August and selfmade are challenging two different stigmas: periods and mental health. All in the name of democratizing well-being for us & our community.
Body & Mind Autonomy.
Having body and mind autonomy is fundamental to our mental health and well-being. Body autonomy directly impacts mind autonomy. That’s why selfmade and August are teaming up this Mental Health Awareness Month to bring attention to how to take care of the powerful mind-body connection.
Keep reading to learn how you can slowly incorporate new (& hopefully healthy) habits into your routine to support your whole self.
First, let’s talk habits: the good, the bad & the ugly.
Our habits shape who we become and how we live. They define us. Day in and day out; what we repeatedly do shapes our goals and achievements.
- Do you want to feel more confident in yourself? Do you want to live a happier life? It's all in the habits you form.
According to researchers at Duke University, our habits account for 40% of our daily behaviors.
If you're feeling stuck or unsure about how to make changes in your life, start with your daily habits.
Altering our systems can be challenging, but it's worth it.
Consistency is key, as they say. And the habits that you do consistently will, in part, define the person you are and the personality that you present.
Habits, whether healthy or unhealthy, are made of four parts:
- Cue: Triggers your brain to initiate behavior and is a little bit of information that helps anticipate rewards.
- Craving: You don’t crave the habit itself but you do crave the change in state it produces. Cravings are linked to the desire to change your internal state.
- Response: It is the actual habit you perform in the form of thoughts or actions. This step mainly depends on your capability of performing it.
- Reward: End goal of every habit. We want these rewards because they satisfy us and teach us.
Habit Stacking.
Adopting new and healthy habits is tough, but there's a sweet hack called Habit Stacking that’s a tried and true behavioral method to make it way easier.
Habit stacking is a unique way to implement intentions; planning ahead to find a good time to better carry out a particular habit (i.e. washing your face, taking medication, drinking enough water, etc.).
Habit stacking involves binding your habit with a current one, instead of solely tying it to a specific time and place. For example, if you need to take a new pill everyday at the same time, what would you do? Take the meds (new habit) after brushing your teeth (existing habit), and before bed (existing habit).
Truly succeeding at habit stacking involves pinpointing when and where to carry out the new habit so that it flows effortlessly, and helps it take root in your daily routine.
Habit Stacking your Emotional Well-being.
Selfmade habit stacks emotional well-being on top of the use of your physical product to redefine what it looks like to take care of ourselves. Doing this, day after day, adds up to a real difference in terms of how we think about ourselves, see ourselves and what it means to care for self.
Now, let’s talk about self care during your period…
When we are in menstrual mode our bodies are in hormonal flux which has a direct effect on our emotional state. You know what I’m talking about – that PMS.
Your entire menstrual cycle is guided by hormonal changes and phases. During some of these phases, your mood & energy levels will be lower, due to the rise and fall of certain hormones.
It’s a lot to take on, in addition to remembering to change your tampon every 4-8 hours!
Similar to changing your period products, when doing your skin care routine it's very easy to mentally check out of the repetitive routine. So, to make a routine a personal ritual, you can work on adding intention behind the actions.
Here are some guiding Qs to get started in habit stacking your menstrual cycle:
Cue: Changing your period care (i.e. tampon/pad)
- How am I feeling in my body right now?
- How is my flow this month?
- What do I see on my skin and is it connected to how my body feels?
- How are these things impacting my mood and how I talk to myself?
Once you’ve asked yourself those questions, you can find little steps to add into your routine to adjust to your newly determined needs. For example:
- If your body is feeling tired: rest.
- If your flow is heavier than usual: pack extra products when you leave the house.
- If your skin is breaking out: take note of what you eat + be sure to wash your face before bed.
- If your mood is dragging: tell yourself 3 positive affirmations as you're brushing your teeth to set off your day.
August x selfmade want to GIVE AWAY a box to support you & your mental health routines.
Let’s face it – we’re all trying to figure out how to properly ✨rest✨. Well, lucky for you, August & selfmade, have teamed up for a Giveaway to Getaway this Mental Health Awareness Month.
The giveaway winner will win a Mental Health Break Survival Kit (worth $500!) which has everything you need to prioritize rest. One lucky winner will get it all…period care, skincare, tea, journals, silk bedding, and candles!
Sign up here to try your luck but HURRY – entries close MAY 25th.
Thank you for being here.
It’s SO important to prioritize your mental health but we know that it’s difficult sometimes. Hopefully with a little bit of habit stacking inspo & a chance to win some goodies, you’ll feel a little more able to focus on your well-being.
