and I visited Todos Santos, a Mezcal bar in downtown Chicago with some friends. Even though my husband generally isn’t a fan of tequila, he joined us in trying some new cocktails with the smoked agave liquor. We both were immediately hooked. We bought a bottle when we were on our honeymoon in Mexico, and have been experimenting with different tropical cocktails. I had this papaya-mezcal drink at a local modern taco restaurant, and it was incredible. You can’t beat a rim lined with Tajín . What are you favorite summer cocktails?

3. Summer reads

This summer, self-care has also meant rest — including spiritual rest through reading. I find that it’s really helpful for me and my faith to keep reading not only the bible, but also scripture-based books on Christian living that encourage me to live as God wants me to live. My mother-in-law lent me this book, written by a friend of hers. The book has been really inspiring, as it talks about the fact that God’s love for us doesn’t mean our lives will be easy, but rather that he will love us enough to help us thrive in life when it’s difficult. Sometimes we think of Jesus as the “nice guy” meaning that he’s okay with everything and never criticizes. This book has helped open my eyes to the fact that some of my ideas aren’t always correct, and has helped me to know that the kindest or most loving thing to do isn’t always the easiest. I highly recommend! What are you reading this summer?