During difficult times I have a tendency to buy things… well actually I always like to buy things! When times are tough I do feel as though I have an excuse. To be honest this is something I know that I will be diving deeper into, but that is for another post. Today it is about the things that I use to to help with the stress of infertility.

I am not going to solely stick with products but I will share the ones that I love. To figure this out I went through my daily routine to see where things stood out.

Morning

Starting out the morning with moving my body has really helped, especially when done with a buddy (shout out to Jenny!) With all of the IVF medications I have been guided to not push myself lately, so walking it is. We meet in the wee hours of the day and walk. This takes place at the gym on a treadmill. In a beautiful world we would be outside in nature, but with fall here it does not get light until 6:30 and we need to be done by then. We have done a few walks outside but we take my two large dogs for some protection. (It is pretty sad that this is real.)

When I get home I use the Calm app to meditate with my coffee. This app works very well for me and I highly recommend it. (Teachers can get this for free to help in the classroom and then use at home, too!) It is a guided meditation that helps me stay focused. This app also tracks my progress and I love challenging myself to beat my last streak. The nighttime sleep stories also really help me fall asleep quickly.

During meditation I use essential oils. I am partial to Young Living for their Seed to Seal promise, but use what works best for you. My life has literally changed since I added essential oils into my life. The power of scent is strong. I will start a practice of some sort and begin to identify the action with the smells of oils. I have achieved many goals through this as well as meet my tribe of women. Depending on my mood I grab what I need at the moment. I also put on some before the gym. I have come to love oils as the specific ones take me to the place I need to be, instantly.

My meditations are often in my backyard at a table. I love my backyard and if you follow me on social media you know this. During the chilly months I always have on my fuzzy boots and a blanket to keep me warm. My favorite thing is my neck warmer though. This item has changed my life. It is a go to gift from me and I even travel with it. The warmth changes everything.

Sage and/or Palo Santo are also must haves for my meditations. Using these helps cleanse any negative energy before starting the day. This has turned into a ritual for me and I love where the scent takes me. There are some great ones on etsy that I am hoping to try out, but for now I have some from my local natural food store.

Intention cards help me create an intention for the day. I have two I use often and switch back and forth frequently. Gabby Bernstein’s The Universe has Your Back cards are great. The Book they are based off of is one of the greatest things I have ever read. These cards are quotes from the book with beautiful designs. The other deck I use is The Moondeck. This comes with a pocket sized guidebook to the cards. These are also gorgeous and each card has a way to practice the intention behind it. I love starting my day with these as they help me in small moments when I recall the intention for that day.

Coffee. This one is big in our home. I recently gave up caffeine when I was pregnant and truly realized how addicted I am. For the time being I am savoring it. I will admit that caffeine has given me anxiety if I have too much too fast. Since I have made the switch to lots of fats in my coffee it has helped with the release of the caffeine over time instead of all at once.. I pour about a half of cup of coffee, a half of tablespoon organic coconut oil, a scoop of collagen, and cinnamon. Recently I have added some chocolate almond milk for something extra. When I buy coffee out it becomes way too much caffeine unless I order half-caf. Coffee is life and I love it.

There are always fresh flowers on our table. No matter what season I love walking into my living room/dining room and seeing flowers. At our local farmer’s market I have come across some of the best arrangements I have ever seen. Pine Creek Flowers are put together so well and the farmers are great to chat with. The arrangements light up our home and always make me feel happy.

Afternoon

When I am teaching I honestly do not have enough time for myself during the day. It is simply part of the job. During lunch I eat alone and turn down my lights. I cherish the quiet hush and not seeing the world with fluorescent light. I open a La Croix, preferably coconut, and add in some Ningxia Red. This is another Young Living product that helps give me a pick-me-up with the afternoon slump. It is delicious and full of nutrients. When I am in serious need I take a shot of Ningxia Nitro. This works well for me as it is not full of caffeine and still keeps me going. I cannot have much caffeine, if any, after noon. My day becomes jittery and I will not sleep. Both of these leave me feeling awake without the negative side effects.

Evening

The main thing that calms me down in the evenings are baths. I could not live without baths. During the summer this is not something I partake in but they are one of the best things in the winter. I have an entire system to my bath routine that takes me to my calm place.

1- Epsom Salts- A bath without these feels like a waste of time. There are many benefits of soaking in these. The main one that I feel is helping me fall asleep. I feel as though my stress has been strained out of my body and washed down the drain. This also helps me with any aches and pains I have. You can buy fancy ones or simply go to the first aid section of the drug store and get them cheaper.

2-Essential Oils- Depending on my day I add a few drops to the water and let the scents take me away. Stress Away, Lavender and Release are my bath time favorites. You can also infuse the epsom salts with specific oils as well.

3-Lighting- This one seems like a no brainer, but it must be stated. Lighting changes the mood for anything. Low lights are best when taking a bath to relax. I have candles and twinkle lights in my bathroom. Candles without crap in them are very important. P & P Candle Co is a great company.

4-Bubbles- The kid in me still loves as many bubbles as you can fill the tub with. This is also a way to bring some scent into to the tub. Again, I am picky with my ingredients and like it to be as natural as possible. Young Living makes a great bubble bath that helps me fall asleep. Just be sure to read what you are soaking your body with.

5-Beverages- If I am able, a glass of wine will always accompany me to the bath. If not, some yummy tea is great and always water. I sweat quite a bit in a hot bath and like to rehydrate with water.

6-Entertainment- I will often bathe for hours at a time. This usually means I drag the computer in and watch something. A good book is always great, especially if you have a book holder for the bath. Something to keep your mind from wandering into a negative space is usually something I am in need of.

7-Dog- My personal favorite thing is that one of our dogs, Kayo, always comes and sleeps next to the tub. It makes my heart full that he does this.

One of the most important things is to give yourself the time to do self-care. This can be hard but I am learning it is more and more essential. It doesn’t matter what you do with that time but rather that the time is used for you. Infertility is stressful and can take over your life. Be sure to take some of that time and do something that makes you feel good. This, right here and right now, is your life. It is passing no matter what we do with our time, so let’s use some of it to be good to ourselves.

What are some ways that you practice self-care?

Products That Help With the Stress of Infertility

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

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