Beyond Self-Care Toolkit: A list of resources for your relentless self care

Beyond Self-Care Toolkit: A list of resources for your relentless self care

It's Election Day and so many of my clients, friends and colleagues are feeling on edge. Scared. Worried. Anxious. Concerned. 

And I get it. 2020 has not been a bed of roses and the unexpected twists and turns keep coming, and this Election Day is no exception.

But I have some good news:

Though you can't control what happens out there, you can control how you respond to it. 

I think what many of us need right now is relentless self-care. To turn off the news. Disconnect from social media. Don't engage with the drama. 

I recently shared a message on Instagram about how when a storm is coming we have three options:

1. We can get caught up in or swept away by the storm (which many, if not most, of us do).

2. We can use the storm to propel us – which is what eagles do! They use the high winds of a storm to propel them higher

3. We can go to the center of the storm and be the stillness amidst the chaos. 

Whatever you decide, do what's best for you.

I wanted to share with you some of my favorite resources that I am leaning into right now as I’m in “Relentless Self Care” mode (and for the first time in years, I even decided not to follow election night coverage).

So save this list. Refer back to it. Do what feels right whenever you need it. And please share it with anyone who needs some of these resources too.

The Beyond Self-Care Toolkit

Things you can do without resources or technology:

• Breathe (even a simple practice of listening to your breath inhale and exhale can be calming)
• Pray
• Go for a walk in nature 
• Do something that brings you joy
• Meditate, meditate, meditate (I'm a big fan)
• Dance it out! Put on a high-vibe song and have a personal dance party.
• High intensity exercise (helps to release endorphins)
• Yoga
• Be intentional about what you are consuming and make sure what you are consuming is nurturing to your mind, body and soul: food, drink, media, people
• Extend gratitude: thank someone, write down what you're grateful for, thank God for your blessings
• Journal: write down what you're feeling. Even chronicling what is happening right now can help you release what is in your head.
• A change of scenery — if you can't go on a vacation or staycation, even going for a drive to a place you haven't been before can help.

Meditation and Centering Resources:

• CLAIM Meditation – this is the morning practice I developed in 2018. You can find a guided meditation that is less than 10 minutes on this page.
• Meditation Apps
  • Headspace
  • Calm
  • Insight Timer (I use this one)
  • 10% Happier
  • Calming Tones and Beats: These are tones and sounds that get yourself in an elevated and/or calm state of mind
• For creativity and concentration: Alpha waves
  • Here’s one I listen to: https://youtu.be/WPni755-Krg
• For meditative, dream state: Theta waves 
  • Here's one I listen to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBMQFaU-HYk&list=FLxvlr5h5bkssTvqElIu1N1A&index=5
• For deep sleep: Delta waves
  • Here's one I’ve listened to: https://youtu.be/OdtlOVx6FgY
• Sound Bath (I listen to this when I need to boost my energy or when I haven't had enough sleep and need a recharge): https://youtu.be/-ar9vsmFhJU
• Solfeggio Tones and music to elevate mood:
  • This is one of my go-tos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4hcJBQi6jM&list=FLxvlr5h5bkssTvqElIu1N1A&index=107&t=6365s
  • Here’s another one of my favorites: https://youtu.be/N22CJh64dw8

Books, Music and other Content:

• Anything Wayne Dyer. Check out some of these Wayne Dyer videos on YouTube.
• Beyond Black Women 30 Days of Inspiration – even if you're not a Black woman, these short podcast episodes will give you a boost of inspiration. Pick one of these any time you need them.
• Any of these books:
  • The Bible
  • The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
  • Acts of Faith by Iyanla Vanzant
  • A Course in Miracles
  • A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson
  • A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
  • The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
  • The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
  • The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho
  • Jesus Calling
  • The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
• Messages from The Collective
  • These divine messages from The Collective, delivered through Annie Franceour, are so soothing and wise.
• Music can be therapeutic! Here are three of my playlists on Spotify:
  • Alignment Playlist for centering or being in a positive, expansive state of mind
  • Praise Playlist for some gospel and praise music to feel God's presence and force
  • Beyond Celebration For some feel good, high vibe, girl power celebration music: 
• This Beyond the Business Suit Conversations series from March with resources from to take care of your mind, body and soul now and beyond
• Super Soul Conversations podcast on YouTube:
• Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday episodes

So what are some of the things you'll put on your personal “relentless self-care toolkit” that may not be on this list? Add it in a comment below.